Podcast appearances and mentions of genesis advisers

Guest post by Michael Watkins who is a professor of leadership at the IMD Business School, co-founder of Genesis Advisers, and a bestselling business author of books including The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking and The First 90 Days. This article looks at the challenges of remote work. Working from home, whether full-time or just a few days a week, provides significant potential benefits. There's no commute, improved work-life balance, and often increased productivity during focused tasks. Many professionals discover that they can focus better without office distractions, save money on transportation and meals, and gain valuable flexibility in managing their schedules. However, remote work does come with challenges, and even those who initially excel in a home environment may experience a decline in effectiveness over time. Remote Work: Overcoming the Challenges Recognizing when and why your home working setup is not serving you well is essential for making necessary adjustments. Whether you're facing difficulties with remote work days or contemplating changes to your hybrid schedule, pinpointing the biggest challenges is the first step. Here are the top three obstacles and their solutions: 1. Lack of structure and boundaries. The absence of traditional office routines can lead to irregular work patterns and make disconnecting difficult. If this is a challenge for you, try to address it by establishing a strict daily schedule with clear start and end times for your workdays at home. Create a morning routine to replace your commute, improve your task management, and set alarms to signal the end of your workday. Most importantly, avoid checking work emails and messages during off-hours to keep your mental boundaries intact. 2. Home environment distractions. From household chores vying for your attention to family members interrupting important calls, distractions at home can break your focus and lower productivity. Set up a dedicated workspace, even if it's just a corner of a room, and clearly communicate your work hours to family members. Utilize noise-canceling headphones and adopt productivity techniques. Consider maintaining separate devices for work and personal tasks to decrease the temptation to mix activities. 3. Professional isolation. Without regular office interactions, work can become isolating, and creativity may decline. Schedule virtual coffee chats with colleagues on remote workdays, join online professional communities within your industry, and consider occasionally working from a café or coworking space. Many professionals discover that maintaining connections takes intentional effort - setting up regular team check-ins and engaging actively in virtual meetings. The challenges of remote work can affect people differently based on gender. Recent research indicates that women often face greater pressure to balance work and household responsibilities during work hours at home, while men frequently report feeling more isolated and struggle with maintaining boundaries. Women may need to be more explicit in setting interruption rules with family, while men could benefit from intentionally scheduling social connections. If these adjustments don't enhance your situation, consider spending more time in a co-working space or changing your home-to-office ratio. You might find that you work more effectively with two days at home for focused tasks and three days in the office for collaboration, while others might prefer the reverse. Regardless of your gender or circumstances, the key is to discover the right balance that promotes both productivity and well-being in your professional life. Michael Watkins is a professor of leadership at the IMD Business School, co-founder of Genesis Advisers, and a bestselling business author of books including The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking and The First 90 Days. See more breaking stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech P...

Michael Watkins wrote the book on leadership transitions. He is a professor of leadership and organizational change at the IMD Business School and a cofounder of Genesis Advisers. He is the author of 16 books, including The First 90 Days, an international bestseller which the Economist called “the onboarding bible.” He is an inductee of the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and just published a new book, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking.  On this classic episode, Michael Watkins joined Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about perfecting leadership transitions, mastering strategic thinking, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Watkins wrote the book on leadership transitions. He is a professor of leadership and organizational change at the IMD Business School and a cofounder of Genesis Advisers. He is the author of 16 books, including The First 90 Days, an international bestseller which the Economist called “the onboarding bible.” He is an inductee of the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and just published a new book, The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking.  Michael Watkins joined Robert Glazer on the Elevate Podcast to talk about perfecting leadership transitions, mastering strategic thinking, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Beltway Broadcast, your Metro DC Chapter of ATD hosts Michael Watkins. Michael is the co-founder of Genesis Advisers and the best-selling author of The First 90 Days and The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking. He is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD Business School in Switzerland and previously served on the faculty at INSEAD and Harvard University, where he earned his PhD in Decision Sciences. In this episode, Michael discusses the six disciplines that separate the great leader from the good one and shares strategies and practical tools used by some of today's most successful first-time CEOs and new business leaders.  If you'd like to learn more about Michael, visit his company's website.  Additional resources mentioned by Michael: 10 Ways to Prove You Are a Strategic Thinker – Harvard Business Review article on communicating like a strategic thinker.  A Strategic Thinker's Daily Workout – a mental fitness routine of games you can play every day.  Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions of the Metro DC Chapter of ATD, hosts, or sponsors. For more info about the Metro DC Chapter of ATD, visit DCATD.org.  Episode Credits: Series Announcer: Julie Waters Hosts: Christina Eanes, Stephanie Hubka, and Halyna Hodges

In a rapidly changing world, how do you find time to think strategically about what your company needs to do to thrive in the next 5-10 years? And if you do have time to strategize, how do you ensure you can implement your solutions and remain adaptive? Today, we welcome Michael Watkins back to the podcast to discuss his new book, "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking." We'll talk about what leaders should be focused on, how to build an adaptive culture, and what leaders miss when they don't have a habit of receiving feedback.About Michael WatkinsDr. Michael Watkins is an accomplished author of over 10 books, including "Your Next Move: The Leader's Guide to Navigating Major Career Transitions," and the international bestseller "The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at all Levels," which The Economist called "the on-boarding bible." He is also the co-founder of Genesis Advisers and a member of the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame. His latest book is called "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking." He also serves as the Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at theInternational Institute for Management Development in Switzerland.Get the book "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking" here: https://www.amazon.com/Six-Disciplines-Strategic-Thinking-Organization/dp/0063357968/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=Get the free show notes here: https://www.jeffhancher.com/post/the-6-disciplines-of-strategic-thinking-with-michael-watkinsSign up to get the show notes sent to your email, exclusive leadership content, and to be the first to know about our upcoming events: https://the-champion-forum.mykajabi.com/new-subscriber

There are The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking that business leaders should master. Strategic thinking empowers individuals to become successful in business and life. In this episode, Michael Watkins, the Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD in Switzerland and the founder of Genesis Advisers, outlines the core disciplines leaders should master for effective strategic thinking. He also touches on his seminal book, The First 90 Days, where he talks about the challenges of taking a new role and navigating through organizational transitions and change. Michael also shares his insights about Artificial Intelligence and what it holds for the future. But why does strategic thinking matter in the ever-changing world? Join Michael in this episode as he unveils the key to success.Check out the full series of “Career Sessions, Career Lessons” podcasts here or visit pathwise.io/podcast/. A full written transcript of this episode is also available at https://pathwise.io/podcast/michael-watkinsBecome a PathWise member today! Join at https://pathwise.io/join-now

Join us for the latest episode of the Career Transitions podcast, where we explore leadership, strategy, and success. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting the renowned leadership expert, Michael Watkins, as we explore the critical moments that define a leader's transition and the strategic disciplines that shape effective decision-making. Michael Watkins is Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD Business School and Co-founder of Genesis Advisers. He is a globally recognised leadership transitions expert and author of the best-selling book The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter. Michael has developed proven frameworks and tools to help professionals navigate personal and organisational change challenges. He has spent the past two decades working with leaders as they transition to new roles, build their teams, and transform their organizations. In 2023, Michael was inducted into the Thinkers50 Management Hall of Fame, which recognizes remarkable contributions to the realm of management concepts and ideas spanning many years.In this episode, Michael shares invaluable insights from his groundbreaking work on leadership transitions. Join us as we unravel the secrets to navigating the challenges of transitioning into a new role, understanding organizational dynamics, and accelerating success.But that's not all! Michael also unveils his latest masterpiece, "The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking." In this engaging conversation, we explore the core principles of strategic thinking that propel leaders to anticipate change, seize opportunities, and drive long-term success. Discover the key disciplines that will transform your approach to strategic planning and decision-making.Whether you're a seasoned executive or an aspiring leader, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom that will reshape the way you approach leadership and strategy. Join us as we journey through the first crucial 90 days and beyond, gaining a strategic mindset that can elevate your impact in any organizational setting.Check out Michael's works: The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and SmarterMaster Your Next Move, with a New Introduction: The Essential Companion to "The First 90 Days"The Six Disciplines of Strategic Thinking: Leading Your Organization into the FutureHarvard Business Review Ten Must Read Connect with us on LinkedIn: · Vanessa Iloste (Host) · Vanessa Teo (Host) · Aaron Wu (Producer)

Join David Nour on this episode of the Curve Benders podcast as he hosts Michael Watkins, Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at IMD, and the author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days, Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, which The Economist recognized as "the on-boarding bible." With more than 1,000,000 copies sold in English, and translations in 24 languages, The First 90 Days has become the classic reference for leaders in transition and a standard resource of leading change. In 2011, it was named one of the best 100 business books of all time 800-CEO-Read. Amazon declared it "one of the 100 best leadership & success books to read in your lifetime." Prior to joining IMD, Dr. Watkins was an associate professor at the Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. While on the faculty of these institutions, he designed and taught world-class programs for high-potential leader development, corporate diplomacy, and strategic negotiation. Dr. Watkins is the author or co-author of eleven books and numerous articles on leadership and negotiation. In the field of leadership, these include Your Next Move: The Leader's Guide to Managing Critical Career Transitions (HBS Press 2009), Shaping the Game: The New Leader's Guide to Effective Negotiating (HBS Press 2006), and Predictable Surprises: The Disasters You Should Have Seen Coming and How to Avoid Them (HBS Press 2004). Predictable Surprises was named one of the best business books of 2004 by Strategy + Business and won the 2006 annual Kulp-Wright Award from The American Risk and Insurance Association. He also is the author or co-author of eight Harvard Business Review articles, including "It's All About Day One" (2013), "How Managers Become Leaders" (2012), "Picking the Right Transition Strategy" (2009), "The Leadership Team: Complementary Strengths or Conflicting Agendas" (2007) and "The Successor's Dilemma" (2000). In addition, Dr. Watkins has written extensively on business-government relations, international security, and negotiation, most recently co-authoring Case Studies in U.S. Trade Negotiation, Volumes 1 and 2 and Winning the Influence Game: What Every Business Leaders Should Know About Government. His books on negotiation - Breakthrough International Negotiation: How Great Negotiators Transformed the World's Toughest Post-Cold War Conflicts and Breakthrough Business Negotiation: A Toolbox for Managers, won the CPR Institute's prize for best books in the field of negotiation in 2001 and 2003. Dr. Watkins is the co-founder of Genesis Advisers, a transition acceleration consultancy. Originally from Canada, Dr. Watkins received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, did graduate work in law and business at the University of Western Ontario, and completed his Ph.D. in Decision Sciences at Harvard University. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/david-nour/message

There's a lot more to Onboarding than the first day and week. Guests Michael Watkins, author of ‘The First 90 Days' and Christoph Drebes, founder of Mystery Minds, walk us through the steps we can take to support our new employees: how do we invest in their learning process? How does onboarding internal promotions differ from external hires? What about junior vs senior employees? Plus: what you need to know about getting to the break-even point.  Episode Notes:  Michael Watkins is the author of ‘The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter', a book The Economist has dubbed “the onboarding bible.” He's the co-founder of Boston-based consultancy Genesis Advisers, and Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD Business School in Switzerland.  Christoph Drebes is the  co-founder of Mystery Minds, a platform aiming to humanise the digital world by offering innovative networking and collaboration solutions.   

Welcome back to the Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning podcast, episode #103, where we will cover “The Neuroscience of Leadership: How to Reset, Recharge and Refuel Your Brain for Your Best Year Ever.” As we are now well into the New Year of 2021, with 2020 behind us as a distant but not forgotten memory, have you taken the time to close out the old year and welcome in the new? Whatever planning activity you do, I’ve added some ideas to this episode that I’ve collected over the years of working directly with the top leaders in motivation and success that really do add new energy to fuel this new year, with practical neuroscience tied to each strategy.  The idea is to look at your year with your brain in mind and see if this new lens can create the best year ever for you.We all intuitively know that there’s a mental energy boost that comes along with “being ahead” of the game, and for those who work in our classrooms, you know that this year, getting ahead with our students looks much different than prior years, with perhaps a phone call before the start of the year to welcome your new students, break the ice, or tie something personal into your lessons that helps you to quickly connect on a deeper level, setting the tone for your year.Getting ahead also translates into the workplace, with significant advantages in sales, for instance, knowing and planning where your sales will come from and having a solid pipeline, sets the tone for the rest of the year, much like the sports team who gets that first point early in the game, there’s a competitive advantage to this that builds momentum. Many people will be starting new jobs or careers with the mergers and resets that occurred from 2020, and the strategies that I am going to share with you, will be relevant to those of us who are starting something new, looking to refuel for a new year, recharge our batteries in 2021, shift, pivot and building momentum early, to set the rhythm for your best year ever. For those who work as entrepreneurs, this is the way we launch every year. For me, it’s been since I left the corporate space in 2012, so this will be my ninth New Year implementing these strategies.  The first year, on Day One of working on my own, I remember calling my good friend Patti Knoles, who had been in business for herself for many years, and saying “Patti, I’m so scared! What if what I am planning to do doesn’t work out?” I don’t remember exactly what she said, but I do remember where I was at the time, and that whatever she said made me feel better.  I think she said something like “how will you know if you don’t try?” and she was right—that’s the same words of wisdom that I give to those people, including one of my former sales managers, who called me after they have made this leap recently, for any thoughts, ideas or suggestions on how to be successful working from home, for yourself.Whether in business for ourselves, or working for someone else, it takes a certain mental mindset to be 100% in charge of our results—our day, income, and life, and I know that it can also be quite scary, so for those of you facing 2021 with this new lens, here are some strategies that you can implement that will put you ahead of the game mentally, which I’m confident will change your results and set you up, for your best year ever. Idea #1: Create Early Wins to Increase Motivation, Creativity and Overcome Challenges.Michael D. Watkins, the cofounder of Genesis Advisers, a leadership development company, and the author of The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels[i]  shares that “the single most important principle to making a successful transition in times of change, is to get early wins to build momentum fast.”[ii]We talked about this in the introduction, how achieving early wins creates a new rhythm and momentum that changes your mindset to help you to focus on the success you are destined for, with greater outcomes, but how exactly do we win early? Winning doesn’t usually just happen. It’s never by chance or luck. Here are some strategies you can use to develop a winner’s brain within yourself, or your organization, or team, so that you can have those predictable results that come with winning early.How To Put This Tip into Action With the Brain in Mind?Uncover What Motivates You, Get into Flow State and Create Your Winning Brain. There is a fine line between setting and achieving goals, and research shows that motivation is what is behind those who are successful at achieving the goals they have set.  How do we uncover what motivates us? By now, most of us have heard of Simon Sinek’s[iii] work and the importance of starting with our “why” to inspire others to take action. If you haven’t watched this TED Talk[iv] in a while, it’s a good one to revisit.  I read a more recent example of uncovering your own motivation with the newly appointed head coach of the New York Jets, (NFL) Robert Saleh, who is taking over the team “coming off one of the worst seasons in franchise history.”[v] Saleh explains his powerful story that launched his coaching career when he traded his “cubicle for his coaching dream after his brother’s 9/11 close call.”[vi] In an article I have included in the show notes, Saleh shares that he might not have been a football coach at all—if it weren’t for what his brother experienced on Sept. 11th, 2001. This is a true story that explains the motivation that skyrocketed Saleh’s coaching career, and I am certain will be the foundation for the success he will experience as a head coach, in addition to the emotional intelligence that he has developed that former Jaguars star Paul Posluszny (Poslozny) describes when he explains that Saleh’s “presence commands attention because of his knowledge, the way he communicates, and the trust players have in him.”[vii]Connect Your Brain to this StrategySo, how does this translate into developing your winning brain? Although focusing on the tasks you must complete to achieve your goals may seem boring, “neuroscience research suggests that commitment to mastering a craft can feel rewarding…that kind of immersion can help a person to achieve a state of heightened concentration described as flow.”[viii]A study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, involved professional jazz musicians. Using (fMRI) scans the researchers found that when the musicians practiced their craft, they displayed interesting patterns of brain activity.“During creative improvisations, (or practice) the medial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain involved in the integration of information to support complex goals and aspirations, became more active.”  At the same time, “the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is often involved in inhibiting behavior and monitoring thinking, became less active. (This is also the part of the brain where we feel overwhelmed). Limbic areas associated with anxiety also quieted. This study may provide a glimpse of the brain "in flow," as the musicians used skills they'd already mastered — playing notes — in new and creative ways.”[ix]The key to achieving these heightened levels of creativity, is to keep working, practicing, and learning, and your brain will further assist you to achieve your goals in flow state, in new and creative ways.Problems and challenges will come up, they always do, for example, just imagine that you had this momentum built, started 2021 with your best foot forward, started winning early, and BAM—there’s a Covid-19 outbreak and you need to self-quarantine for the next 10 days, halting everything you’ve built for this year to a fast and sudden stop. This is the reality of the times we live in today, and more than ever it’s crucial to remember that goal achieving is a mental activity, starting at the brain level, and it’s important to take the time to remember your motivation. Instead of getting side-tracked by these problems, think of the bigger picture and “why” are you doing what you do. Take this time to think and reflect and you will be able to overcome any challenge, increase the thinking center of the brain, decrease where overwhelm and anxiety occur, and you will be well on your way to developing your winning brain.Idea #2: Using Brain Network Theory to Increase Self-Awareness, Empathy, Creativity and EnergySelf-awareness was put on the map by Daniel Goleman[x] in 1995 with his book Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ[xi] We all know of the importance of being aware of our emotions and human behavior, we covered it in episode #22 with Marc Brackett[xii] and his book, Permission to Feel[xiii], but do you have strategies in place for this? We did cover this topic in depth on Season 1 of the podcast “Self-Awareness: Know Thyself.”[xiv] Go back and listen to this episode—it was actually in our Top 5 most listened to episodes.Next, take a look at the Start, Stop and Continue Graphic I’ve included in the show notes (if you are reading or listening to this episode on iTunes, go over to the Podbean app, where you can see the images) and start to think about the habits will you start, to bring you more energy, (like how will you become more self-aware and mindful by being in the present moment this year) what will your stop, (like living in the past or becoming reactive to the negativity that surrounds us on a daily basis) and what’s working for you, that you will continue (where will you be more focused and intentional)? How to Put This Tip into Action with the Brain in Mind?Start with the graphic and honing your self-awareness skills. Do more of what gives you energy, and less of what is draining.  You’ll notice some things that are becoming obsolete in your life. What new strategies and knowledge can you gain? This is a powerful activity to think about, even its just long enough to think about one area you’ll focus on in each column this year.When you begin to improve self-awareness, you can tune into others on a deeper level. Empathy stems from awareness. You can “either be aware and have empathy, or you can act out habitual behaviors, but you can’t do both at the same time.”[xv] Awareness involves the insula and the anterior cingulate in the brain, that work together.Look at the graphic in the show notes created by my mentor, Mark Waldman, he explains how the key brain networks operate. Just as a reminder, when we look at any new research on the brain these days, we will notice that we no longer see studies that talk about the individual parts of the brain—like the thalamus, or the hippocampus, or even just the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) (the part of the brain that lights up when we meditate) we will now see images that describe brain networks, nodes and connectivity. This means that at any given time, we might be daydreaming about something, and an entire network in our brain will light up. I’ve included an explanation of the TOP 3 brain networks in the show notes, because I think it’s fascinating. There are hundreds of these networks in our brain, and most of them are non-conscious, meaning that we are not aware of them, and how they can work for us, or against us.  This is what motivates me personally—to keep learning more, and sharing this understanding with you for improved results.We have the Default Mode Network, (imagination processes like daydreaming, creative problem solving, and mind wandering. This area is significantly larger than the other networks possibly because it develops so early in life and plays such an important role in child and brain development).Next we have the Central Executive Network (which holds our conscious decision-making processes like thinking, planning, concentration, taking action in an organized way and focused attention). This area is in our prefrontal cortex and is also known as our Executive Functions—all of our task-oriented thoughts. If we are NOT performing a task, and do NOT have focused attention, this area turns off, and we can go into the Imagination Network into daydreaming, worrying or creating, depending on what we are allowing into our thoughts. When this network is turned on, when we are working and using our focused attention, and the Imagination Network is turned off. We can only be in one network at a time. That’s why it is so important to take breaks to prevent burnout, and to allow for creative thoughts to flow into your mind when working on difficult tasks. Finally, there’s the Salience Network that doesn’t fully develop until we are around 28-30 years old, (which holds our awareness, intuition and compassion processes that integrate and stabilize the other two networks helping us to develop social awareness, empathy and our values).  This network puts the importance of what we are thinking, weighs what is important, and helps to balance the other networks. You can review this further with episode 48 on Brain Network Theory[xvi] for a more detailed overview, but for this episode, I just want you to look at the image and notice that these networks are all connected by our Awareness (the black star in the middle (underneath the I or the imagination/default mode network)—and know that if this area that includes the anterior cingulate and insula in the brain, is not stimulated, we cannot be empathetic or kind).“The insula and the anterior cingulate are the parts of the brain that together allow you to switch between habitual behaviors (that won’t help you to attain new results) and self-awareness that will. (It’s self-awareness that increases our empathy). Those who spend more time noticing and being aware have a larger insula and anterior cingulate when their brains are viewed through fMRI scans.”[xvii]The key to improving your own emotional intelligence here, is to continually work on being more self-aware and in turn, you will become more empathetic, kindness will increase and your results will soar. Just like what I mentioned with Robert Saleh, his presence commands attention, and I know that this is something he has developed over the years, by increasing his own self-awareness.Idea #3: Your 9 Environments[xviii]: How to Create Energy Naturally from Your World Around YouThis idea takes some self-reflection and thought, but I do highly recommend taking a 360 look at your life every year to evaluate where energy might be leaking that could be directed somewhere else. Your environments (that surround you) either inspire you or expire you. They either add energy and move you ahead or drain your energy and hold you back. The key here it to design your environments from the inside out, to support a happier and healthier version of you. You can stop relying on force and willpower, when your environments are lined up as everything is so much easier. We can change our inner environment and mindset with the Start, Stop Continue Chart that helps to improve our self-awareness and empathy, but also as equally important is to change our outer environment.As we go into a new year, we might have some ideas with of that we want to improve our physical health, since health goals are usually the ones we see people starting the new year with, but it all begins with our mental mindset. After the year we had last year, we know of the importance of mental health and well-being, and that we must take control of our mental and emotional state, before we can even consider doing anything else. If we focus even for a moment on what’s fearful, or uncertain, we just won’t feel right, won’t be working at our best, and this takes training, because our brain has evolved to focus on what’s wrong, to keep us safe.  So how do we focus intentionally on what we want in all areas of our life, without letting our automatic negative thoughts kill our goals before we have even started, or the negativity of the world bring us down?For the past 5 years, I’ve attend a training call with Jim Bunch to run through my 9 environments, then I pick a few of them that I’ll focus on for the upcoming year. Since doing this activity, I’ve noticed that each year, planning becomes easier as environments have been “cleaned up” let’s say, with the work from prior years. Each year builds a stronger, more confident version of you and it helps my brain to put a focus on the environments that I want to focus on for that year. I don’t choose all 9, just 4 areas that receive most of my attention, and the others are in maintenance mode, as I look at them, and clean them up every year.Look at the graphic and I will outline some tips for you to think about.Body: how was your health this year? Did you try anything new? Some people want to lose weight, others gain weight. What things have you done for your nutrition? Have you done anything new for exercise? Have you tried adding supplements? Green shakes? What about your health team? Do you have a new chiropractor, physical therapist, doctor, dentist, trainer at the gym? Have you looked into any online health courses? Have you done any health challenges?Memetic: your beliefs, your inner game, your ideas, how you perceive yourself in the world, your paradigms. A positive structure here sets us up for a successful life vs negative (or not good enough) belief structure that will prevent us from reaching our greatest heights. Have you let go of any negative information? Have you added anything to help you be more positive, productive and focused? Self: We’ve talked about this area a lot, and it’s very important. It’s your identity, or what you do to improve yourself. Think about your wins, strengths, skills, and talents? Spend more time doing the things you love and outsource the things you don’t love to gain more energy in this area.Nature: This environment includes the outdoors, four seasons, everything that’s living.  Did you spend more time in nature this year? (Mountains, the beach, the park)? Did you take any trips that took you into nature? Spiritual: (not the same as religion) connection to something greater than you, connection to a greater purpose. Do you practice yoga, meditation, prayer? Did you expand your spiritual community? Have you visited any locations that connected you more in this area? Relationships: family, friends, close colleagues are you communicating better? Are you building more authentic relationships? Even with social distancing, what effort have you put in here to focus on others?Network: your extended relationships (clubs, groups, social networks, wherever you connect w people) have you met any new people? When the pandemic hit, I wondered how I was going to build this area, last year, but was surprised to see just how many people were more available to speak virtually, than in any other year. I was able to interview people that I know would usually be traveling, and difficult to reach, giving me an incredible opportunity that helped this area as well as the relationship area.Financial: wins in cash flow creation new job for active income? Develop any passive or residual income? Any new strategies for managing cash? You you tried using tools like Mint. com and have you looked at cutting your expenses? Do you have a clear picture of what comes in each month vs what you spend? What about wins at work, or your own business? Physical: (home, office, cars) Have you organized your desk, workspace, closets, drawers, have you decluttered? Upgraded computer, cleaned up your memory? With time, you can make your environments work for you, where they give you energy, rather than drain you. Think about the 4 you will focus on and make these 4 your priority. How to Put This Tip into Action with the Brain in Mind?Learn to understand and use your Reticular Activating System[xix] which is a filter in your brain that helps you to focus on the things that are important to you. If you have heard the idea that “energy flows where your attention goes” this explains why putting some focus on what you want to create in your 9 environments is so important, especially as you launch a new year. Be very careful of where you are putting your focus, because your RAS will help you to achieve whatever you are focused on, good or bad. There really is a power of making your environments work for you, not against you.There’s so much more I could say about tips to reset and refuel your brain to create your best year ever, but these would be my top 3 tips of where to begin.To Review:Idea #1: How to Win Early and Overcome ChallengesDon’t forget to identify what motivates you, like how the near death of Robert Saleh’s brother during 9-11 inspired him to quit his cubicle job, leading him to being the newly appointed head coach of the NY Jets. What’s new and different will stimulate your motivation and reward networks, helping to drive you towards your goals at the brain level, while at the same time, will help you to bypass challenges that will inevitably come your way.  With continued practice, you will reach those heightened levels of creativity that was seen with the jazz musicians who reached levels of flow that inspired them to play in new and creative ways.Idea #2: How to Win by Increasing Self-Awareness, Empathy and CreativityImprove your own self-awareness and this in turn will help you to be more empathetic and demonstrate kindness toward others. Our awareness expands with our experiences but develops later in life since it’s connected to the Salience Network, that fully develops around age 28-30.  Put as much focus as you can on developing and improving your own self-awareness and your results will soar, as you hone this important emotional intelligence skill.Idea #3: Designing Your Winning Environments: How to Create Energy and Stay Focused on Your GoalsWith an understanding of the RAS, we can direct our laser and focused attention to what is important to us. Use the 9 environments activity as a guide to focus on 4 areas that you will focus on in 2021, and watch your life improve with this directed attention.Reminder: The reticular activating system (RAS) is the area of the brain responsible for regulating arousal and sleep-wake transitions and is considered as one of the most important systems which facilitates the functioning of sensation and attention. It functions as a filter of unnecessary noise so the important stuff can get through. Your RAS takes what you focus on and then creates a filter for it. It then sifts through the data and presents only the pieces that are important to you. All of this happens without you noticing. The RAS programs itself to work in your favor without you actively doing anything at all. So if we set our intent and refocus, our RAS will help us out by filtering through billions of pieces of data that surround us every day, so we can see, hear and become exactly what we want to be, purely by what we put our attention towards.I would love to know what insights you learned from these 3 brain-aligned strategies  that I designed to reset, recharge and refuel your brain to create your best year yet.  Send me a message on social media and share anything you’ve learned with me.Stay tuned for EPISODE #104 being recorded this week, on “Brains that Dream: Exploring The Science and Mystery of Sleep.”REFERENCES:[i] Michael D. Watkins The First 90 Days: Proven for Getting Up to Speed Smarter and Faster (April 2013)  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B6U63ZE/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1[ii] New Leader? Get Early Wins by Michael D. Watkins (Jan. 2009) https://hbr.org/2009/01/new-leader-get-early-wins[iii] Simon Sinek Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action https://simonsinek.com/product/start-with-why/[iv] Simon Sinek TED Talk  Published Sept. 2009 “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en[v] Robert Saleh becomes Jets new head coach January 14, 2021 by Brian Costello https://nypost.com/2021/01/14/robert-saleh-becomes-jets-new-head-coach/[vi] Robert Saleh traded cubicle for coaching dream after brother’s 9/11 close call by Ryan Dunleavy Jan. 12, 2021 https://nypost.com/2021/01/15/robert-saleh-wouldnt-be-jets-coach-without-brothers-9-11-close-call/?utm_campaign=iphone_nyp&utm_source=mail_app[vii] ibid[viii] Cultivating a Winner’s Brain (May 2010)  https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/cultivating-a-winners-brain[ix] ibid[x] https://www.danielgoleman.info/[xi] Daniel Goleman: Emotional Intelligence: Why it Can Matter More Than IQ (January 2012) https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/thankYouPage?_encoding=UTF8&a=DT%3AKCL&action=&asin=B000JMKVCG&noDevicePurchaseAllowed=&subtype=FREE_CHAPTER&targetFiona=DT%3AKCL[xii] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE#22 with Marc Brackett on his book Permission to Feel: Unlocking the Power of Emotions https://www.achieveit360.com/founding-director-of-the-yale-center-for-emotional-intelligence-on-his-new-book-permission-to-feel/[xiii] Marc Brackett Interview with Andrea Samadi on his book “Permission to Feel” (Published on YouTube Sept. 2019) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeOzi8ZrFO4&feature=youtu.be[xiv] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #2 “Self-Awareness: Know Thyself” https://andreasamadi.podbean.com/e/self-awareness-know-thyself/[xv] Where Does Self-Awareness Come From? (January 2017)  by Nicole Gravagna, Ph.D https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/01/31/where-does-self-awareness-come-from/?sh=6080d3bd32b5[xvi] Neuroscience Meets Social and Emotional Learning Podcast EPISODE #40 “Brain Network Theory: Using Neuroscience to Stay Productive During Times of Change and Chaos” https://www.achieveit360.com/brain-network-theory-using-neuroscience-to-stay-productive-during-times-of-change-and-chaos/[xvii] Where Does Self-Awareness Come From? (January 2017)  by Nicole Gravagna, Ph.D https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/01/31/where-does-self-awareness-come-from/?sh=6080d3bd32b5[xviii] The 9 Environments of You by Jim Bunch https://unmistakablecreative.com/podcast/the-9-environments-that-make-up-your-life-with-jim-bunch/[xix] What is the Reticular Activating System May 2013  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCnfAzAIhVw

Michael Watkins shares the new conversations leaders need to have in order to empower and support their teams during difficult times. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The question all leaders must ask during a crisis 2) Why you don't need to solve problems to be of value 3) The best thing to do when conversations get emotional Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep581 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT MICHAEL — Michael Watkins is the co-founder of Genesis Advisers, a global leadership development consultancy based in Boston, Massachusetts, specializing in transition acceleration for leaders, teams and organizations, where he coaches C-level executives of global organizations. He is the Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD Business School. He has spent the last two decades working with executives—both corporate and public—as they craft their legacies as leaders and was ranked among the leading management thinkers globally by Thinkers50 in 2019. • Michael's LinkedIn: Michael Watkins • Michael's university: IMD • Michael's company: Genesis — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Study: The Hawthorne Effect • Digital Workplace: MURAL • Book: Naturalistic Decision Making (Expertise: Research and Applications Series) by Caroline Zsambok • Past episode: 029: Gaining Quicker Traction in Your New Role with Dr. Michael D. Watkins See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are joined by Donald Asher, PhD, internationally recognized author and speaker on careers and higher education. Donald is known as “America’s Job Search Guru,” and he has authored 12 books published in multiple languages around the world. Donald will share his formula for successful salary negotiation strategies for your industry job. Then we have special guest Michael Watkins, PhD, founder of Genesis Advisers and author of The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter. Michael will share his best onboarding tips for PhD industry jobs which he has gleaned from over 15 years of coaching CEOs to master career transitions at the highest levels.

Rose Hollister and Michael Watkins, consultants at Genesis Advisers, argue that many companies today are taking on too many initiatives. Each manager might have their own pet projects they want to focus on, but that trickles down to lower level workers dealing with more projects at a time that they can handle, or do well. This episode also offers practical tips for senior-level leaders to truly prioritize the best initiatives at their company — or risk losing some of their top talent. Hollister and Watkins are the authors of the HBR article "Too Many Projects." with. They are the authors of "Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women.”

Leadership for Benefits Professionals - Peter Hegi of Compass, An Alight Company interviews Dr. Michael Watkins, author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days and co-founder of leadership consulting firm Genesis Advisers.

In this episode, we're going to talk about getting up to speed in a new job or role faster than ever before with our guest, Dr. Michael Watkins. He is the author of the international bestseller, The First 90 Days, and co-founder of Genesis Advisers, a leadership onboarding and transition acceleration company. He has spent two decades working with leaders as they transition to new roles, negotiate the future of their organizations, and craft their legacy as leaders. Resources: * http://genesisadvisers.com/ – Website * View the First 90 Days Transition Programs at http://genesisadvisers.com/first-90-days-transition-programs/ * @GenesisAdvisers @MichaelDWatkins – Twitter * Buy the book, The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter Sponsored by: * LEADx.org – subscribe to become 1% better every single day Review and Join Our Ambassadors Club: Please consider leaving an honest one- or two-sentence review on iTunes or on Stitcher.  Nothing matters more for bringing the podcast to the attention of others. And after you leave your review, send me an email at info at leadx dot org to let me know, and I'll invite you into the private LEADx Ambassadors Group on Facebook. Group members are eligible for ridiculously good prizes each month, have special access to me and LEADx guests, discounts on live events, and of course it's a great forum for peer-learning and support. Share: And, by all means, if you know someone you think would benefit, please spread the word by using the share buttons below. — What is LEADx and The LEADx Show with Kevin Kruse? Imagine if you could have the world's best executive coaches and leadership mentors whispering into your ear every morning on your way to work. Every weekday, there will be a new episode of The LEADx Leadership Show with an interview from a different thought leadership or business expert. Many of these guests are thought leaders, famous authors or high-profile CEOs from innovative startup companies. Others are creatives, artists, entrepreneurs or corporate career leaders. They have all achieved extreme success and they are willing to share practical advice on how to advance your career and develop your leadership and management skills by offering daily career tips on time management, productivity, marketing, personal branding, communication, sales, leadership, team building, talent management and other personal development and career development topics. There will be a new episode waiting for you every day just in time for your morning commute, morning treadmill session or whatever else it is you do to start your day. LEADx isn't just the name of this new podcast, it's the name of a digital media and online learning company that is re-imagining professional development for millennials and career driven professionals looking to break into manager roles or excel in current leadership and management roles. If you're looking for management training or professional development that is delivered in a fun and engaging way, sign up for our daily newsletter at LEADx.org. It's packed with life hacks, daily career tips and leadership challenges that will turn you into a high potential leader in no time. What does LEADx stand for? We are exploring leadership.

Professor, author, and consultant Michael Watkins shares best practice strategies and tactics for getting the optimal start in a new role at work. You’ll learn: The most critical ingredient for a successful transition How to accelerate your arrival at the “breakeven point” for your new role The key questions to discover what you REALLY need to know quickly About Michael Dr. Michael D. Watkins is a Co-founder of Genesis Advisers and Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD business school. Previously, he was on the faculty at the Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Dr. Watkins wrote

Professor, author, and consultant Michael Watkins shares best practice strategies and tactics for getting the optimal start in a new role at work. You’ll learn: The most critical ingredient for a successful transition How to accelerate your arrival at the “breakeven point” for your new role The key questions to discover what you REALLY need to know quickly About Michael Dr. Michael D. Watkins is a Co-founder of Genesis Advisers and Professor of Leadership and Organizational Change at the IMD business school. Previously, he was on the faculty at the Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. Dr. Watkins wrote The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Smarter and Faster, which The Economist recognized as “the on- boarding bible.” The enduring classic has sold more than a million English copies and has been translated into 24 languages. The revised and expanded 10th Anniversary Edition released in 2013. At IMD, he is the Director of the "Transition to Business Leader" program. At Genesis Advisers, he leads a team that designs enterprise transition acceleration solutions for client organizations. Dr. Watkins is the author of numerous additional books and articles on leadership & transitions published in the Harvard Business Review and other top publications. View transcript, show notes, links, and more at http://AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep29 Copyright © Optimality

Michael Watkins is an adjunct professor at IMD. He has spent the last two decades working with leaders – both corporate and public — as they transition to new roles, transform their organizations, and craft their legacies as leaders. [saf feature=”itunes” cta=”Subscribe, Rate, & Review in iTunes”] Dr. Watkins is author of the international bestseller The First 90 Days: Critical Success ... Read More

Michael Watkins, cofounder of Genesis Advisers and author of the HBR article "Picking the Right Transition Strategy."

Michael Watkins, chairman of Genesis Advisers and author of "Shaping the Game." Also: Fred Reichheld, fellow at Bain & Company.