The Modern Observer Group

Oct162020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

How To Increase Your Versatility

Versatility is a key leadership trait. Managers must have the capacity to read and respond to change with a wide repertoire of skills and behaviors. So how can you actually build this ability? Start by soliciting feedback from trusted colleagues. Ask a simple question like, “What should I start doing, stop doing, or continue doing to be a more effective teammate?” You might also take a more systematic approach and complete a personality assessment to gauge your strengths and weaknesses. Follow up by asking colleagues if they agree with the results. Learn some new habits from people you respect. Set up a meeting with a colleague who has different strengths than you to pick their brain. Your goal is to learn to see things from their perspective, so come with…

Sep162020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

Stop Comparing Yourself to Your Peers

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

One of the benefits of social media is that it allows us to stay connected to old friends and former colleagues. But sometimes seeing other people’s successes can make us feel competitive — or even like we’re falling behind. There are a few strategies you can deploy to fight this uncomfortable feeling. Track your triggers. Identify what drives you to compare yourself to others. For example, is there a specific friend or colleague whose accomplishments make you feel insecure? Reframe your thoughts. Instead of thinking of yourself as competing against that person, look at their accomplishments objectively. What can you learn from their progress? Counteract your self-doubt by doing something you're good at — it'll help you regain confidence and perhaps momentum toward your own goals. Let go of the…

Sep112020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

To Change Your Behavior, Imagine Your Future Self

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

Many of us think that the person we are today is the person we’ll always be. We cling to labels like “I’m an introvert,” or “I’m not good with people.” But that type of thinking leaves little room for growth. The reality is that we can and do change. Don’t be so wedded to who you are today. Instead, intentionally focus on who you want to be. Start by recognizing how much you’ve grown and changed from your former self. This will serve as a reminder that growth is possible. Imagine who you want to be in the future. Maybe you want to be more comfortable chatting with new people, or more confident in your professional skills. Keep that vision of yourself top of mind. Research shows that your behavior…

Aug312020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

Don’t Cross The Line Between Confident And Arrogant

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

Businesspeople need to be confident. They need to project that they know what they are talking about and can provide you with what you need better than anyone else. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. That line can be the difference between building a strong relationship with a potential customer and chasing one away. Knowing your capabilities is the key to being confident. When you know what you can do and know that you are good at what you do, you project confidence. Confidence becomes arrogance when your belief in yourself becomes exaggerated. This happens mostly when you are not truly confident in your abilities and exaggerate what you can do. The difference between the two can be shown by the following: Arrogance breeds superiority, while confidence…

Aug192020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

The Faintest Ink Is Better Than The Best Memory

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

This is not the blog post I intended to write. During a meeting, I had an idea for a blog post. I did not write the idea down. By the time the meeting was over, I could not remember what the idea was. This triggered the idea for this blog post: the importance of writing things down. Your brain has no sense of time or priority. It thinks that everything it remembers is of equal importance and must be acted on now. This causes mental stress, which in turn causes you to forget. The best way to relieve that stress is to write things down. It doesn't matter if you use a pad and pen, a to-do list program, or email yourself a note. The point is to get the…

Aug142020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

Take These Steps To Reduce Burnout

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

If you’re feeling burned out right now, you’re not alone. The good news is that you can do something about it. First, seek out support from a good friend, family member, therapist, or coach. It’s hard to make decisions when you’re exhausted, so find someone who can challenge your thinking and give you another perspective. They might even help you identify patterns in your behavior. Next, get clarity on your priorities. You may need to delegate or say no to projects that don’t serve you in the long run. Finally, prioritize healthy eating, exercise, and sleep. Schedule in lunch breaks and stop your workday at a reasonable time. Use all of your vacation time. And examine your work environment. Burnout is often a result of a mismatch between demands of…

Aug122020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

Overcome Your Fear of Making Mistakes

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

The fear of making a mistake can be paralyzing in normal times, and it’s even worse when we’re living through a period of heightened uncertainty. But there are things you can do to get unstuck. Start by naming your thoughts and feelings. For example, if you work in retail right now, you might be worried about making mistakes around reopening. Try to pinpoint your specific concern. Maybe it’s something like: “I feel anxious about the safety of my customers and my staff.” Stating your fears helps diffuse them. Next, try to accept reality by making a list of truths you might need to come to grips with, such as: “I understand that people will not always behave in ideal ways.” Finally, think about how you can act on your values…

Aug102020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

You’re Out For Yourself. That’s Okay.

Attitude and Mindset, Featured

In "The Maltese Falcon" Caspar Gutman tells Sam Spade, "I do like a man who tells you right out he's looking out for himself. Don't we all? I don't trust a man who says he's not." We are all out for ourselves. The difference between being out for ourselves and being selfish is how you go about your business. There is a big difference between being selfish and "enlightened self-interest." When we do out jobs well or help someone out, we gain. Iy could be a feeling of accomplishment or pride. It could simply be our salary. It is human nature to want something for themselves. What holds people back is the impression that they need to be selfless. No is completely selfless. You don't need to feel guilty about that.…

Jul152020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

Increase Your Ability To Handle Uncertainty

Attitude and Mindset, Featured, Improvement

We are all dealing with unprecedented — and seemingly endless — uncertainty right now. While you may not have as much clarity as you’d like, you can avoid feeling disoriented by developing your “uncertainty capability” and reframing your outlook on the unknown. Some common reframes include: Learning. Ask yourself what you can learn from the situation rather than automatically viewing it as a setback.Games. Remember that you win some and lose some. You can think of things as a game. During a particularly challenging period, a friend of mine and I looked at things as a boxing match. Each week was one round and we would evaluate whether we won the round by how the week went. The important thing was that we geared up for the next round.Gratitude. Recognize what you already have…

Jul82020 by Modern Observer GroupNo Comments

What Do You Have For Breakfast?

Attitude and Mindset, Featured, Process

For most Americans, breakfast consists of eggs, cereal, toast, fruit, a muffin, a smoothie, or something similar. We tend to get locked into habits that were created long ago. Most Americans don't consider having fish, rice, beans, etc. for breakfast even though they are common in other cultures. Our breakfast habits are deeply ingrained. The same goes for our work habits. People tend to follow the same routine. doing things the same way over and over. Having a process is necessary, but you also have to examine what you are doing. Don't let following a process turn into a rut. Whether in your work or your personal life, you need to change things up. Try something new: Whether it is having something new for breakfast, trying new food or going…