As a society we are used to the cliche "Practice Makes Perfect". However a very wise man recently told me this is not the case.
Actually, PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT.
Take a child learning to play an instrument in her school band. She may practice her flute daily working on her fingering chart, practicing her scales, and focusing on the new music given to her by her teacher. However even if she practices every day, this does not mean she will be a better flutist. If she is not taught/shown the proper way of performing a task (playing an instrument), then the practice is only going to make the incorrect mannerism a habit, and a bad one at that.
This is also true when working on our communication skills both at home and at the office. If we are not taught effective ways to communicate with others, and we will continue to repeat the same problems, and we will not improve our communicating style, we will only reinforce bad habits of poor communication.
Let's say you want to improve your communication skills by putting more time and effort into your responses. However, how many times, for example, do you find yourself thinking about your response even while the person is still asking their question? Many times the most important information is missed because we have tuned out after the first 5 seconds! If this practice continues, this will surely become a habit hard to break!
So what can you do? In most industries, there is opportunity for hours of training to help employees perform better in their jobs. Unfortunately, communication skills classes are not offered as much as they should be!
You may have to take it upon yourself to get communications training on your own. Read self-improvement books, attend workshops, and participate in work groups all focused on communication skill development. Toastmasters, for example, can help you improve your speaking and listening skills - and you actually have peers to help evaluate you and offer advice for improvement.
Find opportunities to first learn the correct way to communicate and then begin practicing those new skills. Then practice will make perfect!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Pain is Not Necessarily a Bad Word!
Many times business professionals look for ideas to get their potential customers to "make a move" and finalize sales. Business owners look to help its sales force by utilizing marketing techniques such as advertising, joining networking groups, and offering sales training classes.
No matter what form of strategy you use to find potential customers and to get them interested in your product or service, we all know we need to find out what "pains" them in their businesses or personal lives. Unfortunately it is the "pain" that motivates people to make a move. It's almost like telling a child not to touch the hot stove, but sometimes they don't believe you until they do touch it and get burned. We can provide preventive information all day long that can help customers, but until they actually experience the pain of the problem is when they are finally ready to make a move.
So now what do you do? How can you get customers to be more proactive in preventative care for their businesses?
For starters, learn more about your target market. Especially in today's economy, no one can afford just anything. People are starting to be more cost conscious and they look for ways to save money instead of spending it. When you learn more about your target market, learn to ask the appropriate questions that focus on their potential "pains". For instance, if you are an IT company looking for customers who can benefit from off-site backup of their databases, then asking questions about what the costs it would take to replenish all of the data if their network were to suddenly crash or their office were to suffer from a natural disaster. Use examples to illustrate the importance of the preventative measures you are asking them to take.
What if you are a staffing company looking for opportunities to find placement for temporary administrative professionals, then you might ask the questions of how much does it cost to supply health insurance, worker's compensation insurance, training, and other start up costs when hiring an individual when you can utilize a staffing company to take those responsibilities for you? What other job responsibilities could they be handling instead of screening potential employees?
In the end, we have to ask questions that people are asking themselves right now in order to save money and raise revenue. So for your business, ask yourself if it is easier to find customers where you can lower their monthly expenses, or are you looking for customers that need to have their revenues increase?
The solutions you provide must be able to provide relief to them in order to get them to move forward with you.
Therefore, business professionals, are you focusing on the "Pain"?
No matter what form of strategy you use to find potential customers and to get them interested in your product or service, we all know we need to find out what "pains" them in their businesses or personal lives. Unfortunately it is the "pain" that motivates people to make a move. It's almost like telling a child not to touch the hot stove, but sometimes they don't believe you until they do touch it and get burned. We can provide preventive information all day long that can help customers, but until they actually experience the pain of the problem is when they are finally ready to make a move.
So now what do you do? How can you get customers to be more proactive in preventative care for their businesses?
For starters, learn more about your target market. Especially in today's economy, no one can afford just anything. People are starting to be more cost conscious and they look for ways to save money instead of spending it. When you learn more about your target market, learn to ask the appropriate questions that focus on their potential "pains". For instance, if you are an IT company looking for customers who can benefit from off-site backup of their databases, then asking questions about what the costs it would take to replenish all of the data if their network were to suddenly crash or their office were to suffer from a natural disaster. Use examples to illustrate the importance of the preventative measures you are asking them to take.
What if you are a staffing company looking for opportunities to find placement for temporary administrative professionals, then you might ask the questions of how much does it cost to supply health insurance, worker's compensation insurance, training, and other start up costs when hiring an individual when you can utilize a staffing company to take those responsibilities for you? What other job responsibilities could they be handling instead of screening potential employees?
In the end, we have to ask questions that people are asking themselves right now in order to save money and raise revenue. So for your business, ask yourself if it is easier to find customers where you can lower their monthly expenses, or are you looking for customers that need to have their revenues increase?
The solutions you provide must be able to provide relief to them in order to get them to move forward with you.
Therefore, business professionals, are you focusing on the "Pain"?
Sweet Smell of Success!
How do you measure your success? This can be personal and/or business. Is it having a net profit at the end of the year? Is it the ability to purchase large ticket items such as a larger home, family car or other luxury items like a boat? Or is it reflective of the amount of time you can spend with the family?
No matter what you define as your “success” in life, an important element is realizing what inspires you to motivate you to strive for that “success”.
Gardeners may measure their success based of the health of their plants and flowers. How many buds and blooms can I get my roses to produce this year? What types of food, amounts of water, and maintenance of chemicals will I need to keep the rose bushes healthy and happy?
The gardener, year and year, through experience, can tell you what strategies he or she uses (formulas) that will produce the results they are looking for (success).
Owning a business, whether large, medium, or small, uses the same kind of mindset. Success can happen by chance now and then, but to ensure continued success, one must discover certain elements in order to reproduce their results and achieve success year after year.
Here is a brief synopsis of what elements are needed to produce a calculated “success” for a business:
1) Define what success looks like for your business.
2) Define what motivates you as the owner to work towards your success.
3) Write down the steps you believe will be necessary to achieve your success. This is an important step because you may need the advice of veteran business owners (successful ones of course!) or better yet a business coach to help you identify in detail these steps.
4) Break down your steps into realistic, achievable goals. A goal is defined as an objective one is trying to reach after a period of time. The time element can by short term (less that a year) or long term (greater than a year). It is important that the short term and even the long term goals are realistic and achievable. If they are not, then you may be setting yourself for disappointment and eventually failure. Again, a coach can help you put things into perspective.
5) Determine how you are going to keep yourself accountable for working on your goals. You need to keep reminding yourself that your goals exist for a reason and that they are an important part for you achieving your success.
6) Feel good about your achieving your goals. Achievement is definitely an accomplishment! Working towards your short term goals (30 – 90 days to start) and better yet being able to achieve these goals will help you gain confidence and gain more motivation to keep working toward your ultimate goal – your success!
7) When you feel you have lost track of your goals or you have gone astray, go back and review your goals you have written down. Remember what motivated you then to create these goals and relive that mindset. Put back into action what you have written down for yourself to do. Sometimes adjustments need to be made depending on the circumstances that caused you to get distracted from your goals. The gardener, for instance, may need to change his chemical formula if the roses are being affected by a disease or insect that was not yet accounted for. He may need to consult with a horticulturist (business coaches) to help him identify what he not did do in the beginning to foresee this problem. I bet he will learn to account for this problem next time as well!
Once you get to the point of getting close to achieving the success you have defined for yourself, how do you keep that success ongoing? One thing is for sure. Do not attempt to make drastic changes in your formula especially all at one time. As challenges come along, you make specific changes to accommodate those challenges. But make sure these changes are calculated and well thought out! Otherwise your rose bushes may not last through the next season!
No matter what you define as your “success” in life, an important element is realizing what inspires you to motivate you to strive for that “success”.
Gardeners may measure their success based of the health of their plants and flowers. How many buds and blooms can I get my roses to produce this year? What types of food, amounts of water, and maintenance of chemicals will I need to keep the rose bushes healthy and happy?
The gardener, year and year, through experience, can tell you what strategies he or she uses (formulas) that will produce the results they are looking for (success).
Owning a business, whether large, medium, or small, uses the same kind of mindset. Success can happen by chance now and then, but to ensure continued success, one must discover certain elements in order to reproduce their results and achieve success year after year.
Here is a brief synopsis of what elements are needed to produce a calculated “success” for a business:
1) Define what success looks like for your business.
2) Define what motivates you as the owner to work towards your success.
3) Write down the steps you believe will be necessary to achieve your success. This is an important step because you may need the advice of veteran business owners (successful ones of course!) or better yet a business coach to help you identify in detail these steps.
4) Break down your steps into realistic, achievable goals. A goal is defined as an objective one is trying to reach after a period of time. The time element can by short term (less that a year) or long term (greater than a year). It is important that the short term and even the long term goals are realistic and achievable. If they are not, then you may be setting yourself for disappointment and eventually failure. Again, a coach can help you put things into perspective.
5) Determine how you are going to keep yourself accountable for working on your goals. You need to keep reminding yourself that your goals exist for a reason and that they are an important part for you achieving your success.
6) Feel good about your achieving your goals. Achievement is definitely an accomplishment! Working towards your short term goals (30 – 90 days to start) and better yet being able to achieve these goals will help you gain confidence and gain more motivation to keep working toward your ultimate goal – your success!
7) When you feel you have lost track of your goals or you have gone astray, go back and review your goals you have written down. Remember what motivated you then to create these goals and relive that mindset. Put back into action what you have written down for yourself to do. Sometimes adjustments need to be made depending on the circumstances that caused you to get distracted from your goals. The gardener, for instance, may need to change his chemical formula if the roses are being affected by a disease or insect that was not yet accounted for. He may need to consult with a horticulturist (business coaches) to help him identify what he not did do in the beginning to foresee this problem. I bet he will learn to account for this problem next time as well!
Once you get to the point of getting close to achieving the success you have defined for yourself, how do you keep that success ongoing? One thing is for sure. Do not attempt to make drastic changes in your formula especially all at one time. As challenges come along, you make specific changes to accommodate those challenges. But make sure these changes are calculated and well thought out! Otherwise your rose bushes may not last through the next season!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
When Not To Submit To Technology
I just finished watching the movie "Seven Pounds" starring Will Smith. If you have not seen it, it will touch your heart. The storyline is about a man who believes he killed seven innocent people in a car accident. This devastated him so much that he vowed that he was going to do everything he could, and I mean literally, to give seven other people opportunities to live better lives. The fact of the matter was that the main character, "Ben", was indeed responsible for the deaths of the seven innocent victims. It was not a malicious act, and it was not due to Ben being under the influence of drugs or alcohol; Ben caused this accident by not paying attention to the road while driving, instead he paid attention to his mobile phone to read a message.
I have to wonder how many of us are guilty of being distracted by our cell phones and pda's while driving instead of what is most important at that time and that is paying attention to the road and the others driving on the road with us. Today's fact-paced world is so driven by technology and it is also so crammed with "tasks", that most of the population seem to think we need every moment possible to stay connected and to communicate with the world around us. REALLY?? Well now if the time to reevaluate and prioritize what is most important in our lives.
You are probably saying to yourself "I know you are right, but I know I can maintain control". Well then my friends, ask yourself the following questions:
Is my life worth the risk of getting into an accident and allowing a multi-ton vehicle crush me or harm others?
Better yet, are the lives of my spouse and kids worth the risk just so I can "communicate" with others?
Is my life so consumed with "work" that I cannot spare the time I need to concentrate on what's important especially while driving a vehicle?
As the new year approaches, we need to reevaluate how we prioritize our busy lives. We must reconsider how we can set good examples for others and do the right thing: concentrate on driving while driving; don't submit to technology and allow yourself to text, email, or even take phone calls while driving. It just is not safe and is highly dangerous!
Instead of enslaving yourself to your cell phone, try some other, safer ideas while driving. Parents, drive time is a great time for quality one on one time with your kids. Talk about school events, world events, or really anything - your kids will love the attention. Secondly, use your drive time, if you are by yourself, to de-stress. I know of some friends who use their drive time as "alone time" to practice breathing exercises and other stress relieving, mind relaxing exercises. (Remember to stay focused while driving!) Personally I like to use my drive time as time to reorganize my thoughts and sometimes reevaluate my day. Actually I think we also need to remember that driving a vehicle is a privilege and should not be taken lightly.
Bottom line, my family deserves my utmost love and care. And preventing myself from utilizing my cell phone, especially for texting and email checking is now a top priority. Won't you join me?
I have to wonder how many of us are guilty of being distracted by our cell phones and pda's while driving instead of what is most important at that time and that is paying attention to the road and the others driving on the road with us. Today's fact-paced world is so driven by technology and it is also so crammed with "tasks", that most of the population seem to think we need every moment possible to stay connected and to communicate with the world around us. REALLY?? Well now if the time to reevaluate and prioritize what is most important in our lives.
You are probably saying to yourself "I know you are right, but I know I can maintain control". Well then my friends, ask yourself the following questions:
Is my life worth the risk of getting into an accident and allowing a multi-ton vehicle crush me or harm others?
Better yet, are the lives of my spouse and kids worth the risk just so I can "communicate" with others?
Is my life so consumed with "work" that I cannot spare the time I need to concentrate on what's important especially while driving a vehicle?
As the new year approaches, we need to reevaluate how we prioritize our busy lives. We must reconsider how we can set good examples for others and do the right thing: concentrate on driving while driving; don't submit to technology and allow yourself to text, email, or even take phone calls while driving. It just is not safe and is highly dangerous!
Instead of enslaving yourself to your cell phone, try some other, safer ideas while driving. Parents, drive time is a great time for quality one on one time with your kids. Talk about school events, world events, or really anything - your kids will love the attention. Secondly, use your drive time, if you are by yourself, to de-stress. I know of some friends who use their drive time as "alone time" to practice breathing exercises and other stress relieving, mind relaxing exercises. (Remember to stay focused while driving!) Personally I like to use my drive time as time to reorganize my thoughts and sometimes reevaluate my day. Actually I think we also need to remember that driving a vehicle is a privilege and should not be taken lightly.
Bottom line, my family deserves my utmost love and care. And preventing myself from utilizing my cell phone, especially for texting and email checking is now a top priority. Won't you join me?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
When people say networking does not work...
I recently listened to a pod cast by speaker and author David Nour (www.relationshipecenomics.net). In his pod cast, Mr. Nour included factors that inhibit networking success when business people attend networking functions. He was addressing issues when people say “networking does not work”.
I would like to add to Mr. Nour’s message that networking is not for everyone. If networking is a comfortable place to build relationships then keep up the good work. However there are people out there that absolutely frightened at the concept of networking. They understand the concept and they see the value. But these people just are not comfortable in a networking atmosphere. They cannot introduce themselves without feeling faint and nauseous (ok, I am a bit dramatic here!) and extremely uncomfortable.
Since relationship building is about getting comfortable with others, we need to understand what can help make us feel comfortable AND how to help our shy friends feel better and at ease when applying networking techniques.
For example, once I met a woman who attended a women's conference to learn more about how to apply herself as a networker. As she became involved in a conversation with another conference attendee and she commented on how there were a couple of people she wished she could walk up to and introduce herself. But instead she felt nervous and completely frozen. She said she felt like she was intruding. This is a typical reason felt by business people and you can see how it inhibits any productive networking opportunities.
Here is something to consider if you or someone you know experience this same problem. The uncomfortable are made comfortable by helping others. It is just a part of their behavior style. But with a little coaching or mentoring, even an uncomfortable networker can put an effective networking strategy into place.
A "buddy system" is a great way for people to be more comfortable when wanting to meet new people. The more experienced networker can introduce their companion to everyone he/she knows at the event. Another opportunity to get comfortable networking is to be a volunteer at the function. Sign-in tables, greeting attendees, escorting people to where they want to go, handing out goodies, are all ways someone can help out others but can also network at the same time.
So the next time you get a “no” when you ask someone to accompany you to a networking event, consider that they may not be comfortable in that arena. Making them feel comfortable will help to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and hopefully engage in a positive networking experience!
Annette Wray
annette@annettewray.com
I would like to add to Mr. Nour’s message that networking is not for everyone. If networking is a comfortable place to build relationships then keep up the good work. However there are people out there that absolutely frightened at the concept of networking. They understand the concept and they see the value. But these people just are not comfortable in a networking atmosphere. They cannot introduce themselves without feeling faint and nauseous (ok, I am a bit dramatic here!) and extremely uncomfortable.
Since relationship building is about getting comfortable with others, we need to understand what can help make us feel comfortable AND how to help our shy friends feel better and at ease when applying networking techniques.
For example, once I met a woman who attended a women's conference to learn more about how to apply herself as a networker. As she became involved in a conversation with another conference attendee and she commented on how there were a couple of people she wished she could walk up to and introduce herself. But instead she felt nervous and completely frozen. She said she felt like she was intruding. This is a typical reason felt by business people and you can see how it inhibits any productive networking opportunities.
Here is something to consider if you or someone you know experience this same problem. The uncomfortable are made comfortable by helping others. It is just a part of their behavior style. But with a little coaching or mentoring, even an uncomfortable networker can put an effective networking strategy into place.
A "buddy system" is a great way for people to be more comfortable when wanting to meet new people. The more experienced networker can introduce their companion to everyone he/she knows at the event. Another opportunity to get comfortable networking is to be a volunteer at the function. Sign-in tables, greeting attendees, escorting people to where they want to go, handing out goodies, are all ways someone can help out others but can also network at the same time.
So the next time you get a “no” when you ask someone to accompany you to a networking event, consider that they may not be comfortable in that arena. Making them feel comfortable will help to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and hopefully engage in a positive networking experience!
Annette Wray
annette@annettewray.com
Monday, October 12, 2009
Kids Get Overwhelmed Too!
Periodically I get the priviledge of working with young kids, elementary school age on up, and help them develop positive communication skills. If you can get them to trust you, then they are more willing to share their feelings and ask for help.
Recently I was working with a middle school dance team and the girls had been practicing their routines for over two months. This particular day they were preparing for their first performance on the football field in a couple of hours. Energy was high, as was their anxiety! I can tell you these girls worked hard on their routines to get it perfect.
However on this particular day, the first performance day, one of the girls just was not putting her energy into the practice. Now she had already complained of some shoulder pain and leg pain, but I still saw her able to smile and cut up with the other girls periodically so I new the pain was not that bad. After a few reminders to her to pick up her energy level while performing, she just could not get it together.
Now previously, the director of the dance team had already informed me that this dancer was "in trouble" with her parents because the dancer was showing resistance to committing to this dance team. Understandably, as parents, we want to instill in our kids that once you make a committment to an activity, you must see it through - be a team player.
With all this information, I took the student aside and sat down next to her in a quite room and asked her about her "ailments". She said she was just achy but otherwise ok. So I then asked her about how she felt about being in trouble with her parents and I tried not to pry as best as I could. As first she said it was no big deal, but she looked as me and saw my expression of "please don't fib". And sure enough she shared with me how overwhelmed she felt with school, homework, projects, and responsibilities at home, not to mention practicing for the dance team. I think we can all relate that when there is too much on our plates, we begin to shut down. We don't want to disappoint anyone but the energy just seems to have been sucked out of our bodies and we have no motivation to do anything.
This dancer was feeling this pressure physically (achy joint pains) and emotionally (unable to focus). And because the field performance in a coupls of hours needed her participation to be successful, here is what we were able to do for her to regain her focus.
I had the student get 5 small pieces of paper and I asked her to write down one pending task, project, or committment that was expected of her on each piece. I made sure that the dance team obligation was on one of them. Then I asked her to place all 5 pieces in front of her and take a good look at them. I asked her to prioritize the 5 pieces of paper in order of importance in getting the tasks completed.
The next step I asked the student to complete was to pick paper #1 (the dance team performance) and put all the other pieces of paper in a small envelope. This, I told her, represented how we need to mentally view our tasks at hand. Since the dance team performance had the highest priority at that time, then the performance was what she needed to keep in her head and be focused on. I asked her to take a few minutes to mentally picture herself performing the routine and to try to "feel" what energy she would need in order to pull off a fantastic performance. She was not to think of any of the other tasks that were in the envelope until later.
I asked the dancer if completing the performance would make her parents happy. She said yes. Then I asked her if completing the performance would make her happy. She said yes. Then I asked the final question. Would thinking of any other responsibilities right now help get them completed, right now? She said no. Then the dancer smiled at me and said, "What a relief!"
That dancer along with the rest of the team not only performed beautifully, but they all had a great time together!
So the next time you feel overwhelmed and cannot seems to regain focus, try to write down and prioritize the more important projects you have and work on them one at a time! It will prevent you from "burnout"!
A wise man once told me that it is better to submit quality work on one task than mediocre work on multiple tasks.
Recently I was working with a middle school dance team and the girls had been practicing their routines for over two months. This particular day they were preparing for their first performance on the football field in a couple of hours. Energy was high, as was their anxiety! I can tell you these girls worked hard on their routines to get it perfect.
However on this particular day, the first performance day, one of the girls just was not putting her energy into the practice. Now she had already complained of some shoulder pain and leg pain, but I still saw her able to smile and cut up with the other girls periodically so I new the pain was not that bad. After a few reminders to her to pick up her energy level while performing, she just could not get it together.
Now previously, the director of the dance team had already informed me that this dancer was "in trouble" with her parents because the dancer was showing resistance to committing to this dance team. Understandably, as parents, we want to instill in our kids that once you make a committment to an activity, you must see it through - be a team player.
With all this information, I took the student aside and sat down next to her in a quite room and asked her about her "ailments". She said she was just achy but otherwise ok. So I then asked her about how she felt about being in trouble with her parents and I tried not to pry as best as I could. As first she said it was no big deal, but she looked as me and saw my expression of "please don't fib". And sure enough she shared with me how overwhelmed she felt with school, homework, projects, and responsibilities at home, not to mention practicing for the dance team. I think we can all relate that when there is too much on our plates, we begin to shut down. We don't want to disappoint anyone but the energy just seems to have been sucked out of our bodies and we have no motivation to do anything.
This dancer was feeling this pressure physically (achy joint pains) and emotionally (unable to focus). And because the field performance in a coupls of hours needed her participation to be successful, here is what we were able to do for her to regain her focus.
I had the student get 5 small pieces of paper and I asked her to write down one pending task, project, or committment that was expected of her on each piece. I made sure that the dance team obligation was on one of them. Then I asked her to place all 5 pieces in front of her and take a good look at them. I asked her to prioritize the 5 pieces of paper in order of importance in getting the tasks completed.
The next step I asked the student to complete was to pick paper #1 (the dance team performance) and put all the other pieces of paper in a small envelope. This, I told her, represented how we need to mentally view our tasks at hand. Since the dance team performance had the highest priority at that time, then the performance was what she needed to keep in her head and be focused on. I asked her to take a few minutes to mentally picture herself performing the routine and to try to "feel" what energy she would need in order to pull off a fantastic performance. She was not to think of any of the other tasks that were in the envelope until later.
I asked the dancer if completing the performance would make her parents happy. She said yes. Then I asked her if completing the performance would make her happy. She said yes. Then I asked the final question. Would thinking of any other responsibilities right now help get them completed, right now? She said no. Then the dancer smiled at me and said, "What a relief!"
That dancer along with the rest of the team not only performed beautifully, but they all had a great time together!
So the next time you feel overwhelmed and cannot seems to regain focus, try to write down and prioritize the more important projects you have and work on them one at a time! It will prevent you from "burnout"!
A wise man once told me that it is better to submit quality work on one task than mediocre work on multiple tasks.
Bringing Positive Influence Back into Action
The economists say we will not see solid positive growth of our businesses for many years to come? Isn't everyone tired of feeling the pressure of our nation's economic problems impacting our businesses? Decreased sales, increased expenses, what a downer!
Unfortunately what comes with this pressure is the potential for negativity to creep in and affect inter-office communication and personal relationships to a point where there is more "venting" than "motivating" in the workplace. Just like the saying goes, "one bad apple can spoil the bunch", it becomes difficult not to let another's frustrations affect our mood, outlook, and even performance on the job. Worse yet, many times people do not "see" the effects of their attitude until damage has occurred and co-workers too become moody, bitter, and work performance begin to rapidly decline.
It is up to us as business leaders to bring positive influence to our workplaces before it becomes too late. Daily we must be able to bring incentives and share postive strategies to help our co-workers focus on their jobs and goals. It becomes our repsonsibility to essentially be immune to the pending emotional breakdown that negative attitudes can cause and turn situations around that provide an atmosphere of enthusiasm and motivation.
How can you do this? Ask yourself this one question: what one occurance in the past year has positively influenced your workday? Was it recognition? Skill development? Maybe it was a positive influence you had over a co-worker? And as a result of this one influential element, how did the result make you feel? I bet it produced one if not more of the following:
1. Put a smile on your face. Made someone else smile too?
2. Made you feel you accomplished something important.
3. Energized you.
4. __________________ (You fill in the blank)
We need to remember that which positively inlfuenced us in the past. These are what made us move forward and stay focused. Now ask your co-workers the same question - what one occurance positively influenced them within the past year?
With good communication skills, we need to remind others about the power of positive thinking and put those actions that worked in the past back into action. I guarantee that focusing on the negative aspects of a job or project with have 0% chance of motivating others toward a desired result.
Instead of duplicating negative actions (excessive negative chatter, procrastination, poor quality performance), instead, duplicate the positive ones (create a focus board, compliment a co-worker, share ideas, ask for another's opinion). For instance, by asking for a co-worker's opinion on a job related project, you will show your co-worker you value their opinion and it can instill trust and credibility between the two of you. This feeling of "being valued" is very motivational!
So give it a try! You may be surprised how this type of motivational behavior is very contagious!
Unfortunately what comes with this pressure is the potential for negativity to creep in and affect inter-office communication and personal relationships to a point where there is more "venting" than "motivating" in the workplace. Just like the saying goes, "one bad apple can spoil the bunch", it becomes difficult not to let another's frustrations affect our mood, outlook, and even performance on the job. Worse yet, many times people do not "see" the effects of their attitude until damage has occurred and co-workers too become moody, bitter, and work performance begin to rapidly decline.
It is up to us as business leaders to bring positive influence to our workplaces before it becomes too late. Daily we must be able to bring incentives and share postive strategies to help our co-workers focus on their jobs and goals. It becomes our repsonsibility to essentially be immune to the pending emotional breakdown that negative attitudes can cause and turn situations around that provide an atmosphere of enthusiasm and motivation.
How can you do this? Ask yourself this one question: what one occurance in the past year has positively influenced your workday? Was it recognition? Skill development? Maybe it was a positive influence you had over a co-worker? And as a result of this one influential element, how did the result make you feel? I bet it produced one if not more of the following:
1. Put a smile on your face. Made someone else smile too?
2. Made you feel you accomplished something important.
3. Energized you.
4. __________________ (You fill in the blank)
We need to remember that which positively inlfuenced us in the past. These are what made us move forward and stay focused. Now ask your co-workers the same question - what one occurance positively influenced them within the past year?
With good communication skills, we need to remind others about the power of positive thinking and put those actions that worked in the past back into action. I guarantee that focusing on the negative aspects of a job or project with have 0% chance of motivating others toward a desired result.
Instead of duplicating negative actions (excessive negative chatter, procrastination, poor quality performance), instead, duplicate the positive ones (create a focus board, compliment a co-worker, share ideas, ask for another's opinion). For instance, by asking for a co-worker's opinion on a job related project, you will show your co-worker you value their opinion and it can instill trust and credibility between the two of you. This feeling of "being valued" is very motivational!
So give it a try! You may be surprised how this type of motivational behavior is very contagious!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
