Peer pressure or self pressure - which benefits you more?
We all know that learning is best achieved interactively rather than
through a one-way transmission process. Learning from each other is one
effective way to improve team capabilities which is important for
business organisations. Not many business organisations use peers as a
training resource. One significant feature in high performing
organisations is the use of peers leading the pack to raise the
performance standard of the team.
From the time we were children, peer pressure has had a negative
connotation almost as if the people that surround us wield some power
over us. Learning from a peer is perceived to be a thing that affects
one's esteem.
The positives of peer pressure is mostly ignored though an honest
look will reveal many instances of peer pressure helping you to improve;
be it studies, sports or any other activity.
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to succeed, but sometimes the
most effective pressure comes from our peers. So accept and add a little
positive peer pressure to your individual learning strategy for all the
motivation you need to succeed.
Share your voyage
If you want to increase the chances of your success - involve someone
else in your plight. Share your voyage with someone else who has similar
goals. If you meet a friend every day at lunch to sit and chat, he or
she will notice when you don't show up. You'll be more likely to show up
if someone else expects you to be there. We don't like to let others
down. If others are expecting you to be at the gym, the club, or another
meeting place, you'll show up because you'll feel obliged to do so. Peer
pressure, the taboo of our youth, can now be the saving grace of our
fitness plan. It's a positive arrangement because not only will you
adhere to more workouts, but you'll be motivating others as well - very
practical way to understand the theories of motivation, isn't it?
Naturally, most people are driven to uphold or improve their
perception by others and perception is relative - relativity is
comparison. Use this as encouragement and motivation to succeed.
Success breeds more success
Think of a sport's team in your old school. Good sports programs seem
to generate talent, but what's really happening is that success starts
breeding more success. The hard work and self-improvement catches on
like wild fire, and the inner-competition to keep-up has everyone
improving their level of play.
Think of ways to make those around you part of your active
development - you will be amazed with the opportunities!
In business organisations, the choice you have to make is taking peer
pressure positively for self- improvement versus missing the opportunity
by ignoring it. It's not about competing against your peers but about
learning from peers for self- improvement - and about learning from each
other which is the best way to develop yourself.
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