5 Proven Ways to Better Manage Stress
5 Proven Ways to Better Manage Stress

Stress is a fact of life and a necessary part of life too. Without the stress on the body from a vigorous workout, one loses muscles and gains weight. Without the stress of studying to learn a new subject, it is impossible to improve one’s knowledge. In any area of life that shows improvement or growth, you will find a stress factor involved with that change. The challenge then becomes to not eliminate stress but rather to utilize stress in a fashion that will produce the best results with the least amount of negative impact.

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Action, Principles, MiscellaneousBrett PinegarExercise, Running, Stress
4 Tips for Better Team Meetings
4 Tips for Better Team Meetings

Meetings are meant to be productive. With the right structure, they can be.

That said, a Workfront survey conducted by Harris Poll revealed that 59% of office workers believe meetings hinder their work priorities. Similarly, Harvard Business School professor Nancy Koehn stated that U.S. employees collectively attend about 4 billion business meetings each year—and that half the people her team surveyed consider these formal gatherings a waste of time.

We've all been there. An hour-long meeting stretches into the late afternoon and creeps into the evening. Employees disengage after a while, sneaking glances at the clock until the facilitator wraps things up.

But it doesn't have to be this way. I've found that meetings can be productive, inspiring, and even fun. Here are four tips for making the most of important meetings.

 

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ActionBrett PinegarAction, Team, Focus, Progress, agendas, Practice, Authenticity, Engagement
Critical Steps To Convert Ideas Into Action
Critical Steps To Convert Ideas Into Action

The present is a wonderful age in which new discoveries are happening all the time and the sheer quantity of new ideas being developed is mind boggling. However, as we've moved into this time of innovation many companies have lost touch with the critical advantage that companies just 50 years ago possessed. These companies were limited through lack of technology and knowledge yet that not-so-long ago corporate world held a distinct advantage - they focused on the one area that would bring them success...

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Strategy NotesBrett PinegarInnovation, Action, Focus
Avoid Perfection - Embrace Excellence
Avoid Perfection - Embrace Excellence

When you’re passionate about something, you want it to be all it can be. But in the endgame of life, I fundamentally believe the key to happiness is letting go of that idea of perfection. ~Debra Messing

To strive for perfection is at best an unrealistic goal or at worst a convenient excuse for avoidance.

Honestly, is perfection even possible? Isn't there always room for improvement, for changes in function, ability, design to be just a little bit better? To add perspective from another? To change our own perspective?

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Brett PinegarProgress, Perfection, Excellence
Be An Effective Leader - Question Your Beliefs
Be An Effective Leader - Question Your Beliefs

All of our actions flow from what we believe. Being unaware of these beliefs and how they can derail our emotions, thoughts, and actions, causing tremendous strife and difficulty. Let’s say you’ve noticed a member of your team has been in a bad mood lately, their work is suffering and you need to talk with them about the situation.

If you believe the team member is purposely trying to sabotage the company (or you), your emotions may  have you feeling hostile towards the team member. Once you find yourself in this mood, your thoughts about the situation and the person will be about how to protect yourself and others, resulting in a response or action based on an initial belief that someone is trying to cause harm.

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Brett Pinegar
BEWARE: Your Strengths Can Become Your Weaknesses
BEWARE: Your Strengths Can Become Your Weaknesses

You’re focused, dedicated, hardworking, motivated and inspirational. Your team respects the clear vision you’ve given and you lead by example. Goals are being met, growth is occurring, everyone is feeling a sense of satisfaction from their work. And then, as is inevitable, a challenge occurs. Your largest customer leaves, your best sales person retires, a recall is necessary….

The natural reaction to a difficult or challenging situation is to dive into your strengths – increasing your focus and dedication, working harder and motivate your team.  Unfortunately, relying too heavily on your go-to strengths in a time of difficulty will often backfire with painful results.

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Brett Pinegar