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Creating Power by Harnessing
the Unseen
I was sailing the other day in a very mild wind. The type of wind that reminded me of my preference for power boats. I kept changing course, so the sail would not quiver or "luff." Once the luffing stopped, the sail harnessed the unseen power of the wind, propelling the boat forward.
The luffing of the sail is like making adjustments to gain the advantage of unseen forces. Each person and every business needs to find ways of "gaining speed" by harnessing the power of unseen forces.
Here are four unseen forces and suggestions on harnessing their power:
The Unseen Force of Emotional States - Emotions are unseen yet felt. You can change productivity and how people respond by changing your state of mind. Walking into work with a positive outlook will "resonate" with others and give them energy.
The Unseen Force of Deciding Now - People lose tremendous energy when they postpone critical decisions. There is a force that is released when you make a critical decision rather than continually expending energy to "decide another day."
The Unseen Force of Smart People - Surrounding yourself with people smarter than you makes you smarter. Intellectual verve creates intellectual power. Harnessing other people's intellectual power by asking questions will push your thinking farther and faster.
The Unseen Force of the 3-D's - Engage in debate, discussion, and discourse. Don't evade opportunities to debate ideas, discuss differences, and write as a method of discourse. You will be amazed the fullness of ideas, new thoughts, and intellectual energy comes from debating, discussing, and writing discourse.
Like keeping a sail full of the unseen force of the wind, harnessing the unseen forces that are all around you, will make a significant difference in your effectiveness as a leader and a manager.
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"Never Stop Learning - Stay Relevant,
Reinvent Yourself, and Thrive"
by Bradley R. Staats
This is one of those books that is thought provoking and demands getting "out of one's intellectual comfort zones." The theme of the book is to demystify how people learn and to elevate learning as a competitive edge for any leader, team, or organization. In essence, this book is to help the reader learn how to learn.
According to the author, we are now embarking on what is called the "Learning Economy." An insightful quote by Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella speaks to this upcoming trend. According to Nadella "Ultimately, the 'learn-it-all' will always do better than the 'know-it-all.'
Staats says there are four interwoven dynamics that will create the reality in which the capability to learn and accomplish objectives will be required. The four dynamics are routinization, specialization, globalization, and individual scalability.
In order to become the dynamic learner that will thrive with the four dynamics, the author posits principles for new behaviors. Below are a few of those principles.
Learning requires process focus not outcome focus. - Dynamic learners focus on the process instead of being obsessed with the outcome actually frees learning.
Learning requires recharging and reflection, not constant action. - Dynamic learners fight the urge to act simply for the sake of action.
Being yourself is required to learn. - Dynamic learners don't focus on conforming, but courageously stand out.
Playing to strengths, not becoming fixated on weaknesses. - Dynamic learners don't try to correct irrelevant weaknesses, but play to their strength.
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Leading Research -
Manufacturing Job Losses Due to Productivity Increases
According to one estimate, from 2000-2010 only 13% of manufacturing job losses were due to foreign trade (jobs moving to another country) whereas 87% percent were due to productivity increases (less need for labor). The acceleration of technology and new management practices has dramatically increased productivity while reducing the amount of labor required and altered what workers must do. (Never Stop Learning).
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- When making a hiring decision, select a candidate that is smarter than you. By hiring the smartest, you will be challenged and so will your team.
- Raise your hand! One of the most effective strategies for getting promoted is to raise your hand when asked to take on a project others will not. You will stand out.
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COACH'S NOTE
There is a tremendous power in forces that are unseen. Electricity has never been seen, only it's output. You create power by connecting to the unseen. One of the most effective ways of pursuing the power of the unseen is to become a dynamic learner. Teaching yourself and others how to learn will become the competitive advantage in the new world of work. For you to truly thrive, remember to NEVER STOP LEARNING.
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Solving People and Management Issues
The Heller Group, Inc. focuses on coaching for senior level executives. We facilitate change within an organization that results in more effective leadership, increased productivity, innovative thinking, and improved employee morale and retention.
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Dr. Bruce Heller
Dr. Bruce Heller, founder of The Heller Group, Inc., has over 20 years experience consulting with managers and executives on executive education, leadership development, and organizational.
He is an adjunct professor at Loyola Marymount University teaching "Power, Politics, and Negotiations in Organizations" to MBA students. Dr. Heller is also an adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School teaching "Developing Political Savvy in the Legal Profession."
Dr. Heller is a consulting psychologist and member of the American Psychological Association Consulting Psychology Division. Dr. Heller holds a Ph.D. and Masters Degree in Education from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Heller is the author of The Prodigal Executive-How to Coach Executives Too Painful to Keep, Too Valuable to Fire.
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