Clive Littin's articles from Holistic Health Articleshttp://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:39:11 EDTHolisticHealthArticles.com http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/9545/404/How-To-Control-Your-Bottom-Line-By-Showing-You-Care.html
I know a man who's been in business all his life And he still doesn't know how to listen Sure, he's not bad at some other skills but listening ain't one of them

This guy is a good operational manager but a poor relational manager I suspect if he doesn't change, he'll be out of business this year

Another senior manager in a large organisation told me recently: "I don't trust anyone in this business " I find that most alarming How is that business being managed? How's their bottom line gong I wonder?

If I'm reading the writing on the wall correctly, the day has arrived, for business leaders to check out, get feedback, spruce up and polish the basic people skills they must have to manage today's workforce profitably

These are simple human skills which, for too long, have been regarded as 'soft' and therefore neglected And that has been to our peril These are the 'emotionally intelligent' skills that I would expect a young person to have

A business leader who doesn't have a practised mix of 'bedside manner' and tough love will not hang on to his/her best talent for long

I asked the young girl in a store the other day: "What's it like working here?"
Her reply wasn't what I was expecting: "My feet hurt", she said quietly
"Huh?" was my intelligent reply
"They won't let me wear comfortable shoes I've been here two years and I'm leaving "

I discovered that the poor girl had tried a number of times to improve her foot comfort by talking with her manager but she met a brick wall each time Now her departure is going to cost the Company a lot of money replacing her

So exactly where have we been neglectful? What do we need to do differently to and grow our bottom line?

I think most managers have a reasonable understanding of the sorts of things employees want But if you put all your employees needs into into one basket and shake it, one fundamental need will fall out: "Do you really care about me?"

I have a bag full of sorry stories that won't make you smile Stories like the one above, across the country, are costing our businesses approximately three and a half billion a year (About the same amount the Government hopes to accrue by increasing our goods and services tax!)

Now, just to make sure you get my point I've assembled a cluster of simple questions you might like to review over your lunchtime sandwich:

+ Do you really appreciate your employees' contribution to your business?
+ You do? How do you show that appreciation? Are you known for it?
+ Do you give your team real opportunities to develop their potential?
+ Do you help them understand and accomplish their role?
+ Do you recognise and reward employees' effort appropriately?
+ Do you allow them flexibility?
+ Do you give your workforce the resources they need to do a good job?
+ Do you encourage and listen to their ideas?
+ Do you take them seriously?
+ Do you give them current, positive, personal feedback on their performance?

These are some of the better things you can do to engage your teams These kind of 'personal skills' will not just save you thousands but you will have the satisfaction that your workforce actually enjoy giving you their effort and will hang around for quite a while


Clive Littin is a teacher, trainer, spiritual guide, personal and business Coach. He's been in the field thirty years. He makes a point of keeping his teaching practical, real and simple. Clive's passion is in giving support to human relationships. Both in the home and the work environment.

His theme is 'ENGAGEMENT'. It is engagement that is the glue of every relationship he says.
Clive has just completed a three year project on Employee Engagement and has put together a powerful presentation called: 'Elevate Employee Engagement'. If you'd like to know more, drop him a line:
clive@getacoach.co.nz
http://www.clivelittin.com
http://www.clivelittin.com/elevate
http://www.getacoach.co.nz

Clive also offers you a complimentary report: '77 Ideas for Recognition & Reward of Your Employees.']]> http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/9545/404/How-To-Control-Your-Bottom-Line-By-Showing-You-Care.html http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1165/381/The-Extraordinary-Power-of-Appreciation.html
The other day I walked into a local shop to buy some curtains
I announced my entrance with the words: "Good morning ladies, how are things?"
Wendy the manager piped up: "Wouldn't mind a raise!" I smiled: "Wendy, what would you really like? Without hesitation she quipped: "Well a 'thank you' from the boss would go a long way' Wendy hit the nail on the head, quite innocently she was referring to the hugely underestimated power of showing appreciation The gratitude effect

It's no secret that entire industries like fashion, jewellery, cosmetics flourish fabulously because they are built on our deep desire to be noticed and appreciated We want to look nice, smell nice and attract attention It helps us feel good We like being noticed because that's how we get into friendships and relationships We're social creatures!

On the other hand, the quickest way to annoy or upset someone is to ignore them My mother taught me this lesson when I was a child Kids tease and taunt each other One day when I came home upset from school I remember her saying: "Just ignore them dear and they'll go away " She was right It worked

Let's get back to noticing I have a little mantra It goes: 'Gratitude is the glue of connection ' When I reveal my gratitude and appreciation I let others know that I am noticing, valuing and admiring them Isn't this how we build friendships?
When I say or do things that acknowledge your contribution to my life I want you to know that I have noticed and genuinely appreciate you I don't want you to feel ignored and go away

These days we're living under the constant pressure of trying to achieve more, achieve it faster and sometimes with fewer resources As a result our work is strained, our relationships are stretched and our sense of connection with each other is weakened

Challenging times like ours provide us with opportunities to discover the real value of recognition, both at work and on the home front


Perhaps you are aware of feeling a little 'disengagement' at work - or at home for that matter? Seeing your effort going unacknowledged is awful When a child feels that you are not paying attention they sure let you know! We adults are no different except we don't usually make quite as much noise, we just disengage Noticing and expressing appreciation dissolves discontent quicker than anything Test it and see for yourself ! Deliberate recognition works wonders because it is so fundamental to our human nature Mother Teresa knew this when she famously said: "There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread "

A little while ago I met Tim(36), married three years, one small child Tim told me his marriage was struggling "When did you last say something nice to your wife?" I casually enquired He looked puzzled and said: "Like what?" I hope he didn't notice how far my jaw dropped But our short conversation did inspire me to write So for all the 'Tim's and perhaps all the 'Tina's' in the world here's a few starters for you
"Hey, thanks for that "
"You're always so thoughtful "
"I like what you've done "
"Thank you "
"You've done more than I expected "
"I really appreciate the way you "
"Thanks for taking an interest "
"Gosh, you were quick! "
"It looks great "
"Thanks for doing that for me "
"You look great "
"Thanks, that was nice "

I reckon if you just pick one like 'thank you' and work on that for a month your relationships will improve noticeably There was a headline in the paper recently: '"he path to success is paved with thank you's" However, it feels like most of the people I meet casually every day behave as though they've never learned the word 'thank you ' In my view, nothing beats the lasting value of an authentic 'thank you ' I saw a headline the other day: "The path to success is paved with thank you's" What about building a 'thank you' culture into your place or work and in your home?



Clive Littin is a professional speaker, life coach and trainer. He is passionate about promoting acknowledgement and appreciation in the workplace. His latest book is called 'How To Appreciate Your Way To Fame and Fortune' and is available here:
clive littin
Clive also specialises in Ezi-Kaizen (lean efficiencies) for small business and 80/20 Coaching and workshops. You can contact him here: info@clivelittin.com


]]> http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1165/381/The-Extraordinary-Power-of-Appreciation.html http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1968/406/Would-You-Like-To-Put-A-Stop-To-Putting-It-Off.html
Would You Like To Put A Stop To Putting It Off?

It's the easiest thing in the world And it drives me up the wall There, I've admitted it My patience is truly tested when people around me put things off - they procrastinate!

You see, some years ago I joined a very, very select club It's members are well organised, efficient and arrogant Yep that's us Our members just can't get a grasp on why anyone would want to procrastinate It just doesn't make sense We all agree, it's 'the thief of time' and not only that, but personally I reckon it also drains the energy out of you

Actually, I think an undone task is a distraction It hangs over you like a dark cloud that's going to rain down on you any minute Please don't laugh I see it all the time

That's why we formed the "DO-IT-NOW" Club We don't have many members yet, but we're optimistic We teach our new members that the habit of procrastination eventually wears down your self confidence They don't believe us at first But they come round

Our Club is especially keen to welcome new members who are what we call 'sneaky procrastinators' They go around pretending that everything's fine when it's not They probably have a cupboard full of unfinished projects tucked away somewhere

Now to show that we do have a heart we've drawn up a list of a dozen reasons why we think people put things off The club has given me permission to share the list with you

Twelve good reason to put things off:
1 The task doesn't seem relevant to you
2 You have a definite lack of interest in the task
3 The standards of performance are set too high
4 You are worried about what others might think if you don't do it right
5 You're not quite sure what you're supposed to be doing
6 You have definite fear of failing
7 You're riddled with self-doubt today
8 You don't think you have the ability to complete the task
9 You need more information
10 Too tired
11 Forgot
12 Poor environmental conditions (Too cold, too hot, poor ventilation, poor lighting )

I bet you found yourself identifying with a couple of those ideas at least They all sound pretty reasonable - at first But just incase you're starting to feel a tad uncomfortable I'm going to share with you now ten sensible solutions to the problem of putting things off

Ten Sensible Solutions:
1 Clearly identify the obstacles that are holding you back
2 What information or tools do you need to finish the task?
3 Set a clear goal for completion with a deadline if necessary
4 Approve of yourself Stop looking to others for validation if you don't give it to yourself first
5 Are your working standards realistic? Perhaps you've bitten off more than you can chew?
6 Delegate "What can I delegate today?"
7 Teach yourself to touch-type!
8 Divide and conquer! Break the task down into 'baby steps'
9 Reward yourself more often when you complete a task that you were reluctant to take on in the first place
10 Embed this Mantra into your mind and heart: "I am a do-it-now person!"

If you're feeling a little bit excited now, having read all that, it's probably time you joined our club!



Clive Littin is a professional speaker, life coach and trainer. He is passionate about promoting recogntion and appreciation in the workplace. His latest book is called 'How To Appreciate Your Way To Fame and Fortune'
Clive has been busy writing some digital summaries to address key life skills like listening and building confidence. Clive also presents the Ezi-Kaizen formula for small business and the brilliant 80/20 Rule in his Coaching and workshops. You can contact him here: clive@getacoach.co.nz
His website is:
http://www.clivelittin.com


]]> http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1968/406/Would-You-Like-To-Put-A-Stop-To-Putting-It-Off.html http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1887/288/Where-You-Look-Is-Where-You-Go-True-or-False.html
Have you ever wondered why cliches last so long? Perhaps time has shown they actually hold some degree of truth Trouble is familiarity breeds contempt and so we've long moved on from giving those silly old sayings much value or credibility

"Two men looked out of prison bars, one saw mud the other saws stars " You've heard that one and the partnering cliche I'm sure: "What you see is what you get " There's truth in that

Read any heading in the business section and what do you see? Do you see mud or stars?
Main street is talking about the mud That's the pervading focus atm Can you see where I am going with this?

As a kid I got stuck in the mud at Stanley Bay Once was enough I remember deciding: "I'll never make that mistake again " I've kept my word

In the intervening decades I trained my mind to go for the stars rather than the mud I look for the silver lining on the way up It's paid off handsomely Not so much in terms of fiscal fortitude but rather in terms of my peace of mind and ongoing confidence in myself

It was heartening to read the research reported last month about what happens when you put your energy, attention and focus on the stars rather than the mud

It's been revealed that when you put your focus on appreciation, gratitude for what you have rather than what you don't have, on the glass half full, on the stars, there are multiple physical and psychological benefits

Benefits like better health, more energy, and even higher income! Apparently we 'star people' sleep more soundly (true!) have stronger relationships and live longer Well that's enough

What I do know for sure is that cultivating the habit of gratitude has increased my awareness of the abundance that surrounds me In my work and in my relationships I'm visibly more content with my life, I'm never grumpy for long and I'm surprisingly optimistic about the year ahead So much for being grateful

As a starter, just saying 'thank you' is magic It's a forgotten word these days I miss it 'Thank you' is a gracious doorway to recognition and appreciation It works among friends and it works in the workplace

I remember challenging a friend of mine recently, to try saying 'thank you' to his one of his staff each day (He had complained to me that he didn't really know them ) A week later he reported back "Couldn't do it" was his excuse Maybe he hadn't noticed the table loads of reports around revealing that for employees, workplace recognition is up there with wages, salary and oxygen

These days, when you go to work on monday morning, what do you see? Mud or stars? It's hard to say 'thank you' to the mud I guess Especially when you got your first dollop with the 6am news

This is where gratitude enters When you start to express gratitude, even for the smallest observation, gesture or effort a miracle takes place You begin to see more You start to feel more A sense of having enough gradually creeps into your consciousness Abundance You start to feel good Confident Blessed Then you get the urge to pass it along - like pass the parcel

Do you see the picture? This stuff is light years away from allowing yourself to be devoured by fear Credit crunch Survival Shakespeare said "Our fears are our enemies " The grateful person shifts their attention, energy and focus from fear to gratitude

Please glance at the second paragraph again It says: "What you see is what you get " Thank God Captain Sullenberger saw the Hudson as a potential landing strip!


I'll round off with some practical tips that you can practise at your leisure But they'll only make a difference when they have become habits You know that Tony Robbins teaches "Repetition is the mother of all success "

How To show Your Appreciation At Work:

1 Say something nice to someone within five minutes of arriving at work
For example "That was very thoughtful thanks " 'Nice work!'
2 Count up how many times you have said 'thank you' today
3 If you're not the boss suggest to him/her that you include a moment of recognition for someone at staff meetings
4 You may even go so far as to have a planned event of recognition and reward For example a monthly 'best idea' award
5 Set a tone of approval and appreciation Add those qualities to your personality

Mark Twain said: 'I can live for two months on a good compliment '

I have compiled a list of 76 recognition rewards I'm happy to send you a copy

Clive Littin is a professional speaker, life coach and trainer. He is passionate about promoting acknowledgement and appreciation in the workplace. His latest book is called 'How To Appreciate Your Way To Fame and Fortune' and is available here:
clive littin
Clive also specialises in Ezi-Kaizen for small business and 80/20 Coaching and workshops. You can contact him here: speaker@clivelittin.com


]]> http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1887/288/Where-You-Look-Is-Where-You-Go-True-or-False.html http://www.holistichealtharticles.com/Art/1248/410/Your-Self-Image-Is-King-Of-The-Castle.html
A great business plan? - you've got one
A fabulous marketing plan? - you bet!
Customer service skills? -  second to none!
Computer savvy? -  enough to impress Bill Gates!
 
So why aren't you making tons of money? Why isn't your business going ahead in leaps and bounds? What's holding you back?

If you start telling me about your customers or your staff I will pull out a big mirror and thrust it in front of you And what will you see? 

Let's start there William Shakespeare said: "The answer dear Brutus, lies not within our stars but within ourselves " Was he right?

The one thing that can hold you back from huge success more than anything else   is your own self image The image you see in the mirror   When you look what do you see?

Do you see a person with sloping shoulders, leaning a little forward with the weight of the years, not much of a smile, and somewhat tired looking, how do you feel when you look at that image? Is that the person you dreamed of being a few years ago?

What you see is your true self image The image of you that you have created in your own mind It controls as much of your life as your heart beat does Your self image is up there with oxygen!

I want to suggest that many of us simply get worn out because we go through life missing the point When we're starting out, say to set up a new business, or we run into difficulties along the way, our first response is to look at the event or circumstance and blame that for how things are deteriorating e g Not making the sales

That's missing the point If Shakespeare was right and the answer does lie within ourselves then the circumstances that we blame are merely a reflection, a manifestation of how we have been thinking these past few, weeks, months, years

If you believe that idea, then you are taking responsibility, you are empowering yourself to change things If you want to blame circumstances then little will change You will continue to do what you've always done and you will continue to get the same results

The first step in real change exists between our ears Any attempt to change the circumstances of our lives without changing the way we think will bring only exhaustion and disappointment and ultimately failure

So if our self image is so important where does it come from? Here are the four key sources of self-image:

 1 Our history:  My need to be loved unconditionally as a child My childhood perceptions (These are often never updates, even in adulthood )

2 My self-belief: Everything I do to manage my history and take charge of my life

3 My Support Network: My ability to attract and maintain healthy, affirming relationships

4 My Achievements: The things I do to build my ego and a sense of being worthwhile

Right now I'd like us to focus on Source#2: My self belief That is, all the things I do to become self-aware and sensibly manage my history ( regardless of how lacking it might have been) and take charge of my life I become a self-directing person I'm in the driver's seat!


So, my self-image that predominantly took shape when I was a child grows up with me I don't leave it behind It's worth remembering for it's lessons but don't let it be your prison Don't live today as though it were yesterday

The best way I know to build your self image is to firstly stop judging yourself Stop right now, being critical and condemning of yourself Do the opposite Just as you would a child Praise and acknowledge yourself, all the time, every time, day in and day out

If you decide to do this, do you think your life will remain the same? Don't make that self-appreciation just a veneer, let it sink in real deep so that it becomes your default way of thinking about yourself Develop a profound, habitual  self-accepting, non-judgmental attitude toward yourself Silence the voice of your internal heckler by ignoring it! Ignore it and it will go away

Now I'd like to offer you ten powerful suggestions for bringing your self-image up to date and becoming more of who you really are More of your own person


1 Do something differently every day Anything at all Just break a routine and do it a little differently Sometimes this may mean taking a risk!

2 Resurrect your dream for yourself Find a picture that captures or symbolises your dream and stick it somewhere prominent so that you'll see if every day

3 Write down your goals again clearly On a card will do and carry the card with you Get it out and read several times a day for 90 days Don't miss a day

4   Say 'thank you' all the time To everyone for any little thing   Express your appreciation for everything

5 Do one small nurturing thing for yourself every day It might be that you start reading a book Maybe going to bed half an hour earlier Perhaps enjoying a massage

6   Un-clutter your living space Tidy it all up and keep it that way Give away anything you haven't touched or looked at in a year Then go out and buy yourself a smart new piece of clothing!

7 Deal to just one unresolved issue in your life Give it a deadline and do it Negotiate an outcome that is pretty close to your ideal result

8 Make a rock solid decision to walk away from toxic conflict Let go your competitive tendencies and see every moment as a wonderful opportunity to be creative or find a creative solutions

9   Make sure you have the support of just one close friend and ally   Someone you trust, feel comfortable with and can have fun with Share your dreams and goals with your buddy

10 Set out to read one good book a month Something that encourages you, educates you, inspires you, enthuses you! (Enthusiasm is a sign that you are on the right track )

If you take on board just one or two of these ideas, there's no way your life will remain the same! Please don't be fooled by the simplicity of these suggestions because what you think is what you'll get!

"If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right "
- Henry Ford Snr



Clive Littin is a professional speaker, life coach and trainer. He is passionate about promoting acknowledgement and appreciation in the workplace. His latest book is called 'How To Appreciate Your Way To Fame and Fortune' and is available here:
clive littin
Clive also specialises in Ezi-Kaizen for small business and 80/20 Coaching and workshops. You can contact him here: speaker@clivelittin.com


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