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Access Your Power In Communicating Using Personality Type

Communication is central to our life - we communicate with others every day, throughout the day. Understanding, appreciating and accommodating personality differences in communication style can bring major success to our effectiveness as a friend, spouse, employee, supervisor, trainer, leader and team member. People have different preferences in the way they take in and evaluate information and their orientation to the world around them. As we develop our awareness, understanding and appreciation of communication differences, we will reap the benefit in our relationship with others.

Extraverts & Introverts are opposite in how they communicate

Extraverts are energized by lively and enthusiastic discussions, with rapid-paced conversation and often interrupt as they elaborate on and process thoughts. Introverts are energized by quiet conversations with space for reflection and conversation pace is slower, taking time as they build thoughts and ideas internally. Extraverts’ communication approach doesn’t allow time for Introverts to reflect and then give their opinions. Extraverts like to “think out loud” and don’t realize that Introverts feel unable to respond quickly in a conversation, preferring to internalize the information first. Thus, the Extraverts’ reaction sometimes is that the Introvert is not providing input that energizes the Extravert.

How Introverts & Extraverts share information

When Introverts share information, it has been carefully thought through and evaluated. When an Extravert is in the-thinking out loud-mode they may not give the input the full evaluation it merits. Similarly, Introverts may put too much emphasis on what is said by Extraverts, not realizing they are-hearing themselves think-and need to process information this way. This can cause difficulties for both preferences as Extraverts may miss valuable contributions by Introverts, and Introverts may take what Extraverts say too seriously and make decisions based on the input.

Communication differences can create conflict

These communication differences can be especially dangerous in conflict situations, as Extraverts want to handle a situation immediately and Introverts require time to think things through before giving their ideas on possible solutions. Because each preference is requiring something the other type does not prefer, tension can increase. Extraverts can become impatient, wanting to move forward and make a decision not giving time to the Introverts who need to process the information internally and, then, make a decision.

Extraverts in communication
Strengths
Energetic & enthusiastic
Think out loud
Give a lot of information
Network well

Communication Approach
Speak out freely in groups
Think out loud
Like to discuss lots of topics
Interrupt often during discussion

When Communicating with Extraverts
Listen attentively
Be actively responsive
Be energetic & enthusiastic
Support their need to communicate

Introverts in communication
Strengths
Quiet, reflective presence
Respond carefully and thoughtfully
Know a few people well
Listen without interrupting

Communication Approach
Listen more than talk
Talk one on one
Need time to reflect before responding
Process information internally

When Communicating with Introverts
Value their need for privacy
Allow them time to change focus
Ask questions to draw them out
Do not pressure for an instant response

With careful study of the preferences for the Extravert and Introvert, and a little bit of practice, our communicative events can be both positive and productive creating harmony throughout our professional and personal lives.

Pamela Hollister, Author, INTJ, The PEOPLE Process, is author of personality type training products,
The
PEOPLE Process

How to turn a Group into a Team

Every Los Angeles office wants the same thing for the individual departments within the office; to transcend the individual competition stage and work as a cohesive team. They want every department to be an energetic group of diverse individuals who are committed to achieving common objectives, who work well together, enjoy doing so and who produce high quality
results.

Of course, when you throw this diverse group of people together how likely is that to happen on its own? Not very. Chances are most, if not every member of your team is a competitive individual who thinks his or her ideas are the best. The ability to prove that they are better at what they do than others is probably what got them the job over several other applicants in the first place.

Critical comments and sarcastic office banter can lead to a lack of confidence in ability and awkwardness between colleagues, which can have a huge impact on the way they work together and collaborate on projects. This is more than destructive for team building, it prevents colleagues from even wanting to work together or cooperate as a team.

After the hiring process is over and the position has been secured, it’s time to work together. The time has passed for competition. It is now time to collaborate and become a stronger, smarter, more efficient team than any individual could be on his or her own, regardless of ability.

Los Angeles team building activities can help accomplish this goal. Although employees often moan and complain about Los Angeles team building activities being a waste of time, studies have shown that they really do increase productivity as well as satisfaction in the work place. They have proven to be a good investment for employers. But Los Angeles team building activities have to be well planned, have definite and clear objectives, and actually be fun in order to be successful.

Spending an entire day in a group with people you’ll never need to interact with again working to accomplish a meaningless task may be an okay way to meet new friends you might otherwise not have known, but is probably not be the best Los Angeles team building activity to help with interdepartmental relationship building.

Taking team members out of their usual work setting and giving them a fun task, such as a creative scavenger hunt or team race, will do more to build friendships, open doors of communication, allow people to step up in leadership roles, and address problems they may foresee in plans to accomplish goals. These types of activities are more appropriate for Los Angeles team building.

There are many resources available to help you plan an unforgettable Los Angeles team building event, and many companies have budgets for such activities. You’ll see that it’s worth the time and money spent to build an enthusiastic committed team when you’re team surpasses your expectations for creativity, problem solving, and cohesive accomplishment.

Watson Adventures offers amazing Los Angeles team building (http://www.watsonadventures.com/los_angeles.html) activities to help your department become a team. The author Art Gibb is a freelance writer.

Video On The Internet - The Next Communication Revolution

Streaming Video is the future of the Internet. In the United States of America, $2 billion was being spent on streaming media technologies, and is projected to grow to in excess of $12 billion per annum over the next few years.

Today the Internet is the fastest growing marketplace and offers global, opportunities to all, from international conglomerates to the individual person sat at the kitchen table. What though is the most effective form of communication on the information super highway? The Internet has become the place to communicate with one another and the means to search for and locate information. Video streaming brings a whole new dimension to this experience for everyone, be they business persons negotiating a deal, friends and family keeping in touch with their loved ones, or people sharing a common interest seeing one another for the first time.

For communication to be of use, it must be effective. People are expounding vast amounts of time, effort and money to communicate effectively on the Internet. Studies have shown that using video on the Internet gets people’s attention and increases the likelihood that the message will be remembered.
Humans remember:
10% of what they read,
30% of what they see,
50% of what they see and hear together,
and 80% of what they see, hear and do.
(source: Dr. Mehrabians, Study of Communication.)

This should have a significant impact on how one uses the Internet as a means of communication. Email changed the Internet, but video is changing the World. Email has become the fastest growing form of communication. Every day billions of emails are sent and received and the number continues to grow, (even allowing for the known problems of Spam, viruses etc.) some analysts are predicting that the number of messages will ultimately grow to as many as 100 billion a day!

This may sound great, but if one remembers that to be of use communication has to be effective, clearly definite strategies will have to be developed to achieve this aim of successful communication. The three major problems that have to be considered are:
- “How do you make your message ’stand out from the crowd’?”
- “How do you ensure uniformity of message (so everyone sees and hears the same message?” and
- “How do you try to ensure your message is not confused and misunderstood?”

Some people have started to include pictures and images to help convey the meaning and to add impact, but that still doesn’t solve the problem! This is because we are used to ‘face to face’ communication, where the message is interpreted not only from the spoken word but also the non verbal communication. 55% of a messages meaning is derived from facial expression and 38% is derived from gestures, body language etc.

So what is the solution? People online need fully integrated video streaming facilities for their online communication and this technology is available now, ranging from Video Email, Video Instant Messaging and even live Webcasting and Streaming Web TV. Streaming Video is the online future, and now is the time to place ones self at the fore front of this next communication revolution.

Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of besuccessfulnews.com, a site that provides information and articles on how to succeed in your own home or small business.

Difficult Decisions: When to Give Up

Yvonne, an executive, feels paralyzed by her boss’ new rules that require her to get approval for even the smallest expenditures. Yvonne is also representing her company in merger negotiations. The potential partner considers her boss expendable, and has asked her to stick it out until their process is complete. The negotiations are going slowly. She wonders whether to get out now or stay on, hoping things will change.

Marianne’s new boss did not trust her. All her routine requests for staffing changes were returned with demands for additional irrelevant information. For several months Marianne complied gracefully with all requests. She finally realized that other work was suffering as she tried to comply with these demands, and she was still not getting the staffing she needed. Marianne considered resigning, but is only months away from being vested in her pension fund.

With the agreement of the executive committee, Louise, vice president of human resources, assured her branch managers that remarks they made during a managers’ staff development retreat would be kept confidential.

After the event, she learned that two executives who disliked the resulting report were pressuring managers for details of the meeting. When she protested during a subsequent executive committee meeting, the two executives ridiculed her concerns.

Decisions about whether to stay in difficult business or personal relationships can feel excruciatingly difficult to resolve.

Balancing potential losses against maintaining dignity and financial stability are some of the most common issues faced by my clients. There are no simple answers, but following the process they used to make their decisions may help you through a similar situation.

Each first clarified the outcome she most desired. Yvonne wanted stimulating work and recognition of her talents. Marianne wanted to stay with her company at least until her pension was vested. Louise wanted to be treated with dignity.

Each decided to do everything possible to change her own situation. As coach, I helped them choose appropriate strategies to communicate their dissatisfactions.

* Yvonne asked her boss (the company president) to change the procedures.

* Marianne decided that even if her new boss tried to fire her, her pension would be vested by the time that could take place, so she politely refused further demands to stop her other work to produce additional reports.

* Louise spoke privately to each member of the executive committee about treating her and all members of the company with dignity.

They all evaluated the results of their actions.
* The president of Yvonne’s firm changed the subject when she talked to him.

* Marianne’s boss became so frustrated that she made herself look bad to her own boss and was given orders to treat Marianne differently.

* Louise was told by the company president that she should adjust her values to match the values of the other executives.

They made decisions by balancing all of these elements.

* Yvonne is developing an outside consulting practice while waiting to see if the takeover will happen. She is prepared to resign.

* Marianne has developed a reasonably respectful working relationship with her boss.

* Louise has resigned and is looking for a new opportunity.

Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects in business situations. Have the challenging conversations that lead to cooperation and success. http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@laurieweiss.com

Software Training: Consultancy vs. Courses

The majority of office employees use software applications from the Microsoft Office suite. Although they use such programs as Excel, Word and PowerPoint regularly it is common to find that they will have undertaken no formal training in their use. Due to the differing nature of each individual business, the way in which these applications are used may have become very company specific.

An increasing number of training companies offer consultancy services in addition to training courses based on the topics of standard course syllabus outlines. There are a number of pros and cons to these alternative approaches which need to be considered when identifying which type of Microsoft training is right for you.

Training Course Pros
Attending a training course offers an inexpensive solution to providing training. A training course provided by an authorised Microsoft training company provides a structured approach and ensures all the main elements of a particular program are adequately covered. The courses are easy to organise with fully networked, modern specification IT being provided by the training company.

Training can be undertaken on a public schedule course or on-site at your offices, with leading Microsoft training companies in the UK offering daily public schedule courses for popular programs such as Microsoft Excel. This means there is ample scope for employees to attend a training course at a time and location that is convenient for them without necessarily removing all users from the work environment at the same time.

Training Course Cons
As a training course provides a set syllabus to a number of trainees who may have vastly differing previous knowledge of the application, time may not be used efficiently with some delegates being taught techniques they are already familiar with or that do not apply to their situation.

The dates for such courses will not be as flexible as those available with consultancy, however, with many Microsoft training companies offering courses on each program as often as twice a week, finding a suitable date is unlikely to be a significant issue.

Consultancy Pros
Bringing in a consultant means that specific problem areas can be targeted without the feeling that time is being wasted going over unnecessary ground. It also allows company specific procedures to be adequately addressed and perhaps also updated and improved. This type of approach is ideal if the main requirement is to build onto an existing application e.g. spreadsheet redesign or development.

Consultancy Cons
If those employees being trained have very limited experience with the application then employing a consultant is likely to be a more expensive solution to provide the basic training than attendance at a standard training course.

Conclusions
Which of the two options provides the best solution to a company’s training needs varies depending on specific circumstances. If very standard, basic knowledge is required across the board then training courses are likely to provide the best solution. If more specific requirements or problems exist using consultancy services may be more appropriate.

In many situations it may be that a combination of the two provides the most effective solution. Employees can develop the basic skills through training courses and then use a consultancy agreement to build on these skills and deal with company specific issues and requirements.

Author is a trainer with a Microsoft training company, the market leader in its industry. For more information on training courses and consultancy, visit www.microsofttraining.net

Training and Coaching for Inside Sales and Customer Service Staffs is Vital to Business Growth

When you are trying to grow your business during those first few years, the ability to turn prospects into customers and to keep customers satisfied with your products and services is MISSION CRITICAL.

However, some entreprenurs and small business owners may have a common misconception thinking their inside sales professionals and the customer service staffs also possess the same abilities and desires in keeping the business running and growing

Every sales trainer has heard the: “not in the budget” “we are not big enough for training and coaching” and “I am the sales manager-trainer” answers before and that type of response only makes me more committed to help them see the importance of investing some monetary resources into turning their operation into a successful and cohesive sales and service organization.

I have first-hand experience not thinking it was a necessary investment. As a result of a major business crisis for my sales organization in the mid-90s, I became convinced that sales and customer service training was needed to save the company. After finding that I needed to retool and retrain my staffs in order to weather the storm of losing our largest vendor, I had no alternative but to make a necessary monetary investment in trying to recover from this loss. In looking back at the results before and after the training, I see that I had made a HUGE mistake and probably lost significant revenues by not taking that step 5-8 years earlier.

The sales training that I chose was not appropriate for my team of “inside sales” account managers, but it was all I could find at the time. Without the convenience of the internet and websites, I had to rely on a referral from a business associate who gave me the name of the trainer and the program. The trainer tried to modify the program to address the needs of my company and ultimately it did help me to retool the entire sales and customer service team.

It was at that time that I decided that there was a lack of assessment and training programs that were targeted to the small inside sales team and small customer service staff — but these companies need that type of process training and coaching more than the Fortune 100 organizations.

As a small business owner, investigate the overview of training and coaching systems. Make sure they meet your appropriate needs and offer the following services: A comprehensive Assessment and Sales Training System for smaller inside sales organizations (2 - 20 Inside Sales Executives), an Assessment and Training for Inside Sales Managers and a complimentary coaching system for Customer Service Departments (3-10 CSRs).

Several training organizations have developed programs like these and they can be the best investment you make in your own company.

Some of the most well-known training programs demand months of training and high-ticket pricing. That is overkill for most businesses. The training should have elements of onsite training, follow up, and offer teleclass and teleseminars on an ongoing basis for brush up and advanced skills. Any program you choose should be able to assess if the sales and service teams to assure they are well-suited for their jobs. If they are - the training will be completed in less than 3 months with a minimum of disruption in the company.

Results are almost immediate. Proper assessment, training and ongoing coaching provide a way to set goals, develop a process, overcome fear of cold calling, a method of improving their vocal skill to make a greater first impression on those critical calls. Training organizatins should have additional modules as needed for more advanced training. The basis of successful programs are very simple: If you have a passion for sales, or the emotional empathy to be a great customer service representative, then any program you choose must provide the training and coaching to make your employees excel. For Business Owners, it is an opportunity to insure results and growth in revenue and satisfaction with customer service and support.

Melissa Vokoun - From 1983 to 2005 she was COO and VP of Sales and Marketing for a telecom distributor. Her passion for recruiting, training and managing these staffs was instrumental to the company. To learn more about the NuVo Partners Programs please visit the website at: http://www.nuvopartners.com or call 847-392-6886.

How To Start A Good Conversation

Imagine the scene… You have been looking forward to this great get together for a long time and are keen to impress everyone there. You arrive on time and then…to your horror you become tongue-tied!

Not being able to speak or start a conversation is the worst thing that could happen to you. The greatest joy of going to a dinner party is not the prospect of a good dinner, but the anticipation of a good converstaion.

What To Talk About

Next time you are going to a much-anticipated party, just be yourself. Put a warm smile on your face, walk up to a group that looks interesting and listen to what they are saying. Put in your contribution when there is a pause in the conversation and soon you will find yourself submerged in the discussion.

I always start my conversation with a compliment! Trust me, it always works. People feel appreciated and develop a warmth for you. They immediately consider you as a friend and a conversation begins. You can always strike up a conversation with your new neighbor or colleague by making small talk on something that they would be interested in. Don`t worry about your viewpoints. There will be ample opportunity to express them!

Hobbies, sports and games are well nigh indispensable as backgrounds for general conversation. Talking about your recent visit to the exotic Bahamas, your recent golf game or your hobby of playing the piano can be a very good conversation starter.

Current events are also good ways to start most conversations. One must therefore keep abreast of them by reading a newspaper for local news and a newsmagazine or the equivalent for national and international events.

How To Talk

Don`t talk fast. You may be nervous but to keep it from showing. Have control and consciously try not to be too nervous.

The same rules apply if you speak so slowly that people have to lean towards you, waiting for you to finish what you are saying. It is very uncomfortable for the listener and is never a good way to contribute to a conversation.

Be humorous. A smile, a light-hearted manner and a friendly tone is loved by the entire human race. Be interesting. Don`t bore others. Talk about what the others may be interested in. Don`t make it a monologue. People avoid those who only speak and don`t listen.

Don`t interrupt others. It is all very well that you want to be a part of the group, but interrupting others is an insult to them. Suppose the speaker is saying that he has trouble keeping the leaves off the lawn when you pipe up with an observation, such as, “Say, have you noticed how car prices are coming down?” A person who often does that sort of thing is not ready for polite company. If you have ever done this, I trust it was the last time. It is unpardonable.

Do avoid expletives in your conversation. Imagine what it would be like if your friend keeps saying, `I go to the `hell` gym `hell` every two `hell` days `hell“! After listening to `hell` ten times in a sentence, you will beg him to go to hell.

If you follow the above-mentioned tips in your next get together, you are sure to be thought of as a great conversationalist. People will call you outgoing and friendly. Many life long friendships have begun on this note and, who knows, it may happen to you too. Do remember to drop me a note when it happens!

Imagine Learning The Secrets Of
Conversation and Have People Hanging On
Your Every Word… Now You Can!

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http://conversationstarter.net/

Internet Presence - Benefit From The Ability To Say - Just Google Me

The power of a personal Internet presence was the subject of a conversation I had with a colleague the other day. He was trying to understand what the value of a personal Internet presence was to a non-executive.

I asked him if he saw value in other industry colleagues, peers, co-workers, subordinates, superiors, existing or prospective customers, media or trade-show personal, fellow industry association members, et al. being able to learn more about who he is as a person, a professional and/or his subject matter expertise and abilities. Notice I didn’t even mention - recruiters.

I then suggested if he believed there to be tangible value in the above, then having the ability to simply say, “If you’d like to know a little more about me, just Google me” is an extremely powerful statement. I also told him he’d really know how powerful this is when after saying this to someone they respond with, “I already Googled you; that’s why I contacted you.”

In the business world, we are all pressed for time, and most of us have far too many people asking for our time. Not only does having visible information on-line anyone can find by doing a simple “Google me” search help you when deciding whether or not to consent to a meeting with someone else, it can also help those who want to meet with you have a more aligned and productive conversation with you. This says nothing about the increased exposure it gives you in the business world to opportunities to share your subject matter expertise through speaking engagements, publications, forums, etc. Notice I didn’t even mention - career opportunities.

The key concept many people fail to understand is the following:

It is one thing to have content floating around the Internet pertaining to you. It is an entirely different thing to have content visible on the first page of hits when someone does Google you.

So how do you go about proactively not only building a personal Internet presence, but also building a visible Internet presence by driving content in your control to the first page of Google? Start writing. It’s that simple.

What do you write about? Write about the problems you solve everyday. Write about the systemic problems and/or issues you address everyday and how you address them based on your unique perspective and subject matter expertise. You don’t have to give away the farm. Simply speak about situations and solutions in more general terms.

This also begs the question: Where do I publish what I write? There are all kinds of places to publish content, but the media you’ll most likely want to publish in are blogs and articles. This content will typically become more visible (i.e., rank higher) in search engines faster than general personal or corporate website content you might publish. That said, all blogs and article sites are not created equal. There are many, many, places to publish content, but you want to publish content in places which will result in high ranking content that will ultimately show up on the first page of Google.

So how do you identify the “right” places to publish your content? Look for sites that have a lot of traffic combined with also having a lot of changing or new content. Sites that have these two elements going for them will typically result in content that ranks higher faster in the search engines. Sites combining a lot of traffic with blogging or article content are typically the best. On-line networking sites such as Ecademy combine a lot of traffic with constantly changing new blogging content. There are even some ezine “article sites” such as EzineArticles that combine a lot of traffic with constantly changing new article content. You can also create even more exposure for the content you create by leveraging sites like ArticleMarketer that broadcast your article content to even more article, blog, newsletter, etc. publishing sites.

Here is the key: the power of leveraging sites such as Ecademy, EzineArticles, et al. comes from using them to point to other web content you’ve created and/or already exists that you want to drive higher in ranking in the search engines. You benefit from “guilt by association” as a result of hyperlinking to other content. When search engines like Google scan your content on sites like Ecademy and EzineArticles and find hyperlinks to other content, they give preferential ranking to the hyperlinked content.

With a little effort, and by leveraging the power of sites like I’ve mentioned above, you can build a visible personal Internet presence in as little as a couple of months. You will then be able to benefit from the power of being able to say, “If you’d like to know a little more about me, just Google me.”

Ron Bates is an expert in mission critical retained executive search. As recognized expert in building an on-line personal Internet presence, Ron has been referred to as “the most connected man on Earth” with +27,000 direct contacts on on-line professional networking platforms. Find Ron’s blog “Internet Presence - Do you exist?” at http://www.search-advantage.com

My Way or the Two-Way Pager

I’ve often thought that what I need is not a cell phone, but a two-way pager. Why? A two-way pager allows me to be able to engage in short conversations without having to fully engage in a conversation, stopping other things I’m doing, I could use a full keyboard function without a full-size keyboard, and I could read my e-mail without having to be at a full-size computer or plug into any other network.

Because I don’t necessarily have the time or the concentration needed to devote to a full-blown conversation, I just need to be able to have a simple communication method or modality, and this seems to fit the bill. I can send out multiple messages quickly without having to worry about getting message machines and not being able to track communication, and I can be sure that I can look back at what I said.

For example, let’s say I’m waiting in the airport for my flight. Many times it is impossible to carry on a conversation on a telephone due to the ambient noise, with all of the loudspeakers ushering passengers and letting you know who is the next group to board. If I want to be able to communicate effectively, without interruption, using a two-way pager is the ultimate tool.

Many people dispute needing a full keyboard, saying they can use abbreviated versions, but I can tell you that I need a full keyboard, for sure, as I am unable to type using any other method, don’t want to have to learn how to use yet another piece of equipment, and I don’t need a full-size keyboard to carry with me. A pager with a mini keyboard, or QWERTY keyboard should do just fine. I’m able to type full words and sentences, and don’t have to abbreviate, which in business communications can be less than effective.

When people use their instant messaging system, they often use abbreviations, such as LOL for laughing out loud, BRB for be right back, and so on, but if I had to make use of an abbreviated keyboard, I would most likely end up sounding like a fifteen year old for the rest of my life. I would rather have a means to express myself rather than to have to resort to truncating my speech or written communication.

What I value the two-way pager for the most, however, is for just plain reading. Reading my e-mail, to be exact. There is nothing more maddening than having to wait to get to somewhere with a WI-FI service, or to be able to get to another type of high speed connection area. Particularly as a frequent flyer, you could be waiting for hours upon hours for an opportunity to read your e-mail.

Perhaps my e-mail isn’t important in the grand scheme of things, in terms of national security, or losing or making millions of dollars, but to me, it’s the most important thing to be able to read my e-mail. It keeps me in touch with the outside world, to find out what’s going on, and to be sure that I have to stay on my flight schedule because I haven’t yet done what I really want to do - finish my conversation over my two-way pager.

This article published by the editorial staff of the National Tollfree Directory. For more information about Two Way Pagers, National Pagers and Local Number Pagers, visit AllPage at http://www.allpage.com/. Please direct any feedback on this article to editorial@strbusinessmedia.com.

How to Streamline Your Phone Communication

Relationships are essential for success in any field. Your phone communication plays a vital role in building effective relationships. Most people create a mental picture of the person with whom they are talking over the phone. Quite often these people judge a person by the mental picture they have created. To streamline your communication, it is necessary for you to create a good impression over the phone.

Captivating people and winning them over the phone needs practice. You need to demonstrate your worth, ability and personality. There are striking differences between personal calls and business calls. You also need to learn the art of delivering unpleasant message without breaking your relationship.

Your voice is of great importance in phone communication. Several studies have pointed out that listeners create an opinion based on the voice. The voice should be clear and should never waver. Your lack of confidence can be reflected in your voice. Try to avoid this especially in business calls. Always be confident while making calls. Do not make calls when you are emotionally disturbed. To effectively streamline your communication, you also need to practice voice modulation.

Answer a call at the earliest. People do not wait much longer. You should be able to answer the phone by the third ring. Greeting over the phone plays a crucial role in building a good impression. Plan your phone greeting in advance. Use a short greeting.

Be careful of what you say over the phone. Before making serious phone calls, it is good to jot down the points in a paper. This will give an order to your phone call and you will also not forget vital points. Never deviate from subject matter, especially in business calls. Stop, when you have delivered your message. Unnecessary lingering will do more harm than good. Phone calls can become legal evidence, so be careful with the words you use in business calls.

How you present a message over the phone is of great importance in streamlining your communication. There will occasions when you have to deliver unpleasant messages. Nobody likes unpleasant message and it can offend your customer or client. In such situations, use hints to make the listener understand the unpleasant message. Always try to convey such messages indirectly.

Be a good listener. Never interrupt between conversations. Always answer to the point that the other person has raised. Write down complicated spellings. Give a feeling that you are seriously listening.

Phone communication is of great importance in our fast paced world. To streamline your communication, a professional approach is needed. Through effective conversation turn all your calls into new opportunities.

John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.

http://www.communicationessence.com

Conflict: Steps to Resolution (Part 2 of 4)

When it’s clear that a conflict exists and you are the one who must do something about it, do this.

First understand that the process of conflict intervention can take almost any length of time, from a few minutes to several years. Steps in the process include:

Conflict: The Critical Questions (Part 3 of 4)

When you’ve taken on the task of helping others resolve conflict, your most important job is to know what questions must be answered to help clarify the situation. The more of these questions you can answer, the better you be able to help your clients to tap their own resources to resolve the conflict.

The questions you must keep in mind will help your clients to identify the problem, identify the goal they want to achieve and discover the areas in which they already agree.

Here are some questions to keep in mind that will help you and your clients to resolve the conflict.

Identifying the problem –

Conflict: Hazards of Helping (Part 4 of 4)

If you are going to help people resolve conflict, you should be aware of potential pitfalls that can undermine the entire process.

The most dangerous pitfall is that your clients may expect you to single-handedly design and implement a solution that will fix everything. The next most dangerous pitfall is for you to try to meet those expectations.

Successful conflict intervention professionals do not “fix” things for their clients. Instead, they lead clients through the process of resolving their own issues in a supportive and effective manner.

Avoid the Traps

You will have to avoid many traps to successfully help others to resolve conflict.

The first trap is often an invitation to accept at face value the client’s definition of the problem and what is needed to solve it, for instance, the client’s belief that more training is needed in cases where the real issue is suppressed or unidentified conflict.

You will need to look behind the explanation you are offered. You’ll need to discover the needs, issues and values the explanation represents, if you are to assist clients in finding creative, appropriate options for solving their problems.

Another trap may be your eagerness to assist your clients without first determining whether they really want to solve their problems. Help your client explore the implications and risks, as well as the benefits, of dealing with potentially painful issues. This helps your client make a solid commitment to working with fundamental issues and letting go of problems that may have provided secret benefits.

A third trap you may face is the invitation to take sides and judge the rightness or wrongness of someone’s position in a conflict situation. It is important to stay impartial and help clarify possible effects of various actions.

Be particularly wary of attempts to get rid of troublemakers in various ways.

Often the “troublemaker” has a great deal of energy available to help resolve the problem. A person who cares enough to “make trouble” really cares about the prob1em and needs to be included in the resolution process.

Another pitfall is the possibility that you will move too quickly into areas that clients consider risky. If you scare your client, even accidentally, you may get hostility instead of cooperation

Your ability to be of value in the conflict situation depends upon your not being thrown out by an angry client. If you stay sensitive to your client’s fears, you may be able to avoid this hazard.

Stay Focused: Avoid the Drama

Getting involved in the drama of a conflict situation can also be a trap.

All drama involves victims, persecutors and rescuers. You may be greatly tempted to rescue your clients by proposing solutions prematurely, before they have brought their own information and resources to bear on the problem.

Rescues usually lead to dramatic role switches in which the consultant more often than not winds up in the victim position, criticized or even fired.

You will be a far more effective helper if you look for the needs, interests and values behind the roles and clarify them for everyone involved. Stimulate a search for options, instead of giving in to the temptation to reach a dramatic solution.

Accepting your role as a conflict intervention professional is a challenge. Your larger challenge as an executive, manager or HRD professional may be to change the perception of conflict from an unpleasant problem to an opportunity for change and growth.

Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects in business situations. Have the challenging conversations that lead to cooperation and success. http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@laurieweiss.com

A Marketing Tool That Really Works

Technology and marketing - just how do you get them to work well when you may have limited skills in either or both? When you are a small business and especially if you are a sole operator you are very conscious of your limitations. It is a real ‘godsend’ when something is made available that can help brand your product or services and does not cost a fortune.

Micro and Home Based Businesses are able to compete with larger business because of technology which does help level the playing field. But the difficulty is to acquire skills to enable the operator to get the best out of the technology they use.

With the number of people now using email, it would seem the most efficient and effective way to get their marketing message out there is via this medium. But how to make it look professional; be cost effective; ensure that the message and image will get through to the recipient every time; and above all make the maintenance and development of it easy to control…. well that’s another matter… or is it?

There are a number of articles written on email marketing but most ignore the importance of being able to achieve branding while still getting the message across. But there are now some companies that can do this for you. I have found something that really works. Mark Up Mail is an interactive marketing media tool that helps brand your product and allows the user to build advertisements that attach to every single email that they send. And it is designed in such a way as not to detract from the email message.

How could this get better? Well it does. Users have their own web page where they can enter and change content at will. If someone clicks on a hyperlink embedded into the text, users will receive an email telling them who had a look. This automatic measurement tool is a really special feature. Too often the Micro sector spend money and time on their marketing but do not measure the results, so really have no idea if their campaign was successful or not. Using this programme enables users to test the message and change it if results are not as expected.

Many HBB operators worry that the recipients of their email may not like to receive promotional material every time they get an email. This is certainly something each individual has to decide about. It is my experience that the sole operator often forgets that they ‘owe it to their business’ to give it every possible opportunity to gather more customers and make more sales. They should make every effort to flaunt their business and let everyone know why their business is good and what their point of difference is.

The success of branding often depends on how often it appears in the market place. It must be seen again and again and again. Just like emails are sent over and over and over. There is certainly a happy mix between what the Micro and HBB operator already do and how they can leverage the email to assist them in their marketing campaign. The sector cannot afford to take out monstrous ads like the big corporate organisations do. But in their own innovative way they can still let others know how great their business is. As a matter of fact - it is their duty to let others know and should not be left up to accidental word of mouth.
This programme has certainly made the ’signature box’ on emails appear somewhat remedial. Thanks to technology I can now get a powerful, professional marketing message out there with ease and little effort.

Barbara Gabogrecan is an award winning artist, author, and speaker. She devotes her time to assisting the Micro and HBB operator by producing programmes and specialised web sites to make their lot easier. http://www.mbnsolutions.com.au

Digital Signage Offers Hoteliers a Way to Serve Guests Better

Frequent hotel guests are becoming more familiar with the growing presence of digital signs in lobbies, near hotel restaurants and bars and even outside meeting rooms.

That’s not too surprising. A recent forecast from market researcher iSuppli Corp. indicated the indoor-venue market for digital signs, which includes hotels, will reach 683,000 units this year and increase at a 26 percent compounded annual growth rate to 1.7 million units in 2010.

According iSuppli, a good deal of the growth will come as hoteliers continue to transition from guest room TVs to flat panel displays, like plasma and LCD screens, and target guests with customized information and entertainment. With the ability to deliver the same information displayed in lobbies to in-room displays, hoteliers can offer guests quick access to what’s happening in their facilities from the comfort and privacy of guest rooms.

“How guests perceive their rooms can be more powerful than any other factors in terms of the way they view a hotel’s overall value,” said Sanju Khatri, principal analyst for projection and large-screen displays at iSuppli. “Delivering a variety of in-room entertainment options may promote greater guest satisfaction, leading to repeat business.”

While technology can’t replace the human dimension of effective customer service, it has a place in equation, reported The Wall Street Journal. A recent article discussed the use of interactive directories by the Westfield Group designed to replace the traditional static mall map.

While the application centers on a retail use, lessons learned from the rollout of 19 such directories at the Westfield San Francisco Centre are appropriate for hoteliers as well. The directories, along with 11 concierges, guide shoppers to the right store, display bus and train schedules and can be used to make reservations for shoppers at local restaurants.

That same sort of interactivity and convenience, both in-room and in public areas like lobbies, can help to create customer loyalty among guests, attracting repeat business from road weary travelers who know that guest services, reservations and other helpful information is a remote click or screen touch away.

According to a recent article in The New York Times, the hotel market in the United States currently is experiencing a boom. Quoting figures from Smith Travel Research, the newspaper reported that the occupancy rate for the first nine months of 2006 was 65.2 percent.

Boosting occupancy rates further may in large part depend on how well guests are treated. A recent article in The International Herald Tribune, pointed out that personalized services -everything from nursing ill business travelers’ back to health to delivering guest-requested once-over fashion inspections- offer the industry a way to connect on a personal level with its guests and induce them to return on their next trip.

The appeal of such services to guests is self-evident. What might not be so apparent is how hotel managers looking to minimize costs can deliver them without increasing staff. Based on the success of the Westfield Group with its interactive mall directories, digital signage might be the key.

When properly designed in-room and out-of-room digital signage can transparently collect data from hotel computer management systems, automatically display that information and even connect guests interactively to hotel services and those of preferred vendors. In the process, it can relieve hotel staff from some of their traditional tasks, allowing them to focus on delivering the personalized services that ingratiate the hotel with its guests and create customer loyalty.

While forecasts like iSuppli Corp.’s envision strong growth for digital signage in hotels over the next few years, those predictions will only come to fruition if the technology can help hoteliers succeed in attracting and building a loyal customer base. With the ability to serve up the information guests need and free existing staff to take even better care of hotel guests, the use of digital signage at hotels is likely to achieve its growth projections.

David Little is a digital signage authority with 20 years of experience helping professionals use technology to expand their marketing messages with alternative media. Visit http://www.keywesttechnology.com and find how you can expand your marketing horizons.

How to Overcome the Daily Deluge of Emails through Streamlining Your Communication

Emails have already replaced the conventional letters in many parts of the world. If you are a marketer or a professional dealing with online clients, you already know the need to streamline your communication. At times, your inbox can jeopardize your time management. Important functions in a day can go haywire by spending a lot of time with the emails.

Nobody can avoid emails completely. It is here to stay. So the only option to overcome the daily deluge of emails is by streamlining your communication. It will improve your performance and work flow and reduce tension. Make emails a powerful tool for your business and personal needs.

When you plan to streamline your communication, learn about the latest developments in emails. The development that is taking place in the field of communication is mind boggling. Almost all the email providers are constantly upgrading their services. Most of them are oriented towards making the email more user-friendly.

There are numerous blogs and forums updating on the latest development taking place in the field of emails. Join a forum or subscribe to a blog with which you feel comfortable. To streamline your communication in modern day, you need to show flexibility and the willingness to learn and adapt to new ideas.

Emails will be constantly arriving in your inbox and you can never go on checking them. Set a timeframe to read and send emails. Do it on your convenience. Select a specific time to reply to emails. Do not indulge in any other activity during this time. Similarly, do not check your emails after the set timeframe.

To streamline your communication, you need to be disciplined and need to stick to a set timeframe. For those emails that need immediate response, respond with brevity. Your first sentence should convey the message. Once you have replied to an email save it or delete it.

You may have faced difficulty in reading large emails with unnecessary information. If you wish to streamline your communication, never do this. Use proper grammar and communication. It will save your time and that of the reader. When the reader replies, he/she too will try to write an easily readable message. Use paragraphs and bulleted lists. It saves time and people will try to respond in a similar manner.

Important mails should be answered promptly. Create a list of stock sentences which can be used immediately. Similarly, write a good subject line which summarizes the email. This will be highly helpful, when you receive emails. When most people reply back, they rarely change the subject line. So you have already created a subject line with which you can identify the mail.

Find some time to streamline your communication. Learn more about your email service. Employ all the new developments that are of your use. Organize your inbox. Create time management habits. The time spent to streamline your communication will help you to reap benefits for a lifetime.

John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.

http://www.communicationessence.com

10 Special Ways To Improve Your Communication

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with Communication? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you’ve ever wanted to know about Communication.

“A Piece of Blarney Stone” 10 ways to empower your communication

The Blarney Stone is a historical stone, or actually part of the Blarney Castle in Ireland where it was believed that kissing the stone can grant you the gift of gab. Yeah, it seems strange in this day and age, but who are we to question tradition? It’s not like I’m saying that Santa Claus doesn’t exist (OOPS!).

There is so much to know about conversation that anyone, even I, could ever realize. You can go though watching talk shows; radio programs; clubs dedicated to public speaking; ordinary conversations; certain rules still apply when it comes to interaction through words. It may sound tedious, I know, but even though it’s your mouth that’s doing the work, your brain works twice as hard to churn out a lot of things you know. So what better way to start learning to be an effective communication is to know the very person closest to you: yourself.

1. What you know.
Education is all about learning the basics, but to be an effective speaker is to practice what you’ve learned. My stint as guest at every Toastmasters’ meeting I go to taught me that we all have our limitations, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn to keep up and share what we know.

2. Listening.
It’s just as important as asking questions. Sometimes listening to the sound of our own voice can teach us to be a little bit confident with ourselves and to say the things we believe in with conviction.

3. Humility
We all make mistakes, and sometimes we tend to slur our words, stutter, and probably mispronounce certain words even though we know what it means, but rarely use it only to impress listeners. So in a group, don’t be afraid to ask if you’re saying the right word properly and if they’re unsure about it then make a joke out of it. I promise you it’ll make everyone laugh and you can get away with it as well.

4. Eye Contact
There’s a lot to say when it comes to directing your attention to your audience with an eye-catching gaze. It’s important that you keep your focus when talking to a large group in a meeting or a gathering, even though he or she may be gorgeous.

If your Communication facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important Communication information slip by you.

5. Kidding around
A little bit of humor can do wonders to lift the tension, or worse boredom when making your speech. That way, you’ll get the attention of the majority of the crowd and they’ll feel that you’re just as approachable, and as human to those who listen.

6. Be like the rest of them
Interaction is all about mingling with other people. You’ll get a lot of ideas, as well as knowing what people make them as they are.

7. Me, Myself, and I
Admit it, there are times you sing to yourself in the shower. I know I do! Listening to the sound of your own voice while you practice your speech in front of a mirror can help correct the stress areas of your pitch. And while you’re at it you can spruce up as well.

8. With a smile
A smile says it all much like eye contact. There’s no point on grimacing or frowning in a meeting or a gathering, unless it’s a wake. You can better express what you’re saying when you smile.

9. A Role Model
There must be at least one or two people in your life you have listened to when they’re at a public gathering or maybe at church. Sure they read their lines, but taking a mental note of how they emphasize what they say can help you once you take center stage.

10. Preparation
Make the best out of preparation rather than just scribbling notes and often in a hurried panic. Some people like to write things down on index cards, while other resort to being a little more silly as they look at their notes written on the palm of their hand (not for clammy hands, please). Just be comfortable with what you know since you enjoy your work.

And that about wraps it up. These suggestions are rather amateurish in edgewise, but I’ve learned to empower myself when it comes to public or private speaking and it never hurts to be with people to listen how they make conversations and meetings far more enjoyable as well as educational.

If you’ve picked some pointers about Communication that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.

John F. Abate, MBA OpportunityChest

Changing Conflict To Dialogue

Dialogue is a different kind of conversation. It’s a way of exploring and understanding information and ideas. When practiced, it draws on and uses the wisdom of everyone involved.

It is easier to create an argument than it is to create a dialogue. You do this when you have a different opinion than someone else about how to solve a problem, and you act as if there is one correct answer and your task is find it.

As long as you believe that a single correct course of action exists, you debate the issue. You try to convince others that a particular position is correct. Someone wins and someone loses. Even when you believe that this is an outmoded way to solve problems, you continue to use it, because it is comfortable and familiar (Business as usual).

Dialogue, a technology for creating understanding in groups, is different. Dialogue is inclusive instead of exclusive. Dialogue is based upon the belief that there are many ways of approaching any issue, and that no single one is correct.

The aim of Dialogue is to create a forum in which ideas can be explored, expanded, deepened and illuminated until new meaning and understanding emerge. Instead of trying to create support for your own positions, when you engage in Dialogue you listen to and question others, attempting to deepen your understanding of all of the information being presented.

The principles are simple, but not easy to put into practice. The challenge is to listen with care to each statement or question that is offered, and to respond in a way that deepens the investigation of the topic that is being explored.

You may then offer a statement of your own understanding, or ask a question to focus the exploration in a new direction.

When everyone in the group agrees to practice the Dialogue process, learning increases dramatically. However, even if you’re the only one interested in changing the conversation, you can make a good start at it by following these steps.

Being clear is more important than being right.

Instead of trying to prove that your idea or position is correct, your task is to explain your beliefs carefully, so that others can understand them. As others come to understand your position, they may ask questions to clarify their understanding. Or they may also offer observations of their own that will allow you to better understand other aspects of your original ideas.

Eventually a shared understanding is developed from many contributions, and the idea comes to belong to the entire group instead of to any single member of the group.

If it is necessary to make a decision about the issue being addressed, it is done after the exploration is completed. Often such decisions emerge quickly and easily without any need to debate different positions. Everyone present has had the opportunity to be heard and acknowledged and has made a contribution to the outcome. Commitment to such decisions is high (NOT just business as usual).

Exploring different perspectives on the truth instead of arguing about which is correct can best be accomplished in a protected environment. It takes time to practice the skills of listening deeply and asking questions instead of advocating your favorite positions.

Setting aside uninterrupted time to explore issues, without expecting to achieve any particular result, and agreeing to simple rules like allowing each speaker to complete a statement without interruption, are basic conditions necessary to begin the process. Learning to say “I wonder what would happen if…” instead of “I think you should…” is an important part of establishing an environment for Dialogue.

Trained professional facilitators can help you and your group learn how to implement these procedures.

Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects in business situations. Have the challenging conversations that lead to cooperation and success. http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D., is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@laurieweiss.com

Communicating Emotionally Difficult Information

You may struggle when it’s time to say something sensitive or potentially upsetting to someone you work with. However, sometimes it is necessary to discuss things that must be changed in order for the relationship to continue on a positive note.

Here are nine steps you can use to help you communicate this important information without losing friends and without getting fired.

1. Know your objective for this conversation.
What you want to happen when the conversation ends?
How do you want to feel?
How do you want the other person to feel?
Do you want some action to be taken? What is it?
How will you know when you’re done?

2. Ask questions. It’s difficult to understand the reasons for someone else’s behavior. Often the simplest way to get this kind of information is to simply ask for it. This information will give you what you need to know about the current situation in order to be most likely to reach your own objective. Who else has information you need? Can you research it? Where?

3. Use “I” messages during the conversation to describe how you feel about the situation. You need to express how you feel without sounding as if you are attacking someone else. Start your sentences with I feel, I wish, I’m curious, or I need. Avoid using the word “you” in your sentences.

4. Describe behavior rather than what you believe about the motivation for any particular behavior. Describe what happened as a television camera might have recorded it. Leave out your judgment about what happened.

5. Ask for help. When you ask for help, start your sentence with “will you” or “will you please.” Be very specific about what you need or want.

“Please send me a copy of the letter before you send it out,” is much more specific than “will you please keep me in the information loop.” “Bring the dessert to serve six people,” is much more specific than “bring something to share for the party.”

6. Be vulnerable rather then controlling. Say “ouch” when you feel hurt rather than trying to force someone to stop hurting you. Doing this allows someone else the opportunity to help relieve your pain.

7. Assume that everyone involved has good intentions. This may or may not be true to start with, but if you approach the situation with this attitude, others are likely to be cooperative in response.

8. Allow others to save face. Own your part in the misunderstanding, even if you think you were perfectly clear and a hundred percent correct. Preface your conversation with statements like “I might not have explained to myself clearly,” or “I know you were very busy when I presented that to you.”

If you create an excuse for somebody, that person will be less likely to try to defend him or herself.

9. Suggest an outcome in which everybody will feel like a winner. It helps to know the details of what others consider most important. Often it’s possible for you to let someone else have what he or she most wants at little cost to yourself.

Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects in business situations. Have the challenging conversations that lead to cooperation and success. http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog
Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@laurieweiss.com

The Customer’s Perception

Customer perception is an important component of our relationship with our customers. Given that 90% plus of our orders at some point involve the phone, how we handle the telephone is essential to creating a perception for our customer that aligns with the company mission of service. The following is a great way of handling the phone.

1. The greeting is: Good Morning/Afternoon this is Joshua with (your company name). How may I help you?

2. Always ask and receive a response from people before you put them on hold: Would you please hold…? Then be sure they are not on hold very long otherwise offer to call them back.

3. Remember to smile on the phone. Slow down and speak plainly and clearly. Smiling stretches your vocal cords, and gives a more upbeat presentation to the customer. Slowing down ensures that the customers perception is of an organized systematic company that can handle their project. Getting it done right and on time consistently.

4. If you transfer a call and know who is calling, tell the name of the caller to your co-worker so they can greet the person by their name.

5. Under no circumstances should any interaction with a client be used to express any sense of overwhelm that you may have. We are swamped, we are so busy, etc. may be acceptable office banter in most companies but it really should not be! If I am a customer and I am looking to get a rush project done, this type of comment tells me that I might want to consider looking elsewhere. Customers do not care how busy we are when they call and ask: How busy are you? What they really care about is can we take care of another project they have for us.

We know from talking to clients that often they feel that they are bothering us or have a concern that they might be overloading us. It is curious to know that sometimes these are our best clients that have this concern. Therefore, anything that might reinforce this is something we want to avoid (you do not need to send your work to other vendors even though you have given us a lot of work already, we can handle it). One possible response to: Are you busy? - is to say: We are busy, but never too busy to help you - what can I do for you? or words to that effect. They are the customers. They do not want to hear about our situation they want to talk about what we can do for them.

6. If we have to contact a customer with bad news of any kind realize that your tone of voice and approach to it set the tone. We do not want to be nonchalant as if it is not big deal. Nor do we want to act like a terrible calamity occurred. Here are keys to contacting customers with bad news:

* Prepare rehearse and organize what you are going to communicate to them and how you are going to communicate it to them.

* Be sure there is no hint of blame or avoiding responsibility. Customers do not care about the folder being broken, the copier jamming or any other things. That is our problem. It is not their problem and they actually do not want to hear about it. Certainly, later in the conversation if they ask what the source of the delay or problem is, you can share that with them, but it should not be something that you want to volunteer early in the conversation.

* Be absolutely certain that you have options to give the customer in these situations. This allows them to be more in control rather than a victim. What are options? What are solutions? Do not call them with the problem unless you are also providing solutions to them.

* Learn what you could have done to prevent this problem from occurring and do so next time. Again, the customer is calling us to take on their problems and to solve their problems. They really do not want (nor do they care) to know about our problems.

7. Remember to always thank the customer. Thank them for calling. Thank them for their business. Thank them for cooperation and understanding. Thank them for a well prepared electronic file. Thank them for a referral. Thank them for the professional manner in which they and their company interact with us.

8. Realize that gossiping and complaining about the customer is only a recipe for tearing down the relationship with them. How could the gossip or complaint be turned into a dialogue with them (rather than your monologue being put on loud speaker to your co-workers) so as to help give them an extraordinary experience? Getting into communication with customers about what we need from them and what are ways that they can improve what they are doing, so that we can do a better job for them, provides them with an extraordinary experience. To be of true service - to be a true partner - to help busy people like them - we need to do more proactive direction of our customers or at least providing them with ideas, options, suggestions and ways that they can improve.

We are really taking on making it easy and effective for them to communicate with their audiences. We need to expand beyond what happens within our own four walls to what is actually happening in their companies. Consistently getting projects completed accurately and on or ahead of schedule is very good. The next level for us is greatness. Greatness offers us the possibility of helping our customers transform how they manage their communications. Complaining and gossiping about customers keeps us from doing that. This is very different than from our heart seeking to improve things for our customer and for ourselves by getting into communication with them, dialogue with them with a rich understanding and deep appreciation of their business and their challenges.

9. Be curious and do not take things for granted with customers. Why are they doing this project? What are they hoping to get from it? Why are they not asking us about this or that service? What changes are they making in their business? How is their business doing? All these things can help deepen our business relationship with the customer.

Pj Germain
Affiliate-success.Org
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Attitude Matters

It may be a truism that during times of crisis or adversity, it is especially hard to have a positive attitude. But that simply underscores the fact that a positive attitude is a cornerstone of living. It is the number-one quality that many of us strive to cultivate personally, as well as seek in others we enjoy working and associating with. Listed below are seven simple but proven tactics that business author and consultant Barry Farber offers for gaining and keeping a positive attitude:

1. Read something inspiring every day. When you get up in the morning, before you do anything else, spend 15 minutes reading something motivational or enlightening. Do the same thing at night for 15 minutes before you go to bed. Remember, what goes in - comes out. Keeping plenty of positive, uplifting information in your mind is very important!

2. Find a quote that really means something to you, copy it or cut it out, and hang it where you can see it every day. Memorize it or make it a meaningful mantra that you refer to often throughout a given day or week. A short quote can take you a million miles.

3. Take an honest look at the people around you. What kinds of attitudes do they bring to the table? Do they pump you up or bring you down? Everyone is entitled to a bad attitude now and again - but if the people you know are constantly angry, bitter, or scared - it might be time to find yourself a new crowd. As is often stated, the people we choose to spend time with have a big impact on who we actually become more like.

4. When you are going through a bad time, think about others who have gone through adversity and made it out to the other side. Count your blessings, and recall other people who have turned bad attitudes around.

5. Be selective about the books and magazines you read, the shows and movies you watch, the tapes you listen to. Remember that just as inspiring movies can improve your attitude, too much negative content can have the opposite effect. Again, what goes in the mind will manifest itself and will come out in thoughts and actions.

6. Find attitude mentors, people you can call for an infusion of excitement and enthusiasm. These are people who can teach you, often through their own accomplishments, what having a positive attitude can do for you.

7. Change your focus. Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about those around you. Mark Twain once said, “If you want to cheer yourself up, cheer up everyone around you.” Be of service to others. Help somebody else, with no expectations of getting anything back. Help move someone else’s achievements forward, and your attitude will lift itself.

Pj Germain
Affiliate-success.Org
the Executive Edge

Cultivate the Art of Apologizing

A valuable negotiation skill for both business and personal worlds is the ability to adequately apologize. We all make mistakes; yet effective, sincere apologies are becoming too uncommon.

Two events in recent years focused my attention on the art of the apology: in Forrest Gump, the character played by Tom Hanks, who was quick to apologize to the Black Panthers, saying: Sorry. I messed up your party. His apologies were quick, genuine, and refreshing. Likewise, Treasury Secretary Robert Altman made headlines when he apologized to Whitewater investigators for misleading them.

Why are we so reluctant to apologize?

For one reason, we might appear weak. We want people to believe we are good; we justify; we scapegoat. In short, we often will resort to almost anything to protect our carefully crafted image.

Another reason might be the adult version of: They started it! We loudly proclaim, I am not apologizing if he (or she) is not apologizing. Or if we do initiate an apology and it is not reciprocated, we become self-righteous and dare to take the moral high ground: At least I apologized.

Here are a few tips to help you cultivate the artful apology:

I did not mean it. This is hardly an excuse; take responsibility for the outcomes of your policies or behaviors. No one told me that is also unacceptable. Be accountable: apologize and do what you can to make right the error.

What did I do? Develop self-awareness. We have all encountered people who grumble, I do not know why I am apologizing. I did not do anything wrong. Or the famous: Everyone else does it, or the begrudging: Well, if I did anything wrong, then I am sorry. Recognize when your actions or words have a hurtful, negative impact; refrain from labeling people as overly sensitive. In reality, you may be insensitive.

No big deal, just consider the source. We often disregard comments from people or organizations we find disdainful. We may not heed complaints because they are given angrily; however, people - no matter how they complain or who they are - may actually be speaking a useful truth. Avoid killing the messenger.

Finally, apologize publicly when you have erred publicly. we have all seen people weasel out of responsibility when they committed an infraction in front of a group by apologizing only to the one individual.

Undoubtedly apologies can be expensive. But consider the impact of a sincere apology: thoughtful words can communicate strength, sincerity, and trust. In these days of conflicts in post offices and schools, and violence in public buildings and traffic, we all do well when we shore up our inner fortitude and utter the few words that can almost instantly deflect rage and mitigate hard feelings: I am really sorry.

Pj Germain
Affiliate-success.Org
the Executive Edge
Affiliate-success.Info

Personality Plus - You Have the Power to Make A Difference

You may not have thought of it this way, but the telephone is just another sales counter. The customer at the other end of the phone is just like the customer at the counter, with one big exception: The customer cannot see you!

This means you have to work harder to project a pleasant and professional image. Of course, the customer can not see you smile. But believe it or not, they can hear it in your voice. And use the customer name as much as possible. It is surprising how much rapport you can establish by an informal, business-oriented conversation.

Do not keep customers waiting!

No one likes to be kept waiting - - especially when it is not necessary. When you make a phone call, it is exasperating when the phone rings and rings, and no one answers the phone. When it happens to you, do you assume that the people who are supposed to answer must be legitimately busy elsewhere? Most of us do not. We immediately assume that the people who ought to answer are neglecting their jobs and neglecting us.

What do you do when you are talking on the first line, another call comes in on the second line, and there is no one else to answer it? You need to interrupt your first call with a polite apology to acknowledge the second call. The first caller will take it gracefully if it is done with courtesy and tact. Just make sure you wait until the first caller has finished his or her thought - this only takes a few seconds - before asking if you may put him on hold. The second caller will be much happier, too. Because you have taken a moment to answer the ringing telephone, he or she will know that you are aware of the call and that you will be back as quickly as you can. A standard policy to consider setting is to answer all telephone calls by the second ring!

Never leave an interrupted caller holding for longer than 30 seconds. It may not sound like much time, but on the phone, 30 seconds can seem like hours, and a minute can seem like a lifetime.

When you answer the second call, say, I have another call on hold right now, would you mind if I called you right back? Then get the callers name and phone number.

When you return to the first call, be sure to thank the caller for holding and use his or her name if you know it: Thank you for holding, Mr. Smith. Never leave a caller on hold longer than a few seconds. The only exception is when the caller has stated he or she prefers to hold. In this case, be sure to check back every 30 seconds, even if it is just to thank them for their patience and ask if they want to continue to hold. Just because callers choose to hold does not mean they will continue to hold indefinitely. You also will find that callers who are involved in the decision to continue holding are more tolerant.

Pj Germain
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Understanding and Handling Time Wasters

What is a time waster? A time waster is anything that decreases your productivity and your effectiveness. Usually, a time waster causes a shift in attention away from your No. 1 priorities. Many time wasters are a form of interruption. 3 Major Categories of Time Wasters:

Time Waster No. 1: Lack of Planning

Those who think they are too busy to plan will always waste more time managing by crisis. Even on calm days, their energies will be scattered and, if they achieve their No. 1 priority, it will be by accident.

Sometimes people claim they have been successful without planning. Once they invest time in careful planning, however, they are astounded to see the investment pay off many times over in increased effectiveness. One hour spent in effective planning usually saves three in execution and this will definitely enable one to achieve far better results. Add up those hours. Using a 40-hour week, the total additional work time made available to you through effective planning is four months per year. People who do not take time to plan waste time; people who make time to plan - invest time.

Once you have made the hard choices in establishing real, long-range and short-range personal and professional goals, you have standards for focusing your time. You have standards for yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily planning. You have a basis for determining your No. 1 priority each day and you have a powerful motivator to replace old time wasters with new habits which can turn your life and your time around. Definitely, a WIN-WIN!

Time Waster No. 2: Lack of Self Management

Human nature makes this time waster a lifelong challenge for almost everyone. Its solutions are similar to the solutions for many other time wasters. For example, planning encourages disciplined action. Setting priorities focuses effort on the most productive tasks. Realistic deadlines impose discipline, as do daily and weekly written plans, project control charts, and progress reports. Rewards, when tech points are successfully reached, improve self-discipline, but only if you refuse to enjoy the reward early which is more self-discipline!

Time Waster No. 3: Lack of Control Over the Work Environment - Elements in your work environment can be real time wasters.

Controlling the Telephone - One of the most efficient tools for saving time, the telephone, also is a time management problem. When we assume that a phone call is a legitimate demand for our attention and we interrupt our own work to answer it, we are concluding that whatever the caller wants is more important than whatever we are doing. This is not always true. You need to remember your No. 1 priority!

Beware of the following telephone traps:
…A desire to know what is happening.
…A handy excuse to leave a difficult or boring task.
…The urge to socialize before and after the business part of the call.
…A feeling of importance because others called you. Fear of offending others.

Your telephone is a tool; it does not have a life of its own.

Drop-in Visitors - We all know this question, Have you got a minute? never means one minute. It seldom means five or even ten minutes. It really translates into Can I interrupt your No. 1 priority by coming in to talk? But most of us continue to permit drop-in visitors to infringe on our time. To eliminate this time waster, you must recognize that drop-in visitors fritter away precious minutes that should be invested in achieving your No. 1 priority. These minutes add up to years thrown away and goals not achieved.

Unclear Communication - Clear communication is vital to efficient time management. Before you communicate anything, note your goals. State the goal clearly to the person with whom you are communicating, ask for input, agree on specific steps to achieve the goal, ask questions to ask for understanding, and follow up to check performance, clarifying the communication as necessary. These steps are especially important for achieving effective delegation but can improve any communication. Avoiding time wasters is essential to effective time management. Periodically, review the solutions for time wasters and keep them in mind as your work. If you do, you can save hundreds of hours each year.

Pj Germain
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Building A Strong Foundation

Important principles for building a strong company foundation include: taking responsibility, being early, understanding others first and taking on the concept that you are continually in training and development.

Take Responsibility

We approach the world as elements of cause rather than victims of circumstance. We take 100% responsibility for relationships and for the work we are doing for customers.

Communication from the customer and the support of our co-workers are essential elements in the process of delighting customers. Our approach is one that is based upon taking 100% responsibility for seeing that our co-workers have all the information they need in order to produce the project according to the customer expectations. To anyone working with the project, they need to take complete responsibility for understanding the project completely.

If anyone missed anything, we are going to discover it and find out what we need to know. We take complete responsibility for the quality of our relationships with our co-workers, vendors and customers. This may mean apologizing and admitting fault. It may mean being gracious when others have to apologize or admit fault to us.

Be Early

We want to be early with projects. Be early to meetings. Be early to work. Remember, when you are early, you never have to apologize!

Understand Others First and Then Make Sure That We Are Understood

When confronting problems, we work to create win-wins. If you are going to create a win-win, you must not only know what you want to accomplish and what your objectives and desires are, but you must also know the other goals and objectives of the other person so you can incorporate these into the solution.

By having all this information, you can create a solution that is better than one that you would have thought of on your own. We tend to automatically latch on to the first solution we see, but there may be other possibilities that are only accessible by understanding the other person. Also, understanding the other person involves giving them generous interpretation. Viewing them as a selfish person whose only concern is with their own issues usually tends to be too stingy. We need to acknowledge that our co-workers are just as committed as we are to the success of our company and they want to delight our customers as much as we do.

Often times when we do not see eye-to-eye, it is this exact same commitment that is in the background pricing the intensity of the discussion. Said another way, we all care deeply about the customer and the success of this company. We need to understand that what people have to say is truly coming from their commitment.

We Are in Training and Development

We should be proud of what we have accomplished and what we do accomplish on a daily basis. But we should never be satisfied with that. There is always room for improvement. We should view the work that we do every day not simply as completing tasks, but as the laboratory for ongoing training and development of ourselves as individuals and as a team.

Pj Germain
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Nationwide Paging - A Viable Tool for Modern Communications

Nationwide paging is a reliable and easy to use messaging method which has developed to the point of offering many different options necessary to fulfill the needs of every type of customer. Despite the seemingly ubiquitous use of cell phones, custom nationwide paging is still a critical communication tool, allowing for instant access to clients, employees, family and friends. From a business standpoint, this technology saves money, which translates to a better bottom-line.

Although nationwide paging is not the only option for communicating, its benefits compliment other types of messaging with quality service and convenience.

One of the obvious advantages to utilizing a nationwide paging service is superior immediacy of contact. Its connection simplicity allows for instant communication in real time, unlike other options such as email and voice mail. Voice messages are not excluded from nationwide paging, however, as there are nationwide pager models that support voice messaging.

A variety of nationwide pagers are available, depending upon your need. Two-way pagers and numeric pagers are common in the communication market as a trusted way to receive messages or phone numbers from individuals that need to reach you immediately. The two-way pager allows the user to send and receive email messages anytime. Numeric pagers receive telephone numbers and other number codes, and stores them until they can be accessed. Alphanumeric pagers receive both letters and numbers, allowing the recipient to receive text messages and emails.

Nationwide paging supports the needs of the “road warrior” by facilitating communication in a way that does not interrupt business meetings by having a cell phone ring at an inappropriate time. With nationwide paging, information that is essential to that meeting can be accessed during a short break.

Coverage area is another determining factor in the use of nationwide pagers. Nationwide pagers have a very high level of connection rate, as they work just as well inside a building as on the street, thus avoiding the signal failures and dropped calls associated with cell phones. Even should the recipient be outside of the nationwide pager’s range, such as when a client or customer is abroad, in most cases the message remains saved for several days so that it can be received upon return to the coverage area.

Local and regional services, voice and queue messages, and Internet compatibility are some of the additional features that can be bound together as part of a nationwide paging service plan.

The use of nationwide pagers saves cost over constant cell phone use and provides quality service and convenience. This results in lower expenditures, while still maintaining real-time communication.

After analyzing all the facts, it is clear that nationwide paging should be a consideration as one of the most suitable options for many different customer situations and needs.

For more information about Nationwide Paging, and National Paging, visit AllPage at http://www.allpage.com/.

Streamline Your Communication in the Modern Day

Communication is a basic tool of success in modern days. Communication means interaction between persons, or to a crowd. Interpersonal communication efficacy is considered as a skill since the bond of relationships relies on the power of it. The focus of the communication is to makes others understand about what you want to make them know. The primary need of the communication is that it must be clear and evident. The modern days are mentioned as the communication age since an evolution in the communication modes has been taking place. The developments in the communication have helped to shrink the world indeed into a global village. However, as the communication modes evolves, the necessity to streamline the communication also increases.

While streamline your communication, you must be conscious to use words, which are sufficient to convey your idea. The communication has to be molded considering various factors such as the occasion, mode of communication, and the person to whom you are communicating. Communication includes all the means of interaction such as speaking, writing, gestures, and expression. The basic protocol, which the person has to maintain in the communication, is considered as the etiquette of communication.

Streamlining of the communication has to be done according to the context of interaction. In case of business relationships, communication is extremely important. The special feature of business communication is that it must be short, and precise to the matter. In public speaking, communication has to be interesting. You have to adopt a sort of demonstration in public speaking, to make it appreciable for the whole crowd. Context relevant examples and jokes will make it really attractive. The preference in the personal communication has to fix in accordance with the other person. However, prior preparation for communication is advisable, in common to all types of communication.

The advent to new technologies has raised the necessity of streamlining the communication. From face to face interactions and mails, now, the horizon of communication has extended to telephone, fax, mobile phone and internet. The etiquette of communication has to be readjusted, with accordance with the peculiarities of the mode of communication such as for telephone speaking manners is important and for internet quick reply is the requirement. However, in streamlining, the general requirements for communication must be retained, such as it has to be interesting and pleasing. Any how, if you want the expected response, you definitely have to be an active listener too.

To add on, remember the saying, first impression is the best impression. An impressive start and interactive gestures will certainly make your attempt remarkable, in direct communications.

John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.

http://www.communicationessence.com

Top 5 Tips To Effortless Conversation

Effortless conversation is a key element in your personal and business relationships. Business networking entirely depends on how capable you are in streamlining your communication. Most people find it difficult in initiating a conversation. To avoid the unnecessary conversation hiccups, you need to master the art of conversation. A good conversation builds a positive image of you. Here are few tips to streamline your communication.

a) Be calm, cool and collective while meeting people for the first time. You are tensed because you want to make a good impression. This will create self doubt and fear in your mind. The other person will easily detect this and will immediately gain an upper hand. To streamline your communication, you need to tame your unnecessary fear. Counter these negative emotions with positive thoughts. This will help you to send positive signals to the other person. Soon you will receive good response from the other person. Thus you can ensure a conversation on an equal level.

b) To streamline your communication, an understanding of the current developments in your industry is a must. You should also update yourself with the current events. You should have a little knowledge of sports, entertainment and other activities of general interest. Always keep some topics ready to start a conversation. This will help to break the ice.

c) Never hesitate to express your genuine opinion. But it should be done without hurting the feeling of others. In a professional arena, those people who express new ideas and thoughts always get good responses. Just abiding with the opinion of other people will not earn any respect and admiration. In order to streamline your communication, express your opinions freely when warranted.

d) Learn to be a good listener. Like you, the other person also likes to be listened. Never hesitate to praise when you hear a genuine idea. But simply showering praise will have the opposite effect. When you are listening to a person, never interrupt the other personal’s conversation unnecessarily. Wait for the person to complete the conversation, before you can put in your opinions. Never hesitate to accept genuine praise. And never forget to thank for that.

e) Avoid gossip and rumor. They are basically negative feelings and thoughts. It is better to stay away from them. When others indulge in gossip and rumor, try to avoid it politely. Also learn to divert the conversation to some positive topic. Gossip and rumor only has entertainment value and it is not going to be of any help in the long run. If you wish to streamline your communication, stay away from controversial topics of little value.

Effortless conversation needs good practice. Through practice, you can make each conversation a pleasant experience. It will also open up new opportunities. Greater success can only come when you streamline your communication.

John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.
http://www.communicationessence.com

Who Can Benefit From Pager Services?

Pager services are great for anyone who is constantly on the go. Many people use these services to be reached quickly and easily in case of something urgent. Alpha-numeric pagers are excellent for relaying a message and getting it to the person you need to contact ASAP. With all of the great technology around, paging is still something that is viable from a business and personal standpoint, and used quite frequently.

Pager services also allow you to be contacted without the rude interruption of a telephone call. Let’s say you are in the middle of an important meeting with a potential client, and your phone rings; if you see that it is your supervisor or family calling, you may feel as if it is necessary to take the call. If you have an alpha-numeric pager you can place your pager on vibrate during your meeting and just glance down at the message that you are receiving. Should the message not be critical, you can move on seamlessly with your meeting, and call that person back when it is over. If the message requires immediate response, you will know it with a pager, and you can gracefully excuse yourself at the appropriate moment to respond.

“Soccer Moms” and CEO’s on the go benefit from pager services all of the time. If you are a busy mom, and want to be reached in the event that your child or family needs you, leaving your pager number with your kids, their schools, daycare provider, or baby sitters will put your mind at ease. When you have the option of alpha-numeric paging, you can be comfortable in any setting, knowing that you are in touch. When traveling, nationwide paging gives you the benefit of being accessible even if you are out of town.

If you are a busy business owner, you can benefit from pager services as well. Leaving your pager number with your managers or executive assistant will allow them to contact you in the event that they need to. Having a pager for business matters makes sense, particularly when you have an alpha-numeric pager that can be used to ask and answer quick questions. Are you a “road warrior” who has to frequently leave town for business? You will not have to worry about missing a page or an important message with your nationwide paging service.

Whether for business or personal use, anyone who is busy and on the go will love the benefits of communicating by pager, without the hassle of answering a phone. You can stay in touch with those that may need you, while you stay on track with the tasks that are imperative. An alpha-numeric pager, combined with the appropriate service plan, allows you to receive actual text messages, and nationwide pagers allow you to be reached when you are out of town. The cost is low, the service and equipment are reliable, and the advantages are manifest.

For more information about Nationwide Paging, and Alpha-Numeric Pagers, visit AllPage at http://www.allpage.com/.

How To Create Winning eBay Auction Titles

It’s probably fair to say that one of the key reasons why many auctions end unsuccessfully on eBay is because people have got their auction title WRONG.

With the eBay marketplace becoming ever more over-crowded, it’s now increasingly more important to create auction titles that work. You really do need to stand out from your rival eBay sellers.

So what does an auction title need to do?

It’s most important job is to get people to click on