Become A Better Leader

Communication: Sometimes You Need a Little Magic - Quick Tip - 7/08/09

Communication: Sometimes You Need a Little Magic - Quick Tip - 7/08/09

 

Here's a story I'd like to share....

The charts at Sally's office must be filed at the end of each day. The task has been assigned to her co-worker, Mary. If Mary doesn't do it, then Sally must.

Sally watches Mary prepare to leave - without doing the filing...again. Unaware of how this is affecting her co-worker, Mary is completely surprised when Sally pounces.

Sally: "You never help me! You are always leaving the charts for me to file."

Mary: "What?! I don't know what you're talking about! I do so help you!"

Sally: "No you don't."

Mary: "Yes I do!"

Sally: "No you don't!"

You see where this is going? That's right...exactly nowhere. Sally will not be getting the help she wants, plus she has just alienated Mary.

You see, the words "always" and "never" are negative words because they are rarely true and exaggerate a situation. Since they are usually used to criticize, people feel attacked and can become very defensive.

Why Does This Matter?

Think about it. If a person you are trying to communicate with focuses on your exaggeration and entirely ignores your message, what's the point?

Then How Do You Get Someone to Help You?

You can use the words - "often" and "seldom" - to explain your feelings and wishes, so there is no need for your co-worker to get defensive, and you are more likely to get the cooperation you are seeking.

Let's play that scene again, but this time Sally uses a more positive tact.

Sally: "Since you seldom offer to help me file the charts, I get frustrated because I often have to stay late to get the filing finished."

Mary: "I'm sorry, Sally. I've been really swamped. I didn't think about you having to take up the slack. Can we work out a plan so that we can share the filing?"

You see? Mary listened to Sally. Sally felt validated, she'll get the help she needs, and the co-workers remain on good terms.

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Talking so that you will be heard is crucial. That's why - Magic Words that Change Negative to Positive - is one of the 13 essential tools in the Employee Success Toolkit.

The Employee Success Toolkit is a professional development course for employees in 13
easy-to-follow lessons. It is a system guaranteed to improve attitude, skills, and productivity.

See all the details and learn what the other 12 lessons are at:
http://www.confidencecenter.com/url/toolkit.htm

Employee Morale Tips Newsletter - July 7, 2009

Employee Morale Tips
July  7,  2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 27

Written by Harriet Meyerson and published every Tuesday compliments of www.ConfidenceCenter.com

In This Issue:

• Word, Quote, Trivia, and Joke of the Week
• Article:   Star Ceremony

Word and Quote of the Week

*** Enthusiasm ***

*** If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work. - Kahlil Gibran

Trivia Question of the Week

Q. What was the first Lifesaver flavor?

(Answer at the end of this newsletter.)

Plan ahead for Employee Morale themes for next month

For example August is...

The Single Greatest Key to Improving Customer Service - Quick Tip - 7-01-09

The Single Greatest Key to Improving Customer Service - Quick Tip

 

Sam Walton once said, "There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else."

Unfortunately, many employees don't understand this very important concept.

Why should this matter?

Without customers your company would not be in business, and no one would have a paycheck.

Management can stress to employees that their paychecks may be distributed through the company, but their salary comes from the customers.

Train your employees to visualize customers adding to their salary every time they come in contact with them. Staff will be more likely to thank the customers with outstanding service.

This is so important that...Customer Service that Makes Them Say, "Wow!" is one of the 13 essential tools in the Employee Success Toolkit.

The Employee Success Toolkit is a professional development course in 13 easy-to-follow lessons. It is a system guaranteed to improve attitude, skills, and productivity.

See all the details and learn what the other 12 lessons are at:
http://www.confidencecenter.com/url/toolkit.htm

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The ultimate goal of any supervisor is to turn ordinary workers into extraordinary employees.
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Secrets of a Top Salesperson - How Emotions Make or Break the Sale

Eager to be a top producer in your sales career?

Tired of all the stress that comes with being a top producer?

Wouldn’t you love to have both -- enjoy the rewards without all the stress?

You can… if you know these secrets!

In spite of all the frustrations and demands sales can bring, it can also be extremely rewarding. If you know how to manage all the emotions and challenges of a sales career.

Paula Pagano knows how. And she generously passes along that wisdom to you in this empowering new book.

Imagine … learning from someone who has been through the exact challenges you are facing—and succeeded superbly.  That person is Paula Pagano, 30 year top producer, sales trainer and author of Secrets of a Top Salesperson - How Emotions Make or Break the Sale. 

Paula writes with raw honesty and heartfelt humor about the emotional journey of succeeding in sales.   That’s right – the part most people gloss over when they leap straight to the end of their success story. 

In her book Paula shares real life experiences that taught her the 8 Virtues and 8 Vices necessary for every successful sales professional to manage… and embrace.

Employee Morale Tips - June 30, 2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 26

Employee Morale Tips
June 30, 2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 26

Written by Harriet Meyerson and published every Tuesday compliments of www.ConfidenceCenter.com

In This Issue:

• Word, Quote, Trivia, and Joke of the Week
• Article:  Growing Together

Word and Quote of the Week

***Dedication***

*** If a man loves the labor of his trade, apart from any question of success or fame, the gods have called him. - Robert Louis Stevenson

Trivia Question of the Week

Q. Who was Helen Keller's teacher?

(Answer at the end of this newsletter.)

Employee Morale

Growing Together

Contributed by loyal subscriber, Leigh Fernandez.

I am the manager of a customer service department for a small company. At the beginning of 2007, we had several staff changes which resulted in my department gaining a few new employees.

I wanted to celebrate our growth and do something fun for the department so here is what I did.

Meetings: Bring an Attitude of Participation - Quick Tip - 6-24-09

Meetings: Bring an Attitude of Participation - Quick Tip 

 

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely."

Rodin said that, and I believe it's true, not only in everyday life, but in business meetings as well. Let's face it...meetings happen. So, instead of bringing doughnuts to your next one, how about bringing an attitude of participation?

After all, if it's necessary to spend your precious time in a meeting, then make it worth your while.

How?

Think about ideas you can contribute that will add value to the meeting.

Look at the meeting as a perfect opportunity to get an important message across. Try to make it relevant to the meeting's agenda or some idea that will benefit the company.

In some cases, however, it may be an important message of a more general nature, like a community concern or project, etc.

Whatever it is, the message becomes your mission and your contribution.

Meetings can do much to advance your career, that is why - How to Make an Impact at Meetings -
is Tool 11 of the 13 essential tools in the Employee Success Toolkit.

The Employee Success Toolkit is a professional development course for employees in 13
easy-to-follow lessons. It is a system guaranteed to improve attitude, skills, and productivity.

See all the details and learn what the other 12
lessons are at:
http://www.confidencecenter.com/url/toolkit.htm

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The ultimate goal of any supervisor is to turn ordinary workers into extraordinary employees.
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Employee Morale Tips - June 23, 2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 25

Employee Morale Tips
June 23, 2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 25

Written by Harriet Meyerson and published every Tuesday compliments of www.ConfidenceCenter.com

In This Issue:

• Word, Quote, Trivia, and Joke of the Week
• Employee Morale Article:  See Your Name In Print
  

Word and Quote of the Week

***Tenacity***

*** Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work. - Robert Orben

Trivia Question of the Week

Q. Who is credited with saying: "When the going gets tough, the tough get going"?

(Answer at the end of this newsletter.)

Employee Morale

See Your Name in Print...

Lower Your Workplace Stress by Changing Your Perceptions - Quick Tip - 6-17-09

Lower Your Workplace Stress by Changing Your Perceptions - Quick Tip

Think about this:

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Wayne Dyer

Ponder that for a second. That means that everything that causes you stress or fear only does so only because of the way you see it.

What does that mean?

It means that you have the power to lower your own stress by simply looking at situations differently. Isn't that amazing?

The trick, of course, is the "how". How do you start suddenly looking at things differently after all this time?

One word. Acceptance.

Wait, you might say..."I thought you said I could change it. Now you are asking me to accept it. What gives?"

Because of one of life's little paradoxes - You can't change something until you accept it.

Accept the fact that life and work are full of people and situations that could cause you stress.

Accept the fact that the only thing you can change is your attitude, your behavior and your perception.

Stress is a thief of employee morale.

That is why  - How to Thrive in a Stressful Workplace - is one of the 13 essential tools in the Employee Success Toolkit.

The Employee Success Toolkit is a professional development course for employees in 13
easy-to-follow lessons. It is a system guaranteed to improve attitude, skills, and productivity.

See all the details and learn what the other 12 lessons are at:
http://www.confidencecenter.com/url/toolkit.htm

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The ultimate goal of any supervisor is to turn ordinary workers into extraordinary employees.
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If you want...

Employee Morale Tips - June 16, 2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 24

Employee Morale Tips
June 16, 2009 - Vol. 9 - Issue 24

Written by Harriet Meyerson and published every Tuesday compliments of www.ConfidenceCenter.com

In This Issue:

• Word, Quote, Trivia, and Joke of the Week
• Article:   Sweet Days at the Office
  

Word and Quote of the Week

***Privilege***

*** Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first. - Mark Twain

Trivia Question of the Week

Q. What two countries did Hadrian's Wall separate?

(Answer at the end of this newsletter.)

Employee Morale

Sweet Days at the Office
Contributed by loyal subscriber, Katharine Becker.

At our childcare center, the staff is given a monthly calendar to refer to that has holidays and special days on it.

Some of our staff enjoy special treats from the snack machine on a regular basis. For morale boosting, I have designated a "special day" each month for a staff person in regards to their snack.

Today is "Rosie loves Jax Day" and I will bring in Jax for everyone as a treat.

Next month will be: Lou Loves Skittles Day. The staff enjoy this, especially the designated co-worker.

Begin Your Active Listening Adventure - Quick Tip - 6-10-2009

Begin Your Active Listening Adventure - Quick Tip

Imagine this:

During a meeting with his supervisor, Mr. Smith suddenly stood up and starting running in place. Astonished, his supervisor asked, "Smith! What are you doing?"

Mr. Smith breathlessly replied, "I'm being active while I listen!"

Most of us would agree that that is ridiculous. But, why do we call it "active" listening? Because listening...really listening to someone...is not a passive exercise. It's something that you must actively do. (But, getting up and running in place is not what it means.)

Then What Does It Mean?

The next time someone is speaking to you, stop whatever you are doing, and give your full attention to the speaker. Not only will this show respect, but it will also allow you to see his or her body language.

To demonstrate your interest, lean forward, look directly at the other person, nod, and make appropriate comments about what is being said.

Mistakes, poor service and wasted time are results of inattentive listening.

Anne Warfield, author of the book, Communicating More Effectively, suggests the following, "If you have difficulty listening, then try a body language trick. Tilt your head to one side while you listen and it will trigger your mind to remember what is being said to you."

- Active Listening - is one of the 13 essential tools in the Employee Success Toolkit.

The Employee Success Toolkit is a professional development course in 13 easy-to-follow lessons. It is a system guaranteed to improve attitude, skills, and productivity.

See all the details and learn what the other 12 lessons are at:
http://www.confidencecenter.com/url/toolkit.htm

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The ultimate goal of any supervisor is to turn ordinary workers into extraordinary employees.
________________________________________________________________________________

If you want...