Six Ways To Motivate Students To Learn

Scientific research has provided us with a number of ways to get the learning juices flowing, none of which involve paying money for good grades. And most smart teachers know this, even without scientific proof.

1.   Fine-tune the challenge. We’re most motivated to learn when the task before us is matched to our level of skill: not so easy as to be boring, and not so hard as to be frustrating. Deliberately fashion the learning exercise so that students are working at the very edge of your abilities, and keep upping the difficulty as they improve.

2.  Start with the question, not the answer. Memorizing information is boring. Discovering the solution to a puzzle is invigorating. Present material to be learned not as a fait accompli, but as a live question begging to be explored.

3.   Encourage students to beat their personal best. Some learning tasks, like memorizing the multiplication table or a list of names or facts, are simply not interesting in themselves. Generate motivation by encouraging students to compete against themselves: run through the material once to establish a baseline, then keep track of how much they improve (in speed, in accuracy) each time.

4.   Connect abstract learning to concrete situations. Adopt the case-study method that has proven so effective for business, medical and law school students: apply abstract theories and concepts to a real-world scenario, using these formulations to analyze and make sense of situations involving real people and real stakes.

5.   Make it social. Put together a learning group, or have students find learning partners with whom they can share their moments of discovery and points of confusion. Divide the learning task into parts, and take turns being teacher and pupil. The simple act of explaining what they’re learning out loud will help them understand and remember it better.

6.   Go deep. Almost any subject is interesting once you get inside it. Assign the task of becoming the world’s expert on one small aspect of the material they have to learn—then extend their new expertise outward by exploring how the piece they know so well connects to all the other pieces they need to know about.

For more about the science of learning, go to AnnieMurphyPaul.com

Mental Exercise to Get Closer to Your Goals!!!

The definition of success varies wildly depending on who you ask... My definition and yours might be completely different, or they may differ because we are simply working on different things in our lives... You may be working on quitting smoking, someone else may be trying to lose weight, I may be preparing for an upcoming training I'll have to give...

One thing is for sure though, if you want to be 'successful' you need to get in the right mind-set....!!!

So how do you get yourself mentally prepared to take on a new challenge?

No matter what you're trying to accomplish, there are 4 easy exercises that anyone can do to get themselves mentally prepared for success.

Meditation

Meditation is the practice in which you train your mind to induce a mode of higher consciousness. In order to do this, find a quiet place to either sit or lay down, and simply close your eyes and begin taking deep breaths in and out. Doing this can help you reduce stress, become aware of yourself and your environment, help you to ignore distractions, improve your focus, and even help your physical well-being.

Reframing

Reframing consists of changing the way we see things and trying to find alternative ways of viewing ideas, events, and situations. Reframing is a way of taking negative thoughts or emotions, and spinning them in a positive way. Instead of worrying over a past failure, use it as an opportunity to see where you can improve and grow. Practice seeing opportunity in failure or shortcomings, and pretty soon you'll be more optimistic all around.

"If life gives you lemons, make lemonade!"

Visualization

Visualization is a very popular one amongst athletes, business people, and entertainers. When you have an event coming up (Public speaking engagement, job interview, basketball game) visualize yourself in the process of that event. Don't focus on the outcome or how you think it will end up, but simply the process of what you'll be doing and the different scenarios that could pop up during. If you do this for everything, you'll feel more prepared to handle situations when they arise.

Self-Talk

Self talk is the process of repeating positive affirmations and thoughts to yourself. Things that will help you to complete your task at hand. There are a couple different types of self talk that you can use to help yourself achieve any goal - motivational and instructional.

Motivational self talk could be anything from, "you got this", "you are good enough", and "you WILL achieve your goal".

Instructional on the other hand isn't just to pump you up and make you feel capable and confident. An example of instructional self talk would be a golfer trying to work on his swing repeating to himself "bend your knees and keep your eye on the ball".

If you practice these 4 mental exercises for a while, they will eventually become second nature. If you can get your mind set right, you will feel more confident and capable and will be able to achieve anything you set out to do.

I hope you found this article useful. Share with me how useful these 4 exercises have been for you. You can even forward this email to your friends who are working hard towards their success:)

Have a great day ahead!

Start Now!!!

Once upon a time... Not too many years ago...
There was a young woman... Who dreamed great dreams...
Who imagined a wonderful life... But instead of taking action...
She choose to say someday... She promised herself that...

Someday... She was going to write a book... She was going to get in great shape... She was going to travel the world... She was going to make her mark... She was going to live an extraordinary life...

Then one day, with regret and a saddened heart... That young woman, now much older, realized... That those things won't happen, not now - not ever!

Unless she stopped making excuses... Unless she stopped being afraid... Unless she started taking action...

It was at that moment that... She embraced the idea that...

Someday has arrived...

That it's not too late... To turn her dreams into reality... Just a little bit later than it was...

2014 has finally arrived, and if you have have been using the "SOMEDAY" philosophy for running your life, START to turn your dreams into reality...!!!

- Edited from Gillian Hood

SHARING of The day...

SHARING of The day:

It’s no secret that 95% of all “Self-Improvement” efforts fail.... So, how can you know for SURE that any system you use will get you results?

The answer is simple, you “CERTIFY” your results.... But what exactly, do I mean by “CERTIFY”???  No philosophy or teaching should ever be accepted by anyone unless you can certify its validity in your own life....

How can you do that?  I’m going to share that with you today, in just a minute…

However, before I do, I need to clear something up about Deliberate Creation and the Law of Attraction... Manifestation Is About Alignment On Two Levels...

1. Alignment with the Laws of Quantum Physics

In short, thoughts (positive or negative) attract their equivalent or vibrational match. Think good thoughts attract good things... Think bad, negative or needy thoughts and you’ll attract bad, negativity and need... Because, whatever you focus on with intensity and emotion will set the Universe in motion to bring that into your life.... Emotion is key and most of us send out far stronger emotional signals about the things we don't want than we do about the things we do want....

2. Conscious and Subconscious Alignment

Your Conscious desires and your Subconscious intention must be in alignment... If your Conscious Mind wants one thing and your Subconscious Mind wants something else (counter-intention) it is impossible to create what you truly want....

What is REALLY between you and what you want? Be honest....

Is it…
You have no relationship and can’t find anyone?
You’re stuck in a job you hate?
You're in a toxic marriage?
A medical condition?
A weight problem?
A lack of money?

Listen: The real reason that you don’t have what you want is because you are creating your life unconsciously by living in DEFAULT mode instead of consciously by living in DESIGN mode....

Most of the time you are blocking the deliberate creation process because your conscious messages and your unconscious messages are in conflict... Am I saying that you are deliberately or consciously sabotaging yourself? Absolutely not... But I am saying that through limited, mostly unconscious beliefs and negative, unexamined habitual patterns, you are creating your life by DEFAULT....

And here’s the bottom line…
You cannot achieve success by slapping positive thoughts on a lifetime of empty expectations... Instead, you need to uncover and release the unconscious obstacles  and habitual patterns that hold you back from creating the life you desire....

How To Finally Take Back Control Of Your Life And Get Unstuck Forever!

Cars have driver’s seats and passenger seats. Passengers have no power or control over what happens in the car, right? It’s the drivers who have all the power and control.... When you are in default mode, you are an Unconscious Creator… you are in the passenger seat.... However, when you become a Conscious Deliberate Creator, you quickly jump into the driver’s seat and take control of your life.... You are automatically guided to the right people, circumstances, conditions and opportunities that are in alignment with what you truly desire.... And you suddenly KNOW at a very deep inner level that you will never have to worry about creating anything you desire again...

Motivation Magic - 7 Days to Changing Your Life

In only seven days you will be motivated. You will have the will power and energy to not only reach for your dreams, but to grab on tightly and enjoy the ride. The Motivation Magic  system is simple and easy to implement, but can go a long way in helping you create your ideal life.

 

Begin the system on a Monday and wrap it up on Sunday. You can repeat as many times as you feel necessary, and I hope you feel it is necessary every week!

 

 

MONDAY - PLAN YOUR WEEK

Success always starts with a clear and specific plan. Most people wake up on Monday and have no idea what they will accomplish during the week, the month or even the entire year. This is why it's crowded at the bottom, and it's time for you to climb your way to the top.

 

What do you want to work on this week? What goals do you want to give attention to? What do you want to accomplish at work? Give each day a simple, yet specific plan of action. At the end of the week you will have progressed much farther than ever before, simply by knowing how you wanted to spend your most scarce resource, time.

 

 

TUESDAY - DREAMS

Dreams are important for many reasons. They give us something to look to, even when times are difficult. If you have a rough day at work, you can close your eyes and picture your dreams in your mind. You can rise above the short-term setbacks because you know you have long-term success to look forward to.

 

Not only do they help you deal with failure, but they also motivate you constantly. Even if you fall short of your ultimate goal for the time being, you will still advance forward.

 

Take some time after work to think about your dreams. This may be a totally new experience for you, and if so, enjoy yourself. Think big, and don't worry about how or if it will happen. Let the excitement of your dreams take over. Everyone needs to have a dream, and it's time that you create yours.

 

 

WEDNESDAY - 30 MINUTES TO SUCCESS

I am a huge fan of reading. I have witnessed first-hand how much of an impact reading can have in life. The more you learn, the more you want to learn. It's a wonderful cycle. As you understand more about the world around you, your own eagerness and motivation take over as you become curious and enthusiastic about really living your life.

 

Get up earlier in the morning, take a book to work with you for your lunch break, or read before you go to bed. Whatever your method, read! I cannot say enough about the importance of this tip. But you are reading this newsletter, so I'd say you are doing a great job so far!

 

 

THURSDAY - HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

Human beings are great creators of excuses. If something doesn't get done, you'll hear ten reasons why it wasn't their fault. Instead of crippling yourself with excuses, be honest with yourself and begin to make real progress in your life.

 

If you aren't reaching your goals, or are living a life that you don't want to live, throw away your excuses and take full responsibility for where you are. It is the choices you make every day that decide where you end up. If you want a different life, make different decisions. Nothing can change until you take an honest look at your life and your dreams.

 

 

FRIDAY - HAVE SOME FUN!

While planning, working, and keeping persistent are important to getting what you want in life, you must not forget the importance of fun!

 

All work and no play is unhealthy and can steal the very motivation you have been trying to develop. Take some time to let go of worry and concern and just have fun.

 

Go to a movie, spend time with your kids or simply relax your mind and body. You'll come back to your work with a renewed energy and vitality that will keep you going strong for days to come.

 

 

SATURDAY - YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL!

While working on improvement, don't overlook what you have already achieved. It is easy to get wrapped up in tomorrow without realizing how well today is going. The successes you have experienced in the past will help to motivate you in the future.

 

Think back to a time when you achieved a goal, when you felt great about yourself. These times can serve as a springboard to your future goals and dreams. Reading the success stories from others is a great way to increase confidence and get motivated, but a better method is to think about your own victories.

 

 

SUNDAY - RELAX AND REFLECT

It's been a long and eventful week. Now that it's over, let's examine what you did well, and what needs improvement. Make a mental or written list of things that you felt good about. It could be a meeting you had with your employees, or an evening with the family. What did you do that made this a success? What can you learn from that?

 

Now think about situations that could have been handled differently. What would you change? How could you have approached the problem differently? What can you learn from your mistakes?

 

This quick and easy program to motivation can help you take control of your life. It can give you the energy and drive you need to live the life you have always wanted to live. Because the tips are easy to use, you will have no trouble implementing them into your pattern.

 

Wishing you the very best...

Coolest Offices You’d Want to Work at in Malaysia

by Rachel Au

With their artistic interiors and awesome ‘facilities’ (Xbox, anyone?), the employees at these workplaces can legitimately hashtag #perksofmyjob.

When it comes to the coolest offices to work at in the world, who wouldn’t vote for one of the Google offices? Well, we’re not too sure about Google Malaysia since we haven't had a peek inside. Still, there are many other creative workplaces in Malaysia that believe in beanbags and game rooms; let's take a look at a few!

SAYS.my

They call it ‘The SAYS Secret Hideout’, but we call it ‘outta-this-world’; just like how their CEO Khai Lee envisioned it to be when he first discussed ideas for the renovation of the office with Kech Design Studio, who headed the project. With high ceilings and use of raw materials, it definitely gives off a loft-like vibe instead of a dreaded OMG-back-to-work feeling.

Love the vintage touch of that grill gate. Also, notice how their 'lampshades' are actually wastebins?

PLUS: 20 coolest decor items for your home!

 

 

A TV with an Xbox plugged in, a comfy sofa and a daybed? This beats working from home, that's for sure!

 

ALSO READ: The ups and downs of being a writer in the media!

 

 

The SAYS Secret Hideout recently expanded their office and thus, more goodies have been filled within! Besides elevated meeting rooms and more cozy corners to get their mojo ON, ping pong and foosball tables have also been installed! Now, this is one office we won't mind hanging out at.


Groupon Malaysia

While the SAYS Secret Hideout is more chillax, Groupon Malaysia's office just screams FUN! Definitely lots of young energy in this place from the photos. Like, who would have thought of naming their board rooms 'Boredroom'? 

 

An almost 360 degree view of PJ's cityscape and personalised 'mailboxes'? Definitely a thumbs-up! 

ALSO READ: Is the office making you sick? 

 

It also comes equipped with beanbags, ping pong and snooker tables, a TV and an Xbox! Dealing with stress won't be a problem at all, although procrastination might be. ;)


Nuffnang/Churp Churp Malaysia

Last, but not least, we've got THE Nuffnang/Churp Churp's KL office and this made us realise one thing: bean bags are a default in these cool offices because they have them too! In addition, trendy offices apparently either come with brick walls (as shown in the previous two examples) or colourful ones like Nuffnang's bright orange.

 

with brick walls (as shown in the previous two examples) or colourful ones like Nuffnang's bright orange. 

They don't just have an Xbox, they have a Wii too! Guess they can get their exercise fix with Wii Sports then.

PLUS: 7 people who got fired (no) thanks to Facebook!

 

 

As the company grew, there was simply not enough orange space for everyone so they took over the next door unit and turned it into a swanky extended office, where some of the departments are given their own rooms. For example, Churp Churp's team gets the 'Birdie's Nest' and they did it up real nice with a photo wall and decals!

So, which artsy office do you like best? What other cool workplaces do you know of in Malaysia? Share your thoughts with us by leaving a comment below!


Photos via SAYS.my Facebook, Groupon Malaysia Blog, Kech Design Studio, Nuffnang Malaysia Blog, timothytiah.com

Sources: female Magazine Malaysia

10 Simple Ways to Wake Up With Self-Confidence

 

Note: This is a guest post by Davis Nguyen

BRAYNK! BRAYNK! BRAYNK! BRAYNK!

Your morning alarm just went off. What are you doing this morning?

Are you jumping out of bed ready to start your day or are you trying to squeeze in “5 more minutes” of sleep?

If you are like most people, you are still struggling to roll out of bed and inside your head, you’re thinking, “here we go again.”

Wouldn’t it be great if you could start every day full of energy and self-confidence?

You probably know people who seem to always be “on.” They are self-confident and wake up happy whether it’s to play golf on Sunday or to go to work on Wednesday.

Why is it some people seem to be bursting with energy in the morning while most of us can barely even wake up?

The reason we don’t just jump out of bed is because we very much prefer our sleep to anything else out there. Most of us view waking up and the morning routine as chore time. 

We have to dress the kids, pick our clothes, prepare the coffee, cook breakfast, commute to work, etc. It feels like bleary-eyed drudgery without much to look forward to.

Our mornings don’t remind us that we have a  life purpose, a compelling reason to begin our day with joy. To see the difference between beginning your morning with a purpose versus just getting up and mindlessly following your routine, think of the last time you were truly excited to wake up.

Why were you excited?

What were you doing?

Maybe you had plans to visit a close friend, you were working on an exciting project, or it was the day of your big presentation. You had your day planned out, and you had something to look forward to.

The good news is that anyone can begin the day with purpose and self-confidence.  It’s not a man or woman thing, or extrovert or introvert trait, or an age specific issue. It simply comes down to giving your morning purpose.

Here are 10 strategies you can begin tonight to make your tomorrow more purposeful and to add confidence and energy to your day.

1. Go to bed early

In our efforts to do more and more every day we have to cut something. Unfortunately, a lot of people choose to sacrifice sleep so they can answer that one last email or finish writing that one last check.

Sleep does a lot for your body. Besides reducing your risk for some cancers, relieving stress, and cutting weight, going to bed early makes you feel recharged in the morning and gives you more energy to jump out of bed feeling rested. That one email or bill payment can wait until the morning, because your body, mind, and well-being require a good night’s rest.

2. Wake up on time

When you go to be earlier, you’ll be able to wake up easier. And when you have more time in the morning, you don’t have to rush or feel pressured. You have time to eat mindfully, reflect on your day ahead, and spend time with your family. You begin your day in a state of calm confidence.

But if you are anything like me, it might not be that easy. As soon as my alarm went off, I hit snooze and crawled deeper into my covers and fell back asleep.

However, I found one technique that worked wonders for me. Before I go to bed, I  set my alarm and place it away from my nightstand and next to my door. This way, when the alarm goes off, I have to wake up, walk to the door, and turn it off.  Since I am near my door, I can tell myself to leave my room and not be seduced by my warm bed.

When you are trying to start your day off confidently, the worst thing you can do is go back to the bed. If you find a way to force yourself to get out of the bed and leave your bedroom, you’ll lessen the temptation to crawl back into your sheets.

3. Prepare for the day ahead

Take 10 minutes each morning (or before you go to bed) to plan your day and prepare for anything that is on your schedule. This will allow you to clear your mind, prepare for any important events or plans, and remove the unnecessary stress caused by those “Shoot! I forgot I had to do this” moments. You can confidently begin your day knowing you are on top of things.

4. Drink water

Second only to sleep (might even be the first), I make an effort to drink water in the morning to revitalize my body and refresh my mind. I incorporated drinking water in my morning routine so I can have a reason to leave my room when my alarm goes off. But beginning your day hydrated with make you feel better physically and will make you mentally alert.

5. Have something to look forward to 

When you have something to look forward to, you can’t wait to get started. It doesn’t have to be something massive, just enough to motivate you to get up on time and have a purpose in the morning.

My little routine is this: I get up and if I went to bed early and woke up on time, I reward myself with two mini-bagels with strawberry jam on top (I am addicted to these things!). On days when I don’t get up or I sleep late, I take don’t reward myself with my treat.

This might seem silly, but as long as I’m up and happy in the morning that’s all that matters to me. Remember that no one is judging you. Find something that feels like a reward or joyful activity — maybe sitting outside to drink your coffee or taking 10 minutes to read.

6. Do what you love

I won’t steal Barrie’s thunder on this since she is the master. There is no better way to begin the morning than to know the work you are doing is what lights you up and gives your day meaning and life purpose. If you don’t know what your life passion is, make it a priority to find out. Begin the process of uncovering your passion so that each morning, you wake up knowing your work will feel more like play.

7. Remember to Smile

Smile and you’ll just feel happier and more confident. It’s that simple. In fact, a number of research studies have shown the act of smiling, even if forced,  can actually produce feelings of happiness. When you wake up, look in the mirror and smile at yourself. Smile at your family and smile when you are driving to work. It might feel silly at first, but soon you’ll notice you’re smiling naturally because you’re happy.

8. Exercise

Along with sleep and drinking water, exercise is one of the most important activities for confidence and happiness. You don’t have go to the gym and lift weights for an hour. Anything that’s gets your body moving and endorphins engaged will make you feel more energized, happy, and confident.

The first time I ever stepped inside a gym was in 2012, and it transformed my life. I started with 30-minute workouts, and now I am up to 90 minutes.  I love every minute of it. If I can do it (I used to be 40 pounds overweight), you can do it too. Just start small — even a 5 minute jog outside your home is better than doing nothing.

9. Pick your clothes the night before

Instead of worrying about what you will wear in the morning, have your outfit picked out the night before. Choose something to wear that makes you feel good about how you look and how you present yourself to others. This will save you time and remove another chore from your morning routine.

10. Express gratitude

I thought this was silly (even more so than my bagel treat), but one of my professors challenged us one day to wake up, look in the mirror, and tell ourselves one thing we were grateful for.

It could be something as big as your internship or something as little as mint chocolate cookies. By counting your blessings and seeing anything that makes your life great, you’ll be ready to tackle the day with a positive outlook. What started with a silly assignment is now a part of my daily routine.

---

With just a few simple shifts in your routine, you can dramatically change the way you begin your day. When you wake up feeling calm, rested, energized, and positive, your self-confidence will soar. You will feel in control of your outlook, your happiness, and your life.

What do you do to wake up each morning confidently?  Please comment below. I’d love to hear your ideas and suggestion.

Six Motivational Techniques for Managers

HR specialist and writer, Dennis Phoenix, suggests six motivational techniques for managers.

Any manager knows that a motivated team is a productive team. The success of any business is dependent on the motivation of its employees. Happy and engaged employees invariably lead to productivity and profit. Unfortunately, motivational techniques are anything but an exact science. What works for one individual doesn’t for another.

It is critical for a manager or small business owner to find out what motivates their team. In many cases, it boils down to getting to know each employee on an individual basis. Some are motivated by money alone, some prefer recognition and others are motivated when they feel valued.

 

Six motivational techniques for managers

Communicate

It is said that good communication is the number one factor in any good relationship. A leader must always be approachable and accessible. In other words, keep the door open. Spending time with employees on a one to one basis will put them at ease and alleviate uncertainty. It will also give the manager keen insight into what motivates each of his employees.

 

Socialize

Life Transformation: The Secret To Creating Your Best Self

“You do something that you could never have imagined yourself doing, become something you could never have imagined yourself becoming, and, ultimately, live a life greater than you could have ever imagined yourself living.” ~Dr. Judith Wright

At the most fundamental level, every self-improvement blog post or self help book is about life transformation.

How can you transform from the person you are today to a person who is happier, healthier, more fulfilled, more productive, in better relationships, having more self-esteem, and feeling more self-confident?

Even the smallest positive life changes transform us in some way, pushing us forward on the personal evolutionary scale and fostering some level of self-awareness and growth.

But what if you could transform on a level that afforded so much more than incremental change? What if personal transformation propelled you from living a better life to living a spectacular life?

Recently, I had a guest expert speak to students in my Path to Passion course about the kind of transformation that leads to spectacular living. Dr. Judith Wright is an educator, renowned coach and speaker, lifestyles expert, and author (with her husband Bob) of Transformed!: The Science of Spectacular Living.

Dr. Wright was kind enough to speak with me about her book and the process of life transformation that leads to exponential, significant change and growth. Here’s what she had to say:

Got a New Strategy? Don't Forget the Execution Part

The following post was published on the Knowledge@Wharton website on July 31, 2013.

When it comes to executing strategy, the old saying “the devil is in the details” holds true for many companies, according to Wharton emeritus management professor Lawrence G. Hrebiniak. While executives may readily participate in the development of new strategies, execution tends to get short shrift, because it is often viewed as a lower-level task or concern, he notes. In the following interview, Hrebiniak — who just published the second edition of his book, Making Strategy Work: Leading Effective Execution and Change — explains why it’s critical for firms to create a “culture of execution” in order to succeed.

An edited version of the conversation appears below.

Knowledge@Wharton: Why do firms tend to focus much more energy on strategy and less on execution?

Lawrence G. Hrebiniak: Strategy execution takes longer, involves more people, demands the consideration and integration of many key variables or activities, and requires an effective feedback or control system to keep a needed focus on the process of execution over time. The strategic planning stage is usually more concentrated and of shorter duration than the execution stage. It often deals with interesting conceptual issues that appeal to many managers. The longer execution time horizon results in developments and changes that must be addressed over time — for example, manager turnover, competitors’ reactions to a company’s strategy, changing economic and competitive conditions, a changing industry structure and forces, etc. — suggesting the importance and difficulty of organizational adaptation during the execution process.

Keeping managers and functional specialists involved in and committed to the execution requirements over a long time period can be difficult. Some managers simply give up or turn to other developing problems and opportunities, reducing the energy expended on implementation plans and activities. To some managers, execution-related issues aren’t as exciting or conceptual, resulting in less than enthusiastic attention or energy being focused on these activities. These factors, among others, increase the difficulty of strategy execution and cause managers to avoid critical implementation requirements. The key here is management support — from the top down — to create a culture of execution and maintain a focus on execution and its benefits.

Knowledge@Wharton: What are some of the biggest mistakes that companies make when it comes to implementing strategy? What are the common pitfalls?

Hrebiniak: There are a number of mistakes I’ve observed over the years. One is that strategy execution or implementation is viewed as a lower-level task or concern. Top managers with this view believe that making strategy work — the decisions and activities associated with this task — is somehow “below them,” literally and figuratively. This often creates a “caste” or class system in which upper management feels that it’s done the hard work — strategic planning — and that the lower-level people then can do the easier work of execution. This is a huge mistake, one that can create cultural rifts and poor communication across organizational levels, leading to ineffective performance and other serious problems.

Another mistake managers make is to assume that execution is a quick, one-shot decision or action, like “Ready-Aim-Execute” — or even worse, “Ready-Execute-Aim.” Implementation or execution simply isn’t a one-shot deal. Strategy execution is a process, with important relationships among key variables, decisions and actions, not a quick fix marked by simple clichés, such as: “Give him the ball and let him run with it.” Failure to see and appreciate the interdependence or interaction among key factors — strategy, structure, incentives, controls, coordination, culture, change, etc. — is a costly mistake that detracts from strategy execution success. The complexity of the implementation process also results in managers ignoring the execution process, an issue I mentioned earlier.

A mistake I’ve observed occasionally is that a good strategy is seen as sufficient to motivate effective execution. The assumption is that solid execution will come naturally, as people see the benefits and logic of the strategic plan and act accordingly to foster execution success. This assumption rarely, if ever, is founded; execution takes hard work, communication of actions and benefits, and effective incentives to get managers to buy into the execution process. Managers need skin in the game and logical guidance about their roles in the execution scheme to make even a good strategy work.

A related mistake is to assume that a really bad or unsound strategy can be made to work well if “we execute it well.” A bad strategy cannot be saved by working hard at execution. “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” as the saying warns. Good strategy comes first and is essential to sound execution. Skimping on the strategy formulation stage of strategic management can only lead to implementation headaches.

There are additional pitfalls that threaten the strategy execution process in addition to those suggested above. An important one emanates from not having a solid plan of execution or implementation. Every strategic plan requires an implementation or execution component or plan. Every corporate and business plan must be supported by a plan of execution. The execution plan or component must lay out clearly the key decisions and actions required for making the strategy work. The interdependence or interactions among key factors must be spelled out, and well understood. Responsibility and accountability for decisions and actions must be clear and agreed upon, with areas of overlapping responsibility and need for cooperation laid out and committed to by key personnel. Failure to develop an implementation plan is a problem or pitfall that usually ends in disastrous performance. Again, the assumption seems to be that execution simply happens or unfolds seamlessly, and this is a mistake.

A big pitfall or mistake emanates from a poor understanding of organizational structure. Not understanding the costs and benefits of different structures or designs can lead to severe problems. Treating structure as an afterthought or something that changes according to managers’ whims or fancies and not as a response to the demands of strategy represents a major problem or pitfall. Structure has a role to play. It affects many things, including efficiency, effectiveness, getting close to markets and customers, and so on. A lack of understanding of structure’s role in making strategy work usually leads to problems.

Also, a major pitfall with all sorts of related problems is inadequate or inappropriate attention to the management of change. Implementation or execution plans often include the need for change, and handling it poorly can lead to resistance to new execution efforts.

Knowledge@Wharton: What new kinds of problems have emerged since you published the first edition of your book — that is, what kinds of new challenges are managers facing when it comes to executing strategy in today’s business environment?

Hrebiniak: A number of new challenges emerged after publication of the first edition of Making Strategy Work. One might think that the old or consistent, ongoing challenges I noted earlier would be sufficient to keep managers who are interested in execution busy for a long time. Yet, new challenges and ideas were presented to me, adding to the list of execution-related needs. One [new area of concern was] the service sector, including not-for-profit organizations. The question simply was: Does the material in Making Strategy Work apply equally well to service organizations? Not-for-profits? Another request was for a deeper coverage of the execution of global strategies. The first edition of the book contained little insight here, and managers told me that they would like to see more about implementation in the global arena.

Quite a few managers raised questions about project management. In fact, I was contacted by someone representing the Project Management Institute who asked [several] questions about the role of project management in the execution process. Additional questions regarding making M&A strategies work also were raised. The new edition [has sections] dealing with service organizations, global strategies and project management, as well as a revised chapter on making M&A strategies work.


Knowledge@Wharton: What can a company do to become more focused on executing successfully?

Hrebiniak: The basic step for a company to follow to become more focused on execution or implementation is to create a culture of execution. How does one create such a culture? Let’s look at some basic facts. First, it’s a fact that culture affects behavior. An organizational culture include values, prescriptions on how to act, how to treat others, how to react to performance shortfalls, how to compete, etc., and these have a profound impact on behavior. A related fact, however, also must be kept in mind: Behavior, over time, affects organizational culture. Culture, [in other words], is both an independent, causal factor, and a dependent factor, affected by behavior. How, then, does one create a desired culture? By creating behaviors and performance programs that become an integral part of an organization’s way of doing things. By creating and reinforcing behaviors and performance programs that affect the very essence of how organizations act and compete, i.e. their culture.

A company, then, can [create] a culture of execution by [developing and reinforcing] behaviors that affect culture. It can: lay out key decisions, actions, and capabilities needed for successful execution; support the model and execution plan with effective incentives and controls; create structures and processes that support desired strategic and operating objectives; and manage execution as a change process in which agreement and commitment are sought and rewarded. Creating and reinforcing behaviors related to execution will impact culture; culture will reflect the critical execution-related behaviors. It is important to design, reward and otherwise support the right behaviors, those that are vital to making strategy work, in order to create and nurture a culture of execution.

Sources: Got a New Strategy? Don't Forget the Execution Part

Human Relation Principles

Nine ways to make people Like You!

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.
2. Give honest, sincere appreciation.
3. Arouse in the other person an eager want.
4. Become genuinely interested in other people.
5. Smile.
6. Remember that a man’s name is to him the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
7. Be a good listener, encourage others to talk about themselves.
8. Talk in terms of the other mans interest.
9. Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely.

 
Twelve ways to make people think in your way
 
1. Show respect for the others persons opinions. Never tell a man he is wrong.
2. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.
3. If you are wrong admit it quickly and emphatically.
4. Begin in a friendly way.
5. Gets the other person saying Yes, yes immediately.
6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.
7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his.
8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.
9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires.
10. Appeal to nobler motives.
11. Dramatize your ideas.
12. Throw down a challenge.

 
Nine ways to bring around people without giving offence
 
1. Begin with praise and honest appreciation.
2. Call attention to peoples mistakes indirectly.
3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.
4. Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.
5. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement.
6. Let the other man save his face.
7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.
8. Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.
9. Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.


Four ways to Analys worry

1. Get all the facts.
2. Weigh all the fats-then come to a decision.
3. Once a decision is rached, act.
4. Write the answers of the following questions.
     a) What is the problem?
     b) What are the causes of the problem?
     c) What are the possible solutions?



Four ways to Overcome worry
 
1. Live in day-tight compartments.
2. Face the trouble the following ways.
      a) Ask yourself what is the worst that can possibly happen?
      b) Prepare mentally to accept the worst.
      c) Try to improve on the worst.
3. Remind yourself of the exorbitant price you can pay for worry in terms of your health.
4. Apply the law of averages in your favor.


Six ways to break the worry habit

1. Keep busy.
2. Don’t fuss about trifles.
3. Use the law of averages to outlaw your worries.
4. Co-operate with the inevitable.
5. Decide just how much anxiety a thing
6. Don’t worry about the past.


Seven  ways to Peace and Happiness
 
1. Fill your mind with thoughts of peace, courage, health, hope and prayer.
2. Never try to get even with your enemies.
3. Expect ingratitude.
4. Count your blessings-not your troubles.
5. Do not imitate others.
6. Try to profit from your losses.
7. Create happiness for others.

 
Seven ways to face criticism and grow strong

1. Remember that unjust criticism is often a disguised compliment.
2. Do the very best you can.
3. Analyse your own mistakes and criticize yourself.
4. Learn to relax at your work.
5. Apply the following four good working habits.
     a) Clear your desk of all papers except those relating to the immediate problem at hand.
     b) Do things in order of their importance.
     c) When you have a problem, solve it then and there if you have the necessary facts to make a decision.
     d) Learn to organize, deputize and supervise.
6. Put enthusiasm into your work.
7. Don’t worry about insomnia.

5 DON'TS when you are sleeping....

 

* 1 - DON'T SLEEP WITH WATCH *
Watches can emit a certain level of radioactivity. Though small, but if you wear your watch to bed for a long time, it might have adverse effects on your health. 

 * 2 - DON'T SLEEP WITH BRA *
Scientists in America have discovered those that wear bras for more than 12 hours have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. So go to bed without it.

 * 3 - DON'T SLEEP WITH PHONE *
Putting the phone beside your bed or anywhere near you is not encouraged. Though some of us will use phones as alarm clocks, but please put the phone as far as possible. Scientists have proved that electrical items including mobile phone and television sets emit magnetic waves when used. These waves can cause disruptions to our nervous system. Therefore if you need to put your mo! bile phone near you, switch it off first.

  * 4 - DON'T SLEEP WITH MAKE UP *
People who sleep with make up might have skin problems in the long run. Sleeping with make up will cause the skin to have difficulty in breathing and problem in perspiring. You will also need a much longer time to go into deep sleep. 

 

Lastly..... 

* 5 - DON'T SLEEP WITH OTHERS' WIFE / HUSBAND *
You may never wake up again....