Don’t put off vacation

With a seemingly endless number of things to get done, planning a vacation is often the last thing on our minds. But not only does taking time away from the normal day to day give us the opportunity to have new experiences and to bond with friends and family, it also helps us reduce stress and gain perspective. Studies have even suggested that failing to take vacation can increase health risks. So be proactive in your vacation planning. Request time off at the beginning of the year instead of waiting to make a plan later. Otherwise, when later comes, you’ll again find yourself delaying because you feel like there is too much to get done. In 20 years you’ll end up with a lot of ‘I always wanted to ...’ sentiments instead of a treasure trove of ‘I’m so glad I did ...’ stories.

(Adapted from Are You Proud of How You’re Spending Your Time? by Elizabeth Grace Saunders)

Calm your nerves

When you’re dealing with a difficult or stressful task, the way you silently talk to yourself can make a difference in the outcome. Researchers found that when people reflected on intense emotional experiences using their names and non-first-person pronouns (e.g., ‘you,’ ‘he,’ ‘she’), they were more able to control their feelings and behaviours. People who silently referred to themselves in the second or third person or used their own names while preparing for a five-minute speech were calmer and more confident and performed better on the task than those who referred to themselves using ‘I’ or ‘me.’ They also felt better about their performance once it was over: They experienced less shame and ruminated about it less. Next time you’re trying to psyche yourself up for a presentation or negotiation, substitute ‘you’ or your name for ‘I.’ The results may surprise you.

(Adapted from Pronouns Matter When Psyching Yourself Up, by Ozlem Ayduk and Ethan Kross)

Expand your network beyond usual players

We all know that a network is important for success, but few of us devote sufficient time to making it useful. If you leave things to chance, your network will be too inward-facing and not diverse enough. You need to learn to network outside your organisation, team and close connections. Here are some practical steps to start developing a stronger network:

• Visit a startup within your sector. Consider why incumbents rarely lead the way in new products and services.

• Attend a new conference.

• Start a LinkedIn or Facebook group.

• Go to lunch with a peer from a competing company. Learn more about your market value.

• Connect with someone you’ve lost track of. Ask this person to help you connect with someone new.

(Adapted from How to Revive a Tired Network, by Herminia Ibarra)

Meditation can make you a better leader

You can’t be a good leader without self-awareness. Knowing who you are lets you better understand what you need most from other people. One of the simplest and most effective ways to develop it is to meditate. Yes, meditate. Meditation improves your moment-by-moment awareness by having you focus strongly on inhaling and exhaling. But it doesn’t need to be formal or ritualistic. Greater clarity can also come from regular moments of pausing and reflecting. Try to gain greater awareness by finding a few seconds to focus on your breathing — maybe before sleep or when doing mundane tasks.

(Adapted from 5 Ways to Become More Self-Aware, by Anthony K. Tjan)

Leaders should be honest

Many executives believe that exuding confidence brings credibility. This is why they’re often loath to appear uncertain — even when it’s impossible to predict exact outcomes. But research has shown that overconfident CEOs tend to make overly risky decisions, usually at the expense of their shareholders. So firms stand to benefit if leaders start to accept uncertainty and learn to communicate it to employees. Being open about what you’re unsure of helps you avoid bad decisions and allows others to trust you. Next time you’re facing a moment of uncertainty, instead of focusing on the best, worst or even most likely possibility, provide a range of possible outcomes. Companies already do this in corporate earnings projections: They provide a range within which profits are likely to fall. Leaders should use this technique more often to avoid the trap of false certainty.

(Adapted from Smart Leaders Are OK With Seeming Uncertain, by Don Moore)

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, May 25th, 2015

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