‘Tis the Season…To Be Reviewed

  As 2010 comes to a close and year-end is upon us, typically that also signals a time for annual reviews. Annual reviews have traditionally been a one-way street with the supervisor providing cursory ratings on a scale of 1 to 5. If you were lucky enough to work for someone who welcomed feedback, you also had a chance to provide your own view of your performance. Even in the best of circumstances, however, both positive comments and “constructive criticism” tend to be articulated as a stream of vague generalizations without the details we need to improve our performance. Giving and receiving feedback is both an art and a science. The art requires a mix of empathy and candor. Straight talk is in short supply and we need those fierce conversations to reveal our blind spots. The science comes in with respect to providing clear examples to be actionable – both when sharing praise and correction. Rather than saying “you did a great job this year”, consider pointing out specific behaviors such as satisfyi ...Read the rest of entry »

The Popularity of Mastermind Groups

 I’m sure you’ve heard of Mastermind groups. But, did you ever wonder how the idea came to be, and if a group would be right for you?    “Mastermind as coordination of knowledge and effort, in a spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose,” is the way Napoleon Hill described his Mastermind idea. “This form of cooperative alliance has been the basic of nearly every great fortune. Your understanding of this great truth may definitely determine your financial status.”   Hill was the author of Think and Grow Rich.  He studied the richest men of the early 1900s and wrote the book that depicted how wealthy men participated in a Mastermind Group with other like-minded men. He believed the main purpose behind each group was helping the participants solve problems critical to their business. In addition, it would crystalize their goals and help them increase their financial status.   Many creative people have actually been taking thes ...Read the rest of entry »

Keeping Yourself Motivated by Amy Riley

I am in the process of writing a book, and lately I’ve been having a hard time staying motivated. (Well, let’s be honest, it’s not only a recent problem!) It’s got me thinking about how we stay engaged and inspired and on track with our long-term commitments. You may have something that you care about that you’ve been working on over time. It may be your work, being involved in your kids’ school, making a difference in your community, writing a book, or something else. Like many of us, you may also struggle to stay motivated in this area even though it’s something you say you care about and that you know you care about. I know that I would love to find that one magic way to inspire myself that will always work – any day, in any situation. Yet, this doesn’t seem to be the way it works. In some instances, I find it’s really helpful to create specific clear goals for my long-term endeavors. It will raise my energy and get me in action. Then, when I notice my motivation lacking again, I try to come back to th ...Read the rest of entry »