"Which step have you reached today?" The picture with this question makes round on-and-often on net as well as at workplaces (gembas¹).
Although I don't know it's source I openly give credit to this picture that in a way, among other things, triggered this blogpost.
One can reach the 'top-step' within a moment if one knows "How to make a difference?"
One can make a difference to a given situation by training brain to be positive. Brain can stay positive by keeping it engaged through positive behaviors.
Here is a 3-point agenda that I try to use everyday in order to engage myself in positive actions and stay on top-step.
1/ Attempt 1-small improvement a day.
2/ Appreciate improvements demonstrated by others.
3/ Say Thanks, Sorry, Please everyday. Good if it's complimented by an action-oriented message fitting the situation rather than merely being goodie-goodie. Good leaders do so: clap as well as slap as appropriate.
2/ Appreciate improvements demonstrated by others.
3/ Say Thanks, Sorry, Please everyday. Good if it's complimented by an action-oriented message fitting the situation rather than merely being goodie-goodie. Good leaders do so: clap as well as slap as appropriate.
Attempt 1-small improvement a day
First point helps one to take responsibility to make a difference to status-quo of a given situation. It helps brain to challenge a problematic situation while staying positive on action.
My S.O.S. commitment to myself is to save-on-something (S.O.S.) each day be it some material¹ say water or some activity such as say a few walk-steps.
This may sound like an idiosyncratic that I am. But it's difficult to dispute the fact that global-warming has crossed threshold levels of warning because of greed-based human activity.
A lot of human activity is unnecessary. If one finds ways and means to combine, merge or eliminate a few activities it can definitely save some material, some human energy as well as ease some difficulties for self and others.
The other day I told a friend of mine that I was comfortable with SMS invitation of his son's wedding instead of hard copy of the card. I even offered him my telephonic time to convince a few common friends so that he could print those many cards less. Although it's good if 'such offer' comes from receiver's end, more often than not it gets ridiculed sometimes as being miser.
In another instance, a new acquaintance did appreciate my act though, when I humbly returned his business-card after scanning it immediately on Android phone. I wanted to communicate the message S.O.S. that hopefully I could.
This brings us to second point of the 3-point agenda.
Appreciate improvement efforts demonstrated by others
This one forces one to catch someone making efforts to do something good and desired. Remember, I 'chose' to say, 'making efforts'.
It helps one to observe others. It helps to appreciate the 'process' they are involved in rather than waiting for the 'results' of their action that isn't in their control. It forces one to think and thereby begin observing self in order to correct accordingly. In that case it's like subtly learning from others through practice: a source of input for the first point above.
It also improves your active listening ability.
You needn't even have to say 'Good' while appreciating. Just a 'Smile' in token of expressing your appreciation is OK. It's the fastest and implicit way to do so. It's valuable because it's possible to do so just-in-time (JIT) for the occasion.
I did it today when I saw a small boy putting off fan while alighting from lift. In less than 10-seconds in the lift, not only I could reinforce his desired behavior but also I could connect to him and make a friendship. Apart from this I am sure 'thought' process of both of us got triggered in a subtle manner.
It's like respecting the person by taking cognizance of her efforts.
Say Thanks, Sorry, Please everyday
This one helps you to express gratitude in an explicit manner. If done particularly when others are at a receiving end, action-oriented messages fitting the situation also get accepted.
Other day morning my ATM card got stuck in ATM. Luckily currency notes came out promptly. Security guard on duty tried his best by fiddling with the keyboard. He seemed to be in a typing-speed contest. After a couple of minutes he slapped the machine at a couple of spots in a couple of styles but in vain. Few minutes gone. Looking anxiously through the glass at few more morning-walkers joining the queue, he offered to summon another guard on duty on rear-side door of the bank that was yet to open.
Few more minutes gone. By the time both walked into the scene (the Gemba²) a transaction-slip rolled out of ATM at snail's pace. "It came out automatically without asking for one", I exclaimed.
"Subahmein machine ko garam honeko time laagta hai (Machine takes time to warm-up in the mornings sometimes.)", one of them said with scenic expressions.
Card however was still stuck inside. Their 'warm-up theory' refused to work this time. Sensing the 'warming temperature' out in the queue, they again slapped the machine. By then a bank officer walked in and 'slapped' them with seemingly abusive body language. This time again the machine made fun of all of them. It gently rolled out the card itself without even anyone touching the machine. Fearingly I grabbed the card before it could get sucked in again.
Looking at their embarrassed (pinkish-red) faces I said, 'thank-you' and 'sorry-for-the-trouble'. "Now 'please' do something about this 'warming-up theory' because this is not the first instance. You need to put some operation and maintenance practices in place to remove such abnormalities so that a lot of energy can be saved for yourself as well as for so many people in morning rush hours.
Although upset, I told myself: perhaps I tried to make a difference by staying cool. That's what was in my control apart from registering a customer complaint!
Doing what's in one's own control itself leads to the first-point i. e. making an improvement!!
All 3-point actions are possible anytime, anywhere, autonomously without any budget, anyone's permission or approval!!!
Footnotes
1: Go paperless.. is the punchline in my mails that I practice each day. An inefficient paper-mill uses 300-400 ton-water per ton-paper !.. 83,000,000++ton paper is wasted each year !!.. A-Paper-Saved => Lot-of-Water-&-A-Tree-Saved !!
2: Gemba means the workplace where action takes place. One can find a lot many improvement opportunities if the gembutsus (the ATM machine that makes abnormal noise, the card that rolls in, the paper that gets stuck, etc) there are powerfully observed for the way they function.
2: Gemba means the workplace where action takes place. One can find a lot many improvement opportunities if the gembutsus (the ATM machine that makes abnormal noise, the card that rolls in, the paper that gets stuck, etc) there are powerfully observed for the way they function.
Also read a few relevant blogposts hereunder: Please do consider leaving a comment or sharing this post.
No Time? Micro-Meditate!
Overworked? Tension? CPU of the mind hung-up? Do you exercise your choice meaningfully
IQ-EQ-or-SQ: What-is-more-important?
Eternally Happy!
In-a-problem? No-problem! Dwell-a-while!
I am afraid ! What do I do !!
Fearful-Of-Death-of-Birth
Take Habits For A Ride
Happy-Birthday-to-Youooo
Do You Celebrate Mean-or-Green
Big-Be Or Bug-Be !
Raam or Krishna-Shyam: Tell me Hey Raam!
Are You Good If Others Are Bad?
Want Need-Or-Want
Love is Care.. Care is Love !
Deity is in the eyes of the beholder
Success-or-failure! What-do-you-like?
Ball-Basin-Team Combine ! Maketh The Smile Divine !!
Today's market is driven by improvements. Yesterday's card gulping machines are now replaced by machines with card swipe system. Further to it, we are heading towards cash less economy, where the ATM machines will become the history.
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