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THERE'S AN UPSIDE TO ANGER?

Anger is a source of energy. Most of us would agree there are times when we wish we had more energy, loads more. Anger can give us ‘movement’ and when used constructively can be a great source of motivation.

How can I use my anger as motivation?
See it as an energy source, an opportunity to get something out of the situation that’s positive.
• Complete tasks you’ve been putting off
• Exercise, Clean, Be Productive
• Tackle a big project you need energy to get started on
• Research solutions to the source of your anger
• Make a difference, on a small or large scale.
Using anger on a small scale:
Sick of seeing inappropriate Calendars, Magazines and Posters at my 4 year old son’s eye level in our local Newsagency. I decided I could no longer justify my own whinging. I either had to put up with it or do something about it.
Is there any reason these are at this height? Not really.
It makes it very difficult for me to come in here and get my paper. I’m forced to walk past this to get the paper.
I’m sorry I’m not sure why we put them there, that’s a good point. I don’t even know why we have so much of this here in the first place. The calendars were packed up; the magazines moved to a higher shelf, down the back. Customers know have the choice to view it.
Result? I felt great about myself, great as a parent, and felt it was probably something other people were having a hard time with too so I felt I’d helped others too.

Using anger on a large scale:
Constructive large scale social change. Anger can be a great source for us to get clever, think smart, strategise better. Mahatma Gandhi spoke regularly of transforming the energy of anger into action. He was not aggressive. But he was certainly not passive. He used nonviolent action, clever thinking and his words to create change. He tapped his anger towards the British that Indians were second class citizens and made a difference.

What about an Anger List? Make a list of all the things you’d really like to do but either can’t get the momentum, courage or energy for. The next time you’re angry head to the list and thank the source of your anger for the energy it (or they) provided!

6 KEYS TO WEED OUT BLAME & CULTIVATE COURAGE.
If our attitude, results or happiness is to ever improve, we must exercise discipline in weeding out the garden of our life.

1. Eating alone is better than mingling with those whose conversation is negative.
2. Canceling the appointment is better than keeping the appointment with those who simply waste our time.
3. Telling the whole, painful truth is better than half-truth.
4. Saying "no" is better than saying "yes" to something you do not want to do.
5. Being firm is better than being courteous to those whose caustic personality does not justify courtesy.
6. Better then many of the wrong friendsare a few of the right friends.

Jim Rohn, Business Philospher and Author of The Seasons of Life.

WORKPLACE
’Health Concerns for Australian Managers’
Australian Institute of Management

About 50 per cent of Australian managers believe their health is being negatively impacted by the long hours
they work, according to the results of a major new study.
The study, Quality of Working Life analysed responses from more than 2,500 executives in the private and public
sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom. It found that managers in the two countries had remarkably similar views on the impact of working long hours’.

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SUCCESS PRINCIPLES
Feeling a sense of Guilt? Time to change tact.
"They understand that individual success does not necessarily mean the failure of others. They have an ‘abundance mentality’. They want to succeed, they want to do well, they want to reach their goals and they are not in any way hampered by a feeling of guilt. Guilt only accompanies those who think in terms of, I win, you lose.”
[Secrets of Super Achievers P. Baker,]
Contact us and learn how you can define success on your terms and go about acheiving it.

INSPIRATIONAL ACTIONS
60th Anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 
It’s not too late. Finish 2008 with a contribution to humanity and to yourself. A simple signature and pledge. An opportunity for individuals and organisations all over the planet to discover and rediscover the Universal Declaration in it’s 60th year.
To read it, sign, it and pledge to live and work by it’s principles click here
Individuals http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/individuals Workplaces http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/organizations

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HOT BUTTONS

There are mental frames, or emotional charges, that can take us off track, find out what they are for you and then determine how to dampen them or put the 'heat' to good use. Courtesy of the Centre for Conflict Dynamics
 Uncover YOUR HOT BUTTONS Here>>

PERFORMANCE CONVERSATIONS
David Rock, Author of Quiet Ledership - 6 Steps to Transforming Performance at Work suggests 3 Different Approaches to handling difficult feedback.

• High Performance Feedback
  
  1. Be specific. Offer more than well done. Go into some detail.
  2. Many people feel uncomfortable receiving  positive feedback. Be sincere so people will consider what you're saying.
  3. Focus on understanding how the performance outcomes came about so both parties can support sustaining the performance.
• Below Par Performance Feedback
  
  1. Be mindful when we underperform we all feel a sense of guilt, can getdefensive, frustrated and even angry.
  2. Encourage people to generate their own insights about where things could improve, criticism rarely works.
  3. Aim for learning and behaviour change, stay out of the details, stay focused on solutions.
• Poor Performance Feedback
  
  1. The main difference here is the intensity of the emotions involved, to limit intensely emotional feedback conversations, have them more regularly, this automatically diffuses strong emotions
  2. Focus on learning, for both parties. The hard work is in teh begining, how the context of the conversation is established. Set it up as a learning experience, an opportunity to gain from a situation.
  3. Let them do all the thinking, be there to support their learning for, this will improve their own outlook and ways of looking at performance in a way that is respectful and builds trust.Your inner purpose is to awaken. You share that purpose with every other person on the planet.

1. Managing negative self-talk and false assumptions give our power away. Change them into positive ones by consciously challenging them. Our negativity isn’t always easy to manage, it’s often been built up over years. Let go of perfection, the urge to over-control and replace inaccurate beliefs with firm, simple and specific self-talk. Over time they will counter negativity and eventually replace them. 
   
2. Re-organise your life to fit in the things that really matter to you. We’ve usually already started this process, made attempts in the past. Build on these by getting very clear about what is important to you. What would you really miss if it wasn’t there?
   
3. Lighten up. Taking ourselves too seriously can inhibit our lifestyles and success in the workplace. Try and take yourself less seriously, add some humour and laughter into uneasy or stressful situations and benefit from taking a ‘big-picture’ approach. 

AUSTRALIANS IN BUSINESS
’Thinking positive boosts bottom line’
The Australian Newspaper
John Akehurst, formerly chief executive of Woodside and latest appointee to the Reserve Bank board. Akehurst says: "I was an anxious over-achiever driven by anxiety, wanting targets to be met, and fear of failure. The change is that I have become mindful of the moment, I am only motivated by the positive, and have learned the value of authenticity and integrity. When you tell the truth to the people you work with, you save so much valuable time and money."
With an international Happiness conference being held in Sydney in May, the medical statistics bear out the premise. Happy people live eight to 10 years longer and fight off illness at double the rate of others.

"If staff are happier and healthier, they'll be more productive and there will be less absenteeism or resigning," Flight Centre global human resources executive general manager Mark Aponas told me recently after putting selected staff members through a Work-Life Balance program. Sick days dropped by 25 per cent, and staff turnover was down dramatically, saving the company in excess of $250,000 that year.
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BOOK REVIEW
THE ART OF POSSIBILITY [Rosamund & Benjamin Zander (2002) ]
A unique collection of stories, insights, letters and anecdotes from a Musical Master and his wife, an accomplished Executive Coach and Conflict Expert. An inspiring read that uses the voice of passion and energy to support and encourage others to accomplish the extraordinary. Be prepared for the musical conductors orchestral references which at first seem to have little to do with everyday life. It soon becomes clear, they are powerful examples of how we can transform our Professional and Personal Lives by being open to the concept of Possibility. A refreshing read and wonderful contrast to many of the Leadership books available. It sits nicely between the world of the workplace and careers and living a enriched and passionate life. The National Bestseller is currently not held in most bookstores and needs to be ordered. The paperback retails for around $29.95.
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