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I’ve come to believe our perception at work and life in general carries a great deal of importance.

Many years ago while striving to climb the “corporate ladder to success”, my boss asked me to meet with him privately, in a very serious, foreboding tone of voice.

I immediately scoured my mind for reasons, or any of my actions that may have prompted this out of the ordinary request, fearing something terrible had occurred unknowingly to me, and walked into his office with more than a heightened sense of apprehension.

I admired him as I believed we were similar in our leadership styles and intelligence levels, which had served both of us well in terms of quick track promotions and new assignments.

We had always gotten along well on what I considered a mutual admiration level.  I will admit our egos bordered on arrogance, if not embraced it, which often resulted in less than a compassionate approach in dealing with peers and subordinates.

Perception Lessons from My Boss

My boss started by reminding me of an incident that happened the day before.  I was giving a tour of my department to visiting executives touting our innovations in material handling and repackaging techniques of returned soft goods.

The objective of the efforts was to make these returned items look brand new to our customers when resold.  We worked for a large national retailer’s catalog distribution center.

I knew this was another opportunity for me to strut my stuff and impress important people who would likely have influence on my upward mobility.

During the tour, however, a seemingly minor event happened.  One of the new machines used in heat-sealing the packaging was not working properly, which I thought was a potential land mine to my presentation.

Along with us on the tour was the maintenance associate assigned to maintaining these devices.  I felt angry that he was responsible for sabotaging the tour, either through his incompetence or lack of intelligence in understanding the importance of the event.

Why couldn’t everyone have the same commitment to excellence that I believed I had and ensure everything would go off without a hitch?  I pulled him aside and let him know in a harsh tone how displeased I was.  My boss was the only one who heard this exchange.

That day, in his office, my boss pointed out to me the error of my ways in treating this individual, which of course was wrong.  He then surprised me and told me he was sending me to a weeklong sensitivity-training session out of state.  He had attended this a few years earlier, not surprisingly knowing his personality, and admitted he had had his own incidents which caused him to be sent there.

A Course in Perception

Imagine spending a week in a campus setting, with individuals from around the country who all had similar intelligence, arrogance and powerful egos, useful to organizations in many respects, but detrimental if not under control, forced to work together.

Every minute of our time, from early morning to mid evening, was scheduled with lectures from PHd’s and highly charged group interactive sessions.

By the end of the week most of us had gone through a transformation.  We learned to understand that no matter how we perceive ourselves, and believe how we are perceived by others, it remains utterly false.

We slowly began to grasp in our small group sessions how others really perceive us through face-to-face feedback, which at times was brutally critical.

I noticed the folly in my ways after this week-long retreat. I acknowledged that the fault in the machine could have been a natural malfunction rather than a human error and that the maintenance associate may not be the one to blame.

In short, I realized that my mindset entirely depended on how I perceived my co-workers at work.

Conclusions

Realizing how one is really perceived, and what characteristics of one’s personality caused those negative opinions was certainly a wake-up call for me.

Accepting this as the truth required us to be honest with ourselves, and we were taught that unless you have a revelation of something about you that you don’t like, you can’t change it.

The whole goal of the training was to understand those negative aspects of our being and the subsequent behavior and experience a revelation  about the importance of perception at workplace and make a conscious effort to change.

Before you think you know how you are perceived, you need to have the courage to talk to those you trust, show your honesty and faith in them to be truthful to you.

You may not like what you hear, but if you have a revelation that helps you change to be the person you want to be perceived as, your life will be enriched, and your friendships will have new meaning in their depth and sincerity.

Do you have a personal story or tip that changed your perception toward a colleague?

–
Photo by Anne Gay

As a professional writer, I value the input of editors whom I trust. When I get a good editor who knows my work, I usually do my best to keep him or her happy. I try to build a great professional relationship with my editors, and I do my best to make it lasting.

I’ve had one editor for the past year at my job whose opinions I really respect. His knowledge of writing is unsurpassed, and, perhaps even more importantly, how he talks about my writing truly impresses me. He just seems to get me; he always knows just how to offer his suggestions and criticism, and he does so in a way that respects my own work. In a sense, we make a good writing team.

Unfortunately, my editor recently left his job and now I’m left adjusting to the change in my workflow. So far, I’ve managed to come up with some ideas that have helped me figure out a way to move on after losing my favorite supervisor. Hopefully these tips can be helpful to others in a similar position as mine.

Understand that things have changed.

The biggest step to make is to accept that certain aspects of your work and environment are going to be different from now on. The faster you can accept the change, the quicker you will be able to adjust to them, thus increasing your productivity and perhaps challenging yourself to get better at what you do.

Once I finished mourning my editor’s departure, I decided to treat the new supervisor as someone who was just as knowledgeable and able as my previous editor. I thought of her arrival as an opportunity to learn and improve as a writer at my job. So far, this attitude has helped me immensely.

Build rapport with your new supervisor.

Once your new supervisor arrives at the office, you should do your best to build a rapport with him or her. After all, this person will now be responsible for you and the rest of the team, and so he or she will naturally want to jump in and make a mark on how things get done. Your goal, as a responsible employee, is to make this transition as easy as possible, which means doing your best to get along with this person. Try to understand how he or she works. Get to know about his or her past works and working style.

My new supervisor was once a professor of writing at a university, apparently, which explains some of the ways she’s tried to connect with us. She is very big on one-on-one conferences and working with her writers in order to help them. I’ve enjoyed how she collaborates with us on a personal level, and it’s really helped me to become comfortable with her.

Begin a new project.

One of the best ways to move on is to begin a new project. If possible, you should embark on a new project with your team and under the direction of your new supervisor. Start afresh. Sure, you’ll still need to work on past projects that your old supervisor oversaw, but it’s also good to start a new project so you can really see how your team will handle the new supervisor and get to know how it will work together under these new circumstances. In a sense, a new project is a blank canvas.

Of course, I didn’t suggest the new project, but when my new supervisor did, I was pleased. It helped me refocus my energy and learn how she worked. So far, we’ve successfully completed a handful of projects and we’ve met all of our deadlines and goals.

Change your routine.

Finally, you’ll want to change your own routine. Of course, you probably most productive when you can follow your specific workflow, so you shouldn’t change that. However, you should change how and when you interact with your supervisor. Be aware that your supervisor is new to the job, so you should try to see how you can help him or her from your side. This might mean going outside your comfort zone, but since you’re familiar with how everything used to be done, then you’ll be able to help your supervisor learn the ropes.

For example, with my new supervisor, I tried to show her how we typically organize our projects and upload them to the company-wide cloud; however, I made a point of explaining that this is how we’ve done it, but we’re open to shifting that based on what she wanted to do with the project. I think it’s important to help a supervisor understand the system, but also to be open to that supervisor’s suggestions for changing the system.

Really, these are pretty simple steps that all stem from realizing that things are going to change and it’s best to go with the newness. If you can keep this realization forefront in your mind, you’ll be able to be successful in your job under your new supervisor.

How do you deal with change at the workplace?

And in case you were interested, things with my new editor are going pretty well!

–

Photo by kris krüg

This week’s guest on the Work Awesome podcast is Jen Bilik, the founder, CEO and “head honcho” of Knock Knock. Knock Knock makes fun (yet practical) productivity tools, so if you’re new to the world of productivity tools or simply want to make getting stuff done more entertaining, then give Knock Knock a try. I’ve got a few of the file folders they make, and they’ve raised both eyebrows and laughter when they’ve caught attention from my colleagues.

Jen was gracious enough to give me plenty of time to discuss how Knock Knock works, along with her own work habits. The podcast is one of our longer ones, but it really gives you an inside look as to how an idea that may seem off-the-cuff goes from concept to finished product. I think you’ll be as surprised as I was.

Show Notes

• Why Jen decided to start Knock Knock.
• How Knock Knock might just help people get stuff done.
• Her thoughts on the coverage (and success) of Knock Knock.
• Whether or not the digital realm is something Knock Knock is exploring.
• What her working environment is like, including musical preferences, drink of choice and much more.

The winner of the Jason Womack prize pack from last episode is Daryl Tay. Daryl’s name was chosen at random from the entrants, and he provided the correct answer: Jason worked for David Allen prior to striking out on his own. Congratulations, Daryl!

If you enjoy the Work Awesome podcast, please let us know. Leave us a rating and review in iTunes; it’ll help people find us and build up our listenership. We’re working hard to bring some great guests on — and we’ve already had some great ones — so if you have any suggestions on guests or what you’d like to hear, let us know in the comments.

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knock knock productivity, knock knockproductivity

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“Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.” ~Robert Strauss

We love stories about people who never quit. From the movies like Rocky and The Pursuit of Happyness to The Little Engine that Could, we are inspired by stories of perseverance.  But what if it were possible to become like one of these persistent people (or trains)?  The truth is it is possible for each and every one of us to build a persistent mindset.

Perseverance is believing that every obstacle, no matter how big or small, can be defeated. Determination is a key ingredient to accomplishing our goals and dreams.  It would be difficult for me to think of one widely successful person, business, or idea that did not come to past without perseverance.

When we run into problems, we have the option to either give up or to keep going.  The decision to keep going builds our perseverance and makes us stronger and more capable to handle the next obstacle.One early Saturday morning, I learned a valuable lesson about perseverance.

I Hear Voices

It all started on a Friday afternoon when I decided to treat myself to a snack: a Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut. I pulled into the drive-thru and ordered one doughnut.  When I pulled up to the window and handed the lady a dollar, she handed me a box.  Being sure that she had made a mistake I said, “Excuse me, I only ordered one doughnut”.

She said, “The person in front of you cancelled their order so I gave you a few extra.”

I thanked her and drove home.  When I got home I realized that there were six doughnuts in the box.  “I wanted only one doughnut. What am I going to do with six?  There is no way I’m going to eat them all.”

So, after I ate the six doughnuts, and somewhere in between the sugar high and sugar crash, I decided to run an extra mile on top 3 miles  come next morning.

The next day I woke up early and prepared myself for my morning run.  I drove to a nearby lake and began running with the intention of running 4 laps around it.  It was dark, cold, and quiet.  I really did not want to be out there but I had made the commitment to run the 4 miles.

As I was on my last lap around the lake, I could hear the voice of doubt loud and clear. I began to think about how tired I was.  I started to mentally complain about how my legs where feeling heavy and how I was out of breath.  I wanted to stop running and walk the rest of the way because I was convinced that it was too hard.

Then I thought, “What’s my problem? It’s not like I’ve never ran 4 miles before.  Why am I entertaining the thought of giving up?”

Once I realized what was going on, I knew that I had to fight the temptation of giving up.  I had to fight the voice that was telling me to quit.  I began to run faster and faster until I was in a full sprint.  The closer I got to finish the lap, the louder the voice got, and the more I wanted to give up.

I combated the voice by running as hard as a possibly could, determined to finish the lap strong.  When I finally finished the lap, I was exhausted and out of breath.  It was still cold and quiet.  The voice of doubt was gone and the feeling of inadequacy was replaced by a sense of accomplishment. It felt like I had just defeated a giant; and truthfully, I did.

I learned so many very important lessons about persistence that morning that have stuck with me. Now, whenever I come across a problem or an obstacle, I think about that morning.  I think about how hard it was to finish that last lap.  I think about how much I wanted to stop running.  I think about how close I came to giving up and how good it felt when I didn’t.  I learned that having a persistent mindset can be achieved, but first you must be able to silence the voice in your mind.

Silence the Voice of Doubt

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’
then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
~Vincent van Gogh

Self-doubt can rob and steal excitement from your life.  When we entertain and allow doubt to overtake our lives, we are essentially choosing to miss opportunities for growth.  The little thief in the mind can have a big influence on our actions.  Your voice may be saying you are too young, too old, too inexperienced, or not good enough.  Silencing that voice is essential to building a persistent mindset.

Ways to silence the doubts:

Make the Decision –There is a lot of power behind making a decision.  When you truly make a decision towards what you want, resolve to do whatever you can to make that decision a reality.

Don’t fear mistakes -We can often be afraid of making mistakes.  That fear prevents us from taking action towards our goals.  Mistakes can create learning opportunities that are needed if we truly want to advance in our lives.

Avoid doubters – Stay away from people who reinforce the doubting voice in your head.  Finding people who encourage and support your goals can help quiet the voice of doubt.

When in doubt, do – Self doubt prevents decisive actions.  Action is the key to success.  If you come across a situation where you begin to doubt your ability, take action.

Find Other Avenues to Practice Perseverance

There are many different ways to accomplish something.   We sometimes allow the little obstacles and excuses stop us from reaching out destination.  Instead of letting those obstacles stop us, we should find ways to get around those obstacles with perseverance.

If you were on your way to work and there was an accident on the highway that stopped you from getting there, what you would do?  If you valued your job, you would get off of the highway and take another road to work.  It may take you a little longer to get there but the route will get you there.  Very few would say, “Well, the road is blocked, so I guess I should go back home”.

We must find other avenues that will get us to our destinations.  One road block, rejection, or failure should not prevent us from reaching our goals.  If you have a tendency to let obstacles get in the way, begin to think of alternate ways to accomplish your ambition.

Do the Impossible

Most of us keep a mental list of things we are unable to do.  You may have told yourself that you are not a social person, aren’t athletic, or perhaps you told yourself that you cannot succeed in a certain profession.

Why do we allow ourselves to believe we are unable to do something just because it seems too difficult or because we were unable to do it in the past?  Perhaps it is because of the amount of work that is required to do it.  Or maybe it is because the sting of failing in the past is still fresh in our minds so trying again would just be too painful.  Whatever the reason be, a great way to  build perseverance is to resolve to conquer those challenges.

I was a pretty good student all through school; but math was the one subject I could not seem to conquer.  I was happy with a ‘C’ and would expect a celebration if I pulled off a ‘B’.  Even though I would miraculously pull off a good grade every once in a while, I was convinced that being good at math was impossible for me.

When I got to college, I knew that I was going to face a familiar enemy.  The level of mathematics would be much harder than in high school and I knew that if I didn’t conquer my inability succeed in math, it would limit me in future careers.  I decided that I would try my very best until I completely understood the math courses that I enrolled in.  I took my learning very seriously and asked questions in class the moment I didn’t understand a concept.  I would use my free time to do problems that were not assigned to the class and I would review every lesson two or three times.

After hours of study and dedication, I ended the semester by having the second highest grade percentage in the class.  It was an empowering moment and I learned that the reason why I was never good at math was because I told myself I wasn’t good at math.  I now have a lot of confidence in my math abilities and use them effectively at my job.

Create a list of things that you think you cannot do.  It can be something you have struggled with for years like I had with math, or it can be something that you may have never even tried.  Challenge yourself to do just one thing on your list.  Commit to going the extra mile to accomplish that thing to your satisfaction.

Stay Focused (The “Punch Buggy” Reminder)

Focus is extremely important when developing persistence.  The more we can focus ourselves on where we are trying to go, the easier it will be for us to get there.   One of the best ways to stay focused is to constantly remind yourself of your goals and direction.

The Cadillac CTS-V has caught my eye recently.  Over the past few months I have grown to have a crush on this particular beautiful piece.  As with past automobile crushes that I have had, I am now seeing this car everywhere.  I have decided to use this fact to my advantage.

As a child, you may have played a game called “punch buggy” on long road trips.  The rules are pretty simple, whenever you see a Volkswagen Beetle; you punch the person next to you.  As an adult, I have learned to use this game as a way to stay focused on my goal.

First I choose an affirmation, goal or quote.  Then I begin to associate this phrase with my assigned car.  Whenever I see the vehicle on the road, on television, even in a magazine, I repeat this phrase.  No matter where I am or even if I am in the car with another person, I repeat this phrase out loud when I see this car.  This has been an amazing exercise that has increased my focus.

Keep a Log of Perseverance

Whenever I enter a task or challenge that I think that I cannot get across, I think about what I have accomplished in the past.  A victory log is a place where you write down all of your accomplishments and how you accomplished them.  Whenever the need to give up comes around, you can refer to your log to see how you were able to overcome previous obstacles.

I’ve written down many things in my victory log.  I have even gone back to when I was a child and how I was able to learn how to tie my shoe laces.  It may seem unnecessary to list something as simple as learning to tie my shoes but I recall the day that I learned how to do it.  I remember how much I wanted to learn and how good it felt when I finally got it.  Remembering how good it felt helps me to persist towards my current goals and I think about how good it is going to feel when I accomplish them.

By keeping a victory log you will have written proof of how strong and capable you really are.  With every page that you turn, you may see that you have what it takes to conquer the new challenges.

How do you practice perseverance? Got any useful tips?

–

Photo by Jon Jacobsen

This week’s guest on the Work Awesome podcast is Jen Bilik, the founder, CEO and “head honcho” of Knock Knock. Knock Knock makes fun (yet practical) productivity tools, so if you’re new to the world of productivity tools or simply want to make getting stuff done more entertaining, then give Knock Knock a try. I’ve got a few of the file folders they make, and they’ve raised both eyebrows and laughter when they’ve caught attention from my colleagues.

Jen was gracious enough to give me plenty of time to discuss how Knock Knock works, along with her own work habits. The podcast is one of our longer ones, but it really gives you an inside look as to how an idea that may seem off-the-cuff goes from concept to finished product. I think you’ll be as surprised as I was.

Show Notes

• Why Jen decided to start Knock Knock.
• How Knock Knock might just help people get stuff done.
• Her thoughts on the coverage (and success) of Knock Knock.
• Whether or not the digital realm is something Knock Knock is exploring.
• What her working environment is like, including musical preferences, drink of choice and much more.

The winner of the Jason Womack prize pack from last episode is Daryl Tay. Daryl’s name was chosen at random from the entrants, and he provided the correct answer: Jason worked for David Allen prior to striking out on his own. Congratulations, Daryl!

If you enjoy the Work Awesome podcast, please let us know. Leave us a rating and review in iTunes; it’ll help people find us and build up our listenership. We’re working hard to bring some great guests on — and we’ve already had some great ones — so if you have any suggestions on guests or what you’d like to hear, let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to the podcast
Play in podcast in new window

Popular search terms for this article:

knock knock productivity

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