What Important Task Have You Been Putting Off?

We all do it. While we think we are busy doing “Must do activities,” we are putting off dealing with something really important. Often, it’s not a work related task. It may have to do with health, key relationships or finances. This week identify an important task you may be putting off. Here are a few tips on how to get to what you have been avoiding:

1. First determine what it is. Maybe you’ve forgotten, so you may need to ask your friends, family or coworker to remind you.
2. Write down what it is you have to do and tape it to your mirror.
3. If it’s complicated, do the first step. For example if you have to call an old friend who’s been ill, look up his or her phone number and write that down.
4. Assign yourself a deadline and share your commitment with someone else.
5. If you’re still avoiding doing the task, put off doing something you like, such as watching your favorite tv show, until you have done the task you have been avoiding.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

Give Back

“We are such spendthrifts with our lives,” Paul Newman once told a reporter. “The trick of living is to slip on and off the planet with the least fuss you can muster. I’m not running for sainthood. I just happen to think that in life we need to be a little like the farmer who puts back into the soil what he takes out.” I’ve seen many examples of folks giving back to their community. Have you done enough yourself, to “put back what you have taken out”? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. What am I doing today to give back?

2. As you become more successful, what is your dream about how to give back to society?

3. How will you plant the seeds today to replenish what you have been given in life?

4. How will you teach your children the importance of giving back?

5. What example are you setting for your children and coworkers about the importance of giving back?

I’m interested in hearing your stories of ways you have been inspired by people “giving back”. 

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

You can find more tips in Balanced Leadership.

Write Someone Up This Week...And Make Their Day!

Employees fear being “written up”, but what if you wrote someone a positive “write-up”? Wouldn't it make them feel great? Here are a few of my ideas...and I’d love to hear your ideas as well.

1. Write someone a recommendation on Linked In.

2. Write something positive to put in their file.

3. Write a hand written note of appreciation.

4. Buy them tickets or a gift certificate to  convey your appreciation.

5. Extend this idea from an employee to a friend or family member.

Please share your ideas about positive ways to “write someone up”. Let’s start a movement to promote positive “write-ups”.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

How To Resolve A Dispute

Here are some guidelines from Kenneth Feinberg, one of the world’s foremost dispute mediators, on how to resolve a dispute:

1. Know the facts

2. Be dogged about trying to reach an equitable solution

3. Keep an open mind

4. Be creative in getting to “Yes”

5. A very important, basic proposition: Put yourself in the other person’s shoes

Additionally from Dr. Rob’s personal experience with dispute resolution:

1. Check your emotions at the door

2. If you feel that your emotions are trumping your clear thinking, take a time out. After composing yourself, write down what you want to achieve and what the other person wants to achieve.

3. Also, write down your emotional impediments to being able to get to “Yes”

Please share your best practices on how to resolve a dispute.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

Criticism: You Don’t Like It, But You Can Learn To Handle It

A few tips to handle criticism:

1. Hear it clearly: be sure you understand what the criticism is

2. Hold back Mr. Defensive who runs in to counter the criticism

3. Also hold back Mr. Counter Attack: criticism is not necessarily an attack on you

4. Apologize without using the “yes…but”     response

5. Commit to correct the behavior

6. Knowing how tough it is to handle criticism, consider avoiding criticizing others

I’m interested in hearing what advice you have to handle criticism.

Coach Rob Pasick

Email: rob@leadersconnect.com

Website: www.robertpasick.com

Dr. Rob Interactive

For the past several months, I’ve been sending out my Monday Tips. These tips have been my ideas but I realize there’s far more wisdom from others who read these posts. This year I plan to highlight contributions from my readers. I would be interested in items like: your five rules for living, best tips on managing a particular       challenge, etc. I look forward to seeing your suggestions for Monday Tips.

Here is an example from David Ross, Founder and CEO of Micro Video in Ann Arbor. Dave has been a successful investor for most of his life. Here are his three rules on investment risk:

1. Don't take big risks for small potential gains.

2. Don't risk more than you can lose.

3. Understand the probabilities.

With the economic pressures so intense today, I would appreciate receiving other ideas on how to manage money. I will include them in a future post.

Coach Rob

rob@leadersconnect.com

www.robertpasick.com

Old Dog, Lucy’s, Tips for Surviving A Hot Summer Day

Dr. Rob's old dog, Lucy's, tips for surviving on a hot summer day:

1. Get up when you feel like it.

2. Stretch first thing.

3. Get someone to take you for a long slow walk.

4. Eat a low-carb breakfast.

5. Go for a swim and be sure to chase the ducks.

6. Take a nap in the shade.

7. Nuzzle near somebody you love.

8. Go for another swim but leave the ducks alone.

9. Keep drinking lots of liquids (alcohol only for non- dogs).

10. Watch the Northern Lights…and sleep well.

For more tips see  http://www.readthespirit.com/book-for-dog-lovers/ or like Conversations With My Old Dog on Facebook.

Coach Rob Pasick

Email: rob@leadersconnect.com

Website: www.robertpasick.com