Stop letting optimism cloud your judgment

We’ve all heard a great deal about the power of positive thinking. But research suggests that positive thinking doesn’t actually help us as much as we think. Dreaming about a successful outcome in the future can be satisfying, but it’s counterproductive at work: You become less motivated to buck up and make a strong effort to tackle challenging goals. So instead of fantasising about your future success, whenever you have a wish or goal, focus on the main obstacle that stands in your way. You’ll gain energy and direction in order to act — or you’ll realise it’s unrealistic, and you can disengage and be free to pursue more promising endeavours. Although positive thinking feels good in the moment, it often bears a false promise. There’s nothing wrong with being optimistic — just make sure you have a clear view of potential obstacles if you want desirable results.

(Adapted from Stop Being So Positive, by Gabriele Oettingen)

Spend time with other companies

The most innovative ideas often come from crossing boundaries. So if you want to learn new things this year, try spending time at other smart companies — even those outside your industry. Learning directly from other companies is a useful, under-utilised form of research for finding ways to improve performance. Venture out to see other firms or invite another organisation to visit yours. By taking the time to visit other companies, you’ll have the chance to see how other organisations do their work and approach problem-solving. You’ll see how peers set goals, find ways of achieving them and measure performance. Encouraging visits from other companies can also help connect you to possible future employees. It lets the front-line staff serve as tour guides, thereby honing their communication and presentation skills. And it shows off what you can do.

(Adapted from Learning New Things Means Getting Up From Your Desk, by Brad Power)

Help your team

Many employees downplay their differences from each other at work to avoid drawing unwanted attention or making others uncomfortable. If you help your team feel comfortable being themselves in the office, they can focus on work rather than on hiding parts of their identities.

Shift the language. When organisations talk about diversity, people tune out. Introduce the concept of covering, or hiding certain aspects of yourself, to not appear different. Most people have done it at some point in their careers. This opens up a new way to talk about differences.

Share your story. Most of us have had experiences related to covering, whether we faced it ourselves or witnessed it in someone close to us. Start the dialogue and let others know it’s OK to do the same.

Force the conversation. Build genuine connections with your employees, and speak up if they believe the corporate culture encourages covering.

(Adapted from Help Your Employees Be Themselves at Work, by Dorie Clark and Christie Smith)

How performers can win over co-workers

Superstars often struggle to bond with their teams because they’re viewed as always putting their needs before everyone else’s. And while it’s easy to start feeling entitled when you’ve worked hard to win authority, no one wants to be excluded from team lunches or left out of important meetings. If you’re a high performer who’s being excluded or cold-shouldered, you might want to show your colleagues that you care about the group’s goals and performance too. Be thoughtful and cooperative to defuse your colleagues’ impulse to take you down. Put their needs before your own. If you know a better way to do a certain task, share that knowledge to boost the team’s productivity. Ask for help and advice so you don’t seem like a know-it-all. Thank teammates for their contributions, and share any praise with the entire team.

(Adapted from Why Superstars Struggle to Bond With Their Teams, by Andrew O’Connell)

Speak to a small audience

Presentations don’t always involve standing in front of an audience. Many meetings and pitches involve fewer than 10 people in a room where everyone stays seated while someone talks through a slide deck. But even when you’re sitting down, you need to be conscious of how you can deliver your best. You want to work from the same printed deck (with the same page numbers) as the audience. Make it easy for people to follow what you’re saying by guiding them to each page and using highlights or sticky notes to emphasise important sections.

(Adapted from How to Present to a Small Audience, by J.D. Schramm)

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, January 19th , 2015

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