Welcome to Merge's Monthly Mega Minute - a bite-sized, yet substantial and practical, nugget of information that you can use immediately to enhance your professional and personal success.

Sho-u-gan-ai

Let's face it – stuff happens! – to us and around us – every single day!  And some of it we have control over, and some of it not.  If we have the ability to influence the outcome of this "stuff", then clearly, we should take positive action to correct it.  However, sometimes, stuff happens that is outside our control.  That's the stuff we can't influence – yet many of us spend hours agonizing over things that we have no power to change.  It is for this very situation that the Japanese have a very interesting phrase. 

The Japanese commonly use an expression shouganai (sho-u-gan-ai) that translates to "It is nothing", "No one is to blame", or "It is life".  Whether it's missing the last bus home, an air-conditioner break-down on a scorching summer afternoon, or even the loss of a job, many Japanese often respond with the phrase shouganai.  Essentially – “It is outside our control”.  Some critics claim that the adage is too easy – it allows an individual to avoid taking personal responsibility for a difficult situation; however, there's a lot of truth (and good mental health) in this small phrase.  If we can remember to use it only for situations that our outside our control, this philosophy can lead to reduced levels of stress, and release our energy so that we can focus on the things that we actually have the ability to influence or control.

So the next time someone cuts you off in traffic, or your flight is late, save your energy for the things that really matter, and say shouganai.

So I’m curious to hear your thoughts.  Do you think this is a good tool to have in our mental health toolbox, or is it, as many say, an opportunity to “pass the buck” or to permit mediocrity.  I want to know what you think, and what your experiences have been.  Please add your comment directly on the blog at www.turningmanagersintoleaders.com/blog.

A positive mindset can lift your day and elevate your career — Merge’s latest column in The Globe and Mail

A positive attitude at work not only makes the days more enjoyable, but also heightens performance, sparks creativity and opens doors to career opportunities. Add to that improved well-being, and you have a reason to seek it out.  But often negativity wins over, to your detriment.  Merge’s latest column in The Globe outlines 13 specific things you can do to foster a more positive state of mind: A positive mindset can lift your day and elevate your career. Thirteen ways to make it happen

Turning Managers Into Leaders

• Video: Team accountability strategies build common goals and cohesion. When you establish team accountability strategies, you ensure that all your people are on the same page and working together 
• Video: Increase efficiency and engagement by employing virtual team meeting strategies. If even some of your team members are remote, then you need to master virtual team meeting strategies in order to be an effective leader
• Overcome procrastination by using the “salami technique”. Procrastination plagues leaders everywhere. But fret not, the odd-sounding "salami technique" works very well to overcome procrastination 
  

That Merge has worked with over 300 clients in 15 countries? 

Merge is privileged to have helped people become exceptional leaders and better communicators in over 300 client organizations. She has worked with sales managers, service managers, and government managers; C-suite executives, association executives and not-for-profit executives; franchise owners; academic leaders, student leaders, armed forces leaders, and healthcare leaders; in just about every industry in countries all over the world. If you'd like to see a list of just some of Merge's satisfied (and in many cases repeat) clients in nine different industry categories, then visit this link.