Why Overworking Is Bad For Your Health (And Who's to Blame)

 By Ann Meacham, adapted from Lindsay Kolowich.  Read the full article

As handy as the Internet and our mobile devices are, they often mean that we are seldom “unplugged.”  We work hard at the office; finish a tough project, head for home, and a many of the issues follow us.

Working overtime has become the norm for many people. It's one of those things everyone knows is bad for us, but we do it anyway. The challenge is that overtime is bad for employees, employers, AND business.

HOW OVERWORK HURTS YOUR HEALTH - It can:

• Keep you from getting enough sleep

• Prevent you from keeping good habits

• Hurt your heart

• Cause heavy drinking

• Increase the risk of Type 2 Diabetes

• Overall our mental state can have a huge impact on how our body feels.

HOW IT HURTS YOUR BUSINESS

Avoidable mistakes are made. When people are exhausted, everything in the office becomes more difficult including interpersonal communication, judgment, understanding others and managing their own emotional reactions.  These can spell workplace disaster.

Significant drop in productivity after 8 hours. (at 9 hours fatigue and fuzzy thinking take over.)  Employees may miss a critical deadline because they are just too tired to make it work. One study showed that employers can’t tell the difference between people who actually work 80 hrs. a week and those who pretend to.

People lose sight of the bigger picture (why we’re doing this) and get lost in a myriad of details. Breaks and time with our friends and loved ones can recharge our brains and engage clear thinking.

WHO’S TO BLAME?

Bosses? They often expect their people to work long days and be available 24/7 – sometimes even on vacation. (What about that smartphone?)  They are usually working crazy hours themselves and feel it’s okay to expect the same from their people.

Ourselves?  Most of us put the pressure on ourselves in order to prove something to ourselves and others.  We feel needed, important, and are demonstrating our commitment to our work.  Working long hours can feel rewarding even if we feel stressed, mad, or unwell.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The answer is simple and perhaps not easy.  Notice how you feel. If work is interfering with your physical, mental or emotional health, it’s time to think of another way to get things done.  

1. Examine your priorities.
2. Enlist help. 
3. Re-organize.  

There is always a way to make things better.  It's your choice.

 Ann Meacham is president of Leadership Dynamics. Check out her Leadership Coaching Program or Dynamic Leader Program on her website or email: ann@leadyourteams.com

Does Humble Bragging Work?

The general consensus is that social media, especially Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, have created a culture of self-promotion.  Given a vehicle to let people know how great they are without appearing to brag has led to the trend of humble bragging.

The term “humblebrag” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary last year as “an ostensibly modest or self-deprecating statement whose actual purpose is to draw attention to something of which one is proud."

The challenge is that we often need people to know about our accomplishments in order to promote our business.  When people don’t know us very well, it’s our job to help them understand who we are.  There is a risk that we will appear to be self-promoting and self-centered if we simply share facts about ourselves.

Enter humble bragging. These can be seen on social media, and heard at cocktail parties or over coffee.  Examples:

• “I was only his assistant, but I singlehandedly attracted a new million dollar client.”
• “I’m exhausted after all this shopping, but at least I found the perfect gift for everyone on my list.”
• “I’ve received so many requests for proposals that I'm not sure I can fit them into my schedule."

To see more examples: https://twitter.com/humblebrag 

​

Branding your company or yourself is serious business.

What you can do:

1. Have somebody brag for you….particularly in a way that makes you appear innocent of the praise.
2. Share a compelling story.   Listeners can become immersed in the moment with you, making a deep impression. A story allows them to feel it for themselves. (This is perhaps the easiest, most effective and sincere.)
3. Focus on facts not interpretation.  Keep it simple and straight forward.

When we’re striving to create a brand for our business, we need people to recognize that our accomplishments could make us an “expert” in our field.  Even though bragging might seem self-serving, at least it is sincere.  People instinctively know that the humble bragger is being inauthentic and will want to steer clear of them.

Being authentic is more likely to get someone to do business with you or fund your project. Be yourself.

I am president of Leadership Dynamics. Check out my Leadership Coaching Program on her website or email: ann@leadyourteams.com

3 Ways to Connect With Thought Leaders Through Podcasting

One of the big advantages of podcasting is that it allows you to connect with leaders in your field. As a podcasting producer and host I've been able to connect with the top authors, bloggers and speakers in my field. Below are 5 of the best strategies that I've found for connecting with thought leaders and increasing your credibility and visibility with a podcast:

1. Interview thought leaders
One of the most effective ways to connect with the top people in your industry is to interview them. You'd be surprised at the number of people who will say yes if you ask them to appear on your podcast. You are providing exposure and credibility for them. Interviewing authors and speakers in your field is a great way to start a relationship with them which can lead to additional opportunities and exposure.


2. Comment on thought leaders work in your podcast
If you are doing a solo podcast, where you are not interviewing guests but speaking directly to listeners, you can still connect with thought leaders in your field. Read their blogs, watch their videos and listen to their podcasts and then do a podcast episode about your reaction and reflection to their work. Encourage your listeners to visit the thought leaders blog and give the url for their website on your podcast. Then you can send your podcast episode directly to the thought leader and start a conversation with them.

3. Share your podcast in social media groups
Find social media groups that contain influencers and connectors in your field and join the conversation. As people share their struggles and challenges, you can do a podcast episode that answers their questions. You can then share your podcast episode and ask for feedback. Sharing your podcast episode as part of the conversation will allow you avoid being "spammy" and will make you a resource for solving the problems and challenges that the thought leaders in your field are facing.

Podcasting is a powerful platform to connect with the top people in your field and demonstrate your own thought leadership. As you share your thoughts and reflections on challenges in your niche, people will start to look to you as a thought leader. Using the above strategies will help you rise to the top in your field, increase your credibility and visibility and grow your business.


About Doug:

Doug Foresta is a veteran podcaster who helps coaches, authors and speakers to start podcasts that help them expand their reach. He is the founder of the 30 Day Podcasting Challenge and host of the popular Coachzing Show on iTunes and Stitcher Radio. For a free 30 minute consultation, contact Doug at 413-883-5518 or dougforesta@gmail.com 

The framework to outwitt the devil. Part 1 - Intro

You can be exposed to many different philosophies, models, ways of thinking, and technologies when studying self improvement.

Many of these philosophies seem to conflict.

So how do you internalize this wisdom in a way that is useful for you?

The answer is personal for everyone.

My mentor told me about Napoleon Hill's Outwitting the Devil and this book has become my answer.

Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success

Written by Napoleon Hill in 1938. Deemed to controversial to be published. It was hidden in a drawer for over 70 years. 

In 2011 the book was finally published long after the death of Napoleon and his wife.

Over the next few months, I will be sharing my interpretations and wisdom gained from this book.

It is my intention to give you insights into my philosophy, simplify your belief system, and bring you happiness.

Today's I am writing about the history around the writing of this book.

Napoleon Hill met Andrew Carnegie in 1908.  Mr Hill wanted a way to pay for law school. Mr Carnegie wanted a factual record of what made men successful.

The result was 20 years of research and interviews with over 500 individuals viewed as successful and 2000 who where called failures.

Napoleon Hill received no pay for agreeing to this opportunity and had to "hustle" to make a living. 

In the 30 years it took to write write Think and Grow Rich and Outwitting the Devil the world experienced World War I, The Roaring 20's,  The Great Depression, and the beginning of World War II.

Napoleon personally faced poverty, the lost of his savings and his home in the Catskills Mountains, and had to run for his life.

This experience was needed to discover what Andrew Carnegie calls your "other self"'.  Stay tune for next month's post about the "other self"'

If your looking for health and happiness coaching please visit me at 

www.michaelegerhealthcoach.com

Is Your Business Aligned for Idea Generation?

Page A. Thibault, MBA

Many ideas are born and lost in isolation.  Think of ideas you have had that were never developed or implemented due to poor communication, lack of buy-in or just plain ineffective execution. An employee idea system is not a put into place and leave it type of program.  You must actively manage and control your organization’s platform to harness your employee ideas and to execute those ideas effectively.  Productivity is not just about how efficiently we work – but depends on our ability to make an impact on what matters most.

An employee idea is the spark of imagination that represents only one percent of the idea’s potential and passage.  The other 99 percent is the process needed to develop the capacity for employee ideas to develop.  Without a process for employee ideas, then each idea is handled on an ad hoc basis.  When ideas are handled ad hoc, there are many distractions that can derail our ideas.  For example:  deadlines, budgets, clients and a myriad of other constraints.  Therefore, we need structure to capture and arrange ideas in a way that allows them to build upon one another in a helpful manner.

Structure allows us to agree on how to respond to and implement ideas consistently – which in turn results in less confusion for your organization.  Many employee ideas have a cross-functional component, as well as differing levels of organizational responsibility; therefore, having structure in place simplifies implementation that may otherwise be complex and unwieldy. Collaboration is the binding force that brings several small sparks together to drive innovation and allows you to successfully adapt to the continual changes that occur in and around your organization. Teamwork and collaboration thrive in environments where tasks and methods are clearly defined.   In today’s competitive environment it is no longer enough to simply be more efficient or cheaper than your competition – you must transform your ideas into a unique differentiator that outperforms your competition!

Idea Share of the Month!

When designing your employee idea system, you must take into account your organization’s unique culture!  A cookie cutter idea system that layers on top of existing management and lacks in scope and depth will most likely fail resulting in a more disengaged workforce.

To sign up for Page’s Idea Share Tip of the Week! Please visit Frame of Mind Consulting.

“Getting lots of sales is my #1 priority.”

Well . . . yes, after you have created a structure for fulfilling the orders and managing the business.  

Of course you need money to make money. Sales would provide that.  Please consider. . . it is very difficult to start a new business without enough resources to make it run.  Plan to invest or borrow enough so that you have a way to handle production and delivery.

CASE STUDY 

Sylvia* is a chemist who is a miracle worker when it comes to creating formulas for wonderful skincare and massage products.  She had a small work space and equipment with limited capacity in which to produce her product.  And she did! 

Then she found clients who loved her products and wanted more. All of a sudden Sylvia could not deliver the products in a timely fashion and maintain the quality.  She was working night and day, was exhausted, and confused about how to make things better.

It took some time being coached for her finally to open to the answer.  Get organized.  Make a plan. Get help.  She now has two part-time people who help with sales, follow-up and manufacturing.  A larger facility, bigger equipment and an employee allow her to produce enough product for a whole month.

What a difference it has made in her business!  She can now better access her creative talents to develop special Holiday packages and new skin care products.  NOW she is prepared to sell, sell, sell and her revenues are about to triple!

Ann Meacham, president of Leadership Dynamics, positions CEOs and business

leaders to strategically grow their company and tilt the competitive odds in their favor.

Contact her for a Free Leadership Strategy Session.  www.leadyourteams.com 

Are we there yet?

Too often while we are trying to get things done we add them to a "to do” list. The problem with to-do lists for most of us is that they really represent a starting to do list, not a “get it done” list.

Here's how to transform your "to do" list into a "GET IT DONE" list.

Firstly, define two things, for you to do this you need to have a firm understanding of who the customer is, who are you doing the work for and how will they use it? Then define what DONE is. Not only what done is, but what an acceptable standard is. This may seem laborious at first, but having a clear understanding of who you're doing something for, what they think DONE is, and then what an acceptable standard is, puts so much more clarity on the task that it becomes far easier to complete fully first time.

Secondly the next thing is to put it on your to-do list. Once I put something on my to-do list, and I start doing it, I move it into processing. If I'm using paper to track my to-dos, I put a small circle next to the item which means that I'm working on it. At the end of the day, I either move it to the done column (electronic - TRELLO) or put a checkmark (paper tracking) next to it to signify that it is complete.

Lastly, whether I started the task but did not complete it, or did not start it at all  at the end of the day I only allow myself two choices:

• Finish the task, today!
• Transfer it onto tomorrow's task list, but break it down into at least three steps. This allows me to get the tasks done in their component parts. The power of this is it makes me drive towards DONE!

This is Tony Sherman, the Implementation Rabbi at Impact Teams, wishing you a productive month.

Ann Meacham

“I’m overwhelmed; no time to plan!”

Face it: Firefighting is an adrenaline rush. Sitting down to plan requires discipline, quiet time and deep thought. When businesses focus on the mini-crises that are always erupting around them, they lose sight of their goals and their strategies for success.

Lack of clear purpose, vision and direction create a culture of wasted time and money. Vision-purpose is a powerful tool to keep you moving forward.

What can you do?

STOP! …get away from your work if only for a couple of hours.  Focus on thinking about what outcome you want.  This isn’t only about money.  What do you want your company to look like in three years?  What are the steps you will need to take to become that?

Once you have a clear picture of what it will be, deciding on a plan becomes easier.  

To set expectations that you and your people can meet decide:

What is the goal?  3 – 6 goals that will lead to the Vision

How will be accomplished?  Steps that will lead to the outcome.

Who will champion it? Make sure it happens.

When do the parts need to be completed? Create milestones.

Where can you go for help?  Delegate, access a resource or hire someone when needed.

Focus on strategies for growth and the firefighting will subside.  New revenues will start to flow!

Ann is president of Leadership Dynamics. Sign up for bi-weekly insights with her Leader's Digest.  Go to www.leadyourteams.com

Grow Your Business!

Ann Meacham

Hello Small Business Owners and Leaders,

I am your blogger for the 15^th of each month.  It is exciting to be a member of this cutting edge group and to be able to share a few insights that you can use to grow your business.

Leadership is a fundamental component of success regardless of the size of the business. And, in today’s competitive business environment, people who aren’t sure of how to confidently lead employees, co-workers, clients—or even themselves towards their goals will struggle with the negative effect it can have on both economic and individual results.

I have been working with business owners and executives for over 16 years, helping them develop and deploy their leadership skills to strategically grow their businesses. I focus on developing powerful leaders, building high-performance teams, managing organizations, and increasing profits.

Throughout my career I have worked with privately held companies, nonprofits, and government agencies. Through my coaching and guidance, many of my clients have experienced a 20% growth in revenues in the short term; and as high as 200% over 3-4 years.

 

Setting a vision and Success Indicators

“Business owners and Executives are key because they influence the well-being of an organization more than anyone else. If a company is making or losing money, it can usually be traced back to the quality of leadership utilized by the people in charge.”      

Are you making or losing money for your company?

Find out more about me at: http://www.leadyourteams.com