Changing our behaviour is not something we like to do. We lack the willingness to change even when we have the knowledge and the capability to do so. We lack the willingness to change even when we know doing so serves our own best interest in the most critical personal, familial, and professional relationships. John Paul Getty may have said it best with these words, “The individual who wants to reach the top in business must appreciate the might and force of habit. He must be quick to break those habits that can break him – and hasten to adopt those practices that will become the habits that help him achieve the success he desires.”
In a moment of self- reflection, ask yourself the following question, “Are my current habits and behaviours getting me to where I want to go?” If the answer is “No” you need to consider making some changes, even it is just a matter of setting aside a few minutes each day for self-reflection on where I want to be and how I’m going to get there.
Far too many people are unaware of how they are perceived by family, friends, and professional colleagues. We all know and it is easy for us to recognize other people with bad habits and disruptive behaviours. The harder thing is recognizing those same bad habits and behaviours in oneself. While it may be true that what we think about our behaviour is personal and intimate, our behaviour itself is never private. Remember this – behaviour lapses are obvious to everyone except the person who commits them.
There are all kinds of behaviours that damage and destroy relationships and professional careers. Sadly, many of these behaviours most likely exist and are prevalent in your own organizational culture.
Gone are the days of tolerance for the “good old boy” jokes and sexual innuendos. Sexual harassment, discrimination, unethical, illegal and other toxic behaviours have always been destructive to relationships and organizational performance and remain so today. The question is not whether such behaviours are affecting employee engagement, energy, and creativity but to what degree are such behaviours impacting organization performance results, and at what emotional cost to your employees, and at what financial cost to you?
The Skill of Positive Presence equips you with the tools needed to create the necessary thought habits for productive and effective behaviours and, to recognize and take action on the negative disruptive behaviours that are truly ineffective at all levels.
