How to Build Self-confidence

In this video, how to build self-confidence, you will discover six ways to boost, manage and increase your self-confidence. Let’s face it: it’s a question that we all search for answers to at one time or another.

Discover the key components of self-confidence, including understanding the neuroscience behind it. Gain insights into how your brain processes information and learn to reframe negative thoughts and beliefs that hinder your confidence.

We’ll explore how you can harness its power to reshape your mindset and cultivate unshakable self-assurance. Ian Robertson‘s work emphasises the importance of self-compassion, self-acceptance, and resilience.

We’ll explore techniques to help you develop a positive self-image and embrace your unique strengths. Learn how to effectively set goals, overcome setbacks, and maintain motivation to increase self-confidence.

Whether you’re looking to excel in your career, improve your relationships, or simply embrace a more fulfilling life, this video provides the tools you need to build self-confidence that radiates from within.

Don’t let self-doubt hold you back any longer. Embark on this empowering exploration and unlock your true potential with Ian Robertson’s groundbreaking work.

Posted On August 2, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Confidence, Mindset, Video /

A Blueprint for Cultural Transformation

In the complex world of corporate leadership, where strategies and technologies come and go, one element remains constant: the power of a strong organisational culture.

At Thinking Focus, we understand that culture isn’t just an abstract concept—it’s the backbone of every successful organisation. That’s why we’ve developed our Culture Blueprint—a comprehensive, actionable guide designed to help business leaders like you build a thriving culture that drives sustainable growth and engagement.

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Posted On July 24, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Article, Culture, Flip Book, Leadership, Management /

Four Pillars For Aspiring Leaders For Self-Discovery And Growth

So, you want to be a leader; you want to lead a team and deliver amazing results for your organisation. Of course, those rewards, perks, and other benefits are attractive, too. But have you thought about what leadership entails, what’s involved, and the consequences?

In this article, you will discover four pillars of leadership that need your due consideration if you are to navigate the highs and lows of being a leader in today’s challenging business environment.

Are you prepared for the personal sacrifices and impact on your relationships outside work?
Are you ready for the cognitive load that leaders face today as they tackle large-scale challenges and threats from all sides?
Do you know the stakeholder landscape and what it takes to mobilise your resources to achieve your goals?
Do you have the resilience to stay the course and bounce back when things go wrong?

Leadership, a coveted realm for the ambitious, beckons countless individuals with its promise of steering teams toward success. Yet, the true nature of leadership is a labyrinthine tapestry that demands much more than anticipated. It necessitates a profound shift in mindset and an unwavering embrace of novel challenges. Before embarking on this transformative odyssey, aspiring leaders must pause and reflect, mentally preparing themselves for the profound metamorphosis that awaits. Authentic leadership transcends the role of a mere conductor guiding an orchestra; it demands a transition from doing great work to thinking strategically.

But what foundational pillars should these aspiring leaders explore before immersing themselves in the depths of leadership?

Let us explore each pillar, accompanied by guiding questions that aid aspiring leaders in introspection, illuminating their preparedness.

The Personal Pillar: Striking A Harmonious Balance

Leadership roles, undeniably demanding, cast their immense influence upon every facet of your life. While these positions bestow countless benefits, they often exact sacrifices from aspiring leaders and their loved ones. Successful leaders comprehend the significance of involving their families in decision-making, establishing clear boundaries and fortifying a robust support system. Such support alleviates burdens, permitting leaders to wholeheartedly dedicate their time and energy to the demands of their roles.

How do you envision aligning your personal life with the demands of leadership?
What sacrifices are you willing to make in your quest for leadership?
Have you engaged in discussions with loved ones, considering their perspectives?
How can you establish clear boundaries between work and personal life to maintain a healthy equilibrium?
What support systems or resources can you assemble to navigate the leadership challenges?

The Cognitive Pillar: Embracing A Paradigm Shift

Leadership necessitates a cerebral metamorphosis, a transition to an entirely new modality of thinking about the world of work. Strategic and conceptual thinking empowers leaders to grasp the grand tapestry, connecting disparate data points and deploying creative problem-solving skills.

These cognitive capabilities complement the skills for managing, prioritising, organising and setting standards. Effective leaders empower those around them to think, fostering an environment where collective intelligence transcends the sum of its parts.

How comfortable are you with shedding the cloak of a “doer” mindset in favor of a strategic thinking mindset?
What new patterns of thought or skills must you cultivate to excel in a leadership role?
How can you foster a culture of strategic thinking and unleash creativity within your team?
Are there any blind spots or biases that might impede critical thinking and effective decision-making?
How can you motivate and empower your team members to harness their cognitive abilities, contributing to collective intelligence?

The Awareness Pillar: Navigating The Human Tapestry And The Surrounding Landscape

Esteemed leaders possess a heightened awareness of the individuals they lead and the landscapes within which they operate. Understanding people demands self-awareness and strong interpersonal skills, enabling leaders to comprehend and motivate their collaborators. This combination begets the necessary gravitas and influence. Awareness of the environment encompasses understanding the organisational structure, its politics and the broader market landscape, including competitors and emerging trends.

How well do you comprehend your strengths, weaknesses and motivations?
What steps can you take to enhance your self-awareness and emotional intelligence?
How can you foster robust relationships and effectively communicate with diverse individuals?
What strategies can you employ to remain abreast of internal dynamics within your organization and external market conditions?
How can you proactively anticipate and adapt to changes in your environment, surging ahead of the curve?

The Resilience Pillar: Flourishing Amid The Tempest

Mastery of resilience distinguishes triumphant leaders. They cultivate mental fortitude to withstand the demands of their roles and navigate setbacks, becoming the emotional anchors upon which their teams rely.

Even the most adept leaders face moments when the role pushes them to their limits. Therefore, leaders must develop coping strategies, recognise their reactions under stress and establish routines and techniques to sustain themselves during challenging periods.

Are there any self-limiting beliefs or patterns that might hinder your resilience?
How can you build a support network of mentors, colleagues or coaches to aid you during trying times?
What self-care practices and habits can you incorporate into your routine, perpetuating resilience in the long run?

Wrapping Up

Aspiring leaders must embark on an odyssey of self-discovery, delving into the depths of these four pillars before destiny thrusts them into leadership roles. This journey of discovery allows future leaders to assess their readiness, cultivating a profound understanding of the path ahead.

Leadership is not a destination but an enduring pursuit of excellence. Aspiring leaders can forge a path toward influential and fulfilling leadership by building solid foundations upon these four pillars, enriching their personal and professional lives.

This article first appeared on Forbes.com on 18th July 2023

Ricky has been a regular contributor to the Forbes Councils since 2023, where he shares his perspectives on all things leadership, change, culture and productivity, all with Thinking Focus’ unique perspective on metacognition, or as we prefer to say, thinking about thinking.

Posted On July 20, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Article, Forbes, Leadership, Management, Metacognition, Mindset /

Reflection: The secret to personal growth

Reflection: the secret to personal growth challenges the fact that too few of us take stock of what we’ve done or explore what happened. So, we get stuck and repeat mistakes. This video provides you with a simple yet powerful model from Terry Borton (1970), enabling you to learn and grow using three powerful questions.

Try it, you’ll be amazed by your results.

Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it!
George Santayana

Posted On July 19, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In High Performing Teams, Leadership, Management, Mindset, Productivity, Reflection, Video /

How to avoid biases in your decision making: A guide for individuals and teams.

Biases can be like Jedi mind tricks; they can work for and against us. These cognitive shortcuts can cause us to make flawed decisions, so how can you make better decisions by minimising bias?

Cognitive biases affect various aspects of our thinking, including perception, memory, attention, and decision-making. Our brains use them to process information quickly, but they can lead to errors and distortions in our understanding of the world.

At Thinking Focus, we believe that metacognition (or, as we prefer to say, thinking about thinking) influences everything we do. We aim to help you understand how you think so you can recognise thought patterns and develop strategies to change or mitigate unhelpful thought patterns. Biases are heuristics (cognitive shortcuts) that our brains create to lighten the cognitive load, enabling us to cope with the demands we face in today’s high-paced, complex world.

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Posted On July 5, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Bias, Decision Making, Leadership, Management, Metacognition, Mindset, Productivity, Video /

Why we fall victim to biases

5 sneaky ways they sabotage our success

If you are not good at making choices – how do you overcome your biases and make better decisions? In the video, we explore five biases and how to mitigate their effects on us.

A cognitive bias refers to a systematic pattern of deviation from rationality or objective judgment in human thinking. It is a tendency for the human mind to make errors in processing information, often resulting in subjective judgments and decisions that deviate from logical or evidence-based reasoning.

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Posted On June 21, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Bias, Decision Making, Leadership, Management, Metacognition, Mindset, Video /

How to Clarify Who Owns What in Your Projects and Goals

Clarify Roles and Responsibilities with the RACI Matrix

It’s high time to Say Goodbye to Confusion: Clarify Roles and Responsibilities with the RACI Matrix.

Your free downloadable RACI Template

This video is your ultimate solution if you’ve ever experienced organizational chaos, overlapping responsibilities, or unclear accountabilities. We dive into the powerful RACI Matrix, a widely used framework designed to bring clarity and structure to any team or project.

Whether you’re a business professional, project manager, or part of a collaborative group, mastering the RACI Matrix will revolutionize how you define, communicate, and execute roles and responsibilities within your organisation.

Join us as we demystify the RACI Matrix key concepts and provide practical tips on implementing it effectively. We’ll guide you through each element of the framework:

Responsible
Accountable
Consulted
Informed

You’ll learn how to assign clear ownership, establish decision-making authority, involve stakeholders at the right moments, and keep everyone in the loop without overwhelming them.

Through an interactive example, we’ll illustrate the immense benefits of adopting the RACI Model. Say goodbye to confusion, duplication of efforts, and conflicting expectations. Say hello to streamlined processes, improved teamwork, and enhanced productivity.

Don’t miss out on this transformative opportunity to optimise your team’s efficiency and effectiveness. Clarify roles, empower your team, and boost your organization’s success with the RACI Chart. Watch now and embrace a future of seamless collaboration and clear accountability.

Posted On June 7, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Bias, Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Engagement, Goals, Influence, Leadership, Management, Mindset, Productivity, Stakeholder Management, Video /

A Blueprint for Change Managers

In today’s fast-paced business environment, the ability to manage change effectively isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s a necessity.

Change leaders and change agents are at the forefront of this challenge, tasked with not only navigating but also driving successful transformations within their organisations. This is where our Change Blueprint becomes an indispensable tool.

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Posted On June 6, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Article, Change, Flip Book, Leadership, Management /

You can have both: Development that sticks and 5X ROI

Changing Behaviour through Business Challenges

Developing teams is costly and time-consuming; at Thinking Focus, we know how important your people are to you and how important it is to show that your development dollars and pounds hit the mark.

Our extensive experience in leadership and management development has taught us the four conditions for success pivotal to every group development programme we run. It requires a collaborative approach with clients, which means they have to step up, their participants, and us.

Together, we can create an environment where participants thrive and achieve demonstrable ROI significantly over and above the programme cost, conservatively a minimum of 5X in almost all cases.

Want to see how challenges can work for your organisation?

Why not book a call, and we can discuss how it works and if it’s right for you.

Posted On May 30, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Article, Flip Book, Leadership, Management /

How to Deliver Purposeful Feedback at Work.

Do you want to know how to deliver feedback effectively at work?

In this video, we will share with you five tips on how to deliver effective feedback that will be respectful and helpful to you and your employees.

Learning how to deliver feedback effectively is essential if you want to be a successful manager of people! We’ll show you how to deliver feedback to help your employees grow and learn. We’ll also discuss the importance of feedback in the workplace and give you some helpful tips on how to give feedback effectively!

Posted On May 24, 2023 By Ricky Muddimer In Coaching, Feedback, High Performing Teams, Leadership, Management, Mindset, Performance Management, Video /