What comes to mind when I say the word “myth” to you?
Myths go beyond the fairy tales we heard as children—but they can be just as persistent in our psyche.
As JFK put it, “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie—deliberate, contrived, and dishonest—but the myth—persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.”
Our society has many of these types of myths around how to achieve, and maintain success. These myths keep us glued to our routines, and stuck in stasis.
What’s holding you back? Here are some of the most common workplace myths, and how to get through them.
The Myth of Hard Work
There’s this pervasive belief that if you just work harder, your problems will be solved.
In reality, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the results to change.
If there are problems in your workplace, doubling your efforts without shifting your focus will likely deepen them rather than resolve them.
If you want things to change, try working smarter rather than harder. Try something new. Vision your outcomes. Shift your processes. Change one thing at a time until you pinpoint where the problem is and eliminate it.
The Myth of Motivation
Think that your team needs more motivation to get ahead? Think again.
The trick instead is to give them roles and create situations that they thoroughly enjoy doing.
Performing tasks you enjoy requires no motivation because you’re excited to do them. Motivating someone is mostly only necessary when they aren’t a good fit for their role.
Are your staff in the right seats? Are they enjoying their tasks, or dragging their heels and leaving things undone?
If the latter, you may want to take a second look at whether that person’s personal style matches the tasks you’ve assigned them.
The Myth of Fast-Fix Schemes
Many of today’s self-development programs are based on drama and hype, seducing individuals into get-fixed-quick or get-rich-quick schemes.
There is power in a systematic approach. True success starts internally, with your mindset. In order to assess your results and pivot if necessary, you have to commit to the long haul and not expect instant results.
You can learn a lot in a short time—but unless you are committed to applying it consistently, your motivation will fizzle out and that valuable learning will fade into the recesses of your memory.
The Myth of Mutual Exclusiveness
This is the belief that in order to get something, you have to forgo other things that you want.
For example, to have a successful career there’s the societal belief that you have to forgo a strong family life. And yes, balancing the two can be tough.
But it’s 100% possible—if you believe it is and work towards it.
In the workplace, a version of this myth might be that in order for your department to work smoothly, you have to do all the work yourself.
That’s not true—but you do need a team with well-qualified people who get it, want it, and have the capacity to do it.
Remember, what you want is defined by you, not by others. And sometimes you have to get creative!
Are you ready to let go of the myths that are holding you back?
Have you been facing struggles with overwork, high staff turnover, or poor workplace communication?
If you’re ready to let go of the overwhelm and embrace a process that will help you use CRG’s tools to create order and boost productivity in your organization, consider our Certification workshop.
This program is your chance to take a deep look into some of the most common business leadership problems I’ve seen over the last 25 years–problems I’ve helped even large companies like Chrysler and Ford solve.
This is your chance to work in a small group with me and other like-minded business owners, and create real solutions that are unique to your problems and scalable to last for years.
I always love seeing how your team can grow and flourish once you let go of the limitations holding you back.
We have a limited number of spots available, and many of them are already filled, so book your spot today! For more information or to book your spot, just hit “reply” to this email.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Talk soon,
Ken Keis
CRG, Consulting Resource Group, Inc.
Ken Keis, Ph.D, President of CRG, is considered a global authority on the way assessment strategies increase and multiply your success rate. In 26 years, he has conducted over 3,000 presentations and invested 10,000+ hours in consulting and coaching. He is the author of Why Aren’t You More Like Me? – Discover the Secrets to Understanding Yourself and Others, and co-author of the brand-new book Deliberate Leadership – Creating Success Through Personal Style. He has also co-created CRG’s proprietary development models, written more than 3.5 million words of content for 40 business training programs, and written over 400 articles. Ken’s expertise includes assisting individuals, families, teams, and organizations to realize their full potential, and to live On Purpose! Contact ken@crgleader.com or www.crgleader.com to learn how we might be able to serve you.