Right Attitudes

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The Likeability Factor: Whose “Do Not Pair” List Includes You?

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Southwest Airlines Employs Southwest Airlines employs an “Avoidance Bid System,” similar to the “Do Not Pair” systems found at other airlines. This system allows first officers to select up to three captains they prefer not to fly with when scheduling their monthly rosters. The process is straightforward; it involves entering the captain’s employee number without the need to provide a reason for the preference.

If Southwest’s crew scheduling system pairs a first officer with one of their “avoided” captains, the first officer will be reassigned to a different trip. Notably, captains do not have the same privilege to designate first officers they prefer not to fly with.

The Avoidance Bid System gained significant attention after the Southwest Airlines Flight 345 incident in July 2013. This incident involved a Boeing 737-700 aircraft experiencing a nose gear collapse during a hard landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Despite receiving warnings from the first officer to abort the landing, the captain ignored the alerts. Subsequent investigations uncovered that the captain had received numerous grievances from many first officers she had flown with before; in fact, she was on many first officers’ “Do Not Pair” lists.

In professions such as aviation, which depend heavily on standardization and routine procedures, the impact of workplace likability is intriguing to ponder. When management overlooks individuals who struggle to collaborate and adhere to standard procedures, it poses a considerable risk to safe operations. Errant behavior, particularly from those in positions of power, can disrupt team dynamics, sow tension among colleagues, and weaken the efficacy of established protocols.

Idea for Impact: Ever stop and think if your coworkers would slap your name on their “Do Not Pair” list if our company had a system like that? Maybe your skills, experience, or even just your attitude could land you there. Likability is the glue that fortifies professional relationships and unlocks pathways to opportunities.

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Spot the Green Flags: They Fuel Relationships

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Spot the Green Flags: They Fuel Relationships It’s important to keep an eye out for red flags in budding relationships to avoid potential pitfalls—it’s like avoiding potholes on the road. You gotta spot ’em early to keep things smooth sailing.

But don’t get so caught up in red flag hunting that you miss the good signs—they show your relationship is on the right track and has the potential for growth.

Just like red flags, green flags can sometimes be subtle and not immediately obvious. It often takes connecting the dots and seeing the bigger picture to spot them. These signs are the ones that enhance your quality of life, boost your self-esteem, and bring you closer together.

Idea for Impact: Start flagging the good stuff—they indicate a strong foundation for a fulfilling connection.

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How to … Care Less About What Other People Think

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Mastering Self-Liberation: Care Less About Others' Opinions Are you spending too much time worrying about others’ opinions of you? Studies show that we consistently and needlessly overestimate how much—and how badly—others think about our failings.

While seeking acceptance is natural, it’s essential not to become overly focused on pleasing others or taking rejection personally. Challenge social norms and maintain a balanced perspective.

By regularly bring your focus back on the bigger picture (“What do I want?”) and daring to go against the tide, you’ll find that others’ opinions have less sway over you. This shift reduces overgeneralization and premature conclusions.

When faced with criticism, assess whether the criticism is fair and warranted. If upon reflection, you find that the criticism holds merit and aligns with your values or goals, it may be beneficial to consider making changes or adjustments accordingly. However, if after careful consideration, you determine that the criticism is unjustified or does not resonate with your beliefs or objectives, don’t let it affect you negatively.

Be mindful of your thoughts and interrogate them. Don’t allow assumptions about others’ perceptions to dictate your actions. Often, what you fear others are judging you for exists solely in your imagination.

Idea for Impact: Know what matters to you personally—what you stand for, what your values are. Persuade yourself to become more competent in the skills and fields that matter to you. This attitude will enhance your self-confidence and develop a strong and positive self-image.

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What Does ‘Culture of Respect’ Really Mean?

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What Does 'Culture of Respect' Really Mean? A culture of respect involves a pervasive attitude and a set of behaviors that uphold the dignity, worth, and boundaries of every individual.

A culture of respect is one in which everyone knows exactly where the lines of appropriate and inappropriate conduct lie.

A culture of respect is one in which everyone takes responsibility for their actions and their impact on others. They also hold themselves and others accountable for maintaining respectful behavior.

A culture of respect is one in which everyone feels confident enough to speak up when somebody—no matter their rank—crosses the threshold of acceptable behavior.

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There’s Real Danger in Religious Illiteracy

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There's Real Danger in Religious Illiteracy From Harvard’s Religious Literacy Project:

Understanding complex religious influences is a critical dimension of understanding modern human affairs. In spite of this awareness, there remains a widespread illiteracy about religion that spans the globe. There are many consequences of this illiteracy, but the most urgent is that it fuels conflict and antagonisms and hinders cooperative endeavors in all arenas of human experience.

In our multi-faith societies, it’s essential not only to understand our own faith traditions (or lack thereof) but also to grasp the traditions of others. Religion carries significant weight in many people’s lives, shaping individual and collective history, politics, and social dynamics through beliefs, practices, and traditions.

Unfortunately, widespread myths and factual inaccuracies about religious beliefs and texts often lead to misunderstandings and ignorance, fostering fear and prejudice.

Idea for Impact: Take the time to learn about different religions. It gives you a peek into people’s perspectives, values, and what drives them. Plus, it helps you recognize and deal with your own biases and stereotypes.

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Friendships Aren’t Always Built to Last Forever

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Friendships Aren't Always Built to Last Forever A bitter truth of life is the fleeting nature of friendships, even those imbued with profound love and mutual regard.

Despite the tender ties forged and the tapestry of memories woven together, some bonds unravel, leaving behind a poignant yearning for what once thrived and the haunting echoes of what might have been.

Sustaining relationships demands a reciprocal commitment and diligent nurturing, as British writer Virginia Woolf eloquently observed in The Waves (1931,) “I have lost friends, some by death—others through sheer inability to cross the street.”

Friendships often follow a natural life cycle. Initially drawn together by the threads of circumstance—work, family, community, or shared passions—a journey unfolds, revealing deeper truths about our essence and desires.

In this unfolding, the connections that once nourished our souls may no longer suffice, and we find ourselves outgrowing the companionships that once defined us.

Some partings come with the gentle acceptance of mutual growth, while others leave behind the lingering ache of unresolved farewells.

Idea for Impact: That many friendships don’t withstand the trials of time is often a hard lesson to learn at any age. A poignant reminder of life’s impermanence.

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Why New Expatriate Managers Struggle in Asia: Confronting the ‘Top-Down’ Work Culture

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Why Expatriate Managers Struggle in Asia: Confronting the 'Top-Down' Work Culture Running the show in Asia is a whole different ball game compared to the West.

The management culture in Asia is primarily characterized by a pronounced top-down structure. Hierarchy based on position and seniority calls the shots.

Employees often see themselves more as executors of decisions that come from above, rather than being actively involved in the decision-making process. On top of that, there’s a fear of speaking up, worried they’ll stir up trouble or get sidelined.

This lack of creativity and proactive engagement stifles innovation and hampers organizational effectiveness. Even when employees recognize serious issues, they keep mum, sticking strictly to what they’re told.

Idea for Impact: For new expat managers, the key is getting people to open up, share their ideas, and challenge the status quo. Dive in, listen up, and make everyone part of the decision-making process. Their insights could be the game-changer your organization needs.

Take time to build those personal connections and create a vibe where everyone’s pitching in. Understand the influence networks and ditch the old-school compliance mindset.

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The Problem with Hiring Smart People

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Smart people are puzzled by initial resistance and slow uptake Hiring smart individuals indeed adds valuable intellectual capital to organizations, but it also brings about unique challenges. The struggle emerges as these individuals try to grasp why their brilliant ideas face initial resistance and why others don’t catch on as quickly.

Smart individuals become frustrated when dealing with skeptics among their colleagues, having to invest precious time in aligning the team without coming off as bossy—especially when collaborating with peers over whom they lack direct authority. The aggravation intensifies as they would prefer to generate more genius ideas than get caught up in the challenge of convincing others about concepts that seem like a no-brainer to them.

Idea for Impact: Smart folks, don’t overlook relationship-building skills; intelligence isn’t everything for your goals.

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Spot the Signs, Draw the Lines

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Patronizing Behavior: Spot the Signs, Draw the Lines Ever experienced disempowerment, frustration, or communication breakdown due to someone’s perceived superiority or authority? Learn to identify three common patronizing behaviors:

  • Talking down: Speaking in a simplistic or slow manner, assuming you won’t grasp complex concepts.
  • Unsolicited advice: Acting like you can’t handle things on your own, and, worse, making decisions for you without consultation.
  • Disregarding opinions: Interrupting, dismissing feelings, and implying overreaction or irrationality.

First move: Stay mindful. Recognize signs of patronizing behavior in those around you. Defend your boundaries: Be assertive when lines are crossed, standing tall against disrespect or manipulation.

Idea for Impact: Respect starts with you. Your standards for how you’ll be treated matter!

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Our 10 Most Popular Articles of 2023

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Top Blog Articles of 2023 Here are our most popular exclusive features of 2023. Pass this on to your friends; if they like these, they can sign up to receive our RSS feeds.

The Secret Weapon to Happiness. Happiness is tied to expectations—whether things exceed or fall short. Adjusting expectations, as suggested by Buddhism, can boost joy, without the need for constant striving or societal pressures.

Why It’s So Hard to Apologize. Non-apologizers find it challenging to set aside pride and concede imperfections, often as an effort to protect a fragile self-image. Apologies don’t have to prove a point.

The Two Best Employee Engagement Questions. How actively do you engage in enhancing your responsibilities, and does your workplace actively seek your input for improvements? To what extent do the processes you work with support your success in your role?

Listening Is Not Just Waiting to Talk. When we pretend to listen while internally rehearsing our response—crafting a counterargument,—we fail to genuinely grasp the speaker’s message, overlooking its nuances and subtleties.

A Daily Appointment with Your Worries. Schedule specific 15- to 30-minute “Worry Time” slots on your calendar to limit and make your worries more productive, encouraging active problem-solving and preventing constant rumination throughout the day.

The Shoichi Yokoi Fallacy. Japanese soldier Shoichi Yokoi hid in Guam for 28 years, clinging to his identity and principles, but ultimately sacrificed his life as unwavering adherence to ideals turned into a vice.

Why Your Partner May Be Lying. People may lie to partners when they feel unsafe telling the truth, fearing rejection or disapproval. The focus is often on short-term benefits, and if they believe they won’t get caught, they find it expedient to sidestep the truth.

Three Rules to Decide If You Should Automate a Task. Selecting processes for automation is challenging, but a thorough workflow analysis reveals the ideal path for automation. The process should be efficient, requiring minimal human interaction.

Much Said, Little Decided in Most Meetings. Gathering well-paid professionals for unproductive, costly interactions is unchecked. For better decisions, plan purposeful meetings that prioritize decision-making over information-sharing.

Under Pressure, the Narrowing Cognitive Map. Time pressure can lead to “narrowing of the cognitive map,” causing tunnel vision and errors in judgment. The case of Singapore Airlines Flight 6 exemplifies how this hinders decision-making.

And here are some articles of yesteryear that continue to be popular:

We wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2024!

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