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Browse every published article connected to Pat Heydlauff, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
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Browse every published article connected to Pat Heydlauff, or search within this exact expert archive.
Does one room in your house make you feel relaxed while another makes you feel jittery? Are there rooms in your home you absolutely hate to go into and others that beckon you all day long? Do you wince when you just open the door to your office or bedroom?
Positive energy is not the type of energy that provides you the ability to turn on lights or start engines but rather the kind of energy that helps you maximize your personal productivity and enjoy life more. Do you remember a moment when you were feeling totally empowered to take on your day? Are there times in your busy life when you were so relaxed you could float off into space and just enjoy the moment? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, you’ve experienced positive energy.
Life can become very stressful and anxiety-ridden when your career, marriage, relationships or income seem to be on hold, yet life and the world are moving forward at warp-speed. How do you get past those endless times of nagging doubt that linger in the back of your mind? What do you do when things just aren’t going your way or you continually run into the same “brick wall?” Are these questions you ask yourself occasionally, or perhaps even regularly?
Does life feel difficult? Are you feeling less productive than usual? Do you wish you could increase your prosperity and wealth? The solution is found in the lifestyle principles of Feng Shui. Its principles are neither a bandage nor quick fix but rather a basic system of order that creates a flow of natural energy throughout your surroundings and within your body. Much like your body needs water, nourishment and exercise to function properly; your surroundings also require attention so that you may prosper, be more productive and create a better tomorrow.
Are you stuck on the procrastination highway where productivity slows to a crawl and stress uncontrollably speeds up? Why, because you’d rather be doing something else, fear of failure or lack of organization? Or are you procrastinating just because you do not know how to manage your internal productivity clock, organize your energy and focus your attention? Current research shows an alarming increase in procrastination which has quadrupled over the past 30 years to a whoppi
Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It doesn’t matter if you are facing unfinished projects, complicated finances and debt, poor relationships with family members and co-workers, or wellness issues. If you want change and a positive breakthrough, do something different. All it takes is new positive energy to create that much-needed shift for a breakthrough to occur. Holding on to the old ways of doing
Downtime is a necessity in today’s warp-speed world. We are so busy making a living and consumed in day-to-day activities that we often do not have time to enjoy life. We tend to over-commit, never say no and turn into workaholics – always doing something or going somewhere. Are you someone who never takes time for yourself so you can regenerate your body and mind? These workaholics schedule no downtime to truly rest, restore and rejuvenate. Constantly on the go, they work,
We all want financial stability, balanced relationships, upwardly mobile careers and peace at home. But instead of waiting for these things to come to us, we must “walk the walk and talk the talk” to actively pursue our goals. We have truly hit a point in history where everything you think, say, feel and do matters…because that is how you create tomorrow while living through today. When you adopt the motto everything you think, say, feel and do matters you are impacting you
What does your bottom line look like? Is your portfolio filled with growing stocks and bonds, balanced with other conservative investments? Have you put money away for a rainy day? Or, are you over extended? What does your self worth look like? No, not the financial self, but the personal inside of you self. Have you taken time to invest in you? To determine who you really are and what is important to you? Are you a workaholic? Are you so busy earning a living that you don’
Are there rooms in your home you absolutely hate to go into? Do you always wince when you open the door to your office? When you are in your family room do you want to say “go away, leave me alone”. Does one room in your house make you feel too relaxed and another make you feel jittery? It’s all about color. Color plays a huge role in your life. It can make you happy, it can make you sad, it can make you feel angry, even depressed. Just look outside your window and you will
I’ve had a number of clients and students ask, “Is the process any different when positively energizing an office or business versus a home?” “Are there basic principles you can follow when using Feng Shui for a business client versus a home client?” Or, “why would you even consider energizing the relationship and health areas of a business? I understand how that is important in a family but how does energizing those areas relate to the business environment?” The answer to t
Have you ever walked into your office whether at work or at home and thought, “why can’t I get anything done in here?” If you work outside of the home, do you ever wonder, “is everyone here playing on the same company team?” Do you sometimes question, “is there something I can do in my cubicle, office or home work space to motivate me, keep me focused and productive?” These are common questions asked by employees in the corporate and professional world as well as the home of
Does the concept of work/life balance make you cringe? Do you envision the scales of justice meeting out the exact amount of minutes you should perform work duties, spend time on social media and engage in personal life activities? Is there is a solution? Nobody seems to get the fact that it is all about your life. One size doesn’t fit all — balance for one may be a disaster for another. Yet everyone seems to preach about how important work/life balance is and insist that you
It isn’t working. Almost nothing about the way a leader led in the Nineties works today. If you need proof, just look around. Businesses are gone that should be thriving, new businesses are sprouting that weren’t even a dream back then. Yesterday’s roadmap for success doesn’t work for today’s entrepreneur and business strategist any more than a 1931 Ford Model A could successfully race in the Daytona 500. Yet leaders continue to employ the same set of “old” traditional rules
Logic and vision aren’t enough; you need passion and ambition to be a great leader according to Leonard Lauder, Chairman Emeritus of The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. His mother, Estee Lauder had passion and ambition. She took risks and her philosophy on life was “beauty is an attitude, there is no secret.” She was a woman with a mission, single-minded in the pursuit of her dream and believed that new generations want to buy their own brands ... they don't necessarily want to
Use Silence as a Leadership Strategy Silence, yes, silence, is a powerful leadership tool. There are many adages about silence such as “he who speaks first loses,” or “silence is golden” which comes from a longer phrase “speech is silver, silence is golden,” placing a much greater value on silence, not just the spoken word. Recent research by New York University’s Ste School of Business Department of Management and Organizational Behavior shows that the workforce is remaining
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy,” according to Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Integrity is defined as soundness of moral principle and character; ethical, uprightness, honor and honesty – strong convict
Self-control and focus go hand in hand. Focus is the answer to all accomplishment but only if you have mastered self-control. For leaders, the key to accomplishment and staying focused is self-control. They get dragged and pulled in so many directions that it is easy for them to lose focus and run from one urgent issue or catastrophe to another. Numerous psychology research studies indicate that self-control can make a profound beneficial difference in the lives of ordinary
Poor management dramatically reduces engagement but the nouveau “no management” philosophy, known as holacracy, destroys engagement. Zappos may have discovered that employees need managers after all, according to writers, J. Brandon Rigoni and Bailey Nelson at the Gallup Business journal, (February, 2016). The online shoe and clothing retailer's holacracy management system doesn't appear to be working. According to a recent New York Times article, (January, 2016), Zappos con
“The best places to work are those that foster an inclusive culture – one where differences are celebrated and our people can be themselves and feel at home.” This was recently tweeted by Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, which comprises more tha 400 companies. Branson passionately believes in balance and equality in the workplace because he knows it drives better business performance. At Virgin, they recognize that a culture that brings together a group of peopl
Does the concept of work/life balance make you cringe? Do you envision the scales of justice meeting out the exact amount of minutes you should perform work duties, spend time on social media and engage in personal life activities? Is there is a solution? Nobody seems to get the fact that it is all about your life. One size doesn’t fit all — balance for one may be a disaster for another. Yet everyone seems to preach about how important work/life balance is and insist that yo
In our country, workforce engagement is at 30 percent, those not engaged is at 52 percent, and actively disengaged is at 18 percent (Gallup, 2012). Creating a multi-dimensional focused workforce environment is key to increasing engagement, buy-in and performance — for both employees and the company itself. Employee engagement can often make or break a company’s reputation and sustainability. Recently I experienced firsthand an incredibly good example of a fully engaged emplo
According to the report, Global Human Capital Trends 2015 by Deloitte University, global organizations today must navigate a “new world of work” – one that requires a dramatic change in strategies for leadership, talent and human resources. The research went on to state that when comparing their results to last year’s, they found that the capability gap in organizational management and the workforce increased in magnitude, suggesting an accelerating economy; and rapid change
Time is your most valuable asset. How you use it and what you focus on determines the quality of your performance and effectiveness. What is your workforce focusing on – they are always focusing on something, but is it what you want them to do? Fueling focus is perhaps your most important workforce engagement strategy. Energy, time and money are expended whether they are focused on the results you want or not. Is your workforce using their mental, emotional and spiritual ene
While most leaders are measured on the basis of business results, organizations must begin holding leaders accountable for building a strong and enduring culture, listening to feedback, and engaging and retaining their teams, according to a new study just released Global Human Capital Trends 2015 by Deloitte University Press. They went on to state, “Our research indicates that the transformation of the aging performance management process is long overdue.” It has been known
Silence, yes, silence, is a powerful leadership tool. There are many adages about silence such as “he who speaks first loses,” or “silence is golden” which comes from a longer phrase “speech is silver, silence is golden,” placing a much greater value on silence, not just the spoken word. Recent research by New York University’s Ste School of Business Department of Management and Organizational Behavior shows that the workforce is remaining silent. This type of silence is not
Engaging employees requires more than directing them in what to do; they also need to receive credit for their accomplishments. Such recognition helps to improve the employee experience according to Ventana Research: Five Reasons to Use Social Recognition in Business, 2014. The research states that recognition of employees has many more benefits than simply motivation. The recognition contributed to creating a positive employee culture where they feel: • Encouraged to perfo
“A paycheck is what an employee lives on. Recognition and appreciation is what they live for,” according to Mac Anderson, the founder of Successories and Simple Truths. Recognition is fast becoming the buzzword of today’s modern workplace. Does your leadership roadmap include scheduled rest stops along the way to express appreciation and recognize accomplishment? According to Aberdeen’s 2013 employee engagement survey, “Sixty-seven percent of ‘Best-in-Class’ organizations ha
What are your leadership responsibilities – engaging the workforce, hiring, acquisitions, financial planning, visioneering, innovation? Jack Welch, former chairman and CEO of General Electric, believed he had only three things to do as a leader: choose the right people, allocate the right funds and transmit ideas from division to division at the speed of light. What is on your leadership priority list? Is it short? Can you articulate your priorities in one easy to understand
Distractions are rapidly becoming enemy No. 1 in the workplace. In fact, 45 percent of employees work only 15 minutes or less without getting interrupted, and 53 percent waste at least one hour a day due to all types of distractions according to recent research by harmon.ie, a provider of social email software. That un-engaged hour translates to a loss of productivity exceeding $10,000 per person per year. The report concludes that two-thirds of companies and technology user
Although it was a beautiful sunny spring day outside, there was a dark cloud hanging over atto ey Steve and his office reflected it. Steve was the managing partner of a multiple-city law firm spread across the state. He complained about how unfocused, distracted and disorganized he felt. He was worried that the firm wasn’t going to grow and make money on his watch. Steve was also conce ed that he was not as efficient and productive as he should be which left him feeling ine
Although it was a beautiful sunny spring day outside, there was a dark cloud hanging over atto ey Steve and his office reflected it. Steve was the managing partner of a multiple-city law firm spread across the state. He complained about how unfocused, distracted and disorganized he felt. He was worried that the firm wasn’t going to grow and make money on his watch. Steve was also conce ed that he was not as efficient and productive as he should be which left him feeling ineff
With 105 million strong in the US, the Millennial generation is now larger than the number of Baby Boomers and Generation X combined. Their presence is felt in the workplace and is creating great diversity in age, work ethic, interpersonal social and communication skills. Instead of silver spoons in their hands, they were born with computers in their laps and cell phones and iPods attached to their ears. They are the first totally digitized generation and are truly hooked on
“Research evidence clearly shows that groups led by transformational leaders have higher levels of performance and satisfaction than groups led by other types of leaders. Why? Because transformational leaders hold positive expectations for followers, believing that they can do their best,” stated Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., on Psychology Today’s blog. Transformational leadership is absolutely essential to delivering value in the new business platform. Transformational leadershi
Maximizing the productivity of workforce talent is the greatest leadership challenge in today’s marketplace. Increased efficiency and productivity means increasing razor-thin profitability. The answer lies in connecting the communication dots by tying workforce productivity to the company’s performance, but how? The thought process of “them versus us” is the root cause of this challenge and also where you begin to find the solution. Those who seek success without regard to r
Your success or failure is created by what you focus on. What you focused on five years, five months or five days ago is what you have in your life today. What you focus on today is what you will reap in the future. Dementia usually describes deterioration in cognitive abilities that are commonly seen in people who have suffered a head injury or psychiatric illness. Digital Dementia, a term coined in South Korea, is used to describe a deterioration of cognitive abilities resu
Change occurs constantly and your business must learn to adapt. From the telegraph to the cell phone, the personal computer to the Internet, companies have access to newer and better tools to do business in the 21st century. However, many organizations find success, even moderate success, yet remain stuck in the old ways of doing things. One of those significant changes took place at the turn of the century. Are you transcribing the way you do business from the past century
Spring cleaning is a phrase that is usually relegated to the home, but it is just as relevant to the well-being, productivity and future of a small business or a large corporation. Spring cleaning is the practice of cleaning a home from top to bottom, especially after long hard winters in colder climates. This process not only removes stagnant energy from a closed-up house in the winter and eliminates any leftover germs, improving the health of the family, but also removes c
Research shows that a three second distraction doubles errors and a four-and-a-half second interruption triples errors. Are numerous daily distractions wreaking havoc on your productivity and efficiency? When was the last time you placed a “do not disturb” sign on your door? If the answer is never, today is a good day to start. Research by both Michigan State University and the Navy has determined that errors are made immediately after interruptions even if the interruption
Leadership accountability isn’t just evaluated by the marker of profitability. There are many components to accountability but the most strikingly overlooked one is buried deep within the relationship of a leader and the workforce: the truth. According to Sergeant Friday from the Dragnet television series, getting “just the facts, ma’am” doesn’t always tell the whole story. Accountability is based on truth but what percentage of the truth are employees presenting to leadersh
There are many ways for a leader to train and develop a workforce: teaching, coaching, encouraging and nurturing. However the one form that speaks loudest and is rarely considered a strategy are a leader’s actions. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the actions of a leader are worth significantly more. Leaders are under constant scrutiny from their workforce. They are watched to see how they perform, how they act on a normal busy day and how they react during a cri
Nothing improves by accident. Being a real or Intentional leader is making a conscious choice to transform the way you think. It isn’t just about creating balance but about changing your perspective about the way your approach your personal life and professional life. It’s about how you approach your responsibilities as a leader. It’s about how you use your resources of time, physical endurance and connectivity. A recent study by Leslie Perlow, researcher and author of Sleep
Spirituality is the new frontier for integrity-driven leadership. Employees, the workplace environment and economics used to drive the operation of a business; today the workforce and their consumers or clients are looking for something more. A number of years ago Vince Lombardi, past head coach of the Green Bay Packers said, “Leadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.” He had discovered the secret everyone is sea
“Say what you mean and mean what you say,” says Frank Luntz, communications researcher and author of several books including What Americans Really Want…Really. Today’s workforce craves truthful comprehensive communications and aligned action from leadership in all aspects. They want to know the what, why, how and when – and they care about the long-term implications of decisions made by their leaders. Luntz’s research states that the most desirable company attribute for the
“Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence and energy. And if you don’t have the first, the other two will kill you. You think about it; it’s true. If you hire somebody without [integrity], you really want them to be dumb and lazy,” according to Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Integrity is defined as soundness of moral principle and character; ethical, uprightness, honor and honesty – strong convict
Dramatic change has descended upon leaders and the workforce due to the social media revolution. The warp speed shift of workplace communications, interaction and information exchange is causing chaos, mistrust and poor face-to-face communications. This change is forcing leadership to think and interact differently with their workforce in order to engage, encourage and increase their performance. The John Quincy Adams quote, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, lea
Social media technologies have dramatically increased the speed of everything be it good, bad or neutral. Change no longer cranks along at a snail’s pace but rather moves on a millisecond scale over the internet. It is the speed and scale of change that is causing chaos within the business community. And it requires significant immediate attention paid to it – if a business is to remain competitive and sustainable. It’s not just the shot that’s heard around the world, it is
Unlike the 1980s and 1990s, the speed of change today is transformative. The cause of this warp speed change: social technologies, according to a July 2012 study, “The Social Economy: Unlocking values and productivity through social technologies,” by the McKinsey Global Institute. The study states that there are greater tha 1.5 billion networking users globally and 80 percent of them regularly interact through social networks. Yet only 70 percent of businesses use social tec
Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” One could look at this statement and think that those 10,000 ideas were a waste of time and money or one could look more closely and realize that out of those 10,000 came not only the light bulb but the phonograph, film projectors, motion pictures, the quadruplex telegraph; a total of 1093 patents. Just to make the light bulb consumer-friendly and useable for electric distributio Edison
Do you hit the ground running in the morning and never stop until you drop back into bed exhausted at the day’s end? Does your view of peak performance begin the moment you get into your car, set foot in your office, or have that first sip of coffee? If yes, you are missing the two most important things you need to do to set the tone for a successful day: what you hear and what you do during the first few minutes of your day. The first thoughts you hear in your head, the fir