In my speech communication and sales presentation consulting work, when I talk about receiving feedback, I relay a Western and an Eastern view. The Western view, from Somerset Maugham is: ‘People ask for criticism, but they only want praise’. The Eastern view, attributed to Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching is: ‘When the master makes a mistake she realises it, having realised it she admits it, having admitted it she corrects it . . . she considers those who point out her faults as her most benevolent teachers. . . she considers her enemy, as the shadow that she herself cast.’Continue reading
Why talent is overrated
“Until most individuals recognize that sustained training and effort is a prerequisite for reaching expert levels of performance, they will continue to mis-attribute lesser achievement to the lack of natural gifts, and will thus fail to reach their own potential.” K Anders Ericsson, Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance.Continue reading
The ‘daily deposit’ lesson of ‘Miracle on the Hudson’s’ Sullenberger
“For 40 years I had been making deposits in my ability to take-off, fly and land aircraft. On that fateful day I made a huge withdrawal. And if I hadn’t made all those deposits over all those years, I wouldn’t have been able to make that withdrawal, and save those people’s lives.”Continue reading