Capri-Sonne
Originally uploaded by Mareen Fischinger

This month: The Art of Getting Along.

We all know that indeed it is an art to get along with some people. It may be a family member, co-worker, or boss. In reality, it doesn’t matter who it is. The fact of the matter is many times what we have scuffles over is not very important in the grand scheme of things. The true art lies in figuring out ways to settle a dispute, relieve tension, or simply improve a relationship with someone for whom you hold a grudge. If one can succeed in this area of life, one becomes an artist in human interaction.

“Dealing with the Clinton’s is like dealing with Brett Favre. They’re very good players and they’ve got a great record, but sometimes you’re not sure what they really want.” ~ Leon Panetta

“The cemeteries are filled with people who thought the world couldn’t get along without them.” ~ Unknown

“I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

“The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions. A chip on the shoulder is too heavy a piece of baggage to carry through life.” ~ John A. Hannah

an unplanned nap
Originally uploaded by virginiaz

While at work today, I’ll confess to doing some people watching. I made many observations in the process. Some positive. Some negative. Most of my observations were of the best and the brightest. As I observed certain aspects of their job performance, I wrote my thoughts down in my pocket Moleskine. I tried to write them in the form of professional tips. I’ll share a few…

• Remember to thank people when they assist you in anything.
• Nobody likes meetings much, but you could still pretend to care.
• Cultivate good telephone manners.
• Ask relevant questions.
• Introduce others when appropriate.
• Take on new assignments with at least a little enthusiasm. Give the impression that you will get the job done. Oh yeah, and then get the job done!
• Follow up when you say you’re going to follow up.
• When on the phone get to the point.
• Get to the point even when not on the phone.
• You’re busy? There’s no need to remind everyone every 10 minutes.
• Be friendly.
• Don’t ask co-workers to lie for you on the phone. Free tip if you ever work with me: Don’t ask me to, because I won’t.
• Firm handshakes are best. Hard handshakes just hurt. Limp handshakes are creepy.

“If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.” ~ Thomas J. Watson

letting go
Originally uploaded by _rebekka

Today is the greatest day you’ve ever known.

• Desirous of making a change in your life? Make it today.
• Been procrastinating when it comes to some responsibilities? Do them today.
• Have some goals you’ve been meaning to work on? Set them in motion today.
• Is there someone special in your life? Tell them today.
• Intending to try something new? Try it today.

I think you get the point. Waiting for the right opportunity or waiting for someone else to come along and set you in motion means you’re putting off what could be the greatest day you’ve ever known. I’m just as guilty as the next person when it comes to this. I’m changing. Today.

Toast_Brand_02
Originally uploaded by Josh Beeman

Sometime in the 1930′s various ice cream companies began advertising campaigns featuring an ice cream flavor of the month. Each month people would look forward to the new flavor of the month that would be featured in their local ice-cream parlor. Baskin Robbins still uses a form of this today.

The thing about the flavor of the month is that it’s temporary. It isn’t consistent or something you can count on. It can be exciting initially, but there’s really no guarantees. It’s just what it says it is. It’s the flavor, or perhaps better stated, the focus of the month. Once the month is over, the masses will move on to the next flavor.

With many businesses there’s a tendency to react to each issue with a flavor of the month strategy. Instead of encouraging consistency in performance, even creativity in how that performance is done too many businesses focus on one emergency (flavor) for a brief period of time then move on to the next… um… flavor.

Exhibits A, B, and C.
In the transportation industry?
Issue: Accidents are up.
Solution: Inundate all employees with meetings, e-mails, and more meetings demanding that accidents be reduced by regaining focus on the basics.
Result: Accidents are reduced. But after the meetings and e-mails have died down and the flavor has long been forgotten, there will come a time to ratchet up the rhetoric again.

In the public education system?
Issue: American students consistently grade low in mathematics.
Solution: Inundate the politicians with pleas for more money, demand updated textbooks, and use a carefully crafted PR campaign to get the politicians to give more money.
Result: More money is gained and spent. Testing results seem to improve slightly, but there once the flavor has lost it’s luster there will come a time to ratchet up the rhetoric again.

In the retail box-store business?
Issue: Sales are down for the quarter.
Solution: Inundate the public with cleverly crafted marketing campaigns, cut employee hours, and if you are able have one employee perform multiple functions over multiple departments.
Result: Sales go up briefly. But customer service suffers and in the long run, once the flavor of the month has passed, the customers will quit coming back. I think you know what comes next.

The fact is, so many businesses settle for the quick fix. They turn an issue into the flavor of the month. Each employee is expected to do their part for that time period, but once there seems to be no emergency it’s back to business as usual. The month is over. It’s on to another flavor.

Here’s the scoop!
Flavors of the month work well when you want to boost your rocky road ice cream sales, but aren’t the best practice when it comes to creating real solutions to real problems. Your employees won’t pay any attention to your e-mails and simply wait out the latest barrage of safety meetings. Your teachers won’t be motivated to work on new teaching methods because in the end, their school will get more money from the politicians. Your customers won’t have any motivation to return because in the end you’re selling them the same thing, with less customer service.

When you’re sleeping
Originally uploaded by Vassy Popova

“Well-informed people know it is impossible to transmit the voice over wires. Even if it were, it would be of no practical value.” ~ Boston Post, 1865

Sometimes the well-informed get it wrong. There are experts for nearly every facet of life and even though they may never admit it, they are sometimes wrong. Imagine a world where Alexander Graham Bell (or the many others who were working on devices similar to the telephone) had read the Boston Post’s proclamation and given in to the popular opinion of the day. After all, it was well-informed people who believed the telephone impossible.

“Radio has no future.” ~ Lord Kelvin, 1897. I like Lord Kelvin. He actually got it wrong twice when he stated, “Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.”

“There is no need for any individual to have a computer in their home.” ~ Ken Olson, 1977, President, Digital Equipment Corp. I wonder if Ken eventually had a computer in his home. Should he have known better? One would have to believe he was in a position to know best.

My point isn’t to go through a smattering of quotes from well-informed experts who got it wrong. Although that could be somewhat amusing. The idea I’d like for you to walk away with is that sometimes the experts are wrong. Sometimes those in the position to know the most, know the least. It can be for many reasons, but I suspect much of it is because it is easy for us to blind ourselves.

It’s easy to know what we know and never have the desire to know more. Did that make sense? In the simplest of terms, it’s easy to stop learning.

The next time you have an idea, a new proposal, or some new opportunities it might be wise to remember that sometimes the experts are wrong. Only you can find out for sure. Allowing a well-informed majority to convince you to abandon something worthwhile could be a sad loss for all of us.

“Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

keynote
Originally uploaded by Jorge Sousa Santos

“To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.” ~ Ben Jonson

Are you preparing for a speech or presentation? Is this one of the first opportunities you have had to speak publicly? If so, I know how it feels to be nervous and unsure of yourself. A while back I asked if you were better off in a casket when it comes to public speaking. That post dealt primarily with the fear of public speaking that nearly everyone has experienced. This time around we’ll be dealing with the presentation itself.

5 Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking

1. Outline your thoughts. Although many are more than capable of speaking publicly without notes, it never hurts to be prepared. Even if you think you know everything you want to say, I still recommend some sort of notes. Part of your preparation process should include an outline that clearly points you in the direction you want to go. Don’t be afraid to use your notes while speaking. That doesn’t mean you should read them word for word, or continuously look down at them. It just means have them available to help guide your thoughts while you speak. An outline works best for this. If you choose to speak without notes you should realize you run the risk of repeating yourself, rambling, and eventually losing the attention of your audience.
   
2. It’s not about you. No one really wants to hear you speak. Except maybe your mother. Rarely is someone there just because of you. Unless you’re the President or a celebrity (why are you reading my blog?), most people care about something more. Most care about the substance of your presentation. What you are talking about is far more important than you. Try to remember your audience is there because of your message. Nothing is worse than a pontificating speaker.
3. Beware of your talent. Notice I didn’t say be aware of your talent. I said beware of your talent. This is somewhat related to the previous tip. Maybe your confidence is through the roof when you are in front of people. Maybe it’s easy for you to give speeches. Maybe you are an excellent orator. Maybe you have a steel trap for a brain so all of your notes are in your head. Maybe you’re quick on your feet. Then you need to beware. What you are saying is far more important than how. That’s not to say your presentation doesn’t matter, but I’ve heard some excellent speakers before who have said very little. Try not to fall in love with your own voice. If you do, the audience will notice and they will eventually be tuning you out.
4. Connect with your audience. This is extremely important. Learn to connect with your audience. Whether your audience is a small group or thousands of people, it’s important to make an attempt to connect with your listeners. There are numerous ways you could do this. One way is to tell a story. Whether it is funny or touching, allowing your audience to understand that you are human too helps to keep them connected with you. Personal stories that tie in to your subject are best, but there are some great stories throughout history that can connect you with your audience as well.
5. Manage your time. Benjamin Franklin said it better than I, “Half wits talk much, but say little.” Be brief. Be on point. Be seated. Don’t go on and on my friend, like the song that never ends. The best speakers are the ones who can say what they have to say and sit down quickly. Why? Because their speech is finished before their audience is finished listening. Blame it on attention spans growing shorter, people being too busy in their lives, or whatever the case may be. That still doesn’t change the fact that you should be able to make your point in a short period of time.

With that, I am finished.

leaving
Originally uploaded by Dalla*

“If you can’t state your position in eight words or less, you don’t have a position.” ~ Seth Godin

Sometimes we all could use a reminder. Brevity is always better.