12 LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM TED LASSO

“Ted Lasso?” Some of you may be thinking, “That name sounds familiar.” Some of you may not know the name at all. But I suspect most of you will know him as the loveable lead character in the 2020 hit comedy series on Apple + of the same name.

Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, is a victorious Division 2 Collegiate Football Coach from Kansas City who is surprisingly recruited to be the Head Coach (Manager) of the struggling English Premiership soccer club A.F.C. Richmond in London.

This show provides constant chuckles and feel-good moments, as Lasso and his Assistant Coach navigate the culture shock, and seemingly impossible task of coaching a sport they’ve never coached. You could be forgiven for viewing the show as nothing more than a fun, silly, fish out of water tale. However, for me, this show also provides profound lessons in leadership, and how to successfully create a culture led organization.

From episode 1, Ted Lasso demonstrates that what he lacks in game knowledge and tactics, he makes up for in emotional intelligence.

Here are my main leadership takeaways from this brilliantly uplifting series:

1. LEAD WITH EMPATHY

Lasso takes the time to listen to people around him, and always tries to put himself in their shoes so he can fully understand them, and figure out how he can get the best out of them. As a result, each person he interacts with is left feeling cared for and heard.

2. NEVER TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY

As you can imagine, Ted’s credibility and coaching methods were subject to immediate and ongoing judgment, bolstered by unfavorable name calling from the British public, and even his own players. Lasso shows us how to stay grounded in who you are and your leadership philosophies despite overwhelming scrutiny.

3. WINNING AND LOSING IS NOT EVERYTHING

Winning and losing provides incentive and motivation to perform at our best, and yes, both of them carry consequences, especially in professional sport. Yet Coach Lasso doesn’t view winning as everything, or indeed the only thing. For him, the journey of inspiring others to grow and step into possibility is what drives him as a leader.

4. EQUALITY OVER HIERARCHY

This is immediately evident with the relationship Lasso forges with the scantly respected “kit man” Nathan. Just as Lasso disregards rank at the ground level, he also strives to bridge the gap to the highest level of the organization, always encouraging the club’s owner Rebecca to “join the team downstairs” more often.

As you can imagine, Ted’s credibility and coaching methods were subject to immediate and ongoing judgment, bolstered by unfavorable name calling from the British public, and even his own players. Lasso shows us how to stay grounded in who you are and your leadership philosophies despite overwhelming scrutiny.

5. EMPOWERMENT BREEDS CONFIDENCE

A follow up to the previous point, the most obvious example of this is once again the way Coach Lasso empowers his kit man to perform tasks beyond his role. He also encourages each player to give their input on game tactics, which creates a sense of ownership, leading to more engagement and motivation.

6. NOBODY IS BIGGER THAN THE TEAM

Coaching a team of high performers will likely mean managing large egos and resolving personality conflicts. Lasso tirelessly communicates his message that the team comes first, no matter your talent or superstar status. This is probably why the head coach is called the manager in English football.

7. OPTIMISM IS INFECTIOUS

Ted Lasso is the eternal optimist, and this creates a mixture of first impressions. Not everybody knows how to take Ted’s almost over the top enthusiasm and positivity, but despite their initial resistance, they inevitably develop a soft spot for him. Lasso’s “can-do” attitude creates a ripple effect that raises the collective vibration around him.

8. HUMOR CUTS THROUGH TENSION

It is a comedy after all, yet there is something to be said about injecting humor into a high pressure environment at the right time, helping to ease the tension and remind players to relax and enjoy their work.

9. EMBRACE CHANGE

The thought of leaving the comfort of your hometown to live in a foreign city abroad is scary enough for most people. Add to that coaching a sport you know nothing about at the professional level, and you’re left with very few individuals who’d be willing to take that on. Aside from the main plot being a glaring example of massive change, Lasso faces changes within the change throughout, embracing each challenge with humility and grace, always looking for the opportunities they present.

10. BE A GOLDFISH

Which is the best animal to embody when you make a mistake? The one with a memory that lasts between 5 – 10 seconds of course. Next time you need to shake it off and get back to optimal performance...be a goldfish.

11. COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP EARNS TRUST

It is painfully obvious from the outset that having uncomfortable conversations is not a strength of Coach Lasso, which is to be expected from a man who is always so darn friendly. Despite his discomfort, he still finds the courage to have the crucial conversations anyway, because he knows it will improve the individual, and serve the culture of the team. Without giving away too much from the show, he also makes some massively courageous decisions in the face of ridicule, that earns the respect and trust of the people that matter the most.

12. BELIEVE

Self doubt can be crippling, especially when the odds seem stacked against us. It is virtually impossible for us to achieve our desires if we don't believe we are either capable, or deserving of achieving them. Ted Lasso teaches us that we must believe to achieve, and remember to have as much fun as possible on the journey.

 

Ted Lasso Season 1 is available now on Apple+. Click HERE to watch the official trailer.

THE 4 STEP GAME PLAN FOR EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT

Why Develop A Game Plan?

This may seem obvious, but most of us still struggle to manage our most precious, non-renewable resource...Time.

Our mindset and behavioral habits that shape our daily routine may have us feeling like we are always busy and accomplishing a lot, but how productive are we being with our time? Are we spending our time in a way that effectively serves us and others?

To put things into perspective, here are some time use statistics from various recent studies on time management:

  • Full-time employees work an average of 8.5 hours per weekday and 5.4 hours per day on a weekend day. (BLS, 2019)
  • The average employee spends 2 hours per day recovering from distractions. (Atlassian, 2019)
  • The average knowledge worker checks email and IM every 6 minutes. (RescueTime, 2019)
  • The average employee only works for a total of 3 minutes before switching to another task. (Atlassian, 2019)
  • The Netherlands ranks among the best work/life balanced countries with an average 29-hour workweek. (Small Business Trends, 2018)

If you’re not already doing so, take a moment to ask yourself the question – “How do I spend my time on a typical day?”

Depending on our personality type and learning experience, we tend to form habits that sabotage or limit our ability to effectively manage time, therefore it is important to develop skills to stay on track, and having a game plan that provides the framework from which to build and implement those skills is vital. That’s where the MESH model comes in.

The M.E.S.H. Model

Here is a simple acronym that describes an effective platform from which your time management practice can be based. It stands for:

Meaning

Energizing

Scheduling

Honoring

One way to remember it, is to think of ‘mesh’ as the strong fabric used in medieval garments as protective armor. This model too shall be your protection from your time management saboteurs.

Meaning

What does time mean to you? How valuable is it? What are the costs of not using it wisely?

Consistently connecting and reconnecting to this will be the driving force of our motivation. It is the main weapon in combating the bad habits, and forming the good habits that lead to effective time management.

In his book 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management, Kevin Kruse refers to a sign he puts on his office door with the number 1440. This reminds him and others that this is how many minutes there are in a day, and to use them wisely.

This is merely one example of a touchstone that helps connect to the value of time. Some like to tattoo their skin, others meditate with a mantra. I like to read a poem called The Dash by Linda Ellis each morning, to set the tone for a day well lived.

Energizing

In order to manage and execute our daily tasks to a high standard, we need a high level of energy. Yet how often do we fail to prioritize our self-energizing needs, especially as our responsibilities and expectations imposed on us by others increase?

There are many factors that contribute to our energizing potential, and here is a list of some of the most important:

- Quality Sleep

- Regular Exercise

- Healthy nutrition

- Constant hydration

- Mindfulness (meditation)

- Regular breaks throughout the day (pulse and pause).

Consider the above as non-negotiables, or the essential fuel that will keep you firing on all cylinders.

How many of us experience a dip at around 2 or 3pm of a typical work day, which we try to push through with an injection of caffeine or some other stimulant? It is common that these remaining hours of the work day are spent ineffectively, with reduced productivity. This can be avoided with consistent adherence to the above pillars of self energizing.

In the time leading up to being fully awake, another powerful energizing tactic to set your day up for a win, is to perform a regular morning ritual, consisting of activities that nourish the mind, body and spirit. For example, drink 16 oz of water with lemon and apple cider vinegar, then 15 minutes of meditation, journaling your gratitudes and intentions for the day, followed by some exercise. This can all be done in less than one hour of power.

Scheduling

Now that we have taken care of the ME (M+E) of MESH, we can attend to the mechanics of our time management practice, starting with our schedule, or calendar.

A common practice that may hold us back from getting things done, is relying too heavily on a ‘To do’ list. In fact, some of the most successful people in the World don’t even bother with a 'To do' list, and only live by their calendar.

Have you ever had so many tasks on your 'To do' list, unable to completely check everything off before new task items keep being added, causing overwhelm and anxiety? If so, you certainly wouldn’t be alone, in fact, a recent study found that on average, 41% of ‘To do’ items are never completed.

The overwhelm and anxiety caused by incomplete tasks can severely hinder the focus on, and completion of current tasks, a process scientifically known as the ‘Zeigarnick effect’.

By adopting the motto “If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t get done”, you will form the habit of scheduling your high priority tasks, and not just let them sit forever on your 'To do' list.

Speaking of priorities, another tendency most people have is to start the day tackling tasks that are easy and normally take less time, like checking and responding to emails. This gives a false sense of accomplishment, and underneath the surface is an avoidance of the harder, less enjoyable, but more important tasks.

It is important to identify your Most Important Task (MIT), and make it a schedule item as early in the day as possible. Duke University Professor of Psychology Dan Ariely suggests that most people are the most productive, and have the highest cognitive functioning in the first two hours after we are fully awake (after your morning ritual).

Honoring

The definition of the verb “Honor” in the dictionary is “to regard with great respect”, and “fulfill an obligation or keep an agreement”.

This fourth and final step of the MESH model is the most challenging, and yet most imperative. This step involves forming the habits to ensure you follow through on all the steps of the plan you’ve put in place to effectively manage your time.

The necessary question to ask ourselves here is “What gets in the way of honoring my calendar?”

The first thing to observe, is whether we are fully adhering to our first two steps of the MESH model. Without connection to Meaning, and without appropriate Energizing techniques, we are already putting ourselves at risk of lacking the motivation and commitment to Honoring our Scheduling practice.

Succumbing to, and spending time recovering from distractions is the #1 saboteur of productivity. Identifying what our most common distractions are is the first step to managing them. Completing a Distraction journal for at least 3 days can be extremely useful, whereby you track all of your activities of the day and note which of those were distractions, and for how long you were distracted.

Once identified, there are many ways to combat or avoid these distractions, such as turning off all social media notifications on your phone, removing distracting application icons from your computer’s bookmarks bar, or using a timer such as the Pomodoro technique to block out periods of time for distraction free work.

Another destructive behavioral habit, is not being able to say “No”. How often do you try to be everything to everyone, and take on the requests of others that you really don’t have the bandwidth for, or at the least, delay us from completing our important tasks or projects sooner?

Supporting others is an admirable trait, however we must determine when it is to the detriment of the greater outcome, such as your own wellness. Imagine what is possible when we find the courage to break through our ‘people pleasing’ tendencies, and decline requests for our time with confidence and respect.

As suggested in my e-book The Surthrival Guide, a very effective way to beat procrastination and ensure that we follow through on commitments, is to find yourself an Accountability partner, or ‘Accountabilibuddy’. Whether it’s a personal trainer, a work colleague, a weight watchers group, a friend to study with...we often feel worse when we break agreements with other people than we do with ourselves, so find yourself somebody who agrees to hold you accountable to your goals.

If life is a game, and we want to play to the best of our ability before full time, we need a game plan. Stick to the MESH model of time management, and you’ll have the best chance of finishing the game without regret, and having made an impact.

This article was adapted from the Winning EQ online workshop – Effective Time Management. If you would like Winning EQ to deliver this interactive workshop to your team, contact marc@winningeq.com for details.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

15 Secrets successful People Know About Time Management - by Kevin Kruse

Time Management Facts  & Figures - Dovico

The State of Work Life Balance in 2019: What we learned from studying 185 million hours of working time

American time use survey 2019 results - Bureau Of Labor Statistics

The Stats Of Work/Life Balance Of Your Employees - Small Business Trends

6 WAYS MY SPORTS INJURIES PREPARED ME FOR THE CORONAVIRUS

Part of my work as a leadership coach is to help athletes with their mental and emotional transition from their sporting career, into the next phase. It is quite common for athletes to not feel they have anything to offer the World professionally other than their profile and their sporting talent. Therefore I help them see the character traits and leadership skills that their sports career helped them develop, which are huge assets when creating the next career steps. A large part of any athlete’s career is dealing with injury, which is so often associated with disappointment and pain, both physical and emotional. However, there is no better situation or period of adversity than an unprecedented Global Coronavirus Pandemic, to highlight the advantages of having experienced the physical and emotional rollercoaster of injury management.

Here are 6 examples of what I gained being injured so often during my 12 year professional rugby career:

1. I Was Taught How To "Control The Controllables"

Being injured meant sometimes not being able to perform my usual tasks, both on and off the field. It was easy to let my mind focus on what I couldn’t do, and things that were out of my control like whether the team wins or loses without me, or how well my replacement performs in my absence. Worse yet, will he take my spot permanently? What I was able to control, was rehabilitating my injury to return to the field even stronger and fitter than before, and making sure that I always remained positive. The mind-body connection is powerful, and I reminded myself that if my mindset was negative and full of worry about things I couldn’t control, it would slow down my body’s ability to heal. This translates well to my current situation and prevents me from developing anxiety about things out of my control like Coronavirus conspiracy theories, the disruption in my plans both personally and professionally, and wondering when the lockdown and other restrictions will be lifted.

2. I Developed Better Discipline

As my body was required to perform my job, being sidelined often posed the threat of losing income or even worse, not having my contract renewed or terminated. Therefore it was important to get back onto the field as quickly as possible. In order for this to happen, I needed to be diligent and disciplined in my behaviors and habits, and that I wasn’t just doing the right things to maximize my recovery, but I was also abstaining from doing the wrong things that could sabotage my recovery. Being disciplined during this Pandemic is important when maintaining the routines and practices necessary to optimize our mental, physical, and emotional wellness while navigating change. It is not only our mindset that serves as an important defense system, but our immune system too!

3. I Gained Self-Awareness Through Curiosity

I spent a lot of time in the physical therapist’s practice rehabilitating my injuries. Over time I began to see the benefits of asking questions and learning from the medical staff all about the human body. Learning about myself and how to prevent and heal injuries rather than just leaving it in the hands of others, gives me greater power and sense of control, and also a greater appreciation of the miracle that is the human body, meaning I take it for granted way less. The same can be said for mental and emotional wellness, and I started applying the same curiosity and thirst for knowledge about the brain and emotional intelligence. This knowledge, understanding and connection to my physical and emotional wellness is great arsenal for facing the many challenges posed by a viral pandemic.

4. I Learned How To Push Through The Pain

Not all injuries kept me on the sideline. In fact, toward the end of my career I barely remember playing a match without some kind of niggling injury that caused great discomfort, but didn’t reduce my functionality enough to prevent me from performing. Basically this means I learned how to make personal sacrifices to ensure the team’s objectives were met. During this current Corona climate, the physical pain has been replaced with emotional pain such as uncertainty, anxiety, fear, loss and others that many of us are experiencing. Managing injuries enabled me to develop an awareness of myself and my limits, and experience the benefits of persevering, and pushing those limits for the greater good. This is proving to be a valuable skill set, especially when others need my services more than ever right now!

5. I Discovered The Importance Of Pre-habilitation

The term rehabilitation is obviously synonymous with recovering and rebuilding, but just as important and often neglected is pre-habilitation, which involves engaging in practices such as isolated and highly specific exercises to help prevent injuries, or at least minimize their severity.

Where else can this concept be applied to other areas of our lives? Well, appropriate financial planning and budgeting for times of crisis like these is an obvious example.

Nurturing relationships and building strong support networks is another way to prevent the impacts of adversity.

Constantly working on one’s self-awareness, developing a positive life philosophy and healthy relationship with our ego are other recommendations for what I refer to in this instance as ‘Crisis Pre-habilitation’.

6. I Am Better Able To Navigate Sudden Change

Of the countless injuries and 8 major surgeries I endured over 20 years of elite level sport, one of them essentially ended my career and suddenly brought about a massive change. When I broke my neck I had to immediately face the possibility of never walking again, to then the possibility of never regaining full function of my arm again, to then the reality of never playing rugby again. It has been quite a transition journey and with many valuable lessons that I am able to apply today. For example, I developed a model of dealing with transition that involves 3 main steps:

- Acceptance of the new situation.

- Assessment of my mental, emotional and physical status (self awareness), and the opportunities that were available to me.

- Action steps required to move forward, and how to achieve them.

This can be a road map not only for the current Global disruption, but for any challenging situations we may face that produce unwanted thoughts and feelings.

You can read more about these steps and how best to execute them in my free eBook called The Sur-thrival Guide.

Thrive During Crisis – 5 Leadership Lessons From Southwest Airlines

And by Southwest Airlines, I am mainly referring to its charismatic former CEO, the late, great Herb Kelleher.

Herb is renowned for being one of the most successful modern business leaders, leaving a remarkable legacy, and countless anecdotes of his highly effective, culture based leadership style, during his reign of almost five decades.

What is most notable about Herb, is how he treated his employees. The extraordinary measures he took to build trust and loyalty with his workers, created a culture that helped Southwest airlines become the only airline in history to always turn a profit, without needing to lay off or furlough a single member of staff during economic adversity.

In fact, Herb often cited developing a strong culture as the most important contributor to success, particularly during the hard times. When the airline industry faced a crisis immediately post 9/11, Herb was asked how Southwest airlines managed to not just stay afloat, but keep every staff member without reducing their flying schedule. He responded “we had actually been preparing for 3 decades”. What he was referring to was the trust and loyalty established with his staff throughout the years, which at that time the company relied upon more than ever, calling everybody forward to make sacrifices and pitch in a little more, in order to get through the unprecedented economic turbulence ahead.

The current COVID-induced economic climate bares resemblance to that which followed 9/11, with the airline industry obviously suffering again. However there are vastly more businesses across numerous industries also feeling the devastation, with the possibility of catastrophe looming.

One would assume that Southwest will yet again be at the frontline of the resistance, providing they emulate the ways of Herb Kelleher , and here are some ways that you can tap into the philosophies and practices that helped Southwest thrive, even through adversity...

1.TRANSPARENCY OF COMMUNICATION

Herb Kelleher was known for his straight shooting communication, and for being a man of his word. One of the best ways to build trust with employees is by telling it like it is. Sugarcoating information about the situation, usually in an effort to avoid diminishing morale, can lead to a false sense of security and therefore reduced chances of the grit and sacrifice needed to pull through the tough times. Keep your staff informed on updates and decisions openly and consistently.

Be careful not to make promises you may not be able to keep. The best way to lose trust and create panic is to guarantee no lay offs for example, only to end up having to make staff cuts in a bid to save the company.

2. DEMONSTRATE SERVANT LEADERSHIP

One of Herb Kelleher’s most admired characteristics was his humility. He would often lay his ego aside and get into the trenches to work alongside his employees. He also wouldn’t ask his employees to make sacrifices that he wasn’t willing to make himself. His egalitarian approach was demonstrated by the fact that he always chose an office without windows. Another example is when the company made an agreement with the pilot’s union to impose a 5 year wage freeze in exchange for a 10 year stock option. After the negotiation, Herb told his pilot’s “what’s good for you is good for me as well”, and froze his wages too.

A great resource I recommend that emphasizes this concept is a book called Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.

This servant leadership approach must be extended to your customers also, and putting your customers' needs before the company’s can pay dividends in the long run. After 9/11 most airlines refused to refund tickets for passengers who were afraid to fly. Southwest never hesitated to give money back, despite the risk. Sometimes passengers reciprocated the love: in the months following 9/11, some of Southwest’s loyal customers sent checks to the airline to help it get through the hard times.

 

3. BE TOUGH, NOT MEAN

Anybody who worked with Herb would agree that he can be tough. How else could you maintain Southwest’s famous policy of turning around a plane from pulling into the gate to taking off in 10 minutes, without displaying a decent level of accountability, and constructive feedback for substandard performance? But Herb felt there was a difference between being tough, and being mean. It is important to find the sweet spot of holding each other accountable, without dehumanizing, shaming or belittling, which will inevitably lead to a fear-based culture that sucks the life and motivation out of your people.

At Winning EQ, we recommend you consider offering some "Giving & Receiving Feedback" training to your staff at all levels.

4. LOOK BEYOND CLASS AND TITLES

While this is recommended as common practice, it is crucial during adversity when the entire company is required to give an extra 5% - 10% and work as a team.

Herb didn’t see a distinction in class, ethnicity or title when dealing with his employees and customers.

Years ago, one of his executive officers said, “Herb, it’s harder for me to get in to see you than it is for a mechanic, a pilot, a flight attendant, or a reservations agent.” Half-jokingly, Herb said, “I can explain that to you very easily, they’re more important than you are!”

Nothing says “we’re in this together” more than empowering employees beyond Senior Management to contribute to strategic planning, such as reporting observations of client behavior and the market landscape, creating extra eyes and ears to facilitate innovation and rapidly seizing opportunities.

5. DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY

I realize during these uncertain times of hardship that it may appear easier said than done, or even inappropriate to suggest that having a laugh and bringing the joy to the situation, is one of the best ways to ease tension and raising morale, thereby raising motivation and productivity.

Kelleher believed that you didn’t have to be boring to be successful, and enrolled everyone in his belief. In 1999 Herb underwent radiation treatment for prostate cancer. On a conference call with Wall Street's financial community, one of the analysts asked Herb if the radiation treatments impaired his ability to run the company in any way. Herb responded, "No, but I am very concerned about my uneven tan line!"

Below is an example of how much fun Herb had as CEO, and insisted on his employees having fun with him...

We are amidst unprecedented global disruption, with imminent economic hardship of uncertain proportions. The best chance for the majority of impacted businesses to survive, outside a sound innovative strategy based on agility and quick decision making, is to lean on the company culture and the trusty employees within it. If you take a page out of Herb Kelleher’s book, you may even just thrive your way onto the other side, and have some fun in the process.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Luv and War at 30,000 Feet

20 Reasons Why Herb Kelleher Was One Of The Most Beloved Leaders Of Our Time

LA Workplace Summit Receives Rave Reviews

On Thursday, January 23rd, 2020 the inaugural LA Workplace Summit was held at the Riveter in Marina Del Rey.

It was a gathering of business executives, managers, entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, Millennials, Baby Boomers...all with the common desire to connect, share ideas and activate inspiration around some key organizational leadership topics.

The event space created an instantaneous buzz and excited anticipation upon entering for both the guests and speakers, joining the collective buzz of industrious Riveter members sprinkled throughout the modern, yet welcoming co-working surrounds of wood, steel, concrete and modular furniture.

Once nourished with breakfast snacks and coffee, the attendees were greeted by Riveter Events Director Madelyn Shaughnessy, who also provided a brief explanation of the Riveter’s history, and mission to inspire female collaboration and empowerment, simultaneously building an all-inclusive community.

Launching the first topic Activating the Visionary was Shelly Carlin, the Executive Vice President of HR Policy and its Center On Executive Compensation. Her focus on organizational growth through purposeful visioning had the room enthralled, especially with her anecdotal examples from her time as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Motorola Solutions.

Following Shelly was the charismatic self-mastery expert Mary Jo Lorei who took the room on an experiential journey and exploration of personal vision, and its relation to the collective vision of teams and companies. The intimacy and connection created during Mary Jo’s 45 minute workshop was the perfect way to warm up the crowd, and have them get to know themselves and each other a little better.

Just before the first break, Co-host Mark Francis introduced Jorge Garcia, the Head of Partner Development for Everytable, who also provided guests with a delicious array of nutritious salads for lunch. Jorge explained the powerful vision of Everytable to “make good food accessible to everyone, no exceptions.”

After the lunch break, the second segment commenced which focused on the topic of Millennial Motivation. Shawn Lipman, the CEO of thriving E-commerce company Feedonomics blew minds with his personal account of leading organizations with a culture focus. He also described both the differences and similarities between the Millennials and other Generations with regards to motivation and employee engagement, while describing the creativity and capabilities of Millennials as “lightning in a bottle” that requires the appropriate leadership skills to harness.

Following Shawn was former College and NFL quarterback coach Evan Burk, who now coaches business executives, including the emerging Esports space, where there is certainly an abundance of Millennial generation influence. Evan used his exceptional story telling ability to engage and educate the audience how to lead Millennials.

Closing out the day with the third and final segment Inspiring Emotional Intelligence (EQ) were co-hosts Marc Stcherbina of Winning EQ and Mark Francis of Uspire. Stcherbina concentrated on one of the most important aspects of EQ – Empathy. Attendees once again had the opportunity to connect with a partner, and practice building empathy through active listening skills.

Mark Francis continued the theme of creating a dynamic experience, with his workshop on identifying the leading behavioral styles of oneself and others. There were plenty of a-ha moments accompanied by laughter, which was the perfect way to lead the audience into the fundraising raffle, followed by happy hour.

Attendees dug into their pockets and collectively raised $660 to be donated to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, a fabulous organization leading the efforts in rebuilding the devastation caused by the tragic bushfires in Australia.

A special mention to Angel Bags, Soulcycle, Modo Yoga, F45 Manhattan Beach, Color Wine, Gloveworx, Surf Air and LA Galaxy for donating some incredible prizes.

The fun continued with a Happy Hour mingle at the end of the day, fueled by our good friends at Sufferfest Beer, Color Wine and GT's Kombucha. Attendees were able to connect further with other attendees, and also ask the guest speakers some burning questions on the themes discussed throughout the Summit.

If you are interested in gaining access to video footage of the sessions throughout the day, just leave your name and email below for information about accessibility to the LA Workplace Summit video library.

How to Activate A Clear 2020 Company Vision

Leaders are limited by their vision rather than by their abilities.” - Roy T. Bennett

The word “vision” has been a feature of corporate culture jargon for years as a key ingredient in achieving positive growth and extraordinary results.

So why is the concept of creating a vision and the cultural values that drive its pursuance, still often misunderstood and/or unsuccessfully executed, particularly in startups?

Workplace culture support company Rungway, surveyed 2,000 UK employees on their attitude to work. The research showed that more than half (52%) of employees in the UK can’t recite their organization’s vision, and nearly half (49%) can’t recite their organization’s values.

The inability of employees to recite or align to their organization’s vision and values can lead to a lack of engagement, motivation and therefore productivity.

A clear, compelling organizational vision is the foundation for a strong workplace culture. It the “why” of the company, and countless studies have shown that a person’s why, or sense of purpose, is the strongest and most sustainable driver of human motivation, especially when the going gets tough.

Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl studied human motivational factors while held prisoner in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz, during the Holocaust of World War II. In his 1946 book Man’s Search For Meaning his findings showed that regardless of age or physical stature, the men with a greater sense of purpose in their lives showed the most resilience, and hence lived the longest or even survived.

The Essential Practice Of Vision Setting

Aligning a company’s vision and values with those of the individual employees will enhance motivation, leading to greater overall performance and employee retention.

But how can an organization effectively design a clear, compelling vision statement that will inspire and motivate each employee to make sacrifices, work hard, work efficiently, and enjoying doing so?

At Winning EQ, here are four steps we recommend:

1. Differentiate

Firstly, understand the difference between “vision” and “mission”. If vision is the “why”, then mission is the “what”. The vision gives a company or individual a grand idea of what is possible, describing where they want themselves, the community, or the world, to be as a result of the company's efforts.

A mission states what work is already being done, what goals are already being met, the problems that are being solved and the product or service that solves them.

2. Collaborate

It is important that each employee is involved in the vision setting process. This leads to a greater sense of empowerment, and they are more likely to feel connected to that vision, taking ownership of whatever is necessary to achieve it. The values can be viewed as the “who” a company or individual is, or in other words, the character needed to materialize a vision.

When considering a powerful, compelling vision, ask questions like:

·     Where are we going?

·     What is important to us?

·     What positive change will we effect on the world?

·     What outcome is worth sacrificing for?

For an historic example of a compelling vision, one need only turn to Martin Luther King Jnr’s famous quote:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Another somewhat extreme, yet undeniably impactful example of a clear, compelling vision is when Winston Churchill addressed his nation, laying plans to protect Great Britain’s freedom, and abolish Adolf Hitler’s reign of human destruction:

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival”.

3. Consolidate

Now it’s time to narrow down everyone’s input and achieve alignment on a simple, impactful vision that accurately encompasses what is important for the company and its individuals.

This process will require effective communication and decision making, facilitated by the company’s more recognized leaders, and/or a third party consultant.

An example of a clear, concise and compelling company vision is that of Teach For America:

“One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an excellent education”.

4. Replicate

Once a clear, compelling vision has been established, it is vital that the vision is seen and heard as much as possible. Constant efforts to establish a connection with the vision should be made, especially as a company grows. It can be challenging to have new employees connect to the company vision and values the same way as the early adopters, so be creative, intentional and consistent when doing so.

During the onboarding process of new employees at the rapidly expanding e-commerce company Feedonomics, the CEO Shawn Lipman conducts a 60 minute workshop on the company vision and values, and regular company wide “company values expression sessions” facilitated by the employees themselves.

Set the tone now for a successful 2020

The new year is already here, and now is the perfect time to revisit and possibly redesign your company vision, and how well your employees are connecting to it.

Invest in a leadership consulting firm like Winning EQ to facilitate a comprehensive organizational health check, followed by a vision setting session.

There is also an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and inspiration on the power of vision setting, and other game-changing leadership topics at the LA Workplace Summit on January 23rd. Simply click HERE for tickets and info and be sure to sign up with your team now to avoid disappointment, because places are limited.

7 WINNING HABITS TO SET THE TONE FOR 2020

1) SOLIDIFY YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

“Lose an hour in the morning, and you will spend all day looking for it”. – Richard Whately

How you start your morning, will set the tone for the day. Have you ever found yourself in the morning rushing out the door, unnourished, still tired, and forgetting to take important items? How did the rest of the day progress? I’m guessing much of the same, which resulted in poor performance and productivity...

Make your morning routine a non-negotiable, and include activities that energize and clear any heaviness or chaos, to allow space for you to be creative and maximize motivation.

Making your bed, and doing any other chores that leave your house in order will clear chaotic energy and start the momentum of feeling accomplished.

Doing 30 minutes of exercise will actually energize you, and ensure that you fulfill your fitness needs, whereas waiting until later in the day will increase the likelihood of not doing it.

Meditation will also alleviate any feelings of mental stress and anxiety, and having your schedule for the day set up, will provide you with purpose, and better equip you to manage distractions. I recommend starting off with 10-15mins of guided meditation using the Headspace app, and using Wunderlist to organize your tasks and projects for the day/week.

Writing in a gratitude journal also helps you start the day with a joyful, positive mood, which is infectious to others. Start with three things you are grateful for, then progress to writing ten. This is especially important for leaders in the workplace, because they are the source for the mood, attitudes and results of employees under their management. After all, it is scientifically impossible to be in negative emotional state while expressing genuine gratitude for something or someone.

The good news is that our body’s circadian rhythm allows more will power right after long bouts of sleep. So make the most of your morning by adding habits that set you up for a winning day, and removing those that don't.

2) ESTABLISH A DISTRACTION MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

“There are always distractions, if you allow them” - Tony La Russa

We live in a world of endless, abundant distractions, especially in this new age of the internet and Social Media. Accepting this and acknowledging the main distractions that sabotage your productivity, is the key to developing a strategy for success.

Our biggest problem is that we tend to confuse being ‘busy’ with being ‘productive’. Setting a realistic schedule or task list for the day will be the first step to combatting distractions, as it provides the direction and purpose that paves the way for productivity.

Next start a ‘distraction journal’ and honestly document whenever you engage in a activity that distracts you from completing the tasks you have on your schedule. Doing this for a day will give you some awareness, but doing it for a week will allow it to truly sink in.

The most common source of our distractions is the smart phone. Use the Screen Time app on iPhone and Digital Well Being app on Android to give you an idea of how much time you spend on your phone, which apps you are using the most, and when during the day. You can then set limits on your usage and notifications to let you know when it’s time limit is up. If this isn’t enough to curb your phone cravings, simply lock your phone away for a period of time, perhaps when an important task needs to be completed by a deadline. I recommend using a safe box with timer.

3) HIT THE RESET BUTTON BETWEEN TASKS

“Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.” — Paul Cezanne

As we move through our day, we often encounter a variety of tasks and projects that require a different type of thought process, energy, and emotional investment.

Presence and focus can be affected if we move straight from one task into another, impacting overall productivity, especially after completing a task that required lots of brain power and emotional deposits.

Taking 5 – 15 minutes to step away and reset your focus and emotional state will do wonders for staying on your productivity path throughout the day.

Countless scientific studies suggest that meditation reduces stress and helps reorient and maintain one’s attention span.

Simple breathing techniques can also be effective to restore the mental and physiological levels necessary to tackle the next object.

Another important element to hitting the reset button between tasks, is setting your intention, which grounds or centers you for the next block of time. Thoughts and emotions can still linger from the previous task, and thinking or worrying about future tasks will steal away from attention needed in the present moment.

Factoring in a time buffer for between important tasks or meetings on your schedule will also help you develop the habit of regular resets.

Writing in a gratitude journal also helps you start the day with a joyful, positive mood, which is infectious to others. Start with three things you are grateful for, then progress to writing ten. This is especially important for leaders in the workplace, because they are the source for the mood, attitudes and results of employees under their management. After all, it is scientifically impossible to be in negative emotional state while expressing genuine gratitude for something or someone.

The good news is that our body’s circadian rhythm allows more will power right after long bouts of sleep. So make the most of your morning by adding habits that set you up for a winning day, and removing those that don't.

4) SCHEDULE MANDATORY PLAY

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good” - Lucia Capocchione

I am always advocating the need for balance in life, and this is the main area where most humans become way off track. “I’m too busy ” or “I’ll enjoy myself when things calm down at work” are common excuses for neglecting our need for play.

Studies show that adult play keeps you functional when under stress, triggers creativity and innovation, increases energy which prevents burnout and enhances relationships.

If you have developed the habit of consuming yourself with work and other life commitments where you forget to enjoy yourself, then it’s time to develop a new habit of scheduling recreation.

So when setting up your diary for the week, schedule in enjoyable activities at least twice in the working week. By locking in blocks of play, it will support your habits of being present, focused and intentional during your work, while creating and maintaining balance in your life.

5) EVALUATE YOURSELF

“Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable” - John Wooden

As a professional rugby player, one of the most important tools for individual and collective success (and often most dreaded), was reviewing video footage of the previous game. After team video sessions, we would then evaluate our own performance individually to determine what areas of performance needed fine-tuning, often with the support of a self-evaluation document.

Get into the habit of evaluating yourself in areas of your life that you are committed to grow. The simplest way to self evaluate, is to ask yourself regularly “what worked?” and “what didn’t work?”, for example after a pitch to a potential client, a colleague performance review meeting, a job interview or even after a first date!

Creating a self-evaluation practice of how well you are achieving the work/play balance outlined previously in winning habit #4, is also a powerful way to check in with how you are living, and set new goals around how you want to live. Check out this free example of a weekly life self evaluation.

6) SLEEP WELL

“Happiness consists of getting enough sleep. Just that, nothing more.” - Robert A. Heinlein

As the renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus (aka the Sleep Doctor) says, sleep is the third pillar of health along with diet and exercise.

A 2018 study examined the ways different sleep issues affected work productivity. It found that people with mild insomnia had a 58% productivity loss. People who experienced daytime sleepiness had a 50% loss in productivity. And people who snore lost between 19-34% of their productivity.

It is widely publicized that 7-8 hours is the sweet spot for recommended sleep, but there are many other factors that contribute to optimum rest, including quality of sleep.

So how do you develop optimal sleeping habits? First step is to find out your chronotype, which is the scientific term for ‘body clock’. Take this quiz to determine your chronotype and reveal what you need to do to work with your body, not against it for quality sleep.

Dr Breus’s blog is full of great tips on achieving quality sleep, and I also recommend you incorporate #5 of this winning habits list, and log your hours of sleep each night, then calculate your average over the week to ensure that you’re staying on track, and doing what is necessary to prioritize your sleep.

7) REMIND YOURSELF OFTEN THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE

“One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Ok, I know what you’re probably thinking - ”that’s quite a strange and morbid thing to include in a winning habits list”, but allow me to explain...

So often in our personal and professional lives, we hold ourselves back from fulfilling our potential, and from truly giving ourselves the best chance of achieving what is possible for us.

This normally happens as a result of our own crippling limiting beliefs, and our tendency as humans to seek comfort and avoid emotional pain, instead of putting ourselves out there, taking risks, and getting comfortable in the uncomfortable in order to grow and generate extraordinary results in the process.

One way to remind us to start living fully, is to develop a healthy relationship with our mortality. In fact, the monks of Bhutan traditionally contemplate their death 5 times daily to alleviate any fear of dying, and therefore create happiness in their current state of being alive.

My favorite app, that is based on this concept, is called We Croak which simply sends me a notification 5 times randomly throughout the day, and attaches a quote relating to life and/or death from a poet, philosopher or notable thinker.

Steven Covey also touches on a similar practice in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” with the chapter “begin with an end in mind”. Covey suggests that we imagine our own funeral, and how we would like that to look in terms of who attends, what people say about you and what kind of legacy you leave behind. Then work backwards from there in figuring out how you are going to achieve this and live your best life.

Another version of this which I practice daily, is reading a Poem called ‘The Dash” by Linda Ellis. The impact of its words are profound, and highly effective in stirring up inspiration and motivation to get busy doing whatever it takes to achieve your version of personal and business success.

Tom Hanks Once Again Has BIG Shoes To Fill

Last night at the cinema I watched the new release A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood starring Tom Hanks, who portrays the life of the late American children’s television personality Fred Rogers.

Having grown up in Australia, I never watched the preschool television series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, and thanks mainly to Morgan Neville’s acclaimed documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor? I have only recently been made aware of the phenomenon which ran from 1968 to 2001.

With his efforts to educate both children and adults on the benefits of emotional intelligence (EQ), and how it can make the World a better place, Rogers was certainly ahead of his time.

After retiring from professional rugby 10 years ago, I struggled emotionally with my transition into the next phase of life, which led me on a path of self-awareness and growth. During this personal development journey, I discovered a passion for EQ, how it contributes to enhanced connected relationships, and it’s role in achieving excellence in my personal and professional life.

You can imagine my delight when Mr. Rogers appeared on my radar. Until then, my research had revealed Dan Goleman as the guru of EQ, after making the term popular with his 1995 best selling book Emotional Intelligence – Why it can matter more than IQ.

Goleman uses neuroscience to back up his theories of why EQ is so important for success and harmony in all aspects of life, and has sparked a revolution, particularly in the business world, where leaders are starting to understand and recognize EQ for being just as important, if not more than IQ, especially with regards to high performance and a winning team culture.

For me, Fred Rogers was already making EQ popular through his kids television program, long before it’s current day, science backed conceptualization. This is powerfully demonstrated in one of Mister Rogers’ children’s songs called “What do you do with the mad that you feel?”, the lyrics of which he recited to US congress while fighting to save the show amidst threat of PBS funding cuts. He nervously and passionately read the following:

What do you do with the mad that you feel? When you feel so mad you could bite. When the whole wide world seems oh so wrong, and nothing you do seems very right. What do you do? Do you punch a bag? Do you pound some clay or some dough? Do you round up friends for a game of tag or see how fast you go? It’s great to be able to stop when you’ve planned the thing that’s wrong. And be able to do something else instead ― and think this song ―

“I can stop when I want to. Can stop when I wish. Can stop, stop, stop anytime... And what a good feeling to feel like this! And know that the feeling is really mine. Know that there’s something deep inside that helps us become what we can. For a girl can be someday a lady, and a boy can be someday a man.”

The rejuvenation of Mister Rogers’ legacy on modern digital media platforms, thanks to the acclaimed 2018 documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor, has highlighted the need for EQ education in school curriculums, so that children may begin their conditioning into highly functional, cooperative adults. Surely this would help reduce the incidence of anxiety, depression and suicide in teens and young adults, as well as violent episodes such as the mass school shootings we are seeing with alarming regularity?

Today, Mister Rogers’ mission of spreading the message of empathy, kindness, acceptance and understanding throughout the world is being delivered on a much bigger stage, by Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks, with his stunning performance in It’s a Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Not only does this warm and feel-good production outline the correlation between emotional intelligence and happiness, it openly demonstrates how it is also a skill that is often difficult to execute and requires constant practice.

It is virtually impossible to finish watching this film, and not want to be a better person. Which leads me to my next question – How emotionally intelligent do you think you are? Here’s a quick test you can take right now to give you some baseline awareness.

If you’d like more tips and ideas on how to improve your EQ and develop better leadership skills, subscribe to Winning EQ now and receive more articles like this and other valuable content.

Inspiring emotional intelligence will be one of 3 game changing topics explored at the LA Workplace Summit on January 23rd. Get your tickets now before they sell out because places are limited!

Creating A Winning Team Culture Through The Power Of Feedback

One of the most powerful tools for the growth of a person is feedback. Athletes in particular rely on feedback simply to learn and refine a new skill, which may come from many sources, both verbal and non verbal, usually through trial and error. For top level athletes, information provided by feedback is a vital tool existing from a young age, up to the stage of peak performance.

Another important area of an athlete’s development, is growth of character. The higher the level of sport the athlete reaches, the more challenges and pressures they are subjected to, often requiring personality characteristics suitable to not only thrive, but in some cases simply survive such stressful environments.

The character of an athlete, is a crucial ingredient for their success, particularly in team sports. Enhanced emotional intelligence (EQ) is what allows them to be more “coachable”, resilient against factors that threaten optimal performance, and contributes to a healthy team culture by being a better teammate, and inspirational leader. 

A winning culture is built on the collective efforts of individuals striving to fulfill their potential physically, mentally and emotionally, with a consistent adherence or “buy in” to team strategies and values. The key ingredient to ensure that this philosophy is upheld, is the effective delivery and receipt of constructive, or ‘forwarding’ feedback.

During my 12 year professional rugby career, this ideal was often overlooked or taken for granted. The most common form of feedback came from the coaches to the player, and most often it was directed specifically at performance. Even then, some players, particularly rookies, were emotionally ill-equipped to allow certain feedback to land in a way that maximized their learning. A less common scenario, was players offering each other forwarding feedback, especially beyond the senior, more respected members of the team. The inability to provide and receive feedback was detrimental to the cultivation and improvement of a healthy, winning environment, and in some cases, even led to the destruction of it.

For one of the pro rugby teams I played with, there was an agreement established that we would strive for excellence and hold each other accountable by “calling each other out” when we made mistakes or our attitude waned. We did this by creating a trigger or buzz words i.e. “Not Good Enough”, which could be simplified further by the acronym “N.G.E.”! This proved mildly effective, as it resulted in a heightening of individual and collective focus on the task at hand, for example.

However, there were also several negative effects, such as self beat up that caused nervousness and fear of failure in certain individuals, especially the younger, more sensitive players who placed a high value on acceptance from their peers and coaches. Furthermore, it inevitably became a practice exercised only by those who held a senior or authoritative position in the team, like the Captain, thereby diminishing the empowerment of players who didn’t hold those positions.

Later in my career, I played for a team that introduced an end of season feedback review, whereby each player was required to write down and submit to the coaches the strengths and weaknesses of every player on the team. One by one the players would stand in front of the panel of coaches and have their colleagues feedback read out to them, without knowing who had written them, as they were submitted anonymously.

Once again, this proved effective in the way that each player received valuable information about their performance and character, which they may not have otherwise received or even realized was the case.

The downside of this, is that it left the players susceptible to taking things personally, diminishing self esteem, and also wondering why they never received this information in the first place from their peers, therefore questioning the bond of trust and “brotherhood”. It is also important to add that players were not educated on how to receive feedback in a way that does not produce self-beat up, or feelings of resentment and broken trust toward those providing the feedback. 

On reflection, this exercise has me wondering how the practice of giving feedback could be improved for maximum benefit, while also providing valuable tools for the athletes to apply in their lives outside sport, which would inevitably circle back around to enhance their sporting performance, hence value to the their sporting organization.

Firstly, I believe implementing an effective feedback practice starts with providing an introduction to the definition of ego. Understanding the relationship with, and being able to detach from the ego is a good primer for education on how to give, and more importantly receive authentic feedback.

Secondly, it is important to understand that authentic feedback, delivered with the intention of facilitating improvement, comes from a neutral standpoint, and therefore should be received from a neutral standpoint. In other words, if we view feedback as neither positive nor negative, but merely information, it is easier to not take it personally, or allow it to define who we are. This awareness will allow the recipient of feedback to remain open to the information, rather than being closed off or defensive.  To take it a step further, developing a “bring it on” mentality toward feedback, and actually being excited at the prospect of receiving feedback to the point of seeking it, is the most conducive mindset to maximizing growth.

Going Deeper To Build Team Unity

Many elite athletes profess that team bonding and camaraderie is one of the most valued attributes of team sports, and one of the main sources of the withdrawal symptoms experienced upon retirement from sport. In men’s rugby, as mentioned earlier, we often refer to the team dynamic as a “brotherhood”. However, I often question the depth of this brotherhood, the foundation on which it is built, and whether team culture could benefit from camaraderie that is developed through more authentic, deeper connection, and how that would be possible.

Allow me to elaborate. In a men’s rugby team environment, a unique culture is formed as a result of players spending every day together, pushing their bodies to the limit, experiencing high pressure situations together, not to mention the exhilarating highs of victory, and the crushing lows. On closer examination, the main contributing factors to the bond that develops between players are often superficial, and largely ego based. We would bond over the gratifying perks of our achievements and the privileged lifestyle afforded to us. There is a lot of back patting, high fiving and butt tapping. We enjoyed the acceptance and approval from our peers because of the cars we bought, the women we attracted, and the status we achieved. We connected over knowing that not too many people did what we did, or even understood what it took to be in ours shoes.

Connecting to each other on a social level outside the sport tends to be an effective way to build a stronger team unity. The facilitation of families of the players to interact more with each other tends to be more conducive to creating a healthy, happy and often winning culture.

However, the flip side of team building success, is an unhealthy dynamic that results in team culture collapse, due mainly to a lack of trust, respect and even understanding between players and coaching staff. There are often unresolved personality differences, and the fierce competition for places could form separatism in the squad between bench players and the regular starters, fueled by resentment and frustration.. Add to this the fickle nature of professional sports, with the player roster constantly changing thanks to players being cut, drafted, chasing more lucrative contract offers or retiring, making way for new players to come in, quite often the former enemy, unless they are rookies rising through the academy system. Just like any work place, the rugby environment was also susceptible to rumors, shit talking and gossiping.

So how can teams build trust, respect and understanding given the variable nature of the elite level sport environment? I previously touched on connecting on a deeper human level through social interaction and family involvement. Taking a deeper cut into this notion, could be learning and practicing the art of giving and receiving feedback. It will not only elevate individual and team performance, and will develop a deeper bond and trust through being courageously honest with one another. Think about all the times you’ve been told something that you (your ego) didn’t like hearing, but you actually used the information to make a change for the better. Think about your relationship with the person who delivered the feedback, especially if their motivation was to help you. Did it bring you closer together? If not, do you at least respect them for it? Do you now trust what they say?

With my Winning EQ program for athletes, we have an entire module on Giving and Receiving feedback. To provide an insight, here are some steps to delivering,,. effective forwarding feedback.

·     Ask for permission.

By asking if the person is open to receiving your feedback, it shows that your intention is to help and not just dump your opinion on them for your own benefit. This will also allow them to drop their defenses in anticipation of what they are about to hear, especially if they grant you permission.

·     Own the feedback.

It is important to preface the feedback with “I see you as...” or “my experience of you is...” because you are demonstrating that just because you see them or their actions a certain way, doesn’t mean others experience them the same way. My experience of somebody could also be influenced by my own issues, mood, or triggers. Knowing this will allow the recipient to view the feedback objectively, rather than take it personally or make it mean something negative about them as a person.

·     Be courageous.

Humans have a tendency to want to sugar coat important feedback for fear of upsetting others. When we do this, we are now making it about us, because we are protecting our image and our desire to be liked. Take a risk, and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, remembering of course to tell it from your experience, and...

·     Come from love.

Always stay connected to the fact that you are delivering the feedback because you care enough about that person to help them be the best version of themselves. Your feedback is a gift for them. When the recipient truly feels the authenticity of the good intentions behind the feedback, they will be more likely to soak it in and apply it in their life moving forward. This will also develop trust, and strengthen the relationship. In a team sport environment, the result of this are players being more motivated to play for each other, and their coaches.

The beauty of this practice is that it can be universally applied in any work or team environment, and more importantly, to any relationship in every day life. By enhancing a player’s ability to provide authentic, effective feedback, they can communicate more effectively to clean up and enhance the relationships with friends and loved ones, not just colleagues. When we are happy at home, we are happy and more effective at work, and vice versa. When teammates or work colleagues are real with each other, results improve, and so does morale, and this can be facilitated through the art of delivering and receiving forwarding feedback.

By Marc Stcherbina - former Professional rugby player and now Founder Of Winning EQ.

New Global Alliance Making Waves In Mental Health

Last month, I was afforded the privilege and honor of being invited into a newly formed Global Mental Health Alliance as an ambassador for changing the stigma around how Mental Health issues are viewed and dealt with in today’s society.

Eric Kussin, the founder of the alliance that exists under the colloquial tag “We’re All A Little Crazy”, launched the initiative after a two year battle with a debilitating mental and physical breakdown. Leveraging his connections in the sporting world after a 15 year career as a Professional sports executive, Eric hustled to gather as many high profile athletes and also leading mental health practitioners to come together as one voice, raising awareness of the prevalence of the myriad of mental health issues that affect all of us in some way.

I was fortunate enough to be connected to Eric through New Zealand rugby legend Sir John Kirwin, who has been an instrumental figure in raising awareness about depression, while creating and supporting suicide prevention programs for many years. Sir John, who suffered with depression himself even during his illustrious career, is also a member of the Alliance, along with several other prominent sporting figures such as NHL legend Theo Fleury, USA Olympic Gold medalists Amanda Beard & Anita Nall, Cycling Olympic Gold medalist Tyler Hamilton, former NBA star John Starks and many more…

Most of these athletes are already outspoken advocates for mental health, and this Alliance allows the platform to make a louder noise, both individually and collectively.

The official launch party for the alliance was in New York where many of the athletes flew in from all over the country to be joined by family, friends and supporters of the cause, resulting in a resounding success. Also revealed was the official alliance logo that features a single hand in a sign language formation meaning “same here”. This has become the mantra for the coalition and a vehicle for people around the world to connect, raise awareness and share in the understanding that every body experiences mental health challenges, no matter how great or small.

I invite you all to show your support by firstly sharing this post, and then to join the alliance by clicking HERE. You can also show Eric some love by following his We Are All A Little Crazy social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram, and even submit your own photos of you and friends making the “same here” hand sign.

It’s about time mental health issues were viewed in a similar way to the common cold or a muscle strain, and I believe Eric Kussin has come up with a winning formula.