How 5 Mindsets Can Get You In The Driver Seat

There is no need to explain that these are special days we are currently trying to make our way through: whether you are 70+ years old, afraid of catching a virus that could mean your days are counted or you are 7 years old, just started first grade trying to learn how to write and read numbers and letters but now being sent home to study all by yourself without friends. Most likely, if you are reading these lines, you are between the 7 and 70 years old, struggling with your personal version of the challenge that all of us face right now. 

Willpower beats Brainpower

Your position, your personal circumstances, your age or your social surroundings – none of those things are truly critical to how you master any tough situation, any crisis that life throws at you. The only critical parameter is your willpower and how this willpower beats brainpower – in other words: how you get in the driver seat of your life. 

It’s time to realize that you have the freedom to choose your experience, how you interpret and judge situations and ultimately, how you shape your very personal world. The question is not, whether this is an easy or a difficult task – hell yeah, sometimes it’s very difficult to choose – it’s rather this question we need to ask ourselves over and over again: How am I showing up today and how do I decide to live the next moments, hours, days, weeks, months? – There is no better place to start answering this question than right here, in this very moment, the moment you are reading these lines. Because willpower can only be applied in the moment, one moment after the other, adding up to a strong hour, a strong day, strong weeks….

5 mindsets to get in the driver seat of your life

There is no magic formula, that will help you apply 100% willpower in every moment, thus get’s you in the driver seat of your life. but there are 5 mindsets you can apply and you should make it a priority to train yourself making them a habit, in order to proactively shape the direction of where your life is heading …..because being the co-driver is not what you are meant to be doing in this life!

  • Focus on the future – yes, we are supposed to live in the present, in the moment, in the here and now. Nevertheless, you should have a strong vision of what the future you wish to have, looks like. Not only being optimistic about the future but also having a clear, vivid picture of what you are working towards will serve like a magnet, drawing this desired future to you. 
  • Seek the challenge – the true beauty of life are the moments where we are presented something new because these unknown circumstances or things are like special treats to our brains: something new triggers a pioneering spirit in us, the feeling that we are not tied to the given boundaries but have the potential to stretch, to explore new, unseen areas. We enjoy this inner confidence, that we can handle any challenge we face and we will only show up stronger, more mature and having learned to trust in our ability to rise to the demands of any situation
  • Immerse yourself fully – make sure you engage with full curiosity, excitement and flexibility in the world around you, avoiding to judge everything based on old, known patterns or rush from one situation into the next one without taking the learning opportunity being presented. Stay alert and more receptive to what’s being presented to you and keep in mind that the journey is as important as the destination – so immerse yourself fully in the being-mode!
  • Stay connected – there is so much you can learn by listening to other people’s present moments, their dreams and fears but also their stories about life. Try to focus unconditionally on other human beings that come your way and have authentic, true and focused interactions with them. Go for relationships that are anything but superficial: caring, sharing, thoughtful and loving. It’s the relationships in your life that add the real flavor, that are like the real vehicles towards an engaging, meaningful time spent here.
  • Stay to your own beat – true, deep relationships with others are just so much more valuable compared to being on the race-track all by yourself. Always welcome company on your journey but stick to your own beat, stay on the tracks that you decided to take, even if this means that you can’t make everybody happy or be everybody’s darling. Stay brave enough to find and follow your own course, the one that makes you happy and that brings you closer to your vision.

Practicing and implementing these 5 mindsets in your daily life is more than just adding a morning workout-routine to your schedule. Once you truly understand how impactful these 5 mindsets are and how much beauty they can add to your very moment, you will realize that they are almost like a gift. The only thing you have to do is unwrap this gift, because it’s already sitting inside yourself, ready to be uncovered, ready to shine and ready to position you in the driver seat of your life!

Top 3 Ingredients To Build A Healthy Company Culture

Every leader and entrepreneur is familiar with the saying “structure follows strategy” but legendary Peter Drucker is the author of one of my favourite quotes, because he added what makes the true difference with really good leadership: “…and culture eats strategy for breakfast!”

Company Culture is the sum of individuals

Every organization has its own distinct culture that evolves based on its purpose, priorities, values, and most importantly, the individuals who are part of this business structure. It is a combination of these factors that contribute to a company ecosystem, which is also referred to as the company culture or company spirit. So, how do we define a healthy and positive work culture? Is it one that helps employees feel comfortable, safe, and valued? Is it one where there is an ample scope of prosperity and growth? Is it one with high levels of productivity and team spirit? 

The Fundamentals of Company Culture 

Company culture plays an integral role in the operation of any business. It is the backbone of a happy and high performing workforce that not only helps in recruiting the cream of talents in the industry but also enhances your overall employee experience factor. On the one hand, many employees struggle to find meaning and real value in the work they do without a positive company culture. And on the other hand, organisations with a strong and positive work environment witness bottom line financial success by helping employees produce best results. 

Talking about “Human Resources” is misleading

Employees are humans, not “human resources” and humans want to be valued. No doubt about it. They want to enjoy their work, have a feeling of autonomy, relatedness and competence which motivates them to go above and beyond. A successful organisation has a company culture that is strongly maintained and widely accepted. Not only are the structures, habits and strategies implemented in a way that is in sync with the anticipated culture of the organization. Even top management is interacting with their talents across levels in a way that reflects the purpose, values and principles of this ecosystem and the implemented reward systems are aligned with the present company culture.

Why you should care about company culture as top-level leader

Successful companies have a consensus on their top priorities, focus on individuals as well as the enterprise as a whole and make sure their goals and objectives are in line with their values. Here are top 3 reasons why you should make your employee’s experience and your company culture a personal priority for 2021:

#1 – Hiring the cream of talents

Let’s start at the very beginning. As leaders we understand that a strong company culture helps in attracting the best talents in the industry. Positive employee experience and workplace atmosphere ensure that all individuals have a fair chance to achieve healthy high performance which will become more of a competitive advantage than we‘ve seen in the past industrial age. When the best employees work for an organization with a healthy company culture in place, the outcome is not simply about employee satisfaction but the ultimate customer experience as well, which directly relates to bottom line financial success. Yep, this is the new KPI you should look out for as a visionary leader building an organization for the digital future!

#2 – Having a herd of unicorns

It’s in the DNA of any good leader to develop things further, not to be satisfied with the status quo but to outperform and to reach new horizons. In a perfect world, you want your employees all to be potential “unicorns” regarding the skills, talents and the passion they bring to work. This means though, that employees can’t be treated equally with a standardized approach when it comes to formal training or personal development. Instead, companies with a true employee experience commitment, understand the value of treating each talent individually, ensuring the growth of the entire organization by best possibly supporting the growth and development of each and every employee. Effective leadership development and people development programs at this kind of organization aim at providing key talents with 1:1 sparring partners or leadership coaches as well as facilitated peer groups and mastermind programs, making sure that all the potential within each team member and leader is given a chance to rise and grow. 

#3 – Outperforming your not-yet-known competitors

All companies at some point arrive at the decision of documenting not only shared beliefs as value statements but also strategies, processes, procedures, etc. All of these documentation efforts are worth nothing, if at the core of your organization’s operations the talents at work do not FEEL what your organization, your products, your service level and your defined values are truly about. As responsible leader, you have to make sure, that every talent in the organization understands how the company’s values impact the experience your customers have with your brand. And every talent should be able to identify the organization’s core values and purpose when experiencing your leadership and way of guiding people. If you picked the purpose and values carefully, if you can make sure they are reflected in every day work, every customer touchpoint and in your leadership style, then you are for sure way ahead of the competition when it comes to employee experience.

Conclusion: It’s a mix of 3

Making it a priority to be spot on purpose and values with any business initiative and assuring as top level leader, together with your leadership team, to live according to these principles, you’ve for sure won half the battle. Adding then the right dose of listening to your people and providing them the best possible environment to grow their skills but also to leave their comfort zones and develop themselves as human beings, that will empower your organization to achieve the bottom line impact you might be dreaming of. 

Unsure where to start? No idea where your organization is now? No clue about your status quo as a leader with the way you work today? Feel free to reach out to me personally as a reader of the GlobalBusinessPlaybook and we get on a personal 1:1 momentum session to identify possible strengths as well as areas for improvements. Contact me via office@braininspa.com

What challenges are leaders and organizations facing in the digital transformation‪?‬

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What challenges are leaders and organizations facing in the digital transformation‪?‬

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Podcast with brain in spa founder Michaela Lindinger

The success of any organization heavily relies on its employees. They are the ones who keep the organization moving forward, and their performance ultimately determines the success or failure of the organization. 

Therefore, it’s essential for organizations to focus on creating a positive employee experience. Employee experience refers to the sum of all experiences an employee has with an organization, from recruitment and onboarding to day-to-day work, through to exit interviews and beyond. 

The importance of employee experience cannot be overstated. A positive employee experience can result in greater employee satisfaction, higher levels of productivity, increased employee engagement, and ultimately, better financial performance for the organization. 

Companies that prioritize employee experience see better retention rates, improved employee morale, and more positive company culture. However, creating a positive employee experience is easier said than done. Many organizations focus primarily on user experience and customer experience, neglecting the importance of employee experience. But this can be a costly mistake.

Neglecting employee experience can lead to disengagement, low morale, high turnover rates, and ultimately, a negative impact on the organization’s bottom line. To create a positive employee experience, organizations must start with a clear purpose and values. A clear purpose and values provide a foundation for the organization’s culture and guide employees in their day-to-day work.

When employees start to understand and align with an organization’s purpose, vision, and values, they are more likely to feel motivated, engaged, and invested in the organization’s success. Once a clear purpose and values are established, organizations can start building an employee experience program. 

The program should be designed to create a positive work environment, provide opportunities for growth and development, and prioritize employee well-being. This can include initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, training and development programs, mentorship programs, employee recognition and rewards, and wellness programs.