To view a video version of this newsletter, presented by Herrmann International’s CEO, Ann Herrmann-Nehdi, click on the image below
Edit-Undo: What Will You Undo to Get Better Results in 2010?
Many years ago, the younger of my two sons had a particularly tough day. As we processed what had happened and the inevitable consequences, he looked up at me with hope in his eyes and said:
“Mom, I just wish there were someway I could edit-undo what I did today…”
All of us can relate to that wish – the ability to “make it go away” with a wiggle of the nose or a click on our mouse.
In discussing the forthcoming year with many business leaders across the world in recent months, I have heard an interesting paradox: One of “change fatigue” mixed with a desire for more change — change that would undo the tough decisions and challenges 2009 has brought upon many.
“With negative emotions we tend to have a desire to change the situation,” said Ellen Peters, a senior scientist at Decision Research in Eugene, Ore. But “when things are good there is not much desire to change.”
So how do we use our desire to “edit-undo” as an impetus for the “right” change in 2010?
Ultimately, we can undo much of what may be on our wishlist to “go away.” Rather than think of what you will do in 2010, decide what you will not do.
Undo the negative aspect of fear to drive change, and use fear to your advantage.
Nurture your Experimental Self.
Start by recognizing that our emotional selves are subject to the impact of our fear of loss even if a risky gain is truly the best choice. In addition, the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls fear, responds faster than our cognitive selves. What are you most afraid of losing that would merit making a change?
An employee recently mentioned to me in an offhand way that the fear of losing her job had a perverse affect on her attitude about work: Never had she been so upbeat and appreciative of her situation! She “undid” her petty frustrations with the day-to-day and saw the long-term value of her employment.
Look for ways to tap into that emotional self to explore your fears, and then decide what you need to “undo” or change to assuage the fear.
Undo the clutter in your world: Tap into your Organized Self to free up physical space so you can have more mental space.
A plethora of new distractions – Twitter, RSS feeds, new gadgets, endless blog entries and videos to watch, more channels than we can count, more books than we can ever read – tempt our Experimental Selves, and we inadvertently create a permanent state of mind clutter, one that we may not even be aware of.
As a result, I often end the day feeling like my brain is overflowing and maxed out. But now I have chosen to free up my visual landscape so I can start the day with a clear mind. I recently set up a new home office and decided to “clear the decks” of all unnecessary mental “stimulus” so I could reduce that feeling of overload.
Undo unnecessary complexity in your workload by tapping into your Analytical Self.
As we have learned all too well, particularly over the past year, work can be cumulative, with more being added even when nothing drops off. The inbox never seems to empty!
A client recently shared with me that while her staff has been reduced by nearly half, her team’s workload has nearly doubled. Sound familiar? If you are in a similar situation, someone (you!) needs to stop and review the tasks and criteria for prioritization, otherwise some of the most important work will be delayed by less important tasks.
Undo interactions that drain your energy and add little value.
A huge current complaint I hear from many organization is that the sheer volume of interaction has exploded through email, IM’s, tweets, meetings, cell phone access, virtual teaming and so on.
Pay attention to your energy level throughout the day and make note of those people interactions that most drain you. Take initiative to ask the other parties involved how you might engage in a more effective way.
Figure out what you need to undo, and you might just feel better at this time next year. Good luck!
back to topIncreasing Employee Engagement and Customer Satisfaction with Whole Brain® Thinking: A Case Study
When Australian IT company Integ adopted Whole Brain® Thinking as a part of its corporate culture, it was able to ease communication problems within teams; improve teamwork, engagement and retention; and consistently deliver excellence to its customers.
An innovative “Get Red” program, which is based on the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) and Whole Brain® Model, raised awareness of the importance of customer focus and keeps momentum strong through a points-based incentive plan designed to encourage and reward customer satisfaction and effective teamwork.
Download the case study to learn more.
Harnessing the Brainpower of Whole Brain® Teams
November’s THINC™ Webinar had our highest turnout yet, as participants were eager to hear how Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is using the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument® (HBDI®) and incorporating Whole Brain® Thinking into Organizational Development initiatives to harness the full brainpower of teams.
Presenter Yvonne Gaines, OD Consultant at Memorial Sloan–Kettering, also answered a variety of participant questions related to measurement, implementation, senior–level buy–in and her experiences with The Herrmann® Solution Model.
Certified Practitioners can access the recorded archive of this informative webinar by logging into the Practitioner Area of the Herrmann International website. A link to the archive is available in the Practitioner Resources section.
If you are not a Certified Practitioner but would like to view the recorded webinar, please contact us at 800-432-4234 (press 6) or service@hbdi.com.
Interested in becoming certified? View the online calendar for upcoming Certification Workshops in your area.
What’s On Your Bookshelf?
Did you know that experts in a variety of learning, business, scientific and personal development fields reference Herrmann International’s HBDI® and Whole Brain® Model in their publications?
We have recently updated the list of books on our website that cite Herrmann® tools and methodologies. You’ll find a wide range of publications addressing subjects from innovation, creativity and problem solving to learning design, leadership, project management and sales. Browse the list to get links to useful information and inspiration for the new year!
back to topComplimentary Webinar: Get Strategic and Get More Done
Today we are all bombarded with complex challenges, conflicting priorities, heightened demands and expectations that are greater than ever. We need to think strategically and get everything done faster – even as critical resources are dwindling. The question we all ask ourselves daily: how do you juggle today's hectic pace while keeping an eye on the future?
As part of Training Magazine's “Provocative Ideas” complimentary webinar series, Herrmann International’s CEO, Ann Herrmann–Nehdi, will decode C-level thinking to help you learn how to leverage full brainpower – your own and your team members' — for increased productivity and strategic results.
Webinar Details:
Get Strategic and Get More Done: 4 Secrets of the C-Level Brain
Speaker: Ann Herrmann–Nehdi, CEO of Herrmann International
Date: January 7, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM EST
TO REGISTER: Visit the Training Magazine Network (free website registration required)
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Recent News on Thinking and the Brain
- Why does a company embrace one innovative idea but shun another? Recent research by Wharton professor of management Felipe Monteiro looks for the answer in how and why new knowledge spreads within firms. “A company's success,” he says, “is ultimately less about the availability of innovative ideas and more about the human beings who need to share them.”
- How did you innovate this year? Get inspired by Popular Science’s list of top innovations for 2009: http://www.popsci.com/bown/2009
- Ongoing research by the Danish Interacting Minds project shows that two people’s brains “become a single complex system” in certain social interactions. According to the project's leader, Andreas Roepstorff, “We know something about how the brain models the world, but we need to know a great deal more about how our brains model other people's models of the world.” The project seeks to help us understand how our brains build social worlds.
- Herrmann International's partnership with IBM in developing the online simulation program, the Thinking Accelerator™ featuring HBDIinteractive™, is featured in the December issue of Chief Learning Officer Magazine. Herrmann International received the magazine's 2009 Silver Excellence in Practice Award for Excellence in Content.
Become a Herrmann HBDI® Certified Practitioner: The 2010 Herrmann International Certification Calendar
Join the ranks of the Herrmann HBDI® Certified Practitioners!
January 27 — 28: HBDI® Certification — Level II
Location – Atlanta, GA
February 9 — 12: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – Washington, DC (Dulles, VA)
February 23 — 26: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – Surrey, UK
April 20 — 23: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – Knoxville, TN
June 15 — 18: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – New York, NY
August 24 — 27: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – Atlanta, GA
September 21 — 24: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – Surrey, UK
October 26 — 29: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – Dallas, TX
December 7 — 10: Herrmann HBDI® Certification
Location – San Francisco, CA
Our certification workshops fill up rapidly. Be sure to register early in order to reserve your spot. And remember to check the Herrmann International website for the latest additions and updates to the schedule.
For detailed location and registration information, please e-mail service@hbdi.com or call 1-800-432-4234 and select option 6 for client services.
back to topGet Social with Herrmann International
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