Risk

I have been thinking a lot about risk lately. It is clear that to grow and achieve in the workplace one must take risk, but it is not easy. One stands to lose as well as gain. So, how do you decide when to risk something and when to sit tight? Great question, and one that does not have a simple answer.

Given my recent thoughts, I found it interesting that Fast Company had a section in the current issue of the magazine that focused on risk. I enjoyed the section, but found two parts to be especially relevant. The first was a list of definitions of risk, from the dictionary to Steven Tyler. http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/160/risk-definitions They reference business leaders like Warren Buffett and Peter Drucker, but I found Ray Bradbury's quote to be the most interesting. He said risk was "Jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down." I think this is especially true when making big decisions about your career path - sometimes you have to leap before you look or you would never make a move.

This dovetails nicely with the writings of Seth Godin. His motto is "Go - Make Something Happen". He often preaches that you have to just get started - whether or not you are completely prepared. You can read his blog at: http://sethgodin.com/sg/

So, I am going to jump. Are you coming?

Made-up for success

The NY Times recently ran an article about how wearing makeup can help a woman ascend the career ladder. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/fashion/makeup-makes-women-appear-more-competent-study.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=lipstick%20in%20hand&st=cse I found it interesting for several reasons.

First, it points out how important impression management is for achieving career success. While one might (and several did) argue that your performance appraisal shouldn't be based on your appearance, we all know that it is, at least in part. You wouldn't expect to be taken seriously professionally in particular fields if your dress isn't professional, so why would you be surprised that makeup is just another part of the "costume" you put on when you go to work. Sure, it seems to be unfairly applied to women, but don't forget that men are generally expected to follow certain conventions about appearance as well. They have to shave, for example.

Second, it actually seems to be an opportunity for women to wield power and influence. We are able to experiment with color, increasing our "luminosity" as they put it while men are unable to do this. I am not one to wear much makeup in my free time, but do so in the classroom because I do think it makes me look more mature and serious. I love that they suggest that you might want to use different lipstick colors to suggest a more powerful look. This is no different than wearing a power suit or heels to impress others - just cheaper and apparently pretty effective.

Last, I thought it was curious that it was run in the fashion and style section, but it was really an article about how to increase success in the workplace. I understand the connection to the section given the subject matter, but it was a weightier issue and I thought it deserved a wider audience and would have found it in the business section. I think that to put it here turns it into a "girly" article and doesn't do the research justice. It seems that the larger picture is that people take attractiveness, of both men and women, into account and if we appear that we care about how we present ourselves, we are valued more. And everyone can work on their presentation.

Priming with warmth

Lawrence Williams, an assistant professor at CU - Boulder conducted a fascinating experiement where he found a connection between physical warmth and warm feelings towards others. Basically, he read a scenario about an individual to subjects and asked them to rate how likable the individual was. During this experiement, he was shifting some things he was holding and asked the subject to hold his cup of coffee for a few seconds. The ratings of likeability differed based on whether the coffee was hot or cold - those getting a warm cup rated the individual as warm and likeable and those holding the cold cup rated him as less likeable.

Our reaction may be based on biological responses - we trust those who are warm and physically connected to us and like them more (like our moms and dads). This is a very simple, but powerful, priming effect that can be used to your advantage in the workplace. For example, giving warm, and hearty, handshakes are usually associated with liked individuals. Or, having meetings over a cup of coffee (hot!) can produce positive feelings and associations.

You can find the original article in Science (2008):
Williams and Bargh
"Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth"
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;322/5901/606

Giving Feedback

I am reading a new book Management Rewired: Why Feedback Doesn't Work and Other Surprising Lessons from the Latest Brain Science by Charles Jacobs and it is annoying me. It makes many claims with "scientific" backing, but sometimes the examples used and/or the statements don't really agree with the underlying framework of the author. For example, he talks about how feedback isn't helpful and can be destracting and damaging. However, then he talks specifically about postive and negative statements that are used to reward and punish. While this is often how managers use feedback, that is not a good definition of feedback. Feedback is about giving information about how something is working - it doesn't have to be positive or negative in emotional tone. As a matter of fact, even if feedback is somewhat critical (that is, it is about correcting something you are doing wrong) once the initial defensiveness wears off, it can be very helpful.

For the one of the best guides on how to give good feedback, check out Seth Godin's article is How to Give Feedback in Fast Company (Dec 2007). The first tip is about sticking to the facts, which should help mediate some of the emotionality. You can check it out here:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/80/sgodin.html

Even though my initial impression of the book is guarded, there are some interesting studies that it cites, so I will continue to read and let you know further impressions.