If you’re a true professional then you’re in a constant state of improvement. You geek out on your profession. You love learning about your industry, your competitors, personal development. and constant growth, as well as, ways to accelerate that paradigm.
Somewhere in between your minds constant, persistent measurement and comparison you search for happiness and contentment. It’s ever elusive but the idea is always there.
Is it possible to be both a “never satisfied” professional always striving to grow to the next level and a happy human being setting the right example of love, and wonderment to your partner, children, friends and community?
I’ve been working with salespeople, managers, top executives and business owners for nearly 30 years and if there’s one challenge that they all struggle with it’s how to find and maintain this life balance .
By mere virtue of the fact that our brains will constantly measure and compare our rate of daily, weekly and yearly results. Our success rate is bound to be in a constant state of discontentment.
Unless of course you look at the whole charade as a grand “game of life” in which the rules and circumstance are in a constant flux but the background, the sky and the space in between ends up becoming the “real you”; observing, laughing, giggling and having fun.
I’ve discovered a fun and easy way to keep my team focused and relaxed yet remain in the flow while working.
Scale it! ’til you NAIL IT!
The 4 different types of scales are:
- Motivation Scale: This scale is used to talk about and strengthen the motivation of individuals and groups. On this scale a 0 might stand for: “I am not prepared to do anything at all to accomplish this change.” And of course a 10 would mean, “I/we are prepared to “go all the way” to do anything it will take to accomplish this goal.
- Confidence Scale: This scale is used to talk about and measure and talk about the confidence a group or individual has to accomplish change. A 0 might stand for: “I have absolutely no confidence that I can accomplish this target” and a 10 stands for “I’m 100% sure I can do this.”
- Independence Scale: This scale is used to talk about and strengthen the independence of individuals or groups that they can accomplish change. As solution focused coaches, managers and consultants we want to help our team or clients but we don’t want them to become dependent on us. So with this scale a 0 could be, “I/WE cannot do this alone and desperately need outside help” (from a coach or consultant for instance). A 10 might stand for: “I/we know how to proceed independently with this change process and don’t need outside help after getting started.”
- Success Scale: This is the scale most widely used. This scale represents both the “original” vison and happenstance additions. Zero stands for problems at its worst and 10 for the desired state or goal. This “success” can stand for any change topic you or your team like: coping with stress, improving sales success, solving a conflict and so on. Of course some good questions to ask you or your team on the success scale might be:
- Where are we now on the scale?
- What has helped us to get here?
- What would be different at the 10 position?
- What might be a small step forward?
The answer to the koan is this: remember that the only thing that accelerates aging is constant stress. Don’t add any undue pressure to your life by taking your role or accomplishments too seriously. Keep a positive outlook and fun loving approach to your life’s journey and growth plan. And expect the same for your team and your loved ones.
We are all moving along a continuum at our own rate and will accomplish what we’ve set out to do. We will deal with what life has planned for us at the time it arises. Therefore we must enjoy the journey and do the best we can with the talents we’ve been bestowed and the skill set we’ve developed. And obviously one must keep improving on the skills we’ve honed and keep them alive by sharing with those that need them.
Dominic Kotarski – International Consultant | Author | Coach | Trainer | Speaker
Grab his Business Best-Seller “The Making” HERE
