Discover practical advice, inspiration, and insights to help you succeed in business and grow both personally and professionally.
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Here's Cydcor's review of 'The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business' by Charles Duhigg:
About The Power of Habit: Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg, The Power of Habit explores the scientific discoveries that explain how and why habits exist—and more importantly, how they can be changed.
Duhigg takes the reader through engrossing narratives that travel from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL and even to the frontlines of the Civil Rights Moment.
At its core, it contains a single argument: The key to who we are, from our successes, failures and productivity, comes down to habits and understanding how they work.
Why Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders: Duhigg explains how habits operate in the brain, how companies use them, and even how retailers and businesses use their understanding of human habits to their advantage as a business model to drive sales and profits. For future leaders, understanding this concept is critical to success.
Our favorite part: Market researchers will certainly love this book, as Duhigg explains the habits of consumers and gives predictive models. The stories on how Target and Febreeze have used habits is especially engaging. These tales of corporate manipulation are among Duhigg's most persuasive.
Not only does he explain how to create habits for yourself, but he also explains how one could potentially capitalize on them in the business world.
In a business environment, we all try to put our best foot forward when interacting with our co-workers, managers and clients. However, not everyone is immune from traits that might be off-putting, either consciously or subconsciously. In order to achieve long-term happiness and achievement, it is critical to be self-aware of not only your best traits, but also of ones that need improvement.
Negative Thinking
A lot of pessimists in the world consider themselves realists rather than “negative minded thinkers.” However, for others it can be difficult to be around those who speak incessantly of problems and issues, and who are stubborn to see the positive side of situations.
Being pessimistic is one thing—but remaining in a perpetually negative mind-set can frustrate those around you. Think carefully about how what you say might be phrased in a less negative light and try to see a problem as a new challenge to take the lead on.
Validation
Everyone loves to be appreciated and acknowledged for his or her efforts and accomplishments at work. However, those who constantly strive for validation are exhausting to be around. Those individuals get caught up in the need to prove their worth and to win those around them—to the point that they can over-attach to projects and be unintentionally draining.
It isn’t about what you achieve in the eyes of the group. It is about the journey, what you’re learning, and how you help those around you. Support comes from your team, and with a great assembly behind you, they will all learn and grow in the process.
Perfectionism
Author Michael Law once said, “At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.” There is a lot of truth to those statements, and as a culture we tend to reward perfectionists for setting high standards. And perfectionists frequently are high achievers; however the price they pay for that success can be a source of great dissatisfaction.
Underneath it all, perfectionists have a high drive to succeed, however they need to realize the at times that “perfect” is an unrealistic goal. Such an effort towards perfectionism can often get in the way of the bigger picture, so figure out what “good enough” is, and be happy by letting go of unnecessary and unproductive pressures.
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Cydcor Reviews has recently reviewed Lean In: Women, Work And the Will to Lead By Sheryl Sandberg With Nell Scovell:
About Lean In: Author Sheryl Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Power Women in Business. She was also recognized as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World—no small task. It’s safe to say, Sandberg knows the world of business, and offers a unique perspective for women to relate to.
Through personal anecdotes, hard data and compelling research, Sandberg digs deep into women’s roles in business and leadership positions. She discusses her own decisions, mistakes and daily struggles to make the right choices regarding her career, her family and for herself.
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Why Cydcor recommends this book for future leaders: Sandberg gives practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship and how to build a satisfying career. While mainly focused on her own perspective as a woman lending advice to other women, it’s hard not to find pieces of her wisdom that men wouldn’t be able to take away.
Written with humor and inspiring calls to actions, Sandberg describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment, and also describes how men can benefit as well by supporting women in both the workplace and home-life.
Our favorite part: Sandberg is perhaps best known outside of the business realm for her compelling TEDTalk, which she described how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers. Her talk has been viewed on YouTube more than a million times and her speech contains core elements of her book. Lean In is designed to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can.
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Great businessmen and women know how to lead, inspire, and motivate their team—and more importantly, they know when to seek advice. No one has all the answers, and the best leadership experts agree that they’ve honed their skills through experience, advice and mentorships with others in the biz. So what do top experts say about leadership?
Michael Talve, the Founder and Managing Director of The Expert Institute:
"My best leadership tip is to think of leadership as a responsibility as much as an opportunity. Effective leaders understand that they are responsible for everyone that they are leading, and consider that responsibility as the main concern of their position. If you ever lose empathy for, and dedication to, the people you are leading, you are not being a leader."
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Frank Sonnenberg, author of Follow Your Conscience
"Leaders with character are highly effective. They have no need to pull rank or resort to command and control to get results. Instead, they're effective because they're knowledgeable, admired, trusted, and respected. This helps them secure buy-in automatically, without requiring egregious rules or strong oversight designed to force compliance."
Jeff Harmon, author of The Anatomy of the Principled Leader and founder of Brilliance Within Coaching and Consulting
"Repeat the words, 'It's not about me!' every day, multiple times a day. Don't make your leadership about being in charge, being right, getting promoted, or looking the best. Make leadership about the cause of the organization, serving the legitimate needs of those you're leading, and not taking yourself so darn seriously. You'll have people lining up to work for and with you and the results will follow."
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Peter Barron Stark, a consultant, speaker, and author
“When you're leading a new team or joining a new organization, honor the new team/organization's past, and then build them a bridge to the future. Too many leaders inherit a new team and want to tell everyone how much success they had in the past, and how good their old organization/team was. When leaders disrespect their new team, team members start asking each other the following questions: If your old organization or team was so good, why did you leave? If your old organization is so good, why don't you go back?"
Do you have any favorite leaders or leadership quotes? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Thank you visiting Cydcor Reviews. Here is Cydcor's Review of The Truth About Leadership by James Kouzes and Barry Posner:
About The Truth About Leadership: Kouzes and Posner have written an engaging and personal book, which reveals ten time-tested truths that show what very leader must know. They explain the questions leaders must be prepared to answer and the real-world issues they will likely face.
The authors base their book on thirty years of research, over one million responses to their leadership assessment, and the question people most want leaders to answer. Drawing from cases spanning over thirty years of leaders from around the world, this book can aid in leaders how to do the real and necessary work needed to bring about essential changes in organizations and communities.
Why Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders: As the title details, this is a book written specifically for leaders. Kouzes and Posner have written an excellent book in a casual voice that explores examples of several different industries to make their book accessible to leaders from all generations, and from all levels of experience and industries.
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Our favorite part: The authors provide what they characterize as “The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.” They identify and examine these simple truths about great leadership that have endured throughout human history.
The authors then go on to introduce the “ten truths”:
1- You make a difference.
2- Credibility is the foundation of leadership.
3- Values drive commitment.
4- Focusing on the future sets leaders apart.
5- You can't do it alone.
6- Trust the rules.
7- Challenge is the crucible for greatness.
8- You either lead by example or you don't lead at all.
9- The best leaders are the best learners.
10- Leadership is an affair of the heart.
What sets this book apart from the rest is instead of just introducing broad concepts, the authors provide research to back up and showcase each truth in a concise and direct manner. It is a must-read for anyone pursuing a more active leadership role.
In a corporate environment, you might feel your creativity for motivating your team members is limited to kind words and small incentives. Traditional motivators include such things as gift cards and corporate swag like coffee cups and pencil holders. Larger incentives on the other hand, such as promotions and bonuses, tend to be in short supply. Here are some out-of-the-box incentives to offer your team members.
Parking
In the corporate world, especially in a heavily populated city, parking is a coveted perk in an office building. Whether you offer free parking, paid parking options, or assigned parking, there are several options you can offer to your workers as an incentive for top performances. A month of free parking? An assigned spot nearest the door? Covered parking options? These offer great appeal to many employees and can definitely be a motivator.
Split Schedule
Allowing a person to leave mid-afternoon to work from home for the rest of the day can be a tremendous reward. Often times a break from the monotony of the same schedule day in and day out is a bonus in and of itself. Allowing an employee to leave early so they can greet the kids as they get home from school, run errands, or even beat the traffic on a Friday can be especially appealing.
Personalized Gifts
A lot of employees appreciate a kind word from their boss, along with a small token such as a gift card, but you can always be a bit more creative. Instead of giving a generic gift card for something such as coffee, personalize it for that individual employee. Do they enjoy sports? Video games? A great non-fiction book? When you tailor a gift for an employee they will likely appreciate it more; even more importantly, they will take into account that you took an extra step for them, that you care and pay attention to their interests.
Here is Cydcor's review of Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else by Geoff Colvin.
About Talent is Overrated: Talent is Overrated looks to explain the how and why people truly excel in the professional landscape. Oftentimes people attribute success to one (or both) of two key reasons: hard work or innate talent. Author Geoff Colvin is a distinguished journalist, and he looks to toss away these two black-and-white camps, detailing how “deliberate practice” is what makes one successful, whether it’s as a pianist or a stockbroker.
Talent is Overrated compiles scientific research, illustrating how to apply this principal and how one can achieve world-class greatness through deliberate practice.
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Why Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders: Many of us can feel discouraged when comparing ourselves to others, who we view as more talented than we feel we are. Colvin sets out to answer the question, “What does great performance require?” Colvin shares several insights generated by hundreds of research studies and draws the conclusion that everyone has the ability to be a super-achiever in a given field because they apply themselves and practice.
Colvin writes, "The factor that seems to explain the most about great performance is something the researchers call deliberate practice." The concept of "deliberate practice"--which is a little bit more rigorous and demanding than what might be thought of as "practice" in the more general sense--is explained with much detail in the book.
Our favorite part: One of the fundamental questions Colvin asks us to ask ourselves is this: What do I really, deeply want? This question is crucial, as deliberate practice requires a substantial investment. Colvin suggests that deliberate practice contains the following components:
Everyone who has achieved exceptional performance has faced tremendous challenges. There are no exceptions. Top performers make knowledge a direct objective and set goals to be an expert in their chosen field. Colvin suggests the 10-year rule: 10 years of consistent, deliberate effort is required to be outstanding in your field.
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“On average, loyal customers are worth up to 10 times as much as their first purchase.”
- White House Office of Consumer Affairs
In 2011, American Express conducted a survey of their customers, which revealed that 3 out of 5 customers are willing to walk away from their favorite brand if they received poor customer service. Many entrepreneurs and businesspeople struggle with various aspects of customer service, but it’s clear that customer service can certainly make or break a business. In addition to the American Express survey, another research report showed that 90% of Americans are willing to spend more if it means excellent service.
Fantastic customer service can help a business rise in the ranks, and the loyalty of a client base that appreciates you and what you have to offer is paramount. Loyal customers are familiar with you and your brand, and therefore are much more likely to check out new products or recommendations you make.
“Brand ambassadors” are popular, especially on social media, where Tweets, photo posts and hashtags make it easy for customers to share a great experience—or a bad one. Keeping your customers happy, with quick responses to their questions or concerns, gives them a positive experience they wish to share. If they love your service or product, they will speak up and share, and word-of-mouth marketing is an extremely powerful channel.
Having brand ambassadors can assist you in creating new customers, as they are taking a recommendation of a friend or family member who mentions your services. This is a much lower cost to acquire, as most business need to advertise and market, offering free product samples or discounts in order to attract new customers. By providing great customer service, you create an experience others will want to share. And as a reward, they will sell others on your business.
Here is Cydcor's review of The Manager’s Bookshelf : A Mosaic of Contemporary Views by Jon L Pierce and John W Newstrom.
About The Manager’s Bookshelf: This book is aimed towards undergraduate and graduate university students who are majoring in Management or Business. However, it also provides a practical guide to current and aspiring industry professionals outside of a college setting.
The Manager’s Bookshelf is a collection of objective summaries from a broad sampling of bestselling books. Described in the title as “A Mosaic of Contemporary Views,” this book presents readers with a collage of information to improve knowledge of management practices from various sides of business industries. It introduces philosophies, views and experiences from several authors and is compelling read for today’s management community.
Why Cydcor recommends this book to future leaders: This book has had multiple editions, so it has had many revisions to keep it as contemporary as possible. For any aspiring leader, reading the thoughts and ideas of multiple managers and authors shows different styles of high-performing organizations, goals, motivation, empowerment and participation. There is a heavy focus on the value of team members as well as teamwork and managing diversity in the workplace.
These are all “must-knows” for any leader, and serve as great ways to introduce basic concepts in an interesting, multi-viewed angle.
Our favorite part: The fact that the book is compiled using the thoughts and opinions of multiple individuals makes this a great read, and the concept as a whole is our favorite part. It contains a rich array of pieces with a focus on ethics, global perspectives and organizational culture. Reading advice on multiple business aspects from a variety of people is very insightful and will help you determine which approach works best for you.
Looking for an engaging presentation to truly inspire you or your team? TED Talks are a great way to start, with speakers ranging from musicians to entrepreneurs to authors and comedians. Their slogan, “Ideas Worth Spreading,” looks to inform, engage and educate.
There are nearly 2,000 TED Talks that would be considered business-centric, and Cydcor has checked into some of the top Talks, which explore the range of motivation, healthy work-play balances and how to inspire your workers. We recommend the following three TED Talks to inspire you in work and life:
Nigel Marsh: How To Make Work-Life Balance Work
This is a wonderfully humorous and inspiring TED Talk that explains how doing well in the business world can negatively impact your personal life if one doesn’t take steps to manage that success. Marsh is an author of inspiration and career advice books, and gives personal anecdotes on how being successful caused him to initially neglect his family. In his TED Talk, he discusses in detail how he took steps to take control of his work-play balance.
Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action
Cydcor has written previously on Sinek’s book, Start With Why, which provides research analysis on world-leaders and their ability to motivate. With Sinek’s TED Talk, he looks to expand upon his research, daring people to “think, act and communicate” in ways that are “the complete opposite of everyone else.”
Start With Why is a motivational classic, and hearing Sinek speak passionately on how communicating “from the outside in” is truly inspiring.
Tony Robbins: Why We Do What We Do
Tony Robbins is a tremendously successful inspirational speaker and business coach that has been speaking for over three decades on the power of motivation. His classic talk is one of the most viewed videos in TED Talk history, and Robbins’ energy is palpable on stage.
Robbins shows the importance of understanding emotions, and posits that to lead properly you have to understand what those around you truly need in order to get the best from them. The self-proclaimed ‘why guy’ will ask you to understand “why you do what you do.” Do you know the answer?
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Here is Cydcor's review of Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty.
About Capital in the Twenty-First Century:
Thomas Piketty is a French economist who shows that modern economic growth and the diffusion of knowledge have allowed us to avoid inequalities. Piketty is arguably the world’s leading expert on income and wealth inequality, and does more than document the growing concentration of income in the hands of a small economic elite. He makes a powerful case that we’re on our way back to “patrimonial capitalism,” in which the commanding heights of the economy are dominated by inherited wealth.
Why Cydcor recommends Capital in the Twenty-First Century to future leaders:
This book is a beast; it’s just over seven hundred pages and has seventy-seven pages dedicated just to endnotes. But despite its length, the book is engaging and, at the moment, Piketty is currently the most talked about economist in the world. His book spans across nations as he analyzes tax records and data from the United States, France, Germany and Japan, among others.
Financial Times and McKinsey have named Capital in the Twenty-First Century their business book of the year. Strategy+Business magazine also named Piketty’s book as one of the best books of 2014. It is backed by remarkably detailed data and analysis, and his historical proofs and economic analysis make a fantastic book, and is a must-read for any business leader to truly understand present-day economics.
Our favorite part:
The most admirable part of Piketty’s book is how he takes tremendously complex data and simplifies it in a way that the layman can understand. Piketty's book is commendable both in its content and its attitude. Its content is straightforward. It is a bold analysis of a tremendous effort by Piketty and other scholars to collect data on income distribution and capital accumulation and distribution over many years and many countries. Whatever one thinks of the analysis, this data collection effort is an important contribution to our knowledge about our modern economy and its history.
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