by Elisabet | Feb 9, 2010 | English Blog
I am often reminded of how inspiring I find Wayne Gretzky, legendary Canadian ice-hockey player. In one of his many interviews he was asked what made him such a good player, what put him ahead of the other players.
He explained that so many players go where the puck is, while he went where the puck was about to go. He had the ability to read the other players’ patterns, to understand what would happen next. You could say that he was good at observing and noticing patterns and to use that information to direct himself to where the puck was heading (and be the first one there!).
Everything in life is a pattern. Nature has patterns. Weather and seasons have patterns. Human beings have habitual patterns, in their thoughts, their feelings and their actions.
The better we can become at noticing patterns, the better results we can get – in all aspects of our lives. Better communication, better relationships, better sports results, better leadership, better parenting – well, you see what I mean – in every aspect of our lives!
If we can become aware of our own patterns, we can change them. If our patterns don’t take us to where we want to be, we can change them. To get better results.
We all get stuck at times, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Laughable:-)
Of course we need to do things differently to get different results. Habits and patterns aren’t always easy to break, but if we can just become aware of them, then we are well on they way to change. And we can start creating a new pattern, one day at a time.
If we can become aware of other people’s habits, we can start to predict some of what’s coming up, so we can approach situations in the best possible way.
A bit like Bill Murray i “Groundhog Day”, who gets the chance to do the same thing over and over again and thereby learn the patterns of what’s about to happen, and be able to change his actions and get better results.
Let’s go where the puck is heading. If it worked for Wayne Gretzky I’m sure it will work for us!
by Elisabet | Jan 26, 2010 | English Blog
As I sit here, early in the year, I think about how valuable it is to look back a bit – ponder what happened last year, note the successes, the challenges – and what I can learn from it all.
It’s soooo easy to just leap into the new year without that moment of reflection, but it’s also a bit of waste then, everything that’s happened.
I choose to look at my life like a project, as a project (correctly done that is!) is reviewed evaluated, so that the next project can benefit from the learnings, and the one after that and the one after that…..
And surely our lives are more important that an old project – it’s our life project after all!
Let me share one of my biggest learnings from last year – which I’m sure will help me have a better 2010.
During Q1 last year we, the company (I run my own business), had less to do than normal. We could feel the financial crisis, everything sort of stopped for a bit, there was a sense of cautiousness. It felt strange and a bit scary, but has in fact ended up being a fantastic experience – it made us think long and hard at what we do, what we offer our clients, what people really need. And we have as a result of this created a number of new exciting products and services! Watch this space….
And that probably never would have happened if we had been as busy as normal, because then we would have just continued running (in the same tracks)! As we then did for most of the rest of the year:-).
So my big learning for 2010 is to make time for reflection now and then – to really ask the question “are we doing the right things”?, “are we investing our time wisely”? (which is equally relevant for my life as a whole as my business). This now gets blocked-out time in my diary.
So place yourself on the windowsill, sit down at your desk, pull up a chair at your favourite café – wherever you feel comfortable, calm and creative – and take a look at the year that’s just passed.
What worked well? How can you use that for 2010? What successes can you repeat?
What didn’t work so well? And what was good with that – ie what you can you learn from that? And how can you use that for 2010?
by Elisabet | Apr 24, 2009 | English Blog
I read on e24 that your contacts are important when it comes to landing a job. And yes, I agree, your contacts, your network, play a role when you look for a job, as well as in other situations.
It may sound a bit unfair, but let’s take a closer look.
Who’s responsible for your life?, Why, you of course.
Who’s responsible for your development? Why, you of course.
Who is therefore responsible for who you know? Why, you of course.
If we’re not happy with our situation, if we don’t think we know enough people, then we can do something about it.
It’s only me after all, who knows exactly what it is I want, or what’s important to me. So if I need to extend my network of contacts for example, then I may need to get out more, meet more people, talk to more people, give more to the world around me. I then take greater control over my own situation and get the knowledge or contacts I need, that are relevant to me.
I can’t expect for things to just drop into my lap. Because it could end up being the wrong things!
No, let’s take responsibility for our own situation. Let’s be active participants in our own life, make choices, act – that’s more fair, more relevant. And it makes us complain less. When we take responsibility, it no longer becomes relevant or interesting to complain or blame circumstances. We see ourselves as powerful resources in our own life.
Imagine how the world would look if everyone took more responsibility! Shall we give it a try?
And let’s get to know some new people today. Join a group/association/club. Start a new hobby. Invite people to a book club. Talk more to our colleauges. Who knows who me might get to know? Someone who makes us feel good, someone who challenges us, someone who gives us joy.
Because everyone we meet is important. Imagine knowing them!
by Elisabet | Apr 18, 2009 | English Blog
I read in the paper recently how many leaders get really bad leadership scores from their employees.
I’m sometimes amazed that there are people out there who want to be leaders in the first place. It’s not an easy job. The expectations on a leader are high, being a skilled multi-tasker is a must.
And still, that’s just how it should be. As a leader you have a direct impact on how engaged your employees are. And engaged employees is the key to a profitable and healthy company. So the expectations on leaders should be high, because that’s how important the leaders are.
If you run a company, make sure you hire the right people as leaders, make sure they can feel good where they are, develop them continually, so that they have a fair chance to give the employees what they need to feel good and do a good job.
As a leader you need to see each person, understand each person, observe the uniqueness of each person and make sure those unique qualities are maximised and utilised.
So take the time to be a leader. Don’t be so busy with meetings and calls and emails that you no longer have the time to spend with your employees. Listen to what people have to say, take interest in them, make sure they have what they need to do a good job, laugh, encourage, allow for mistakes and learnings, give feedback, help them develop, communicate……
Yes, the list is long – therein lies the leader’s biggest challenge. So if it feels like too much, then at least do this – see and hear each person, make them feel important. You have everything to gain from this – and you will.
No, it’s not impossible to be a good leader – it does take time and interest though. And it’s a rewarding investment!
by Elisabet | Apr 8, 2009 | English Blog
Have you ever wondered what it is that makes some people so successful? Aren’t you sometimes curious about how they think, what they do to be so successful? Me too. I’m fascinated by people who seem unfaced by what’s going on around them and can fully focus on their task and do their best. There’s like a calm, a quiet focus, a presence that takes over and makes it possible for them to just be at their best.
That’s the case with Remix, one of the best female barbershop quartets in the world, who became European champions a couple of weeks ago in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
When I observe the Remix members – Camilla, Marie, Hillevi och Marie, I notice a couple of specific things.
They have great musicality, they’re professional, focused and goal orientated, and yet that isn’t what makes them stand out the most. No, what I see as a big part of their success is their joy – they love what they do, they are proud yet humble, they give and by giving they contribute to the world around them.
And despite all their success they don’t take themselves too seriously. They don’t think they are better than anyone else, they keep both feet on the ground (or all eight of them!)
They know that their success isn’t dependent on the world around them, they don’t let themselves be impacted by all the stuff out there. They find their inner strength and they know to enjoy every second, they let go of expectations of exact outcomes, they know that they will do their best and that their best is good enough – regardless of what others do. And when things don’t go as well, they willingly take the feedback, learn, brush themselves off and go on – stronger and wiser.
And when I observe these fantastic girls, I wonder if it isn’t so that they have found the key to success – joy, presence, peace of mind, and an endless giving – not just for themselves, but because that’s what we people are about, aren’t we – giving, contributing, making a difference.
I think we can all learn from this. The more we can find the joy in what we’re doing (regardless of what it is), and take control of our state (of mind), the more satisfied and successful we can be.
And as far Remix goes – look out world, they’ve got more to give! And we gratefully recieve:-)
