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I recently went through the long and drawn out process required to move from my current position across the country to another organization involved in a very similar field of behavior interventions. In the end the core team at that organization felt that my own experiences were too divergent from the model they had in place.

I must admit I was annoyed. I had invested very valuable time and a lot of travel days and hundreds of miles in preparing to shift my location to the new position. After two initial meetings I was led to believe that the only hold up was budget approval for an additional position. In fact, I was invited to come to a “casual meeting” to become acquainted with the behaviors team and work out final coordination details.

Much to my amazement, a few days after the meeting I received and email (yes and email, not a telephone call or a letter) letting me know they had decided to “continue to interview candidates for the position.” First and foremost, I you are in a position to work with potential staff members don’t do that. Don’t send an email saying your going to continue to look for a more philosophically in line candidate. It is extremely poor etiquette, and communicates a very weak message. However, when you find yourself on the receiving end with similar experience (and you will if you are aggressive in your career choices) here are a few touchstones I relied on that may help you along as well.

1. Hold on to your humility.

2. Have an enduring impact.

3. Don’t look for the quick, shoddy, flashy fix.

4. Measure your success by the integrity of your work product.

5. Seek to find the lesson from adversity rather than the absence of adversity.

6. Expect the best but don’t be thrown if you encounter less than wonderful events.

We are a nation ever seeking greater productivity. You will rarely pick up a leadership publication that does not speak to the topic. Unfortunately, though many bemoan the low productivity few offer you help for increasing your own productivity.

Here are a few mental nudges that you may incorporate to improve your own personal productivity. 

1. Procedure Streamlining: Procedures (you may be more familiar with the term Standard Operating Procedure, or SOP) tend to evolve without focus on efficiency or effectiveness. Bottlenecks develop that interrupt work pace and slow down work turn out, thus increasing costs. Procedure Streamlining reduces lost time costs, improves efficiency and optimizes quality.

2. Focus Workshops: Few of us enjoy workshops but if we provide ourselves and staff members with the proper training productivity will improve. Focus workshops and success coaching help us to reach and maintain goals. Such programs are also known as in-service training or continuing education programs. They are especially prevalent in professional fields.

Focus trainings also provide:

- Quality control measures

- Uniformity of procedure implementation

- A comfort reference source to rely on

3. Productivity Quotas: Quotas need not be evil or arbitrary. In fact creating realistic productivity quotas involves measuring work time requirement and using those times to project completion rates.

- improves the sense of ownership on your program

- creates a “bar” for measurable improvement

- provides an opportunity to calculate productivity for other functions

4. Operation Productivity Report: This report is based on the collecting data from each component within the process. This provides  data for effectively planning personal productivity goals.

This data is usually, presented by:

-Time of day

-Location

-Equipment

-Specific task

Embracing and implementing these four nudges will improve your productivity and free time for other pursuits.

As if there are not already too may groups focused on Social Media Success inspired by a collaboration with Tori Deaux, I’ve added another one. Tori and I had been footballing the concept of how persons of each specific temperament could benefit from the framework of social media for some time. Just now we are working up some drafts on how each temperament might best use thess tools.

What is already written?

The number of articles and blog entries on Social Media Success is astromomical . I made a Google  search on the topic and returned no less than 8.8 million results. Groups and articals are popping up like mushrooms.

So why would I create yet another social media group?

I would really like a simple way to connect with social media practitioners with an interest in temperament and how it relates to life success and personal interactions. What did I do about it?

I created a group on Linkedin and if you are already a Linkedin member it’s real easy to join at this link.

Who will operate the group?

If you want to help manage the group please let me know (post a comment). I don’t really want to “own” the group. 
 

What networking opportunities are ready?

At this point the group web page just points back to this blog but I will create a page for the group soon that aggregates news and information on the topic.

To set you mind at ease here are some hot tips from the Linkedin group FAQs:

Once you join your group on LinkedIn, your profile becomes visible to all fellow members. However, they will not be able to see your network of connections unless you are personally connected to them.

Each member of a group decides how fellow group members can contact him/her.

Can I get spammed? No. LinkedIn Groups is designed specifically for the individual and not as a groupwide communications tool. Therefore, there is no way for an individual user to send broadcast messages to all members of the group.

What does it mean to be a “real man?” Do I have what it takes?Regardles of temperament that question nags and plagues every male from adolescence until their final rest. Often the Choleric and the Sanguine are so busy controling things and having fun that it is pushed to the back of their minds. But, rest assured, it creeps its way back in the wee quiet hours of the night.There are many iconic figures throughout history that have been consider the models for manly behavior. Many have sought to be that “Champion Eternal” but oddly enough those who seek it rarely attain it and those who only seek to be the best they can be, come closest to it.

Some of the “Greatest Men of History.”

• Albert Schweitzer - Humanitarian
• Lao Zi - Taoism
• Hammurabi - Codified Law
• Jesus Christ - Christianity
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Music
• Homer - Author
• Orson Wells - Entertainer
• Galileo Galilee - Scientist
• Alexander Graham Bell - Inventor
• Neil Armstrong - Explorer

Are there any macho posturer’s in this list?

But, again what makes a truly “great man?” Is fame a requirement for greatness?

These are the true elemental characteristics of “Real Men.”

• They treat everyone decently.
• They don’t hit women or children.
• They understand that sex is an intimate connection between to monogamous consenting adults, and is not a recreation sport in which you gain points for debasing others through casual encounters or adherent, deviant behaviors.
• They are comfortable in their own skin and do not feel the need to posture, swagger, or brag.
• They don’t constantly seek to prove their manliness. They are men and that’s enough.
• They know that bullies are cowards.
• They just the “manliness” of other men by the way they treat others.

It may be that the Elemental Truth of being a man can only be told when you have finished your journey and you can confidently accept the ultimate of compliments, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Elemental Value Added Message: A truly great man, usually doesn’t realize he is.

Sisyphus Flikr Creative Commons

I do what I can to offer the best aspects of understanding and capitalizing on an awareness of your temperament and mine. There is much to be gained by finding God pleasing ways to meet our underlying needs of Control, Affection and Inclusion. But, that is not the only reason I write from this perspective. I also feel it is important for each of us to examine the dark places of our souls to be aware of the ill we are all capable of doing when we don’t learn from and understand the maladaptive issues than can develop when we meet our elemental needs in selfish ways.

The adage says, “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” I offer an alternative view. Power is like electricity, it may be used to illuminate or electrocute. The power itself is neither good nor evil.

Consider now, how Control, Affection and Inclusion can also lead to evil.

Oppression, which many consider to be the ultimate expression of control, cannot exist without the cooperation (conscious or unconscious) of the members of society. This inclusion envelops not only the beneficiaries but the oppressed as well. Furthermore, the success or failure of oppression relies on these 5 simple precepts, all of which hold their basis in the three core needs of Affection, Control and Inclusion.

1. Situational Amnesia
The oppressed must choose to forget current and historical injustices. This is an abdication of control.

The beneficiaries must never acknowledge benefiting from current and previous injustices carried out to the detriment of the other group.

2. Deluded Reality
The oppressed must never speak of the negative experiences.
The beneficiaries must pretend that oppression is a concept of the distant past. An aversion to the possibility of being excluded for expressing truth (Inclusion).

3. Apathy
The oppressed must de-value their feelings concerning the issue as a whole and internalize the difficulties as individual shortfalls and flaws of character. A basic absence of expression of Affection.

The beneficiaries must insist upon a rational detachment and never empathize with the oppressed as human feelings of guilt and shame must be avoided at all costs.

4. Aphasia
The oppressed must not speak or talk about their circumstances for fear of being aggressive or overly sensitive.
The beneficiaries must stand mute to avoid social pressure and the loss of privilege and ostracizing. An expression of a fear of control and inclusion.

5. Covert Sovereignty
The oppressed must seek to be more and more like the dominant group, choosing to disparage and disdain more and more of their own collective identity.

The beneficiaries must ever act upon their unacknowledged sense of privilege, simultaneously behaving as though it does not exist. Known as compulsive tendencies of control.

Of course, if all of us offer a few well timed nudges and observations of directionality concerning oppressive behavior the whole house of cards comes tumbling down.

Elemental Value Added Truth: “Find out what people will submit to, and you have found the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them.” Frederick Douglas.

Everyday I encounter people who feel they could be “doing better” if they only knew someone who would give them a leg up. I am the first to admit that having friends in high places is a definite advantage. But, not in the way many people believe it to be.

In most situations “who you know” will definitely open doors for you. But, mastery of you underlying temperament and “what you know” determines whether you will be able to take up residence in the new region beyond that opened door.

In fact I would have to give two elements of advantage an approximate equal value. A college diploma. An established friend in a desirable place of employment. Either one will get you the proverbial foot in the door, which is to say, an interview. Skill at tasks and the ability to capitalize on your temperament are what get and keep you in a job.

In fact, the SCANS (Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills) published in 1991 (finalized 1992) indicated their are ten competencies and skills that make you a desirable and employable person.

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Performing mathematical operations
4. Listening
5. Speaking
6. Thinking
7. Interpersonal Skills
8. Information Management
9. Understanding of Systems
10. Technological Literacy

• My bonus addition would be Typing or Keyboarding.

The other option would be knowing the “right people.” If that is the true course what are the steps to follow it?

Coleen Watson has these suggestions.

1. First build a personal network inventory.
2. Ask those on your inventory to introduce you to those on their inventory.
3. Ask you boss who you should try to meet in the industry.
4. Call some of the people you wish to add to your inventory and introduce yourself.
5. Recommend your peers when opportunities they could fulfill arise and recommend them.
6. Be nice. People who aren’t nice to the waiter, to the dog and to children aren’t nice. Dont’ be one of those people.
7. Become a hub. Help as many other people make connections as you can.

The question remains, which of these skill sets is truly requisite and therefor “the” key to success?

What are your thoughts gentle readers?

A lot of what I write is specific to each of the underlying temperaments but there are some things that span the temperaments. This is especially true if you are in the service industry or have a product to sell.

These guidelines will get you the broadest appeal.

1. Marketing and Budgeting
Businesses requires a marketing plan and a budget. There are ways to get the word out (marketing) about your site for free or fee. In any case, you need to advertise. One excellent technique is targeted commenting on high traffic sites. You may also purchase links on high-traffic sites that are related to your products. Expensive ads are not always the best. Less expensive, targeted ads can be an effective way to increase sales. Plan your marketing budget, implement it, and watch your results, and adjust as necessary.

2. Quality Images/Descriptions
Customers like to see items to help when making decisions to buy. Provide quality pictures and detailed descriptions. Ted Demopolous emphasizes this feature as being particularly important when marketing ebooks and other electronic media. Ted feels a quality “picture” makes the product more tangible to the buyer, and increases sales volume.

You should consider going to the community college to take a class in market photography. It will pay off in the long run. If not, hire a professional. But, developing the skill yourself will best long term solution.

3. Customer Service
Neck and neck in the race for repeat business are customer service and a quality product. Answer customer inquiries quickly, within hours if possible. Make certain you have a return policy in place and that it is easy for customers to access. When shipping an item, include promotional information with the package. Create a “FAQ” (frequently asked questions) page on your site containing questions that seem to get asked over and over. Make your site as user friendly and convenient as you can. Contracting a site design specialist might be a worthwhile investment at this time.

4. Online Ordering
It is nearly impossible to compete in today’s market without online ordering capabilities. Customers desire the convenience, ease and speed of online purchasing. Not only this, but with online purchasing as an option the merchant has the opportunity to capitalize on the opportunity of the “impulse buy.”

Here a few of the options available:

www.charge.com
www.merchantexpress.com
www.merchantseek.com
www.monstermerchantaccount.com
www.eaglemerchantservices.com

Additionally, you will need an automated way to track the customers desired purchase and provide them total costs at check out. There are several shopping cart programs that can provide this service for you.

As there are many providers that are specific to certain markets, I recommend you research you niche for the most advantageous provider for you.

Greater as a whole.

Have you ever wondered how much further your would be along on your success goals if you were just more like Mr. X, or even Ms. Y?

The answer is, (drum roll please…) no further along.

You see, the (but certainly not the ONLY) answer lies in the essence of the question that becoming more like another is changing your underlying temperament. And, although you may be able to manifest the behaviors of another temperament the turmoil it would cause you at your core self would be too great a price to pay.

So, rather than attempting to emulate or compete with the behaviors of another temperament why not build/join a temperament success team which capitalizes on the strengths of each of the temperament types?

In order to function at the optimum benefit level for each member you truly do need a Choleric, a Sanguine, a Melancholy, a Phlegmatic and a Supine. And you have to enter the endeavor with the following collective understanding:

• This is a team/group endeavor we sink or swim together.
• We help each other grow and we applaud the success and growth of each member.
• We must each contribute our strength to insure the achievement of the group and individual goals.
• Communication must be open, trust must never be violated, leadership must be fluid, decision making must be shared, conflict must be addressed no matter how apparently small.
• Systematic reflection on how the group can function more effectively for the benefit of each individual and the whole of the group must occur on a regular scheduled basis.
• Those who choose to behave contrary to the good of the group and each individual in the group are no longer a part of the group.

I realize the severity of the final statement above. However, it is essential for the ultimate success of all that no one individual undermine efforts of any.

Are you interested in building such a cohort of collaborators? Would you like more information in how to go about the establishment of such a positively motivated group?

The belief that effort pays off in terms of greater success (Bernard Weiner 1972, 1983) is not the commonly held belief of most people In fact, most people attribute greater success proportionally in order of significance to the following hierarchy:

• Talent/Ability 
• Connections/Other People
• Chance/Luck
• and finally Effort

As you can see, effort is typically perceived as the last and least significant factor.

The reality is that the first four of these beliefs actually inhibit the achievement of success. If you believe ability to be the ultimate key to success you will inevitably encounter a skill at which you do not have the greatest ability. In fact, belief that you have only specific skill set abilities will cause you to sabotage yourself when presented with circumstances that require a different or unique skill set. Cholerics often fall victim to this pitfall.

If you believe that other people are the primary cause of success is inherently destructive when the individual finds they must work alone. Sanguines and Supines suffer most from this misconception.

Belief in chance or luck also has hazards. What happens “when your luck runs out?” These are the dreads of both the Melancholy and the Phlegmatic.

This brings us to two generalizations we can make about the concept of Effort in relation to success.

1. Not everyone comprehends the importance of believing in the power of effort. Not everyone readily accepts that enhanced effort pays off in enhanced achievement. Hence the many programs available that taut the slogan “work smarter not harder.” In fact direct effort has a direct effect on success relative to that effort (Seligman 1990,1994).
2. We can learn to change our beliefs to emphasize the importance of effort in success. Added effort will pay off in terms of enhanced success (Craske 1985). Those who embrace the relationship between effort and achievement actually achieve more than those who adopt work smart strategies. 

 Sports figures Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger and Pete Rose come to mind.

Can you share a temperament of tenacity story?

Many (most?) of the objectives we set out to accomplish rely almost entirely on on willpower (aka self-discipline). One of the most commonly selected objectives that people struggle with the most is weight loss. In looking for some nutritional research on brain function I recently stumbled upon a site that I believe will be of great help to any who are focused on that goal.

The site is called The Daily Plate (thedailyplate.com) and it has an enormous data base cataloging specific foods with their associated nutritional information. Once you enter some basic profile information the site will track the foods you consume (including water intake) and provide you an ongoing update on the calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, sugar, fiber and protein you consume. Upon entry of the data it gives you a running total of each of these elements you have consumed as well as a count down of the calories you have left for the day based on the monthly weight loss goals you entered. Not only that, but it provides you with a pie chart visual that gives you a clear picture of how much protein, carbohydrate and fat you have consumed (see below).

As an additional feature you can group the foods you most commonly consume as “meals.” For example, today I had an egg with cheese and a skinny latte for breakfast. I can select an option which gives these food items a common name (something creative like coffee & egg breakfast ).  :)  Or, I can leave them as individual selections and they will migrate to the top of your selection list based on how often you choose them.

Since one of the biggest hurdles in facing the demons associated with self growth is isolation, this site shows a lot of potential for keeping a person on target and motivated by charting even the least increments of success and placing the short failings in perspective so they don’t completely derail a person.

I typically, only endorse websites of people rather than organizations. But, this seems like a great tool for nudging us toward goals of self improvement.