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Articles from Angie Thompson | Selfgrowth.com
- Three Ways You Can Learn from Movies - by Submitted on May 22, 2009 from Angie ThompsonMovies are everywhere. Their stories, phrases, and scenes are a part of our culture. We all have favorite movies, favorite memories relating to movies, and in some cases movies that help us define our lives. While you may not think about it, movies have probably enriched your life. Movies are ...
Views: 7299(1 vote) - 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) - 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) - 5 Reasons Why Creativity Matters to Leaders - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonTwo of the most popular topics of workshops and business books are creativity and leadership. Both are popular because at some deep intuitive level most everyone knows they are both are worthwhile skills to have and to develop. However, while both are important and valued, they aren`t always ...
Views: 3210(4 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) - 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) - 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) - 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) - The Leadership Principles That Matter Most - by Submitted on May 14, 2013 from Angie ThompsonIt is a bit daunting to write an article with the title I just typed. It reminds me of those questions you get asked during ice breaker exercises or at dinner parties . . . “If you could take only five books to a desert island what would they be?” I’m not very good at those kinds of ...
Views: 1954 - The Confidence/Competence Loop - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2012 from Angie ThompsonThere are several basic areas of study that, as we study them, we can become more effective coaches and leaders. This long list includes both human behavior and learning. The psychological concept I want to talk about today comes from the intersection of these two fields of study. Don’t ...
Views: 1923(1 vote) - 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) - 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) - Raise Your Glass! - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2012 from Angie ThompsonI caught myself humming a tune from my past the other day. It`s an old Tom T. Hall song titled "I Like Beer". Just to give you a flavor, here is the second half of the chorus . . . "Whiskey`s too rough, champagne costs too much, and vodka put my mouth in gear. This little refrain, should ...
Views: 1723(1 vote) - The Difference Between Feedback and Advice - by Submitted on Jul 01, 2011 from Angie ThompsonFeedback and advice. In modern organizational life they are related terms. When you look at them grammatically, they are connected, but not as related as I thought before I researched them a bit. From Dictionary.com here are the relevant definitions for each word, and some synonyms ...
Views: 1536(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) - How to Become Well Connected - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2009 from Angie ThompsonYou look at the conference brochure and survey the list of keynote speakers, the various topic tracks, look at the schedule of other events and learning opportunities, and decide to invest your money or budgeted dollars on attending the event. All of these criteria are valuable and good ...
Views: 1414(6 votes) - The Case for Customer Partnerships - by Submitted on May 26, 2009 from Angie ThompsonCustomer partnership. Let`s pull this phrase apart into the individual words: Customer. This can be a person or organization who pays for your products and services. These external Customers are who most of consider when we think about Customers. But Customers can also be the person or group ...
Views: 1271(1 vote) - 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) - How to Get Lazy People to Work - by Submitted on Jul 01, 2011 from Angie ThompsonIn our Bud to Boss Workshops we get asked different versions of this question frequently. Sometimes it is asked in a more politically correct way. Sometimes it is asked as a curiosity. Most times, however, it is asked bluntly, directly and with frustration: "How can I get lazy people to ...
Views: 1183(1 vote) - Finish this sentence - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2012 from Angie ThompsonBrick WallWould you like a way to get better ideas, faster? Would you like to nearly automatically tap into your subconscious brain to help you solve your vexing problems? Would you like a tool that would help your team think more clearly? What if I told you that tool was free, except ...
Views: 1175(2 votes) - What is Organizational Culture Anyway? - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2012 from Angie ThompsonHave you ever been in the woods, walking on a trail? If so you know that while you see the trees in front of you it is hard to describe the whole forest. At that moment, the forest for you is the trees – because you just see the trees around you. Patterns, dimension and perspective are hard to ...
Views: 1163(1 vote) - 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) - Go Ahead, Fall in Love! - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2012 from Angie ThompsonFive Love Affairs Leaders Should Have Caught up in the spirit of Valentine`s Day, that day we celebrate romantic love, I began thinking again about the connection between the words love and leadership. Before you even read about these five love affairs, you might be put off by using the word ...
Views: 1150(1 vote) - A 90 Minute Activity for New Year’s Eve - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2014 from Angie ThompsonIt is possible you could take longer than 90 minutes, and you could perhaps spend a bit less time, but if you will look at your calendar for New Year’s Eve and give yourself 90 minutes to do what follows, you will be very glad you did (and it will give you one more reason to celebrate). Find a ...
Views: 1099 - You Want it When? How to Proactively Beat Tight Deadlines - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2014 from Angie ThompsonWe’ve all dealt with it many times – the project gets behind and the pressure is on. Or something changes in the organization – a supply problem, a system is down, manufacturing is halted (you know what your crises are), and suddenly something needs to be fixed, now. Or your boss gives you a ...
Views: 1088 - You Were Born to Win - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2012 from Angie ThompsonI first read See You at the Top (Zig Ziglar`s classic first book) over Christmas one year during college. I had heard of Zig, and checked out the book from the library. I took pages of notes since I couldn`t write in the book. I still have the notes. Soon after, I started listening to Zig`s ...
Views: 1088(1 vote) - What Leaders Can Learn From Cal Ripken, Jr. - by Submitted on Aug 24, 2015 from Angie ThompsonIf you aren’t a baseball fan, Cal Ripken, Jr. is a Hall of Fame shortstop who played his whole career with the Baltimore Orioles. While over 18,000 have played in the Major Leagues, less than 250 have been elected to the Hall of Fame. And no one who has ever played in 2,632 games in a row, ...
Views: 1078 - When People Don't Like You - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2007 from Angie ThompsonFirst, let me be clear, this article is not a how-to piece to get everyone to like you. While your life will be more enjoyable and satisfying when you have many strong relationships,sometimes as a leader people will not like you. Why? Because, as a leader, you are challenging their comfort ...
Views: 1050 - It's More Than Rest And Relaxation - by Submitted on May 27, 2008 from Angie ThompsonI recently read a poll and of the nearly 1000 people who were asked, “Do you need a vacation after your vacation?” 87% of them said yes. It is clear that the commonly stated purpose for a vacation – rest and relaxation – might not be working very well! While most of us take vacations and look ...
Views: 1036 - 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) - Creating Moments That Matter - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2015 from Angie ThompsonWhen you think back over your life and the strongest relationships in it, you will quickly find moments that played a big part in those relationships becoming what they became. While this might very well be true for your relationship with your spouse or a romantic relationship, it is just as ...
Views: 1032 - Helping People See the Big Picture (and Why it is So Important) - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2015 from Angie ThompsonWhen I am flying home to Indianapolis, I always hope for the landing pattern that takes us over the famed oval of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The image here gives you an idea – but unless you have seen it for yourself, you have no grasp for it. The track is 2.5 miles around. Think about ...
Views: 1020 - What Leading By Example Really Means - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2015 from Angie ThompsonAny discussion of great leaders will include the cliché that the best leaders lead by example. Stated in conversation, everyone will nod and agree. And if you are reflecting personally on the attributes of those you have willingly followed, you will find that common trait too. It seems there is ...
Views: 999 - Four Reasons Why Great Leaders Aren’t Firefighters - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2014 from Angie ThompsonThe role that firefighters play in our society is secure. The way that we honor their service is appropriate. I have close friends who are and have been firefighters, and so I personally hold them in high regard. Great firefighters are leaders of their teams in situations far beyond what most of ...
Views: 994 - Speed Kills - by Submitted on May 26, 2009 from Angie ThompsonYou’ve all heard that on the highway speed kills. When you drive too fast you put yourself at greater risks of both being in an accident and suffering grave results if that accident happens. And yet, most people speed. Our world seems to thrive on speed: from microwave meals to sound bites to ...
Views: 994(1 vote) - Leadership Insanity - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2015 from Angie ThompsonThere are at least two definitions of the word insanity: the one in the dictionary, and the cliché we’ve all heard, used, and knowingly nodded our head at when hearing it. First, from Merriam-Webster: Insanity 1. a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as ...
Views: 991 - What Great Leaders Must Love - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2015 from Angie ThompsonIt’s the season of love – the week of Valentine’s Day when everyone who sells anything is trying to tie their product to romance. I’m not trying to sell you a bouquet or a bottle of wine. I’m trying to sell you an idea. And admittedly, the love I am speaking of isn’t the sort that takes place ...
Views: 990 - The Most Important Reason Not to Fear Resistance - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2015 from Angie ThompsonResistance. When I ask groups to tell me what first comes to their minds when they think about change, resistance is always on that list. And their thoughts about it aren’t positive – in fact, I used the word “fear” in the title purposefully. Resistance is typically seen as a negative ...
Views: 989 - I Work With Them, But Do I Have to Like Them? - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2015 from Angie ThompsonThe idea for this article came from a question I recently received from a manager, who asked: What do you do when a group of people that work together have a lot of history and just don’t generally like each other? As you can see from the title, I’m not answering the exact question, but I am ...
Views: 988(1 vote) - Beating Blue Monday - the “Worst Day of the Year” - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2015 from Angie ThompsonAbout ten years ago Cliff Arnall, a British scientist, reportedly created a calculation to determine “the most depressing day of the year.” The equation includes seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since last failed attempt, (M) low ...
Views: 985 - 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) - Ten Ways To Nurture Your Network - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2007 from Angie ThompsonWe all have personal networks – the groups of people who make up your professional and personal collection of friends, colleagues, acquaintances, etc. Unfortunately, we almost all also have people we used to know or were close to that we have lost track of or fallen out of touch with. Whether ...
Views: 975 - Leadership in Full Color - by Submitted on Mar 16, 2015 from Angie ThompsonRecently I had a conversation with my father-in-law who used to sell and repair televisions as a side business. Somehow we started talking about early color sets. He mentioned that he owns the first color set he ever sold, and we reminisced about the first color sets we had. We got ours when I ...
Views: 972 - How to Share Bad News Without Demotivating Your Team - by Submitted on Oct 13, 2015 from Angie ThompsonIf you have been leading for very long, you’ve had bad news to deliver to someone or to your entire team. I do realize that there is “bad news” and there is "seriously-work-and-life-changing-bad-news", but regardless of the depth, leaders worry about the impact the news will have on the psyche, ...
Views: 971 - 4 Ways Goal Alignment Creates Great Leverage - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Angie ThompsonRecently I wanted to remove some concrete footings from the property of my boyhood farm home. On the surface these slabs averaged 2-3 feet across and about 8 feet wide. This surface area may not seem very large, but because they had been built to carry the weight of a very large tank I knew they ...
Views: 969(2 votes) - Success in the Stairway: Your Path to the Top - by Submitted on May 22, 2009 from Angie ThompsonImagine walking into a 20 story office building, knowing that your upcoming meeting is on the top floor. You walk into the building and immediately search for the elevators. To your surprise, and disappointment, some of the elevators show "out of order" signs and the rest are currently being ...
Views: 967 - One Important Choice - by Submitted on Nov 11, 2007 from Angie ThompsonIt might seem a bit strange to highlight one particular choice as important. After all, I’m guessing you can immediately think of many important choices you have made in your life. However, the choice I’m talking about isn’t deciding what job to take, where to live or who to share your life ...
Views: 963 - Simple Stories Sell Ideas - by Submitted on Sep 19, 2007 from Angie ThompsonMost of us don’t tell stories to become an entertainer or to make it on television. We tell stories as a way to instruct, explain and, in the end, sell our ideas to others. As a leader we must sell ideas. As a co-worker we must sell ideas. As a spouse, parent and friend we want and need to sell ...
Views: 962 - Ten Hats All Leaders Wear - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2014 from Angie ThompsonAs a leader, all day long you are wearing a hat. Not the kind that people might laugh at or that might smoosh your hair, but a hat nonetheless. For the next few minutes I want you to think of the various roles you play as a leader and different hats that you wear. While there are likely more, ...
Views: 962 - Leadership Potential: Make the "Possible" Your "Reality" - by Submitted on May 04, 2015 from Angie ThompsonOne of the words we use a lot at The Kevin Eikenberry Group is potential. It is in book and newsletter titles, and it is on my mind every day. Implied in those titles is our belief that we all have significant potential. Here is what is at the bottom of this blog: "Extraordinary potential ...
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