The ability to overcome your bad habits at work can help your career. You probably have some good traits that can become disruptive, if you take them too far.
Doesn’t it makes sense to catch yourself before that happens and keep yourself and others focused on your big picture goals? Find out in this fun exercise that’s featured in the latest episode of our Productivity at Work series.
What Productivity Questions Does This Video Answer?
- How can you overcome your bad habits at work?
- What’s a fun way to try to change a bad habit?
- Can a behavior both help and hurt your career?
- How do I make my employees more productive?
Video Transcript for How to Overcome Your Bad Habits
Here’s a strategy to help you overcome some of your bad habits at work. We’ve all got bad habits, and sometimes they’re tied to something good at work. So how do you make sure that you don’t go one step too far?
I have a strategy for you it’s kind of fun. I call it, give a name to your bad habit.
Here’s an example: Sometimes, I can be a little bit of a perfectionist. I admit it. It’s good, in a way, because I pay attention to detail. I want to get things right.
The bad is I can sometimes take it one step too far, become stressed out, and maybe a project is getting done a little later than it should, just because I want to make everything so perfect.
So perfectionism, strength, can also be a weakness. What can I do about this bad habit? Well, I can identify when it’s starting to affect my performance.
I have a name for it. I call it, when I get into this mode, I’m becoming, Bobby Perfecto. It’s a name I have given to the bad habit.
So, when I realized that Ken you’re getting a little perfectionistic. I say “Ken, stop being Bobby Perfecto.”
I can then take a breath, smile, and realize, I gotta chill out a little bit. It’s a way that I can self-police the habit, and make sure that it doesn’t affect my overall performance.
Think about those things that you do, where maybe you get a little too much in terms of a quality that might otherwise be good. And seeing people give it a funny nickname, so that when you catch yourself or when a co worker catches yourself acting that way, you hear the name that allows you to change your behavior. Give it a try.
About Ken Okel
As a motivational keynote speaker, Ken Okel works with leaders and organizations to boost productivity, performance, and profits. At conferences, conventions, and company meetings, he engages audiences with new ways to maximize their time at work. To see a sample of his corporate and association keynote and breakout presentations, visit his video page.
