How to be Direct AND Improve Relationships
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Direct communication can seem scary and even potentially counterproductive. Here are some tips for getting what you want from your staff or colleagues.
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Do You Hate Sales? Try the Mango Test
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You don’t want to be one of those pushy, manipulative and annoying sales people. Yet, you need to develop clients. This article provides a solution.
Read MoreTurkish Riot, Humor & Business Development
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Turkish Riot is an online video game in which the goal is to send as many tweets as possible before the police beat you up. It was created last summer, presumably as a lark, to mock the role of police violence in the Gezi political protests in Turkey. I’m not usually a fan of video games, but as someone living in the middle of Istanbul at the time, I thought it was hysterically funny. I’ve never made it past 17 tweets. Maybe you will do better. You can try it here:
Tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and political intimidation take their toll on everyone, but the Gezi protesters did an amazing job of using humor to stay energized and motivated.
Read MoreHe Who Talks First Loses
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Some people make a point of being quirky and memorable at networking events. What do you do? “I guide people through the jungle.” What do you do? “I peel onions.” This approach certainly has its merits. People are more interested in what you have to say if you are fun and entertaining. Plus, using analogies to explain abstract concepts may help them to understand what you do better. Yet, even the most brilliant elevator pitches fall on deaf ears 99% of the time. Why? If you make your pitch too broad, the other person will probably already know several people with the same specialty. On the other hand, if you make it very specific, most people will think they have no need for your expertise. The best advice I have ever heard about networking came from
Read MoreGive Me a Rock! How NOT to Manage People
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You may have heard of the “give me a rock” form of management. The boss says, “Give me a rock.” The employee finds a rock and presents it to the boss. The boss responds, “No, this isn’t what I wanted. Get me a bigger rock.” And it continues. “No, a rounder rock.” “No, a light colored rock.” Obviously, this is less efficient than, “Get me a round, light grey rock about the size of a bowling ball.” The point here is that we are often busy, tired and not focused adequately on the task that we are delegating. Then we become annoyed when someone fails to perform a task in line with our expectations. No one said humans are logical. So, here are ten simple steps for efficient and effective delegation.
Read MoreEleven Essential Issues to Consider Before Entering a Business Partnership
/he best way to maximize the chances of having a positive partnership experience is to carefully talk through all relevant issues prior to entering the partnership. Very few people have partnership agreements that are sufficiently clear and comprehensive. Even those who have legal contracts in place generally have neglected to address some basic issues that could and very often do lead to bad blood down the line.
Read MoreHow to Manage Difficult Conversations
/Is there someone in your life who is driving you nuts? A colleague, spouse, friend, boss, staff member, child? I’m going to share my simple strategy for dealing with any difficult conversation in a way that actually improves the existing relationship. Coaching is about clarity and authenticity, which is the focus here, rather than strategy. You can use the following questions to prepare for virtually any difficult conversation (except maybe asking someone out—you are on your own for that one). I strongly recommend writing out your answers and/or discussing them with a friend or coach.
Read MoreRelentless Positivity: Friend or Foe?
/Have you noticed that some “positive” people seem smarmy, condescending and basically you just want to punch them? Meanwhile, others are magnetic and just being around them makes you feel more joyful, connected and alive. Small children are almost always in this category. This article is my two cents on relentlessly positive attitudes and what people don’t tell you about the law of attraction. I often meet people who say things like, “it’s important to always be positive because then you attract good things into your life.” This worries me. I get the value of being positive AND there is something insidious about the “always.”
Read MoreAccountability Buddies
/One of the most effective ways to keep yourself on track with a new commitment is to get a buddy to check in with on a daily basis. Most of us are pretty unreliable to keep promises to ourselves, but will go far our of our way to honor commitments to other people.
Read MoreManagement Tip: Express Appreciation
/Do you want your staff to work harder? To be more creative? To like you more? Try this super simple and immensely effective management tool. Each day, for the next two weeks, look for two actions or qualities to acknowledge and appreciate about your staff. Is the receptionist extremely polite and helpful to clients? Did John write a particularly good brief last week? Tell them so. This will create a palpable difference in the work environment, and ultimately, in staff performance. The importance of positive feedback is even reinforced by recent neurological research. Studies have shown that for people to learn and grow, the optimal amount of positive versus negative feedback is five to one. Imagine how pleasant and productive work would be if people actually followed that ratio!
Tips on Language for Answering the Question: “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?”
/I wrote this up for a workshop I led on Transforming Negative Career Experiences, and I thought others might be interested as well.
1) Say something positive about the boss, job, company, etc.
Read More• I have a lot of respect for my former boss. She is very hard working, and incredibly knowledgeable. But we just weren’t a good fit and I realized that I could be a greater contribution somewhere else.
