A recent newsletter I received underscores the same experience according to Amy Swift Crosby, founder of SMARTY. She understands her audience. When people called for a presentation on “How to Build Your Back Room” which is about accounting, staffing, etc. she knew that it was not “sexy” enough to get customers out of the house to attend a program like this. However, a webinar was the perfect idea and enrollment exceeded her goal. She continues at length to describe the local

“Bear” Bryant said that members of a winning team needed 5 things: 1. Tell me what you expect from me 2. Give me an opportunity to perform 3. Let me know how I’m doing 4. Give me guidance when I need it 5. Reward me according to my contributions Winners need straight information. Sometimes a formula that seems too simple is ignored. However, when we communicate objectives clearly and simplify the points, everyone is more likely to be on the same page. From small to large

I speak to groups and coach clients and since much of my work is done on the phone, sounding polished and impactful is important. Upon listening to myself after a recent radio interview, I was not at all pleased; actually, it was a bit unsettling. While it’s true that we can never really hear ourselves as others do, we prefer our voice as it sounds to us, vibrating around inside our heads; more resonant and deeper. The version of our voice we hear most often is the one that w

Author and former television anchor, Suzanne Bates, speaks to learning from feedback below. “Let’s say people who know you well say that you’re the real deal (“authenticity”). If asked, they’d tell others “What you see is what you get.” However, you’re new in a role, and after six months, lots of people have heard “rumors” about you but haven’t had a chance to get to know you. They’re viewing you as distant or hard to get to know. That’s a valuable insight. You can now arrang

“Bear” Bryant said that members of a winning team needed 5 things: 1.  Tell me what you expect from me 2.  Give me an opportunity to perform 3.  Let me know how I’m doing 4.  Give me guidance when I need it 5.  Reward me according to my contributions These 5 points transcend gender or over-used sports analogies. Winners from the basement to the boardroom need straight information. Sometimes a formula that seems too simple is ignored. However, when we communicate objective

• When are rules really meant to be bent or broken? • What is their purpose after all? • Control?  Uniformity? Simplicity? It wasn’t a question of cost, as I was willing to pay. It did not seem like a radical request and as a family owned business, isn’t responding to customer feedback important for continued success? Basic business principles would support listening to your patrons and perhaps modifying your method of delivery. So, where is the disconnect? IS YOUR RULE BOO