June 24, 2019
In The Leadership Challenge James Kouzes and Barry Posner feature five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. 1. Modeling the way Your title is taken for granted, but the primary way you get the respect of others is through your behavior. 2. Inspiring a shared vision Effective leaders are able to form pictures of what the future holds and communicate that vision to others. Charles Pfeffer in his article “Leadership, Vision and shared-mental modeling” at the website Winters Group: […]
June 24, 2019
Three men who believed they could judge character by facial appearance were gathered in a plastic surgeons office: a playwright, a lawyer and a doctor. They were looking at masks of patients before surgery. The playwright said, “This person with a receding chin is a weakling.” “Wrong,” the plastic surgeon answered, “He’s an aggressive stockbroker.” The lawyer said, “This man with the ugly gash on his cheek must be a gangster. It’s a typical squealer’s […]
June 5, 2019
It is a leader’s responsibility to provide people with the right support to do their job. The bedrock of that support can be found in the relationship between manager and employee. The best way to nurture that relationship is through frequent and regular one-on-one coaching sessions. Coaching provides the opportunity for the leader to get to know the employee as a person and how she can help the employee achieve personal and organizational goals. Coaching […]
May 2, 2019
Developing honesty What you can do to develop this trait. Select the suggestion(s) that you will begin implementing within the week: Do what you say you’ll do. Honesty is perceived in your behavior, so make sure your actions match your words. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. If you think you won’t be able to turn the project in by 5:00, don’t make empty promises. You’ll end up damaging your credibility. For a week, record […]
April 30, 2019
What leaders can do as they look ahead to creating prosperity in 2019 and beyond? Rudyard Kipling wrote that one crucial attribute of a successful person is the ability to keep your head about you when all around you people are losing their heads, and some are even blaming it on you. His point is not to be underestimated. So instead of allowing yourself to be carried away by the more dastardly events of the […]
April 30, 2019
Here are 8 things you can do to motivate your team: Look in the mirror. Are you waking up with enthusiasm and excitement about your work? Have you set goals for yourself and your team? Or are you just punching a time clock like the rest of them and its all you can do to not fall asleep with boredom or scream out loud with frustration. What do you need to become more excited and […]
April 12, 2019
Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman offer a different explanation of what the differences are between average and great supervisors and managers. In First Break All The Rules (FBA) the authors write: The greatest managers in the world do not have much in common…They employ vastly different styles and focus on different goals. But despite their differences, these great managers do share one thing: Before they do anything else, they first break all the rules of […]
April 12, 2019
Accountability means answering or accounting for your actions and results. It is something every leader wants more of from his or her team. Accountability is like rain—everyone knows they need it, but no one wants to get wet. It’s easy to talk about how “they” need to be more accountable, but it can be uncomfortable when we apply it to ourselves. When is the last time you heard someone say, “I really need to be […]
April 12, 2019
”The qualities built into an individual’s life that determine his or her response, regardless of circumstances” Individual personal accountability or lack there of is a common challenge that organizations encounter on a daily basis. The basis for this is that some people lack personal integrity. Below are 28 character qualities that a person needs to have personal integrity. 1-Alertness vs Carelessness Being aware of what is taking place around me so I can have the […]
June 16, 2017
The value you put on a person greatly affects the way they value themselves. The story of Johnny Lingo shows how you can bring out the best or the worst in a person. This story was based partially on an article found in Reader’s Digest (February, 1988). The original work was copyrighted by Patricia McGerr in 1965. My trip to the Kiniwata Island in the Pacific was a memorable one. Although the island was beautiful […]
May 16, 2013
Practicing Active Listening Passive listening is hearing, Active listening is understanding Active Listeners: Listen more than talk Don’t answer questions with another question Don’t finish the sentences of others Are aware of their own biases and control them Plan responses after the speaker is finished, NOT while he or she is still speaking Pay attention Never dominate the conversation Provide good feedback Interpret by considering all relevant information Ask open-ended questions Summarize the speaker’s message […]
April 16, 2013
According to the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, an unhappy customer remembers the incident for 23 1/2 years and talks about it for 18 months. Your ability to win over angry and rude callers can help your business more than you can imagine. On average an angry customer will talk to 11 friends about the incident within one week and each of those friends will tell 5 other people about the incident within 2 […]
April 16, 2013
“Star Quality” Self-Confident individuals stand out. They’re the leaders, the shining lights, the attention getters in their public or private spheres. Theirs is a star quality born of self-regard, self-respect, self certainty-all those self words that denote a faith in oneself and a commitment to one’s self styled purpose. Combined with ambition that marks this style, that magical self-regard can transform idle dreams into real accomplishment. The Self-Confident personality style is one of the two […]
March 16, 2013
Anger management: 10 tips to tame your temper! Keeping your temper in check can be challenging. Use simple anger management tips – from taking a timeout to using “I” statements – to stay in control. Do you find yourself fuming when someone cuts you off in traffic? Does your blood pressure go through the roof when your child refuses to cooperate? Anger is a normal and even healthy emotion – but it’s important to deal […]
February 16, 2013
I speak to over 100 groups per year both public and private. There are four types of people that come to seminars; Tourists, it’s better to be there than at work; The graduate, they already know everything (they think!) they come to see for sure; The “captive”, there against their will, it usually takes about one quarter of the day for them to warm up; and finally, the student. This person loves learning. They will […]
January 16, 2013
Make Your Business Writing Pop! By Steve Milano Steve Milano has been writing for newspapers, magazines, businesses, associations and Web sites for more than 25 years, including “Entrepreneur,” “Sports Illustrated for Kids Parents’ Playbook,” “Fit” and “Business Development Outlook.” He has taught business writing as an adjunct professor and private lecturer. Steve is also a consultant with Dave Oakes Seminars. In business writing, it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. You […]
January 2, 2013
Teamwork is a key part of customer service. Even though you work hard individually, you are part of an organization that relies on each other. There are 5 components of winning teams: Trust Proactivity Communication Practice Loyalty The most vital part of a customer service team is Loyalty. According to Webster’s Dictionary loyalty is defined as “Being faithful to a person, ideal, custom, homeland or government.” Loyalty is wound into every fabric of our lives; […]
November 16, 2012
WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY? Without speaking a word, people convey a tremendous amount of information about themselves and their attitude toward you. Body language is a universal language that goes beyond the intellect and the spoken word to reveal the depths of people’s feelings. Once you have become a skilled body language observer, you can use your knowledge to 1) pick up people’s nuances and gestures; 2) respond to them in ways that will […]
November 16, 2012
To be effective listeners we must involve the whole body. Not only are our ears tuned in, but so are our eyes, our minds (the intellect), our bodies, our hearts and our intuition. Good listeners give both nonverbal and verbal signals that they are listening. A “whole body” listener tunes in by Conveying a positive encouraging attitude Sitting in a attentive posture Remaining alert, but comfortable Nodding in acknowledgment of the speakers words Making good […]
October 16, 2012
Talking to the Media? * Prepare. If you are the right person to answer the journalist’s questions, think of the one or two main points or responses that you want to get across before entering the interview. Have relevant facts at your fingertips. Resist the temptation – or pressure – to reply at once. Ask “Is there anything else you need to know?” Make a note of the questions. Once you fully understand the story, […]
September 16, 2012
Need to be Perfect? PITFALLS Have to do everything perfectly–even leisure related activities Drive away others who don’t live up to your “perfect” standard Avoid things you’re not good at because you fear failure SOLUTIONS Distinguish between important and unimportant tasks Be honest about what you can accomplish and to what degree, then set realistic expectations Understand that there is more than one way to do something Eliminate “I should” statements Don’t magnify your errors […]
August 16, 2012
STRESSED? Being a Type A personality is not a bad thing, if you learn to control life’s stresses. We are all under stress–some more than others–but the key is to regularly reduce it and gain a balanced perspective on life. Achievement in one area of your life is not worth killing yourself for, even if you die wealthy. To avoid or overcome burn-out, heed the advice in the 12 tips that follow. But change yourself […]
June 16, 2012
How Projects Differ From “Normal” Work A project is something that is distinct from the normal circumstances of everyday work. A project has the following characteristics: 1. A project is goal oriented. A project has a beginning, a middle and most of all an end. The goal behind any project is to achieve some defined result. A project is never simply an end in itself; rather is is a means to an end. Project–Build a […]
May 16, 2012
To improve your memory there are some general principles that are required if you want to train yourself to remember more effectively. The following seven principles will help you understand factors that are essential to memory improvement. Memory can be improved through: Interest – It is much easier to remember things that are of interest. Interest helps you store and process information in such a way that you remember it for a long time. Selection […]
May 16, 2012
Here are Dave’s 7 keys to success: Success is predictable, duplicable and achievable. Results change when you change your programming. Create a clear vision: know what you want. Build relationships with those who hold you to higher standards. Always give more than expected. Live in an attitude of gratitude. Be accountable. If you say you will do something, do it.
