I reference the big five personality traits (also known as OCEAN or the Five-factor model) often in my writing. I do that mostly because it’s in studies I explore. If the model is new for you, you might gain some value from this little sum-up.
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Plato’s idea of the reluctant politician transcends history: That the best politicians are reluctant ones, who don’t serve their community for the honour, glory or fun of it. They don’t want limelight or power. They serve because they know if they weren’t to do it, they could end up being ruled by a buffoon. (Not Plato’s words, but I think it’s pretty accurate).
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Research suggests we can gain psychological and physical benefits from laughter and humour. There are theories that laughter can help reduce stress; decreasing cortisol levels and other elements associated with the stress response, and releasing endorphins. We now even have services providing therapies like “laugher yoga”, which uses simulated laughter to try and enhance participants’ moods.
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If the story of Narcissus were a modern tale, he wouldn’t be staring at his reflection in the river. More likely, he’d be gazing lovingly into his iPhone front camera. And, as it turns out, probably taking many a selfie along the way.
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Although there are probably genetic components to creativity, as there is with most things connected to our individual personalities, there is a lot of evidence that we can develop our creativity, too.
Here are 6 ways we can nurture and enhance our creative flow:
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I like to think my office desk is always tidy. In reality, though, every few days it ends up looking like a used bookstore vomited everywhere.
Our brains are pretty sensitive to our environment. Often, small things can have a significant impact on our mood, motivation and behaviour.
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There’s a lot of theory thrown out there about how to do it well. Frankly, I completely disagree with some of the standard advice. I think for some reason we continue to perpetuate the myth that public speaking is a natural gift, and not something that can be taught. But everyone can be a great public speaker.
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Socrates never wrote things down.
Does that seem odd to you? Even though he’s possibly the most well-known ancient philosopher in history, he didn’t write things down. We rely on the writing of people like Plato for insight into Socratic concepts.
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Toilet paper. Who knew.
And with all the accusations of people being horrible and selfish, I felt the need to chime in with some potential behavioural science-based reasons influencing why panic buying is one of the many odd things happening since we hopped on this Coronacoaster in March of 2020.
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When you’re presenting, the aim is to engage with others. And, as we know, communication is hardly limited to the words we use. Body language is the most primal mode of connection we have. And if you use it well, you can elevate your presentations to a whole new level.
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You’ve worked hard on your presentation and your boss loved the outline. You can’t help but think, though, that something is wrong.
Your boss, your colleagues, your clients… they’re all wrong.
You’re a swindler.
You’re not qualified for this. Those results were a fluke, and all this praise you’ve been getting is ill-gotten. The boss’ kind words float around your head and you have this firm, underlying feeling that really, you have no idea what you’re doing. You shouldn’t be here.
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Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.’
- Brené Brown
I have been thinking about this a lot lately, perhaps because everyone alive right now is living through what is likely to be the most uncomfortable period of their lives. Also, I have felt a lot of discomfort myself.
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In class, we also often discuss word tracks.
Perhaps one of the most common questions I'm asked by salespeople and managers alike, is this:
Should we all use scripts for everything? Or should we not?
Here is my long-winded view.
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“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.” - Marcus Aurelius
All these weeks into a global pandemic and the pot of life is simmering with feelings of excitement and hope. On one end, because it seems we finally have a chokehold on the virus for the moment – in Australia at least. The world seems to be getting its bearings, no longer unprepared for challenges ahead. And on the other end, because there is so much innovation and opportunity calling out to us, drawing us in like the smell of freshly baked banana bread.
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As we all navigate these – dare I say it? Has anyone said it yet? – unprecedented times, leadership is more important than ever. Leaders around the world in politics, business and life are being challenged to navigate through this very strange a lá plague period and keep the people who rely on them afloat. It is times like this, when we are in crisis, that leadership reveals itself: Who is actually demonstrating leadership, and who is trying to cover themselves until this whole thing blows over?
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Right now, somehow, someway, this is our lives. And although my attitude is generally bleak about our short-term future in Australia, I try to remind myself to be positive. Eventually, this too will pass, and father time Kronos will resume the flow of minutes, days and hours at a normal pace.
At the end of it all, we will pick up the pieces. And maybe, just maybe, we will ask ourselves what we have learned in this strange time — as a nation, as a community, as a generation, as individuals.
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I have some friends who live overseas. Thanks to self-isolation, I’ve been able to connect with them more lately — checking in on each other as this weird new science-fiction-movie world continues to unfold.
Among them, a French best friend currently under an estimated 45-day Parisian lockdown; another in India, one of the 1.3 billion people confined to their home; Barcelona where my friend went downstairs to the street for a cigarette and saw only a police officer; and New York where my friend goes for a run and sees the famous concrete jungle… free of people.
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I looked at a picture taken from just over a couple of weeks ago, out with friends in a Sydney bar. We are all smiling, arms around each other, smushed in as close together as possible to fit into the frame. An easy move operating on instinct, “oh, come in closer everyone. There we go.”
It’s a beautiful photo, and I can hear that night’s laughter when I look at it. We had heard about the virus by then. In January, it was a headline…
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As a trainer and facilitator, I work in an industry that’s largely unregulated. When it comes to coaching, there are different bodies out there, but ultimately it’s not really difficult for anyone – even my dog Ted, to call themselves a coach.
Did we cheat the system a little, Ted and I? Yes. And one hopes that most people would go through even these short courses with a lot more thoroughness than we did together. But the point remains the same. The regulations simply aren’t there.
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