Turn of Phrase
What were the words you chose? Most importantly, how did you choose to say them? Why did they come to mind? Did you pause to consider how your turn of phrase would be received? Yes, the words matter. Yet how they are delivered counts for even more in the recipient’s ears and in their mind. […]
True Meaning
You’re pondering that message you just received. What is the sender really saying? Is the true meaning of it conveyed in the way it reads or sounds?If that message is a Text, odds are that it was sent spur-of-the-moment. It may only be a partial thought, but it may also be driven by emotion. But […]
Clarity
“Speak clearly, simply, and sparingly, and it should stick.” ~ Peggy Noonan~ These are very practical words of wisdom from the former speechwriter for “The Great Communicator”, President Ronald Reagan. And they are especially true today, since we are awash in vast amounts of incoming information, such that it has become difficult to hear and […]
Sometimes or Always?
When it comes to working with people, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Sometimes the outcomes are entirely unexpected or seem unreasonable. Sometimes you are responsible for dealing with circumstances you didn’t create. Sometimes customers or coworkers are not friendly, occasionally get angry and could become disrespectful. Always remain respectful, even if it becomes necessary […]
Pleasant Surprises
There are plenty of unwelcome surprises awaiting us. In the realm of business, they take the form of such things as economic corrections, terminations, natural disasters, changes in laws and technological disruption. More narrowly, in a service business, they can come from customers who you discover don’t see things the same way as you do. […]
Thankful
Being thankful isn’t something you do; being thankful is something you are. It is a way of being. There is a lot of buzz around where people are going, what they will be doing and who they’ll be doing it with on Thanksgiving. I even hear some people talking about how stressful all that planning […]
Real or Imagined?
When changes occur in your business environment, or your life for that matter, how do you perceive them? That answer depends greatly on the clarity and completeness of information you receive about them. Consider these two scenarios: When significant changes are accompanied with incomplete information, we have a tendency to fill the gap with something. […]
Leading: Adjust the Sails
“Our Destiny is shaped by our Thoughts and Actions. We cannot direct the wind, but we can Adjust the Sails.” I’ve kept this picture on the corner of my desk for quite a few years. It serves as a daily reminder to me, and to those who come meet with me, that it’s necessary for […]
Leading: How to Measure What Matters
It’s exciting to lead a talented and energized team, working together in an environment of mutual respect and trust. For the leader to get the most out of all that effort, however, requires a conscious effort to measure what matters. Without clarity regarding goals and what constitutes “success,” a team cannot sustain a high level […]
Leading: Seven Genres of Business Communication
The essence of leadership lies in a person’s ability to communicate ideas and information in a manner that inspires and guides others. Business communication is more art than science and lends itself to being classified into genres, as with other art forms. The applicable genre for the art of business depends upon the situation. I’ll […]