Mindset Development Tips

It takes one minute to damage a career you spent 30 years building. Because success isn’t about skill or intelligence. It’s about emotional regulation. Exercising restraint instead of: → Engaging in a heated debate with a client. → Exchanging a sharp word with a colleague. → Sending an angry email in the heat of the moment. The second you lose control, you’ve lost. Emotional regulation is the biggest marker of career success. The good news is it’s a muscle you can build. Here's how: 1. Know Your Triggers → Identify what sets you off. → Do you feel threatened when criticised? → Awareness is the first step to control. 2. Hit Pause → Before reacting, ask yourself: What are the consequences of my move? → Regret minimisation is critical. 3. Reframe the Experience → What else could this mean? → Maybe the person was having a bad day. → Chose an interpretation that serves you. 4. Create a Delay on Emails Sent → Set a 10-minute delay on all outgoing emails. → This in and of itself could save your career. 5. Breathe → When emotions rise, take three slow breaths. → It signals your nervous system to reset. → Simple, but powerful. 6. Speak With Emotional Intelligence → Once you’re ready to respond, choose your words carefully. → Ask: How can I create the right outcome in a calm way? Remember: → If you choose restraint, you win. → If you reframe, you grow. And every time you stay in control, you keep your power. How important do you think emotional regulation is for career success? ---- ☀️Follow Deena Priest for career, leadership and personal development insights.

SELF BELIEF > INTELLIGENCE Believing in yourself is often more critical than raw intelligence. Intelligence can sometimes lead to overanalysis, hesitation, and self-doubt, hindering progress. On the other hand, confidence drives action, resilience, and the ability to learn from failures. Balancing intelligence with self-belief enables you to take risks, make decisions, and persevere through challenges. 1. Cultivate Self-Belief: * Affirmations: Start each day with positive affirmations reinforcing your abilities and potential. Statements like "I am capable," "I trust my judgment," and "I can achieve my goals" can boost your confidence. * Celebrate Successes: Keep a journal of your achievements, big or small. Reflecting on past successes can remind you of your capabilities and build your self-esteem.
 2. Manage Overthinking: * Set Time Limits: When faced with a decision, give yourself a specific amount of time to analyse and then commit to a choice. This prevents paralysis by analysis. * Simplify Decisions: Break complex decisions into smaller, manageable parts. Focus on one aspect at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
 3. Embrace Failure: * Learn and Adapt: View failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Analyse what went wrong, adjust your approach, and try again with newfound knowledge. * Resilience Practice: Develop resilience by challenging yourself to step out of your comfort zone regularly. The more you face and overcome challenges, the more confident you will become.
 4. Balance Intelligence with Action: * Trust Your Gut: Sometimes, intuition can guide you better than overanalysis. Learn to trust your instincts and make decisions with confidence. * Take Calculated Risks: Use your intelligence to assess risks, but don’t let fear of failure stop you from taking action. Embrace uncertainty and move forward with confidence.
 5. Seek Support: * Mentors and Peers: Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you and encourage your growth. Seek mentors who can provide guidance and feedback. * Positive Environment: Create an environment that fosters positivity and growth. Minimise interactions with negative influences that may undermine your confidence.
 6. Continuous Improvement: * Lifelong Learning: Commit to continuous learning and self-improvement. Embrace new challenges and opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge. * Set Realistic Goals: Establish achievable goals that push you slightly out of your comfort zone. As you achieve these goals, your confidence will grow.

One skill separates great communicators from average ones: Perspective-taking. The ability to see things from someone else’s point of view. But most people do it wrong. Here’s how to do it right, especially when you’re leading or being led: When you’re the boss, persuading down: You’re trying to convince Maria on your team to do something different. She’s pushing back. Your instinct might be to assert your authority. But that’s a mistake. Here’s why… Research shows: The more powerful you feel, the worse your perspective-taking becomes. More power = less understanding. So if you want to persuade Maria, don’t lean into your title. Do the opposite: dial your power down, just briefly. Try this: Before the next conversation, remind yourself: Maria has power too. I need her buy-in. Maybe she sees something I don’t. Lower your feelings of power to raise your perspective. From that place, ask: → What does she see that I’m missing? → What might be in her way? → What’s a win-win outcome? That shift changes the entire dynamic. Instead of steamrolling, you’re collaborating. And that’s how you earn trust and results. Now flip it. You’re the employee persuading your boss. It’s a high-stakes moment. You’re nervous. So do you appeal to emotion? No. Drop the feelings. Focus on interests. Here’s the key question: “What’s in it for them?” Not how you feel. Not your big dream. → Will it save time? → Improve performance? → Help them hit their goals? Make it about their world, not yours. Why? Because every boss has a mental shortcut: → Does this employee make my life easier or harder? Be the person who brings clarity, ideas, and upside. Not complaints, drama, or friction. In summary: → Persuading down? Dial down your power to see clearer. → Persuading up? Focus on their interests, not your emotions. Perspective-taking is a superpower, if you learn how to use it. Now practice, practice, practice.

Productivity looks impressive on a dashboard. Responsibility builds something deeper. Over time, I have learnt that hitting targets is not the same as taking ownership. You can have a team that delivers every metric and still misses the mark. Because real growth does not come from doing more. It comes from doing what matters and owning it completely. Responsibility shows up in the quiet moments. When someone stays late to fix a mistake no one else saw. When a client issue is resolved without it ever becoming an escalation. When team members hold themselves accountable without being asked. Productivity asks, “Did we finish the work?” Responsibility asks, “Did we care enough to do it right?” One builds short-term wins. The other builds long-term culture. So yes, I value productivity. But what I build for is responsibility. That is what sustains everything else. #Productivity #Strategy #Culture #Leadership

Most people don't fail because they lack talent. They fail because they become prisoners of perfection. Psychologically, perfectionism often disguises itself as high standards. But beneath it lies something deeper: fear of judgment, fear of failure, and sometimes even fear of success. We convince ourselves that we're "preparing," "optimizing," or "waiting for the right moment" when, in reality, we're avoiding discomfort. The imperfect ladder on the left is ugly, unstable, and far from ideal. Yet it serves its purpose, it gets someone moving upward. The perfect ladder on the right exists only in imagination. Every plank is measured.  Every detail is analyzed.  Every flaw is corrected. But it never becomes useful because it never becomes real. Philosophers have wrestled with this for centuries. Aristotle believed excellence is not an act but a habit. Habits are built through repeated action, not endless contemplation. The Stoics taught that progress matters more than perfection. You control your effort, not the outcome. Existentialists argued that meaning emerges through action. We become who we are by what we do, not by what we intend to do. A rough first draft. A flawed startup. An awkward conversation. A beginner's attempt. These move your life forward. Perfection is often just procrastination wearing a sophisticated mask. Your future won't be built by the plans you perfect. It will be built by the imperfect steps you take today. Action creates clarity. Perfection waits for clarity. That's why action wins. #PersonalDevelopment #SuccessMindset #GrowthMindset #psychology 

I knew stepping into a Chief People Officer role would be a major undertaking. And boy, was it. But as with any big leap, there’s what you expect to learn... and then there’s what you learn by living it. Over the past few years, one of the most important shifts I’ve made is moving from a function-first mindset to a business-first one. As a VP, I focused on how I could build the most thoughtful, progressive People strategies out there — and rolled out some pretty darn awesome #HR programs if I do say so myself. (See: Our 'No Negotiation Policy' and our '$100 Bonding Perk') But here's the thing: I didn't often have the "overall business success" in mind when I pushed these initiatives forward. I started with what I thought was best for my function (AKA: the #People strategy), and then retroactively found ways to justify it to leadership. As a C-suite executive, however, you have to be a business leader first, and a function leader second. Your number one priority must be to empower the success of the business. Your job as a C-suite executive is to start with the business goals, and work backwards from there to determine how you can best empower the business through your function. In my recent piece for the amazing Jess Yuen's The Left Hand Column, I unpack what that shift actually looks like — not just in theory, but in practice — and offer tactical prompts to help other People leaders build their own business-first mindset and catch yourself when you start to go astray. Some of what I cover: ✅ How to spot when you’re working backward from your function instead of forward from the business ✅ How to level up your fluency in company vitals, general business acumen, and cross-functional strategy ✅ Why it’s so important to trade territorial thinking for true collaboration (especially in moments of budget tension) If you’re in the middle of this shift — or working hard to get yourself CPO-ready — this post should offer a useful framework for navigating what’s next. 👉 Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eZTxiQWb 👉 Want even more tips for leveling up your leadership skills? Check out my top tips and tricks here: https://lnkd.in/egBrc4Kj

When I started leading a high-powered recruiting team, I had the traits of the TYRANT leaders I now call out. Here's why: Despite my degrees, certificates, and ongoing professional development, nothing prepared me to transition into leading. I still had an individual contributor (IC) mindset, which unintentionally led me to compete with my very capable team. At the time, I engaged in behaviors like: Taking over projects instead of developing my team. Working long hours, thinking it showed commitment. Making unilateral decisions vs collaborating. Giving orders instead of providing clarity and context. Hoarding information instead of communicating transparently. Prioritizing my metrics over team goals. A month in, my boss at the time sat down with me and told me to own my transition and to stop taking over work when someone asked for help. (she's one of the best Leader's I've ever had) To transform my mindset, I sought out a few internal sponsors and observed how they managed their teams. I also asked my team for feedback on where I could do better. Once I made the changes: mindset and action, I began demonstrating new leadership behaviors: Coaching my team and developing their problem-solving skills. ↳Created an authorization matrix to empower them to make decisions. Promoting work-life balance through prioritization and delegation. ↳I stopped working on vacation to set a better example. Making collaborative decisions to increase buy-in. ↳They worked on the reqs, so I asked for their ideas and where I could implement them. Painting a vision and equipping the team to get there themselves. ↳I translated the organization's vision down to how it affected our team goals. Openly communicating to build trust and transparency. ↳I promoted democratic decision-making and explained when it needed to be autocratic. Aligning on and championing team goals over my individual metrics. ↳I held weekly reviews where I celebrated their success because it was OUR success. Here's what I want you to take from this: 1. Develop your team's skills rather than trying to be the expert. 2. Delegate decisions to increase buy-in and leverage diverse perspectives. 3. Openly share information rather than hoarding knowledge and insight. 4. Recognize and elevate your team's contributions rather than taking individual credit. #aLITTLEadvice #leadership

Even top performers get slowed down by mental blocks. The difference? They know how to break through. These mental blocks can feel really tough to deal with. I used to struggle with perfectionism - and spend hours tweaking things instead of actually finishing them. The day I embraced ‘good enough’ was the day I started making real progress. Here are 8 common mental blocks - and how to break through them: ❌ 1. Analysis Paralysis: Overthinking keeps you stuck in decision-making mode, freezing you into inaction. ✅ Take one small step: Movement creates clarity. Focus on one actionable task to build momentum. ❌ 2. The Self-Doubt Tax: Believing tasks are too big or beyond your abilities leads to procrastination. ✅ Look back at your wins: Remind yourself of challenges you’ve overcome. Every past success proves you can rise again. ❌ 3. Fear’s Grip: Fear of failure or mistakes stops you from trying at all. ✅ Shift your mindset: Every expert started messy. Embrace the process, and keep moving forward. ❌ 4. Comparison Trap: Looking at others’ progress makes your own success feel far away. ✅ Focus on your own growth: Track your personal metrics. Celebrate your progress, not someone else’s. ❌ 5. Purpose Blindness: When work feels meaningless, it’s hard to stay motivated. ✅ Reconnect to your "why": Link daily tasks to your bigger mission or goals. This brings meaning back to your actions. ❌ 6. The "Too Late" Trap: Feeling like you’ve missed your window for success keeps you from trying. ✅ Start where you are: Growth begins the moment you take action. It’s never too late to start moving. ❌ 7. Identity Chains: Labelling yourself as “unmotivated” or “not good enough” locks you into limiting beliefs. ✅ Let actions shape your identity: Take small, consistent steps. You’ll begin to see yourself as the capable person you truly are. ❌ 8. Perfection Prison: The pursuit of perfection keeps you from finishing - or even starting - important tasks. ✅ Embrace "good enough": Allow yourself to start with imperfect work. You can always refine and polish later. The first step is recognising these mental blocks. The next step? Taking action to overcome them. -> I'd love to hear in the comments, which of these mental blocks you've overcome? ♻ Share this post with someone who needs a reminder that progress starts with action. ➕ Follow me, Jen Blandos, for actionable daily insights on business, entrepreneurship, and workplace well-being.

The difference between successful entrepreneurs and everyone else isn't talent or luck. It's knowing how to trick their own brain into taking action. Most people know what to do. Few people actually do it. The reality: Most entrepreneurial advice focuses on strategy and tactics, but nobody talks about the psychological barriers that keep us stuck. After years of running my agency and working with countless founders, I've discovered these four mental tricks that actually work: 1. The "Just 2 Minutes" Lie I tell myself I'll only work on that scary project for 2 minutes. My brain goes, "Fine, 2 minutes won't kill me." But here's the thing - once you start, momentum kicks in. I've written entire proposals this way. 2. Talk to Yourself Like You Mean It This might sound weird, but I literally look in the mirror and say, "You've got this, Neha." Out loud. Your brain processes your own voice differently - it's like having a cheerleader who actually knows your struggles. 3. Embrace Strategic Boredom When I'm overwhelmed by notifications and distractions, I force myself to sit and do absolutely nothing for 30 minutes. No phone, no laptop, no book. Just me and my thoughts. By minute 20, my brain is practically begging me to work on something productive. 4. Flip the Fear Script Instead of spiraling with "What if I fail?" I ask myself, "What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail?" This simple reframe has helped me pitch to bigger clients, hire my first employee, and launch new services. The truth is: Your mindset is your most valuable business asset. You can have the best strategy in the world, but if your brain is working against you, you'll never execute. These are not productivity hacks; they're survival tools for anyone trying to build something meaningful in a world full of distractions and self-doubt. Which of these resonates with you the most? #entrepreneurship #productivity #mindset

Roles can be filled. Trust cannot be replaced. Loyalty doesn't come back once it walks out. After 15 years recruiting, I've seen this pattern wreck teams. Leaders treat people like line items. Take A-players for granted. Assume anyone can be swapped out. "Just another hire. Just another headcount." But here's what they miss: Trust takes years to build. Loyalty takes consistency to earn. And both disappear the moment people feel like a resource instead of a human. By the time leaders wake up? Their best people are already interviewing somewhere else. 10 small daily choices that make people stay 👇 1. See the effort, not just the outcome Results get the spotlight. Effort stays invisible. Ignored effort always leaves. 2. Have their back publicly When gossip spreads faster than your support, loyalty dies quietly. 3. Guard their energy Burnout isn't a character flaw - it's leadership neglect. Protect energy like you protect budgets. 4. Celebrate when they outgrow you You built their wings. Don't clip them when they're ready to fly. 5. Treat them as whole humans Not just a job title. Not just deliverables. People stay where they feel seen. 6. Make tough conversations kind Feedback without care is just criticism. Compassion helps truth land. 7. Create space for growth No room to stretch? They'll find oxygen elsewhere. 8. Let them shape decisions A seat at the table means their fingerprints are on the outcome. not just the execution. 9. Mark the moments that matter Birthdays. Work anniversaries. First wins. These small things anchor belonging. 10. Ask what they actually need Don't assume. Ask. Needs shift. Caring means asking again. Deadlines fade from memory. How you made someone feel? That stays forever. Safe. Seen. Heard. Validated. Valued. Be the reason someone stays. Not the reason they leave. ♻️ Repost if your network needs this ➕ Follow me for more: Shulin Lee P.S. Which of these do you wish your leader did more? 👇