A couple of weeks ago, I experienced the joy of becoming a first-time grandfather. A beautiful baby boy was delivered by our first born daughter. These are the moments that define a life well lived and we are blessed that mom, dad and baby are all doing well.
The year 2014 can be a year of firsts for you too…firsts that drive your growth. Start the new year by considering how these 3 “firsts” can drive your growth performance in 2014:
1. Trust your instincts first – There is scientific evidence that “going with your gut” can lead to better decisions. What we think of as an “instinct” actually is a phenomenon called instrumental conditioning, in which one part of our brain (ventral striatum) instantaneously processes subtle contextual cues from a situation, interprets them, and suggests a course of action before we’ve even had a chance to consciously analyze what’s happening [source: Pessiglione, et al]. When you have a gut feeling about something, write it down or record it somewhere, noting your mood at the time (“Do I not want to accept this project because I might fail?”). Then, share your feelings with family or friends for their reaction.
2. Be one of the first to greet new employees – You will always be busy, but as a leader, make time to greet each new employee early in his or her own tenure. It will be an experience for them that can inspire their deeper engagement with your business and it will be an example to others that demonstrate how highly you value those who contribute to the work of your business. Welcome them, offer your future accessibility and encourage them to do more than their job – to get involved in furthering the purpose of your business.
3. Be first to take a risk – As a leader, you already know the risk-reward equation. You’re aware of your innate urge to play it safe and avoid uncertainty to preserve your business. But building a business requires creativity, initiative and risk-taking. Your team looks to you to see how seriously you consider these values. Try this process when evaluating risk: Instead of evaluating the likelihood of success, evaluate your willingness to accept the various possible outcomes. What’s the best thing that could happen? What’s the worst possible outcome? Once you’ve assessed these two scenarios, consider the converse. What’s the best thing that could happen if you don’t take the risk, and what’s the worst possible result? If the positives exceed the negatives, and the benefits of action outweigh inaction, then you can choose to act sooner rather than later.
What “firsts” could help accelerate your growth in 2014?
Could encouraging your team to consider “firsts” elevate their performance?
Get ahead in 2014 and join us for one of our transformational growth workshops:
