Work Babble

Tips on Managing Self-Doubt and Work

In these unsettled economic times where thousands of people have lost their jobs and many thousands more fear they may suffer the same fate, it is a natural reaction to have self-doubts.  There is a visible reality to the economic recession and denying that would not be productive. However, giving voice to these doubts can be counterproductive.

We've all heard the expression that "We create our own reality".  That may well be truer than we think.  I’m sure if we wanted to, we could think of a million reasons why we can’t do something (aka excuses). 

Here’s some if you’re running low on self-confidence these days.

 

•    I’m too old

•    I’m not old enough

•    I don’t have enough money

•    I don’t have enough time

•    I’m not attractive enough

•    I don’t have enough discipline

•    I’m not strong enough

•    I’m not smart enough

•    I don’t have the energy for that

•    I don’t know enough about that

•    I’m not blessed with natural talent

•    I don’t have enough power for that

•    I’m not confident enough

 

Those are just a few of the things that we allow to go on inside our heads. So before we create or help to create a negative situation for ourselves, why not try turning your thoughts around?

 

Consider the following as alternative thoughts to the ones shown above.

 

•    I have a great depth of experience

•    I have the energy and exuberance of youth

•    I can make all the money I need

•    I can use my available time to my advantage

•    I don't need to compare myself to others

•    I can -- I will  

•    I have all the strength I need

•    I'm just as smart as the next guy

•    I can focus my energy whenever I need to

•    I can learn just about anything

•    I can build strong skills in areas where I need them

•    All the power I need is inside me

•    I can do just about anything I have to do

 

Now, put yourself in any life situation and compare the two sets of statements.  How far do you think the first set of statements will take you?

 

What about the second set?

 

"If you must doubt something, doubt your limits".

 Price Pritchett

 

About Glowan

The Glowan Consulting Group was formed in 1993 on the premise that individuals and organizations needed more than just pre-designed, prescripted "training" to meet their human development goals. Organizations and our societies are changing at a rate never seen before in our experience and we need tools, techniques and support systems to meet those new challenges. Glowan has been meeting those needs via our broad and deep offerings of Leadership and Management Development Services and Products. Visit http://www.glowan.com for more information.

STUDY: As CEOs Make More Money, They Treat Employees Worse

July 16, 2010

 

Forwarding an interesting finding posted by Veritas Executive Compensation Consultants…

Want to get an idea of how nice a CEO will be? You might want to sneak a look at their paycheck.

The more a CEO gets paid, the more likely it is that they'll treat their employees harshly, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by professors at Rice University, Harvard University and the University of Utah, found that "increasing executive compensation results in executives behaving meanly toward those lower down the hierarchy."

The authors believe that this increase in meanness is due to an increase in power: As executives get paid more, they get a heightened sense of power, and "more power leads managers to mistreat subordinates more and evaluate them more unfavorably," the findings suggest.

This meanness gets worse as the gap between CEO compensation and the pay of lower-level employees widens, according to the study, called "When Executives Rake in Millions: Meanness in Organizations."

"Higher income inequality between executives and ordinary workers results in executives perceiving themselves as being all-powerful, and this perception of power leads them to maltreat rank-and-file workers." the study found.

Should executives be paid less to try to create a kinder work environment?  The study concludes the issue should be weighed.

"We have argued that in addition to examining the links between executive pay and a firm’s financial success, it is important to consider a thus far unreported ethical implication of high executive compensation — that executives with higher income treat employees more meanly," the study concludes.

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Veritas Executive Compensation Consultants, LLC. (“Veritas”) is a truly independent executive compensation consulting firm.

We are independently owned, and have no entangling relationships that may create potential conflict of interest scenarios, or may attract the unwanted scrutiny of regulators, shareholders, the media, or create public outcry.

Veritas also believes that public company Boards of Directors and shareholders deserve higher standards of disclosure that verify the independence of the executive compensation advice that their companies receive from their consulting firms.  This disclosure will assist in curing the terribly negative views that government regulators, shareholders, employees, the media, and the American public have on executive pay.

Veritas goes above and beyond to provide unbiased executive compensation counsel. Since we are independently owned, we do our job with utmost objectivity - without any entangling business relationships.

Following stringent best practice guidelines, Veritas works directly with boards and compensation committees, while maintaining outstanding levels of appropriate communication with senior management.

Veritas promises no compromises in presenting the innovative solutions at your command in the complicated arena of executive compensation.

We deliver the advice that you need to hear, with unprecedented levels of responsive client service and attention.

Visit us online at www.veritasecc.com , or contact our CEO Frank Glassner personally via phone at (415) 618-6060, or via email at fglassner@veritasecc.com . He’ll gladly answer any questions you might have.

Book Review – Make Work Great

Make Work Great: Supercharge Your Team, Reinvent the Culture, and Gain Influence – One Person at a Time

By Ed Muzio

ISBN: 0071622098

Retail: $24.95

Muzio dives headfirst in describing how anybody can influence change inside an organization. He outlines the thinking and the processes that build from person to mini-culture to consistency in establishing a new work environment. These days, workplaces need help coming to grips with new technologies and global demands that reek havoc on relationships and how leaders and managers interact with their people.

 

Muzio refers to his change concept as “Crystal Building” which is the idea that growth, a bit at a time, over time, can give you sustainable results that breaks through legacy, politics, and dysfunction. Muzio offers numerous tools and exercises to help you start the change journey regardless of your level in the organization. Muzio outlines the overtness of actions and clarity in relationships to form a single directive that drives agreements with others. Muzio also understands how certain environments are daunting and is practical about how one navigates the obstacles by role-modeling the desired behaviors and positively reinforcing new behaviors from others.

 

The book serves as a guide - a foundation - to practice and he supports the reading with videos at www.makeworkgreat.com that condense common challenges in digestible chunks. The beauty of Make Work Great is in its completeness. Muzio offers so many insights along the way you feel like you have him coaching you through every professional landmine that could harm your progress. Point is, put to practice, his models and approach work no matter who you are or the type or size of organization.

 

For more information about Ed Muzio and his book, Make Work Great, visit www.groupharmonics.com. Also read my Q&A with Ed about the book.