Ty Howard's Official Blog - Motivational Speaker, Author & Habits Consultant

Making the Embracing of Diversity in College, Cool by Ty Howard, Renowned Motivational Speaker (Article)

Ty Howard — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:02:08 +0000

Making the Embracing of Diversity in College, Cool

As more and more students from diverse backgrounds populate college and university campuses across America, the need increases to identify effective methods to teach students, faculty and staff how to welcome and embrace Diversity. Many campuses are working hard to educate everyone involved in their college experience process on race, gender, language, disabilities, religion, physical appearance, sexual orientation, nationality, multiculturalism, competency, training, experience, acceptance, personal habits, and many other characteristics of Diversity.

A great challenge for many colleges today is their people tend to only want to do and embrace trends that are popular and deemed cool. To Make the Embracing of D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y. “A Cool Thing to Do” on your campus, start by promoting and selling your students, professors, faculty and staff on mastering the healthy habit of Digging another person’s Individuality, Voice, Energy, Relationships, Style, Ideas, Talent, and Yearning to be their unique self.

Digging

UrbanDictionary.com defines Digging: Liking, finding inspiration in.

To be effective in a diverse learning environment, students, professors, faculty and staff must have an appreciation for Diversity. They must view differences as the “norm” in society and reject the notions that any one group is more competent or superior than another.

Individuality

The concept of Diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.

Voice

Students, professors, faculty and staff must understand that Diversity includes not only ways of being but ways of hearing and listening. There will be many languages, opinions and differences communicated on your campus as it becomes more and more diverse. To have Diversity issues on your campus is not a bad thing. Doing nothing about it given you have knowledge of the issue is where many colleges and universities go wrong (negligence).

Remember: Diversity has many voices. Create a learning environment that works to drop all the stereotypes, biases and hatred, and opens up to positive and progressive dialogue. Do not allow these voices to become silenced or ignored because your campus decided to cover its ears on the voices of Diversity.

Energy

Each individual on your campus brings with them a unique and empowering energy that helps pump the overall pulse of your college or university.

Everyone needs to welcome the power of Diversity because it enriches your learning and work environment, and provides social and economic benefits to all on campus.

Relationships

Diverse relationships are an important component of a functioning society and, arguably, an even more vital component for college success. As our world becomes more diversified due to increased immigration and globalization, making college campuses more ethnically diverse, relationships—as student and professor, as student and faculty, as student and staff, as parent and faculty/staff, as friends/student group members or romantic partners—between individuals with different ethnicities, values, religious beliefs, preferences and cultures become more commonplace.

Diverse relationships can lead to a greater understanding of other ethnic groups and cultures. This could potentially aid in greater equality and tolerance for all on campus.

Style

We are all different, we are all unique, but all of us are human. Every individual has his or her own style (image); way of thinking, speaking, seeing, listening, dressing, walking, behaving, and interacting with others. And although there is discrimination and inequality in the world we live in, we should always fight for the right to uphold and express our unique style in both a civil and non-threatening way.

Our Diversity as a human race is one of our greatest strengths, and all college and university campuses should dedicate themselves to teaching it, understanding it, celebrating it, and embracing it.

Ideas

Imagine what your college or university campus would be like if it were filled with people who thought alike. The narrow scope of ideas will ultimately lead to an unsuccessful college experience that will often result in the loss of both time and money for all. Diversity – throughout an entire college campus – is a valuable asset that encourages everyone to expand their horizons and think outside of the box. Success coincides with the deployment of diverse thinkers with unique talents.

Talent

All students, professors, faculty and staff have talents, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background, ability or disability, gender or race. If a student, professor, faculty or staff member discovers that the college campus they chose is not an open-minded and safe environment for them to showcase their unique talents, many will stop trying due to a history of failure or hostile response.

Make sure your college or university campus is one where everyone is encouraged and safe to showcase their unique talents. If you need to create special and unique programs, events or opportunities for some to do so, then create them. Engage in practices that include rather than exclude students from different backgrounds. By so doing, you promote and fulfill the responsibility on your campus for ensuring that everyone will have safe and favorable opportunities to develop, showcase and celebrate their unique talents.

Yearning — to be their unique self.

“Diversity” means more than just acknowledging and/or tolerating difference. Diversity is the conscious understanding and acceptance that everyone yearns to be their unique self.

Think of each person as just that—a person, an individual with feelings. Encourage all on your campus to not take part in racism, hate crimes, bullying, jokes, negative stories, sarcasm or mean-spirited remarks. Instead, educate and empower everyone to treat every individual equally regardless of their race, gender, religion, disabilities, age, nationality, culture, preferences, socio-economic status, or background.

Become an Ambassador of “It’s Cool with Me to Be Your Unique Self.” Speak out and take civil action when access is denied to someone based on any characteristic of Diversity. And never take action out of pity or feeling sorry for someone, take action because you know and believe that it’s the Cool and RIGHT thing to do!

As the economy becomes increasingly global, our college campuses and workforce will become increasingly diverse. Organizational success and competitiveness will depend on your school’s ability to welcome and manage Diversity – across the entire campus – effectively. One upbeat and positive method to help you accomplish this goal is to—Make the Embracing of D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y. “A Cool Thing to Do” on your campus, starting today.

Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on college student and staff development for peak performance and optimal success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked “Untie the Knots® Optimal Performance Process,” and the author of the best-selling book Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships, as well as dozens of published articles on college student development and employee and organizational development worldwide.

For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.dynamiccollegespeaker.com.

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Ty Howard’s Weekend Untie the Knots(R) Booster:

Ty Howard — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:50:24 +0000

Don’t cry because you’ve chosen to give up—cry because you’ve miraculously found two more ounces of inner strength to press forward through the feeling of exhaustion, hopelessness, the impossible or pain. ~ Ty Howard

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About The Author

Ty Howard of http://www.tyhoward.com is one of America’s TOP and in-demand business and motivational speakers on the circuit.

Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots(R), is an internationally respected authority on self-development and business-development. He is a habits consultant, relationship expert, teacher, success coach, and professional development consultant who has dedicated his life to teaching knots-free living and relationship-building to organizations, individuals, and families around the world. Ty is the author of the best-selling book Untie the Knots(TM) That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships.

When doing a story on any aspect of Achieving Success, Motivation, Overcoming Life’s Challenges, Employee Morale, Balancing Work & Life, Relationships, Fatherhood, Habit Development or Breaking within People, or Professional or Personal Development…

Contact Ty’s Business Office: Maryland, nationwide by arrangement and via telephone; available for keynote speaking engagements, and radio / television interviews…(also available for last minute radio / television interviews).

11 Simple Rules for Getting Along with Others in College by Ty Howard, Renowned Motivational Speaker (Article)

Ty Howard — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:14:19 +0000

11 Simple Rules for Getting Alongs with Others
in College

With so many colleges and universities welcoming new students to their campuses this month, it will be no surprise to see every now and then both friction and tension amongst students, staff and faculty. Put people of different races, genders, nationalities, backgrounds, opinions and preferences in the same environment−and conflict or misunderstanding will surely follow. Sometimes it’s the other person’s fault and sometimes it’s our own fault. I know I’ve had a few friction-filled moments in my life, and each time I assessed how I could have handled the situation better.

With the start of a new college experience, a new academic year, or the next semester in your college experience, I find it timely to provide you with my “11 Simple Rules for Getting Along With Others in College.”

I challenge you to read them and not find at least four or five areas that you can work on daily.

11 Simple Rules for Getting Along with Others in College

1.) Think first of the other person.

2.) Accept the fact that people are different.

3.) Allow people to start off with a fair shake.

4.) Build up the other person’s sense of importance.

5.) Respect the other person’s personal rights, space,
and belongings (property).

6.) Give sincere appreciation and support.

7.) Eliminate negative thoughts and stereotypes.

8.) Avoid sarcastic and spiteful behavior.

9.) Develop genuine interest in people.

10.) Strive to build healthy and rewarding relationships.

11.) Treat people the way you want to be treated!

Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on college student and staff development for peak performance and optimal success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked Untie the Knots® Optimal Performance Process, and the author of the best-selling book Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships, as well as dozens of published articles on college student development and employee and organizational development worldwide.

For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.dynamiccollegespeaker.com.

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Time Management Tips for Educators (Teachers, Administrators, Guidance Counselors and Special Education Professionals) by Ty Howard, Renowned Motivational Speaker

Ty Howard — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:24:17 +0000

http://www.SpeakersForEducators.com

The above video clip is of Ty Howard speaking as the full-day professional development trainer for the C. Melvin Sharpe Health School in Washington, DC.

Ty is presenting a full-day training session on time management. His session title: “Untie the Knots® to Time Management Woes” (for educators). Watch and enjoy as he inspires, teaches, motivates and empowers 100 teachers, administrators and staff to better manage their time, and to quit procrastination so they can all individually become the example not the excuse.

About The Author

Ty Howard of http://www.tyhoward.com is one of America’s TOP and in-demand business and motivational speakers on the circuit.

Ty Howard, Mr. Untie the Knots®, is an internationally respected authority on self-development and business-development. He is a habits consultant, relationship expert, teacher, success coach, and professional development consultant who has dedicated his life to teaching knots-free living and relationship-building to organizations, individuals, and families around the world. Ty is the author of the best-selling book Untie the Knots(TM) That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships.

Ty Howard’s Daily Untie the Knots(R) Booster:

Ty Howard — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:27:10 +0000

Only the father who is consistently present and reliably active in his child’s life knows the value of being a real Dad. ~ Ty Howard

Ty Howard’s – Dynamic Fatherhood Programs
(Click Here to Learn More…)

Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings

About The Author

Ty Howard of http://www.tyhoward.com is one of America’s TOP and in-demand business and motivational speakers on the circuit.

Ty Howard’s Daily Untie the Knots(R) Booster:

Ty Howard — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:40:58 +0000

Life is like a fine tuned instrument. Some people beat it recklessly, some people blow it foolishly, and some people become one with it skillfully to create and live out their own symphony (masterpiece). ~ Ty Howard

Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings

About The Author

Ty Howard of http://www.tyhoward.com is one of America’s TOP and in-demand business and motivational speakers on the circuit.

12 Quick Strategies to Build and Maintain Healthy Relationships at Work by Ty Howard, America’s Untie the Knots(R) Consultant & Coach (Article)

Ty Howard — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:17:15 +0000

12 Quick Strategies to Build and Maintain
Healthy Relationships at Work

Healthy work relationships are a must for any business to thrive and succeed in today’s economy. If employees are unhappy with their current work duties or teams, your customers and overall organizational productivity will definitely be impacted by the tension. To keep employee morale and performance moving toward optimal success, you should learn and practice the following twelve strategies that build and maintain healthy relationships at work:

1.) Develop a Positive Attitude.

Avoid sharing negative thoughts, actions, criticisms, and sarcastic snipes. Be less judgmental and accepting of others. A positive attitude is contagious and inspiring to work alongside. Make it your new daily habit to bring a positive attitude to work.

2.) Accept Personal and Cultural Differences.

It is counterproductive to expect and hope for everyone to be like and think like you. Do not place on or address co-workers with assumed cultural biases or stereotypes. When you and a co-worker don’t see eye-to-eye, try looking at things from his or her perspective. You will both be more productive if you recognize the need for cooperation to reach the set goals of the team and organization.

3.) Give Respect to Earn Respect.

Regardless of the situation, try not to lash out or be rude. Be respectful by paying attention, showing interest, listening carefully, and responding appropriately. Be open and honest about your feelings and allow others to do the same, in an amicable and professional way. Remember, respect starts with you and impacts others.

4.) Share Opportunities and Recognition Willingly with
Co-Workers.

Avoid being a spotlight and recognition hog. Never take credit for work or projects you did not do. If you want to be liked by members of your team, try recommending them for opportunities and recognition first. Share the spotlight and recognition with co-workers and you will find yourself improving the trust and appreciation level amongst the entire team.

5.) Avoid Gossiping.

Gossip is one of the top destroyers of healthy work relationships. Do not snoop into or tell another co-worker’s business or private life. If someone tries to invite you into a gossiping party, refuse to take the invitation. Keep away from both the rumor mill and gossiping trap inside your workplace, and you will enjoy the benefit of being looked at as a positive team player.

6.) Resolve Conflicts Early.

When a negative situation arises, do not let it continue to boil. Be prompt, direct, honest and courteous. Develop a plan of action to address the problem professionally with your co-worker. Then work together toward resolving it positively before having to bring it to your manager.

7.) Accentuate the Positives.

Do not jump at every opportunity possible to expose the negativity or incompetency of another co-worker. Be less of a watchdog or a tattletale. Instead, catch co-workers doing good work and tell that to as many people as you can across the organization. Become an Ambassador of Accentuating the Positives.

8.) Set Boundaries.

Avoid developing friendships at work that are too personal and that will sooner or later begin to interfere with your work. Maintain a professional behavior and not a bar or club scene behavior while at work. Developing healthy and professional relationships at work is always a plus. Focus on your priorities at work, and make it your commitment to not end up on the company’s “Wall of Shame” because you crossed the set professional boundaries.

9.) Listen Attentively.

When a co-worker comes into your work area, never be rude to them by not turning around so he or she can talk to your face instead of your back. Do not doddle, send text messages, take calls or answer emails when you’re supposed to be listening attentively. The most effective way to listen to anyone is with both your ears and your eyes. This will allow you to respond appropriately and avoid misunderstandings.

10.) Communicate Effectively and Professionally.

Never refuse to communicate openly and professionally with your co-workers. Do not purposely hold information on how you did something or give partial information with the negative hope that you’ll delay or trip up a teammate on a task or project. Take the time to learn how co-workers on your team prefer to be communicated and interacted with. Make the continuous improvement of your effective communication skills an annual goal for yourself.

11.) Deliver Customer Service with a Smile.

A definitely recipe for poor customer service is frowning, arguing, complaining, being spiteful, and a negative attitude. When you’re unfriendly, rude, sarcastic and mean-spirited at work, you set the team back from achieving service excellence and delivering quality customer service. Common courtesy and professionalism costs you nothing. A sincere smile can be felt through a phone. Become the example and not the excuse within your organization when it comes to delivering quality customer service with a smile.

12.) Do and Complete Your Work.

Being surrounded by clutter, disorganization, and failing to make the expected workload contributions towards the team’s goals reveals your unprofessional and slacker habits. If you find yourself continuously hesitating to take on new projects or are exceptionally skilled at finding someone who can do a task “better than you”, you are definitely a master at avoiding work. The more work you offload, the more pressure you put on others. While this doesn’t entail saying “Yes” to every task, showing your willingness to do and complete your work reflects positively on you and your work ethic. It may well encourage others to want to work with you, and recommend you for recognition or promotion in the future.

Happy employees are productive employees. All-hands meetings and one-on-one pep-talks alone will not improve toxic work relationships if your employees become frustrated, unhappy, depressed, and feel that they are just plain “workers.” Consider building and maintaining healthy work relationships a very important investment in your company, because it is. By practicing – daily – the above twelve strategies that build and maintain healthy work relationships, you will build stronger work teams, effective lines of communications, higher levels of productivity, award-winning customer service satisfaction experiences, and improved levels of employee morale.

About the Author: Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked Untie the Knots® Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide.

For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.

Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings

Break and Move Beyond the Length of the Chains by Ty Howard, Best-Selling Author & Empowerment Speaker

Ty Howard — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:05:33 +0000

The Inspirational Booster
by Ty Howard

Break and Move Beyond the Length of the Chains

Never let fear, procrastination or the longing for approval from others to take possession of your mind, they become self-forged chains.
~ Ty Howard

Have you ever experienced a moment in your life where you wondered “What to do next?”

Have you ever had a bolt of confidence spring into your being just as you were going to start working towards a new goal, but your comfort zone held you back?

Have you ever had the feeling “It’s now or never!” but you didn’t make your move?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, you at one time wore the self-forged chains.

I think we all have, or at least will don the self-forged chains in our lives at one time or another. However, we must not become paralyzed and enchained by the set patterns that have been given to us by the world.

There is an old African story that says, “If you take a baby elephant, place a chain around one of its back legs, hook the chain to a stake, and then drive that stake into the ground to restrain the baby elephant until it’s big enough to fend for itself. When the caretaker removes both the stake and the chain from the elephant’s back leg, the elephant will not venture out beyond the length of the chain that once restrained him. The story goes on to say that the elephant has been conditioned to accept residency in a mental prison given to him by his caretaker.”

We’ve all heard the old adage “An elephant never forgets,” and this story is a prime example of how an elephant’s ability to not forget can do more harm than help.

Through my observation of people throughout life, the same thing happens to humans. We become conditioned to believe that we can only go a far as our chains will extend. We are conditioned to believe things like: “No one in my family ever graduated from college,” “We grew up in this type of neighborhood – this is it,” “I was born to fail,” “I’m damaged goods,” “My life is one big joke,” “I’m a realist not a dream chaser. Why should I try to break free from the chains? Why should I try to pull up the stake? Why should I set myself up to fail?”

I ask you, “Why not?”

If failure weren’t an option, would you put out more effort?

If money weren’t an issue, would you take more risks?

Is there anyone better suited and deserving of success than you?

The bestselling novelist and the unpublished writer both have the same dictionary full of words to work with. The difference is one took action while the other went through the motions.

The most successful entrepreneur and the get-rich-quick visionary both have the same basic skills and resources to work with. The difference is one is willing to evolve through a process while the other is looking for the next quick deal.

And there is almost no visible difference between the fastest sprinter in the world and one who finishes last. They both run the race by the same rules; yet, the winner is the one committed to win. The winner is the athlete who does what it takes, who trains day after day, who adds a little extra effort to each workout, who can visualize crossing the finish line ahead of the rest.

I ask you again, “Why not you?”

Mahatma Gandhi said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”

We all will experience different challenges and circumstances throughout life, some more demoralizing or traumatizing than others. I encourage you even in the midst of uncertainty and despair to never allow the chains of complacency to imprison you. We must continue to lay our foundation stones, inch by inch, together, until the entire chain breaks giving way to new birth and possibility to our future.

You have what it takes to achieve greatness in anything you desire. Within you is the potential for extraordinary accomplishment. Do not voluntarily chain yourself to the stake. If you are chained right now – put it up, through it away and move forward! No one is better suited for success than you. See every achievement as a stepping stone to greater things.

When challenges arise, and they will, smile and say, “That’s great because ________.” Then find a way to cross the finish line ahead of the rest.

Greet your future with your eyes open, your head held high, a glide in your stride and no thoughts of regret – success is there for you!

Remember: Sometimes you have to take action because YOU know it’s the right thing to do. Because YOU choose not to succumb to limits set for you by the world. Because YOU know your life isn’t a dress rehearsal.

Go ahead — Break and Move Beyond
the Length of the Chains!

– End –

- Extracted from Ty Howard’s best-selling book A Collection of Daily Inspirational Booster ( Book 1 of a 12-Series Set ). Pub date: January 2001 by Knots Free Publishing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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About The Author

Ty Howard of http://www.tyhoward.com is one of America’s TOP and in-demand business and motivational speakers on the circuit.

5 Toxic Habits to Not Bring to Work by Ty Howard (Article)

Ty Howard — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 03:14:25 +0000

5 Toxic Habits to Not Bring to Work

There are bad habits that you can bring to work, and then there are toxic habits that you can bring to work. Bad habits usually irritate others around you and delay progress in some way, shape or form. Toxic habits go beyond mere irritation of co-workers—they decrease employee morale, sabotage team performance, and destroy work relationships.

The fact is, if an employee or employees are able to exist within an organization or team with toxic habits, that organization or team will never achieve the desired results it sets out to accomplish. That’s the simple law of Cause and Effect. Healthy habits create positive rewards. Toxic habits breed negative outcomes.

If you want to distance yourself from the countless number of employees who bring bad and toxic habits to work, and enjoy being a co-worker who is liked and called on regularly, understand this—your habits will create your future.

The 5 Toxic Habits to Not Bring to Work are:
1) A Negative Attitude
2) Not Being a Team Player
3) Gossiping
4) Know-It-All
5) Resisting Change

Let’s explore the 5 Toxic Habits to Not Bring to Work each day and how to break these toxic habits that are becoming more common in the workplace.

Toxic Habit #1: A Negative Attitude

There’s nothing more energy-zapping and morale-draining as having to deal with a negative, sarcastic, spiteful, and pessimistic co-worker. If you are the co-worker who complains a lot, focuses on reasons why things can’t be done, and promotes negative commentary throughout the organization that venomously predicts poor outcomes—you are the transporter of a negative attitude at work.

How to Break Toxic Habit #1: Instead of coming to work with a negative attitude, try stringing together a series of “A” Days for the next 30 days. To string together a series of “A” Days, it will require you approaching each work day with a positive attitude that each day will be an “A” Day. The reality is—not every day will be an “A” Day; yet, if you approach each day with an “A” Day mentality, you will string together more positive and productive “A” Days than any other days. In turn, your change of attitude and behavior will contribute to improving employee morale, team performance, work relationships, and your overall health and position for advancement.

Toxic Habit #2: Not Being a Team Player

Another toxic road to failure at work is refusing to be a team player. If you are the co-worker who does not show up every day for work on time, who does not take care of your assigned responsibilities and workload, who only cares about self-gain and recognition, who refuses to pitch in and work a little harder, even on a task that is not specifically assigned to you—you are NOT a team player at work.

How to Break Toxic Habit #2: Start today by committing to participate in work activities (even tasks that aren’t specifically assigned to you), show up for work on time, promote the recognition of your team members first, get your workload and responsibilities completed ahead of deadlines, create opportunities to get to know your co-workers and for them to get to know you, and practice having good manners and a friendly disposition on a daily basis. Becoming a better team contributor will make you a more valuable player.

Toxic Habit #3: Gossiping

At work you’ve created great friendships and have lots of colleagues who you interact with on a daily basis. No matter how you would like to avoid it or even if you enjoy it, gossip at work is a part of life. Yet, there’s a fine line between sharing a quick story/situation and being a toxic gossiper. If you are the co-worker who likes to gossip because it makes you feel more powerful and popular, attracts attention and puts you on center stage for the moment, bonds you with the group of popular office gossipers, makes you seen as “in the know” to co-workers, and provides you with several sets of ears when you need and want to vent—you are a toxic gossiper.

How to Break Toxic Habit #3: If you tend to gossip over lunch, maybe you have to rethink who you’re going to lunch with regularly. Conversations with co-workers always demand a certain level of discretion in order to protect people’s privacy and respect their boundaries. Asking too many personal questions and snooping into people’s private affairs can make them feel uncomfortable and not trusting of you. If someone wants to involve you in gossip, refuse to take their invitation. Each time you avoid getting involved in gossip, the easier it will get. It’s the first couple of times that it will be a conscious effort to resist the temptation. Amidst all the challenges, stay focused on the benefits you will gain by not becoming entangled again in this toxic habit.

Toxic Habit #4: Know-It-All

Know-it-alls act like they are experts when they aren’t. However, they don’t always know they aren’t experts, which makes them very challenging and poor team players to work with. If you are the co-worker who is always right, craves every opportunity to look smart and important, has a low tolerance for correction or contradiction, likes to learn a little about a lot of things, and is often so condescending that you do not have the patience or time for others to catch up to your way of thinking—you are a toxic know-it-all.

How to Break Toxic Habit #4: If you think you might be a know-it-all or a friend, relative or co-worker has told you that you act like a know-it-all, here are a few pointers to help you break this toxic habit: Analyze the feelings that invade you when you finally stop talking. The only way to get to the source of your problem is to stop talking and think about why you feel the need to tell the world every little thing you know. Make a list of the elements of your personality that you dislike. Try to see yourself in the same way that others perceive you, paying special attention to your narcissistic and never wrong behavior. Take note of the way in which you react when confronted with criticism. Concentrate on the needs of your co-workers and show interest in what they’re talking about or doing. Remember, other people feel the need to be listened to as well.

Toxic Habit #5: Resisting Change

In recent years, changes in the economy and business have forced several organizations to change the way they do business. Whether we like it or not, executives, managers and supervisors are the ones who have to implement the changes. The natural and first reaction to change is resistance. If you are a co-worker who thinks if you hold out long enough the new policies won’t stick; works to show and prove the new methods/systems are causing more problems than help; expresses that all customers are complaining about the new changes; quickly rejects to share the new products/services with customers; and gangs up on management with negative absolutes, such as “Everyone says that they’re very unhappy with the recent changes!” and “We’ve tried that in the past and it won’t work again, wait and see!”—you are resisting change with toxic behavior.

How to Break Toxic Habit #5: If you truly feel that a new method of doing something will be counterproductive to the company’s goals, express your concerns; and at the same time, bring with you a set of typed out alternatives that you think could work as well, or better. Change will happen with or without you, so it’s up to you to either take part in it or be cancelled out by it.

BONUS Tips to Help You More: Acknowledge and accept the bad or toxic habit that you want to change. Unless you have an interest and commitment to change, you will not act upon it. Have patience. Behavioral change takes time and support. Tell friends, relatives and co-workers – who genuinely care for you and your future success – about your plan and get them to support you. With some encouragement your journey to breaking the bad and toxic habits will not be a lonely one.

Being a good co-worker is as important as being a good worker. If you wish to be that person at work who people like and don’t cringe to call on, without having to sucking up to anyone, then leave both your bad and toxic habits at home.

Suggestion:
To learn more about successfully freeing yourself from bad and toxic habits, read our best-selling book Untie the Knots® That Tie Up Your Life: A Practical Guide to Freeing Yourself from Toxic Habits, Choices, People, and Relationships.

About the Author: Ty Howard,
Mr. Untie the Knots®,
Freeing Maximal Business, Performance & Human Potential Daily!

Ty Howard is an internationally recognized authority on organizational and managerial practices that optimize employee performance and success. He is the creator and lead facilitator of the trademarked Untie the Knots® Optimal Performance Process, and the author of Untie the Knots®: Improving Habits, Choices, People, Relationships, Performance and Results, as well as dozens of published articles on employee and organizational performance and development worldwide. For information on his programs and services, visit: http://www.tyhoward.com.

Click Here for MORE Ty Howard Quotations & Sayings

Motivation Is Your Choice by Ty Howard, Renowned Motivational Speaker

Ty Howard — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:02:20 +0000

The Inspirational Booster
by Ty Howard

Motivation Is Your Choice

Just because someone else’s drive and motivation shuts-down, does not mean yours
has to shutdown too.
~ Ty Howard

We all have been around at least one friend, family member, co-worker or stranger who was unmotivated. If you’re an upbeat and self-motivated person this can be draining on your energy and personal drive. If you’re a person whose level of motivation can go either way each day, it can be even tougher for you to not get sucked into this person’s unmotivated web.

A good friend of mine, Jackie, calls me regularly to talk about her life and day. Jackie tends to STAND OUT from all my other friends who call because she seems to always be unmotivated about life, work, you name. I honestly think she could win fifty thousand tax dollars, right here and now, and she would move very slowly to pick it up, and would turn around for her picture to be taken with a snarl and the most unmotivated “Yaaay, woo woo” you’ve ever heard in financial prize winning history.

The reality is—no one is motivated one hundred percent of the time. We all have our days of feeling unmotivated. Yes, even professional motivational speakers too! *Smile* If you’re unmotivated, that’s not someone else’s fault. Take full responsibility for your emotions and life challenges, and know that you have the ability to put into action your own method(s) for bouncing back to a higher level of motivation.

Never allow the negative character or actions of another person to sway you into being unmotivated. You don’t need anyone else’s permission to be and stay motivated. Nor should you shutdown your motivation to live small in order to comfort someone else who is unmotivated. Motivation is always yours to choose, maintain, and celebrate each and every day.

Your choices are made in every moment, word, thought, and action. Those choices are driven by what you focus upon. When you choose to be unmotivated, you choose to be sluggish, worried-filled, negative, and unhealthy. When you choose to be motivated, you choose to be highly active, creative, positive, and healthy. Focus on and choose the best, without ceasing, and that’s exactly what you’ll have.

Your life is a gift not because someone says it is, but because you know and see it as such. I truly hope that you too will choose and use positive and healthy levels of motivation without hesitation or reluctance?any time YOU wish.

Remember, Motivation Is Your Choice!

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About The Author

Ty Howard of http://www.tyhoward.com is one of America’s TOP and in-demand business and motivational speakers on the circuit.