Friday's question ...
Will you stop being an Ostrich?
In Steven Bartlett's book, Diary of a CEO, one of the rules is, "Don't be an Ostrich."
I love this ... and it's going to my new message (for myself) and others!
Face Problems Head-On: confront your problems directly instead of ignoring them. Acknowledge issues as soon as they arise, rather than burying one's head in the sand like an ostrich.
- Prevent them from escalating into larger, more complex challenges.
Embrace Discomfort for Growth: growth often comes from uncomfortable situations. Avoiding difficult conversations, feedback, or decisions can hinder personal and professional development.
- Embrace your discomforts, as they provide valuable learning opportunities and pave the way for improvement and success.
Proactive Problem-Solving: be proactive rather than reactive. Take a forward-thinking approach to identify potential issues before they become crises.
- Assess your situation, anticipate future challenges, and prepare strategies to address them effectively.
"Don't be an Ostrich" and relish in resilience, continuous growth, and a proactive mindset.
I recently made a bold move ...
I’ve recently made a bold move—I’ve decided to delete my Audible account. Although I'm a huge fan of diving deep into both books and audiobooks, I've pivoted towards a new auditory love: podcasts. And what a serendipitous twist of fate it was that my final audiobook from Audible, recommended by none other than my friend Robyn, was The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett, a luminary in the podcasting realm.
This book feels like striking gold. The 33 Laws of Business & Life is turning out to be more than just reading material; it's a masterclass in personal and professional growth. As I listen, Steven’s insights on self-awareness, curiosity, forging meaningful relationships, setting impactful goals, and mastering adaptability resonate deeply. It’s like having a mentor in your ear.
Currently, I'm absorbed in a chapter about the intriguing interplay between contemporary marketing strategies and brain science, along with psychology. It's a mesmerizing dive into how the absurd can capture attention, the nuances of language overexposure, the psychology of habituation, and crafting the illusion of value. Each concept is a revelation in its own right.
This book raises an interesting question: Will you join me in exploring these insights through Bartlett’s words, or does the dynamic, spontaneous nature of his podcasts sound more appealing?
As I continue this journey of decluttering my physical library, I realize my attachment to holding books is waning. The fresh, cutting-edge knowledge I'm gaining from more current sources like podcasts is incredibly fulfilling. Perhaps, in this digital age of ours, letting go of the old to make room for the new is not just necessary—it's exhilarating.
Side note - I wrote this quick article and then asked CharGPT to make it more interesting. And … this is the result. I have no issue is using AI to make my writing more effective. What about you?
Social Leadership and Societal Leadership - What Business Owners need to deploy
Operating a business that employs staff is accompanied by the role and responsibilities of leadership.
Given the spotlight of inaction relating to violence against women, two of these leadership practices, Societal and Social, enable you to lead your business through this turbulent environment.
Being socially responsible in a concerned society requires the application of two skills, Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Intelligence. Both enable trust-building conversations to subdue memories, personal conflict and trauma potentially experienced by your staff. No doubt, causing overwhelm.
It’s unacceptable to ignore and distance yourself as violence against women is a societal issue. Your workplace isn’t immune.
It’s vital as a business owner, to consider:
🔸How your people feel whilst continuing with their daily activities.
🔸How media exposure impacts their ability to work and perform.
🔸How you’re expecting employees to function ‘normally’ with alerted safety concerns.
🔸How you’ll contribute to a safer society for women.
In your business, this could be
· the perfect opportunity to make it known that your workplace, your business/organisation, could be the safest place to be or belong to.
· the right time to collectively contribute and commit to new norms and behaviours about being supportive colleagues who don’t condone violence against women.
· the best time to encourage staff to ask for help.
Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need information to help have these conversations.