Andrew’s Podcast: 50 WAYS TO SUCCEED AT WORK

EPISODE 38 (50) ACTION HERO - become action-minded, not a plodder

No need to acquire superhero powers says Andrew at the start of this episode. The route forward is almost like having these powers, when you focus on practical action at work.People may call you pro-active or a can-do person, even a leader, if you're something of an Action Hero. Making things happen at work builds your reputation and there's always room to make a difference says,  Andrew.Action Heroes pay great attention to how you're spending your day.  They make every moment count claims Andrew.The opposite of being an Action Hero is someone who inhabits "Someday Island. That's where so many people at work spend their time.  They are always saying I'm going to do that soon or later.What can get in the way of being an Action Here explains Andrew is a lack of confidence, being a perfectionist, confusion over goals, and a paralysis of analysis.Trust your gut says Andrew as to what action to pursue. Do this by paying attention to the feeling about the work--unhappy, disgusted, bored, uninspired, confused and so on.Being Action-Minded also means paying close attention to whether decisions are implemented. Is there execution? Andrew offers suggestions that you can try as part of being an Action Hero. You can see them listed in the Transcript. He ends the podcast with three action points you can take immediately.Why not listen to the Podcast again to get a firmer feel for follow-through action at www.50Ways.siteYou'll also learn how to obtain the relevant e-learning mobile unit to consolidate your learning further.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.COMING SOON!
Doing it your way: Getting your way may be the wrong way 
Stop the Sloppy: No sense in gaining the wrong sort of reputation.
High Maintenance: Being hard to manage at work is short-sighted.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 37 (50) THE EXTRA MILE - how exceeding expectations works wonders

Andrew offers examples of what it means to go the extra mile.  He explains that to be an extra-miler, you will:  1) assist colleagues with tasks; or2) make suggestions for how to move forwardAndrew says that you're not paid just to turn up to work.  An organization needs people committed to its values and willing to go the extra mile to support its aims.While going the extra mile is an opportunity, make sure it does not become a threat, warns Andrew. For example, pushing you to overwork or take excessive risks.He urges you to assess the opportunities created by going the extra mile and whether it is worth it.One benefit of going the extra mile is that it can help you to feel better about yourself, creating a sense of purpose in your working life. Similarly, it may improve your knowledge and connection with your organization's aims. He ends the podcast with three action points you can take immediately.Why not listen to the Podcast again to get a firmer feel for follow-through action at www.50Ways.siteYou'll also learn how to obtain the relevant e-learning mobile unit to consolidate your learning further.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.COMING SOON!
Tackle Trivia: Just because you’re smart you can’t avoid the trivial.
List Lover: You’ll never remember everything; learn to love your to-do list.
No Doormat: Why “no” can be as important as saying “yes.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 36 (50) CRITIC CONQUEROR - manage criticism and come up smiling

Around one in three people say they’ve been spoken to at work in an abusive way. 
While you can report anything extreme, such as racial and sexual harassment, how do you rise above the more ordinary forms of criticism and come up smiling?
In this episode, says Andrew, there may be some situations at work when criticism will press all your buttons. That's when your mind switches to what’s called the reptilian brain.  This is your survival mode.It's your fight and flight reaction and it can be hard to master it on the spot. Even if you do what you usually know works such as taking a deep breath to steady your nerves. Now the danger is that you react badly too. 
You may become angry, defensive and deaf to any further rational communication.  Or you revert to child-like reactions such as becoming tearful and apologetic. Or perhaps a feeling of being helpless. Neither state does much good for your aim of being a success at work.
Andrew shows there are two practical ways of responding that return more control of the situation to you and how you feel inside.  The first is to say nothing and listen. 
You wait until the criticism downpour ends. Then you ask a simple question in a friendly or neutral way:“What exactly is wrong? Can you be more specific? Please give me some examples of what concerns you.”
 Use the person’s name and thank them for pointing out the apparent flaws in your work.  
The other approach is to stay silent.  This uses the power of silence and you can learn more about this from last week's episode 35:  Silent Sentinel - using silence to make an impact at work  
Depending on how serious the criticism you can choose to give the other person a long look and try to see them now, not as a supervisor, manager, boss or colleague. Instead, you now view the person as playing the part of a critical parent.  They are treating you as a child, which is disrespectful and potentially harmful to your future relationship.Hurt pride may tempt you into making light of their complaint. You may begin replaying the conversation repeatedly in your mind. You wish that you’d said something different at the time. This only distracts you from the lesson you could learn from the experience.
Treat it as a gift if someone gives you the thumbs down about some work.  No matter the form of the criticism, it seems that the person was interested enough to demand change and help you to grow. Had they wanted to harm you, they could have spotted y
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 35 (50) Silent Sentinel - using silence to make an impact at work

Silence may be golden, but in this episode  35,  Andrew deals with the pros and cons of speaking up on complex issues or remaining silent.He raises the critical issue of when it pays to be silent at work. He names six situations where this makes sense. Visit the Podcast Web site (www.50Ways.site) and read them in the Transcript. It's vital to deal with these tricky situations, says Andrew, without triggering a defensive reaction from others.  He offers ways of doing that described fully in the Transcripts on the website.Silence, though often undesirable at work, can also be a powerful weapon that you can adopt.  For example, success at work seldom comes from constantly pushing yourself forward in front of the queue to speak.Another valid remaining staying silent is sharing your hopes and goals pushes your brain  into thinking, "I've already done that." This can lead you to give up and not pursue these aims.Next, Andrew talks about  The Ransberger Pivot, about how to win an argument by not arguing.  This is a technique for listening and finding common ground with the other person.Andrew, as usual, ends the Podcast by suggesting three actions you can adopt to use silence well at work.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.COMING SOON!
The Extra Mile: How exceeding expectations works wonders.
Action Hero—become action-minded, not a plodder 
Arrival artist: How you turn up makes a more significant difference than you think.
Don't miss these important success topics due out over the next few weeks.DISCOVER!
Definitive, carefully researched articles on this topic 
Access the full audio transcript
Discover the specially created e-learning units based on the Podcasts.
Participate in the Forum where you can ask questions about this Podcast or raise issues about work and receive answers. 
 SHOW NOTEThe Ransberger Pivot: How to Win an Argument by Not Arguing, https://www.rapidstartleadership.com/ransberger-pivot
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 34 (50) LIST LOVER - you’ll never remember everything; learn to love your to-do list

Andrew explains at the start of this latest Podcast why a list can help you succeed at work. The main reason is that it can help you focus and not carry too much in your head.
If you’re relatively new to the work scene, you may regard your list as a lifesaver. 
If so, says Andrew, resist the temptation to expect it to keep track of absolutely everything you should be doing. That way, your list may die as a valuable tool, carrying too great a burden.
Make your list earn its passage by breaking projects into smaller tasks. Too many of these, though, can cause an unwelcome brain effect. This mental state nags us more about our unfinished tasks than completed ones. 
Incomplete tasks cause stressful, intrusive thoughts, he explains. They reduce sleep and deplete mental and emotional resources. It may even cause behavioural problems. Unfinished tasks also damage your self-image. Over a prolonged period, they can make you feel like a failure. To counter bad list effects, prune yours to within an inch of its life. Review your current list if you have one. Andrew asks: Is it overflowing with things to do? Will you be able to complete them all? If you struggle to finish your tasks, revise, and be more realistic.
Your to-do list can be infinite. The trouble is your time is not. Match the tasks against your available time and energy. This is where prioritising is so important. 
 There's a lot to take in from this Podcast. . Consider a second or third hearing at the Podcast site  https://www.50Ways.site.You'll also learn how to obtain the relevant e-learning mobile unit to consolidate your learning further.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.COMING SOON!
No Doormat: Why “no” can be as important as saying “yes!”
Personalise: How to manage criticism and come up smiling
The Extra Mile: How exceeding expectations works wonders.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 33 (50) TACKLE TRIVIA - just because you’re smart, you can’t avoid your fair share of trivia

Many jobs require attention to detail, says Andrew and you may need some practice to develop rigorous attention to what is trivia and what is not.He lists at least five ways to do that with 
Organizational skills
Time management skills
 Analytical skills
Observational skills
Active listening skills
If you're good with detail employers will come to regard you as precise, careful and conscientious.  Protesting "I'm really bad at detail" is not an excuse it's a copout.  It just reveals you can't be bothered.Consequently, your supervisor, teammates and those around you soon stop relying on you for accuracy or trusting you to do a thorough job. Andrew says that the brighter you are the more you may resent dealing with what to you seems trivia. But one person's trivia may turn out to be another's mission-critical decision. There's a good story in the Podcast about what that meant for a NASA space probe costing billions.At your level, you will probably need to accept that you'll need to deal with some trivia.  Moaning about it risks you being labelled as unwilling to do your share of the boring bits of work. Most organizations though spend far too much time and effort on trivia. As part of using your analytical skills, you can choose your moment to politely suggest "perhaps we're missing the bigger picture here"Tackling trivia can fill your day and prove to be soul-destroying. It can also be a great way to waste time and procrastinate. Learning to deal with it can enhance your search for success at work.There's a lot to take in from this Podcast. . Consider a second or third hearing at the Podcast site  https://www.50Ways.site.You'll also learn how to obtain the relevant e-learning mobile unit to consolidate your learning further.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.COMING SOON!
Tackle Trivia: Just because you’re smart you can’t avoid the trivial.
List Lover: You’ll never remember everything; learn to love your to-do list.
No Doormat: Why “no” can be as important as saying “yes
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 32 (50) TIME TRAVELLER - avoid lateness or early leaving as it causes resentment and harm your chance of success

This week Andrew takes a closer look at lateness for work. One in four US and UK employees struggle to arrive on time.Whatever the excuse, every lateness incident can become a significant problem for those on the receiving end.If lots of people are late for work, does it matter if you do the same asks Andrew? Yes, it does matter, he warns, since turning up late shows disrespect. It suggests that you consider your time to be more valuable than theirs.If you're going to be late, says Andrew in this podcast, at least use the "Advanced Notice Explanation".  This is where you provide colleagues with an advanced warning that you will arrive late. Explain that you won't be on time because something specific will delay you.Offer apologies for the delay and don't invent excuses, suggests Andrew.  It can also be tempting to make a drama from your delay and heroic late arrival. Give that a miss says Andrew, for a natural break.As usual, Andrew ends on three practical steps you can take to be a time traveller in which you deal with lateness in positive ways. Best of all, avoid acquiring a reputation for abusing other people's time. There's a lot to take in from this Podcast. Consider a second or third hearing at the Podcast site  https://www.50Ways.site. You'll also learn how to obtain the relevant e-learning mobile unit to consolidate your learning further.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.
SHOW NOTEHave fun watching this employee arriving late - is he for real? MaybeConan Catches Jordan Schlansky Coming In Late | CONAN on TBS, https://tinyurl.com/2bxsamsbAlso, here's some help with excuses!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vA_6GP9gjM
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 31 (50) CLUTTER KILLER - make sure your mess and disorder don’t do your down

People differ over whether a cluttered, paper-strewn work area is a good or a bad thing. In favor is that it could mean you’re highly creative, maybe even a genius.Against clutter is that your physical environment may strongly affect your understanding, emotions, and behavior.  It can also influence your decision-making and relationships.In this week's podcast, Andrew teases some essentials about clutter.  Scans show that our brains like order. Mess is seldom a visual reminder of genius, more often it suggests disorganization that drains mental resources and reduces our ability to focus. Andrew explains how the clutter happens and why. For example, even touching material things makes you more emotionally attached to them. That mess is saying to you: "To touch me is to love me!" No wonder it's more comfortable to hold onto the clutter than dump it.Since you are in search of success at work, Andrew warns that perception is everything and tidiness suggests that you are well organized,Passing your chaotic desk prompts the opposite perception, "How do find anything from all that?" He suggests you encourage your team to have regular spring cleaning days and perhaps turn these into enjoyable social experiences as well.Andrew ends this podcast on clutter with the usual three practical actions you can take right away to deal with it.Why not give this Podcast a second hearing so that you begin to include this kind of thinking into your search for success at work? Or check out the transcript at the podcast site for a slower, more sustained read and improved learning. Don't forget there is also an e-learning mobile unit associated with it by an independent company not connected with 50 Ways.Show note
Photo of Einstein’s desk on his death: https://tinyurl.com/4w23j2n9
Photo of Steve Jobs’ home/office at Apple: https://tinyurl.com/yck5395r
All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 30 (50) CULTURE CREATURE - supporting the culture makes you stand out

Andrew first explains what is company culture and goes on to describe why it matters to you in your search for success.Company culture is about behavior and is the total behaviors and practices spread throughout the organization. Andrew sums it all up as about values. These show what's essential for people's behavior; examples include loyalty, honesty, integrity and kindness.Even if you are not high in an organization's power structure, you can still have a significant impact at the local level by incorporating workplace values in your work. You have values, too, which must be acceptable to the organization. For example, there can be conflicts between valuing honesty and choosing to be dishonest to achieve something, such as money.When senior people see you embracing the organization's values, you boost our chances of success. Andrew then lists actions you can take to support values and affect the culture and concludes, as usual, with three practical steps you can take immediately.There's a lot to absorb in this particular Podcast. Why not listen to it again a couple of times? If you have questions, you can always raise them by subscribing to the Podcast website.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book
 

EPISODE 29 (50) SHARER - why sharing information and knowledge pays more than hoarding them

In this episode Andrew asks whether you should share information at work or keep it to yourself.He explains that there is a difference between holding onto information, which is just data and facts, and in contrast not letting go of knowledge. It can be tempting to hold on to these if you think they will give others the edge over you. But he points out that if you do squirrel them away there's a cost to you and others.If you choose to resist sharing you don't gain strength from this approach you lose wans Andrew.People soon realize you are being selfish or worse, you are not being a team player. Andrew spells out when you are more likely to hide knowledge. He explains a long list of gains from sharing including collaboration which is more than putting heads together.When you share you come across as effective and productive and it gives a real boost to your search for success.All 50 Ways podcasts end with three actions you can take today to do better.
Can't wait for Series 2 to run its course? Then buy Andrew's new book, published on Amazon, and there's also an Audio version.Further reading and videos: Andrew recommends some useful follow-through material which you can find for each episode at
www.myhappinessatwork.com/reading/categories/research-reading
and
www.myhappinessatwork.com/watch.BOOK:The 50 Ways to Succeed at Work book is a standalone companion to Andrew Leigh's weekly podcasts. It's an essential resource for all job starters and those at work for a few years. Dip in and out and take what seems helpful.
www.myhappinessatwork.com/book