Lots of folks are taking the PatternAware quiz and beginning to look more deeply at the ingrained behaviors that are keeping them from living a full and fun life.

As your workplace relationship expert it is my delight to give tips and techniques to help you begin making changes that will turn these bothersome behaviors into their healthy opposites.

Here is what Charlene wrote: “I have been laid off for the second time in ten years. I took the quiz and I tend to be a victim—too nice, quiet, and diligent, hoping that I’ll be noticed for hard work. It never happens and I want to break this pattern of being the weakling at work. How do I do this?”

Hi Charlene, for starts, just sending me this question is a big start! Most victims don’t ever ask what they can do differently; so, good for you. Now, you have to put some skin in the game and do what I call a pattern interrupt.

Here’s what it looks like for a victim to become the positive and healthy opposite, the explorer. Do the following in one week and you will start to feel differently….I promise!

• If you always speak up at the end of a meeting, go first.
• If you always grab a sandwich for lunch, eat a whole meal
• If you always say “yes” say “no”
• If you always drive to work take the bus
• If you always leave work on time stay late
• If you always work in a logical order mix it up

You get the idea. It is about doing something, anything in the opposite way. You don’t have to make these changes forever, just start to intrigue your brain to get out of the rut of patterned behavior.

The way the OUT Technique works is:

• Observe your behavior; do something differently and change happens
• Understand where your behavior started and change is longer lasting
• Transform your behavior and become an inspiration to others

Go for it Charlene and become an explorer…it’s way more fun!!!