Have you ever encountered a boss whose approach to power and leadership baffled you?
According to Harvard Business Review, one’s instincts where power is concerned – both giving and receiving it – stem from conditioning in one’s life since childhood, particularly within the family unit. In researching power styles, author Maggie Craddock observed that “the building blocks of anyone's signature power style are rooted in the ways they have been conditioned to respond emotionally and behaviorally to the first authority figures they encountered in life, namely, their caregivers.”
In other words, those whose caregivers asked for the child’s opinion in making family decisions are likely to be adults who appreciate when colleagues take time to connect and build a trust-based relationship. Conversely, those raised by authoritarian caregivers usually build their power relationships based in fear, which can lead to disliking consensus building and preferring independent leadership.
Most people’s power styles are a blend of the following four profiles, according to Craddock. Where do you fit into the mix?
The Pleaser – These are the folks who, lacking the attention they craved early in life, are hardwired to care for others. They hunger for validation and connect with others at a personal level as a means of gaining power.
The Charmer – As a child, these individuals often had to care for a parent’s emotional needs. Consequently, these individuals have little respect for formal authority and may resort to manipulating others to get their needs met. Charmers have an intense focus that both intimidates and seduces others into compliance.
The Commander – Sports, religion, military, or any larger system that reinforces discipline or a strict code of conduct has often featured strongly in the family of a Commander. Accustomed to that active scope of thinking, Commanders tend to foster a sense of urgency as they focus on results.
The Inspirer – Self-expression is more important than conformity in the families of Inspirers. These innovative thinkers operate with a consistent commitment to the greater good, an example set by parents who made sacrifices to achieve excellence.
Remember, no power style is inherently good or bad – each has its share of strengths and challenges. Recognizing how you react to power will help you to react accordingly, strengthening the advantages while minimizing the drawbacks.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Chew on This
Chew on This
In looking at our current interactions with food, our bellies
have gotten bigger, and for many of us, digestion is off.
We automatically think that the way to remedy that situation is to cut the calories and hit the
gym like GI Jane. But, there’s another route and it can all be boiled down to three words: Chew
your food.
You Feel Satisfied. First of all, chewing your food makes you realize you are full and satiated.
When you feel full and satisfied, you will be more likely to eat only what you need to instead of
raiding the cabinets at the end of the night for those Girl Scout cookies you’ve stowed away for
emergencies.
You Get More Nutrients and Energy. The more you chew your food, the more nutrients and
energy you absorb from your food. When you chew, you extract about 15 to 25-percent of the
nutrients inside the plant’s cells.
Your Brain Speaks Up. Chewing your food properly also allows your brain to send the message
to your gut in a timely manner that you are done eating. It silences that little devil sitting atop
your shoulder that tells you it is okay to have that extra bite … Your brain has already had time
to realize that your stomach is full.
You Improve Digestion. By chewing, your saliva breaks down food more efficiently to emulsify it
before it hits your stomach. So, your stomach has less work to do.How to Chew
Here are some things you can do to chew your food the right
way:
1. Chew each bite of food 35 times. On average, people chew
each bite of food about five to 10 times!
2. Rests in between bites. Focus more on each bite in your
mouth rather than on the bite you are about to take.
3. Take a drink. Wash down each bite with water so that you can
taste your next.
4. Smell your food. Nothing dramatic here, but if you slow down,
you will automatically take in more of the aroma of your food
which satisfies another one of your senses.
You can also time yourself while you eat. Sounds wacky, but you know what they say … When
in Rome. For example, if you like to watch television while you eat, make your meal last as long
as a 30-minute television show. (Don’t cheat with TiVo) If you get ambitious, try making a meal
last through American Idol.
Slow Down to Speed Up
Ultimately, take your time with food. Eating should be an enjoyable part of your day, not an
item on your To-do list, sister.
Janice Gosnell
http://www.ibourl.com/cz8
In looking at our current interactions with food, our bellies
have gotten bigger, and for many of us, digestion is off.
We automatically think that the way to remedy that situation is to cut the calories and hit the
gym like GI Jane. But, there’s another route and it can all be boiled down to three words: Chew
your food.
You Feel Satisfied. First of all, chewing your food makes you realize you are full and satiated.
When you feel full and satisfied, you will be more likely to eat only what you need to instead of
raiding the cabinets at the end of the night for those Girl Scout cookies you’ve stowed away for
emergencies.
You Get More Nutrients and Energy. The more you chew your food, the more nutrients and
energy you absorb from your food. When you chew, you extract about 15 to 25-percent of the
nutrients inside the plant’s cells.
Your Brain Speaks Up. Chewing your food properly also allows your brain to send the message
to your gut in a timely manner that you are done eating. It silences that little devil sitting atop
your shoulder that tells you it is okay to have that extra bite … Your brain has already had time
to realize that your stomach is full.
You Improve Digestion. By chewing, your saliva breaks down food more efficiently to emulsify it
before it hits your stomach. So, your stomach has less work to do.How to Chew
Here are some things you can do to chew your food the right
way:
1. Chew each bite of food 35 times. On average, people chew
each bite of food about five to 10 times!
2. Rests in between bites. Focus more on each bite in your
mouth rather than on the bite you are about to take.
3. Take a drink. Wash down each bite with water so that you can
taste your next.
4. Smell your food. Nothing dramatic here, but if you slow down,
you will automatically take in more of the aroma of your food
which satisfies another one of your senses.
You can also time yourself while you eat. Sounds wacky, but you know what they say … When
in Rome. For example, if you like to watch television while you eat, make your meal last as long
as a 30-minute television show. (Don’t cheat with TiVo) If you get ambitious, try making a meal
last through American Idol.
Slow Down to Speed Up
Ultimately, take your time with food. Eating should be an enjoyable part of your day, not an
item on your To-do list, sister.
Janice Gosnell
http://www.ibourl.com/cz8
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