#13

Welcome to Weekly Whispers #13

Which whisper did you hear from Week #12?

Did you reflect on where you get your clarity from?

Have you danced with your internal critic?

What’s your balance of internal fulfilment and external achievement like?

Did you see past the big white teeth 😁

Here's what’s struck me this week.

1. This IS rocket science

I love the Apollo 13 clip where the rocket scientists are tasked with fitting a square peg into a round hole.

I work with a lot of engineers, accountants and executives who favour logic over emotion. When presented with a problem, a number of their inherent biases kick in. Over time, and with the occasional provocative question or jolt, they have a breakthrough. They metaphorically toss their expertise over the wall, find another way to break through the wall, and pick their expertise up on the other side. On the other side of the problem, their expertise can become a game-changer.

What’s the bias you have on this side of your problem, that on the other side could be a game-changer?

2. Warmth trumps competence... most of the time

Studies have shown that we judge our interactions with people based on two main criteria – warmth and competence.

“Before people decide what they think of your message, they decide what they think of you”. Communicated via non-verbals, people are making decisions – often unconsciously – about whether you can be trusted or whether you are a threat to their significance or status. So, next time you’re communicating with someone, connect first. Find something micro to connect over – a glance, a smile, a comment, something in common – and you’ll find your message might just land a little more effectively.

HBR article Connect Then Lead

Heart Head Brain article Warmth and Competence

Forbes article - Should Leaders Aspire to Warmth or Competence

3. Quote of the week: "We are free to speak and act, but we are not free from the consequences of what we say and do" Lisa Feldman Barrett PhD

In this article, Lisa shares the neuroscience behind why our words create not only our own worlds but can affect others' worlds too.

Terrifying and powerful in the same breath.

4. Question of the Week: What would stop if you weren't around?

When I heard this question a number of years ago I was driving and I had to stop, rewind the tape (yep it was that long ago!!) and listen again. And again. And again. Then it hit me. Nothing!

Nothing would really stop if I wasn’t around. Nothing that I thought was significant anyway. Nothing that I was fighting behind the scenes for. Nothing that would begin a legacy. Nothing that I could, with pride, say “that’s me in there”.

How does the question hit you?

5. Freedom Fridays - My weekly experiment with time and focus

My intention is to openly share a change I’m making within my life. I’m hoping you can take the lessons learnt and apply it to any change you want to make.

This week is predominantly about self-indulgence!

Check out Episode #11.
 

That's all for this week and I hope you enjoyed Weekly Whisper #13.

Feedback is my fuel so if you have any comments please hit reply and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Pete