risk Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Dennis E. Gilbert

05
Apr 17
-

Leaving Your Career to Chance

Tags : career chance growth opportunity risk

So many people are hustling to build their reputation, stand out, and improve their career. Many people are in search of opportunities, or better yet, creating some. Are you leaving your career to chance?

It’s a smart move to put effort into your career. If you are career focused chances are good that you spend well over 2,000 hours per year working on it. The hard pushers might spend more than 3,000 hours.

Career conscious individuals are also probably allocating at least 1% of their time on continuing education. Some will spend much more. They’re learning, growing, and adapting through training, coaching, or even just reading. Do these smart hustlers leave their career to chance?

Career to Chance

Your chance of a lifetime might come today, or it might be tomorrow. Actually, when you’re really focused you can make nearly any day the chance of a lifetime.

Many people work really hard preparing for the big meeting, the deal locking client engagement, or exploring opportunities with a prospective employer. All of that hard work is critical and important. It makes you prepared and conditions you for what you expect to happen next.

The truth is that your next chance, the chance of your lifetime, might just pop-up out of nowhere. Those chances happen when you are open and receptive to change. They happen when you are ready and able to embrace that next challenge.

Pink Volkswagens

A good friend once asked me, “How many pink Volkswagens have you seen?”

Many of you reading this might know this story, but I’ll bust open the plot for you. It is that likely you haven’t noticed many, but now that you are looking, you’ll see more.

At least there always that chance.

Your Next Chance

Be on the lookout for your next chance. Be conscious of your next moves. Get prepared.

Consider who you’ll reach out to or what relationships you’ll discover and build. Think about who can you inspire or who might inspire you?

Make the connections, find new leads. Build a system. Present ideas and transform efforts.

Leaving your career to chance?

Your chance might be right now.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

24
Feb 17
4

Big Decisions, Removing Options, and Permanent Choices

Tags : choices decisions options risk

Are you facing a tough decision or choice? What is it about big decisions that often leave us struggling to make the call?

About eight months ago on a 114 degree day near Phoenix, Arizona, I found myself riding in the back seat of a big, dark, tinted window SUV. I was on business related travel and was able to get connected with a very reasonably priced private driver.

This wasn’t Uber, it wasn’t a cab, but a professional business service that chauffeurs people in that area.

While on a ride from a business meeting back to my hotel I engaged in some small talk with the driver. After a few minutes I noticed that the driver was very well spoken, appeared very knowledgeable, and his business savvy was quite impressive.

Being somewhat intrigued, we continued to talk. I learned that he was originally from the east coast with a very noteworthy professional career. I asked him about his move to Arizona, how he made the decision, and if it was the right choice.

His story was interesting but the details are not what really matter the most. What matters the most is one specific sentence that he shared. He said, “Every big decision that we make in life is always the right decision at that time, at that exact moment when you make it.”

Like a heavy meal of pasta and bread, it hit the spot and has stuck with me ever since.

Big Decisions

Sometimes when we are faced with big decisions we get too caught up in the details. It’s easy to become worried about what is the right choice or the best choice, and sadly we often inappropriately weigh the risks.

Confidence might sometimes be a factor, but most of our struggle often comes from the feeling of what we have to give up. Additionally, it might be about the feeling of permanency with our choice.

Consider a decision to move a thousand or more miles away from home. A career choice or a new job offer, and we certainly can’t forget about the idea of getting a tattoo or marriage. All of those things might feel permanent, and with that feeling of permanency there is added pressure.

Removing Options

The challenge for most people exists in the removal of options. Like a multiple choice question on an exam, deciding means we have to eliminate something. Some choices are easily removed because they just don’t fit. As the options become fewer the pressure might feel more intense.

Businesses often feel this pressure when deciding on their marketing mix or building a brand. Lots of options or being all things to all people feels more comfortable. The feeling is that you’ll never miss an opportunity.

Unfortunately as a result prospective buyers can’t decide so they move on to the vendor who has exactly what they want. Fewer options make deciding easier.

Individuals sometimes find this challenge with big decisions such as buying an automobile, a home, or booking that once-in-a-lifetime vacation. The more choices or options, the harder it is to decide.

Perhaps in life or business the easiest way to make big decisions is by becoming more comfortable with removing options.

Make the big decisions, even when it feels like it might be permanent.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

29
Dec 16
-

Busy and Afraid, or Busy and Motivated?

Tags : leadership motivation opportunities risk

Every workplace is unique. The people, the work, and the culture, all workplaces have these, but each one is different. Look around your workplace, are people busy and afraid or are they busy and motivated?

Peer-to-peer asking for help or assistance is often met with, “I’m too busy.” Some workplace cultures quietly promote hiding out, hanging out, and just plain blending in. It’s certainly not everywhere, but it always seems to exist somewhere.

When you are too busy to get involved you might feel safe. You can’t possibly get in trouble. You know your work, so failure is unlikely. You can’t go wrong because you’re working, you’re not goofing off and you’re risking nothing so certainly this must be good. It’s easy and you get a paycheck. Hang around long enough and you might get a promotion.

On the other hand, you might be too busy but you are very motivated. Sure you have a job description and it mostly aligns with the work that you do, but you’re always interested in more.

Busy and motivated also likely means you’ve helped shape your job description and what you do the most is deliver great value. You understand that risk is required, that obstacles are opportunities, and that getting involved and making a difference fuels your energy and passion. You don’t hide out. You squeeze out—a lot of valuable work.

Are you busy and hiding, or busy, motivated and looking for more?

Here are a few traits that might help you discover ways to bring more value to your work.

Problem Solver. Being a problem solver makes sense. Sometimes people dread another telephone call, another email, or answering questions for the second or third time. Sure there might be some disadvantages connected with those scenarios but imagine if your telephone never rang, no one sent you email, and no one valued or respected you enough to seek your opinion. Be available, be the solution.
Explorer. Sure some opportunities may come to those who wait, but the faster movers aren’t waiting, they’re creating. They are open to doing more, delivering more, and having just enough thirst for risk that they make intelligent, appropriate, and reasonable decisions to bring more value. Don’t hide in the background. Don’t blend in. Explore.
Leader. Great leaders are needed everywhere and at all organizational levels. Choose who you will role model and be a role model for others. Organizations always need both leaders and followers and most leaders do some of both. Leaders don’t always shout from the front, sometimes they also push from the back. Get involved and stay involved, that’s leadership.

Busy and afraid might feel like a smart choice until you realize that you’ve been left behind.

If you aren’t moving you’re not safe, you’re stuck.

Solve problems, explore, and lead.

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

28
Dec 16
-

Is It Worth The Risk?

Tags : change failure progress risk success

Talk is easy. There are a lot of people and organizations that talk about change, but change requires risk. Do you believe change is worth the risk?

Many people operate in their safety zone. They never get too close to the edge, color outside of the lines, or risk something that they feel they might later regret.

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about change is that by its very nature it requires risk. Staying the same feels comfortable, largely because you believe you already know the outcome, but outcomes change too.

People and businesses often believe that they want change, that they need different outcomes. They want something that works better, lasts longer, or is more efficient. All of those are noble thoughts and those who turn thoughts into action believe that they are ready for change.

Might the question then become, “How bad do you want it?” or for others perhaps, “How bad do you need it?”

Being worth the risk is often measured after the fact. It is measured in success or failure and is seldom measured for the performance against risk. Should it be?

A business might run one advertisement, on one television network for one month, or they might spring for a 30 second spot during the Super Bowl.
An employee might speak up adding one suggestion to solving a problem in a staff meeting, or they might spend additional hours at the office developing a corrective plan of action and then present their idea to the Board of Directors.

We’re often taught or reinforced with the concept of taking a risk which results in success is good, but a risk and then failure is bad. The trouble with this mind-set is that makes people risk adverse.

It makes them risk adverse since they often feel they can’t be wrong if they stay within the safety zone. Their confidence is higher for actions which occur within the zone.

Do you believe that change is happening all around you? Do you believe that change is happening every day? Do you believe that some of this change might be considered good, and that some of it might be considered bad?

If you agree that it surrounds you, then you can probably also agree that problems change too, and that changing problems require different solutions, and that new or different solutions require taking additional risk.

If you agree with all of that, then you might also agree that the value of risk should not be expressed as good or bad, it should be expressed as progress. Largely because a risk that results in change is progress.

It’s always progress as long as you are moving forward with your successes and learning from but not repeating failures.

Is progress worth the risk?

Some believe it is, do you?

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

09
Nov 16
4

Do You Value Risk?

Tags : comfort zone decision making risk safety

Do you take risks? Some people might be identified as risk taking enthusiasts. You have people who are extreme sport athletes, those who might drive a little fast on the highway, and those who take a risk at the casino. They might value risk and assuming you are not in one of those categories, do you value it?

Sure some risk might get your juices flowing, make you feel alive, and if you end up on the right side of the risk you’ll likely feel very happy. Life changing results may come about because of risk, and these results might be positive or they might set you back in an undesirable way.

What about a decisions for self-improvement or a decision to tackle a big project at work? What about speaking up during an uncomfortable situation or offering an idea that you know the boss will not agree with? Do you see any value in taking such risks?

A couple of well-known leadership authors, James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, released a training activity book in 2010 titled, The Leadership Challenge, Activities Book, it was edited by the highly admired and very talented, Elaine Biech. I was fortunate to contribute to that book through one of my training activities titled, Take A Risk! (pgs. 217 – 227). This activity appeared in the chapter titled, Challenge the Process. It’s a great book for those who are interested in activities related to leadership development. The reason I’m mentioning it is because it helps build credibility to the idea that value exists in taking reasonable and well calculated risk. Sometimes we have to challenge the process, at least according to some mainstream theories.

Recently I wrote a blog post about the concept of having reasonable expectations and of course the word reasonable might be considered to be very subjective. Later, a friend challenged some of my thinking by asking if this concept might create self-limiting beliefs. A good question I believe, and one that is important for anyone seeking change.

Here are a few of my beliefs about reasonable and calculated risk.

We should,

value risk
take reasonable risk
be calculated about our risk
expand our comfort zone
recognize that there is risk in safety.

Most of this bullet list is self-explanatory, but let me just provide an additional comment about risk as it relates to safety. Many people live their life by playing it very (or totally) safe. Each person has their own style and comfort associated with risk and the results they achieve. However, there is one fallacy in the concept of playing it safe. The fallacy is that playing it safe, taking very limited or no risk is perhaps one of the riskiest positions you can take. We are living in a world of rapid and constant change, if you are not changing, if you are not stepping away from your comfort zone, you are likely falling behind.

What calculated risks have you taken lately? What risk opportunity did you walk away from that you should have taken?

Risk is part of your growth, or not.

Take some!

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and coach that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is the author of the newly released book, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

07
Nov 16
6

5 Actions to Build More Confidence

Tags : confidence focus motivation risk self-esteem

If you were asked to describe confidence, what would you say? Describing confidence might be similar to describing audacity, presence, or even success. While these are sometimes hard to describe or explain, you recognize them when you see them. What is important to build more confidence?

Many people who talk with me about self-improvement often express that they want to be more confident which leads to the question of, “How do you achieve more confidence?”

Questions help us create more focus and getting more focused is a big factor for achieving higher levels of confidence. Confidence might be responsible for helping people overcome some of their biggest fears, how world-class athletes break records, or how sports teams win championships. It might also be responsible for how individuals in the workplace develop more respect, tackle big projects, and get a raise or promotion.

Build More Confidence

I’ve observed a lot of confidence in action, and here are five actions that I believe are critical for building more.

Develop reasonable but reaching expectations. Your ability to build more confidence will often be conditioned by both reflection and vision. Your past experiences, both failures and successes, must be properly managed so that you can set reasonable expectations. Reflect on any past failures, but do not focus on them, instead focus on your successes no matter how small. Lump them together, pile them up, and remember how each (winning) experience felt. Next, build a vision that is one step greater than your comfort zone.
You must take some risk. The wall that you’ve built around your comfort zone might be the biggest deterrent to gaining more confidence. While you might not quickly recognize it, your comfort zone is where you’re currently the most confident. If you are hungry for something more, you’re going to have to expand those walls. Expansion requires you to open your gate which makes you to be susceptible to either losing or gaining confidence. We call this risk. No open gate, no expansion. Risk nothing and you’ll stay the same, or worse, you’ll fall behind.
You must prepare. You probably know this, but let me remind you. Failure to plan is the first step for planning to fail. People will often tell you that they just jumped in and did it, or they might say, “I’m just going to see what happens.” Another of my favorites is, “I’m just going to wing it.” Anything that you “wing” and doesn’t turn out well becomes another obstacle for achieving a higher level of confidence. Performance failures happen, but if it’s going to happen to you do it gracefully. Everyone quickly recognizes the unprepared and there is no grace in that. An investment in preparation is an investment in you.
Program your mind. Visualize yourself in the moment of success. Reach deep inside to experience again what it feels like when you’ve accomplished something. Go as far back or as deep as you have to go, remind yourself that your expectations are realistic, your risk is properly calculated, and that you’ve thoroughly prepared. Rehearse (mentally or literally) each step of your plan and visualize your plan unfolding with favorable results. Accept that your plan might require adjustment but you’ll make the right choices as you encounter obstacles in your path.
Assess your results. You’ll only know if you are successful if you have something to measure or compare. This brings you back to how you’ll create future expectations. Consider how your performance adjusted to any unexpected obstacles, what value or lesson exists in any shortcomings, and be sure to identify, count, and celebrate successes along the way. Keep in mind that even a failure can unveil an element of success when you learn what not to do or try the next time.

Are you hungry to build more confidence?

Confidence is built from self-esteem and self-efficacy, and these five actions can help you improve both. Some might try to “wing it” or suggest that they are waiting for luck or fate, but people who are hungry to build more, well, they can’t wait to get started.

– DEG

Originally posted on November 7, 2016, last updated on November 7, 2018.

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and corporate trainer. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Do you want more confidence?

Get this book from Amazon!

pivot accelerate

Buy on Amazon

07
Oct 16
-

Does Good Negotiation Require Big Risk?

Tags : information negotiation risk sales

Negotiation skills and managing risk are critical in many job roles. During my career I’ve met plenty of people who are energized by risk, and plenty of people who are so risk adverse that despite having tremendous talent, they achieve very little. If you are going to be successful at negotiation do you need to have the audacity to take big risks?

We often see negotiation scenes in movies. We see it in movies based on true stories like the deal slaying stock broker film, The Wolf of Wall Street, (2013). We also see it in the high intensity hostage negotiation film, Bridge of Spies, (2015). While both of these films are based on true stories, any risk associated with real world negotiation should be carefully calculated.

In business transactions whether it is negotiating on salary or closing a multi-million dollar deal the best negotiators always examine risk compared with the benefits or potential gain. Sometimes the benefits will be measured in short-term value, in other cases it might be long-term value, or in still other cases it will be some combination of both. In nearly all cases the benefits cannot be fully realized without extensive information which makes the evaluation of risk a carefully calculated process.

Information and Risk

The risk factor lessens with more information, but more information is about quality and is always balanced with timeliness and effectiveness, as most would quickly realize too much information can create analysis paralysis. Managing information wisely, you can evaluate whether it supports your direction or it does not. If it doesn’t, you probably don’t want to take on too much risk. On the other hand, if you have information that does support your direction you may make what appears to be a big move, but because it has been carefully calculated the risk is not really as big as it seems.

Any information and past experience used for effective negotiation needs to be based on facts. Listening skills and other factors definitely come into play when considering risk. Often when people speak they are speaking more in terms of opinions instead of facts. Discussions in negotiations are often subject to judgment by those involved. The more compelling the discussion, the more factual it may feel even though the expressions may be those of opinions and not facts. Keep in mind that good negotiators focus on building a win/win outcome, not capitalizing on or intending to create a win/lose opportunity.

Big Risk

Big risk in negotiation should most likely be left for the movie scenes. Good negotiators are very calculated and have extensive experience, and while experience builds confidence it does not necessarily improve the negotiators effectiveness. In the best negotiations whether it is for annual salary, sales, or the boardroom, negotiators are using a variety of skills, experience, and information to create winning (win/win) deals.

Based on my experiences, good negotiation requires calculated, not necessarily big risk.

– DEG

07
Jun 16
4

How Will You Get There?

Tags : change pivot professional growth risk

People always insist they are taking steps, building the resources, or that they are assertively in pursuit of positive change. They think of their work, their accomplishments, helping others, building a product, a team, or an entire organization, or perhaps they have their sights set on a pay raise, a promotion, or a new job. Do they get there?

Road Closed Sign

Changing your direction, your path, or where you feel comfortable takes real effort. It also involves a lot of risk and when we take a risk we experience fear. Discomfort, risk, and fear, might make us feel a bit frustrated.

I don’t know if this new process will work, but the old way always did.

We just changed software packages and the new one is harder to use.

They moved everything in the store again, now I can’t find what I’m looking for.

Efficiency, cost savings, and productivity are the reason for much of the change we experience and being compelled to stay comfortable the question we often think but do not ask is, “who is benefitting from this change?’’ When what we should really be asking ourselves is, “how will I benefit from this change?”

Every day there are countless ways to engage, improve, and learn to be better.

How will you get there?

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

14
Jul 15
-

Second Place

Tags : breakthrough part of the crowd risk

Doing something new or different may involve watching and learning from someone else. What a great feeling learning can be, and when you’re really excited you want to be just as good (or better) than what you’ve learned. Children (and some adults) often fantasize about becoming a superhero, or in earlier generations, perhaps G.I. Joe or Barbie, or maybe the next pop-star singer, American Idol, or Little League sports hero.

As an adult you observe top athletes, marketers, or upcoming CEO’s and perhaps you picture yourself becoming great, in some ways, just like them. They may become your target, your goal, or you strive to be just as good or better. You picture your business, a new advertising campaign, or your job role evolving to be just as good or better. You overcome your fears, take some risks, knock down obstacles, and strive for excellence.

All of that is great, but it is not good enough. Not unless you take the ultimate risk and that is to do something different, breakthrough traditions, and create or become the next big thing. In your business, your market, or your community, you have stand out, rise above others and become the next target for anyone trying to succeed.

Your advertising campaign needs to be different, risky, and captivating. In your job you may need to be different from the last manager, stronger, kinder, or more inspirational. In business your product or service needs to feel different, look different, or be awe inspiring.

Some of the most successful people in the world broke traditions, took chances, and were different, that is until others tried to be just like them. If your goal is to be just like the others, you’ll always be just part of the crowd. Part of the crowd can be rewarding and satisfying, but is that really you?

Until you’ve become the target the best you can hope for is second place.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Pixabay, Public Domain

07
Apr 15
-

Greater Than Zero

Tags : chances odds for success risk

Why did she get a raise? Why did he get promoted to department manager? People aren’t selected just because they are present, they are selected when they jump-up, jump-in, or jump-at the opportunity.

Someone in a sales position thinks about asking for the deal, but the client may say no, so it’s better not to ask. Someone attends a marketing meeting, has an idea for something new, but never mentions it because if it was a good idea they would probably already be doing it. Someone else notices an internal job posting, but decides they’ll never get hired, if the hiring manager was interested she would have already asked for their resume.

What are their odds for success, fifty-fifty, maybe more or maybe less?

Sometimes the odds are what you decide they are. If you’ve decided you’ll never take a chance, you’ve decided your odds for success are zero.

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson (Flickr)

←Older posts Newer posts→

Tag Archives: risk

Apr 17

-

Career to Chance

Pink Volkswagens

Your Next Chance

Feb 17

Big Decisions

Removing Options

Dec 16

-

Dec 16

-

Nov 16

Nov 16

Build More Confidence

Oct 16

-

Jun 16

Jul 15

-

Apr 15

-

Search This Website

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Blog (Filter) Categories

Follow me on Twitter

Assessment Services and Tools

Recent Posts

Email Signup

Subscribe to newsletter

Contact Info