What is Pivotal Thinking?

It is emotionally intelligent processing that quickly assesses how to take action in a given situation. Emotionally intelligent because analysis takes in a 360° view, then macro to micro in what Malcolm Gladwell calls a “blink.”

The ability to pivot is not about changing one’s mind. It is more about agility and quick response to a present circumstance. Consider how a basketball player pivots, shifting weight from one foot to another to maintain balance so the player does not fall. Use Pivotal Thinking™ for Optimum Action

Most of all, Pivotal Thinking requires an open mind and resourcefulness. For example, think about a movie you have seen where a boat takes on water or a train is running out of control. The “hero” saves the day with a practical or inventive way to avert a tragedy. The McGyver character was famous for this type of resourcefulness. The link takes you to a few ideas you can enjoy.

Pivotal Thinking Genesis

After coaching and training thousands of professionals, I tracked recurring career and personal themes. Why does one succeed and another crash?

Adults today are struggling with how to focus and perform effectively in work and social environments. It’s not you—There are too many distractions and set ups for failure. We are reacting, not thinking in the workplace environment. It is almost impossible to focus.

Areas to explore—

Embrace the “S” theory. The S Theory is built on success and experience.

Here’s how it works: draw a chain of “S” (see sample)

Start at the bottom. Imagine you are an infant. You are in a state of conscious incompetence. As you move up the “S”, your consciousness introduces you to new facts about your world—sounds, smells, features. Watch a baby when s/he discovers feet and hands! It’s an epiphany. Once you get the idea and move from the Unconsious Incompetence (you don’t know you don’t know) to the top of the bottom “S” you have moved to Conscious Incompetence (you know you don’t know something) through to the top to Conscious Competence (where you know what you know and have mastered something) then with practice it becomes Unconsious Competence (an instrument, medical procedures, sports prowess, muscle memory developed through repetition, and natural talents who have it without effort. Think Mozart!)

Put aside conventional wisdom for these sessions. Open your leadership style to robust and thought-provoking proven methods to advance your people, processes, performance and profitability all founded “on purpose.”

Beyond ADD, adults today are struggling with how to focus and perform effectively in work and social environments.

It’s not you. There are too many distractions and set ups for failure.

Join like-minded people in a VMP™ experience to discover the formula that converts productivity into career satisfaction and performance.

Here is where Pivotal Thinking can serve you—

Coach Cubas’ Findings:

Hostile and “tricky” work environments
Short-term thinking
Disconnect between values and actions
Reactive rather than Anticipatory expectations
“ME” focus rather than for the “Good of the House”
Scarcity premise rather than abundant approaches
High emotional intelligence
Innate ability for “other orientation”
Conserve rather than exploit
Willing to take calculated risk
Supports team unconditionally

Consider these emotionally intelligent ideas to discuss in your VMP Group:

What is the gap between influence and impact?

The space between thought and action

What is the difference between tenacious and stubborn?

How do you break the deadlock?

Focus on the desired outcome

Focus and follow the written objectives

Remain unattached to the outcome

Key words:

Strategic thinking
Business development
Communication
Strategic planning
Language and vocabulary
Public speaking
Perspective
Project management

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by Coachcubas

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Winning Well is being Mindful

March 31, 2016

Winning Well for me is about being in touch with my values. That guides the metric I want to use. Winning feels good. Winning is not a measure of success unless it is by one’s own definition. Also, we must measure the “cost” of the win to get to the achievement —real and perceived.

Driven by Values

Winning Well encourages pride in our accomplishments. Pride emerges from a “game” well played. Consider when opponents cheat or take shortcuts how the experience can be tarnished.

Winning is fulfilling when living in our values. Fulfillment is the highest achievement we can attain. The standards are different and stand on their own merit

Often clients ask me, “How can I do that?” My coaching response is simple—preparation and focus:

1. We must prepareto meet our self-defined greatness, not by a nebulous cultural value, someone else’s vision, or unrealistic set target.

2. Define the boundaries. This is where we define exactly what we are willing to do or not do based on personal choices. What are we willing to “leave on the table” as a negotiation principle, one we negotiate with ourselves. By setting boundaries, there is less likelihood of being lured into an uncompromising position.

3. Our values are set in advance, and, hopefully, reinforced daily through meditation or reflection. There is even a legal standard of knowing the difference between right and wrong, and we must practice!

4. Write or journal about your values. This exercise reinforces who we are and what we stand for. For example, consider situations where you would choose differently—use a different perspective. This is powerful preparation for future actions.

5. Train and retrain your self-talk to acknowledge how you are functioning within your value system. What needs boosting, what have you learned well, and what serves you now? It requires letting go of stale past beliefs that can be self-limiting and a result of poor habits.

6. Select a tagline or theme for your values. Use a favorite quote or metaphor that encapsulates your idea. Repeat it throughout the day. One that works for me to avoid procrastination is DIN—Do It Now!

When one wins based on someone else’s vision, it is a hollow victory. When we perform something for someone else to gain approval, it is no longer our vision; we do not own it. That is a set up for failure. Being a “pleaser” does not serve you, and you surrender your personal power, which leads to other negative issues like feeling powerless.

To win and compromise one’s standards sets a negative precedent. Once we cross the line one sets as a principle, either unintended or deliberately, the next crossing becomes easier. These actions can easily spiral down.

Lastly, a positive, true metric is PROGRESS.

· How will you measure the progress? What will be your reward? How will you share your achievement? For example, “This is where I was, here I am now, and this is where I’m going.” These are achievable answers.

· Continue to compete with yourself, not some phantom figure or unrealistic partner, especially if you are on the same team! Why set up winners and losers in the same family or company? What does that serve? Anyone who continues the set up is insecure. Yes, healthy competition helps to improve all involved. Yet, when winning is the only reward, check out your feeling around that. What is under that need to always win? By the way, “being best” is not about always winning. Consider people who participate in a marathon and know they will not place in the top three. It is important for them to cross the finish line because they made that promise to themselves.

· Evaluatehow you improved. Create your own scorecard.

· Focus on continuous improvement rather than a destination point. Increments are useful markers based in time, resources, or quality results to achieve.

· Celebrateyour steps through the process. Recognize what you sacrificed to achieve your progress. Acknowledge those who helped you along the way.

Ultimately, we win when we are true to ourselves. Go for it! -MC

Learn more about using your challenges as fuel!

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by Coachcubas

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Fresh Insights for Leaders—Lessons Learned from Organic Vegetables!

February 27, 2016

Insights can be like relationships. Sometimes we must step into a different perspective from the onset. I liken it to keeping a relationship fresh.

After coaching thousands of people, I found the following “truths” to be reliable:

1. Pure, rich, non-polluted soil to grow—This is what open minds also need to grow. They can be hard to find.It is required to take fresh looks at established conditions. It takes practice to start walking on a different foot or combing your hair differently.

2. Fresh is abundant. The perspective comes from adding on rather than detracting from something. Although a shift in vision or thought occurs, it builds upon what preceded the insight. For example, a new coat of paint turns the same room into a studio, or comfort zone, or regal spot.

3. When we use emotional intelligence, the lessons can be fresh when we take on a different communication style or move into a new role at work or home. For example, being a grandparent is fresh because it can be replete with the joys of being with family without the “daily doings” that accompany it.

4. Ever heard people say they can’t wait to see an experience from their child’s point of view, like Disneyland? We can invoke this feeling at will and it can change body chemistry! If you don’t have a child, use a colleague and share a new experience with the person.

Three ways to be in a continual “fresh” perspective:

· Learn a new skill. A coach colleague spoke about having a learner’s mind set when approaching a new project, for example. Rather than starting out in the habitual way you may have, use different tools, even pick a special pen or folder to begin your project.

· Nature teaches us the joy of variety.Look at a garden and note how many shades of your favorite color you can find.

· Listen to different types of music for a change. If you enjoy the instrumental parts, consider listening closer to lyrics.

· Establish a VMP group—The new VMP can bring such perspectives to you and your team. Find out what it means when you bring the VMP™ Factor to your organization! It’s not a luxury anymore—It’s a professional survival skillset. When you invite me to bring this Emotionally Intelligent strategy into your company, you will maximize team engagement.

For me, staying fresh is buoyed by my curiosity. I want to explore and discover new things about something I already know about. Coaching is a powerful tool because it relies on asking the client powerful questions, usually ones the client has not asked.

Engagement with what tactics you already use and heightened curiosity will point you to take a fresh look. Enjoy!