Dont let your fears limit your personal freedom

Your personal freedom allows you to follow whatever path you choose. Not fully utilizing your freedom squanders success, while diverting you from your goal. Ironically, a surprising number of people erode their personal freedom through their own thoughts and actions. Freedom is generally thought of as freedom from oppression. Although you may live in a free country, are you oppressing yourself? This happens when you abandon goals by imposing limits on what you believe is possible. Although there are a number of factors which contribute to this phenomenon, they are all ultimately rooted in your mental outlook. When you believe something is possible, you are right. Conversely, when you believe something is impossible, you are also right. Negative self-talk, which delineates all that you cant or wont do, suppresses your personal freedom. You can recapture any lost personal freedom by altering your thinking patterns. Letting go of limiting behavior opens up wonderful new horizons filled with amazing potential. So lets take a look at how to identify and remove personal freedom obstructions. Fear of failure is a major limiting factor. Fear inhibits forward progress. You typically wont even attempt anything where you are afraid of failure. Since there are no guarantees in life, there is always the possibility that you wont get your expected results. However, this is not failure. Failure only occurs when you give up. So, have a commitment to never quit. When something doesnt work out as planned, make an adjustment before giving it another go. Success usually requires several attempts before its realized. Leaving your comfort zone is part of achieving your goals. Achieving goals is part of your personal freedom. Yet, there is often a fear of leaving your comfort zone. Therefore, you must follow your path in spite of any fears you may have. Worry limits your personal freedom by connecting to fear. You worry about that which you are afraid of. Worry is a fixation on worst case scenarios. There is a tendency to avoid anything you worry about. For example, you wont attend college if you are worried about failing. You wont start your own business if you are worried about going bankrupt. You wont buy a house if you are worried about maintenance. You can stop worrying by focusing on positive outcomes instead of all that could go wrong. If you want to go to school, consider all the resources available to help you pass each class. If you want your own business, concentrate on profit making strategies. If you want your own home, look for one which wont require a lot of maintenance. Worrying about what other people say, think, and do is also limiting. Concern about criticism influences your behavior. You will avoid saying or doing something you feel will elicit criticism or ridicule. Ignore what other people say, think, or do. What you say, think, and do is of paramount importance because it impacts your personal freedom. Dont allow your past to limit your freedom. This occurs when a bad experience interferes with your objectives. Just because something didnt work out as anticipated in the past doesnt mean it cant ever work. Many successful business people have overcome one or more business failures. Mistakes are part of the road to success. Not everything you do will turn out as planned. Mistakes limit your personal freedom when you dont learn from them. When something goes wrong, determine what when awry, and why. Then make the necessary adjustments so that the same mistake is not repeated. Guard and protect your personal freedom. It is a precious asset. Eliminate and avoid any behavior which limits your personal freedom.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit http://www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. 2019 Bryan Golden

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Dare to live without limits Week of 1/20/20 - Press Publications Inc.

It's never been more important to understand what makes world-class teams tick. The pace of work continues to accelerateas does its scope and complexity. More business is done globally, with more complex products and services to manufacture and customize, with fiercer competition, and with the composition of work teams continually evolving. The result is that leaders don't have time to experiment to get it right. They need to move up the learning curve fast and foster world-class teams, right now.

In November, Microsoftannounced a project it callsThe Art of Teamwork, inpartnership with design firm Ideo. The company studied dozens of teams from diverse industries along with thelatest research on what makes teams successful in today's workplace, and asked questions like,"What is the right team composition?" "What's the best way to inspire a team to rise to a particularly tricky challenge?" and "What to do when a team encounters interpersonal tensions?"

This joint study revealed fivecore traits of the most successful teams:

A clear team purpose creates shared meaning, which keeps teams focused, aligned, and performing at a peak level. It's an aspiration, not a metric, one that's reflective of the impact the team hopes to make on the world. It's a guiding light that keeps discussions and efforts properly oriented.

On one of my favorite leadership teams I worked on, we collectively developed the purpose statement of "To make every project better and every employee feel empowered." Key to that was it was a collective effort (not a corporate mandate) built from the ground up. It informed how the leadership team acted and made decisions. If our input or actions weren't going to improve a project or leave an employee feeling empowered, we didn't engage in them.

Everyone wants to feel like they belong somewhere, and the best teams have forged a great sense of belonging for each member. Such an identity is a reflection of three things: the team's values, agreements, and rituals.

The common values are collectively agreed on and are brought to life through everyday behaviors.

Agreements center on "how we do things around here" and should be mutually upheld.

And rituals, the repeated behaviors and activities that reinforce the agreements, will help to build cohesion. For example, I put one ritual in place before team meetings I called P:60. We'd go around the table and every member would share, for 60 seconds, something going on in their life outside of work. It createda great sense of cohesion.

Awareness involves self-awareness (which helps people mediate how they show up in working with others), co-awareness (which is being alert to how your interactions affect others), and situational awareness (which requires adjusting to a variety of scenarios in an empathetic, emotionally intelligent manner).

Inclusiveness involves an eagerness to incorporate a breadth of backgrounds and perspectives into a team's daily functioning. It's about respecting differences, not resolving them. Aware and inclusive teams are much more equipped to navigate interpersonal dynamics.

This is all about emotional and psychological safety. Such safety allows team members to feel comfortable bringing their whole, genuine selves to work, to openly share their ideas, and to take more risks. Trust, of course, develops over time, and opens up team members to being vulnerable without fear of being put down or seen as weak. When you feel OK to be vulnerable, you open yourself up to forge deeper connections with teammates who will reciprocate that vulnerability.

The combination of trust and vulnerability means fear of judgment is gone and that team members can participate with full energy, maximum focus, and minimal fear.

Great teams aren't without conflict. In fact, they embrace it. Constructive tension is the result of teams harnessing their differences rather than hiding them or letting them divide a team. It pushes a team's thinking and expands their point of view. It means respectfully disagreeing with teammates versus relentlessly pushing forward your own agenda. It means commending the opposing point of view, not condemning it.

It should be noted that without the other traits as detailed above in place, constructive tension can quickly devolve into destructive tension that tears a team apart.

So now you can take your team from good to great (or from less than good to great). It's a great time to get started.

Published on: Jan 15, 2020

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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In a Recent Study, Microsoft Found That the Most Successful Teams Share These 5 Traits - Inc.

We ladies have to take care of ourselves, says a soft voiceover in an opening scene of Toxic Beauty, Phyllis Ellis documentary on the dangers of unregulated personal care products.

The words come from Jacqueline Fox. The 62-year-old woman from Birmingham, Alabama, died in 2015 from ovarian cancer, which she believed had been caused by her decades-long use of Johnson & Johnson talcum powder.

The film, currently playing select theaters nationwide, centers around the thousands of lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson. Scientists, researchers, and women claim that executives at the company have known for decades that their ubiquitous baby powder contains asbestos, but have continued to market their products as safe.

More than that, Toxic Beauty examines the industrys shocking lack of regulations, and the cradle-to-grave marketing that makes many American women believe they need potentially poisonous makeup, skincare, and lotions in order to feel desired and loved.

We shouldnt tell girls to stop using products, Emily Nguyen, a medical student, says in one particularly poignant interview. We should tell the government to stop making harmful products.

The problem is, as the films many advocates prove, there has been no genuine regulating of personal care goods since 1938.

Despite archival footage showing various C-SPAN coverage of Senate hearings led by the likes of John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, the FDA is not required to monitor or pull any dangerous ingredients in beauty products, and there is little policing of brands. Though the European Union has banned 1,328 chemicals in makeup; the United States has nixed a mere 30.

Though the film is anchored by the Johnson & Johnson cases, it also explores the beauty industry in general, showing scenes from last years Nail Salon Protest, where employees from around New York demanded better safety regulations, and raised concerns about toluene, a polish ingredient called hazardous by the CDC for its effects on reproductive health and the nervous system.

Other common components of personal care products considered toxic are phthalates and parabens.

Once parabens, a preservative, become widely acknowledged as dangerous, many companies changed formulas. But, as one cosmetic chemist noted, they replaced parabens with formaldehyde, another irritant. Sometimes, the scientist said, to make sure the label didnt reference formaldehyde for optics sake, companies would add similar, but equally dangerous, preservatives such as DMDM hydantoin or diazolidinyl urea.

Dr. Daniel Cramer, professor of epidemiology and gynecology at Harvard, first pointed to talc as a potential carcinogen in 1982, after a three-year study found that women who use talcum powder on their genitals or pads to feel more fresh faced a higher risk of cancer than those who did not.

Even a decade before, as a New York Times expos published last year found, Johnson & Johnson executives were worried about the presence of asbestos in their talcum powder, with many at the company advising switching ingredients.

This month, New Mexico attorney general Hector Balderas filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, accusing the company of willfully covering up the toxicity of its products, aggressively marketing especially to communities of color.

Representatives for the company continue to stand by their formula as harmless. In the film, Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky said in a statement: I take this personally and very seriously, and I know that many of you do too. I want to repeat, reiterate, and reinforce: Johnson & Johnsons baby powder is safe and does not cause cancer. Studies of tens of thousands of women and thousands of men show that talc does not cause cancer or asbestos-related disease. J&Js baby powder has never contained asbestos. Regulators have tested and always found our talc to be asbestos-free. At the end of the day, this is about truth and integrity. We are confident in the safety of our baby powder.

Representatives for the company did not respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment.

Last October, the FDA found that a bottle of the Baby Powder did contain asbestos and recalled the product.

The film alleges that successful lobbying has kept the government off of Johnson & Johnsons backs. Perhaps a bit of sexism helped tooin one montage, the faces of the companys chairpeople, dating back to 1887, flash by. All of them, of course, are men.

So its up to the women impacted by their willful negligence to step in.

The film follows a few of the many who have filed lawsuits against the company, including Mel Lika, a former NATO peacekeeper who died at age 60 from ovarian cancer she credited to her near lifelong use of Shower to Shower.

Theres Deane Berg, a physicians assistant from Sioux Falls, Iowa, dubbed Erin Brockovich by her lawyer Ted Meadows. Berg won a symbolic court victory against Johnson & Johnson, which a jury found guilty of fraud, negligence, and conspiracy. The company did not have to pay anything in damages, a fact Berg chalks up to the jurys gender makeup.

Berg now helps prepare other women for their days in court, and is shown in the film speaking with a group of Canadians who have filed a class action lawsuit. Despite her success, which her lawyer compares to a David and Goliath-type triumph, Berg remains pragmatic when coaching the women. The lawyers will ask you invasive questions about your grooming habits, she says, especially since the ovarian cancer link is believed to be caused by using talc products in the genital area.

Still, Berg and many of the victims, speak of the shame and embarrassment they feel about a situation they cannot control, but is caused by the products they chose to use. I did something wrong to myself, Berg says.

Interspersed throughout the film are old health class PSAs and advertisements dating back 60 years, showing just how ingrained beauty standards have become.

Im going to talk to you this morning about the way you look, one 1940s schoolmarm in victory rolls and Joan Crawford shoulders tells a group of college-age young women. After all, the way we look exerts so much influence on the way we feel, and the way other people feel about us, that it really is so important. As a French chef might say, its a little touch of seasoning that makes a dish just right.

The footage cuts quickly to said seasoninga curdled-looking goop of bubbling pink chemicals that will ultimately make up a face cream, but in an unused state resemble more of the fat cut from steak.

Find beauty in what makes you stronger, find beauty in what you worked really hard for. Im a hardworking woman, I can be influential, and this doesn't have anything to do with how I look

Mymy Nguyen, a Boston University medical student, spends much of the film documenting her detox of over 27 personal care products, which she believes contributed to the benign breast tumor she had removed in college. Nguyen, about to embark on the long journey of becoming a doctor, wants to have children eventuallybut worries her fertility could be impacted, or shortened, by the amount of makeup she uses.

Through this journey of mine, I never felt one hundred percent happy with who I was, Nguyen admits in her final interview. Find beauty in what makes you stronger, find beauty in what you worked really hard for. Im a hardworking woman, I can be influential, and this doesn't have anything to do with how I look.

The late NATO counterintelligence screener Lika also spoke proudly about her work fighting terrorism, collecting evidence of war crimes and holding bad people accountable. She showed Polaroids of her time in the Balkans and Afghanistan, remembering her nickname, Superwoman. In one photo, she smiles at her work desk, looking warm and genuine, the type of person you hope would be your boss.

Then, Lika stopped, put her hand on her head, and wondered, Im sorry, did I lose track of even the question? It just floated through my head right now. She was worn out from the disease she would later die from. In the next scene, Lika is shown sleeping on her couch, bare feet adorned with candy-apple red nail polish.

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'Toxic Beauty' Reveals the Hidden Poisons in Cosmetics and the Legal Battles to Expose Them - The Daily Beast

Updated / Saturday, 18 Jan 2020 18:11

Wexford 1-16 Galway 0-18

Defender Pdraig Foley snatched a dramatic Walsh Cup SH title for Wexford with an injury-time point to dethrone holders Galway in Saturday's decider at MW Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.

After overcoming an early 0-7 to 0-3 deficit, Galway appeared destined to complete back-to-back titles as a personal salvo of 12 points from ace sharpshooter Tadhg Harnan eased them clear by 0-17 to 0-12 after 55 minutes.

But Wexford refused to die, and a Conor McDonald goal two minutes into injury-time tied matters on 1-15 to 0-18 before Foley's winning intervention landed a first outright Cup success since 2018 for the reigning Leinster champions.

The Tribesmen made no fewer than 10 personnel changes from their narrow semi-final success over Dublin as new boss Shane O'Neill continues to size things up ahead of the National League next weekend.

In contrast, Davy Fitzgerald retained 12 of his starting-team from the success over Kilkenny, and Wexford burst clear by 0-7 to 0-3 after 16 minutes with five frees from Jack O'Connor as Aidan Rochford and defender Damien Reck also made their mark.

But Galway forced their way back into contention when tying on 0-7 apiece by the 26th-minute courtesy of free-taker Tdhg Haran (3) and Ja Mannion.

The title-holders maintained the shift in momentum to forge back in front by 0-10 to 0-8 at the break with a couple more Haran frees.

As extended Galway clear by 0-12 to 0-8 on the restart, Davy Fitzgerald moved to liven up a limp Wexford with three substitutions in the 42nd-minute in the shape of experienced trio Shaun Murphy, Rory O'Connor and Paul Morris.

Regardless, they slipped further adrift before a Jack O'Connor free ended Wexford's seventeen-minute drought on 46 minutes to shave the gap to 0-14 to 0-9.

While the Yellowbellies closed to within 0-14 to 0-11, Galway appeared to be holding firm in the face of a rousing finish by the purple-and-gold, with substitute Cathal Dunbar flashing over a goaling chance.

Wexford kept searching and eventually overcame stubborn Galway resistance for Conor McDonald to net the equalising goal in added-time.

Pdraig Foley then saw his free from distance drop short. But the no.5 held his focus to intercept the resultant clearance and fire the decisive point as Wexford stole the show at a venue where they open the league against Laois next weekend.

Wexford: James Lawlor; Gary Molloy, Liam Ryan, Joe OConnor; Kevin Foley; Paudie Foley (0-1), Ross Donohue, Damien Reck (0-1); Aidan Rochford (0-2), Aidan Nolan (0-1); Harry Kehoe, Conor McDonald (1-0), Jack OConnor (0-8, 0-8fs); Michael Dywer, Andrew Shore.

Subs: Liam Og McGovern for Shore (42), Paul Morris for Kehoe (42), Shaun Murphy for D Reck (42), Simon Donohue for R Donohue (48), Cathal Dunbar (0-1) for Dwyer (49), Seamus Casey (0-2, 0-2f) for Jack OConnor (59)

Galway: Darach Fahy; Paul Killeen, Jack Grealish, TJ Brennan; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Adrian Touhy (0-1); Sean Linnane (0-1), Sean Loftus (0-1); Conor Walsh, Tadhg Haran (0-12, 0-11fs), Brian Concannon (0-1); Ja Mannion (0-1), Jason Flynn, Evan Niland.

Subs: Aidan Harte for McInerney (h-t), David Glennon for Linnane (50), Diarmuid Kilcommins for Concannon (50), Thomas Monaghan (0-1) for Walsh (53), Ronan Burke for Brennan (55), Niall Burke for Flynn (57), Brian Concannon for Loftus (67), TJ Brennan for Haran (70 + 1)

Referee: Michael Murtagh (Westmeath)

The rest is here:
Foley the match-winner as Wexford snatch Walsh Cup - RTE.ie

Amid all the jokes of Scotty from Marketing and the general cries of a lack of authentic leadership in the current bushfire crisis, one Australian has used the power of social marketing to raise over $51 million in support of the NSW Rural Fire Service.

This fundraiser is the largest in Facebooks history globally. But even more overwhelmingly, and in the face of large corporations and politician spruiking their own fundraisers, this one has been undertaken by an influencer with a fairly small celebrity profile sharing a personal story on a social media platform, a platform which is supposed to be on the decline.

All jokes about Scotty from marketing aside, there is no clearer demonstration of old school versus modern marketing in this time of crisis. The old school version of marketing, where one controls the narrative and pushes out key messaging to an audience relying on traditional media to form opinions, is not only no longer relevant, it is also clearly ineffective.

Consumers will, however, listen to personal messaging and authenticity from a person they trust backed by actual action. While ScoMo continues to push out messages that arent resonating, Celeste Barber has quietly told a personal story, linked it to action, and gotten the work done, to the point where she has become to unofficial face of the cause.

As many in the industry agree, she has inadvertently reached the leadership trifecta: Trust, connection and authenticity.

There has been a healthy scepticism around influencers and whether they are increasingly just another form of paid shills. Arguably, those who simply take money for product or comment are, and this is reflected in their lack of success. However, as this fundraiser shows, there is still room for influencers who make an emotional connection, are emboldened by a real cause, looking to do real good, all while telling stories in an authentic way.

GroupMdigital strategy and investment Officer, Vanessa Hunt, agreed. In recent years, there has been scepticism around influencers and their true power to effect change, however this example quietens the critics. It shows when positive power comes from an influential person, using their profile and their audience, they can achieve something incredible, she told CMO.

Celeste Barber as the face of this fundraiser speaks to the power of authenticity, and the right influencer aligned with the right cause. It also shows the possibility and opportunity we all have to use social media with purpose and to bring collective power to really change the world."

As Hunt herself feels, many are heartbroken by the unprecedented scale and severity of the bushfires in our region.

"The success ofthe fundraiser, as well as the enormous outpouring of community support across Australia, and the world, to help out those affected is truly overwhelming. We are at the beginning of a long road to rebuild our great country and no doubt that social media will play a huge role in highlighting ways to aid the recovery, she said.

Fitness First head of marketing, Matt Fletcher, agrees the success of the fundraising should be attributed in part to the influencer.

Influencers have the power to inspire a community. The most successful influencers are able to create inspirational movements, he said. As we all know, the most effective marketing always starts with a problem to solve or a change to make, rather than a solution to engineer into our plans.I think Celestes incredible fundraiser shows what can happen when a community is inspired with a problem to help solve. Celeste facilitated her community into remarkable movement.

Publicis Media director of social,Filip Sarna, saw what Barber has done to be been nothing short of incredible.

"Celeste inadvertently provided an early solution to what became an ever-growing need for the public; a trusted identity that the average person could trust with their money," he said. "An influencer alone may not have achieved this. But when you connect three proxies for authenticity, community and trust, you have the underlying ingredients for the momentum that Celeste has inspired. "In choosing where to donate, we seek confirmation that our donations will reach those in need. And so when a trusted individual [Celeste Barber] shares her personal story at the main town square (Facebook), that uses a trusted financial institution [PayPal] to collect donations, she instantly became a proxy to the trust and legitimacy that we fundamentally seek. "Celeste might not see herself as an influencer, but her celebrity status, together with her passionate and personal story-sharing results in her being a beacon of authenticity and authority, and by default a shortcut for our charity-choosing process.

Over at brand consultancy, Kantar, the view is it is both the influencer and the power of authenticity that has made this particular effort such a roaring success.

The key to success in the influencer space is heavily reliant on bringing the brand/message to the community in a genuine and authentic manner, its executive director, media and digital, Mark Henning, said.

Celeste expressed her genuine concern and support for those affected by and helping to fight the fires. In doing so she tapped into a broad public feeling and showed a clear way for people to do something to help. So, yes some of the success is due to Celestes appeal she needed to have a network large enough to get the support started, however the viral success was driven by the authenticity behind the message and action.

Hypetap CEO and founder, Detch Singh, added influencers can be extremely powerful when it comes to doing social good.

Celeste Barber'sfundraising effort is only one of many examples of what we are seeing influencers achieve for the bushfire victims and fire authorities. The combined endeavours of these influencers are a massive contribution to the fundraising effort at large," he said. "Influencers are extremely powerful, particularly when it comes to social good. We've seen it happen across campaigns for government and NGOs where positive messaging can go very far in raising awareness when it aligns with what the influencer stands for.

In the case of Celeste, the direct impact this bushfire has had on her in-laws has allowed her to illustrate how damaging and how real it has been for the community. Being able to tell that story first hand has contributed to how well this has resonated with her audience."

Follow CMO on Twitter:@CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn:CMO ANZ,follow our regular updatesvia CMO Australia's Linkedin company page, or join us on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia.

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Analysis: Is the proof of influencer marketing in the pudding? - CMO

by Adam Hickman, Ph.D., and Bryant Ott

The quality of your managers is the single most important factor when building engaged and successful teams.

That's because, among other reasons, your managers account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement.

But another important aspect of what makes a successful team is how your managers provide the conditions for great teamwork.

By studying great managers and their teams for over five decades, Gallup has found that many of the essential elements of employee engagement are the same points of focus that managers use to improve teamwork and collaboration.

Well, according to John C. Maxwell, it makes the dream work.

For managers, that dream is, of course, greater employee engagement and team performance -- the outcomes that drive your company's organic growth.

Successful teamwork starts at the individual level. So, too, does a team's engagement.

When managers lead with a focus on engagement, they give themselves a chance to set each employee up for greater performance in their role.

The impact of scaling this type of performance improvement at the individual level across an entire team is massive.

Many of the essential elements of employee engagement are the same points of focus that managers use to improve teamwork and collaboration.

Our research, based on Q12 survey results from over 1.8 million employees across more than 82,000 teams in organizations spanning nearly 50 industries, finds direct correlations between employee engagement and team- and organizational-level outcomes such as:

Improving these critical performance outcomes in your company is directly related to your managers' ability to foster teamwork through the lens of employee engagement.

Gallup research finds a number of ways managers can build great teams through enhanced teamwork.

1. Start with knowing employees' CliftonStrengths. The best managers use the CliftonStrengths assessment to discover each team member's talents and strengths. Because before a manager can expect their employees to work well together, they have to know what each employee naturally does best.

That doesn't necessarily mean knowing the tasks and jobs each person performs well; it means understanding what makes each employee inherently and uniquely talented.

Plus, when employees are empowered to discover their CliftonStrengths, their managers are equipped to better understand the make-up of the team as a whole. They can make tough and discerning decisions about who can best perform each role as the team evolves and grows. They know which team members lead with specific strengths -- and how to position people accordingly to foster complementary partnerships.

It is those kinds of partnerships that form the foundation for effective teamwork.

2. Ensure that you're being a coach for each employee, and not a boss. Knowing employees' CliftonStrengths doesn't mean much if managers don't give their people the chance to use what makes them uniquely talented in their daily work.

Gallup's Q12 employee engagement survey includes an item that measures exactly how well employees feel their manager sets them up to succeed using their CliftonStrengths:

Q03: At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day.

When employees can strongly agree with that statement, it means they are using their natural talents and strengths to tackle every task and approach every challenge.

It also means they have a manager who understands exactly how they are most likely to succeed in a certain project or a specific role.

And if a full team of employees can strongly agree that they have the opportunity to do what they do best every day, that means they're doing so in conjunction with each other -- a sort of additive effect that can pay massive dividends for collaborative teamwork.

When employees are empowered to discover their CliftonStrengths, their managers are equipped to better understand the make-up of the team as a whole. They can make tough and discerning decisions about who can best perform each role as the team evolves and grows.

3. Lead team members using other key elements of employee engagement. It is vitally important that managers know their employees' CliftonStrengths and use that knowledge to build a team that collaborates and works well together.

But a strengths-based approach is only part of what makes a great team.

Teams composed of employees who can strongly agree that their manager does these things are teams that succeed, period. They have employees who know how to work as a team -- employees who value one another's talents and know how to get the best out of each other to deliver team success.

Great teamwork begins with great managers who lead with a focus on engagement. Create a company full of those kinds of managers to develop an organization full of teams that work together to exceed expectations.

Adam Hickman, Ph.D., is Content Manager at Gallup.

Bryant Ott is a Writer and Content Strategist at Gallup.

Read more:
The Manager's Role in Improving Teamwork in the Workplace - Gallup

Its four years pretty much to the day since I took the editorial lead on a brand that quickly became my world. I lived and breathed everything to do with small and medium business.

The one thing that has stood out for me more than any other is the sheer volume of self-employed people who are inspirational role models for others, even though most dont realise it themselves.

The woman working all night, every night to keep her business afloat while caring for her terminally ill husband so as to pay the family bills; the multiple individuals who have used self-employment to overcome homelessness and built thriving enterprises in the process; the man who lost everything his home and his business to a natural disaster, but worked continuously for several straight days to protect others from facing the same fate.

These are extraordinary actions by people who at first glance appear to be very ordinary. Their stories fill you with the full spectrum of emotions, but for them are simply their every day lives.

But there are a few more everyday traits that are common to business owners and entrepreneurs who are happy, prosperous and have a business of which they are proud.

I can tell you that pretty much every business out there says they have great customer service. Yawn!

If you have to say that, then perhaps youre not really delivering it. Actions speak for themselves, and if your service is actually great, customers will become raving fans you shouldnt have to say your service is great, because customers will see it for themselves.

But service is only one part of that. I guarantee you would be surprised by how many businesses out there forget the core premises that they only exist because customers buy from them. They get comfortable, they potentially continue to get new customers coming in based on their old reputation, all the while their existing customer base are rushing for the exit. At some point, new customers will stop coming in, and then what will they have?

If you take your customers for granted, if you dont adapt to their changing needs and wants, if you dont deliver what you say you will, or if you push a product or service on them that you know isnt really for them, you will lose them perhaps permanently.

Successful business people know this, and make it their mission to always deliver for their customers what is relevant in the here and now. They know that just because a product or service worked well at launch five years ago, doesnt mean its as great as it could be today. They continue to seek and respond to feedback, and place customer retention not necessarily growth ahead of everything else.

Weve all seen the well-worn and repeated stats that the majority of businesses dont survive their first few years. And for some people, it takes multiple goes in business to find the winning formula.

But the ones who have built strong businesses, that deliver them healthy incomes and healthy, happy lifestyle are always the ones who jump in fully. No sitting on the fence with indecision; no tinkering around the edges or doing things half-arsed.

By all means, they do their homework, research and analysis to test an idea before putting it into action, and rely heavily on customer input and feedback throughout the process. Yet once the decision is made to start a business or launch a new offering, they back themselves and give it their absolute all.

Hard work is, by its very definition, hard but its commitment, resilience and tenacity that make that hard work pay off.

The business world sadly has more than its fair share of dodgy operators and nasty acts, all greedily seeking to pocket as much as they can, as fast as they can.

For the most part, the real achievers in business, though, are the ones that people look up to, respect and admire just as much for their persona as their accomplishments.

They are humble, down to earth, warm and friendly with whoever they meet. And they know that what goes around, comes around a smile, a kind word, a piece of advice leave a lasting impression. And you never know when you may in turn need that persons help for something, or if they may become a loyal customer if theyre not already!

This one is perhaps self-explanatory. Be organised. About everything.

People who have their s**t together find it much and I mean MUCH easier to see opportunities as they come along, and to be free from clutter and chaos to orderly develop their plan of attack in seizing said opportunities.

So, to really succeed in your business or professional pursuits, first take stock of how you live and work, declutter, get organised, and then approach the task at hand with an uncluttered mind. If you cant do that yourself, outsource it book a cleaner, seek out a professional organiser, hire a PA. Whatever it takes to get you spending your time on where you can add the most value.

As people whove come before you can attest, its a worthwhile investment, as youll be putting more of your time and better quality time into actually working on your business goals.

Behind every successful person is a great team. But Im not just talking about employees here (although they are a crucial part of the mix).

Having a great team around you means people who work for you, people who work with you think mentors, partners and suppliers, business coaches, industry bodies etc as well as a strong personal support network of family, friends and personal mentors.

Great leaders acknowledge that they cant do everything by themselves, and lean on the support, wisdom, skills and experiences of others to help them reach their goals.

Ive seen first-hand that most people are willing to help and I mean really dig in and help when you need it. But people arent mind readers, which means we need to ask for help.

Regardless of whether that be picking someones brains for advice and insights or getting some bodies on the ground to chip and get something done, most people are open and willing to help if they know that their help is needed.

Youd be surprised what you can actually get by asking the question, or offering to buy someone a coffee to have over a chat!

Adam Zuchetti is the editor of My Business, and has steered the publications editorial direction sinceearly2016.

The two-time Publish Awards finalist has an extensive journalistic career across business, property and finance, including a four-year stint in the UK.Email Adam atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Part of the series Accessing the Most Powerful Version of You

Are you burnt out and exhausted from trying to "have it all?"

Over the past decade, there has been a great deal of discussion and debate over the question, Can women have it all? Ive read hundreds of responses to this question, and Ive also explored it with my coaching clients and course members, and in the media. I remember being riveted by Anne Marie Slaughters 2012 article in The Atlantic on Why Women Still Cant Have It All that went hugely viral. I loved her take and for thousands of women, it offered messages that were welcomed and refreshingly honest. Slaughter later shared that her article shifted her life in ways she never expected.

After my 18 years in corporate life and not coming close to having it all, and then shifting to running my own coaching and training firm, I honed my take on this question, which is this: Pursuing having it all tends to end up in the wrong direction of what we truly want because weve defined it in a way that is unobtainable and unsustainable. Our perfectionistic overfunctioning often gets in the way of creating what we really want.

What we need to do instead is focus on what matters most, and thats not everything in the world. Instead, we want to grow our self-authority and empowerment to make the right choices that will allow us to prioritize what is meaningful and fulfilling, to attend to what will bring our lives and careers the greatest joy, satisfaction, fulfillment, meaning, and success. We want to pursue these priorities openly and honestly, and live in an authentic way where we can be true to ourselves, without shame, guilt or fear. And we want to be able to get to the end of our lives without the deep regret and remorse that comes from living someone elses life, not our own. (Heres more about the top 5 regrets of the dying and how to live without regret.)

To explore this question anew, I was excited to catch up with Romi Neustadt, a former corporate lawyer then PR executive who traded in the billable hour to become a successful entrepreneur. Shes passionate about helping other women experience success on their own terms, and her first book, Get Over Your Damn Self: The No-BS Blueprint to Building a Life-Changing Business, earned a Gold Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association. Her latest book, You Can Have It All, Just Not at the Same Damn Time, shares Neustadts insights and strategies around how to stop trying to do it all so you can finally build a life filled with what you really want.

Heres what Neustadt shares:

Kathy Caprino: You say that women arent achieving their dreams because they confusehaving it allwithdoing it all. What do you mean by that?

Romi Neustadt: Women are suffering from unrealistic expectationswho were supposed to be, how much were supposed to accomplish and how were supposed to look while were doing it. Were trying to be all things to all people, and our to-do lists keep growing as we add things that we think we should do. This should-ing all over the place is making us stressed and exhausted and feeling like a failure, so were not getting to the things we really want to do. But the great news is theres a fix. If we want to have it all, we have to stop doing it all.

Caprino: You stopped doing it all and say that you now have a life filled with all you want and coach other women to do the same. What approach to success have you engaged in that eludes many other women?

Neustadt: It took me having a minor breakdown to admit that my life was running me (instead of the other way around), and I needed to fix it so I could actually fill my life with what was really important to me and enjoy my precious time on earth. So I gave myself the gift of a couple days of me time in a hotel room, and it turned out to be a life-changing gift. Armed with some books, my laptop and a journal, I started searching. I stumbled upon the concept of picking one wordthis was long before it was popularand I loved the idea of adopting a mantra to guide me through the upcoming year. And while it was an empowering starting point, I realized declaring a word wouldnt be enough by itself to have a transformative impact on my life.

I kept reading and searching, and then it dawned on me. Throughout my entire goal-oriented life, I never once figured out what my priorities were. I thought all the goals Id been setting all these years were priorities. It was in that hotel room that I established my One Word Process that I take myself through every year, along with my sales organization and readers of my blog. Its been life-changing because it forces you to figure out what you really want your life to look likeand what youre willing to do to make it happen.

Caprino: So how does your process work exactly and why do you find it so effective?

Neustadt: First, you establish three priorities that serve your one wordthe things that are important and non-negotiable in your life right now. I dont think its possible to have more than three at any one time. And then you set goals that serve your prioritiesnot ones that you think you should be going after, but what you want to accomplish. And our goals must align with our priorities or we feel scattered and unfulfilled, and thats because were living inauthentic lives. This process offers a road map of where to focus your time, attention, and energy. And it gives you permission to let go of everything else.

This enabled me to start to build a life filled with my all.

Caprino: So once women determine what they want, how can they find or create more time for those things?

Neustadt: I suggest doing what I call relentlessly editing your life. You make a list of everything you do in a week and how long you spend doing it. And then you label each activity.

Its in the list of things marked H and S that you find what you should be delegating or deletingwhich frees up your time and energy to focus on the things that serve your priorities and goals. I personally revisit this invaluable exercise once a quarter or any time that I start to feel overwhelmed or scattered. I go back to my priorities and goals and make sure every single thing Im doing serves them.

Caprino: In my work with professional women, Ive seen that one of the hardest parts of staying focused for women can be setting boundaries. How can they do that more effectively

Neustadt: Women need to get really good at saying No, and saying it often in an authentic and gracious way. No keeps you from committing to things you really dont want to do.

Here are a couple of examples.

Its doable, and you get to say it without apology and without guilt.And the more you say it, the easier it gets.

Caprino: You speak and coach a great deal around authenticity. What does authenticity mean to you and how do you make living an authentic life non-negotiable?

Neustadt: To me, authenticity is showing up as the real you in all parts of your life, every single day. Not the you that you think youre supposed to be or who others expect you to be. When you do that, youre able to be honest with yourself about what you really want, what your all is. Every woman has their own allyours likely looks different from mine. The point is to figure out what you want and then make it happen. And if each of us were living our truth, there would be a lot less judging each other and playing the comparison game, and a lot more supporting and inspiring each other.

Caprino: You say that fear is the core reason women arent living the lives they really want. Among the women youve met, what are their most common fears and how can they overcome them?

Neustadt: Ive mentored tens of thousands of women, and like me, they have a lot of fears. Were afraid of failure, afraid of success, afraid to be judged, afraid were not enough, and afraid were going to live our lives and not get to the things we really want. And all these fears can paralyze us and annihilate our focus. I coach three steps to deal with fear that I use myself nearly every day.

The three steps are:

#1: Acknowledge when fear is rearing its ugly head and name it. Youve got to confront fear to move past it.

#2: Ask yourself, whats the worst that could really happen? Not a hypothetical, but what are the facts that you know to be true? Most of the time, the reality is much less dire than we imagine it to be.

#3: Finally, adopt a mantra to tell yourself to declare that youre not going to let fear win, that youre going to act in spite of it. Try F-FEAR. For you the F might mean Fight. For me it means something saltier. This is more than a clever hashtag to use on Instagram. Its a battle cry that says you have the power.

This can be a powerful tool for our kids too. Ive walked our kids through this process to deal with the various fears they face in their tween and teenage lives. I especially love it when they declare F-FEAR to do what scares them.

I want women to understand that it is possible to have it all, if they give themselves the permission to define what their unique all looks like and to unapologetically let go of everything else. Its the only way to live a fulfilled and authentic life, which is what we all deserve.

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Yes, You Can Have It AllBut Not If You Define 'All' Incorrectly - Forbes

And as we head into the 2020 Guinness Six Nations, it feels like the perfect time to reflect on those players who have had the biggest impact on the last two decades.

In the build-up to the opening Saturday and Grand Slam champions Wales clash with Italy, we are counting down some of the best players to have graced the Championship.

Today we take a look at the wingers who have left their mark on the competition. With their fast feet on the flanks and tendency for game-changing magic, here are some of the wonderful wide men to grace the Championship stage.

Shane Williams (Wales)

We couldnt start anywhere else could we?

There cant be too many sights as synonymous with the Championship as Shane Williams darting down the touchline and crossing the line with a roaring Welsh crowd as a backdrop.

In fact, the former Ospreys man leads the way in try-scoring from the wing, with 22 scores in his 41 appearances in the competition, including a six-try haul in the 2008 Championship as Wales secured a tenth Grand Slam.

It was one to remember on a personal note for Williams as well, after being named Player of the Championship, with a slaloming run through the Italian defence to score one of the highlights of the tournament.

Since making his Championship bow in 2000 to his last appearance in 2011, Williams was a constant menace for the opposition, from Rome to Edinburgh and Twickenham to Paris, the Swansea-born wing could always be relied on to provide some magic.

Ben Cohen (England)

When it came to scoring in the Championship, Ben Cohen wasted no time in getting started.

The Northampton Saint came flying out the blocks on his England debut as a sprightly 21-year-old against Ireland in 2000, grabbing himself a pair of tries in the process, and there was no looking back after that.

Cohens contributions were pivotal in an era of dominance for the English side in the competition.

In his 29 matches he only tasted defeat eight times, as the Red Rose emerged victorious in three out of the four Championships to start the millennium, winning the Grand Slam in 2003.

And even in the one year they didnt claim the title in 2002, Cohen still left his mark on the competition. The winger was on hand to finish off an extraordinary English move that saw them go the length of the pitch in 30 seconds, as they powered past Ireland 45-11 at Twickenham.

Tommy Bowe (Ireland)

If you were to search for the best Guinness Six Nations tries there is little doubt that Tommy Bowe will make the list, probably more than once.

The Irish winger was known for being able to produce magical moments throughout his glittering career, and he seemed to save his best for the Championship.

2009 is a prime example, where his collection of Ronan OGaras chip against Wales saw him finish with aplomb, using his speed to devastating effect.

In 2012 he went one better against France; picking the ball up in his own half, the former Ospreys and Ulster man dinked a kick over the defender himself, before collecting and touching down.

These are just two examples of the quality Bowe possessed, he managed to cross 14 times in total in his Championship career, helping his country to lift the trophy twice in that time including a first Grand Slam in 61 years in 2009.

Vincent Clerc (France)

You could say Vincent Clerc was the man who won the 2007 Championship.

With the clock ticking down in the first match at Croke Park, it looked like a Ronan OGara kicking masterclass was going to edge Ireland to victory over France as they led by four points with 60 seconds remaining, but then the ball found its way to the winger on the Irish 22.

Utilising the poise and grace that became such a trademark of his game, the former Toulouse man danced past two defenders to touch down and give the visitors the victory in the most dramatic circumstances.

That proved to be crucial in the final standings, as the French topped the table by on points difference after five matches to secure back-to-back triumphs.

The Frenchman would go on to touch down 11 times in 31 Championship appearances, including a hat-trick against Ireland a year later in Paris. The winger, who also scored two tries against Ireland in the 2007 World Cup, saved his best performances for the men in green.

With four titles under his belt, including a fleeting appearance in Frances 2010 Grand Slam, Clerc remains one of the most successful Frenchman of the Six Nations era.

Sean Lamont (Scotland)

The 21st century not always been a successful era for Scottish rugby in this competition, but thanks to Sean Lamont, they certainly had a campaign to remember in 2006.

France entered the competition that year hoping for a Grand Slam, but were put firmly back in their place by the former Glasgow Warriors double as the two sides met on the opening weekend. A drop of the shoulder left the visitors defence for dead for his first, before touching down at the back of a remarkable rolling maul to secure a 20-16 victory.

Successes over England and Italy followed, as Scotland eventually finished third that year, but that France win is one that will live long in the memory for Scottish rugby fans.

In terms of outright longevity, no other wing comes close to the Perth man either. His 105 total appearances, with 45 of those coming in the Championship, is testament to the high standards he maintained throughout his career.

Kaine Robertson (Italy)

Italy entered the Championship in 2000, marking their arrival with a win over Scotland in their opening match. However they had to wait until 2007 for their first away victory.

The 2007 campaign marked the first time they had managed more than one win a single Championship, and Kaine Robertson was crucial to their success, scoring in both of those wins.

His part in the first away win was crucial as he ran in an interception from halfway in a 37-17 triumph over Scotland at Murrayfield.

The second was a quality piece of quick-thinking in a 23-20 victory against Wales, as he kicked downfield with no-one at home, before scampering to the loose ball and touching down.

While Italy were not always a major attacking force during Robertsons time on the international stage, the winger was clinical when chances came his way.

George North (Wales)

Its hard to believe George North is still only 27. The Welsh wizard on the wing seems to have been tormenting defences for a lifetime, and could surpass Williams try-scoring record in the not too distant future.

Wales domination of the Championship near the start of the last decade was very much underpinned by some dazzling performances by the thrice-capped British and Irish Lion.

A last-minute score against Ireland in the 2012 opener gave Wales a crucial 23-21 win in Dublin, which paved the way for eventual Grand Slam success.

As the years have passed, North continues to deliver on the highest stage with 11 tries in 17 appearances since 2016, including a crucial double in last years opener against France, arguably his favourite opponent.

The late, crucial tries seem to be something North specialises in, and we could be treated to more brilliance this time around, with Wales starting their campaign at home to Italy in two weeks time.

Keith Earls (Ireland)

We all know what were going to get when Keith Earls steps on to the pitch, but stopping him from dazzling his way to the try-line is another matter.

The hot-stepping, hard-running wing has bamboozled all-comers, with his powerful surges from the flanks often proving too much for his opponents.

Three tries in last years Championship prove that fact, with the 32-year-old chiming in with performances just as influential as when he made his bow in the competition nine years ago.

The Munster man isnt afraid to do the dirty work for his country either, with his strong tackling and defensive capabilities part of the reason why he started his career in the midfield.

After being included in Andy Farrells 35-man squad for the upcoming campaign, the Aviva Stadium is just waiting for Earls to illuminate it once again.

Jonny May (England)

It took 12 Championship matches for Jonny May to get off the mark for England, but once he got his first he could not stop scoring.

The Leicester Tiger had endured three scoreless campaigns before 2018, but two tries in a 12-6 victory over Wales was a sliding doors moment for the winger, as he began to produce the sort of rugby we have come to expect from the 29-year-old these days.

Two more scores followed in 2018, before a six-try haul in 2019 cemented his status as one of the best around in his position.

The speed of the former Gloucester man is something that is feared throughout the rugby world, and he will be looking to extend that record this time around.

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Great wingers of the Six Nations era - Six Nations Rugby

Six of the world's best golfers on Tuesday predicted how the game of golf could change dramatically over the next ten years including an increase in the speed of play, as the European Tour season kicks into gear at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA.

Long established as the jewel in the crown of Middle Eastern golf, the tournament combines a world-class field with a track record for golfing innovation, according to a press release.

In the past the tournament has innovated with players seen wear shorts during their practice rounds, testing new motorised 'Golf Boards' to reduce slow play and having music on the range.

At the start of a new decade, with the eyes of the golfing world on how the sport might change over the next ten years, long-time title partner HSBC continued its commitment to exploring innovations that support the growth of golf by bringing together six world-class players to share their ideas about where the sport could and should go over the next decade.

HSBC took world No.1 Brooks Koepka, defending champion Shane Lowry, two-time Abu Dhabi winner Tommy Fleetwood, 2017 Masters winner Sergio Garcia, five-time PGA Tour winner Bryson DeChambeau and two-time PGA Tour winner Patrick Cantlay to the home of innovation in Abu Dhabi - Masdar City. Standing in front of the Knowledge Centre, the players discussed the changes that could help golf thrive in the long-term.

The players made some striking predictions on topics including the pace of play. According to the six, a round of golf should take no longer than three hours 20 minutes, with Bryson DeChambeau stating tournament rounds should take 3hours 30 minutes maximum. Five of the players also stated that beyond their own personal success, they believe Rory McIlroy will win more majors this decade than any other player.

Only Tommy Fleetwood had a different forecast, believing Tiger Woods would win more majors than anyone else on tour during the next ten years.

The players were joined by members of HSBC Future Falcons Junior Golf Programme.

Defending champion Shane Lowry said: "This is a special tournament for me. Last year, this is where my fortunes on the course really turned around. Winning gave me great confidence which stuck with me all the way to success at The Open. We may have been having a bit of fun today, but the field here is incredibly strong, and come the opening round they will all be putting up a huge challenge to make retaining my title as tough as possible. I can't wait to get started."

Four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka added: "We all love the game of golf and there are things it can do to improve. It was great to be asked here today to give my perspective on where the sport could and should go over the next decade, and I hope to see some of those predictions start to come true."

Tommy Fleetwood, two-time Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA winner, said: "Masdar City is a really exciting and innovative place. Many of the ideas around technology and innovation in urban environments are ones that golf would do well to pay attention to, and so this was a really interesting way to start a new golfing decade."

Bryson DeChambeau, added: "Since I'm already known as 'The Scientist', I felt right at home today at Masdar City. The ability to innovate and use science to create new ways of getting around eighteen holes as quickly as possible has always fascinated me, and so it was cool to see this city of the future in Abu Dhabi and to give some predictions on the future of golf."

Abdulfattah Sharaf, CEO UAE & Head of International Markets at HSBC Bank Middle East, said: "We're in for yet another thrilling week of golf, as we start a new decade with some of the best golfers on the planet competing for the prestigious Falcon Trophy.

"Working alongside our partners - the European Tour and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council - we have always been committed to supporting the growth of golf to ensure that the sport thrives in the long-term. It was wonderful to see some of the best players in the world making their own voices heard in predicting the future of the sport, alongside members of our HSBC Future Falcons Junior Golf programme. It truly represented the present and the future of this sport we love so much."

Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, added, "With the tee time of the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship presented by EGA only a few days away, we look forward to starting the New Year's sporting calendar in spectacular fashion. This Championship has always attracted the best golfers since its inception and this year is no different, as we continue our journey to establish Abu Dhabi as a global capital for sports. We believe in the power of golf to bring people together, and so it was fantastic to see Brooks, Shane, Tommy, Sergio, Bryson and Patrick spend time with the HSBC Future Falcons, making predictions about the future of golf over the next 10 years. Alongside HSBC, we are passionate about driving golf's growth in the UAE, and I am personally very excited to see how the game develops over the course of the decade. I would like to wish this year's competitors good luck and hope players and fans alike enjoy a truly memorable week."

First staged in 2006, The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Presented by EGA - taking place from January 16-19 - is being hosted at the iconic Abu Dhabi Golf Club for the 15th consecutive year.

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Top golfers make bold predictions about the future of the sport - Khaleej Times