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Adapting to The Norm – What Does It Mean to Your Business Sytle?

August 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Traveling through parts of Europe lately I noticed the slow pace with which everything was done.  There was no one hurrying to help you in grocery stores. In fact, the cashiers sat behind the registers with barely a smile and you bagged your own groceries!  Eating out was slow and deliberate.  You could count on a good hour or more before you were even mid way through a meal.  Drinks arrived slowly, food arrived slowly and so did the bill.

Many businesses closed for a few hours around the lunch hour.  Some shops even had little hand written signs saying they would be back shortly.   Is this good customer service?  How do these businesses stay in business?   Yet, it is the norm for these companies and they don’t seem to eager to change.

We all have to find our norm.  The way we transact business whether we are the owner of the company or an employee that is taking pride in their area of responsibility.  Taking on someone’s norm is not necessarily good for your business.  Be aware of what others are doing and the reactions of their client base.  Are their profits soaring while yours are falling?  What could you adapt from these other businesses while still staying true to your core values?  Things you may consider are:

  1. How quickly do you return phone calls?  Do you see the red light flash and do nothing?
  2. Do you really listen to what people have to say or are you too quick to push your own agenda?
  3. Have you adapted your hours of operation to fit the needs of your customers?
  4. Have you trained your staff appropriately and given them the tools to be successful?  Their success is ultimately your success.
  5. No you go the “extra mile” or do you stop short if you feel there is nothing in it for you.  Remember you customers are looking for the WIIFM as well!  (What’s in it for me)
  6. Do you do all that you promise you will do in the time you promise?  Where can you adapt to be more realistic and not over promise and under deliver?

There is always someone around the corner doing things which may seem better, faster, cheaper, easier.  Your job is to be innovative in your thinking and open minded to the fact that you just might have to change.

Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Training and Development, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

Five Ways to Boost The Way Others View You

July 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The way you perceive yourself is the way others will see you.  Think about that statement.   What is your perception of yourself?  Are you confident, are you in shape, and are you helpful, courteous and kind?  Are you self-assured in your knowledge, skills and abilities at work?   If you answered no to anyone of these questions, then you have some work to do.  If there is any aspect of your life – personal or professional that you do not feel good about, then you are projecting that image to others.

Your self-image is vital to the way people view you.  You can give your self-esteem a boost by changing your thinking.  Our minds are powerful and our thoughts have a direct correlation to how we behave.

Labels and titles play into our perceptions.  Perhaps you have heard of some of the altered titles given to the following professions.  The jobs haven’t changed, but the attitude of the people doing them has.

Transparency Enhancement Facilitator – Window Cleaner
Field Nourishment Consultant – Waitress

Garbage Man – Sanitary Engineer

Housewife -Domestic Engineer
Highway Environmental Hygienist -Road Sweeper
Sanitation Consultant – Toilet Cleaner

 I offer these five things for helping you to perceive yourself in a better light.

  1.  Identify the area(s) that you find upsetting.  This will take self reflection and may make you uncomfortable.  You may be avoiding thinking or talking about this area of your life.
  2. Identify  the thoughts you have when thinking about this area.  How many times do you think “what if”, “I can’t”, “It won’t happen” or other negative thoughts?  Notice any feelings or sensations you have while having the thoughts.
  3. Notice any reactions you may have as a result of these thoughts.  Are you over eating, under eating, drinking too much, not sleeping, avoiding people. have a short fuse and become angry, etc.?
  4. Challenge your thoughts.   If you have the “what if’s” play them out in your mind.   Negative thinking causes helplessness.   Recall also how many times you had “what if” scenarios in the past and how what you feared never happened.
  5. Change your thinking – change your life.  Be kind to yourself and change negative words into positive ones.  Avoid the words “should and must”.  Treat yourself with kindness and be forgiving.  Be your own cheerleader.  If you don’t love yourself and believe in yourself, why should anyone else?
Filed Under: brain based coaching, Career, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

Planning for Retirement: You Are Truly On Your Own

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We speak often of the generations and how groups of people born during a short period of time are influenced profoundly by common events and often by the observations of one’s own parents.  As a baby boomer, I have seen a tremendous change in how we perceive retirement versus my parents and my children’s perspective.  It seems logical that many of our parents had longer periods of employment with singular employers and many achieved pensions.  Today, if you are in the private sector, the pension was replaced by a 401k plan or you just missed the cut-off date as you have had 4 or 5 jobs these past 3 decades.

Observing our parents behavior showed a tradition of savings due to their experience living through the great depression.  Most were prudent savers and shoppers far different from our children who have easy access to credit and only our frequent caution not to overspend.

Individual responsibility for planning for retirement is a reality and as the poor returns over the last 10 years from stocks only places more pressure on us in our 50’s and early 60’s to save aggressively.

I do not coach financial planning, but this is one area that we all should take a moment to consider if we have a plan and not wait or procrastinate.  Too often people gamble to recoup dollars lost or let their emotions take hold of their investment decisions.  One fact is that we should take stock of our current saving strategies and most likely increase it.  Those that live in beautiful California know that it is very expensive and taxes are due to increase.  Our future quality of life will depend on us planning now.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , , ,

Stand for Something, or Fall for Anything

November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I teach critical thinking skills to Undergraduate students.   One of the concepts to this class is not only what we think but why we think the way we do.  Of course our upbringing or enculturation has a great deal to do with the thought process.    How we adapt and react based upon the environment and culture shapes our values.   We then take those values into the world and apply them to all situations.  There is one problem with this logic and that is that not all people were brought up with the same values and ethics.

Part of being a critical thinker involves taking the time to understand the differences in others.  Why they think and act the way they do. We may not agree with these actions, but we can at least understand them.    When we have understanding we can then take the next step to bridging  gaps that could lead to conflict.  So many of us put such great effort into pushing our ways onto others that we don’t realize there is another way.   Of course, You have to stand for something, or you will fall for anything .   But, in order to stand for something you need to research, understand and critically think about what it is you are standing for and why.

We follow great leaders, but why do we believe they are great?  What is it about their thought process that resonates with us and allows us to want to take on their attributes and be a follower?   In business there are many leaders at many different levels.  You don’t have to have a fancy title to be a leader.  What you need is to understand people and their thought processes.  You need to help them to see the various views from  various angles and not just your own or their own.

I enjoy seeing how my students evolve from the first day of class when I ask them who taught them to think to the final week of class where they have grown into critical thinkers who can determine for themselves what they believe to be truth.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

What Is the Most Important Quality In a Job? Find Out Here

October 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

CNN Money Magazine has a quick poll on their site.  Each day they ask their viewers another question and then display the results. The other day they asked the question “what do you think is the most important quality in a job?” ( I have posted the results below.)   It wasn’t surprising to me that the number one answer was satisfying work. (43%).

The question now is, what makes satisfying work?  What are the attributes of satisfying work?  For some it may be the following:

Self fulfillment, feeling of expertise and competency, recognition and respect from the people you work with, the ability to be self-directed, enjoying the challenge of being creative in your work processes, being empowered, having the training, tools and resources to do your job well.

I am sure there are many more and this is just a short list, but one well worth thinking about.

QUICK VOTE RESULTS – Money Magazine Poll!

What do you think is the most important quality in a job?

Satisfying work 43%
Good pay and benefits 39%
Flexible hours 6%
Growth opportunities 12%
Total responses to this question: 104959
Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

Intentions are Great, But Its the Results that Matter

September 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“Some of us will do our jobs and some will not, but we will be judged only by one thing – THE RESULTS”

Vince Lombardi

I’m a Packer fan and as a little girl I remember watching Vince Lombardi with his fedora and overcoat standing on the sidelines, clipboard in hand coaching his team.  Of course at that time I had no idea what he was doing I only knew that when the players wearing the gold and green did certain things, the family stood up and cheered.  The camera would be on the players one minute and the next it would be showing Coach Lombardi.   Certainly this man was powerful to make the players perform so well.

We all set out with an intention and that intention requires an effort.  The attitude we go in with can affect the result.  These three concepts are often confused by employees and managers.   Effort is how hard I try.  Intentions are the expectations you hoped for and Results are what you achieved.

A person can have the best intentions and apply their effort until they are blue in the face and still not gain the results they hoped for.  We all work to improve and in the end we are responsible for our own performance.  It doesn’t matter how long you have been doing something a certain way, if it isn’t producing the desired result, its time to find a better way.

I started a new workout program and have the best intentions of getting more fit then I have been in years.  I am putting in effort and giving it my all each day.  I am hoping to get the results I am seeking.  However, I am not doing this alone.  I have a support system around me that provides encouragement and perspective.  My transformation will not happen over night and I know it takes hard work and dedication.  But, I have the right attitude and attitude is everything.

None of us can expect results if we don’t have the proper tools.  Check your tool box and see what you need.  Think of these tools:

  1. Support
  2. Communication
  3. Commitment
  4. Motivation
  5. Relationships
  6. Follow Through
  7. Discipline
  8. A teacher/mentor/coach

If you are missing any it could be the reason why you are not getting the results you want.

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , , , ,

Strategy is Everything- Know Where You are Going and Why!

September 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When we are so eager to get to the end results we forget to observe the road signs that  guide us, danger could await.  Everything we do requires a strategic plan.  Some plans are pages long and require months to formulate.  These types of plans are detailed and every step of the process is purposefully planned.  Other strategic plans are shorter and may be in bullet format.   Determining  what needs to be accomplished will dictate how detailed the plan needs to be.  However, taking off down the road without knowing how you are going to get there is dangerous.

Within any business there are the dreamers, the planners, and the implementors and it takes all types to successfully run a business.  Rarely are the dreamers the same people who are the implementors just as the implementors are not necessarily the best dreamers. Know your strength and then play to that strength and hire the person that provides the skills that you lack.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs are eager for success and will take off down the road well-intentioned, but not knowing how they are going to get where they “think” they want to go.  There are only  so many hours in day, resources to do the job and money to put towards growing the business.

A strategic plan provides the following information:

  1. Identifies the intention  or the purpose.  What is the reason you are doing something and what is the anticipated expectation from this action.   Are you placing an ad in a trade magazine and what do you anticipate will happen from the ad. If you are expecting increased sales, do you have the manpower to handle the new orders?  Remember, there are the dreamers that want to more into uncharted territories, but you need the implementors to fulfill on the expectations.
  2. Set up the goals you need to accomplish to reach your intention or purpose.
  3. Identifying the approaches you will take to reach the goals that then satisfy the intent or purpose.  Break down the things that need to be done.  This is where you may want to use bullets or outline format.
  4. Enlist action plans that you will take to reach the goals. For each action what steps need to be taken.  Identify the internal and external factors to this plan.
  5. Monitor the plan and make adjustments as needed along the way.

If you follow a plan (your road map) your trip will have purpose and you will be acting out of strategic thought rather than on a whim that could cost you time and money that you don’t have.

Filed Under: Business, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

Where to Go for Free Learning and Development

September 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

When was the last time you took a training course or learned something new that you could apply to your job?  I know budgets are tight and companies are not sending their employees for training, they are not even allowing them to have training internally since we all know that the first cut to be made is the T&D budget. Yet employees still need and want to grow in their professions.

E-learning or electronic learning has taken the place of many campus taught courses and thank goodness employees at least have somewhere to go to keep their saws sharp. However, companies are not always producing content fast enough or updated enough to satisfy the needs of the employees.

Since most people use the internet to search for knowledge, I thought I would do an inquiry about learning.  I found the following free web sites that provide training.  There are more where these came from, but for demonstration purposes these work just fine.

Microsoft Application Training – Free

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/training-FX101782702.aspx

OSHA Training  – Free

http://www.free-training.com/

Computer Training Courses – Free

http://www.intelligentedu.com/cat1.html

I then did a search on “how to repair...” , “Learning a new…”, and “what is….”, I even tried, “where can I find information on….” and was presented with a plethora of information.

It goes without saying that we need to take control of our learning and development.  In the ‘good old days’ you would ask your boss, seek information from a library book or use an encyclopedia.  (When is the last time you even saw an encyclopedia?) We now have the wonderful tool called the internet.  At our finger tips is a wealth of information just waiting for us to click on the URL.

I am sure you already use the internet, but think of it for your training and development as well.  Take a moment to do a search for skills needed in your profession and see what you find.  Then set aside some time to take a training course!  When you are done with the course, share the knowledge with your peers and boss at work.  You will feel great knowing you are on top of your game and your peer and boss will be impressed as well.

(I do not endorse any of the sites provided, although I have taken courses through the Microsoft site, I have not done so with the others.)
Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , ,

What Brand Do People See In You?

September 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Earlier this week I went to a presentation by Chris Bryant who is a Branding Strategist.  Let me share with you some of the things that we all forget at times. Every day we are seen by people who are making up their mind whether we are friend or foe. Can you be trusted, are we loyal, do we have their best interest at heart?  Who we are goes beyond what we do.  We have a career, we have a job and then we have ourselves.  Who are we and what do we want people to see, hear and say about us?

1.  Make meaningful connections and make sure that you are more interested in hearing the other person’s story then telling your own.  How will you learn what they need or how you can help, if you are more interested in selling how good you are.  Remember, it’s about them, not you.  You are the person that can solve their problems so listen and make a meaningful connection.

2.  Within the first 7 seconds of a person seeing you they are making 11 assumptions!  What do you want them to assume about you?  How are you dressed, what are you saying, are you approachable, do you appear warm and friendly or cold and distant, are you self- confident?

3. Master your messaging and know your brand is constantly sending out messages.  Be a student of your industry and learn all you can.  Don’t just have a career or a job, but master your craft.  Be a craftsmen of your profession which makes you stand out from all the rest.

Just a short list but worth taking a few minutes to assess yourself and see where you might need to do a little or a lot of self-improvement.  You are a brand – now what do you want that brand to say about you.  Remember, everything about you speaks…. make sure its a good as it can be!

Filed Under: Business, Career, Training and Development Tagged With: , ,

How to Use Technology to Your Advantage

September 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I am a faculty member at the University of  Phoenix.  I have been for close to 10 years.  I teach courses in management and critical thinking. I love connecting with the students and helping them to think outside the box.  These students are our future leaders who will dictate the course of industry.

I was teaching course online when most people were still concern about where technology would lead us.  Corporations were concerned that if they didn’t have employees in seats with a live instructor they would not learn.  I will be the first to agree that there are times when a face to face encounter is the best.  However, I have enjoyed the diversity of having students located all around the world in one class. Talk about knowledge sharing and eye-opening experiences.

I recently came across another “breaking the mold” opportunity.  Video email.  What an advancement that allows you to say your message as if you were in the same room with the person.  Check out Eyejot to see samples of what is to come.  Remember when we all thought that Jetson’s was futuristic?   We have come a long way baby!

Filed Under: Business, Career, Leadership, Training and Development Tagged With: , , , ,
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