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The Dynamic Between Our Conscious & Subconscious Minds

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A renowned speaker, business consultant, record-setting speed skier and Olympian, Vince Poscente believes in the enormous potential of the unconscious mind.

115012In his book ‘The Ant and The Elephant’, Poscente likens the dynamic between the conscious and subconscious minds to an ant and an elephant. He believes our minds are separated into two distinct functions – the conscious and subconscious elements. Our ant is the intentional part of the brain, but our elephant is the instinctual, impulsive part of the brain that houses emotions and memories and even guides the body to perform vital functions. While we tend to know our conscious minds – our ants – rather well, we often overlook the power of our elephantine subconscious minds. When we do, unfortunately, we squander a wellspring of human potential.

Having read too many books focused on what a problem or solution is and too few focused on how to solve the problem, I love how Poscente, with his trademark wit, wisdom and steely resolve, created ‘The Ant and the Elephant – Leadership for the Self: A Parable and Five-Step Action Plan to Transform Workplace Performance‘.

Below I have highlighted the key takeaways from his book:

 

Action Step #1: Find the ‘elephant buzz’.

Find the emotion that ignites your vision. Inspire through your emotion and ever underestimate the power of that emotion.

  • Clarify your vision
  • Make fear your friend. Not your master.
  • You don’t know what you don’t know. Open your mind to discover possibilities that may not be obvious at the time.
  • Zero in on a goal that has a depth of meaning. The journey has to be worth taking.

 If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs 

 

Action step #2: Stay the course.

Change is gradual. Remember the drops in the bucket to avoid frustration. Learn to delay gratification.

  • Commit to cultivating positive dominant thoughts.
  • Shift your beliefs, attitudes, and truths so they are aligned with your vision.
  • Elgo’s beliefs, attitudes, and truths can be deeply held. You can change Elgo’s mind with a dedicated, focused effort. (Elgo = the elephant representative of our Impulsive side)

 

Action Step #3: Use gold dot reminders.

Gold dots are triggers for goals that have emotions tied to them (To remind you of your goals). Your personal gold dot must align with the gold dot of the team.

  • Experience your goal as though it were happening right now.
  • Show your gratitude consistently!

 

Action Step #4: Institute pattern busters.

Once you recognize yourself or your team playing out the pattern of negativity, interrupt this thought by saying, “Thank you, but that is not part of my vision. My vision is…” Experience the vision in detail.

  • Strengthen your confidence.
  • Frustration will lead to negative thoughts. Negative thoughts add fuel to more negativity. This negativity can be a pattern that destroys your confidence.
  • No two thoughts can occupy the mind at the same time. Replace negativity with positive, confident thoughts.

 “You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind”

 

Action Step #5: Use flash cards.

Design flash cards that detail stressful scenarios. Mentally experience handling these stressful situations with ease.

  • You learn how to control your response to any situation.
  • Unforeseen circumstances will arise. Expect the unexpected. Anticipate your response to challenges as well as your teams.

 

The Five C’s:

  1. Clarity of vision: A goal with a depth of meaning has an emotional buzz
  2. Commitment: Commit to a process of positive dominant thoughts
  3. Consistency: Apply consistent strategies. (The bucket will turn blue)
  4. Confidence: Strengthen confidence by breaking negative patterns
  5. Control: Practice responses to the unforeseen events that may arise

 

Have you read ‘The Ant and The Elephant’? What did you think of it?

 

A young entrepreneur, author and speaker, Carla Schesser is a woman who is passionate about inspiring and educating youth to live a life they love. Carla's book, ‘#Success - Mastering the Basics to a Happy, Healthy & Wealthy Life’ is a simple, practical and motivating guide which young adults will enjoy reading while learning important skills which empower them and allow them to discover how to live a peaceful, successful, and healthy life. Carla has a rare ability to connect with her readers. She has been in the same shoes many aspiring young adults wear today and this allows her to reach her audience and inspire them in a way most people can’t.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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