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Philosophy: BE HOPEFUL; BE STRONG; BE BRAVE; BE CURIOUS
I have been called an executive coach for people who don't consider themselves to be executives because I am passionate about personal development for all. I coach groups & individuals - it aligns with who I am.
But I was not always a coach. Before that I was a project & program manager - for more than 25 (TWENTY FIVE) years! A quarter-century. "That's a very long time" as a friend said to me recently.
In 2016 I quit project management.
I was burned out.
It appeared as sudden insubordination. Principled insubordination (thx Todd Kashdan) but insubordination nonetheless.
After 25 years in project management, I couldn't say the word “project”. I was done - exhausted, disconnected, cynical, useless.
Now I live AND coach by the motto BE HOPEFUL; BE STRONG; BE BRAVE; BE CURIOUS. I embrace the dark and light sides of life.
So why work with me?
It's a winding journey that has brought me here. I've worked in fields from mediation & law to anxiety coaching, economics to massage, & industries from financial services to state government, & non-profits to education. Then there is the project management AND coaching!
My coaching practice has been deeply affected by having worked in so many international organizations such as Société Générale, UBS, HVB & Broadridge, as well as NYS Government & an educational non-profit. It is also influenced by the amazing teachers I have worked with.
You can learn to be Hopeful, Strong, Brave & Curious with the right support. Even if things seem really tough at the moment.
Being a coach informs everything I do
1. Everything is about you the client, the audience, the student
2. I listen deeply and help make sense for you of what I hear.
3. I play back and retell your story from a different perspective to help you see a new step.
4. I am 100% in your corner – and at the same time I try to challenge you
5. I ride the rollercoaster of life, just like we all do. It's dark side is just as valuable as its light side
VIA strengths: Appreciation, Bravery, Curiosity, Fairness and Gratitude
MIPI competencies: Motivational Self Efficacy, Motivational Influence, Perseverance
Speaking & writing
I find it totally astonishing to have been privileged to address audiences totaling more than 150,000 including Project Managers, HR professionals, Coaches, Leaders, Managers, Teams, Interest Groups, Legal Professionals and more. More than 100,000 people have watched the LinkedIn Learning Courses (!) In 2024, I am fortunate to be able to publish a second book, this time with Wiley Publishing. This book is about being coached (rather than how to coach). And YOU can help us figure out what gets included in it.
Speaking
Since 2016 Ruth has engaged with audiences from around the world - more than 75,000 people live and pre-recorded in 10's of countries. Audiences include Project Managers, HR professionals, Coaches, Leaders, Managers, Teams, Interest Groups and more.
Available For: Advising, Authoring, Consulting, Speaking Travels From: Southport, North Carolina, USA Speaking Topics: #futureofwork, #mentalhealthintheworkplace, #burnout
Ruth Pearce
Points
Academic
20
Author
290
Influencer
191
Speaker
107
Entrepreneur
20
Total
628
Points based upon Thinkers360 patent-pending algorithm.
The Practice of Character Strengths: Unifying Definitions, Principles, and Exploration of What’s Soaring, Emerging, and Ripe With Potential in Science and in Practice
Frontiers in Psychology
April 13, 2021
Dr Ryan Niemiec and Ruth Pearce explore the current state of Character Strengths research and practice and name 7 attributes that are the foundation of being a Character Strengths Based Practitioner
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Character Strengths and Project Managers - A Study
ALLE LLC
September 10, 2019
This paper is an exploration of which character strengths show up most often for project managers and how those strengths rankings compare with others in the wider population. We also look at strengths that are less commonly reported as high strengths for project managers. Finally, we look at the alignment of project managers’ top strengths to seven research-based team roles.
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
1 Advisory Board Membership
Institute for Neuro- and Behavioral Project Management
NBPMI
December 28, 2018
The profession of project management is entering a new level of maturity. Project management processes are well-known, highly developed, and widely used. Organizations are committed to a project-based approach to implementing change. It is time for project managers, PMOs, professional associations, project professionals of all specializations, and organizations worldwide to look forward to a new phase in project management, one that focuses on behavioral factors.
We at the Institute of Neuro and Behavioral Project Management believe that this is the way to take project management into the 21st Century and beyond, and create a practice that will result in better project outcomes, and more flexible approaches to change in all types of organization.
It is the mission of the Institute to increase understanding of the impacts of human factors on the project lifecycle and to offer solutions to the challenges of creating predictable results out of unpredictable behavior. This, the next phase in project management, integrates the learnings of the behavioral sciences and neuroscience with project management to create Behavioral Project Management.
Tags: Leadership, Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
121 Article/Blogs
Music and Mental Health
ALLE Spontaneous Conversation
May 15, 2023
One of the people who has been contributing ideas and feedback to the book I am writing, Julianne Wolfe, Project Management Professional and Essential Skills Specialist, shared this comment the other day:
The Importance of Social Intelligence in Project Management
LinkedIn
May 04, 2023
Social intelligence is a crucial skill for project managers to possess. In this blog post, Ruth, a former project manager turned coach, highlights the importance of social intelligence in project management. She discusses how empathy, communication, conflict resolution, and leadership are essential components of social intelligence, and how they can help project managers build strong relationships with team members, clients, and stakeholders to ensure the success of their projects.
Experimenting with sleep - No Naps Necessary
LinkedIn
April 28, 2023
When I was a child, my parents used to talk about what a heavy sleeper I was. My mother used to say in a somewhat worried voice “she would sleep through the house falling down.” My father’s favorite comment was, “Ruth slept like a log last night, she woke up in the fireplace.’
Leading vs Managing: What's the Difference and Why it Matters
ALLE Spontaneous Conversation
April 27, 2023
As a coach, I know that effective leadership is crucial to the success of any organization. But what does it mean to be a leader? Is it the same as being a manager?
Partnering with Mindfulness: How It Can Help You Excel as a Project Manager
LinkedIn
April 10, 2023
I'm Ruth Pearce, a coach with years of experience helping professionals overcome stress, burnout, and overwhelm. In my line of work, I've seen firsthand the transformative power of mindfulness, and I'm excited to share it with you today.
A Brave New You - A different kind of book club!
LinkedIn
April 05, 2023
Wiley Publishing has invited me to write a book about coaching! It will be published in January 2024. Next week we get started on the cover design! (Of course there will be an elephant!)
Tags: Coaching, Future of Work, Project Management
Does checking in on ourselves increase sensitivity to others?
LinkedIn
January 10, 2023
Last week I asked whether reading literary fiction could help us tap into the emotions of others. A popular theory about 10 years ago, it has been somewhat debunked in recent tmes - at least the results of the original study have proven hard to replicate. Nevertheless, I am always curious about what does and does not aid us in connecting with others.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Unzooming - turn off to stay engaged
ALLE LLC
January 09, 2023
Dogs with the zoomies are the epitome of high energy, enthusiasm, excitement and joie de vivre. Not so when humans get the zoomies. Then we have a feeling of depletion, low energy, anxiety and more.
Why does meeting online get so tiring?
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
What is the best day for group coaching
ALLE LLC
January 07, 2023
When creating group coaching courses, we want to schedule them (and price) them so that they can have the most impact. Group coaching is powerful for learning and support and often it is hard to attend because of other work commitments throughout the busy day.
Help us to figure out key times to schedule groups to help YOU be your best everyday
Does reading for five minutes prime your emotional intelligence?
ALLE Spontaneous Conversation
January 03, 2023
After reading Atomic Habits by James Clear several years ago on a recommendation from Andy Kaufman, I am a big proponent of incremental change. It works for getting things done and it works for coming back from burnout. Incremental change works. I use that approach in coaching, in my business and beyond!
Purpose, Sensitivity and Sociability… Measurement & Development - shared from LinkedIn
ALLE LLC
December 19, 2022
Since 2016, I have been spending a lot of time on motivation. In coaching we often focus on reconnecting clients to their values and dreams.
It is not hard to believe that most of us want to have a sense of purpose in what we do. It is easier to motivate ourselves, keep going in hard times, and even to speak out to motivate others when we have a sense that our goals mean something.
Purpose is what makes us get up in the morning. It is what makes us choose thoughtfully and deliberately. Keeping a focus on our sense of purpose aids in decision making by helping us to baseline choices against our overall purpose.
What is your purpose?
As the World Turns – Hopes AND Fears for the coming business year
ALLE Spontaneous Conversation
December 14, 2022
Blink and things have changed, wait a few moments and the weather will change
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Thinkers360 and asked to contribute a prediction for 2023. I thought and thought and could not come up with anything that felt original, new or worth taking up valuable online space – or audience time with sharing.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Who should YOU be coaching in your organization?
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November 03, 2022
New Parents, New Managers/leaders, HR. Who should we be coaching and why?
The post Who should YOU be coaching in your organization? appeared first on ALLE LLC.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
10 Reasons to nip toxic positivity in the bud in the workplace!
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November 01, 2022
In July of this year, we ran our third(!) #LinkedInLive and discussed the topic of Toxic positivity. Allison Jarrett, Irene Poku MSc ACC and Rebecca Davies, joined me, Ruth Pearce Project Manager Burnout Coach (PM-BoC) to explore this thorny topic.
We have continued to ask others what they think...
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Sources of Burnout – Expectation Management
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October 28, 2022
One of the biggest sources of burnout is mismanagement of expectations from employers, employees and customers. What can we do?
The post Sources of Burnout – Expectation Management appeared first on ALLE LLC.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Why my book is the WRONG book!
LinkedIn
October 02, 2022
It is a book for project managers about how to leverage character strengths and positive psychology with teams and other stakeholders. It is a combination of my then two favorite activities – project management and positive psychology – or the science of what is strong.
Tags: Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Project Management
Asking Humans to be Inhuman
LinkedIn
July 29, 2022
Every day I hear about the urgent projects, changing priorities, the multiple roles, the need to multitask, fire drills, the next most important thing, missed vacations, 7 day working, lack of boundaries, instant access...
We are asking humans to be inhuman. And that is inhumane.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Crossing a Line
LinkedIn
April 25, 2022
Like so many others, I had taken a role and at the start was LOVING it. I loved the challenge, the work, the newness, the team, my business partners and colleagues, the interactions, the location, the cafeteria …
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Psychometrics, what it is and why it matters
PM Motivation after Burnout
April 21, 2022
“At the office I worked in before that, my [organization] required all employees to take a personality test that divided us neatly into one of four quadrants: Doers, Creators, Deciders, or Thinkers, categories that would then define our roles in the department. Most of the others were Doers; there were a couple of Deciders, too. I was the only Thinker. My first thought was, I think I need to get out of here.”Pamela Paul
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
5 Steps to be a Strong – and Connected – Project Manager
PM Motivation after Burnout
April 04, 2022
As a child there was a phrase that my father loved to use. Any time we reported back that we had tried something, hopeful that the outcome would be other than expected, he would shake his head and say, “Well that is the triumph of hope over experience.” When he said that I always felt a little hurt because there was an implication that I had somehow been foolish to even try.
The Project Motivator's Challenge - Team Engagement & Mood
LinkedIn
December 24, 2021
Anyone who has been in the workplace for a while knows that collaborative motivated teams accomplish a lot more than their unhappy disconnected colleagues. There is plenty of research from organizations such as Gallup that shows that engagement is a key factor in how people perform at work. And from one perspective, the statistics are worrying. It seems that, across the world, only one in three people is engaged at work—leaving two out of three of us who are not[1].
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Crystal Clear – now what? Age fallacy and confidence in “Re-Careers”
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October 27, 2021
By Brigid Buchheit Carney We all know the fairy tales we share with each other: “By the time I am 14, I will receive my first kiss.” “By the […]
The post Crystal Clear – now what? Age fallacy and confidence in “Re-Car
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Building a culture of appreciation – Part 1
PMWorld 360 Magazine
October 04, 2021
Research shows that appreciation – as measured by the VIA character strength of appreciation of beauty and excellence – is not used a great deal at work (Money, Hillenbrand & Camara, 2008). Appreciation is something that is often associated with nature, art, or skillful performances: we appreciate a great piece of music. It is this last meaning that is useful in workplace teams.
Tags: Leadership, Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, Project Management
Building Connections in Turbulent Times
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September 15, 2021
The beauty of the network is that it will get us there – wherever there is! And we will get there together.
The post Building Connections in Turbulent Times appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together Coaching.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
If not now, when?
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September 04, 2021
The rabbinic sage Hillel said, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” That […]
The post If not now, when? appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together Coaching.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Using Mindfulness & Character Strengths in Times of Stress
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August 18, 2021
As some people already know, this has been an eventful summer for me. After 2020 was the year of not a lot going on – fortunately for me and my […]
The post Using Mindfulness & Character Strengths in Times of Stress appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together Coaching.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Please be Careful – Vaccinated is not Invincible
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August 07, 2021
All through 2020, I was relentless. No going out without a mask, wash hands MANY times a day, clean surfaces, keep my distance. My husband too. For a year that […]
The post Please be Careful – Vaccinated is not Invincible appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together Coaching.
5 Steps to be a Strong – and Connected – Project Manager
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August 01, 2021
As a child there was a phrase that my father loved to use. Any time we reported back that we had tried something, hopeful that the outcome would be other […]
The post 5 Steps to be a Strong – and Connected – Project Manager appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together Coaching.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
The Journey to Becoming a LinkedIn Learning Instructor
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July 30, 2021
Throughout this post I use the abbreviations: LI = LinkedIn; LIL = LinkedIn Learning Q1. How did you get invited to be a LIL instructor? I met a current LIL […]
The post The Journey to Becoming a LinkedIn Learning Instructor appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together Coaching.
Mindfulness – when all you know maybe wrong!
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June 15, 2021
Mindfulness is when you know that all you know maybe wrong….. When this missive from Angela Duckworth dropped into my mailbox over the weekend, it felt like it was written […]
The post Mindfulness – when all you know maybe wrong! appeared first on Project Motivator/In It Together C
What is mindfulness to you?
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June 15, 2021
Mindfulness is when you know that all you know maybe wrong….. When this missive from Angela Duckworth dropped into my mailbox over the weekend, it felt like it was written […]
The post What is mindfulness to you? appeared first on Project Motivator.
Real Talk About Race
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May 21, 2021
Talking about race - which is actually a social construct and not a biological concept - can be challenging AND it is essential if we are going to reconnect with our cousins from all around the world
The post Real Talk About Race appeared first on Project Motivator.
The Power of Group Coaching
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April 27, 2021
By Naomi Clarke-Turner With 1 week to go before we start our next In It Together Group Coaching program – Navigating Challenges from Strengths – one of our senior facilitators, […]
The post The Power of Group Coaching appeared first on Project Motivator.
Stop and Smell the Roses or…
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April 05, 2021
… walk outside, just for 5 minutes to admire nature’s beauty. That’s all it takes to give yourself a short self-care break. When I walked around my yard the other […]
The post Stop and Smell the Roses or… appeared first on Project Motivator.
Stop Leaving Social Capital to Chance
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April 01, 2021
Workplace connection does not happen by chance. It takes deliberate action. The last year has shown us that we need to build connections not stumble into them.
The post Stop Leaving Social Capital to Chance appeared first on Project Motivator.
The WHAT of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 5
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March 26, 2021
The WHAT of Group Coaching In It Together - Part 5
...the sessions our attendees learned, explored, reset, and planned how to move forward with strength.
The post The WHAT of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 5 appeared first on Project Motivator.
The WHO of Group Coaching In It Together cont’d– Part 4
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March 26, 2021
More about the WHO of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 4
Our strengths concentrations may well foster connection for those who share those strengths and at the same time we want to be mindful that not everyone has a passion for learning, or a strong sense of gratitude or spirituality. To be in
The HOW of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 2
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March 26, 2021
In the second part of this 5-part series we look at some of the challenges – for clients and coaches – of group and team coaching. In the last post […]
The post The HOW of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 2 appeared first on Project Motivator.
The WHY of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 1
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March 26, 2021
In the first part of this 5-part series, we explore why our organization puts so much focus on group and team coaching. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as […]
The post The WHY of Group Coaching In It Together – Part 1 appeared first on Project Motivator.
Committing to act…
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March 04, 2021
In creating this post I was looking for a feature image for diversity. 2020 was a year of challenges. It was also a year when those of us with greater […]
The post Committing to act… appeared first on Project Motivator.
You can’t get there from here – working with the strength of perspective
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February 11, 2021
Perspective <> knowledge I remember as a small child traveling on the bus with my grandmother. She was old and looked wise and knowledgeable. People would ask her, “Can you […]
The post You can’t get there from here – working with the strength of perspective appeared first on Pro
Alive and Kicking: Surviving Tough Projects
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February 09, 2021
Who knew when I selected this topic that 2020 would be the proverbial project from hell for nearly everyone? Just making it from the start of the year to the […]
The post Alive and Kicking: Surviving Tough Projects appeared first on Project Motivator.
Invitation to PMI members to join In It Together Q2
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January 30, 2021
Find out about the upcoming Q2 Navigating Challenges from Strengths program with the In It Together Group Coaches.
The post Invitation to PMI members to join In It Together Q2 appeared first on Project Motivator.
Labeling Emotions – Project Management Lessons Learned from In It Together Group Coaching
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January 25, 2021
At the start of every workshop, webinar and group coaching session, we check in with our emotions. Why? Well, as we start one of these sessions, we are always transitioning […]
The post Labeling Emotions – Lessons Learned from In It Together Group Coaching appeared first on Project
In It Together Fulfills Its Promise
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January 23, 2021
Little did I know it would change the course of my career: I was in the dignity business now.
The post In It Together Fulfills Its Promise appeared first on Project Motivator.
Why Focusing On Character is Essential As You Begin 2021
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January 01, 2021
Just one year ago, we ushered 2020 in with all the typical excitement and celebratory fanfare, as we had with so many years prior. How could we know the anguish, […]
The post Why Focusing On Character is Essential As You Begin 2021 appeared first on Project Motivator.
In It Together Coaching – 5 ways it helps, 10 benefits & 30 takeaways!
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December 07, 2020
I have been asked a lot recently “what will In It Together Coaching do for me?” Our audience is often – although not exclusively – project and program managers. These […]
The post In It Together Coaching – 5 ways it helps, 10 benefits & 30 takeaways! appeared first on Project Mo
Thank you from Chris Campos – Brazil
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November 30, 2020
Meeting Ruth has been transforming my life! She is a wonderful person, with great knowledge and wisdom, her teachings have contributed to great discoveries in my life. I have learned […]
The post Thank you from Chris Campos – Brazil appeared first on Project Motivator.
Alan answers – what is group coaching anyway?
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November 14, 2020
On Saturday November 14th, in our first In It Together Group Coaching Kickstarter session, one of our coaches – Alan Elmore – explained what coaching and in particular group coaching […]
The post Alan answers – what is group coaching anyway? appeared first on Project Motivato
Impermanência – Impermanence
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October 19, 2020
by Chris Campos A estabilidade pode parecer reconfortante, mas o movimento da vida é inevitável. Viver é fazer parte de um ciclo de mudanças. Às vezes, tentamos obter o total […]
The post Impermanência – Impermanence appeared first on Project Motivator.
Stakeholder Management – A 4-Step Process
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October 05, 2020
Originally published in PMWorld 360. A few weeks ago, a coaching client of mine asked me to explain stakeholder management. He wanted me to provide him with a definitive list […]
The post Stakeholder Management – A 4-Step Process appeared first on Project Motivator.
5 Steps to be a Strong – and Connected – Project Manager
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August 23, 2020
As a child there was a phrase that my father loved to use. Any time we reported back that we had tried something, hopeful that the outcome would be other […]
The post 5 Steps to be a Strong – and Connected – Project Manager appeared first on Project Motivator.
The present, the past and the future – being adaptable in the face of change.
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June 25, 2020
Little did I know when I was selecting topics for a guest blog that I was invited to write at the beginning of the year that we were on the […]
The post The present, the past and the future – being adaptable in the face of change. appeared first on Project Motivator.
Contributions by Ruth Pearce, VIA Product & Practice Development Consultant
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June 04, 2020
As the VIA Institute on Character Product & Practice Development Consultant, Ruth Pearce is a regular contributor to VIA Topics.
The post Contributions by Ruth Pearce, VIA Product & Practice Development Consultant appeared first on Project Motivator.
Character Strengths as Pathways to Personal Peace
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May 25, 2020
Best laid plans – For several weeks I have been planning to set up the furniture in our screened in porch. We love to sit out there among the trees […]
The post Character Strengths as Pathways to Personal Peace appeared first on Project Motivator.
Social Intelligence, Communication And Project Managers – Sweet Spot Or An Opportunity?
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April 23, 2020
“This article was originally posted on Forbes.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2019/04/22/social-intelligence-communication-and-project-managers-sweet-spot-or-an-opportunity/#39688de51354 As a long-time project manager I study what makes project managers tick. Since 2016, I have b
See Your World in a Fresh New Way
VIA Institute on Character
April 14, 2020
Generally, we think of meaning as being our purpose, our reason for being, something that pushes us, even in the face of struggles. Meaning helps us stretch, step out of our comfort zones and grow. It gives us a sense of significance – that we matter.
We also know that meaning is tied to learning. When a class or training connects to a bigger purpose for us, we are more likely to retain the learning and more importantly apply it. Even the most interesting topics don’t stick with us unless they connect to a bigger purpose for us.
Photo by Tobias Adam on Unsplash
Answering your top 3 Character Strengths questions
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March 27, 2020
Over the last few months, since the publication of my book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, I have been speaking to project managers from all around […]
The post Answering your top 3 Character Strengths questions appeared first on Proj
Choosing your Role Model in Times of Crisis
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March 18, 2020
Choosing your role model in a crisis In these challenging times, some people are better positioned than others – financially, socially, emotionally and psychologically – to ride out the ups […]
The post Choosing your Role Model in Times of Crisis appeared first on Project Motivator.
Perseverance – Possibilities & Pitfalls
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March 05, 2020
When Sarah heard that Justin was loose again, she pulled on her boots and jacket and headed outside. She was pretty sure she knew where the neighbor’s errant horse would […]
The post Perseverance – Possibilities & Pitfalls appeared first on Project Motivator.
Boosting your character - the benefits of strengths towing!
linkedin
January 15, 2020
My top character strength every time I take the VIA Character Strengths survey is Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. This strength – that research has failed to link with anything really – is a much-underrated strength (in my opinion) and often goes unrecognized. One client of mine on discovering the strength was one of her top five debated with me for 20 minutes as to whether it is a strength and whether it could possibly be true that not everyone ranks it highly! She could not believe that everyone does not marvel at a virtuoso performance, the view from the top of a mountain or being in nature. But I digress.
Stressed by gatherings at Christmas? Do the dishes!
linkedin
December 24, 2019
While I in no way want to ignore those who feel the holidays keenly because of loneliness, I have been very focused recently on the strains of gatherings. This year is going to be quiet. And honestly, I am longing for that. (If you are facing time alone and are not looking forward to it, please message me!)
Taking networking and project leadership to the next level!
linkedin
September 25, 2019
Last week, I had the privilege of facilitating two mastermind groups for senior project managers and agilists. They came from a variety of industries, each coming with a BIG question, challenge, or change that they are leading. Some topics were about motivation and influence, others were about the practical steps to implement change, some were about managing up or sideways, some were about getting others to embrace change and uncertainty.
The Character Strengths of a Leader
ProjectManagement.com
September 23, 2019
One of the wonderful things about character strengths is that although we all have all 24, and they are a common language that lets us express our understanding and appreciation of each other’s qualities in a straightforward way, we do nevertheless express each strength uniquely.
This combination of similarity and difference is what makes character strengths so powerful. They both connect us and differentiate us at the same time.
Nowhere is this more apparent than when you speak to people who are leaders and to the people whom they lead. It is not uncommon to encounter expectations about what a leader will look like, what strengths they will have at their fingertips. We may even expect them to have superhuman capacities that translate into many signature strengths – more than your average person. One person even asked me once whether to be a good leader you needed to get all 24 strengths to the top level.
And of course, the most common preconception of all is that in order to be a leader, we must have the strength of Leadership as a top strength.
Building A Culture of Appreciation - Part 2
ProjectManagement.com
August 26, 2019
In my last post, I advocated looking for things to appreciate in yourself, to practice recognizing and acknowledging those traits that you share with others but express in ways that are uniquely you. In this post, I will dig deeper into the strength of appreciation and then suggest ways to use appreciation to the benefit of your team. Building a culture of appreciation builds rapport, a sense of inclusion and well-being for you and for those around you and you don’t need to be in charge to help make it happen.
As a reminder, Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence (a.k.a. appreciation) is seeing the best in people and things around us!
Appreciation the Strengths Booster
ALLE LLC
August 02, 2019
How the character strength of appreciation of beauty and excellence is undervalued and yet makes every other strength more powerful.
'He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.' — Albert Einstein
Appreciation – the Strengths Booster.
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August 01, 2019
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. — Albert Einstein Appreciating Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence […]
The post Appreciation – the Strengths Booster. appeared first on Project Motivator.
Building A Culture of Appreciation - Part 1
ProjectManagement.com
July 21, 2019
Research shows that appreciation – as measured by the VIA character strength[1] of appreciation of beauty and excellence – is not used a great deal at work.[2] It is often associated with appreciating nature, art, or skillful performances. And it is that last definition that is useful in teams in the workplace.
Subtly different than gratitude[3] which is about being thankful, appreciation is the strength that allows us to see and name the skills, values, and contributions of people around us. It is a strength that makes calling out the contribution of a colleague more comfortable. And yet we don’t use it much at work.
The strange thing is that it is not an uncommon top strength – some research suggests that 4 out of 10 of us rank it as a top strength! Maybe we just don’t think to use it in the workplace. The same is often true of love – but that is another story!
Review of Mark Struczewski Basics of Productivity Course
linkedin
July 08, 2019
As a project manager, I have a good grasp of task and time management, task prioritization and generally getting things done. Most people I work with report that they think I a productive, I get a lot done in a short time and I meet commitments. So when Mark Struczewski introduced me to his new course on productivity, initially I hesitated. But, never one to rest on my laurels, I decided that I would try it. After all, it was just two hours of classes with some hopefully helpful homework. (The course also includes a call with Mark which I have yet to schedule!)
Finding Strengths in Others
ProjectManagement.com
June 24, 2019
Over the last couple of months, I have had the pleasure of offering two webinars exploring the use of character strengths as project managers. In the second webinar we moved onto the topic of seeing strengths in others - the second three phases in the SBPM model – See, Acknowledge, Leverage.
We used a sample profile created from attendees’ responses to the VIA Assessment. This is the kind of thing I do with project managers and teams when I work with them. The strengths profile of a team is an indication of team culture.
Some questions to consider are:
What does a team with this profile feel like to work in?
What strengths are most prevalent and how do they affect communications?
Can there be too much of a character strength or strengths in a team?
If yes, what do you do about it? Some options are
Explore the profile with the team – awareness is a great first step.
Explore how people feel about the top strengths and what strengths might be encouraged to create balance.
Spot strengths with team members to get them used to seeing their own strengths and the strengths of others.
An Author Reveals – Pt 9
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June 12, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions […]
The post An Author Reveals – Pt 9 appeared first on Project Motivator.
An Author Reveals – Pt 8
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May 29, 2019
Chapter 7 – When Other Things Go Wrong What planning styles are most prevalent on your team? In my teams, I have seen all sorts of planning styles. Some teams have tended to be more detail oriented and this has sometimes made it more difficult to provide high level updates or to measure progre
#PMIEMEA19 – on tour with Character Strengths
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May 26, 2019
When I die Dublin will be written in my heart.~ James Joyce, writer.
For a few days, a group of project managers gathered together in Dublin to talk…. Project management. For some people that sounds a little like watching paint dry. For others, it does not convey much at all! What does it mean when...
Finding Strengths in You
ProjectManagement.com
May 20, 2019
There is lots of great research on the benefits of starting from what is strong rather than what is wrong. For example, we know that positive emotions make us more open to ideas – including ideas about how we might learn and grow. Adopting a learning mentality – also known as “growth mindset” has been shown to lead to great feats. Of course, talents – innate abilities – help, but they don’t go anywhere if we don’t hone them and learn to apply them effectively.
#PMIEMEA19 - On tour with character strengths!
linkedin
May 19, 2019
When I die Dublin will be written in my heart.~ James Joyce, writer
For a few days, a group of project managers gathered together in Dublin to talk…. Project management. For some people that sounds a little like watching paint dry. For others, it does not convey much at all!
An Author Reveals – Pt 7
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May 15, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers. Chap
An Author Reveals – Pt 6
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May 01, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers Chapt
Social Intelligence, Communication and Project Managers
Forbes
April 25, 2019
Ask project managers how important social intelligence is and MOST will say very. Ask the same group of project managers how much we usually have and they, well they laugh.... This study is of project manager character strengths - what is high and what is not so high ...
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
Social Intelligence, Communication And Project Managers – Sweet Spot Or An Opportunity?
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April 23, 2019
“This article was originally posted on Forbes.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/ellevate/2019/04/22/social-intelligence-communication-and-project-managers-sweet-spot-or-an-opportunity/#39688de51354 As a long-time project manager I study what makes project managers tick. Since 2016, I have b
Social Intelligence, Communication And Project Managers - Sweet Spot Or An Opportunity?
Forbes Magazine
April 22, 2019
Analysis of project managers and their tendency to rank the strengths of social intelligence and perspective lower than other people on average. Based on questions from recent audience members, the article explores whether gender or age changes this result.
An Author Reveals… Pt 5
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April 17, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers.
Three more things PMs want to know about Character Strengths
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April 15, 2019
Over the last few months, since the publication of my book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management I have been speaking to project managers from all around the world about how the science of Character Strengths can help us build engagement, increase
An Author Reveals – Pt 4
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April 02, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers. Chap
Answering your top 3 Character Strengths questions
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March 27, 2019
Over the last few months, since the publication of my book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, I have been speaking to project managers from all around the world about how the science of Character Strengths can help us build engagement, increas
Creating a happier workplace culture one strength at a time
PMWorld 360 Ezine
March 25, 2019
The Project Management Institute defines a stakeholder as “those who have a stake or an interest in a project or strategy undertaken by a company or an organization, they will be affected in some way by the project and so have an interest in influencing it.” Stakeholders can be either internal or external to the client’s organization. Internal stakeholders work within the client’s organization, and external stakeholders do not work for the organization, but they still have an interest in the project. Stakeholder management involves the client reconciling “the differing stakeholder requirements and passing on the clear direction to the project manager” in order to gain a collective agreement and successfully complete the project (PMI, 2003).
This article explores a 4-step process for successful stakeholder management
Answering three more frequent PM questions on Character Strengths.
linkedin
March 22, 2019
Over the last few months, since the publication of my book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, I have been speaking to project managers from all around the world about how the science of Character Strengths can help us build engagement, increase productivity and creativity and help us to get stuff done.
An Author Reveals… Pt 3
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March 21, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers. Chap
Sneak Peek! Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management
linkedin
March 19, 2019
In this post I share the Introduction from my book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management. Recent Amazon reviews say, "If you pick one book to read on project management this year, start here." and, "I’ve been around the project management industry for a long time and around project managers even longer. This book is what the industry needs."
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers.
An Author Reveals… Pt 2
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March 14, 2019
In the book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management, there are lots of opportunities to explore the topics covered with the “Making it Stick” questions and the “Strategies for Success” in each chapter. In this blog series, I share my own answers. Chap
What is Stakeholder Management
PMWorld 360 Ezine
February 21, 2019
The Project Management Institute defines a stakeholder as “those who have a stake or an interest in a project or strategy undertaken by a company or an organization, they will be affected in some way by the project and so have an interest in influencing it.” Stakeholders can be either internal or external to the client’s organization. Internal stakeholders work within the client’s organization, and external stakeholders do not work for the organization, but they still have an interest in the project. Stakeholder management involves the client reconciling “the differing stakeholder requirements and passing on the clear direction to the project manager” in order to gain a collective agreement and successfully complete the project (PMI, 2003).
This article explores a 4-step process for successful stakeholder management
Shifting from stakeholder management to stakeholder engagement
PMWorld 360 Ezine
February 12, 2019
In the latest edition of the PMBOK, there was a small but significant change in the language around stakeholders. Instead of Stakeholder management, the focus of a project manager is stakeholder engagement. What does this change mean?
5 habits for 2019 - 3 steps to keep them (7 min read)
linkedin
December 31, 2018
This is a very quick post about New Year's Resolutions.
Resolutions are a little like performance reviews. There is a big build up, we spend time coming up with meaningful goals, and three weeks later we have forgotten all about them. It is hard to understand why we want to set a point in time to reflect on who and where we are and who and where we want to be.
5 Steps to Making a Dream Come True
linkedin
November 27, 2018
Today is the culmination of many years work. This journey started in 1992 when I accidentally became a project manager. Since that time I have been learning and practicing project management. I have spent countless hours in the pursuit of a greater understanding of how to engage teams to get better results, and although that learning will not stop, two years ago it reached a point where I felt compelled to share what I have learned with my fellow project managers. I not only wanted to be a Project Motivator, I wanted to help others to become Project Motivators too.
Roles, Engagement and Social Intelligence - a Project Manager View
linkedin
November 15, 2018
Over the last two years I have been gathering information on project managers. Sometimes I have been asking people who work alongside PMs for their viewpoint, other times I have been asking PMs directly.
5 Way to be a Strong - and Socially Intelligent - Project Manager
linkedin
October 24, 2018
At the PMI Global Conference in LA in October 2018, about 100 project managers gathered early in the morning on the last day of the conference to explore character strengths and the art (and science) of team engagement - for us and for our teams. We explored social intelligence and hope, prudence and appreciation.
Pop Quiz - Post PMI GC, what did you do differently?
linkedin
October 13, 2018
You went to LA, you participated in workshops and presentations, you networked, you partied and you went home. You probably took notes of things you want to remember, things you want to do, things you want to learn more about.
Day 3 of the PMI GC - a Great Finish!
linkedin
October 10, 2018
This was my first foray into the PMI Global Conference and what a wonderful first experience. With such a terrific array of speakers and topics, it was hard to choose between sessions. But once we engaged our perspective and judgment strengths, we realized that it really was a no-lose situation. Practically any session would be of interest and practically any session would be educational. And as my preliminary research shows, love of learning is a big motivator for project managers!
PMI GC Day 2 - It just keeps getting better
linkedin
October 07, 2018
It is the end of day 2 at the conference, After a great shout out for Dana Brownlee and her upcoming book The Unwritten Rules of Managing Up: Project Management Techniques from the Trenches from emcee Stephen Maye, we started the day off with a great keynote from Cam Marston. He took us through the causes of intergenerational friction starting with Socrates! Very interesting and informative. Definitely information that we can all benefit from and use. Our behavioral preferences are learned and change from generation to generation. As much as boomers complain about millenials, we made them who they are today!
PMI GC Day 1 From Great to Greater!
linkedin
October 07, 2018
Here I am at the PMI Global Conference in LA. This is my first GC, and I was not sure what to expect. Well the first day was certainly more than I ever hoped! And as a project managers, HOPE is a go to strength.
SBPM Tips: The A-Z of character strengths – engaging conversations for our disruptive times.
linkedin
September 26, 2018
People who know me already, know that I am always exploring ways to connect with and engage the teams I work with. Engaged and connected teams are more motivated, more productive, more innovative and more committed to each other and the goals of the project. I use all sorts of techniques, but one of my favorites is Character Strengths.
Great Opportunities from Character Strengths
linkedin
September 25, 2018
Today is Character Day. What a great time to use the strength of bravery to share that 2018 is turning into a year of opportunity. In October I present two sessions about Strengths-Based Project Management (SBPM) at the PMI Global Conference in LA.
Live today as if ... it is ALREADY tomorrow!
LinkedIn
January 24, 2023
I have started reading the book by Nick Riggle called This Beauty A Philosophy of Being Alive[1]. I don’t usually read philosophy books, not because I don’t like them, because there are so many books in the world and I cannot read them all, and I choose to focus on things that feel more practical. And philosophy books tend to boggle my mind!
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
2 Books
Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management
Berrett-Koehler
November 27, 2018
Many project managers do not have the authority to direct the activities of people on their teams--they can only influence them. The most influential people succeed by focusing less on themselves and their message and more on others. They pay attention, they are brave, they are vulnerable, they are curious, and they look for and acknowledge the things that are important about and to the other person. And they model the behavior that they want to see. This book tells you how.
Tags: Leadership, Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Coaching Perspectives VIII
Center for Coaching Certification
November 27, 2018
Coaching tools, techniques, and processes for project managers, executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Insights for cultural competence, coaching a team, trauma coaching, authenticity, and more.
Tags: Leadership, Culture, Future of Work, Mental Health
1 Conference Publication
Project Manager Effectiveness Survey Results
ALLE LLC
April 16, 2019
As a project manager for many years, I have, over that time, enjoyed many conversations with
other project managers and also non-project managers about what the role entails. Some people
have described to me a role that has not sounded at all like the work I have been doing. Using
expressions such as “glorified note-takers” and “task managers only interested in what we have
done today”, people who I thought of as friends and colleagues described the role in mechanical
and often not very positive tones. One friend said, “don’t get me wrong, they are needed, but it
isn’t rocket science is it?”
Others, often project managers themselves, described the role in more positive terms, highlighting
the complexity of the role as a conductor of many different parts of a project or program. For
these people, the role is much more elaborate and entails many more activities. Chief among them
seemed to be the person who acts as the clearinghouse for information for any person who may
have an interest in the project. When describing the responsibilities of a project manager, this
second group pointed to the challenge of being able to communicate with all different stakeholders
in the way that is most meaningful to them. The processes that we follow to set up a successful project, through managing the execution to wrapping things up and delivering the finished product
– which is often a far cry from the product that was conceived in the first place – are often
complex and require great attention to detail. Regardless of the debate about project methodology,
our role was described as everything from onerous to essential.
To get a clearer picture of the role of the project manager, I set out to survey both project
managers and their non-project manager colleagues.
The survey ran from November 2016 to November 2017, with most responses being collected in
the first six months.
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
1 eBook
The ALLE LLC PM Burnout Recovery Guide 2022
ALLE LLC
November 15, 2022
Check out our E-book on Burnout by Ruth Pearce, ALLE LLC Chief Inspiration Officer!
As a project and program manager for over 25 years, Ruth experienced burnout three times. Now, with an education in positive psychology, coaching, speaking and causes of burnout, Ruth comes back to her lifelong playground to help others in the field prevent and reverse burnout for themselves. Ruth is passionate about providing tools to help PMs be the best they can be.
Supported by the team at ALLE LLC, Allison Jarrett, Beckie Davies and Irene Poku, she offers all sorts of coaching, speaking and training for the overwhelmed project manager. And don’t worry, we know time – and energy – is short! We all have more to do than time to do it. One recent quote said that today is the slowest your life pace/rate of change is going to be. So what better day to take action? If not today, then when?
Download the complete book about burnout – both assessing and addressing it.
12 chapters that foster incremental understanding and recovery.
Instructions to claim 6 PMI PDUs
Discover the ARC model – Assess; Reduce; Call to Action
Check out other options such as group and 1:1 coaching, online self-paced courses and more
This book is based on the LinkedIn Learning program released in April 2022 but it has additional resources and activities to foster incremental change for you and anyone you know who is struggling.
Have questions about the e-book on Burnout by Ruth Pearce? Contact her here: Email RuthPearce@projectmotivator.com
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
1 Journal Publication
The Practice of Character Strengths: Unifying Definitions, Principles, and Exploration of What’s Soaring, Emerging, and Ripe With Potential in Science and in Practice
Frontiers in Psychology
January 27, 2021
What does it mean to be “strengths-based” or to be a “strengths-based practitioner?” These are diffuse areas that are generic and ill-defined. Part of the confusion arises from the customary default of practitioners and leaders across many cultures to label anything positive or complimentary as “strengths-based,” whether that be an approach, a theoretical orientation, an intervention, or a company. Additional muddle is created by many researchers and practitioners not making distinctions between very different categories of “strength” in human beings – strengths of character, of talent/ability, of interest/passion, of skill/competency, to name a few. To add clarity and unification across professions, we offer seven characteristics and a comprehensive definition for a character strengths-based practitioner. We center on the type of strength referred to as character strengths and explore six guiding principles for understanding character strengths (e.g., character is plural; character is being and doing) and their practical corollaries. Reflecting this foundation and based on character strengths research, our longstanding work with strengths, discussions with practitioners across the globe, and a practitioner survey asking about strength practices (N = 113), we point out several character strengths practices or approaches we describe as soaring (e.g., explore and encourage signature strengths; practice strengths-spotting), emerging (e.g., the integration of mindfulness and character strengths), or ripe with potential (e.g., phasic strengths; the tempering effect; the towing effect). We use the same framework for describing general research domains. Some areas of research in character strengths are soaring with more than 25 studies (e.g., workplace/organizations), some are emerging with a handful of studies (e.g., health/medicine), and others are ripe with potential that have none or few studies yet opportunity looms large for integrating character science (e.g., peace/conflict studies). Using this framework, we seek to advance the exchange and collaboration between researcher and practitioner, as well as to advance the science and practice of character strengths.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Bravery vs Recklessness: Knowing when to stand up and when to stand down
Arizona State University
September 28, 2022
Keynote themes
Change comes from people speaking out against norms and at the same time creating trust and belonging in the groups they inhabit. Project managers are often confronted with situations where they need to share unpopular news or opinions and they have to choose which battles to take on and how to present their message. Based on work by Dr. Todd Kashdan on the Art of Insubordination and related work by Dr, Charlan Nemeth on dissent, Ruth's session will explore the reasons we act to “fit in”, dos and don’ts of challenging the status quo, and ways to win others over.
Learning Objectives
Explain why we spend so much time fitting in
Identify ways to challenge group think
Explain what studies show about the effect of dissenters on groups and decision making
Develop a plan for being brave rather than reckless when navigating the challenges of project management
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Burnout: Sources, Signs and Solutions
PMI DMV
September 20, 2022
Abstract:
Burnout is a “hot” topic now in many professions. One profession that does not get much attention in these discussions – project management.
Join this keynote session with Ruth Pearce and explore some of the sources of burnout – especially for project professionals.
Be a participant in the first audience to explore with Ruth the connection between burnout and engagement. Together, we will discuss the question of whether the focus on engagement at work in the last few years is one of the major causes of the current so-called "burnout epidemic".
Walk away able to recognize some precursors to burnout, signs that burnout is taking hold, and with some solutions that can help to halt and reverse burnout symptoms.
To get the most out of the session, you may want to take the free burnout assessment at this link: https://projectmotivator.com/burnout-assessment/
(Note: Results won't be shared with anyone.)
And it is not all bleak – we will have some fun and lots of laughs!
Learning Objectives:
1. Explain what burnout is and where it comes from as a project manager
2. Identify signs
3. Plan steps to halt and reverse burnout.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Social Intelligence: Why we need it and how we can get it!
ALLE LLC & IPMA YC
November 30, 2019
Social Intelligence: Why we need it and how we can get it!
Project managers and their teams agree that communication and connecting stakeholders to the goals of a project are core to the role of project managers. Connection is a fundamental part of both aspects of our role. Connection is built on social intelligence – the way that we build and maintain relationships with others and elicit co-operation. This session explores social intelligence in project managers and provides tools for building social intelligence from the moment the session starts.
Social intelligence is how we connect with others. Connection directly impacts communication, and as that is such a big part of our role as project managers, social intelligence would seem like a key ingredient for success. Yet when I ask project managers about social intelligence, they shake their heads and laugh. They say social intelligence is not a go-to for us!
To investigate further, I asked a group to take the VIA Character Strengths survey. Results showed that far from having more social intelligence that our team members as we might hope, on average, we have less. Earliest results show that project managers rank it at just 19/24 on average compared with 10/24 on average for the US at large!
From project initiation to closeout, a project manager’s understanding of how people process information and make decisions, informs the way in which we tailor communications to our stakeholders – or does it?
How effective are we at tailoring our message to the needs of others?
If the survey results are correct, we have work to do. If we are good already, we can be better.
This session will introduce you to character strengths and the ways you can use them to increase your social intelligence to build more effective teams.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
The Strategy of Character: Measuring and Aligning Character for Success!
ALLE LLC/PMI Chicagoland
November 18, 2019
You are a person of character…
How does your character affect the way you engage at work? You probably know the statistics about engagement – 2/3 of us are not engaged (Gallup) and managers are the biggest single cause of engagement and disengagement (Gallup). How engaged are you as a PM? What strengths do you bring to the table and how do those strengths align strategically with planning and executing projects?
In this session, you will discover what you can do to:
1. Understand your own character and the character of your stakeholders.
2. Be more engaged yourself – it is hard to engage others if you are not feeling engaged.
3. Play to the strengths of others and see them for who they really are
4. Align your strengths strategically and make yourself a more effective PM
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
4 Media Interviews
Books & Beyond
PMO Leader
December 28, 2022
Interview for the PMO Leader with Ilinca Nicolescu. This was Ruth's x0th birthday, and she decided to share an hour with the audience. Some of her favorite people showed up to support!
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
In It Together On TV! NBC Interview
Import from wordpress feed
May 21, 2021
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month Ruth was invited by Thalia Hayden onto NBC on May 7th. Check out the five minute interview about Mental Health, Coaching, Character Strengths […]
The post In It Together On TV! NBC Interview appeared first on Project Motivator.
Thought Leader Insight from the PMI
Project Management Institute
October 15, 2020
Ask project managers how important social intelligence is and MOST will say very. Ask the same group of project managers how much we usually have and they, well they laugh.... This study is of project manager character strengths - what is high and what is not so high ...
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
Interview with Dr. Ryan Niemiec, Director of Education, VIA Institute on Character
ALLE LLC
April 22, 2019
Dr Ryan Niemiec interviews Ruth Pearce about her groundbreaking book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management. The book explores the role of character strengths for project managers and teams.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
People and Projects Podcast | Saturday Livestream | Ruth Pearce
People & Podcasts with Andy Kaufman
May 02, 2020
Ever wanted to meet the author and ask them questions.... here is your chance to find out more from Ruth Pearce, Author of Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-based Project Management
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Motivation
TEAMGANTT
October 03, 2019
If you lead projects, you’ve likely had battles with motivation in project management—whether it’s to find motivation to complete your own work, or to mobilize an entire team to meet a goal successfully. You may have won a battle here and there, but sometimes it can feel like the topic of motivation can become an all-out war. But by instilling some basic values and using some helpful tools to help you figure out what motivates people, you can win that war before it even starts. On this episode, Brett interviews Ruth Pearce, who is an accomplished project manager and coach, and the author of Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management. In conversation, they cover:
Strengths-based project management
The strengths that PMs possess
Techniques used to motivate team members (and yourself)
How to you keep your team motivated in the face of tight deadlines or other challenges
How to build influence
Quick tips and tactics to keep people motivated
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Mark Struczewski Podcast
Mark Struczewski
April 15, 2019
Ruth Pearce is a project motivator, author, speaker, and coach. She also conducts research into the role of the project manager and their strengths. Her passion is studying and experimenting to understand what makes teams tick. She created her book Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-based Project Management to give project managers the kickstart they need to transform their teams and projects. Ken Blanchard said of her book, “Read Be a Project Motivator and watch your project teams thrive.”
On this episode with Ruth Pearce:
Challenges of projector managers
How to REALLY hold effective meetings
The different kinds of meetings
The power of having a single purpose
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Elise Stevens Fix My Project Chaos
Elise Stevens
April 10, 2019
Have you thought about your strengths lately? Not your skills and talents, but the key character strengths within your personality.
If you’re a project manager there’s a good chance you’re prudent and persevering, which means you like to have a plan and you don’t like to give up.
Ruth Pearce believes the key to building strong teams full of motivated people is for leaders to study their own character strengths and then highlight and acknowledge the character strengths of others.
In this podcast, Ruth describes working with teams that were under stress and how her desire to get people more engaged without breaking the budget eventually led her to the science of character strengths.
Instead of relying on your intuition about people, she recommends getting to know your own strengths and learning how to spot them in others.
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
Joe Pusz - Project Management Office Hours
Project Management Office Hours
March 21, 2019
In this episode of Project Management Office Hours Joe Pusz, PMO Joe, and his guests Ruth Pearce and Michael Donnelly discuss using Strengths Based Project Management, progressing from good to great project management, building successful PMOs, and Ruth's book, "Being a Project Motivator, Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Project Management." Ruth and Michael have great chemistry and the discussion flows easily between them as we get insights, tips, techniques, and tools. This is a can't miss episode to learn Why you need to be more than a technically competent project manager.
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
1 Quote
Fast Company - How to Ask Someone at Work if They're Vaccinated
FastCompany
August 13, 2021
As we make more changes in the way people work, it can be tempting to ask another's vaccination status. As several contributors highlight in this article, as Covid cases rise even among vaccinated people, the focus should be on compassion, health & safety.
Be Hopeful; Be Strong; Be Brave; Be Curious targeting your strengths practice with Ruth Pearce
Center for Coaching Certification
December 09, 2022
As more and more basic skills and roles in the workplace are automated, managers, leaders and employee resource personnel are seeking new ways to be effective and in demand in the future. As we develop the science and practice of coaching, these professionals can learn a lot from us about interaction, motivating and nudging.
While task-based activities can be readily automated, people skills still depend on ... people! Using character strengths and coaching techniques, professionals and coaches have more tools to support their clients and their colleagues using strengths to navigate change, build new habits and become who they want to be.
Find out how during this session and walk away with insights that you can put into action immediately.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the science of character
- Explore how to use character strengths - in particular Hope, Bravery, and Curiosity - to connect and communicate with others
- Create a plan for integrating these strengths plus one of their top strengths into their daily behaviors
Ruth Pearce, ICF ACC designated coach, a Certified Inclusion Coach, a Project Management Institute accredited Project Manager
My purpose is to build engaged teams who will run through walls for each other.
Experience, and evidence, shows that this happens when colleagues feel seen and heard. It happens when they feel that failure is not a dirty word, when they feel safe to challenge the status quo. And it happens when they know their strengths, they are appreciated for their strengths, and they are encouraged to use and grow their strengths in everything that they do. Group coaching creates that space, supported by the experience and training I have in financial services, non-profits, education, and online communities. I am a International Coach Federation ACC designated coach, a Certified Inclusion Coach, a Project Management Institute accredited Project Manager, a trained Economist and a trained Attorney/Mediator. My motto is Be Hopeful, Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Curious - www.projectmotivator.com
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
Bravery vs Recklessness: Knowing when to stand up and when to stand down
International Institute of Learning
November 03, 2022
Leader Bravery A great example of what counts when a person is a leader. "Bravo" HK
Bravery vs Recklessness - knowing when to stand up - Nice presentation, and as you were rightly saying always bad news by Project Managers should be disclosed with much bravery like Delays why they are happening is it because of any dependencies, or any Integration issues, etc... Perseverance with the plan which is important, and you rightly said about not to dwell with the spent overs which is very true "Sunk Costs" and to seek & search for better opportunities and how to leverage things with the Management/Contingency Reserves and this is where the mettle of Risk Management really lies Sincere Thanks, Vijay VV
Good example to explain bravery vs recklnessness Very good presentation with a good example to explain bravery vs recklessness. Tnx - RM
Appreciate this perspective of being brave Looking forward to being able to review the print out and then apply bravery to my own work.
Bravery vs Recklessness When to say no , is not always accepted, or easy to do when working for a power lead organization. - PR
Great talk As i was listening to this all i could think of is how many PMs on my team need to listen to this talk. Such great insights. Thanks - JH
Bravery vs. Recklessness Great example of Maggie, the PM, being both brave and reckless that helped illustrate the difference. Very much enjoyed this presentation, 5 stars, would recommend. - MG
Great presentation From someone who likes to self analyze on why I don't want to do something and if fear of failure is the only reason, then I HAVE to put myself through the discomfort to just do it. :-) Thank you!
Tags: Future of Work, Leadership, Project Management
Burnout: Sources, Signs and Solutions
International Institute of Learning
November 03, 2022
Just in time now we are returning to office.
This gives great insights about detecting early signs of bunout, and without a doubt the ruturn to the office possess many of the characteristics that were depicted here. It is a very timely presentation. - FT
Burnout - Quiet Quitting - It's Real
Thanks for this thoughtful presentation. Learning about the indicators of potential burnout - in my team and myself - will help me make changes for the better. GD
Burnout Source Signs and Solutions
Very Nice one Ruth Thanks! Vijay - VV
Burn out Entered
Very good presentation. Tnx for the recovery tips ;-) - RM
Awesome topic Entered
Thank you very much, Ruth. The topic of your presentation is extremely important. I truly appreciate your presentation. AM
Great Topic and Spot On
Thank you for this presentation on a topic that we all probably experience at one point or another during our careers. Also good to know and understand some of the identifiers, as we may be in positions to recognize if peers, coworkers, stakeholders or even customers are hitting a burnout point and may be able to help navigate them through with some tips on reducing those feelings, even if just a temporary reprieve. Tried to give this a full 5-Star review, but for some reason unable to select it. - DO
Timely presentation - Burnout
Remote and Hybrid work styles - increasingly the need to be online, and constantly available. sure has taken a toll on administrate aspect of PM role - PR
Great talk
Liked the content but it was hard to listen to presenter.- JH
Great presentation
I definitely plan on watching this again before the on demand sessions are removed. We all experience burnout and it is so important to mitigate that for our own mental health.- RM
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
From Project Manager to Project Motivator
American Society for Administrative Professionals
September 13, 2022
Advanced
As a project lead, instead of just managing tasks, wouldn’t it be great to be able to really motivate your team and stakeholders? Uncover the secrets of strengths-based project management as an experienced project manager walks you through practical ideas and real-world examples on how to become a project motivator. Hear how to implement research-based practices to boost your team and stakeholders’ engagement. Explore how you can leverage your own strengths and the character strengths of others as never before to get things done. Learn how to inspire others to strive for a goal and why influence matters more than authority when it comes to motivating teams. Conclude with mindful use of character strengths and the project motivator’s mantra: be hopeful, be strong, be brave, and be curious.
Learning Objectives:
Examine how to use a growth mindset, character strengths, planning styles, and learning styles to engage yourself and others.
Carry out the six steps to build a culture of appreciation.
Apply character strengths to help deal with project problems and conflicts.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Burnout Sources Signs & Solutions
American Society for Administrative Professionals
September 13, 2022
Burnout: Sources, Signs, and Solutions
Sep 13 2022
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EDT
Fiesta 6-10
We’ve all had days at work when we felt “stressed out.” What’s the difference between being stressed out and being burned out? Prominent researchers and psychologists have identified the typical stages of the journey to burnout. As a result, there are signs that we can use to gauge burnout in ourselves and others. When needed, we can implement solutions to reduce the risk of burnout and to start reversing the symptoms. In this session we answer the question “what causes burnout?” and examine how personal, organizational and global stressors contribute. We will examine strategies to help ourselves and others combat burnout in the workplace.
Learning Objectives:
Explore the signs and symptoms of burnout–what to look for in yourself and others.
Explain the difference between “flameout” and “burnout” and why it matters.
Define specific strategies at the individual and organizational level to reduce the risk of burnout.
Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference
Society of Women Engineers
October 21, 2021
Join us at the Crossroads of America this October for WE21—the top destination for women engineers and technologists! We promise that the strong, diverse women you meet and learn from will leave you feeling personally inspired and reinvigorated to take on the world.
Ruth's session: Be a Motivator – Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-Based Leadership
PMO Impact Summit 2021
PMO Impact Summit
September 20, 2021
This annual event has grown year to year and brings together PMO leaders both current and aspiring.
In Ruth's session we will be exploring coaching questions help us as PMO leaders!
Dancing in the Moment - how coaching questions help to build collaboration
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
NCPMI Chapter Conference 2021 hosted by IIL
NCPMI/IIL
August 21, 2021
This is one of the most active PMI Chapters around and each year the conference raises new questions and new topics. This year it is Transcendence: Moving Beyond
Ruth's session will be
Transcend Automation: Future Proof Your Role With & Through People.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Getting the Communication Right: How to Build Social Intelligence into the Message
ALLE LLC & PMI Chicagoland
November 18, 2019
Our biases sometimes get in the way of communication. We listen for cues and filter information based on prior experience and personal perspective. This is not only natural, but to some degree is necessary if we are not to be overwhelmed with information.
So how do we make sure our message is being received loud and clear? And how do we know we are hearing clearly what other people are telling us?
In this session, we explore how social intelligence helps build effective messages and we use real life examples to experience how biases affect conversation outcomes.
As we explore these interactions, we delve into character strengths theory and see how it relates to seven key team roles that play into our interactions every day. We will look at how the strengths of social intelligence and perspective show up for project managers and explore strategies to build our social dexterity.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
In the Here and Now: Using mindfulness practices to enhance personal and team performance
ALLE LLC & PMI Chicagoland
November 18, 2019
The research says it all. Mindfulness leads to better health, reduced stress and greater focus. Yet, despite the evidence, many of us don’t incorporate mindfulness from day to day. More powerful than mindfulness alone is the combination of mindfulness and character strengths. Research tells us that the use of character-strength leads to higher engagement and productivity. Come learn about your level of mindfulness, discover your top strengths and leave with practical resources to combine the two every day.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Strengths-Based Project Management: Social Intelligence for Project Managers
ALLE LLC & PMI Minnesota
September 24, 2019
Project managers and their teams agree that communication and connecting stakeholders to the goals of a project are core to the role of project managers. Connection is a fundamental part of both aspects of our role. Connection is built on social intelligence – the way that we build and maintain relationships with others and elicit co-operation. This session explores social intelligence in project managers and provides tools for building social intelligence from the moment the session starts.
Social Intelligence for Project Managers
Project Management Success Summit
August 21, 2019
Exploring Social Intelligence, character strengths, team culture and stakeholder relationships with Michael Charles of Project Management Success Summit 2019
Introduction to Strengths-Based Project Management - Social Intelligence for Project Managers
GreatITProfessional
June 25, 2019
In this webinar, you will discover what you can do to:
1. Be more engaged;
2. Play to the strengths of others;
3. Build engagement in those around you.
Social Intelligence for Project Managers: What is it and how do we get it?
PMI EMEA
May 11, 2019
Social Intelligence ranks low for Project Managers as a strength - at least when taken on average - but it is an important component of our role as communicators. We can build social intelligence with simple steps.
Tags: Change Management, Future of Work, Leadership
Introduction to Strengths-Based Project Management - Seeing the Strengths of Others (Part 2)
projectmanagement. com
April 03, 2019
Following on from the March 6th webinar, we will look further into how being a strengths-based project manager means playing to the strengths of those around us to build cohesive high-performing teams.
Having started with our own strengths, we will turn our attention to the strengths of those around us. How can we see their strengths, how do we call them out in a sensitive way? Attendees will use real-life examples to practice spotting strengths and will walk away with practical tools to use when working with stakeholders, team-members, sponsors and people outside their workplace too!
Introduction to Strengths-Based Project Management - Finding Your Strengths (Part 1)
projectmanagement. com
March 06, 2019
Being a strengths-based project manager means playing to the strengths of those around us to build cohesive high-performing teams. As modeling is such a powerful way to influence others, the first step is to become aware of our own strengths, to explore how they show up for us and to learn how to target our strengths.
In this session - which substitutes for the session planned for December 2018 - attendees will learn about the “aware-explore-apply” model of character strengths and how just knowing their own strengths will positively impact their teams and projects. The session is packed with information about why strengths matter, how your strengths can help you and the people around you and ways to start engaging strengths right away. When you leave, you will have tools you can use immediately to start making a difference.
Live Live today as though it IS tomorrow
Thinkers360
January 23, 2023
Little books with mind boggling ideas
I have started reading the book by Nick Riggle called This Beauty A Philosophy of Being Alive[1]. I don’t usually read philosophy books, not because I don’t like them, because there are so many books in the world and I cannot read them all, and I choose to focus on things that feel more practical. And philosophy books tend to boggle my mind!
But Todd Kashdan, author of the Art of Insubordination[2] recommended this one! And I had to give it a try after watching their conversation on the FAN webinar last week.
Early in the book, Mr Riggle had me thinking deeply because he said we don’t ask to be here, we don’t consent. I found myself wondering “who says we did not consent to this life?” We may not remember our consent, we may not have thought about it in the same way we would as “a bounded conscious material thing”, but how can we be sure we did not, indeed, consent?
But as I continued reading - not very much farther - the real thought stopper hit me.
What are the consequences of living life today as though there IS no tomorrow?
On page 19 (yes, that early in the book!) Mr Riggle talks about the “Live life as if there is no tomorrow” mantra that is so popular in the West at least. We are all about “Seizing the day”, we have even made (good) movies about the idea...
But is it good for us?
For anxious people, it is all to easy to get hyper focused on tomorrow and the next day. We plot and scheme to prevent imagined, but often unlikely, disasters and try to anticipate every pitfall, every setback that could occur and then mitigate it (often by avoiding an experience altogether). There are books about that too (for example Homo Prospectus by Martin Seligman et al[3]). I met Dr Martin Seligman in an underpass in Montreal once, and for a moment he made me feel better about anxiety because he said that people who are anxious were imaginative. That we think of things that no-one else would ever dream of!
(Later that night, when I was imagining my return flight crashing into a non-existent mountain, or picturing myself torn to shreds after falling off a moped that I had not ridden, I was not so sure that was a compliment!)
So, it may seem like a good idea to encourage a more in the moment mindset. Focus on the here and now because we cannot know what is coming. Focus on this moment, because in the end we are all "food for worms lads…”
I disagree. Strongly. Not with the food for worms part… but with the focus on the moment part.
I get that mindfulness has a place. But our mantra of living life as though there is no tomorrow may be part of what makes us short-sighted, selfish and even contributes to the ever-deteriorating state of our planet – and aspects of our society.
If we don’t have to worry about tomorrow, then we don’t have to think about waste, we don’t have to imagine swimming in the sea and encountering plastic bags, or worse, as we swim. As we use a cotton bud to clean our ears, we don’t have to picture the seahorse that may sadly cling to it later.
We don’t have to consider any kind of pollution, and as global warming is something that will reach disastrous proportions the day after tomorrow, or even the day after that, that is way too long term for most of us to ponder.
We don’t have to worry about the hurts we cause others, the long-term effects of the ways we set up our systems. We don't even have to worry about what happens AFTER we drive drunk, pull out a gun, or lose our temper just a little too much.
Our choices today will always be the problems for someone else tomorrow. Haven’t we been doing that long enough?
Let’s not be short-sighted. Let’s look to the future, picture it now and make choices now as though they will matter tomorrow.
As of today, I am adopting a new mantra.
Live today as if it IS tomorrow
10 questions to help me check my choices:
How will I feel about this choice tomorrow? (Scale 1-10, 1 = regretful, 10 = thrilled)
What will "tomorrow me" wish that "today me" had thought about?
Who will be affected by my choice today?
How will they feel about the affect my choice had on them? (Scale 1 = resentful, 10 = thrilled)
If I was going to make the choice that was best for all of us, what would it be?
What is potentially getting in the way of that "best choice"?
Is the obstacle really a good enough reason to make a sub-optimal choice?
What is the best that can happen if I make this choice? What is the worst that can happen if I make this choice?
How willing am I to risk the worst outcome for the possibility of the best outcome?
One last time, how will I feel about this choice tomorrow? (Scale 1-10, 1 = regretful, 10 = thrilled)
And having considered those impacts, will make choices that make tomorrow look as rosy as possible because today will be gone soon enough!
How about you?
[1] Riggle, N. (2022). This beauty: A philosophy of being alive. Basic Books.
[2] Avery Publishing. (2022). The art of insubordination: How to dissent & defy effectively.
[3] E., P. S. M., Railton, P., Baumeister, R. F., & Sripada, C. (2016). Homo prospectus. Oxford UP.
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Sustainability
Golden nuggets - Does reading for five minutes prime your emotional intelligence?
Thinkers360
January 09, 2023
After reading Atomic Habits by James Clear several years ago on a recommendation from Andy Kaufman, I am a big proponent of incremental change. It works for getting things done and it works for coming back from burnout. Incremental change works. I use that approach in coaching, in my business and beyond!
New readings
So in every book I read, I look for golden nuggets. Small actionable activities that can help me and others learn, grow, make progress, feel better, create contentment, whatever it might be. Reminded by Robert Biswas-Diener and Christian van Nieuwerburgh that old books don't mean useless books, I have been dipping back into some books that are more than two years old!
This holiday my friend and colleague Lisle Baker sent me two such interesting reads. The first is the Good Lawyer by Douglas Linder and Nancy Levit and in that book on page 22 I found my first nugget.
Referencing an article in the The New York Times by Pam Belluck which explored the popular idea that reading literary fiction could make us more emotionally sensitive (intelligent). Sadly, since the publication of the book and the original research, more than just the theory has been discredited. However, I am curious to know what others think.
When you read literary fiction - not just popular formulaic fiction, but the type of fiction that leaves much to the imagination and describes complex characters - does it help you to understand and maybe even read people better?
I like this theory because it aligns with the work that Geoff Crane has been doing around emotional, social and motivational intelligence. To achieve goals we need to engage our imagination. To consider how others might be feeling, we need to engage our imagination and so on...
Here is a way to test out the theory for yourself.
Three steps in three days
Step 1: Take an assessment based on reading facial expressions. This one from the The Greater Good Science Center caught my attention.
Wait a couple of days - otherwise you will likely remember the answers to the quiz!
Step 2: read a short piece of literary fiction. Not sure where to find such a thing - well here is a link to some examples. All quick but thought provoking reads by recognized scribes. I wish there were more examples of literary works by non-white people! I will keep looking.
This is not the most scientific experiment - and I am not claiming that it is a basis for measuring the applicability of the theory, but I found it an interesting exercise nonetheless.
Let me know what you discover in the comments.
What is the other book you may be asking yourself... Beyond Reason by Roger Fisher and Daniel Shapiro. Watch this space for more on the "Core Concerns"
Tags: Future of Work, Mental Health, Project Management
Purpose, Sensitivity and Sociability… Measurement & Development
Thinkers360
December 19, 2022
Since 2016, I have been spending a lot of time on motivation. In coaching we often focus on reconnecting clients to their values and dreams.
It is not hard to believe that most of us want to have a sense of purpose in what we do. It is easier to motivate ourselves, keep going in hard times, and even to speak out to motivate others when we have a sense that our goals mean something.
Purpose is what makes us get up in the morning. It is what makes us choose thoughtfully and deliberately. Keeping a focus on our sense of purpose aids in decision making by helping us to baseline choices against our overall purpose.
What is your purpose?
What motivates you?
As painful as it is to watch, this clip from the movie Up in the Air always gives me pause.
AND what if you could MEASURE your motivation?
Working with motivation has been so, well motivating. In 2018 I was able to get a book published by the fabulous Berrett-Koehler publishers about the topic – Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-based Project Management.
Three years later the content of the book was the basis of my first LinkedIn Learning course – Project Manager to Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths-based Project Management. This course has been watched by nearly 10,000 people in the 15 months since it was launched. And it will receive some additional material in 2023 to round out the topic and introduce balanced engagement AND disengagement.
I have spoken in many forums about the way in which Character Strengths connect us to our motivation, about intrinsic motivation vs extrinsic motivation. …
So, imagine my excitement when I learned we can MEASURE motivation.
When I met Geoff Crane of Adaptimist Insights, I was excited because this is a person who has dedicated more than 10 years to researching the assessment, he was showing me. I love well researched assessments. And even better for me, he had been studying thousands of project managers as part of his work. My tribe. It is so rare that anyone I speak to has paid specific attention to project managers, that I had to ask him to repeat himself!
Although the assessment started out life as an update to emotional and social intelligence measurement (more on those in future blog posts), motivational intelligence – or PURPOSE had appeared in the data. Geoff and the team had identified three competencies related to purpose.
The first is MOTIVATIONAL SELF-EFFICACY.
Many of us know and admire people who are high in this competency. They are the ones who always seem to keep their eye on the ball, they don’t get distracted or put off, they aim high and don’t settle for less! The challenge of being highly self-efficacious is that we may not be satisfied with what we do achieve or may become unrealistic about what is achievable which can lead to sticking too long with a goal.
We tend to admire people who are “driven” In this way, but there are advantages to being lower in this competency. Low MS people tend to be easy going, can change direction quickly without getting frustrated or upset, they tend to take life moment by moment and not think too much about the future. The challenge tends to be indecision and reactivity- low MS people tend to go with what feels best right now without considering what might be best going forward.
The second competency is MOTIVATIONAL INFLUENCE
This is the ability to motivate others to act in accordance with OUR goals – to help us achieve our goals. The strength of high MI is that individuals can get more help accomplishing their purpose, the challenge is that that may mean that people are persuaded to do things that are not good for them or the greater good. High MI is sometimes equated with charisma. And charismatic individuals are persuasive but there is no guarantee what they will focus on as a goal.
Low motivational intelligence people often feel that they are at the whim of others. They often prefer to work alone and may have trouble delegating effectively in the absence of formal authority. With authority, they can be effective leaders in situations where there needs to be one decision maker because they tend to be knowledgeable about their subject area.
And the third competency in this group is PERSEVERANCE.
This is the difference between planning to do something and seeing it through when faced with a challenge. Often perseverance is related to a sense that the task is easily doable, that others will support our choice of the task and that we think the behavior is desirable. Low perseverance individuals will often find reasons not to pursue the goals, finding errors and gaps in their plans that may not be as large as they perceive them. High perseverance people tend to keep going after their goal relentlessly which in extremes can mean that they trample on the feelings of others or lose sight of personal commitments which can damage relationships.
COMPETENCIES CAN CHANGE and can BE Changed
Whatever our levels of each of three competencies, there are challenges AND strengths, AND more importantly, we can change our levels. These competencies can be learned and developed! We can also learn to apply them selectively – choosing when to push through and evaluating when the cost is too high, or the goal no longer makes sense.
Motivation and others
When we understand the motivational competencies of the people we work with, we can develop strategies to boost their natural strengths and mitigate the challenges. And ultimately that means we can get more done. Which is a great opportunity for project managers!
So what do we see?
Let’s look at the scene from Up in the Air again.
How did Bob, the character being made redundant fair in the three competencies?
Motivational Self-efficacy? Did Bob believe in his goals? Had he succeeded in similar goals? Did he see others achieving their dreams? How was his self-talk?
Motivational Influence? Was he able to persuade others that his goals were a good idea? Did he get others to help him?
Perseverance? How easy was his goal? Did he think others would support it as a goal? Did he believe it was a worthy, desirable, admirable goal?
How did his purpose change?
When he was studying it seems he had high MS. He studied, he worked at a high-end restaurant to maximize his learning. As soon as he had a family to worry about though he put his goals aside and exchanged them for new goals. It seems he did not really consider pursuing his dreams. That first paycheck tempted him away and onto a new path. He quickly changed his priorities and gave up on his original goals.
Not that there is anything wrong with choosing a new path. For some people having a family and doing work that pays enough to comfortably support that family is motivation enough. But there is a difference between reasoning the choice out and i