 |         |
|
E- Zine - September 2004 WELCOME to the PROTOCOL PLUS MONTHLY E-ZINE IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
“Before people can learn the value of etiquette, they need to understand what etiquette actually can do for them and why it makes a difference.” --- Peter Post, Director, The Emily Post Institute. At a recent dinner event, I was seated next to a college student. He was on my left side – my rotator cuff surgery side. I introduced myself and mentioned my shoulder surgery so he would not get too energetic and bump into me. He smiled and said he would be careful. He was a very nice, polite, young man. Then he started to eat. His elbows were almost horizontal as they protruded straight out from his shoulders. He looked like an eagle in flight. I’m sure he had no idea that he was eating that way – or even that he shouldn’t be positioned that way. Chances are no one has ever mentioned it to him. But what happens when he goes for a job interview over lunch, or takes a client to lunch? What kind of impression will he make? September is Children’s Good Manners’ Month. Are you setting a good example for your children? Tonight at the dinner table, after everyone has their food, put a $1.00 bill under each arm. If they keep the dollar bill under their arm the entire meal, except when passing food, they get to keep the money. Sounds like bribery, but the lesson will stick in their mind for life. If you don’t believe in bribery, you can also use a golf ball under each arm. And a sure fire way to keep your elbows in, is to have rotator cuff surgery, but don’t take that as a recommendation. Have fun with this and be sure to praise your children for their efforts. You might even try it yourself and make it a family event. “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing." --Albert Schweitzer Dining skills are vital in both business and social settings. Being comfortable with your dining skills allows you to relax and enjoy your meal. To gain utmost confidence in your dining skills, call 405-341-3216. Never again be unsure of yourself at the dining table, but rather be gracious, poised, and confident. Customer Service Techniques – Look for the roses, not the thorns. Teams come in many shapes and sizes, and so do the team members. Every team at some stage struggles with the dilemma of balancing team goals with individual styles. Read what Computer-World says about “The ‘Whole Brain’ Team. What part do you play on your team? The 'Whole Brain' Team http://www.computerworld.com/managementtopics/management/story/0,10801,92032,00.html News Story by Kathleen Melymuka APRIL 12, 2004 (COMPUTER-WORLD) Veteran project managers say that great project teams include individuals with complementary talents that go beyond IT skills. Here are some classic individual work styles that could help make yours a "whole brain" team. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1. The Architect ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Architect thinks of options for how things could be done. S/he never stops at the first solution; s/he raises and ponders many possibilities. Without him/er, the team may jump on the first good idea and never consider a better one. S/he comes up with the "out there" solution. S/he fuels the brainstorms and enables the team to take leaps of faith. Without him/er, the team may miss opportunities for important breakthroughs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2. The Facilitator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Facilitator helps the team get to closure. S/He can present the pros and cons of the architect's various ideas and add insights to help the group narrow the choice. Without him/er, team members may separate into opposing camps. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3. The Devil's Advocate ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Devil's Advocate is the iconoclast, the troublemaker, the questioner. S/he forces the group to defend its direction. Without him/er, the team can too easily fall into groupthink. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 4. The Big-Idea Guy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Comes up with the "out there" solution. He fuels the brainstorms and enables the team to take leaps of faith. Without him, the team may miss opportunities for important breakthroughs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5. The Anchor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Anchor is a stickler for process, procedure and cold reality. S/he knows what will and won't work and what can and can't get through the bureaucracy. Without him/er, the team may get carried away with a big idea that's not feasible. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6. The People Guy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The People Guy/gal understands how typical users behave. S/he provides reality checks for the team by envisioning how people will use what the team creates. Without him/er, the team may create an elegant product that users hate. To learn more about my customer service programs, call 405-341-3216 today or visit me on the web at http://www.protocolplus.net/seminar/smallbus.html The Coach’s Corner – People are doing their very, very, best. Many times when faced with a difficult situation we immediately go into seeing everything that is wrong. We create our own personal pity party. And the problem with pity parties is that they are not much fun. What would happen if you viewed everything that happens in your life as a lesson, an opportunity for growth? The next time you have a pity party, get out a piece of paper and write down everything you are grateful for – even the little things -like hearing the birds sing, or hearing a child giggle. You’ll find you can’t stay in your pity party when you do this. Coaching questions:
--- Ziggy If you are stuck and lost in a maze, coaching can help you gain clarity and move you in the direction of your dreams. Call today for your no-obligation, coaching session. This 30-minute confidential session will give you the experience of coaching. To schedule your complimentary session, call 405-341-3216. Quotes of the Month – There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” --- Mother Teresa “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” --- Carl W. Buechner Ask the Expert - Ending the endless call. Back to News & Articles |