Performing Under Pressure

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No one is immune from freezing during high-pressure moments at work. Maybe you lose your voice or your ability to think straight when speaking with an important client, manager, or audience. That’s normal, but also preventable. To set yourself up for success in your next big moment at work, use visualization. Bring to mind your previous successes to remind yourself that you have what it takes. This will reduce your anxiety and boost your comfort level.

Next, visualize the upcoming moment in as much detail as you can. What will it look and feel like to walk into your manager’s office and ask for that raise? How do the lights feel as you walk out in front of the audience, into the boardroom, onto the stage, or even sign on to Zoom? What will be the first words you say? You might develop a short ritual — such as a breathing exercise, repeating a phrase or mantra, listening to a particular song, or sipping a favorite tea — that can get you in the right mindset to get through those first nerve-wracking moments before autopilot kicks in. Once you’ve got a routine you’re comfortable with, you can use it whenever you need to.

Finally, consider simply writing down your fears ahead of time. Doing so can help to both normalize them and make them seem not so daunting after all.

Get up and dance…

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Get up and dance to the tune to learn and succeed. 

Yes, you will feel shy,

Yes, you will feel uncomfortable,

Yes, you will fail,

Yes, you will want to save your face,

But without the dance, nothing will ever happen. 

So imbibe it, learn it, and be good at it.

Because more than the dance sometimes it’s the effort to get up and dance counts.

Are we impacting…

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Sometimes in the race, we forget to ask,

Are we making an impact? 

To our life, to other’s life, to any life at all? And is the impact good or bad?

Whether the impact is on your family, peers or subordinates.

Let’s try and make a positive impact in other’s life.

Integrate Learning and Development into Your Employees’ Workflow

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As a manager, one of your biggest responsibilities is to foster your employees’ learning and development. 

The best way to do that? Make growth an integrated part of their work lives. Try organizing regular “learning meetings” — simply setting aside a small amount of time for your team to learn and discuss a new concept, framework, or skill. A collective, conversational approach to learning is more likely to help your employees retain and apply new information.

Next, use little nudges, such as short emails or daily Slack reminders, to reinforce the content of your learning meetings. These messages can encourage your people to use what they’ve learned in real-world situations.

Finally, measure progress. This means conducting assessments to understand your employees’ learning experiences, as well as tracking real-time changes in their habits, behaviors, and outputs.

Become a More Collaborative Leader

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Effective leadership, especially during times of change and uncertainty, requires collaboration. Here’s how you can develop this crucial skill.

First, look for clues about what works (and what doesn’t) in your organization’s culture. In meetings, pay attention to the most influential leaders and observe how they communicate. Is their approach different from yours? When you understand the “rules” of the game, you’ll be in a much better position to play it.

Next, when advocating for a project, choose your battles wisely. Pick a project, workflow, or area where you have strong allies and expertise. Those are the areas most ripe for effective collaboration. As you pursue your initiative, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Seek input and suggestions from your colleagues and reports to understand better how your approach is being perceived—and what you can do next time to be more effective. Your goal is to build coalitions to gain support for your ideas and create a sense of shared ownership over the project.

Finally, be open to others’ perspectives. Remember: To gain influence, you must also be open to being influenced.

Shallow work vs. Deep work…

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Shallow work kills you, it keeps you busy without taking you anywhere.

Deep work enthralls you, it keeps you on your toes with childlike curiosity.

Shallow work is easy to achieve, you can do multi-tasking giving a false sense of success.

Deep work is hard to achieve, you can solve big problems once in the zone.

Shallow work at the end of the day tires you as you have lifted many tons of weight with no output.

Deep work at the end of the day makes you happy, and joyful and lifts up your spirits.

Fight for Deep work and avoid Shallow work.

Make Time to Connect with Your Colleagues

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You’re busy at work, but it’s important that you make time to connect with your colleagues. Here’s how to build connection opportunities into the flow of your workday.

First, take some time at the beginning of meetings for an unstructured catch-up. You don’t need to spend the whole time on personal updates, but reserving even five minutes to ask about a coworker’s recent vacation, new puppy, or child’s graduation can make a big difference.

Next, use your transitional break times to informally socialize: Grab a bite to eat with colleagues over your lunch break once or twice a week; set up a 15-minute virtual coffee chat with a coworker you rarely get a chance to see in person; or make informal phone calls during your commute to work. Even a five- to 10-minute conversation with a colleague can increase your rapport and, more importantly, show them that you care.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of virtual messaging. Consider pinging your work buddy at times when you would have said “Hello!” in the office—like when you’re waiting for a meeting to start or taking a break for lunch.

Casual vs. Due Diligence

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Casual efforts alone rarely lead to success. While informal discussions with friends can be a wellspring of inspiration, they’re just the starting point for you. Without the subsequent application of due diligence—rigorous research and committed effort—ideas remain nothing more than potential. It’s crucial for you to remember that generating ideas is merely a fraction of the journey toward accomplishment. What truly sets you apart is not just the novelty of your ideas, but your capacity to apply diligence.

Valuing yourself for more than just generating casual ideas is crucial. Instead, recognizing the significance of your diligence and dedication to the task at hand is what truly distinguishes you. This emphasis on thoroughness ensures that ideas aren’t just left in the realm of thought, but are pursued and realized, ultimately leading to meaningful success.

What’s the expected?

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If u can’t communicate to yourself and others what’s ur expectations…it’s impossible to achieve.

So the first move is to know what’s ur expectations with you!

Second is to set others’ expectations according to yours

And then set the final action plan.

As soon as we have done this half our work is completed towards whatever we are expecting.

Clarity of purpose fuels success…

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In the vibrant city of Bangalore, there lived a man named Raj. Each day, with the rising sun, he would greet the world armed with a meticulously crafted to-do list, ready to take on the day’s challenges. This routine had become a yearly tradition, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of incremental progress.

One bright morning, as he gazed out of his window at the dawning day, a wave of introspection washed over him. He questioned himself, “Why, despite my efforts, do I seem to be standing still? Why haven’t I achieved what I aspire to?”

Raj pondered these questions, seeking answers within himself. Was it a lack of hard work? No, he worked diligently day in and day out. Was it a dearth of connections or a fear of past failures? Again, he concluded, it wasn’t.

As he delved deeper into his thoughts, it dawned on him. The missing piece wasn’t effort, history, or connections—it was a clear, unwavering goal, a singular vision, a defined direction that pulsed with purpose.

With newfound determination, Raj set out to uncover this elusive vision. He knew that within this clarity lay the key to his ultimate success. It wouldn’t come easy; he would need to battle doubt, navigate uncertainty, and forge his own path. Yet, he was willing to fight for it.

Weeks turned into months, and slowly but surely, the mist of uncertainty began to lift. Raj’s vision crystallized, and he embraced it with fervor. With each step forward, he could feel the energy and momentum building.

In the end, it wasn’t merely luck that guided him. It was the unwavering focus on that one goal, that one vision, that propelled him forward. The city around him buzzed with life, but within Raj, there was a quiet, resolute force propelling him toward his destiny.

And as time passed, Raj’s journey became a testament to the power of having a clear purpose. He learned that in the grand tapestry of life, it’s not just about crossing off tasks on a list, but about channeling your energy towards a singular, meaningful direction. It’s in this pursuit that true success is found.