Thursday, May 12, 2011
We have limited willpower.
Such is the fundamental premise of
The Power of Full Engagement, synthesizing myriad studies observing a whole spectrum of folks, from stay-at-home moms to high-level athletes.
Essentially, every time we use willpower, you deplete your willpower reserves. When that runs dry, we revert to the path of least resistance- usually, our default setting. These default settings have a much greater impact on our daily lives than we realize-whether for small decisions or for big decisions.
One striking example, given by economist Richard Thaler in Nudge, is the effect of presumed consent versus presumed dissent on organ donation. You'd think people would care pretty strongly about this- but we don't. At least, not enough to express a preference; in the vast majority of cases, we go with the default setting.
So you might want to make sure your default settings work for you. Think of your daily life. What are your current default settings? Are there behaviors you'd like to change? Don't rely on willpower- use the power of default settings. Tweak settings to encourage the behaviors you want; discourage the behaviors you don't want.
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Known as the "Charisma Coach", Olivia's client list includes Citigroup, Deloitte & Touche and the United Nations. Her passion for communication has brought her to lecture at Harvard, Yale, and MIT; she frequently appears as guest expert in media such as BusinessWeek, Crain's New York, Bloomberg or Sirius Satellite Radio.
Her topics of expertise include charisma (yes, it can be taught!), influence, and persuasion. She is available for TV, radio, and news interviews-- she's witty, charming and your audience will love her. You can ask Olivia..
* How to make a fantastic first impression
* How to master the art of conversation
* How to work a room with ease, grace and efficiency
* Dealing with difficult people
* How to postion yourself as an expert in your field
* How to master the science of influence and persuasion
* Personal Branding: it's All About You