Staying Focused To Avoid Complacency

Our brains are wired to worry, and that's a good thing as it helps us to stay safe to manage risks. Unfortunately we tend to worry about the wrong things and often lose focus when at work.

In the 1970's, Richard Burch identified the four stages of competency as we gain experience at work - unconsciously incompetent, consciously incompetent, consciously competent and unconsciously competent. The last stage often leads to complacency; we know our job well, we have done it so many times before, we can do it without even thinking about what we are doing, and it always works fine.

And then we have an accident because something different happened today that didn't happen any other day.

Moreover, our brains are 'thinking' more than ever before. People once had between 50,000 and 70,000 thoughts each day, we now have 70,000 plus thoughts every day. Additionally, there once was a separation between work and home. We could switch our brain from 'home mode' to 'work mode' and back again with consummate ease. This is no longer the case.

Millennials are possibly the most impacted due to an over-active brain, they are by far the most stressed generation because they have great difficulty in slowing their brain, of thinking of nothing, of separating home from work and of shutting their brain down when going to sleep. As a result they may lose focus on what they are doing.

All three of these factors - unconsciously competent, an over-active brain and the inability to separate work from home - can lead to accidents.

So how do we stop complacency? In my coaching sessions I like to use the military as an example, particularly that of the special forces soldier. Their work can be the most dangerous of all the roles within the military yet their casualty rate is similar to that of other military combat roles.

How do they avoid complacency - apart from physical, academic and psychological training; maintaining their equipment to the highest standard; expert planning; briefing staff before every operation; and holding a debrief at the conclusion of each operation - special forces soldiers use two methods to avoid complacency.

The first is that they refocus at regular intervals. Whenever they stop for a break, there is a change in the environment, they have achieved the first step of the operation, or whenever they catch themselves losing focus, they undertake three things. They stop, they reassess the situation, and they refocus their attention. This keeps them alert and on task.

The second thing that they do, and probably the most important technique to avoid complacency, is that they have an ethos; 'No One Left Behind'.

No one left behind is not like it is shown in the movies where every fallen comrade is returned home. The ethos means that everyone is going home because we are going to look after each other when at work.

When they prepare for the day, each soldier checks their own equipment and then another soldier may also check the equipment if they see something that the other soldier hasn't seen. If a soldier sees another doing something that is off track or might lead to a mistake they tell them. If a soldier sees another in need they go and help that soldier.

In short, everything is double checked and each individual soldier is held to account by their comrades-in-arms.

Yes, each soldier is responsible for themselves, to ensure that they are ready for battle and remain focused. Yet, the military have identified that we all have momentary lapses of concentration so they overcome this by ensuring that everyone is responsible for a successful mission through 'colleague accountability'.

Perhaps we can all learn from this ethos. So, are your colleagues going to be left behind when you go to work today?

Judge Me For The Positives, Not The Negatives.

There's been a lot of rhetoric in the media, both mainstream and social, that indicates a strong negative bias towards others. Moreover, seldom do I hear or read articles that do not have a negative slant to them.

In my communication workshops, I refer to the fact that we are angrier and sadder than ever before. I may have to add that we are also more negative than ever before.

The result of this negative slant in articles we read and hear is that we become accustomed to it and often listen just to hear the negative aspect. The next time that you are listening to the news, notice how your brain reacts to a negative story. You have an interest in it, you listen intently, and there will be a recognisable change in your mood when you hear a negative story.

It is not a conscious thought, it is unconscious unless you make it a conscious thought.

The reason is that your brain is always looking out for negative things is to keep you safe. Your brain is programmed to look for negative things, for risks, for danger. The down side of this negative bias is that we start to judge situations and to judge people in the same way. And the more that we read and hear negative messages the more we become programmed to do so.

This can lead to prejudging people based on what we have seen and heard rather than on the actual person in front of us.

When meeting people, we sometimes put them into boxes according to what we have learned from those who look or sound similar to those from our negative encounters or from negative media articles. Additionally, rather than look for the good in people we may start to look for the negative aspects of their character. This is our negative bias, or as I term it, prejudice.

It is unconscious but nevertheless it is there.

Putting people into boxes works for the most part. It helps us to rationalise irrational behaviour, it helps to warn us against any risk that this person might pose, it helps us to manage that person in a certain way. That is, until we get it wrong.

It is said that past behaviour is a good indicator of future behaviour. Again, for the most part this is true. Until of course that person may have changed or has a desire to change. If we label that person in a way that they once were, not only do we treat them unfairly we also hold them back from making their desired change.

The challenge for all of us is to break the negative cycle, to stop putting people into boxes, to stop unfairly judging others, to put an end to our unconscious bias, to reduce our negative thoughts about others.

Judge others with an open mind, judge others with a conscious positive bias, judge others for the way that they speak with you, judge others for the way that they treat you and not what you've heard about them. Importantly, judge others for what they do now, not for what they once did. People can, and do change.

Let's put an end to negative bias, let's look for the positives, let's judge each other with an open mind until we know differently.

You can change, you can stop negative thinking, and you can make a difference in your life and in others’ lives by simply looking for the positives.

Eat Your Cake, There's Plenty More!

Listening to the radio yesterday, I heard someone being interviewed regarding salary negotiations say to the interviewer "They expect to have their cake and eat it too". I immediately thought, apart from what a stupid saying, isn't that what cake is for?

I get what the interviewee was saying, you can't have it all ways, but why can't you was my next thought. The world is a big place, there's plenty of opportunity for those who want it, there's more than enough to go around, one person can't have it all.

And yes, I get that some people may not be able to go and get what they want. It is sad that in today's world there are an increasing number of people that, for whatever reason, may not be able to excel. Perhaps then it is up to the majority of us to help those who cannot excel. I ask you this, wouldn't you be in a better position help those who can't get ahead if you excelled?

Don't allow others (or yourself) to hold you back. Provided you aren't doing anything illegal or unethical, then why shouldn't you have everything that you want.

Here's a quick guide that might help you;

• Have a think about what you want or where you want to be in five years. Ten years is probably too far ahead to look in this constant changing world.
• Work out what you have to do to get there - academic studies, gain practical experience, move to another company, read books, whatever it takes to gain the necessary knowledge, skills and attributes to achieve your goal.
• Then break the actions into smaller chunks, six to twelve month periods is a good guide, and take immediate action while it is fresh in your mind.

The biggest thing I believe is to remain open to new ideas and a new direction. Long gone are the days of adhering rigidly to your plan, opportunity comes in many forms and without time frames so be open to them. Modify your plan if need be but keep heading in a forward direction with the positive momentum that you started with.

There will be times when you get tired, when you wonder why you are working so hard for seemingly little reward, when you see others getting ahead who aren't working as hard as you are, when perhaps you will lose interest or become fatigued. That's natural.

Nothing comes easy and if it does, it never lasts. Take a break, reassess, refocus, and get back on track when you feel the urge and have the energy to do so.

The world is limitless. We put roadblocks on opportunity because our brain has a negative bias. We start to question ourselves, to question our abilities, to question the timing, and we make up things that aren't even there before we have started.

We begin to look at the risks rather than the rewards. We look at the immediate risks rather than the long-term gains.

My question for you is "What are you waiting for?" There is no starting line, no right time, no one to say "Okay you are good to go". Now is the time to start. Not this year, not this month, not this week, today. Sit down right now and work out what you want, how you are going to get there and then take action, today.

What are you waiting for? Of course you can have your cake and eat it, and there's plenty more once you have finished that piece.

Are You Ready For 2017?

Welcome to 2017. I love the beginning of the year as I look at what I want to achieve across the next 12 months. And I relish the opportunity that each new day brings.

Here's 10 tips that I have learned from successful people about how to get the most out of the year to achieve all that you want to achieve;

1. Stay true to yourself - first and foremost you must stay true to yourself. Stick rigidly to your own values, to your ethics, and to your beliefs. Don't allow others to influence these core cornerstones, stay strong and true.
2. Be flexible - while it is good to have a set of goals or a business plan to guide you and help you 'stay the course', you should also be flexible with your goals and plans. Richard Branson said it very well, "If someone asks if you can do something, say yes, then figure it out."
3. Take it one step at a time - you have your plan, your big picture, the goal of what you want to achieve. Now break it down into smaller steps and work on each step one step at a time. Every now and then look up to your plan but don't let it overawe you, only look up to see how far you have come then go back to the small step. Importantly, take that first step.
4. Maintain control of your thoughts - do not allow your brain to control your negative thoughts. We all need to worry, that's what keeps us safe. The problem is that we worry about the wrong things. Worry has been triggered by something necessary so write it down and work out what it is that underlies your worry to find the answer. Additionally, don't let jealousy creep in when you see someone getting ahead or doing something similar to what you do. Use that as motivation to do better.
5. Surround yourself with good people - look to those who have been there before you and use their experience and wisdom. Talk to them about your fears, your problems, and your worries. Collaboration is the key to success in 2017, work with others to advance each other. A word of caution on this one, take care that you choose the right people to surround yourself with. In business, strong ethics is important.
6. Learn and develop - you have to look after yourself first before you can look after others. Keep yourself up to date with the latest trends, the latest research, and the newest methods. Professional development is imperative in today's ever-changing world. Successful people train all three key areas - physical, academic and mental skills. Keep fit, study for academic qualifications and work on your mental skills associated with the thought process.
7. Keep going - perseverance is often the key. History shows us that many success stories have come from those who kept going no matter what the setback or adversity they faced. Mistakes happen, keep going. Review your goals and plans every so often to see if they remain relevant if you aren't achieving what you set out to do.
8. Believe in 'you' - Research reveals that many successful people often do not believe that they should be where they are today. They remain full of self-doubt and hold a fear that they might be found out as a fraud. This is natural. Believe in yourself and that you are where you are today because of your skills and that you are where you are today because others believed in you. You've got this!
9. Give it everything - fully commit yourself to achieve your goals or plans. "The harder I work the luckier I get" is a good mantra. Being fully committed will help to reduce self-doubt, will control your negative thoughts, and will provide the greatest opportunity for success.
10. Get the balance right - we all need to rest, to take time out, to refocus and reassess, to stay grounded. Take time off and away from your business whenever you need to. There are no hard-and-fast rules, be guided by what you 'feel' is right. There are negative consequences for working too hard; loss of enjoyment, loss of family, loss of friends, and ultimately burnout. There is little point in doing all of the above to succeed if you fall at the last hurdle from overwork.

I wish you the very best for 2017. What this year brings for you in your career or business is up to you. Make it a great year.

The Influence of Social Media.

The rise of social media has been phenomenal over recent times. I suggest more so than anyone could have predicted. Evidence is overwhelming that social media has a strong influence on us all, both positively and negatively.

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control our reward and pleasure system, is released when we use social media in certain ways. It gives us pleasure when we write something and others like it, just like I am doing now.

Dopamine is also released into our brain when we read something that resonates with us and can strongly influence our behaviour.

Social media is a wonderful tool that allows us to make contact with people instantly anywhere in the world. We can also use social media to inform and to educate, we can view and what our friends and family are doing, we can even buy products through social media.

The majority of people use social media with respect, for the most part anyway. We know which sources of information to trust and we know to search other sources to confirm what we have just viewed or read to confirm the veracity of the article if we have doubt.

The majority of us also know that if we use social media too much it can be detrimental to our mental well-being. For some however, this is not the case. For some, everything that they read IS the truth and influences their thoughts, views, and behaviour.

By example, just seven years ago when I studied radicalisation, young people who were feeling disaffected and disconnected would seek out information in a hope of finding a solution to their social disconnection. Once they identified what they thought was a solution to their dilemma, they sought people of similar minds to interact with.

Young disaffected people would go to their mosque, to university, to gymnasiums, to any place where people of similar dispositions would congregate. For the majority of those disaffected people, they would find salvation through human social connections.

To become fully radicalsied only a few years ago, there had to be human-to-human connection. This is no longer the case. Some people, the younger ones in particular, can be strongly influenced by what they read and view on social media.

Those who regulate social media have an obligation. They have an obligation to regulate and control what is distributed on their platform. If an editor of a newspaper allowed fictitious or inappropriate material to be printed, they would be held to account. The obligations on social media moderators is no different in my opinion.

Articles posted on social media should be done so with the mindset that the article WILL strongly influence the reader.

Allowing videos of people committing suicide to be uploaded, viewed and distributed on social media is one such posting that is not only abhorrent, it has the ability to influence those who may be in a similar disposition as the person in the video.

It is said that there is a fine line between freedom of speech and overbearing control. In my opinion this is an argument always used when inappropriate material is aired in a public forum. It is an argument used by those who push the boundaries of decency and respect.

In a medium that has been shown to strongly influence others, there needs to be strong control.