| matrix vision newsletter
Self Awareness Issue
July, 2010 - Vol 3, Issue 7 |
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| Story of the Month |
A very old lady looked in the mirror one morning. She had three remaining hairs on her head, and being a positive soul, she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she braided her three hairs, and she had a great day.
Some days later, looking in the mirror one morning, preparing for her day, she saw that she had only two hairs remaining.
"Hmm, two hairs... I fancy a centre parting today." She duly parted her two hairs, and as ever, she had a great day.
A week or so later, she saw that she had just one hair left on her head. "One hair huh...," she mused, "I know, a pony-tail will be perfect." And again she had a great day.
The next morning she looked in the mirror. She was completely bald.
"Finally bald huh," she said to herself, "How wonderful! I won't have to waste time doing my hair any more.."
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| Self-awareness Quotes |
"To have greater self awareness or understanding means to have a better grasp of reality."
Dalai Lama
" The one important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative and the second disastrous."
"Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else."
"Most of the shadows of life are caused by standing in our own sunshine."
"As long as you think you're green, you'll grow. As soon as you think you're ripe, you'll rot."
Scott Horton
"Love not what you are, but what you may become."
Cervantes
"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power."
Tao Te Ching
"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves."
Carl Jung
"Things are not happening to you. Things are happening because of you."
Author Unknown
"Whereas the average individuals "often have not the slightest idea of what they are, of what they want, of what their own opinions are," self-actualizing individuals have "superior awareness of their own impulses, desires, opinions, and subjective reactions in general."
Abraham Maslow
"Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused."
Author Unknown |
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| Greetings! |
Welcome to the matrix vision newsletter for July. This month's newsletter is focussed on Self Awareness.
This newsletter presents some ideas and tools about the importance of self awareness and how you can develop it. We have articles including:
- excerpt from The Psychology of Winning,
- except from Maximum Achievement,
- excerpt from For Your Improvement,
- DISC, Workplace Motivators and EQ
- MBTI, CPI and 360 degree feedback
- the power of 20/20 Insight Gold
- new online coaching tool from Performance Support Systems
Enjoy your reading and as always your feedback would be welcome!
If any of the information interests you and if you would like to find out how it can help you please contact us. We would love to talk with you.
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| Self Awareness? |
 What is Self Awareness?
Self-awareness is quite simply, becoming aware of what you do, and why you do it.
In 1979 I read a book that had a profound impact on my life. That book was Denis Waitley's "The Psychology of Winning". Waitley had studied top athletes, business people, leaders, and returning prisoners of war to determine what separates "winners" and "losers" in life. Winners were not necessarily those who beat other people but a winner can be someone who helps other people to win.
Waitley defined 10 characteristics that winners tended to possess. The characteristics included things like Positive Self Esteem and Positive Self Motivation. However the first characteristic that Waitley identified in winners was Positive Self Awareness. The following is an extract from Waitley's book describing Positive Self Awareness.
Winners know who they are, what they believe, the role in life they are presently filling, their great personal potential and the future roles and goals which will mark fulfillment of that potential. They have learned these things, and are constantly adding to their knowledge, through experience, insight, feedback, and judgment. As a result they can continuously not only "play from strength" in the game of life, but also avoid errors and correct weaknesses. Their judgments are characterised by extreme honesty. They don't kid others and they don't kid themselves. Losers say, "Who knows what I could do if I only had a chance." Winners say, "I know who I am, where I'm coming from and where I'm going." Make this moment the moment of truth about yourself. You have been selling yourself short all of your life. You have the opportunity to experience more environmental, physical and mental/spiritual abundance than you could use in ten lifetimes. Open up your lenses to the possibilities and alternatives available in your life. Change your attitude and your life-style and your many environments will change automatically. Understand your own uniqueness. Appreciate the difference in others. Relax and learn to respond positively to stress. Change for the better that which can be changed. If you can, remove from your presence those negative influences that cannot be changed. If you can't, adapt and adjust to the negative influences that cannot be removed.
Another student of why people succeed is Brian Tracy. Tracy's book "Maximum Achievement" is described as providing "strategies and skills that will unlock your hidden powers to succeed". Tracy finds that successful people are self aware. Here is an excerpt from the book.
A key ingredient of success is self-knowledge and self-awareness. Throughout all of history, self-knowledge has gone hand in hand with inner happiness and outer achievement. The phrase "Man, know thyself" goes all the way back to ancient Greece. To perform at your best, you need to know who you are and why you think and feel the way you do. You need to understand the forces and influences that have shaped your character from earliest childhood. You need to know why you react and respond the way you do to the people and situations around you. It is only when you understand and accept yourself that you can begin moving forward in the other areas of your life.
On another note, Michael Lombardo and Robert Eichinger, explorers of management and leadership success, have identified 67 Leadership competencies. A key leadership competency is "Self-Knowledge" which they talk about in their book "For Your Improvement"
Know thyself. (Socrates, 470-399BC, didn't make much money teaching but wrote several - 2000 year best-sellers.). Self-knowledge is strongly related to success in life and work. In one study, the best predictor of a high performance appraisal was seeing yourself as others see you; the best predictor of a low one was overrating your skills. Deploying yourself against life and work is greatly helped by really knowing what you're good, average and bad at, what you're untested in, and what you overdo or overuse. Known weaknesses don't get you in as much trouble as blind spots. You can loop around and compensate for a known weakness. A blind spot is the worst thing you can have. You can really get into performance or career trouble with a blind spot, because you don't know or are unwilling to admit you're not good at it. You will venture into areas that should make you cautious and humble, but you go in strutting and confident. Disaster soon follows. An important life and career goal is to have no blind spots.
The importance of Self Awareness in a person's on-going success has been well outlined by the above authors. The next few articles talk about how you can use tools to help you build your self awareness. At matrix vision we can help you and your team achieve greater success. Give us a call.
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| Self Awareness - How? | |
There are many ways to lift your self awareness and that of the people who work with you. Matrix Vision can help you with a number of tools in which we hold accreditation. Here are some of them.
 Interacting effectively with a variety of people marks the difference between those who succeed or fail. Effective interaction starts with an accurate perception of oneself. The DISC model gives individuals a greater knowledge of themselves and others.
DISC is a tool that measures observable behaviour or 'how we act'. Research has consistently shown that behavioural characteristics can be grouped into four quadrants (Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance) and it is the varying intensity of these four factors which make us each unique.
By opening your "behavioural eyes," you begin to see others differently and appreciate those differences. The ability to adapt one's behavior to each of the styles allows for more effective communication through a greater understanding and appreciation of our similarities and differences. DISC Helps you:
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Develop skills to relate to others more effectively
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Understand why people communicate differently
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Adapt your communication and selling style
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Manage people the way they want to be managed
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Better understand others behavioural style
- Appreciate and manage behavioural differences
While the DISC model is very useful in helping individuals understand their own style it is particularly effective in teams by helping people in the team improve their communication with other team members. There are a number of DISC instruments for different applications.
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 The Workplace Motivators instrument has been designed to measure people's motivators, drivers and values. It is used in personal and professional settings to develop a better understanding of the lenses through which we all view the world.
With the Workplace Motivators, you will understand what motivates you and others to sell, manage, service and/or connect with customers.
The Workplace Motivators Report will allow you to:
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Reduce interpersonal conflict
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Increase efficiency and productivity
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Create and implement strategies to manage people
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Make more informed hiring decisions
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Know and understand people's different reactions to situations, interactions and information
To download a sample Workplace Motivators Report - CLICK HERE
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The Emotional Quotient (EQ) is a simple yet powerful tool that measures a person's Emotional Intelligence in Daniel Goleman's five key competencies.
The EQ tool focuses on 2 areas:
Interpersonal Skills
- The ability to identify and understand how to effectively relate to, work with and motivate others. This is made up to two key competencies:
Empathy - The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people and the skill to treat people according to their emotional reactions. Social Skills - Proficiency in managing relationships, building networks and the ability to find common ground to build rapport
Intrapersonal Skills - The ability to understand yourself, form an accurate concept of yourself and apply that concept to operate effectively.
Self Awareness - The ability to recognise and understand your own moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their effects on others. Self Regulation - The ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods. This includes the propensity to suspend judgment, to think before acting. Motivation - A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status and to pursue your goals with energy and persistence.
By quantifying and measuring the skills above, the Emotional Quotient is able to accurately identify a your overall Emotional Intelligence. Perhaps more powerful is the ability to describe activities tailored to the individual to help develop and grow the five key capabilities - Empathy, Social Skills, Self Awareness, Self Regulation and Motivation.
The Emotional Quotient provides simple, systematic and accurate feedback for developing one's emotional intelligence. With an increase in EQ, individuals and teams will enjoy a significant improvement in their personal and professional relationships as well as more rewarding interactions with others.
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If you would like more information about how DISC, Workplace Motivators and Emotional Quotient can help the Self Awareness of you and your team, give matrix vision a call.
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| Self Awareness - More Tools |
 The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) tool is the most widely used personality instrument in the world, with over two million people taking it annually.
It is a forced choice, self-report, personality questionnaire used to measure and describe people's preferences for how they like to get information, make decisions and orient their lives. It is based on Carl Jung's theory of perception and judgement and classifies people into 16 broad personality Types. The MBTI tool provides a simple way of seeing how people are alike and how they differ.
When people are aware of their differences, they can build better understanding and reduce conflict. The MBTI tool thus helps to improve teamwork and productivity whilst reducing unproductive interpersonal and intra-organisational conflict. Individuals can use their MBTI results to understand their preferred learning styles, evaluate the fit between themselves and their jobs, and better manage time and stress
To download a sample MBTI Report - CLICK HERE
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 The California Psychological Inventory instrument is a highly reliable questionnaire that objectively measures personality and behaviour, providing an accurate, complex portrait of a person's professional and personal style. It describes a person as a close, knowledgeable and objective friend would. Its accuracy and ability to predict work behaviour is attested to by the fact that many companies around the world have relied on it for employment decisions for over 20 years.
Adapted for use in Australia, the revised third edition has 434 items that produce scores on 20 basic scales, three major vectors and seven special scales. Several computer generated levels of interpretation are available.
The CPI instrument is often used on leadership development programs, in conjunction with 360� feedback tools, and the MBTI. It provides telling insights into strengths and areas for potential growth. It uses non-technical language and describes behaviour in everyday terms that are easily comprehended.
The Client Feedback Report provides a snapshot of an individual's scores on the CPI 260 instrument using an easy-to-understand graphic format. It presents your results on more than two dozen scales in five areas: Dealing with Others, Self-Management, Motivations and Thinking Style, Personal Characteristics, and Work-Related Measures. These data also reveal your general lifestyle and fulfillment as an Implementer, Supporter, Innovator, or Visualiser.
To download a sample CPI - Client Feedback Report - CLICK HERE
Created for individuals at all levels of leadership in today's organisations, the Coaching Report for Leaders will help you and your employees better understand their preferences, attitudes, and behaviors in key dimensions of management and leadership.
This report enables individuals to understand their strengths, target areas for development, set goals, and plan action steps to enhance their leadership style.
Based on questionnaires that have been used and validated in a wide variety of management and leadership development programs, results are highly predictive of managerial competencies. An individual's responses to the CPI 260™ instrument are compared to a database of 5 600* men and women executives-successful individuals who are 'on track' for continued success and advancement.
The Coaching Report for Leaders offers insight into your particular strengths and areas for potential development in 18 leadership characteristics, organised into the following core performance areas: Self-Management; Organisation and Planning; Team Building and Teamwork; Problem Solving; and Sustaining the Vision. The final section of the report offers advice on planning the next steps of an individual's leadership development path.
To download a sample CPI - Coaching Report for Leaders - CLICK HERE
Many companies today use 360-degree feedback.
360 degree feedback, otherwise known as multi source feedback, is a comprehensive and structured way to obtain feedback from a range of others. Feedback is sought from different sources, like self, manager, peers, staff, customers or any other relevant group.
The purpose of the process is to understand how others perceive you.
Feedback is anonymous and confidential apart from the manager's perceptions. 360 degree feedback provides a mirror into other people's perceptions and endeavours to answer the questions:
"How do others see you? ... and ... How do you impact upon their performance?"
Because of its structure, thoroughness and anonymity, 360 degree feedback is much easier to analyse, believe and use than single-source feedback.
360 works. An abundance of academic research supports the positive impact of 360 degree feedback on people and performance. It is flexible and widely applicable - you'll get multiple returns on your investment. It adds real value to coaching, change programmes, training, assessment and development centres, talent management, appraisal, teambuilding, and so on. Also, it's easy and takes relatively little time.
To download a sample of a 360 Degree Feedback Report - CLICK HERE
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If you would like more information about how MBTI, CPI and 360 Degree Feedback can help the Self Awareness of you and your team, give matrix vision a call.
CONTACT US |
| 360 Feedback | |
Matrix Vision is a value added reseller and a user of the most powerful and versatile feedback software tool available today.
People need an efficient, confidential and anonymous vehicle for giving feedback to each other. State-of-the-art software can simplify the process of collecting multi-source (360) feedback for anyone in your organisation.
20/20 Insight GOLD is the world's most versatile feedback tool. With this system, we can set up surveys to collect virtually any type of feedback-ideas, opinions, impressions, ratings - from any number of people about the performance of an individual, a team or even your organisation as a whole.organisation.
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POWERFUL Our software contains everything you might need - for everyone involved in the feedback process: - More than 1,200 items in a massive library - easily customised - or we can incorporate your competencies.
- Approximately 300 survey items in leadership categories. Each one has an associated document for the learner that contains:
- What a low rating in this item might mean
- Specific recommendations for improving in this area
- Recommended resources
Ability to not only collect open-ended responses at the end of the survey but also get optional explanatory comments for each item rated, providing extraordinary coaching and personal growth material.
Dozens of powerful reports can be generated. Compare previous to current results to measure improvements. Produce consolidated reports with summary data for the entire organisation.
A 31 page booklet and online performance analysis tool for each feedback recipient to help them create and implement a personal development plan. CUSTOMISABLE AND FLEXIBLE We can tailor almost any aspect of a feedback project - add your competencies, use or modify ours - or any combination. With this unprecedented flexibility, we can provide many different types of surveys for your organisation. A few examples: - All "soft-skills" training to provide a baseline of behaviours, feedback to participants and measureable results to management
- Leadership and individual skill development
- Needs analysis
- Team and organisational effectiveness
- Climate surveys and customer feedback
EXPERT SERVICE Feedback is one of our specialities. We have the experience and expertise to handle all your feedback and survey administration needs. We take time to find out exactly what you need, and we create the survey according to your specifications. - Save valuable internal staff time for other priorities
- Get efficient and very cost effective services
- Relax, knowing that all feedback is kept confidential and stored securely off-site
- Make it easy and fast for participants with an internet connection to access their assessments from anywhere in the world.
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To learn more about the power of 20/20 Insight Gold click on the image.
To talk with us about how you can use feedback to help improve your organisation, please
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| ProStar Coach |
From Performance Support Systems (the developers of 20/20 Insight Gold) comes this new career management training resource - ProStar Coach - it answers the time and money problem.
It is a complete and confidential online coaching system - available to you and your team 24/7 for less than a cup of coffee a day!
"ProStar Coach really helps you to grow, expand and stay focused on your goals. It helps get your mind working and stimulated to consider options you might not otherwise think about."
---Stacy Hunjadi of PrimeLending
ProStar Coach includes:
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Leadership Assessments to Identify Your Leadership Skills and Strengths
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Your Own Personal Coaching Network - Get Ongoing Online Support from Coaches You Pick
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Online Training Videos Specific to the Skill Areas You Want to Strengthen, Worksheets, a Learning Archive, Energisers and Encouragement and Recommended Action Steps
This career management training resource is powerful because it can be accessed as often as you want. It helps you maintain momentum and focus because you get ongoing support and insights from colleagues, mentors and coaches. It is cost effective, helping you 'stay' fit and strengthen your leadership muscles, for less than a dollar a day.
"I find that I've never worked with such a comprehensive set of tools to address my 'needs' as ProStar Coach provides."
---Christine Johnson of ALD, Inc.
The program focuses on both the leadership skills important to success AND the character skills. There are three focus areas: -
18 Leadership Skills for Managers
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20 Personal Strengths related to leadership
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20 Personal Strengths related to high performance
The Pro-Star Coach program comes with a 30 day guarantee. There's no risk. You are guaranteed satisfaction or you get your money back.
"There are many other things that impress me with ProStar - easy to use, well-presented, there when I need it, and so forth - but the key measure is that it helps me improve my business."
---Harvey Bennett of 360 Is Us Ltd.
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For general information about this powerful career management training resource, click here: ProStar Coach (Opens a new window.) -
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Contact me with any questions you have about this career management training resource.
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 Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter - winner of Constant Contact's All Star Award in 2009.
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In August the theme of the newsletter will be "Great Books".
All the Best,
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Barry McMaster
Matrix Vision Pty Limited
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