In This Issue

News & Notes: No Recall on This Gift

Manager's Tip Sheet: Beyond Buzz    

Personal Tip Sheet:  I Have Something Important to Text

Difficult Conversations: Melting a Brain Freeze Moment          

Workshops, Products, and Services 

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News & Notes: No Recall on This Gift

It seems that hardly a day passes without hearing about another product safety recall.  Whether it be food, toys, or mechanics it can make choosing the perfect gift a tricky prospect.  No worries, I have the perfect remedy!

Give the gift of a few kind words.  There is nothing better than to sincerely and specifically recognize a person for his or her talents.  Or, say thank you to someone for how she has contributed to your life or taught you something.  Invest in their future success by giving them books, signing them up for seminars or coaching sessions  show that you care about what interests them.

To let another human being know how he matters is a gift that is one hundred percent guaranteed to please!

Until next month,

Susan Fee

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Manager's Tip Sheet:  Beyond Buzz

When you think about marketing, what comes to mind?  Advertising?  Telemarketing?  Billboards?  What about you?  No matter what company or organization appears on your paycheck, the real product you’re marketing is you.  Do you know what your consumers are saying?

Lois Kelly is the author of Beyond Buzz:  The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing (Amacon, 2007).  She has some very interesting ideas about how conversational hooks can help market a product, company, and even higher education.  Her examples can just as easily be applied to you and your career.  Her premise is that the best marketing relies on stimulating interest.  In chapter five she shares nine themes that always get people talking.  Here are four:

Aspirations and beliefs.  First, you have to believe in something!  Politically correct-milk-toast-don’t-rock-the-boat is not that interesting.  When you care, you’re passionate and listeners connect to your emotion.  

David versus Goliath.  Sharing stories about how the little guy wins is always appealing.  If you’ve ever been the underdog and come out on top, how did you do it?  Your story can inspire others, as long as you remain humble.

Contrarian, counterintuitive, and challenging assumptions.  Bold ideas grab attention.  Present them respectfully to instigate meaningful dialogue rather than telling people they are wrong or stupid.  If you give them something to chew on, they’ll be thinking about it long after your conversation ends.

Personalities and personal stories.  We don’t go to the movies to learn about facts, we want a good story.  Start cultivating your pearls of wisdom into short stories instead of lectures and you’ll have people hooked.  If you don’t feel you have any stories to tell, get out of the office routine.  Try a new hobby, meet new people, do something you’ve never done before. The stories will start to unfold.

Turn your stories into presentations.

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Personal Tip Sheet:  I Have Something Important to Text

According to an Associated Press-AOL poll released last month, teens are relying on instant messaging to handle confrontations. More than 43% who IM use it for things they wouldn't say in person. Twenty-two percent use IMs to ask people out on dates or accept them, and 13% use them to break up. Ouch. And you thought reading it on a Post-It Note was bad! 

Are you guilty of using technology to avoid conflict?  It may seem easier to say something in an email rather than face-to-face, but many times it makes the situation worse.  Meanings can be misunderstood.   Without the opportunity to clarify in person, negative perceptions get locked in.  Never underestimate the value of non-verbal communication (voice tone, facial expressions, body language) in helping us decode a message.  Technology won’t help you avoid conflict, just prolong it. 

Here’s a checklist of conversations that need to be conducted face-to-face:

Feedback.  The purpose of feedback is to influence future behavior.  Therefore, whether it is corrective or encouraging, feedback is best delivered in person.  The recipient needs the opportunity to ask questions and clarify.  Otherwise your comments may fall on deaf ears. 

Complaint.  People become very brave (even abusive) when they can complain anonymously.  But, when you’re forced to look at the person to whom you’re complaining, you’re more likely to do so respectfully, and get a better result.

Apologies.  Saying you’re sorry isn’t supposed to be easy or comfortable.  Apologizing through text or email is the coward’s way out. 

If you’re truly sorry, bite the bullet and admit your mistakes face-to-face.

Thank you.  Saying thank you in person followed by a sincere handwritten note is a sure-fire way to make someone feel appreciated.  

 

Additional tips on email etiquette. 

                     

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 Difficult Conversations: Melting a Brain Freeze Moment

Q:  I was making an important presentation to a group of potential customers when suddenly I went totally blank.  Even though I had practiced this presentation repeatedly, I couldn’t remember a thing I was supposed say.  Any advice on how to handle brain freeze?

A: Rest-assured, it happens to the best of us!  Audiences are far more compassionate then we give them credit for and they want us to succeed.  In this type of situation, you can turn to them for help.  Audiences will gladly act as your partner if you let them.  You can say, “I’m so excited about this idea, I just lost my thought, where was I?”  Or, you can give yourself time to regroup by saying, “Now’s a good time for a review.”  It may feel like an eternity, but in reality, you’ll be back on track in no time.           

Submit your difficult questions to Susan_Fee@msn.com.  If your question is chosen for publication, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of Dealing With Difficult People.

   

   

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Workshops, Products, and Services

Upcoming Workshops and Appearances.  Engagements are open to the public when noted.

Make this year’s holiday staff luncheon memorable!  Book Susan as you speaker today!  Popular holiday topics include: Put Happy Back in the Holidays, Stress Management, and Maintaining a Positive Focus.

“Positive First Impressions:  How to Establish Confident, Competence & Trust”

December 4

Westlake Recreation Center

Westlake, OH

Q104 Morning Show (listen online)

December 14, 5:00-10:00 am EST

Cleveland, OH

Girls’ Health & Wellness Series

January 10-February 7

Lake Ridge Academy

North Ridgeville, OH

Circle of F.R.I.E.N.D.S Facilitator Training

January 18

Strongsville School District

Strongsville, OH

 

Products and Services

 

Order a PowerPack and save money!

Interested in booking training or coaching?  Let me know how I can help, Susan_Fee@msn.com. 

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor, business and personal coach, and college adjunct faculty member.  She is the author of Positive First Impressions, Dealing with Difficult People, Building Resiliency, Secrets of Successful Presentations, and the college survival guide, My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy!  (Adams Media).  She can be reached through her Web site at www.susanfee.com or by email at Susan_Fee@msn.com. 

 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2007