Inspiration for your work & life » Attention

Hanh on The Foundation

Sam Parker — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 10:15:45 +0000

“The mind is the
ground of everything.”

-Thich Nhat Hanh (1926 – )
Vietnamese scholar and activist

Give more mind…

How are you kicking off your workday?

Are you preparing your mind with solid thought, information, and support? Are you allowing the right radio or TV personalities to get you ready (are any of them good… share one)? The right news or material? The right people at the office?

Be careful to what you give your attention. It all has an influence on you. (And kicking it is much more fun than mediocrity… or worse.)

Feed your mind well. It’s where action starts.

Maybe this little guy can help you get started on the right foot (1 minute). Or this classic ad from Apple (1 minute).
_____

Today’s quote is from a favorite book of mine that we read and discussed here as a team. It’s called The Art of Power.

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

Facebook | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter

Comer on Your Focus

Sam Parker — Mon, 02 May 2011 03:15:03 +0000

“Worry about being better; bigger will take care of itself.”

–Gary Comer (1929–2006)
American entrepreneur
founder of Lands’ End

Email this quote

Give more truth…

You don’t know everything.

You do know that, don’t you?

Continual learning is a basic necessity to professional improvement and in many cases it’s other people who will help you get there.

But only if you’re coachable. Are you?

To be coachable means to be…

Approachable
Attentive
Receptive
Curious
Objective
Trusting
Shapeable
Confident

It means you must listen with the intent to learn rather than to show what you know. (listen > talk – get the wristbands by clicking here)

Get more insight and a quick 8-point check on your coachability.

van Gogh on The Details

Sam Parker — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 03:15:27 +0000

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”

–Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)
Dutch painter

Email this quote

Give more leadership check…

Are you holding yourself accountable as a leader (with a title or not)?

As leaders, we enjoy the responsibility of helping people develop in a way that encourages them to hold themselves accountable for their attitudes, their work, and their results.

We need to be as disciplined, resourceful, and resilient in our efforts as we ask our people to be in theirs.

Relentless leadership is embracing the fact that the need for solid & ongoing reinforcement never ends and uncomfortable conversations are a necessity. This is how we create something special.

Managers: How much development attention are you giving to your team? (20% of your week would be a full day of nothing but development time… 40% would be two full days, beginning to end)
_____

Have you seen Viktor Frankl’s (Holocaust survivor and author of the classic, A Man’s Search for Meaning – a GiveMore favorite) talk on inspiring others and ourselves (4.5 minutes)? The concluding thought on sparks and presupposing is great.

212 Conversion

Sam Parker — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:50:32 +0000

So many great 212 illustrations in this clip from Super Bowl XLIV (how many can you identify?)…

Complete Attention

Sam Parker — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:09:06 +0000

Beginning at the top of the next hour and through the next 48, challenge yourself (and your team)…

When you begin a discussion with a colleague or customer (or family member), give that individual your complete attention until the issue at hand has been fully addressed.

Every single discussion. Every single interaction. The entire 48-hour period.

Not only will it help you maximize your time by minimizing miscommunication, but also it’ll send the right message.

Don’t let a phone call interrupt an in-person conversation. Don’t let your email distract you from a phone call. Don’t let a passerby, instant messenger, berry, or ithing take your attention away from someone standing right in front of you (or on the phone).

Life is an interpersonal endeavor.

Anything less than your full attention sends a message of arrogance – a message of condescension – a message no one (including ourselves) enjoys being on the receiving end of. For those who lead a team, set the example.

Give your attention today, and every day, to one person at a time – the person in front of you (on the phone or not) – and Give More.

____________________

How to give complete attention…

Maintain eye contact and face the person.
Acknowledge key points with a nod, smile or brief comment (“I see” or “I understand”).
Avoid interrupting and wait for the person to pause fully before asking questions to clarify. Ask only to better understand and avoid unrelated questions that can disrupt the person’s train of thought.
Dismiss distractions and acknowledge phones, email, instant messengers, and other people following the current interaction.
Confirm understanding by rephrasing pertinent discussion issues.

Now go give someone your complete attention.~>

Connect with Sam (guy behind this stuff)…

Facebook | LinkedIn | Google+ | Twitter