Instant Attitude Adjusters to See the Light

In my keynotes and workshops focusing on building rapport, relationships and connecting with others to build a more positive, productive and profitable organization, the foundation for success starts with everyone having a positive outlook and good attitude. Keeping your attitude adjusted is not always easy. Even extremely positive people have moments when they grumble, groan,…

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Influencer: The Power To Change Anything

by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan & Gareth Jones McGraw-Hill, 2008 ISBN #978-0-07-148499-2 Reviewed by Ian Cook If you are like me, and like most of the managers we all know, you have a default strategy for influencing people around you. You TELL them what they should do! You SHARE your wisdom…

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Influence by the Numbers

Influence – “the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others.” – Random House Dictionary Jeremy Lin, Hillary Clinton, Warren Buffet, Adele, Justice Anthony Kennedy, Tim Tebow, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Stephen Colbert; what do these people share in common? These individuals are on the Time magazine…

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Implementing Shared Services: Five Considerations

Companies have been served a wake up call in light of the recession and ongoing economic uncertainty.  They are being driven to become more efficient while at the same time improving levels of quality and service.  As a result, the shared services model is becoming an increasingly popular organizational structure to help achieve business objectives.…

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If Jung is Right

This weekend a colleague thrust another “personality type is useless” article in front of me. I was asked to explain what was right or wrong in the critique.  I pointed out that the article consistently referred to a narrative about the type tools, which is pretty old. It was developed by a non-psychologist bored housewife. …

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I Haven’t Blogged About Dan Pink Lately

For those who haven’t been keeping up on recent business and management books, Daniel Pink came out with an absolutely great book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. I mentioned it briefly in a blog post last Fall before it came out. Then, in February, I wrote a book review of it. Now, here’s…

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How Well Do You Get Along?

One of the most important keys to success in your personal and professional life will be determined by your ability to get along with others. Below is a quiz I provide to people at my workshops as well as to those I coach. Take the quiz and see how well you do. Also have your…

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How to Resolve Complaints

“As a speaker, trainer, coach and consultant helping companies and organizations to improve customer and workplace relationships one question I always get is, “What are some ways to deal with complaints?” The word “complaint” is loaded with negative connotations. But in fact, complaining does offer an opportunity to set things right. According to Sandra Crowe,…

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How to Lose the Sale… Before You Get It

It’s a shame but a lot of salespeople are losing sales before they even have a chance to get them. That’s right, they’re reaching into their holsters, pulling out their pistols and shooting themselves in the foot before they even have a chance to talk to the prospect. Slow Off the Mark How? By being…

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