This is a precious time when the darkness comes early and candles glow. Quiet stillness falls in the darkness of winter. In the darkness just one candle flame sheds light for a room. One candle lights the way. Not surprising at all that Hanukkah and Christmas both share the symbols of light with the Winter Solstice.

• How is your light guiding others?
• What are you showing with your light?

You are an infinite luminous light. Did you know that? Take in that thought. Feel what it feels like to be an infinite luminous light. Infinite creative energy flows to you, through you, and out into your world. Breathe that thought in, hold it, and breathe it out.

Open your self to the luminous light

You are a luminous light. You show your light every day you come to work. Your inner light is seen by all- it flickers, it dances, it blazes, it fades- all depending on how you show up. The outer light that you radiate reflects of your inner world.

‘Open your self to the luminous light, the infinite light of the universe’ is a chant I do with my group of Dancers of Universal Peace. Saying these words and taking them deep in to my core feels rich and renewing. I interpret this chant to mean that as an infinite light of the universe, we all share that spark of Divine creation and love. We all have that light within. We radiate out that light to the degree that we allow it to shine through us, as us.

Some people have filters from life experiences that diffuse the light. Some have layers that mute the light. It’s up to you to take off the layers that prevent the full beauty and power of your light to shine.

Sharing your light with others

We shine as brightly as we are open to sharing our light- of peace, of joy, of compassion, of love. Mary Ann Williamson has a marvelous poem about being a light and standing fully in the truth and power of that, not just for yourself but for everyone. ‘As you let your light shine, you unconsciously give others permission to do the same’. As you show patience, tolerance, gratitude, understanding, you model that way for others at work. You serve as a beacon and guide for how to be with one another.

Pay attention this week to what you are showing others about yourself, your inner light. Set your intention to share the light of peace, calm, quiet during an otherwise hectic and possibly stressful week.

Enjoy the quite, the peacefulness of the dark winter nights. There is beauty in the darkness with the flicker of just one candle.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Linda has a new Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson “like” this page if you want to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Also now available- 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” Linda’s new book, “Staying Grounded in Shifting Sand” will be available in Jan.

In my last article I talked about performance from the viewpoints of Performance Psychologists. This time we’ll take a look at what neuroscience has to tell us by understanding more about left brain-right brain science.

I have asked Sandy Cormack, a personal and organizational consultant to guest blog on the subject. He uses a neuroscience-based approach to team building, leadership development, creativity and innovation, change management, and business strategy development.

Unlocking Creative Potential

by Sandy Cormack

In his recent article Battling for Creative Solutions, Jack Shaw introduces the concept of left-right brain creativity. Creativity might be the least understood cognitive function. The terminology isn’t that exact – even the Wikipedia definition Jack quoted is sorely inadequate for the true range of creativity our minds are capable of. But understanding the neuroscience behind how our brains function provides a much-needed key for unlocking our creative potential. There’s enough material to make a major series of articles, but I hope to cover the subject adequately for out purposes here in three.

The first part is a general introduction to the issue. The second installment focuses on individual and group creativity the third installment addresses the group aspect.

Before we get too deep into creativity, first consider this visual metaphor for the brain:

Our left brain thinks logically, systematically and in language. Our right brain thinks intuitively, strategically and in pictures. The two hemisphere function as two individual brains, but they’re connected by a fibrous network called the corpus collosum, allowing them to communicate and exchange information.

But there is an abstract and concrete component to each hemisphere that lets us move from hemisphere model to a quartile model – analytical, structural, social and conceptual. And although we use all these attributes in our thinking, we tend to prefer two or three of them. In fact, the majority of people aren’t purely ‘left brained’ or ‘right brained’ at all – they prefer aspects of both (a detailed description of the four thinking attributes can be downloaded for free at my Left Brain Right Brain Test website).

Using this model, we can talk about creativity this way:

• Our Analytical brain likes to take something and refine it. It assesses the problem by gathering enough facts and data to achieve a clear picture of the current situation. It selects solutions based on rigorous analysis of cost and benefits, and it seeks ways of measuring results.
• Our Structural brain likes to take something and improve it. It tends to focus on process and procedure as likely problem areas, and relies on past experience for solutions (i.e., there’s no need to reinvent the wheel). It seeks closure so it doesn’t like to dwell on the problem for too long.
• Our Social brain keeps an eye on the external world to generate raw material for ideas. It defines the problem in consultation with the people most affected by it. It looks for the best available practices to implement as solutions, but only after considering how they will affect people. It’s also associated with ‘trusting the gut.’
• Our Conceptual brain is the seat of our imagination and seeks novelty. It gathers as much information as it can and lets its intuition hatch innovative ideas (the ‘a-ha’ moment). It is energized by problem definition and ideation – it loses steam when it comes time for action.

Now consider the four general phases of the creative problem solving process:

• Problem definition – examination of the problem from many perspectives which seeks to find the root causes to address
• Ideation – proliferation of ideas which improve, refine, copy, and innovate
• Solution selection – enhancing the best ideas into practical solutions
• Implementation – determining what it will take to make the solutions happen and then doing it.

Clearly there’s an important role for each of the four thinking attributes in this process. So everyone is creative – just not in the same way. You can think of this as creative ‘style.’ When you discover your thinking preferences, you gain clear insight into your creativity.

But this creates a huge spinoff problem at the organizational level. We’re different people with different brains. Most organizations can’t get past the ‘mental dissonance’ caused by these differences – they never learn how to harness the creativity of the individuals into a powerful collective creativity.

My follow-on articles will show how to address this problem once and for all, and help you develop a highly creative, highly collaborative organization in the process.

Sandy Cormack’s report (available for download at http://leftbrainrightbraintest.com/) addresses the essential elements of a left brain-right brain test and provides a general introduction to left brain-right brain theory and applications. He can be reached at interzon@comcast.net.

This is the first of three articles by Sandy for this Training and Development blog. Any aspect of how we learn and think affects how we train individuals and groups, and how we work with others. This may not be an obvious in the approach to training and development, but it definitely has its place. You have Sandy’s information.

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For more resources about training, see the Training library.

Now mine: I can be reached through my website, by commenting here on this blog or any of my others. You’ll find more of my writings on a variety of topics from the perspective I like to call the Cave Man perspective, which basically means we learn from wherever we are most likely to learn the best information to do the job. I don’t believe in one way of doing things; I hope you don’t either. I welcome those who have differing opinions or new ideas. I certainly don’t know everything. Please check out my new e-book available through all major distributors, A Cave Man Guide to Training and Development, my attempt at making clear what I do know to be true from my perspective. I believe it offers a refreshing look at training and development, while keeping the “cave” open to new ideas. Happy Training.

Yahweh is another name for God. According to the article The Names of God a study by J. Hampton Keathley, III “Yahweh (YHWH): Comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12).

Here is a sampling of some attributes, quotes and reflections on God.

Attributes

• Almighty
• Benevolent
• Counselor
• everlasting life
• Glorious
• Hope
• Holy
• Love
• Light
• Just
• Majesty
• Rock
• Shield
• Strength

Quotes

I want to know God’s thoughts…the rest are details. – Albert Einstein

Faith can move mountains, but don’t be surprised if God hands you a shovel. ~ Unknown Author

Your job is to clarify what your passions are. God’s job is to organize how they will be realized.” – from The Passion Test

God is in the details. – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

God has created us to love and to be loved, and this is the beginning of prayer, to know that He loves me and that I have been created for greater things. – Mother Theresa

Reflections

Yogananda said that the only thing we can possibly give God is our love. Imagine our actually having something to give that God cares about! “The only thing lacking to Him is our love. That is what God wants from us: our love; our trust in Him; our joy in His infinite joy.” (from Essence of Self Realization)

Mother Theresa delivered a similar message. She relayed that Jesus appeared to her and helped her understand that when he said “I thirst,” He was telling us that God wants us to love Him in the same way He loves us. God yearns for our love!

St. Augustine said “Deus sitit sitiri.” That is “God thirsts to be thirsted for.”

God is standing by waiting for us to love Her. Through this, we can enter into Divine Bliss. – Excerpt from the December 2011 The Expanding Light, Ananda’s Spiritual Retreat for Meditation Yoga and Health

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.

An old business maxim is “What gets measured gets rewarded. What gets rewarded gets repeated.” It’s worth taking some time to stop and reflect on what you are measuring in your work and life. Think of this exercise as an end-of-year inventory of your inner world, your spiritual supplies.

Items you could include in your year-end Inventory:

1. What percent of your values show up in your work every day?

2. What is your weekly average of looking for grace in challenging situations?

3. How many envelops of Care did you share?

4. How many times have you acted with integrity or demonstrated that you are trustworthy?

5. How many cartons of humility do you have? How many crates of empathy?

6. What is your weekly average of losing your patience or your temper at work?

7. How many bundles of ‘Loving the Precious Present’ did you use this year?

8. What is your ratio of self-limiting beliefs vs. abundance thoughts?

9. How many ‘Pay It Forward’ packages did you share this year?

10. How many times have you laughed with a co-worker or brought joy into your work?

As you think of your goals for the coming year, consider making some goals about how you want to be at work and who you want to be. What areas do you want to grow next year regarding your inner richness, your spiritual character, your alignment of values with your work? Create clear and specific measures for them.

When you pay attention to those things of meaning in your life, you focus more energy on it. Set your intention to measure those things that have meaning to you and monitor it regularly. Do this for the first quarter of the year and see what unfolds in your work. Feel free to share with me any wonderful shifts or manifestations that appear in your work.

May you find joy and strength expressing and experiencing the Magnificence of Who You Are!

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Linda has a new Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/LindaJFerguson “like” this page if you want to get notices of these blog posts and other updates of Linda’s work.

Also now available– 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” is available for purchase in time for the holidays.

Life’s little hassles mount up until you say to yourself, “If one more thing goes wrong today, I’ll explode.”

Stress. Pressure. Anxiety. Tension. Whatever you call it, there is no shortage of it in today’s fast-paced workplace. Can we totally eliminate them? No. The trick is to manage the stress versus being overwhelmed by it. Here’s how:

1. Know the enemy.
   What, exactly, is stressing you out? Is it your job? Your home life? Your relationships? Without knowing the root of the problem, you are unlikely to resolve it.
2. Share the load.
   Delegate whenever possible. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are the only person who can do the job right. Your coworkers and boss might start to buy into that concept as well.
3. Get a fresh outlook.
   Whoops! I made a mistake. Okay. The world is not going to come to an end. Stress often comes from taking yourself and the job too seriously.
4. Stop being the lone ranger.
   Share your frustrations with someone you can trust. Talk it out. Ask for advice. Accept the concern and encouragement of key people in your life.
5. Beware of the to do list.
   First take note of all the good work you’ve accomplished and give yourself credit for it. Then look at what needs to be done and set priorities.
6. Be a kid again…play.
   Put your job concerns aside for five minutes and concentrate on something of fun. Use your break time to work a crossword puzzle, play a quick game of Frisbee, listen to some good music, etc.. A few minutes spent playing brings renewed energy to the job.
7. Let go.
   Recognize the difference between the things you can control and the things you cannot. Make a list of these two categories. Stop stressing about the things in your job you have no control over.
8. Develop a tough skin.
   Try not to personalize any criticism you receive. Look at negative comments as constructive criticism that allows you to improve your work.
9. Don’t make work your life.
   Job stress builds when our minds are constantly focused on work. Strive for balance in your life. Make time for family, friends, hobbies and, most importantly, fun.
10. Finally, give your job the heave-ho.
    You know it’s time to quit when: You’ve tried all the appropriate channels and methods for resolving your situation, to no avail. You hate going to work every day and it’s making you sick. Your boss is intimidating, disrespectful or demeaning to you.

Career Success Tip:

Distinguish between the areas of your concern (all the things that bother you) and the areas of your influence (what you can change or control). Focus your time and energy on things that you can personally influence or change either within yourself or with others. It not only leads to less stress but also a feeling of personal empowerment. What are some things in your work world that you can influence right now? Let me know.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

Years ago, I worked in the retail industry as a multi-unit manager. During that time, I worked with a Director of Loss Prevention that would spend hours educating supervisors and managers on preventing store loss. Some of the most important things I learned during this tenure were things I learned from him. Some of them were the common Loss Prevention Messages:

• Only a very small percentage of shrink is external (less than 10%)
• The majority of shrink is caused by paper or operational fails
• Everyone is a suspect
• Complete your audits in an irregular pattern

However, the most important message he sent, “When the store employees fail to do this one thing (insert most important loss prevention topic), FREAK OUT; but don’t FREAK OUT all the time. Only on the big stuff.”

I find myself going back to this sentiment often. It is applicable nearly daily in HR and management. The key to doing it successfully is knowing the difference between the little things and the “Freakoutables.” (yes, I made up my own word).Now, I am not suggesting ignoring the little things. If it is important enough to have a policy around it, support the policy, just don’t FREAK OUT. If it isn’t, don’t waste time creating the policy to begin with; let the grownups be grownups.

Understanding what warrant s a FREAK OUT requires that HR know the business and also requires that HR communicates the HR stuff to the business folks. The business folks can’t make good HR decisions if they don’t know why their important and HR can’t make good business decisions if they don’t know the business. So if you want to somewhere to start, start there. And STOP FREAKING OUT about everything. Who has the time or the energy?

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For more resources, See the Human Resources library.

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Sheri Mazurek is a training and human resource professional with over 16 years of management experience, and is skilled in all areas of employee management and human resource functions, with a specialty in learning and development. She is available to help you with your Human Resources and Training needs on a contract basis. For more information send an email to smazurek0615@gmail.com or visit www.sherimazurek.com. Follow me on twitter @Sherimaz.

I recently found a neat website called KarmaTube. It’s like YouTube, only with positive videos of inspiring people and messages.

“Karma Tube is dedicated to bringing inspirational stories to light, using the power of video and the internet to multiply acts of kindness, beauty, and generosity.” The website is based on the premise that we need to share more stories and images of people doing positive, constructive, affirmative things to make the world a better place. Mainstream media generally focuses on conflict, pain or what’s not working. Choose thoughtfully which channels to watch, listen, and learn about the world.

What are you downloading into your mind? In a typical day, do you think of how you are making a difference, what you are grateful for, how you are bringing your best self to your work? If you pay attention to peace, peace is what occupies your mind. When you focus on love, you expand it in your heart. As you share laughter with others, you fill your workplace with joy. The more you focus on the good things in life, the more positive energy you feed into your brain, your world and your life.

Get your Groove Going

Neuro- psychology is showing that the brain maps out neural pathways with repeated practice and thoughts. Focusing on the certain images and thoughts over time creates new grooves in your neural pathways. What you listen to and who you listen to literally affect your brain. Choose wisely. You can focus on the rude customer, the obnoxious co-worker, the ‘ain’t it awfuls’ at work. Wallow in it for an hour and see how you feel. People tend to tune out nay-sayers after a while. The cranky co-worker ends up talking to themselves or others who want to stay at the pity party. If you hear people playing the victim game, believing their job or life is awful and unfair, tell them you’re not buying their downloads.

You choose if you want to download the victim, ‘poor pity me’ soundtrack or the dance track of hope, laughter, and joy. Which way do you want to feel? Spend the next week finding downloads that lift your spirits, fill you with hope, and make you smile.

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Linda has a new Facebook Fan Page –

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-J-Ferguson/165223163562999

“Like” her on her FB Fan Page to get notices of these blog posts and see pictures of her working spiritually!

Also now available– 10^th Anniversary edition of “Path for Greatness: Work as Spiritual Service” Click here to review and purchase in time for the holidays!

I just read an article from the Washington Post that disturbed me: When An Adult Took A Standardized Test Forced on Kids. It was written by Marion Brady and she talks about an educated adult friend of hers who took the 10th grade standardized tests.

I wouldn’t be writing this post if her friend validated the test by doing exceeding well. After all the man has a couple of masters degrees and some hours toward a PhD, and holds a job with a lot of responsibility. Here’s the problem: he did so poorly on the test that he would have been told he had no real chance of succeeding in college. By all other measures, he is a success!

The most important institution in our nation preparing us for living and thriving in the real world does not seem fit to handle it. You could say it has been too long since he was in school, and if he were a sophomore he would have been better at it–the article mentions that, too, but I still think it flashes a huge problem. A disconnect with reality. Education in this country works great for some, but not for others–for some it appears it misses with what’s really important: a connection with real life experience. It failed in this circumstance, but it also fails in areas where the environment is different from what the standard test crafters know it to be; I suspect their own reality may be skewed by a lack of real experience in those areas.

Why do we have these tests anyway? To measure that our students are ready to move forward, that the school is teaching them something worthwhile, that the students are ready for the world of work or prepared for college. When a college graduate and otherwise sane individual takes that test and does not do well, it tells me a high school sophomore’s world concept is vastly different from the one he is about to enter.

The question for trainers and developers: are we to train new employees based on the disconnect? Are we to figure out the differences and provide answers? It would seem we’d be doing the teacher’s job. Now, I understand it was the government that required these tests and the schools often feel they have to teach to the tests instead of what they feel is really important to the students’ future.

Who’s fighting for the students now–armed with this small piece of information. Perhaps other educated, work and life-savvy adults ought to take the exams as well. We might learn something. It surely enough to make us mad enough to fight. Now to get principals and other school administrators to take the tests and see if they don’t have similar results. I suspect they’ll do better because they live in that world. After all their world is a different reality. But whose world are we preparing our students for? Sure, some will be teachers, but many will not.

Is it time for the standard makers to take the tests as well as see how they do? Revisionist thinking, anyone?

When I administer a test, it is to see if my students can use what they have been taught as well as test their knowledge on a given subject. I may be naive, but I think that is correct priority. Some teachers and administrators have never done anything else other than teach; their environment is limited to school houses and what others tell them should be done. Some teachers and administrators may live in the past where we recited data over and over again until we memorized it; today application is everything and the data we recited over and over again is available at a moment’s notice if we know where to look on the Internet. We can do research in a tenth of the time it used to take–even less, I’m sure.

Critical thinking and problem solving should be a part of every class and related to NOW. I’m not sure it is. I’m sure there are teachers who teach the answers to the standardized tests, the very ones which may be in need of an overhaul. Of course that’s just my educated opinion, but admittedly I’m not an educator, although I do teach college classes. And, I have a couple of Master’s degrees and some work toward a PhD. No, I didn’t take the test.

In fairness to Big Education, the Big Government took away many financial resources and demanded more from our educators. We make it less desirable to teach, one of our most honorable professions, than to work for a private company. Not that there is anything wrong with private, public or non-profit organizations, but maybe it is time to start them to have a relationship with educators earlier. If we can’t get educators to the reality, let’s bring the reality to them. Even college programs that interface with private industry or government, providing learning opportunities for students and problem solving for business and government, have trouble getting off the ground. Other countries are better at it than we are. Maybe if we start earlier…who knows.

Are we getting too big and becoming compartmentalized as a country. I hope not. Our students’ education is too important. No one would deny that, but we must make sure it is the right education, and if we are educating them the right way, we must measure it in way that is useful. Primary and Secondary education’s goal should not be just to prepare for higher education, but for life that may or should include that higher education as well. If I knew then what I know now? But no one taught me those things. I mostly taught myself how to live in this complicated, often crazy and chaotic world. It would have been nice if I hadn’t had to. I suspect, too, my life might have been different. Yours?

Enough of a rant for now. Everyone should be concerned about education–but especially parents and students. Perhaps, trainers and human resource providers are in a better position to see what comes in the door. Do us a favor? Ask to take the standardized tests to see for yourself. You’re forgiven if you don’t understand the new math; it seems to change every year. But then, is it the new math or concepts of math, or logic and problem solving we should be testing? Attend school board meetings and announce your sentiments. Meet with teachers and do the same. Feedback, not acquiescence is what they need in order to send the message up Capitol Hill.

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For more resources about training, see the Training library.

Enough of me. Please comment. I may be missing something very important that needs to be said. I welcome comments from educators as well; I know I put you on the spot. I am a communicator and a Cave Man trainer; I am always looking for the disconnects because it is important to make connections as the Cave Man did in his world, trying to survive. Check out my world, my web site, and my eBook, The Cave Man Guide to Training and Development. I don’t always talk like everyone else, but I’m standardized for my world and I hope you are for yours. Happy training

If you’re feeling unchallenged in your present position or an urge to try something new, you may be ready for a promotion to the next level or a different assignment or a special project.

Nowadays, it’s up to you to take control of your professional future. Here are nine tips to advance your career. Yes, it can be done in today’s uncertain economy. However, not all may work for you. So choose the ones that will be most effective in your present situation, with your boss and in line with your company’s directions.

1. Talk to your boss.
Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals with him or her.
2. Ask for more.
Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed. It also puts a spotlight on your value to the business.
3. Volunteer for boards.
If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.
4. Sharpen your people skills.
Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in attracting the notice of your boss, peers, upper management, even outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, personable. Listen carefully to people and practice being a clear, effective communicator.
5. Network. strategically.
Strengthen your personal network and join professional organizations, attend industry conferences, or even volunteer. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.
6. Sell yourself.
Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.
7. Be innovative.
Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you —nd your boss — look good.
8. Find a mentor.
Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.
9. Keep learning.
A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current resume reflects those needed skills.

Career Success Tip:

It’s okay to be ambitious. However, do what you need to do to advance your career, with integrity and concern for others. There is no win, no advantage, no victory worth a blemish on your credibility and reputation.

Do you want to develop Career Smarts?

This is a stretch, I know. Their wasn’t somebody with an X that I’ve studied. So this is a book that I enjoyed and it has an X in the title. Kurt Mortensen wrote the book Maximum Influence: The 12 Universal Laws of Power Persuasion. For us to have maximum influence in our lives, including spiritually, it’s vital that we understand the basics of how persuasion works.

Mortensen says that the power of persuasion is of extraordinary and critical importance to today’s world. He defines persuasion as the process of changing or reforming attitudes, beliefs, opinions or behaviors toward a predetermined outcome through voluntary compliance. He has developed the 12 universal laws of persuasion to illustrate both the art and science of persuasion.

Here are a few of them that I believe really relate to our spiritual influence and a few notes I took around the laws.

The Law of Connectivity – “contagious cooperation”

• “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” – Teddy Roosevelt
• Usually only takes a few seconds to know if we bond with someone or not.
• The more we feel connected to, part of, liked by, or attracted to someone, the more persuasive they will become. When you create an instant bond or connection, people feel comfortable around you. They will feel like they’ve known you and can relate to you. When we feel connected, we feel understood, they can relate to us and trust us.
• People skills – 85% of your success of life is determined by your people skills.
• Rapport – the instant connection. It’s the secret ingredient that makes us feel a tangible and harmonious link with people. Body language – i.e. pointing head toward you shows interest. Mirroring/matching – align your body as that of the person you are connecting with. As you are doing the same as them, they will feel connected to you. You can mirror language, breathing, voice, moods, energy level, etc.

The Law of Involvement – “create and awaken curiosity”

“Without involvement, there is no commitment. Mark it down, asterisk it, circle it, underline it. No involvement = no commitment.” – Stephen Covey

• The more you engage someone’s 5 senses, involve them mentally/physically and create the right atmosphere for persuasion, the more effective and persuasive you’ll be.

• Increasing participation – when we take an active part, the more we are connected to it and feel we have a stake in it. Make your passion their passion. Ways to get them involved – role playing, asking for advice, visualization (help others see in their mind your passion).

• Telling mesmerizing stories – powerful tools for persuaders, compelling storytelling automatically creates attention and involvement in your audience. It should be relevant facts coupled with inspiration, faith and person’s innermost feelings will cause others to be moved. Stories should: grab attention and create involvement, simplify complex ideas, create memorable hooks, trigger emotions, tap existing beliefs, persuade without detection, bypass existing resistance to you and your ideas, demonstrate who you are, build interest, encourage participation.

The Law of Esteem – “how praise releases energy”

People want and need praise, recognition and acceptance. Acceptance and praise are two of our deepest cravings; we can never get enough. William James said, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

• If you present your requests in a manner that compliments or builds up your listeners, they will be much more inclined not only to follow through, but do so eagerly. Compliments have the power to change behavior because they make the recipient feel needed and valued.
• Ingratiation – make others feel important. This is about gaining favor by deliberate effort. Techniques include compliments, flattery, agreeableness. “We don’t normally do this, but for you we will.” “I’m personally going to look into this for you.”

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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.

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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.