Month: October 2023

How to Tell Your Boss to Back Off

How to Tell Your Boss to Back Off

Bosses who won't back off think they're helping. Image of a curious chicken.

Before you ask the boss to back off:

Do exceptional work every time.

Don’t think about more autonomy if you’re doing below average work. Don’t ask your boss to back off if you drop the ball 15% of the time.

Assume the best.

Your boss wants you to do great work. If you’re fortunate your boss wants to be helpful. He believes he’s being helpful.

Image by martinnlp90 from Pixabay

Clarify expectations.

What are your primary responsibilities? What are your boss’s primary responsibilities. Discuss overlaps.

Be proactive.

Get your boss to back off by giving her what she wants before she asks. For example, send status updates before she gets nosey.

When your boss doesn’t back off:

Confirm good performance. Are you as good as you think? If so, keep pressing.

Ask if your boss thinks you need help?

Explain impact:

How it feels:

Tell your boss how it feels to have her up in your business every day. Be kind. Speak for yourself. Avoid any accusation. Just say what it feels like. It’s best to avoid words like “frustrating”. Say you wonder if she thinks you’re incompetent.

Your boss wants to support you. Only an idiot-boss wants competent people to feel incompetent. Press the issue gently.

Ask for autonomy:

Ask if there is something you can do to earn a little more autonomy? Don’t apologize for your request. Don’t demand the answer you want.

Discuss what autonomy looks like.

Be sure to clarify definitions. If you ask for more control, explain what control means to you. If you ask for more autonomy, explain what self-management looks like. Give examples.

Tip: Don’t use the expression, “back off”. It’s OK for me to write it. You should use gentler language.

How can people get the boss to back off?

Still curious:

5 Ways to Take Ownership at Work

How Managers Get in the Way – Leadership Freak

How to Tell Your Boss to Stop Doing Your Job (hbr.org)

“I got to the end and went back to the beginning and read it again.” Reader’s comment after finishing our new book, The Vagrant: The Inner Journey of Leadership.

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Why Anxious People Cannot ‘Ride’ Waves Of Emotions (M)

The study helps explain why anxious people find it hard to ‘ride’ their emotions and tend to avoid potentially rewarding situations.

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SMS vs Text: What’s Right for Your Business?

Let’s cut to the chase, SMS messages and texts are the same thing. The only difference is that text messaging is an umbrella term for different messaging types—including SMS, MMS, and even OTT messaging services.

When you send a message via your phone using its cellular network, the text can either be an SMS or an MMS.

SMS stands for Short Message Service. It’s typically limited to 160 characters per message and includes only text. In contrast, an MMS or Multimedia Message Service lets you send videos, images, and audios—as well as longer texts of up to 1,600 characters.

But there’s a catch with MMS too, because it’s much costlier than sending SMS texts. In fact, some network providers or devices don’t even support MMS. If they do, they may not support all file types and sizes.

While most businesses opt to choose both these messaging types, it’s crucial to understand which will work best for yours so you can keep costs down while reaching your target audiences the right way.

Despite how the tech behind texting is decades old, it would be wrong to assume that it’s not relevant anymore. That’s because text messages have a 98% open rate, even in 2023.

Thus, it’s no wonder that 52% of marketers plan to increase their SMS marketing budget when they can.

Essentially, SMS marketing is a great way to keep customers in the loop. Since text messages are to-the-point with no room for frills, you don’t need an extra resource to help you come up with catchy wording. They’re also inexpensive, and delivered immediately.

MMS, on the other hand, may require a designer to help with the images or videos in the message. This type of messaging also requires a reasonable data…

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Holy Grail Copywriting: The 5-Step Mental Model Behind Blockbuster Marketing Campaigns

Recognizing the immense value this group brings to my business, I’m eager to contribute by sharing my unique “Holy Grail Copy” methodology. This approach, though unconventional, has been pivotal in building multi-million-dollar businesses for both myself and my clients.

To pique your interest, someone once said about my frameworks:

“Your strategies are like Hansel and Gretel’s breadcrumb trail leading to the Witch’s House. But in this case, you’re the witch, and what you conjure is pure magic.”

Let’s dive in.

A few years back, I sold one of my companies internally. This move allowed me to amalgamate my diverse passions into a singular, powerful persuasion strategy. When I unveiled it last year, we observed:

  • $383 per email subscriber.
  • $209 per FB Group Member.
  • $1.83 EPC, while the industry average was $0.53.

These figures are far from ordinary. And here’s the secret behind them:

Introducing Holy Grail Copywriting (HGC):

HGC’s core principle is “Start at the Finish Line.” In perception management, you can strategically position yourself within your prospect’s hierarchy of needs. By aligning your product with their most pressing desires, selling becomes effortless.

The 5-Step HGC Process:

1. Identify Your Prospect’s Most Pressing Pain:

While basic marketing emphasizes targeting pain points, it’s crucial to differentiate between passive pain (complaining without action) and active pain (which drives action). The key is to focus on the latter.

Differentiate Between “Moaning” and “Moving” Pain: Understand the spectrum of pain. A stubbed toe is Moaning Pain, a mere inconvenience. In contrast, the urgency of a severed thumb is Moving Pain, demanding immediate action.

Apply the DUG Checklist: Grasp the essence of the DUG checklist, a tool to categorize pain into:

  • Desperation: A situation so dire that immediate action is the only option. Example: Think of a business owner teetering on bankruptcy’s edge.
  • Urgency: An imminent threat that demands swift action to prevent dire consequences. Example: Picture a smoker discovering early signs of lung cancer.
  • Gravity: Deeply held values or priorities that might override other considerations. Example: Visualize a parent prioritizing their child’s needs over lucrative opportunities

2. Tailor Your Product to Alleviate That Pain:

Understand what relief from this pain looks like for your prospect. Then, either create a product or reposition your existing one to offer that relief.

  • Craft or Reposition Your Product: Determine the ideal solution for the identified Moving Pain and ensure your product aligns with that vision.
  • Introduce Novelty: Unexpected solutions to pressing problems are often the most enticing. Always introduce an element of novelty to stand out.

3. Infuse Your Product with Unique, Attractive Qualities:

Creating allure in a product is an art. At its core, allure is about evoking emotion, creating a connection, and making a product more than just a tangible item—it becomes an experience….

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7 Things You Would Love to Say to an Intimidating Boss

7 Things You Would Love to Say to an Intimidating Boss

We lie to an intimidating boss because they influence our success at work.

An intimidating boss seldom hears the truth. An approachable boss hears the truth occasionally.

An intimidating boss believes lies because no one tells them the truth. Image of a lurking allegator.

Image by Lynn Wilson from Pixabay

7 things people would love to say to an intimidating boss:

#1. Please see me as a real person, not a tool.

Don’t get too personal, but express interest in my life outside work.

Express interest in my well-being.

#2. Give me a chance to feel good about my work.

Would you chill out for a few minutes before you press me to reach the next goal?

#3. Would you please relax when we talk?

Presence is paying attention to what’s in front of you. Stop thinking about the next thing while you’re standing in front of me.

#4. Let me know my contribution makes a difference.

Ask me about the things I’m working on. Encourage me to feel good about good work.

#5. Just give me a straight answer.

Tell me when you can’t talk about something because of privacy, timing, or other factors. Don’t blow smoke.

#6. Reward me for supporting the team.

Acknowledge that star performers stand on other people’s work and support.

Stop rewarding individual contributors and ignoring the teams that support them.

#7. Please don’t correct the team when it’s one person.

Deal with performance issues in private. Speak with individuals not everyone. Please don’t make another rule for everyone because one person is an idiot.

Bonus: Passion is pushy when projects take precedence over people.

What would people like to tell an intimidating boss?

You Never Bring out Someone’s Best by Making Them Feel Inadequate

Dear Dan: My Boss Says People are Afraid of Me

How to Be Less Intimidating

Structured self-reflection helps leaders learn about themselves and their relationships. Our new book has 5 structured self-reflection practices you can use to move yourself forward.

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The Vitamin Deficiency Linked To Alzheimer’s And Dementia

The Vitamin Deficiency Linked To Alzheimer’s And Dementia post imageThe Vitamin Deficiency Linked To Alzheimer’s And Dementia post image

Elderly people low in this vitamin were more than twice as likely to develop dementia.

Low levels of Vitamin D are substantially associated with developing Alzheimer’s and dementia in older people, according to research.

An international team of scientists used data from 1,685 elderly Americans who were followed for around five years (Littlejohns et al., 2014).

None had dementia problems at the start of the study, but after an average of five years, 171 had developed dementia, 102 of which were Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, found that amongst those who had dementia, those low in Vitamin D were 53% more likely to develop the disease.

Amongst those who were severely deficient, the risk increased by 125%.

Similar increases in risk were seen for Alzheimer’s disease: low levels of vitamin D increased risk by 69% and severe deficiency by 122%

Dr David Llewellyn of the University of Exeter Medical School, who led the study, said:

“We expected to find an association between low Vitamin D levels and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, but the results were surprising — we actually found that the association was twice as strong as we anticipated.

Clinical trials are now needed to establish whether eating foods such as oily fish or taking vitamin D supplements can delay or even prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

We need to be cautious at this early stage and our latest results do not demonstrate that low vitamin D levels cause dementia.

That said, our findings are very encouraging, and even if a small number of people could benefit, this would have enormous public health implications given the devastating and costly nature of dementia.”

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Why Everyone Should Set Up Wi-Fi Calling

Wi-Fi calling enables voice communication anywhere you have access to the internet, including areas where the cellular signal is weak or unavailable. This is an ideal solution for people who live in rural locations, adventurers working in remote destinations, and those who simply have trouble finding cell service in underground office spaces or other dead zones.

The concept of Wi-Fi calling is fairly straightforward, offering a means of making or receiving phone calls and texts using an internet connection rather than cell networks. In most locations—including areas with poor Wi-Fi—the internet still proves more reliable and consistent than cell service capabilities, resulting in fewer dropped calls.

The majority of service providers don’t charge an additional fee for using Wi-Fi calling, and it won’t use up your available mobile data. Still, it’s important to note that these conversations use your phone plan’s allotment of minutes in the same way they would as regular calls.

If your cell carrier and specific device support the feature, you can enable Wi-Fi calling on iPhone or Android devices with the simple tap of a finger anytime you have access to a strong internet signal. Once it is switched on, your device will automatically route calls and/or texts through the strongest network available between Wi-Fi and cellular.

How Does Wi-Fi Calling Work?

Making and receiving Wi-Fi calls feels exactly the same as making a regular cell phone call—the main difference lies in how the signal travels.

When you make a call using the cellular network, your voice travels as a signal along a series of cell phone towers between you and the other party. When you make a Wi-Fi call using the same device, your voice is converted into a digital signal that travels over the broadband internet network using Voice over…

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How to Use Small Circles to Create Focus

How to Use Small Circles to Create Focus

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Dan Millman

Create focus by working in small circles.

Create focus when facing challenges:

#1. Draw a big circle.

Inside the circle, list all the challenges you face, every one that comes to mind. Don’t leave one concern outside the circle. Take all the time you need. If you’re circle isn’t big enough, draw a bigger circle and use smaller letters.

#2. List related issues.

Study the contents of your big circle. What challenges are related to each other? On a clean sheet of paper, group related challenges together. Cross out items in the big circle when you move them to a list of related challenges.

When you complete a list of related items, circle it. Now create the next list of related items. Continue until all the items are crossed out in the big circle and all related challenges are in their own smaller circle.

#3. Reflect.

Circle the most important item in each small circle.

#4. Narrow focus.

Choose one item in one circle to do something about. Write a behavior-based action you will take today to make progress with that challenge. What will you do?

“Today, I will (behavior) in order to make progress on (challenge).

#5. Record progress.

At the end of the day record your progress.

#6. Narrow again.

At the end of the day, look over your small circles and write down the one challenge you will take up tomorrow.

Write your behavior sentence.

#7. Repeat this exercise once a day.

Use circles when solving problems:

There’s a difference between problems and challenges. Make a list of all the problems you face. Use the above exercise to narrow your approach.

Create focus by working in small circles.

How do you narrow focus?

More:

How the Power of Focus Protects You – Leadership Freak

20 Useful Ways to Create Focus Today

How to Focus: 7 Useful Tips That Can Help

Fireside chat recording:

People from all over the world gathered on 10/19/2023 to participate in the first ever Leadership Freak fireside chat. Click here if you missed it.

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8 Simple Steps To Live 10 Years Longer

Live a decade longer and be free from chronic illnesses by following 8 heart healthy metrics.

Paying attention to 8 cardiovascular health factors will considerably increase life expectancy, research suggests.

In this study, adults with higher scores for 8 cardiovascular health metrics lived nearly a decade longer than those who scored poorly.

The metric is known as Life’s Essential 8 and has been developed by the American Heart Association.

It is based on a scoring system which measures a set of health factors and lifestyle behaviours.

To estimate people’s life expectancy, the research team assessed cardiovascular health levels based on the Life’s Essential 8 score, which consists of:

  1. a healthy diet,
  2. physical activity,
  3. not smoking,
  4. correct sleep duration,
  5. maintaining a healthy weight,
  6. controlling cholesterol,
  7. healthy blood glucose,
  8. and healthy blood pressure.

Another study previously suggested that people who committed to these metrics lived longer and were more healthy.

According to the study’s senior author, Professor Lu Qi, the findings indicate:

“That you can modify your lifestyle to live longer.”

More than 23,000 adults participated in this study with an eight-year follow up.

The scoring system ranged from zero to 100 points, from low as below 50, moderate as 50 to 79, and high as 80 or higher.

Compared to adults who scored lowest, those who scored 80 or higher, at age 50 had a life expectancy of nine more years.

Smoking, sleep, blood glucose levels, and physical activity appeared to be the most important life expectancy factors.

Non-smokers lived 7.4 years longer than those who were heavy smokers.

Participants who slept between seven to nine hours a night lived five more years compared to those with either not enough or too much sleep.

Higher score for maintaining blood glucose levels showed a life expectancy of 4.9 more years.

A life expectancy of 4.6 more years was seen in people with higher physical activity than those with the least.

Professor Nathan Wong, a cardiovascular epidemiologist, commenting on this study, said:

“Information on psychosocial factors such as stress and depression, as well as on social determinants of health such as access to health care, may also play an important role and modify the impact that the key cardiovascular health metrics have on cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes.

As the study looked exclusively at mortality, effects on non-fatal cardiovascular outcomes should also be examined, given their substantial impact on health care utilization.”

Related

The study was published in the journal Circulation (Ma et al., 2023).

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