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Chip Scholz
Head CoachChip Scholz is Head Coach of Scholz and Associates, Inc. He is a nationally recognized executive coach, public speaker and author. He is a Certified Business Coach and works with CEO’s, business owners and sales professionals across North America.
Chip has written for a number of business and trade publications. 2009 saw the release of his first book project, “Masterminds Unleashed: Selling for Geniuses.” His second book, with co-authors Sue Nielsen and Tracy Lunquist, “Do Eagles Just Wing It?” was published in 2011. His next book "Clear Conduct" is due in 2013.Do Eagles Just Wing It?
Buy a copy of Do Eagles Just Wing It? here!
Masterminds Unleashed: Selling for Geniuses
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Leadership Habits: Create Better Communications
Nearly half of what we say to our coworkers and family members isn’t based on well thought-out decisions. We communicate by routine. We perform without thinking.
“We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” Aristotle
It’s only been in the last two decades that we’ve learned how habits form. Apparently the brain starts building a routine immediately after we perform a task, in order to conserve energy reserves. It simplifies our decision-making process so that we don’t have to think every time we want to do something.
Which is great when it comes to getting ready for work, or any of the countless routines of daily living. But the brain doesn’t stop there, it continues to rely on habits and routines every chance it gets.
What so you need to do if you want to change a communication habit, like become a better listener or become better at expressing empathy? What if, like many high achieving executives in positions of power, you want to come across as less authoritative and more open to dialogue?
That presupposes you want to change, of course. But assuming you are willing to put in some work on this… what do you need to do to break an old communication habit and replace it with a new, more effective one?
Here’s brief outline from Duhigg’s book, breaking down the elements of a habit:
To change what you automatically do, create alternative routines. The cue will probably stay the same, just make sure the rewards are still there. What you do is figure out an alternative behavior that will still get you the same or better rewards you seek.
For example, in the case of better communications, here is how your usual habit occurs:
In creating better communications habits, here is how your new routine would evolve:
The cue remains the same, the reward may improve. By establishing a new response to the cue, you change a habit for the better. What habit could you try this out with? I’d love to hear from you.
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