This in from Science magazine: Researchers from the University of Michigan report that washing one’s hands after decision-making helps lessen the cognitive (postdecisional) dissonance of that decision. (Cognitive dissonance is that uncomfortable tension caused by our conscience second-guessing the decisions we make.)
Per researchers Spike W. S. Lee and Norbert Schwarz from the Department of Psychology, University of Michigan:
“After choosing between two alternatives…postdecisional dissonance was eliminated by cleaning one’s hands. Physical cleansing seems to more generally remove past concerns, resulting in a metaphorical “clean slate” effect.”
What’s interesting here, aside from the obvious good news to soap companies, is that while prior research has shown that washing one’s hands helped reduce cognitive dissonance after making difficult moral decisions, this research shows that washing one’s hands also helps reduce one’s cognitive dissonance after making nonmoral (neither moral nor immoral) decisions, as well. The washing of your hands acts to clear your conscience!
So, the next time you start second-guessing yourself, or are feeling like you have to overly justify to yourself why you decided as you did, stop…and go clean your hands.
Your conscience will likely thank you.
—–
Image Source: http://edina.k12.mn.us
Related posts:
- 2010q3 GGCI Newsletter
- Why Make Work Meaningful?
- Tylenol for SOCIAL Pains?!
- Science and Buddhism
In a recent USA TODAY Snapshots poll, the following question was asked: “What primary motivation does your employer provide?”
The results:
-
47% cited “Nothing” as the Top Motivator provided by their employer.
-
19% cited “Challenging assignments” as the Top Motivator provided by their employer.
-
14% cited “Flexible work hours” as the Top Motivator provided by their employer.
-
10% cited “Increased compensation” as the Top Motivator provided by their employer.
Based on the fact that almost half the people surveys said that their employer provided NOTHING by way of motivation, you might think that this is absolutely horrifying! And maybe it is.
But maybe it isn’t.
Is it really an employer’s JOB to motivate employees? I don’t think so. A job IS what a job IS. If an employee finds the work meaningful, then great! But while “challenging assignments,” “Flexible work hours,” and “Increased compensation” are all fine and good, I believe that it’s each employee’s responsibility to motivate him/herself.
Now a strong Leader may want to identify what motivates his/her employees. And given the chance to provide more meaningful work to employees is rarely (ever?) a BAD thing. But let’s stop delegating the responsibility to our employers – or our friends, or our colleagues, or our significant others … or whomever! – to “motivate” us. That’s no one’s job but our own.
Period. Paragraph. Thank-you-very-much.
—–
Based on a Dice Salary survey of 16,908 technology workers. Margin of error +/- 1%.
Related posts:
- Why Make Work Meaningful?
- Post-Outage Evaluations
- Marshall Goldsmith Keynote
- It’s “Nuts” to Try to Get Your Unmet Needs Met at Work
I was struck by a recent question posed on LinkedIn by someone named Dave Maskin, who asked: “If you were an inanimate object, what inanimate object would you be?” Here are some excerpts of answers that people posted:
- I think I’d be a sharp pencil. - Mary Lascelles
- I would be a wire! – Sahar Andrade
- A beautiful sculpture – Christine Heuber
- I would be a cold fusion plant that would forever deliver more power than there is the universe! – Ronny Warelius
- A one dollar bill so I could travel the world making simple wishes come true.- Todd Kramer
- I’d want to be a song for every occasion. – Ryan Edwards
- I’d be a “pet rock.” – Judith Angell
- A “Zero” it adds to whatever it gets associated but yes post not pre!!! - Anupma Sancha
- I’d be a shiny black grand piano so that (almost assuredly) those who would play me would be expert pianists and I could produce beautiful music. - Julie Radachy
- A pair of walking boots… – Richard Derwent Cooke
- A global bridge … bringing people, places, cultures and business together. – Arran Jesson
- A jet-black Les Paul guitar, with dials to 11 – Martin Roche
- I think WATER, even if you call it inanimate, it means LIFE to me………. – Bhalchandra Pai
- a cruise ship. imagine travelling to all those wonderful places and to have so many happy people for company. – Sayeed Cassim
- A bookcase. I love books, therefore I would be filled with something I love. – Elaine Bloom
- A candlestick. – Mark Porter
- My manager. (Alright, I’m kidding but you get the point.) – Mark Strauss
- The alphabet. Then others could use me to answer your question. – Randy Ballard
As for me, I think if I were an inanimate object, the inanimate object would be would be … Fred the Rock! (Read Fred’s story at www.ggci.com/fred/.) How about you?!
—–
Image Source: cheerfulmonk.com
Related posts:
- NCIS, Crime-Solving, Chart-Busting
- Marshall Goldsmith Keynote
- Who Motivates YOU?
- Summer Hiatus: August 2010
According to the United Airlines in-flight magazine, “Researchers at Merck and the Mind & Life Institute are using brain imaging to study the physiological differences in Buddhist monks. The goal? To see if meditation can increase the efficacy of neurological drugs.” Fits perfectly with the vision of the Institute: “To establish mutually respectful working collaboration and research partnerships between modern science and Buddhism — two of the world’s most fruitful traditions for understanding the nature of reality and promoting human well-being.”
The Dalai Lama is on-board with this, too, it seems. According to the Mind & Life web site: “The Dalai Lama has always shown a strong mechanical aptitude and a keen personal interest in the sciences. He has said that if he were not a monk, he would have liked to have been an engineer.”
Who knew?! I surely didn’t.
—–
Image Source: spameditationbliss.com
Related posts:
- High Potential Coaching – Panel Discussion
- Human Achievement Coaching
- Tylenol for SOCIAL Pains?!
- GottaGettaCoach! Celebrates 10-year Anniversary
As reported at PsychCentral.com, “A provocative new research study investigates the possibility that over-the-counter pain relief drugs may be helpful for treatment of depression and anxiety.” Yes, University of Kentucky research psychologist C. Nathan DeWall has shown that acetaminophen isn’t just for physical aches and pains — it works with the pain of social rejection, as well. According to the research report:
“…findings suggest that at least temporary mitigation of social pain-related distress may be achieved by means of an over-the-counter painkiller that is normally used for physical aches and pains…. “Furthermore, many studies have shown that being rejected can trigger aggressive and antisocial behavior, which could lead to further complications in social life…. If acetaminophen reduces the distress of rejection, the antisocial behavioral consequences of rejection may be reduced as well.”
Keeping in mind that long-term use of acetaminophen has also been linked to serious liver damage, the implications of these initial findings are still quite fascinating. —– Image Source: http://www.wlcntv.com
Related posts:
- Clean Hands Clear Conscience
- 2010q2 GGCI Newsletter
- Science and Buddhism
- Slide, that is, DON'T Slide
