Motivation & Incentives – Page 10

Vol 72: Seven Swing Thoughts to Overcome Adversity

““Thankfully, perseverance is a good substitute for talent” — Steve Martin

7 Swing Thoughts to Overcome Adversity

The recent 92nd PGA championship ended tragically for Dustin Johnson based on a questionable and controversial call. What virtually every observer, from fans to PGA champions, saw as a sandy area of the rough outside of the ropes was declared by rules officials as a sand trap even though spectators were standing in it. Under the rules of golf, that resulted in a two-stroke penalty because a player can’t ground his club in the sand. It cost him a chance to participate in a three-hole playoff for the trophy in one of golf’s four major championships.

It was heart-breaking to watch and even brought a roar of disapproval from the usually reticent golf crowd. For most casual observers, it’s a distinction without a difference … but in the rules-driven PGA tour, it was a judgment call without heart or soul. Mr. Johnson’s disappointment now competes with Armando Galaragga’s recent loss of a perfect game in baseball.

What do we do when we suffer a major disappointment, e.g., the loss of a major client we served so well or the departure of a valued employee to whom we thought we had extended every opportunity? (more…)

Lead with what’s possible

A recent NY Times interview with Dan Rosensweig, CEO of Chegg, a firm that rents textbooks online and by mail, prompted me about the power of the entrepreneurial spirit. We're not reminded often enough about the inspirational force of asking what needs to be done ... rather than thinking about all…

Why are you in business?

Everyone knows WHAT they're doing ... no exceptions ... and most know HOW they're doing it ... but few know WHY they're doing it! Simon Sinek argues that people make emotional decision to buy or follow someone only because they BELIEVE what YOU believe ... which is all about WHY…

Night Owl or Early Bird?

Early birds - those of you who get up early - tend to be more proactive, more successful in business ... while the night owls ... that's me ... have been shown to be smarter, more creative, funnier and more outgoing ... not so bad, huh? HBR recently published some…

Empower to the People!

I'm a big believer in the Ritz Carlton's program of providing a $2,000 allowance to empower their employees to enhance the "Guest Experience" ... and I think it's noteworthy that the Cadillac division of General Motors is applying this concept to strengthen their relationship with potential Cadillac customers. It's not…

Change is exhausting!

Many of us accept that the only thing that doesn’t change is change itself. Our world is buffeted on all sides by change … kids grow up, technology abounds, friends move away, the list is endless.
Dan Heath at Fast Company describes a recent experience with subjects who were offered either chocolate chip cookies … or radishes. (If you’ve even been cut from a sports team, you’ll know how the radishes felt!). You can also see a short video there explaining the experiment. (more…)

Any control freaks out there?

Those of you who are willing to admit … or deserving … of wearing this crown have probably stumbled down the staircase more than once trying to exert your control over every fiber of the carpet beneath your feet.
Researchers have found that when test subjects are even subliminally exposed to the name of a person they believe is “controlling”, they unconsciously do the OPPOSITE of hard work. It seems that people value their freedom “so much so that even an unconscious memory of a controlling person stimulates a behavioral reaction.”
Combine this with The Productivity Paradox and the work done at Sony Pictures to focus more on employee energy management rather than time management, (more…)

No Jerks Allowed!

Many of you have seen articles about this general theme recently – in part a function of "The No A**hole Rule" published last year by Dr. Robert Sutton of Stanford University. Lars Dalgaard, President of Success Factors, a company with whom I have an affiliate relationship, spoke recently about his…

Lessons from a Lemonade Stand!

Seth Godin recently wrote about two lemonade stands and how simple things in the approach made such a big difference. My colleague, Jonathan Fields, also commented on this post, expanding upon some of the key differentiators that apply to all of our businesses. Simple concept, Provocative Ideas. Free lemonade, anyone?