US life coach Dr Ron Jenson teaches 5 ways of self-governance

Shadz Loresco

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US life coach Dr Ron Jenson teaches 5 ways of self-governance
Rule No. 1 to become a person of character in and outside of work: Discipline yourself

Was your week crammed with madness?

There are the offices that have rendered the 9-6 construct obsolete. A local general manager of a Texas-based engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm said her responsibilities do not disappear automatically at the end of the 9-hour shift.

In reality, people sometimes need to spend additional time over a task when others depend on its completion. Organizations that grasp this can cultivate a culture in which individuals adapt and thrive without being pushed to their limits – a culture where character counts.

At the recently-concluded Happy at Work Conference, Ron Jenson, “America’s life coach” and author of Make A Life, Not Just A Living, shared self-governing principles that help build a culture of character in the workplace.

These 5 principles are both for managers and employees out there:

1. Discipline yourself

According to Jenson, self-governance means people are self-disciplined – that they are driven from the inside out, that they have a good set of principles, and they follow them.

Yet, becoming a person of character is way different from pretending to be perfect. To inspire creative, dynamic, and productive team members, managers can show them that they are kind of goofed-up, too. That entails being open and vulnerable to others.

The road to character is marked by progress, which reflects the excitement to learn about the things that will help people grow no matter what their job title or net worth is.

2. Breathe courage into people

“I almost flunked kindergarten. Ever heard of someone who flunked kindergarten?” asked Jenson.

Managers can learn from the American writer’s plight as a “dumb, little kid” from a relatively “OK” family in a poor town who had gotten into fights, in trouble with the law, and described by his teachers as socially maladjusted.

However, there was a man who had acted as a big brother and believed in him.

Jenson shared what the guy had told him: “Ronnie, you talk a lot. You have a good verbal ability. One day you can become a good communicator, a great speaker.” (READ: US life coach Dr Ron Jenson: Achieve authentic success now)

“Jelly-belly Jenson” would start to lose weight, play and excel in football, and turn his Ds to As in a matter of weeks.

There are times the affirming words of another – often a person of authority, such as a boss – are all it takes to help someone achieve personal significance and gain a healthy self-concept.

STRESS. “Stress is not bad, it’s just a reality of life,” Dr. Ron Jenson says. Photo from Geronimo Photographico's Facebook page

3. Exile the negative

Anyone who strives at being productive is not immune to stress.

“Stress is not bad, it’s just a reality of life,” Jenson said. People usually think of stress as distress, which entails worry, fear, anxiety, or anger.

But the other perspective is eustress. It is about embracing the challenges vis-à-vis denying that troubles exist. There is an element of acceptance with a hint of boldness to it. It forces one to ask: How can I work my way through this problem?

“Our attitude determines our altitude,” Jenson quoted his friend and fellow leadership leadership guru John C. Maxwell.

Adopting a positive attitude goes hand in hand with critical thinking, he added. But it is also about embracing challenges or opportunities alike when they arrive.

4. Value integrity

Integrity is about being whole inside out.

“We’re not putting on a con. We’re not faking it,” Jenson said.

Integrity is about people internalizing the right principles in their lives so that they can be the same in private as they are in public, and vice-versa.

5. Be purposeful

A person with a big enough “why” for living can handle any “how,” Jenson said, quoting another friend.

Leaders should see their subordinates develop a life mission that includes work, and is also larger than it. They should help them identify their PEGS: Passion, Eperience, Gifts, and Style – what drives them.

After defining purpose, anyone from the management and the rank-and-file can also use a weekly assessment tool that covers faith, fitness, family, friends, finances, and fun.

Jenson clarified thought that faith is not confined to a religion, but rather refers simply to the inner life.

The assessment tool comprises 3 steps:

  1. Do an evaluation every week, which can be done in 15 minutes
  2. Determine past/present neglected needs in those areas
  3. Write at least one action you are going to do for each during the week. Force-rank the actions. Then build your schedule around those priorities.

For example, Jenson said he can ask himself what is more important: a date with his wife or a finished book chapter.

A culture of character will not drive away deadlines, difficult colleagues, and despairing situations. But it boosts individuals’ chances to benefit from best practices on the job. It is a space that encourages people to be human and to be happy at work at the same time. – Rappler.com

Shadz Loresco is a freelance business writer for both online and print. Follow her on Twitter: @shadzloresco.

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