My work just received a boost from science! “Your Brain at Work” by David Rock explains how brains function and how that knowledge can help you improve the way you work. What’s cool is that my advice for creating clarity fits perfectly and provides tangible tips that will not only make your brain work better but will also maximize the performance of the brains with whom you are collaborating. I could write a whole book on this, but let me start by sharing one important point. The prefrontal cortex, according to David Rock: is where much of the heavy lifting occurs in our brains tires easily because it is the newest evolutionarily speaking and simply not energy efficient can only focus on one thing at a time must simultaneously select and retrieve relevant information, push away irrelevant information, and process whatever needs processing That’s a big job for a seriously limited resource!
It’s here! The cheat sheet for clarity! The best quick tips for getting better results faster with greater confidence and commitment at your fingertips! Download Ann’s Clarity App from the iTunes store today! It’s loaded with tips you can use and share immediately to improve decisions, meetings, planning, holding others accountable, and more! Imagine the value gained from sharing and using nuggets such as the: only 6 types of outcomes for any meeting 4 steps to better decisions, 3 of which are usually skipped biggest mistakes people make when planning how victim-hood prevents us from managing our time 2 criteria you should use to include others in your decisions 4 words that will make your productivity soar and more, including more to come! Since shared clarity is the most powerful clarity, encourage your colleagues to download Ann’s Clarity App right away as well. Need another incentive to act now? The introductory price can’t be beat! Once you’ve tried the app, I’d love to hear your reaction. And don’t forget, new content is on its way!
Ann Latham was the final guest in Skip Weisman‘s Expert Interview Series for 2013-2014. The topic was clarity, of course! The Power of Clarity, What It Can Do For You, and How You Can Get It. Skip is a leadership and workplace communication expert. His Expert Interview Series has included a wide range of experts. Listen to this podcast.
It happened this way. My husband and I were on a trail in the Berkshires marked with blue blazes. At least mostly. Just before we got lost, I was chuckling and actually taking pictures of the blazes at the right because they were such a perfect example of clarity blindness, which, like color blindness, you don’t know you have until until someone shows you what you are missing. Without writing a lengthy primer on trail markings, here is a quick description of three levels: Level 1: A worn path. Hikers watch for evidence of previous traffic and hope for an occasional sign post. This approach is not recommended for remote areas or hikers without knowledge of the trail, topo maps, and compass. Snow, mud, autumn leaves, and disuse can easily obscure the trail. Nonetheless, many people have never seen a trail marked in any other way. Level 2: The trail is marked with paint swatches on trees and rocks that differ in color and shape from those used for near by trails. Consistency is critical. A sudden change in the color or shape of the blazes alerts hikers to the possibility that they have missed a junction and inadvertently ventured off on the wrong trail. When done well, the standing pauses spent searching for the next blaze are short, few, and far between. The first time you experience this great, universally understood system is exciting and eye-opening. It provides a new level of clarity you may not have known existed. Level 3: The best trail markings I’ve ever encountered adhere to additional conventions to warn you of turns and junctions. Suddenly there is no doubt where the trail is going. Standing and searching is completely unnecessary. If you’ve never seen this system, I doubt you would ever imagine that anything could… read more →
Nothing drags a decision to a halt faster than a list of lousy options. As a matter of fact, many decisions fall between the cracks about then, never to be heard from again. You can see it coming: Silence and sighs replace ideas and debate Energy levels drop below freezing Everyone wants to talk about something else This almost happened when looking at my healthcare options a few months ago. I didn’t like any of my choices and might have dropped the ball entirely if my husband hadn’t insisted that any health plan was probably better than no health plan. So here is how to deal with lousy options:
Easthampton, MA – The 2015 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom calendar will once again feature a quote from Ann Latham, president and founder of Uncommon Clarity™, Inc. This is the fourth year in a row that Ann’s wise comments have been selected from over 5,000 entries to appear in this page-a-day calendar loaded with helpful advice from women leaders around the world. Mary Cantando, Growth Expert of The Woman’s Advantage, announced today that Ann Latham’s advice has been included in the 2015 calendar and will appear on August 31, 2015. “Ann Latham’s quote was selected because it was powerful yet easy to understand. Her idea is relevant to almost every woman in business today.” says Cantando. “Women business owners and those who dream of starting a business will learn so much from the advice provided by Ann and the other successful women quoted in the calendar.” Ann was also featured in the 2012, 2013, and 2014 calendars.
Easthampton, MA – Ann Latham is the final expert to be interviewed as part of Skip Weisman’s 2013-2014 Expert Series. The interview will be on July 31, 2014 at noon EDT. The topic of this month’s discussion is The Power of Clarity, What It Can Do For You, and How You Can Get It. Those who call in and listen can expect to hear about: Why clarity is so important, but so misunderstood and under appreciated How clarity can help you get better results faster with greater confidence and commitment How clarity can be your competitive edge How to get started in creating a culture of clarity There is no charge for this event. To register, visit: http://bit.ly/clarity-interview.
My Clarity Index is a big hit. It takes only 5 minutes and 15 questions to discover where you need to focus to get better results faster with greater confidence and commitment. I don’t want you to miss it! Click here to check your clarity. I also want to be sure you saw the opportunity for your organization to participate in the Shared Clarity Index. I don’t divulge individual responses, but I do provide averages, aberrations, and insights. There is tremendous value in knowing whether your peers, direct reports, and boss see things the way you do. The Clarity Index™ has revealed several cases already with diametrically opposed opinions within the same department. That’s a problem! For a limited time, I am charging nothing for this service. If you are interested, simply let me know and we can discuss the logistics. Feel free to share this offer with others in your company or beyond
I made a strawberry-rhubarb pie last weekend in honor of another pie many years ago. It got me thinking about all the times I hear employees say, “That’s just the way it’s done,” because this pie wasn’t the way it was done! Employees fill out forms, walk through stale routines, chase down signatures, and maintain countless documents. Why? “That’s just the way it’s done.” But do you know what the real problem is, beyond the obvious waste of time year after year? They’ve abdicated responsibility for results. They are either operating without an understanding of the desired results or they do understand, but have given up and quit banging their heads against the wall trying to make changes to increase efficiency or improve outcomes. And it’s not just old procedures and habits I’m talking about. New initiatives also generate abdication and mindless execution. Classic and costly examples include the implementation of big programs such as a new performance management system or process improvement program.