Podcast 3 - Exercise

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup

Posted: November 16th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Podcast 2 Wheel of Life

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup

Posted: November 16th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Podcast - Procrastination

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup

Posted: November 16th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none

Creating Pros versus Cons list.  When you aren’t sure about doing something, you might want to consider the old fashion Pros and Cons list. List the things you are considering. Then prioritize each item. Then give each item a value of importance. Everything you are doing is subjective so you just have to do the best you can to list every pro and every con for the things you are comparing. The value system can be on a scale of 1-3, 1-5, or even 1-10. You identify what has the most weight or value and then add up the scores in each column. This does help when you are trying to decide whether to do something that can have an impact on your life, personally and professionally. Your ‘gut’ may still have a say in what you choose to do in the end.

Do you have a project, decision, or issue to resolve that you can use the Pros versus Cons Worksheet on the following page?  If so, do it now.  If you don’t, consider using the process in the future when you do have something where it would help you work through making a decision on a project or issue.

Posted: November 16th, 2008 under Effective and Efficient Behavior, Procedures Manual.
Comments: none

When you have team members come to you with problems, issues, or concerns, they must also bring you a solution or solutions to this problem, issue or concern. I had a manager once who, nicely said to me, “B.M.” only flows one way. Actually, he used a different word as you might have already guessed. In other words, team members can’t delegate up to you to solve and do what they should do or try to do. This is called reverse delegation and should not be acceptable behavior.

When you use this method to solve issues, concerns, and problems, it makes the team member think to solve the issue instead of just complaining and having you solve everything for them. It may also give them more confidence and make them feel like they have a say and can contribute to the organization. When they come to you with solutions to the problem, issue or concern, you might be amazed at what they come up with – they might be also.

Posted: November 13th, 2008 under Accountability, Delegation, Procedures Manual.
Comments: none

In working with a client today, he was telling me how he was proactive in sending out some communication to his clients that they needed but didn’t think through it enough so got bombarded with phone calls wanting to know more information on the communication they received. We talked about how to do this differently next time. Some ideas were to create a teleconference for people to dial in and listen to so he didn’t have to say the same thing x number of times. He just had to say it once or twice depending on the number of teleconferences he would set up. Then if people had immediate needs (identify immediate timeframe and what that means) they could call in to schedule a phone appointment with him by calling _________ at ___________. We talked about thinking of ways that gets done what he needs done with the least amount of his time involved. If there is a way to group activities and people, it obviously is more productive.  You want to make sure it is effective and people appreciate what you are doing.  You can also send out a mass voicemail message to your clients which shows you care enough to reach out and tell them what is important for them to know. You can also consider doing a seminar or seminars that people who want the information they need can attend and feel cared about. He could have done one or two group teleconference for those interested and saved a lot of his time. This allows for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. When doing something like this, it still gives you time to do the other things only you can do to keep building your business and pursuing other opportunities. It may be reduced time, but you still have some time. You always want to document the process when you are doing it or after you have done something. This will help if you need to do it again and if you want to modify it to make it even better.

Posted: November 12th, 2008 under Effective and Efficient Behavior, It’s All About Them, Leverage Resources, Time Management.
Comments: none

You want to create processes for every function in your firm. This means starting with the script that the receptionist says when she answers the phone and transfers the calls. You want this person to have an attitude where they are happy to be alive when they answer your phone. They are the first point of contact for people calling your firm so you want to create a great first impression with the ‘right’ person answering the phone. 

You will want to create or update a job description for every position that includes all the responsibilities of that position so the person doing it knows exactly what they are responsible for and their performance will be measured against.

Every position in your firm should have a procedures manual at their desk. One benefit is that they don’t have to ever ask you how to do something since it is in the manual. You don’t have to tell them a second or third time because it is in the manual. When someone is out sick or gone on vacation and someone else needs to know how to do something that person who is gone did, it is in the manual. If you have to terminate someone, the learning curve is greatly reduced because you have a manual for that position. Someone new that may start might see a better way to get something done when it is documented. If you do a certain process only a few times a month, a quarter, or a year, it is all documented so you don’t have to waste time trying to remember how to do it. It may take a little while to create the proper procedures but it is so worth it in the long run.

Posted: November 10th, 2008 under Effective and Efficient Behavior, Procedures Manual, Time Management.
Comments: none

Ever had an argument with a colleague about the commas in a sentence like the following?   The battery pack gives you several options:  6 hours, 4 hours, 3 hours and 40 minutes, 2 hours and 45 minutes.  Is that four options or five options?  A comma before the last and makes it clear.   But do you ALWAYS need a comma before that last and?  Answer:  No, the serial comma is optional.  But you’re always safe to use it for clarity sake—as illustrated in the “battery-pack” sentence.

Here are a couple tips to prevent grammar gaffes and save you a few minutes in reaching for a reference book:

·         The Assure/Insure/Ensure Dilemma:  (All three words mean to give a guarantee—but they aren’t interchangeable.) Use assure only when you’re referring to someone talking or writing.  Use insure only when you’re talking about a monetary payment.  Use ensure for all other situations.

·         Myself or Me?  Wrong:  For prompt payment, send the invoice to Kerry or myself.  Right:  For prompt payment, send the invoice to Kerry or me.   Never use myself unless I or me is already used in the sentence; it’s used to add emphasis to those words.  (Example:  I told him myself.)

·         To Capitalize or Not?   Think “brand name” or generic.  If the word under consideration is the brand name of something, capitalize it.  If not, don’t.  Example:  He works at Universal as a vice president.  He works at my company as a vice president.  Vice President Jim Tuttle works in my department.

Need more help?  Booher’s Rules for Business Grammar: 101 Fast and Easy Ways to Correct the Most Common Errors  (McGraw-Hill) by Dianna Booher provides 101 more entertaining, brief chapters (most 1-2 pages) that focus on the common mistakes heard every day on the job.  The “memory tricks” at the end of each chapter solidify the rule for the next time and the next, saving you valuable look-up time!

(Another tip:  If you want to check for a skills gap in this area first, you can take a free online assessment at www.howsyourgrammar.com.)

If you need this, here is the URL of Amazon.com page for this book:  www.amazon.com/Boohers-Rules-Business-Grammar-Correct/dp/0071486682/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223057462&sr=1-1

Posted: November 7th, 2008 under Delegation, Effective and Efficient Behavior, Leverage Resources.
Comments: none

What happens when you don’t deliver on your promise to a client?  You tell them the truth and you tell them quickly.  Waiting to tell them why you didn’t deliver when you told them you would, can make them angry.  Be honest about the situation.  After you apologize and tell them why you weren’t able to deliver on your promise, consider asking them something like, what has to happen for them to feel confident and continue to have the same relationship that they have enjoyed with you in the past?  Most people will understand, assuming you had a legitimate reason and they will appreciate your honesty.  “Life” happens to all of us, it is just a matter of when, where, and how.

So the point is - stop being afraid of what might happen because what you think might happen might not actually happen. And how bad could it really be? What are you really afraid of? Chances are you will realize that would you’re imagining is not only improbable, but not all that bad anyway. Tell the truth and let things go the way they will go. The truth isn’t always easy, but the truth is almost always better for everyone involved.

Posted: November 6th, 2008 under Tell the Truth.
Comments: none

Expect to receive referrals from everyone you ask. Yeah, you might be afraid to ask for referrals for whatever your reason is. Get over it and start asking!  You could receive referrals from each person you ask in the amount of 10-100 or more. Show up like this is what you expect - 10-100 referrals. People who ask for referrals - receive referrals. I have known people who have received 90 and 175 referrals from one existing ideal client source. The source can be an existing client, a prospect, a friend, acquaintance, or strategic alliance / center of influence.  A person I know received in excess of 200 referrals from one strategic alliance source. I call this the ‘mother load’ of referrals. Another person received directories of groups where their client was a member with names of ideal client profile candidates highlighted and pertinent information about each one. I call these occurrences, the ‘mother load.’  It may not happen often but it can happen to you if you believe it can.  It can come to you in big numbers from all different sources.  Expect it to happen and it will.  Start receiving your ‘mother load’ of referrals.

Posted: November 5th, 2008 under Belief, Goal Setting, High Pay-off Activities, Ideal Clients, Leverage Resources.
Comments: none