An unexpected boost to career progress
Our lives tend to intensify just before Christmas, and things can get a bit tense at work. It’s a time when all that work we have put into building relationships and honing our communication skills can really pay off. But whether or not you are on top of your communications game, there’s a simple mindset shift you can choose that can wind back the tensions.
A change in thought
At Christmas time in 1956, a small bear with a suitcase of marmalade was found on the platform at London’s Paddington Railway Station. In return for being taken in and cared for, he gave us some profound one-liners, including, “If you look for the good in people, you will find it.”
That’s good advice for work too. Our clients often comment on how quickly things change for the better when they are more appreciative of others in their workplace. Simon’s experience shows why this small piece of culture-building wisdom has found an enduring place in leadership training around the world.
When he was overlooked a second time for promotion to C-level in the law firm where he worked, Simon began to have second thoughts about his position. Even though this advancement to the leadership team had been mentioned when he was recruited, he felt he was not being fairly treated and began looking around for a possible career change – or at least a change to a more appreciative employer.
We use various feedback processes to gain an understanding of what’s going on in a client’s situation, and in one, buried among all the positive points, was a brief comment from a colleague that Simon’s communication style could be a little abrupt.
Starting the Process
Exploring this feedback with him, Frances suggested it might hold a key and pointed out a couple of times in conversation with her when he had made critical remarks about senior management. She suggested he try adjusting his mindset a little as an experiment. His task would be to stop making any negative remarks about people and establish a daily practice of looking for the good (thank you, Paddington) – especially in people who struck him as difficult in some way.
Simon took it on. He thought particularly about his experience with one of the senior managers whom he described as “a bit dismissive and abrupt”. As he thought further, he realised he had a lot at stake in sticking with this firm, and he was grateful that this person had actually supported his employment in the beginning. Simon also noticed other desirable qualities this person had, such as being a stickler for detail – a very important quality in the legal work Simon was engaged in.
Tracking News of Difference
So, in the spirit of Paddington, the last thing he did each day before closing his PC was make a few notes about things he appreciated about this manager. This daily practice is called tracking News of Difference (NOD). It is an important skill you can develop for changing your mindset for better results.
The fact is that it’s easy to think about ideas like this, but it can be hard to act on them consistently. Most of us are simply not very skilled at consciously changing how we think about people.
The remarkable thing about tracking NOD – documenting what you do and what happens as a result – is that it increases your ability to notice and change your mindset. The good news is that the benefits of strengthening this skill will be found all over your life.
Results
For Simon, systematically tracking and managing what he thought (and expressed) produced dramatic results. He immediately started to feel happier at work, more relaxed and confident. About three weeks later, he was invited to join the senior leadership team.
So, why not give Paddington’s advice a try? It can be a great Christmas gift to yourself and all those you work with.
Have a great Summer!
Max and Frances
P.S. If you’ve found this helpful, please pass it on …