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Articles from Angie Thompson | Selfgrowth.com
- 5 Reasons Stories are Powerful Communication Tools - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2010 from Angie ThompsonWe all grow up with stories. Stories of our family, stories from our friends and stories we read. There are stories we hear at school, at work, on television and in the movies. Stories are everywhere! And while you`ve been around stories your whole life, you also likely realize that stories ...
Views: 1154(1 vote) - 10 Ways to Make a Great First Impression - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Angie ThompsonWe all meet new people, in all phases of our lives. In some of those situations we may not be consciously thinking about the importance of making a good first impression; however, conscious or not, we are always making an impression. Sometimes - be it the person we are meeting, the situation ...
Views: 736(2 votes) - Five Reasons Why Every Leader is a Salesperson - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Angie ThompsonWhat images, thoughts and feelings come to mind when you think of or hear the word "salesperson"? * Stereotypical, slick-talking, used car sales people * Well-spoken financial manager * The guy everyone loves who sells his wares on the golf course Whether you have positive thoughts and ...
Views: 692(3 votes) - 3 Ways to Keep Your Next Meeting Out of the Weeds - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Angie ThompsonGrowing up on a farm I know a little bit about getting in the weeds. And I know when you find yourself there, especially if the weeds are thick and tall, the going gets tough and you might even lose your way. I don`t know about your office, but my experience is that this happens in meetings ...
Views: 768(2 votes) - Six Ways to Think Outside the Box - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Angie ThompsonIn a recent leadership workshop a participant asked me: "How can I encourage my staff to take initiative and think outside the box? I suppose one reason I saved answering the question until now (in this forum) is that it`s a multi-part question. There are three parts really - the encourage ...
Views: 841(2 votes) - Are You a Responder or a Reactor? - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Angie ThompsonIn a recent leadership workshop a participant asked me: "How can I get staff to think about choices or decisions and not just react?" My first thought was of a classic Zig Ziglar story that talks about the big difference one word can make. Zig said (and I`m paraphrasing): Imagine going ...
Views: 3297(3 votes) - Searching for the Holy-Grail of Work-Life Balance - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Angie ThompsonJust coming off a vacation gives me a good chance to think about work-life balance. As leaders and achievers it is a topic often discussed in workshops and in casual conversations. People are so busy and feel pulled in so many directions that they find this idea of work-life balance ...
Views: 634(2 votes) - Four Leadership (and Life) Lessons from a Water Park - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Angie ThompsonI spent yesterday with my family at Michigan Adventure, an amusement park with roller coasters, other types of rides and a full water park. My family chose to spend the day at the water park. As I sat in a tube on rides, laid in a chair in the sun or shade, let the waves crash over me in the ...
Views: 700(2 votes) - Eight Supportive Behaviors Every Coach (and Every Person) Should Use - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Angie ThompsonAsk ten people to describe the best coaches they have experienced and chances are seven or more will mention support in some way. Underline and highlight that fact in your personal thinking about coaching. The best coaches are supportive. Knowing and agreeing with that idea is one thing. ...
Views: 647(2 votes) - Developing the Right Attitude to Support Goal Achievement - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Angie ThompsonAchievers are always looking for ways to become more successful; to reach goals more quickly and with greater assurance. And, for centuries authors have been sharing the factors that help anyone reach their goals. If you consider achievement and achievers, you hopefully would recognize that ...
Views: 753(2 votes) - 7 Strategies When People Don't Want to Change - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2010 from Angie ThompsonJoni showed up at her boss Bob`s office more frustrated than he`d ever seen her. Joni was a relatively new supervisor and had been developing well - but on this day, she seemed, well, different. When Bob asked what was wrong her frustration came out immediately. "What do you do when people ...
Views: 1252(2 votes) - Five Reasons to Read More Biographies - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2010 from Angie ThompsonMark Twain wrote, "The man who does not read good books is no better than the man who can`t." Walt Disney said, "There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate`s loot on Treasure Island." And, more recently, Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) taught us, "The more that you read, the ...
Views: 879(9 votes) - What Do You See? - How Your Vision Drastically Affects Your Results - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2010 from Angie ThompsonWhile I`ve never worn any sort of corrective lenses, at my age, I am becoming increasingly more aware of my vision. Things that were once perfectly clear are now sometimes hazy. I once took my vision for granted; now it is becoming harder to do so. (Before you all give me the name of your ...
Views: 733(8 votes) - The Five Lessons of the Eraser - by Submitted on May 19, 2010 from Angie ThompsonEric was busy building his career - and it was going well. Even though things were going well, he was always glad to talk to his long-time mentor, Jan. Jan had been one of Eric`s college instructors, and they had remained in touch throughout his career. Jan was going to be in Eric`s town ...
Views: 1878(2 votes) - The Walls are Talking - Stress, Passion and High Performance - by Submitted on May 19, 2010 from Angie ThompsonIf you don`t know me, I`m the office of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. I`ve not always been an office - in fact for the first 47 years of my life I was, well, a house. I had kids and grandparents roaming my wooden floors. I`ve heard laughter and seen tears. Frankly, I thought I`d seen it ...
Views: 800(2 votes) - Seven Key Actions to Greater Personal and Professional Development - by Submitted on May 19, 2010 from Angie Thompson"What did you learn today?" It`s a question that sounds familiar to most of us. You were likely asked it when you were a kid. And, if you are a parent, you`ve probably asked it of your kids too. But when was the last time you asked it of yourself? "What did I learn today?" If you ...
Views: 739(2 votes) - Five Powers of Coaching - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Angie ThompsonSpiderman, Wonder Woman and Superman all had super powers; they had special skills that allowed them to be super heroes. They had great powers given to them at birth that made them special. Generally speaking, they didn`t have to develop those powers, they just had them. We too were born with ...
Views: 831(5 votes) - Seven Leadership Lessons from Great Basketball Coaches - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Angie ThompsonThe first thing I remember purchasing with my own money that I earned was a basketball. Basketball GymAs a boy, when I wasn`t working on the farm, often I was shooting baskets. While my high school career stalled for a variety of reasons (being small, 5`9", and having mononucleosis as a ...
Views: 932(4 votes) - Are You Living Life Like an Olympian? - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Angie ThompsonI love the Olympics. I love the athleticism and the story lines and the preparation and the inspiring moments and the psychology and the history ... and so much more. Olympic Torch - As I`ve talked with people during the Games, I`ve found that even people who generally aren`t sports fans ...
Views: 837(4 votes) - Creating Results Out of Thin Air - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Angie ThompsonMagic WandThere are tools, seminars, books, CD`s, teleseminar, webinars and workshops (and more) to help you learn and improve in any area of your life. I should know, I have bought and attended many of them, and sold a great number of them as well. This article isn`t meant dissuade you from ...
Views: 983(3 votes) - Seven Ways to Nurture Business Relationships - by Submitted on May 18, 2010 from Angie ThompsonEarly in my consulting career I started telling people the consulting business is a relationship business. I was right, just a little short sighted. Actually all business is a relationship business. All work is a relationship business. All leadership is a relationship business. And ...
Views: 4345(3 votes) - Six Ways to Defeat Complacency - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2010 from Angie ThompsonComplacency - and its ill effects - is all around us. Consider politics. Democrats held one Senate seat for 47 years, and assumed they`d win again in 2010 but didn`t. Consider sports. 2010 is the first year since 1993 - that`s 17 years - that both number one seeds, presumably the two best ...
Views: 2976(3 votes) - Getting Back to the Basics of Problem Solving - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2010 from Angie ThompsonEveryone has problems. Big problems, little problems, work problems, relationship problems; pick an area of your life and you probably have at least one, or have had one. At some point along the way you may have received some problem solving training. I know a little bit about that kind of ...
Views: 801 - Get Out of Your Comfy Chair - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2010 from Angie ThompsonAhh, the comfort zone. As humans, this is a place we love. We look for, strive for and have created products and even entire industries to help find and maintain high levels of comfort (hello Lazy-Boy!). You`ll find this desire for the comfort zone in all areas of life - physically, mentally, ...
Views: 778(3 votes) - Six Secrets to Building Your Confidence - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2010 from Angie ThompsonIf you have seen the movie or stage musical The Sound of Music, you likely remember Maria leaving the Abbey to become a Governess. As she winds her way through town and toward the von Trapp mansion she sings of her uneasiness - and her lack of confidence in her ability to succeed in this ...
Views: 713(3 votes) - Five Ways to Pick Your Best Development Tools - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2010 from Angie ThompsonPersonal development. Professional development. Leadership development. Regardless of which words you use, chances are as the New Year begins, you are thinking about some sort of development; some sort of approach to creating change, growth and advancement in your life. As you think ...
Views: 872 - Unleash Your Energy - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2010 from Angie ThompsonSince experts say we all are truly complex bundles of energy, it makes sense to think about how we can manage, use and increase the amount of energy in our bodies and minds. Because when we are better energy managers, we can create better results in all areas of our lives. The topic of ...
Views: 756(2 votes) - The Starting Point of Any Change - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2010 from Angie ThompsonTake a minute and mentally put yourself in a place that you love. You love the sights, the sounds, the activity you are engaging in. If there are others around they are people you are excited to be with. Take a minute and put yourself in that situation mentally right now. Now, imagine that I ...
Views: 622 - Five Performance Lessons from The Biggest Loser - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2010 from Angie ThompsonMy wife`s favorite television show is the The Biggest Loser. If you`re not familiar, it`s an NBC reality television show that chronicles a group of seriously overweight people from all walks of life as they try to become more healthy - and lose lots of weight. To give you an idea, the most ...
Views: 787(8 votes) - Unlocking the Passion Paradox - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2010 from Angie ThompsonIn my opinion, passion is one of the most attractive qualities a person can possess. When you are passionate about something, others are drawn to you; you are able to influence more effectively and lead more successfully. Beyond these interpersonal facts, there are valuable personal ...
Views: 772(1 vote) - Five Approaches to Being More Proactive - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonAt a 10-year class reunion, four friends gathered to visit. Tina and George reflected on the differences in Steve and Angela after they walked away. "They were both so smart and outgoing when we were in high school," George said. "Yeah, they were both voted Most Likely to Succeed, remember?" ...
Views: 1429(1 vote) - The 4 Fundamentals of Leadership Gratitude - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonGratitude is a positive emotion and studies have shown it creates a more positive attitude, reduces stress and provides many other benefits. But, c`mon, we don`t really need studies to tell us this, do we? You know how it feels when you are grateful. This article won`t restate the obvious ...
Views: 715(2 votes) - The Superpower of Persuasion - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonEvery good superhero has a superpower. You know, the thing that always helps them get out of a jam and save the day. Leaders may not be superheroes, but we do sometimes find ourselves in a tough or challenging situation. However, unlike like our superhero friends, we don`t always remember to ...
Views: 1968(2 votes) - Five Ways to Keep People Focused on Their Goals - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonGoals, whether formally stated or not, are critical to all organizational success. We (hopefully) all have over-arching organizational goals; but on a more practical and immediately applicable level, we have project goals, productivity goals, quality goals, developmental goals, and the list ...
Views: 901(2 votes) - Leadership Lessons from the Berlin Wall - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonIn 1961 the East German government built the Berlin wall to stop the flow of people into West Germany. Over time, the wall did more than stop the flow of people. It became a powerful symbol of oppression and stopped the flow of ideas and freedom. On November 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall ...
Views: 674(2 votes) - Four Ways to Engage Your Team Every Day - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Angie ThompsonOne of the biggest business buzzwords today is engagement. Everyone suddenly seems to have realized that we need to have employees who are engaged in their work. It seems to be the latest "holy grail" in leadership and management circles (teams, lean and total quality are just three past ...
Views: 2165(2 votes) - Five Keys to Lasting Inspiration - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Angie ThompsonEveryone I know loves the feeling that comes with being inspired. They like the mental lift, the energy, the attitude, the productivity, the satisfaction and even the way it makes them feel physically. And as wonderful and valuable as inspiration is, for most of us, it`s hard to capture, ...
Views: 1794(6 votes) - The Achilles Heel of Process Improvement - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Angie ThompsonFrom a fairly early stage in my career I have been involved in process improvement activities. While at Chevron in the early 1990`s, I served as a Quality Training Consultant teaching organizations, among other things, process improvement tools. The goal of the training and the efforts overall ...
Views: 894(3 votes) - Reading: Why We Should and Why We Don’t - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Angie ThompsonI`ve long been a reader, and as I reflect on the life of my business, I can clearly identify my reading habit as a factor in my success and progress. Specifically, I`ve found five things that reading does for me: Reading keeps me learning. Reading certainly isn`t the only way to learn, but ...
Views: 697(3 votes) - A Leadership Primer on Celebrations - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2009 from Angie ThompsonIn talking with leaders over the years, I`ve noticed that most seem to struggle with celebrations. Some struggle with when to celebrate. Some struggle with why they should. And some don`t have a struggle because they don`t celebrate at all. (Here the struggle is for those they ...
Views: 764(7 votes) - 7 Reasons Why Education is a Wise Investment - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2009 from Angie ThompsonWhile different people will have different opinions about "education" and its value, I don`t know anyone who wouldn`t agree that "learning more" is better than "knowing less". Education, as I define it for this article, includes school, seminars, workshops and all manner of formal approaches; ...
Views: 2025(1 vote) - Capturing Your Flashes of Brilliance - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2009 from Angie ThompsonWe`ve all heard the phrase a "flash of inspiration" or a "flash of brilliance". I don`t know where those phrases came from exactly, but they create a perfect metaphor. Think about the flash from a camera (or if you are old enough, from a disposable flashbulb). Some spark or electrical ...
Views: 695(2 votes) - 4 Ways to Create Greater Accountability in Meetings - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2009 from Angie ThompsonMeetings, in most corners, don`t have the best of reputations. I often hear people say, "I`ve got to go to a meeting," but I don`t think I`ve ever heard someone say, "I get to go to a meeting." Why? Too many meetings with too few results; often rehashing or revisiting issues and actions ...
Views: 768(1 vote) - To What Do You Pledge Your Allegiance? - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2009 from Angie ThompsonIf you grew up in the United States, you know what I`m talking about. Every child learns the Pledge of Allegiance in elementary school . . . "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty ...
Views: 835(1 vote) - Are You Serious? Six Ways to Answer That Important Question - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2009 from Angie ThompsonI`m guessing this has happened to you. Someone - could be a spouse, co-worker, friend, anyone - tells you of his/her new plan or goal. He`s going to lose 30 pounds. She`s going to learn to play the piano. The chronically late employee says she`ll always be on time. The person who dominates ...
Views: 735(1 vote) - It's Time to Go Back to School - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2009 from Angie Thompson"Back to school" has many meanings - some positive and some maybe not-so-positive. In my mind, those three words together conjure a whole swirl of thoughts emotions and memories from shopping for school clothes, to new teachers and friends, to fresh notebooks and more than a little ...
Views: 781(2 votes) - Motivation or Inspiration: There is a Difference - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2009 from Angie ThompsonOften on airplanes people ask me, in casual conversation, what I do for a living. After explaining it in a few sentences, they often knowingly smile, and say: "Oh, you`re a motivational speaker." Well, honestly, I believe that is NOT true; nor is it even possible. So I cringe internally, ...
Views: 772(2 votes) - The Most Powerful – and Potentially Dangerous – Question of All - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2009 from Angie ThompsonWhy? We hear it all the time (especially from kids) and ask it often (more on that later). "Why?" is a question used in all sorts of situations, and its prevalence should hint to its usefulness. And yet, for all of its value, "Why?" can cause a lot of problems, miscommunications, ...
Views: 781(2 votes) - What You Can Learn from Christopher Columbus - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2009 from Angie ThompsonIn 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. If you are like me, you learned that rhyme sometime in elementary school. Specifically, Columbus left on his first voyage on August 3, 1492, sailing in search of a seagoing route from Europe to Asia with the vision of creating a trade route for ...
Views: 1033(2 votes) - Unlocking the Biggest Communication Challenge - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2009 from Angie ThompsonIf you are breathing, you are communicating. And you communicate in every role you play - friend, colleague, parent, spouse, coworker, leader, you name it. Since we communicate all the time, you`d think we`d all be pretty good at it, yet sadly that isn`t the case. We can - and we must - ...
Views: 873(2 votes)