EQFIT - Equipping People to Prosper

Accountability. Such a frequently used word and value, but how well is it understood? Where does accountability come from? Why do some people have high levels of accountability and others do not? Can you increase accountability in yourself, your team, and your organization?

These are some of the questions we will answer in this episode. But there is more...we will list the elements of accountability and the foundations of accountability. We will explore practical ways to grow accountability in people, teams, and organizations.

Accountability is not a destination...it is a journey, a practice. Learn some ways to effectively begin this journey leveraging brain science to get your best outcomes.

I know what is driving the great resignation...and I will share that secret with you!

Why have over 15 million people resigned their jobs since April of last year? Because the value exchange equation has changed. What do I mean by that? People use to give a portion of their time for an amount of money and some benefits. That is still true in a way...but something else is going on.

Fast forward to today. People want more. Satisfaction, freedom, flexibility, affinity, empathy, and other similar feelings. Notice I used the word feelings. The Great Resignation is being driven by uncertainty and longing. Longing for something better, something more...even though many people could not define what that is.

This could be a crisis...or...it could be an opportunity. Which will it be for you?

Patterns. We all have them...but do we recognize them and their likely outcomes. Are the outcomes of your patterns roadblocks or rewards? 

Can you recognize patterns in others? If you could, how might that help you in relating with them?

If you stop to think about the patterns you have developed in your life...which most of us do not do often enough...you may find some that are roadblocks...and some that reward you and your efforts. What is the difference? Being intentional about which you choose to continue and which you choose to change. In essence...leading yourself better for better outcomes.

This episode will focus on how our brains utilize patterns we have already developed and how we can effectively change patterns that detract from our success and satisfaction in life and in work.

Ever heard the phrase, "The only thing constant in life is change?" Well...I believe that something that is certain in life is uncertainty. That is our topic in this episode...Uncertainty, and the impact it has on us.

The pace of change is rapidly increasing. The amount of input and information we get every day is about the same amount of input that our grandparents got in 365 days! How can we possibly make sense of everything coming at us?

First, by understanding a few truths:

• We cannot control everything - but we can control what we take in (the input load per day) and the choices we make.
• Uncertainty is something everyone deals with...but some people deal with it better than others...why? (we will explore this)
• Uncertainty generates a variety of emotions. These emotional drivers can either help us or hinder us.
• Fear, anxiety, and worry about something that is uncertain usually starts with projecting ourselves into the future and seeing negative results. How can we change that?

A method for working through uncertainty, and the emotional drivers it generates, is a critical success factor in our lives, our work, and our relationships. We will look at specific ways to create a framework that will help in navigating the storm of uncertainty.

Ever wonder what it would be like if you made the rules? Guess what...you do!! Not in everything, but you make the rules that you live by.

Today we will explore a very profound truth...what you believe to be true about yourself and your place in the world impacts the rules you create to live your life. From those come your self-talk. The question is...is your self-talk helping you or holding you back?

I want to give full credit to Daphne Bernicker, who has done deep work in the area of motivation and emotional intelligence. This is truly ground breaking work that takes a giant step forward in our understanding of how motivation works in the human brain. Daphne, a good friend and colleague, has even created an assessment called the EQPlus® Motivation profile.

We will explore this and look at a method for applying this in our lives. We do not have to guess anymore at what is motivating someone. We can help ourselves and others create a framework to understand and then benefit from increasing our motivation.

Hot Cognition - "when emotions impact reasoning" APA Dictionary of Psychology.

If I told you there were 4 simple steps to sell more effectively...or lead others more successfully...would you listen?  That is what we will explore today.

People have emotions. Emotions impact our thinking, our decision making, and our behavior. Understanding how this happens allows us to better understand other people's decisions and behavior...even when they are out of the ordinary.

Hot Cognition is a moment when the whole brain lights up...when emotions and reasoning come together. They key to these powerful moments is to navigate them for the best outcomes. Not allow our emotions to rule us...but use the energy and power they add for more strategic outcomes.

Hot Cognition can also be a powerful process when influencing others. Whether you are a leader, a salesperson, or a business owner...understanding how the brain works (the neuroscience at work) and the way to ignite moments of Hot Cognition can accelerate your success and create powerful and long lasting connections where trust is built more rapidly and the outcome is significantly greater influence.

Can you be a good manager and not be a good leader? How does leadership differ from management? What is the right combination of the two?

These questions and more will be explored in this episode. Organizations can only be healthy if there is a good mix of both leadership and management. Many organizations have a fuzzy definition of what these two critical skill sets are and the impact they have.

Add to that the fact that people are driven by emotions. Both management and leadership efforts will have greater success when emotional intelligence is applied.

Great leaders tend to have higher EQ levels...research supports this. A large percentage of success factors for managers are directly related to EQ levels...the higher the EQ, the better the outcomes.

THE most important skill set to develop in 2022 (and beyond) is emotional intelligence!

I lost my oldest son on New Year's day. That holiday will never again mean what it use to mean to me. Now, it will be a reminder of endings...when before it had been a reminder of new beginnings.

Loss and Grief - our focus for this episode. We are in one of those moments in history when the entire world is sharing similar feelings of grief coming from loss. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of a relationship, divorce, loss of freedom, or loss of security and safety...our entire world is experiencing loss of some type at the same time.

Loss and grief are complex. There is no one right way to grieve a loss. People need time to deal with loss and grief but how much time could be very different for different people.

In this episode we will explore how loss and grief impacts every facet of life. We will look at the strong emotions generated, the way those emotions wash over us in waves, and how these strong emotions can lead to diminished cognitive functioning, changes in behavior, and performance gaps...and how our quality of life, well being, and sense of belonging can be impacted.

There is hope. People dealing with loss and grief can choose to enter a healing journey. That journey will look different for different people...because we are unique in who we are and how we work through our loss and grief. Loss and grief are a part of life...but they do not have to define who we are. 

The pathway you choose is up to you. We hope it is a healing journey.

IMPORTANT: This episode is not intended to provide mental health advice or other medical advice. If you or a loved one are struggling with loss and grief...seek help. Reach out to support groups in your church or community or seek help from mental health professionals.

It seems like there are few things we can control in life. The reality...we can control some of the most important factors that impact our lives. We control how we choose to respond and act, we control what we do with the energy and information that comes from our emotions, we control our decisions, and we control how we approach circumstances and people.

To be our best self and live our most satisfying life, it requires a specific skill set and approach...what I call the EQFIT® approach. A combination of skills and mindset that build our internal resources and prepare us for what comes next.

The EQFIT® approach is building a mindset that enhances:

• Mental agility
• Resilience
• Decision making
• Influence
• Leadership
• Well being
• Quality of life

Have you ever admired someone for their ability to navigate challenging situations, overcome difficult circumstances, persevere in the face of massive resistance, rapidly take advantage of opportunities? 

The ability to achieve these starts on the inside...and all of us have the ability to build the mindset that will help us win in life and in work.

Join me as we explore the building blocks of an EQFIT® mindset...starting with self-awareness, self-management, and self-direction.

The benefits of building an EQFIT® mindset:

• A relaxed confidence
• Greater clarity
• Ability to navigate emotions in self and others
• Enhanced focus
• Optimal decision making
• More optimistic approach
• Greater intrinsic motivation
• More satisfaction
• Accelerated success

So...what is this EQFIT® thing? That is what we explore in this episode. First, we start with the brain science behind the EQFIT® tools and methods. Then we get into a specific application of EQFIT®... accelerating sales success.

What if a salesperson understood their emotional drivers? What if they understood the emotional drivers of the buyer...the patterns a specific buyer uses to make decisions...how to best engage with different types of buyers? What is possible for a salesperson who is adept at navigating their own emotions...as well as the emotions of their buyers? Put simply...better results, shortened sales cycles, greater margins, and increased lifetime value of the customer/client.

Sales success is determined by an equation: Connection + Trust = Influence. This is the EQFIT® approach for sales. If the human elements involved in the sales process are well managed and given the consideration and focus they deserve, then the sales effort is enhanced. If not...well, sales success is much more difficult to achieve.

Many will say that having the right sales techniques are all that is needed for sales success. While some success may be achieved by a well honed set of sales techniques...the reality is that techniques are simply a method to apply Influence. But what if you don't have much Influence to apply with the buyer? Even the best techniques will fall short of optimal results if Connection and Trust are absent.

Add to this the current state of the buyer-seller dynamic. After more than 18 months of pandemic, shutdowns, lack of travel capabilities, a move to a virtual environment where remote work is accepted and practiced...people are craving authentic human connection. Those salespeople who can achieve this will thrive in the new marketplace...those who cannot, will continue to apply old models and methods and experience diminishing success.

In this episode, we explore how to sell successfully in the new marketplace, how to understand and utilize brain science to accelerate sales success, and how salespeople can better prepare themselves with the most critical tools to achieve the success they desire. 

EQFIT® for sales is the pathway to create a more agile, resilient, focused, and prepared salesperson and sales organization.