We are grateful for our experience at the PRSM Mid-Year Conference and want to thank PRSM for inviting us back to be an educational speaker. We’d also like to thank everyone who stopped by our booth as well as clients, new friends, and colleagues who helped make last week not only successful, but also unforgettable. […]
Offering Innovation and Value Most within the construction, repair and maintenance industry realize what it takes to create a winning client and vendor relationship. The list certainly includes essentials such as exceptional workmanship, great people, and clear communication. But these are just the beginning. Often overlooked, especially when faced with emergencies or seemingly impossible challenges, […]
Big projects can come up suddenly and require quick action, preparation and knowledge about different scopes of work. This week, our technicians are preparing for a client’s major national refresh. To prepare our technicians, a Product Specialist conducted training in our R+D lab, educating them about the products and materials to be used in the […]
Every so often I find that little nugget of oxymoronic brilliance that leaves me even more impressed by its unusual packaging. You know the ones I am referring to – they usually come as absolute surprises, speed up the greying process, and bring a rush of “Uh oh, what else am I missing”. The even […]
The potential of a team lies in its ability to work together cohesively. A less informed, less skilled team often beats a more informed, more skilled one that does not coordinate well. Just because you have the talent doesn’t mean you will win. Companies sell products and/or services. If we look at the selling part […]
Today I want to share some thoughts on a different type of economy. We are consumers, so everyday we trade our currency for products and services that we want or need. There is another, more hidden economy that we interact with daily as well. Remember, we are people first. Matters of the heart and mind have […]
With all of the mistakes and misunderstandings that happen every day, it’s pretty easy to spot the endearing trait of great leadership. Witnessing humility in action just seems to put me at ease. Seeing someone step into a situation and stand corrected takes great courage and a certain kind of humbleness. I respect these people […]
A couple of times a year I have those “Aha” moments that help me pivot from the frustrating track that defines insanity. Its funny how when there is an elephant in the room, if it sits still and quiet long enough, people will forget that it is there. I used to have a pit bull for […]
People, Process, Product, and Performance – the often discussed four P’s of business that need to be monitored and improved to keep a business healthy. What doesn’t get a lot of attention are the changes one must go through as they rise in authority and play a different role in the advancement of the four […]
Building great managers and future leaders of a growing service business is all about teaching people to create and celebrate progress, to find the smart paths through alienation, and make it simpler for the next guy. Think about it – how would you define the performance of a manager that guides their team to accomplish […]
As providers of construction services in an industry buffeted by disruption, I have learned, and re-learned our opportunity lies in our ability to advance. How we deliver our services matters. The expectations set by the client are too often called “goals“. This is the part where excellence becomes elusive. Our clients’ expectations are NOT goals. […]
Something happened recently that really got me talking to myself. It was a humbling, empowering, invigorating, and actionable discussion, though my discussion partner wanted to do more talking than listening… Seriously though, I had a break through because of someone else’s bad “break“. I often talk about actively identifying potential unintended consequences of a decision. […]
I have been busy trying to initiate and deliver progress to the company. The uncommon sense of the activities is to remain balanced between the robotic strength of progress and the compassionate side of the disruption I am causing. Leading through change can be a lonely existence. The excitement of progress we create is only […]
Learning doesn’t happen without failure. Keeping our minds open through our experiences, new and old, allows us to learn through our experience. The other day I found myself at the crossroad of getting something done with constructive or destructive feedback. Mind you I am a firm believer that both types of feedback are needed – some habits […]
“How do you want to see this?” This question is like a key artifact – its very important and even more rare. Much like finding that key relic, understanding how someone needs to see something can unlock the invisible force that prevents the dots from being connected. The other day I had a conversation with […]
I am finally back from my road trip. I spent a lot of focused time thinking about two things – our clients’ needs and our strategy to meet them. The following words are reshaping the way our company is structured. Connect every activity to how it impacts our client’s experience. Know our strategy. Our company […]
“A personal choice to rise above one’s circumstance and demonstrate the ownership necessary for achieving desired results – to see it, own it, solve it, and do it” – Connors, Smith & Hickman in The Oz Principle. Bad joke tellers know the entire joke inside and out. They have everything they need to succeed – […]
This week I am going to share a bit about feedback. I’ve written a lot about it from the point of view of the feedback provider. I’ve written in a way to help the provider provide the difficult and necessary feedback. The other side of finding success with feedback involves how well the recipient is […]
What is best or right, is often overlooked by what is convenient. One of my pet peeves is finding myself revisiting the same challenges over and over. My mantra is “Tomorrow’s challenges better be different than today’s”. I’ve been receiving a lot of feedback to remind people about prior messages and encourage discussions about them. This […]
Can you believe we are in the homestretch of summer? Time is moving so fast! This week I will share a few of Thomas Watson’s quips that will hopefully make you laugh, think a bit, and put your ideas to work. It’s really about raising your game. Hopefully Tom’s tips will help. He was known […]
It’s amazing how much you have to do with what happens to you. Reading about or noticing ways to make a difference – do you seize them? Do you help others find their way, their success? There are limits to folks flying solo. T ogether E ach A ccomplishes M ore. Do you go looking for […]
We’ve been confronting our struggles of pointing fingers at goals rather than people. Last week we read about how we need to be respectful of one another, especially when we work together. We will definitely let one another down, so providing a bit of grace and understanding can help us find success more easily. With […]
Preparing a project to be successful is one of the most important tasks of a project manager. There are so many times where we endure what we anticipate and planned around, all because someone didn’t dot, their i’s, cross their t’s, or read their simple instructions. Have you ever made the assumption that since you have […]
This week I am continuing my recent messages about progress. Seems like many people are converging on the crossroads of “What is best for me versus what is best for us”. I often quote my brother with “My value to the company, is my value of the company.” This can be varied into other parts […]
Good Morning. I hope this message finds you well rested and ready to have some fun with your biggest challenges. Making progress climbing our own mountains can be gratifying and humbling at the same time. So many of our mountains are related to the way people respond to situations. Today I will share about the […]
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” Walt Disney sure had it right. Overcoming naysayers and the limits of what has been done gives me that kind of joy that is personal, satisfies the fire in my belly, and shared with the very few others that were there during the quest. Walt Disney created […]
“Enquiring Minds Want to Know”. The mindless information shared through tabloids is great for entertainment. Its a terrible place to go for facts. When people put a spin on information in tabloids, we know not to trust it. Why is it so present in the business world? Maybe its because seasoned spinsters have the ability […]
There is an interesting phenomenon I’ve noticed about the zoom lens on a camera – the better one feels about the way they look, the more comfortable they are with its use. Much like the lens of a camera, a mirror of our behavior can be just as intimidating. Today I am going to share […]
For this week’s message I am sharing a couple of items for you to consider to shed the mindset or habits that make success elusive. So much is discussed about what to do to be a great leader, I thought I’d have a little fun and share what not to do. So I took our […]
One of my struggles during change management is overcoming the sabotage by people trying to avoid a loss of comfort. I recently went through a period where too many conversations about a person were happening without that person. This gossip is detrimental in most every way possible. Here is I told my team I was […]
Looking at situations from different perspectives, temporarily suspending your own logic helps build up your skills of “connecting the dots”. This is what we need to do when developing solutions. This is how we are going to innovate our industry. Its often said that communication is the key to success. Usually people focus on being […]
So often a “yes or no” question is asked, but a paragraph response is given. It baffles me why so many people stumble on this. I get it – they are afraid of providing the wrong answer, or they want to show how hard something was, or a bunch of other reasons. As a question […]
“So, how do I look?” There are some questions that create instant crossroads. I want to tell the truth, I want to protect the other person’s feelings, I want to share productive thoughts. So many wants, so few ways to meet them all. All too often the answer is provided, even if it is not […]
Just because you can does not mean you should… Last week I wrote about sweating the small stuff and how we need to look for the small items that reveal future breakdowns and address them proactively. This week I am writing about discernment. Our ability to decide where to use our resources greatly impacts our […]
Imagine if your team had specific measurements of success. I don’t mean the basic financial measurements, rather I mean the ones that lead you to better understanding of where the challenges and opportunities are hidden within your company. Effective measurement makes performance visible and defines expectations. These assessments will lead to the identification of potential […]
Why would it be important to be “recipient minded” and what on earth does that mean? To be recipient minded means you have the others persons interest in mind. To Be recipient minded you need to remember who you are talking to and keep their point of view in your peripheral. You could go a […]
Psychologists tell us besides death, divorce and a few other events, moving is one of the most stressful events we can go through. Now imagine you are the manager of a high profile franchise and you need to move your headquarters temporarily (or even permanently) all while you have to stay open for business. Can […]
If you want to make an omelet you need to crack a few eggs. And sometimes its necessary to have hard conversations with people so there can be clear communication and good direction. You may need to muster some courage. Yet being brave does not mean you’re not nervous. There are many different personalities and […]
You can picture the scene: One person’s anger is causing their face to turn red, you see their blood start to boil and smoke coming out of their ears. What can you do to keep the peace? Here are a few things to keep in mind when dealing with someone who is overcome with anger: […]
If a leader has a hard time connecting with his team he or she may need a lesson in social intelligence. Is it possible to achieve a “brain connectedness” with someone–to feel what they are feeling? And why is that important? When it comes to social intelligence, science says it is important and can be […]
Its been said that when we don’t like people on a personal level it is because we feel they do not like us. Whether this is a reality or simply a perceived reality, can you see how that may be true? Robert Wright is an author, journalist, accomplished scientist and regular speaker on TED.com. Wright believes […]
Want to know the trait that can increase business? Its a human trait that even animals display. Its empathy. Whether you are dealing with customers, vendors, family members, acquaintances, friends or associates, empathy is a trait that can make human bonds strong and make life worth living. It will behoove us to harness empathy to […]
Information can cripple productivity. Too much of it can leave you feeling like you do not have enough of it – as clarity usually begs for more questions to be answered. In this way, information is really a tripping hazard. It’s value begins once it is converted into knowledge. How can we convert the information […]
When I hear people justifying their actions, my body goes into shock – my stomach turns, my eyes twitch, and I start to pace uncontrollably. Not really, but my blood boils and turns my face beat red. I am not sure of the science of it, but I think it is purely mental. For whatever […]
Bess Gallanis is a communications specialist and a blogger for Resicom, The Huffington Post and Indezine. In the second installment of The Best Story Wins, “The Social Network” is a reference point for creating a compelling business story. Review these valuable communication tips here. http://bessgallanis.wordpress.com/2011/02/28/the-best-story-wins-part-ii/
Bess Galanis is a public relations specialist and guest blogger for Reiscom. Her latest series is focused on the power of infusing emotion into fact-based rhetoric. She reminds us that while the facts may be lost and forgotten, the emotion of an experience will be much more easily remembered. Read about the impact of emotion-infused […]
“Man created language to be understood. It should be normal to understand what people convey to us. Fear, ulterior motives, and closed mindedness are the enemies of understanding.” – John Fairclough, CEO Resicom
We have important (at least we think so) things to say, but sometimes run into a wall for ideas of where to start. I have created a “cheat sheet” that helps me generate ideas. Since each of my posts has a specific purpose, I have organized these categories to help get me unstuck. Quick Note […]
Delegate Desired Outcomes Stifling creativity can be a devastating habit for a company. Avoid this pitfall by abstaining from micromanagement activities. As an example, consider how you can empower your people’s creativity in how you delegate. Example: Our Task Description Connect with Mr. Smith to learn of his interest in becoming a client. He is […]
Assigning Ultimate Responsibilities An employee is easily underutilized when they are assigned tasks rather than responsibilities. Consider how you can gain a more dedicated advocate for the company by charging employees with ultimate responsibilities. Example: Our Offer Letters – New Hires All employees are charged with upholding the core values and executing the strategy of […]
Explain WHY before the WHAT Being defined by what we do limits understanding and communication opportunities. We remove this constraint by focusing on WHY we do things before we explain WHAT we do. Below is an example of how Resicom has adopted this non-limiting behavior in our company. Example: Our Elevator Pitch We believe in […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #15. Focus Messages that have multiple calls to action can be confusing for our audience. We can eliminate this confusion narrowing our focus on one call to action at a time. Be mindful of those things that can remove focus from the main objective of our communication. Common Distractors: Large, prominent […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #14. Assume makes an… Most customers are turned off when we assume to know their needs and how we can fill them. We can be more effective at building a relationship if we avoid making assumptions and instead encourage a dialogue for deeper understanding. Below is an example of how our […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #13. Be Relevant Sharing irrelevant information can make your audience suspicious and/or lose trust in you. Clearly explaining why you are sharing the information helps remove the potential for confusion or mistrust. The following will help you provide this clarity to your audience. Filters: Why am I sharing this information? […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #12. Behind Door #3 Our audience can lose faith in us if we demonstrate an underdeveloped thought or behavior. One way we can avoid this situation is by eliminating pre-determined solutions from our messages. See below for some options. Best Practices: Removing the “this OR that” wording — it creates two […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #11. Think Twice, Speak Once We can avoid confusing our audience by getting to the point as quickly as possible. This less is more approach to communication is most effectively implemented when we have a clear communication objective. A phrase to keep in mind might be “think twice and speak once.” […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #10. They Know the Answer Asking questions can be an effective way to empower our audience. By giving them an opportunity to answer a question, we not only engage our audience but we also show them that their insights matter. Compare the results of asking questions versus giving answers. Answer: Attend […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #9. Let them Think Providing an abundance of information can prove to be overwhelming to an audience. We can instead empower our audience to ask for any additional information in which they may be interested. Consider how overwhelming your audience can result in lower influence over your audience. Results from Providing […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #8. Break the Rules – Page Layout Maintaining a consistent page layout while sacrificing how effectively the message is communicated can prove to delver a lower Return On Investment. Being flexible with how a document is laid out can help communicate your message more effectively. Consider how your page layout can […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #7. Break the Rules – Document Structure We often miss an opportunity to engage our readers by the way we structure our documents. Freeing ourselves from the traditional document structure rules helps us keep our audience interested in reading more of what we have to say. See the differences below. Traditional […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #6. Break the Rules – Paragraph Structure Abiding by the standard writing format can prove to disengage an audience. We believe that an alternative approach to communication can be more effective. Compare the standard paragraph structure to a typical Resicom communication piece. Traditional Paragraph Structure First Sentence: Declaration of Something Second […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #5. Speak their Dialect Your audience will disengage if you communicate too much or too little to them. Delivering the correct amount and type of information according to their preferences helps them engage more quickly and easily. Consider the following tips when crafting the content of your message. Deductive Reasoning respond […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #4. Speak their Language Communicating in a format that is most comfortable for your audience will help them understand you better. Converting your message into their preferred format helps remove translation error. Consider the following tips when crafting the structure of your message. Visual Learners respond well to: Written information Categorical […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #3. Choose your Questions Wisely Asking irrelevant questions can make your audience suspicious and/or lose trust in you. Clearly explaining why you are asking a question helps remove the potential for confusion or mistrust. The following will help you provide this clarity to your audience. Filters: Why am I asking this […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #2. Cut the Crud Simplifying your message increases the likelihood that your audience will understand your point. One way to do this is by removing unnecessary words and examples. Use these filters to strip wasted words from your salient points. Filters: Is the goal of the communication clear? Can my point […]
Communication Tips (SERIES) Tip #1. Connect to the Audience First The sooner you connect to your audience’s needs, the sooner they will be willing to listen to what you have to say. Organizing your communication to speak to their needs first will help you connect with your audience more effectively. The following questions to assist […]
A business needs to know its purpose, vision, goals, and core values. The purpose helps define the reason for being. The vision is what we aspire to be. The goals are intermediate points that are met during the life of the business. The core values are the boundaries that underline the behavior of people within […]
Here are the first steps to building and clarifying a strategy for your business: Examine the purpose of the business. Why does the company exist? Ask “Why?” multiple times and when you cannot ask it anymore, you are close to your purpose. This is typically the purpose of the founder of the company. This is […]
Internal communications keep the company’s team current on the happenings within the organization. Typical forms of this communication are newsletters, company updates, and memos from upper management. These play the role of delivering a message. The other, informal forms of communication are the ones that reinforce this message. These are the ones that are powerful. […]
Here are the first steps to bringing this type of internal communication into your company: Review your discipline and reward processes to see if they are consistent with what the company goals and values. Mention the components of the strategic plan when rewarding or disciplining an action. This reinforces how important they are and work […]
Creating the Leadership Team on the organizational chart is important in building organizational clarity. Here are specific basic disciplines of business: Sales/Marketing HR Operations Technology Finance/Admin Businesses may have some of these broken out separately, or combine others as their business size and needs dictate. These roles are typically filled by people with strong organizational […]
Here are the first steps to bringing this structure into your company: Identify the traits and skill set needed for this role Create the initial project list for this role by identifying opportunities and dangers the company would like to research. Review your current personnel to see if anyone can fill the role. If nobody […]
I believe organizational clarity is necessary for a company to enjoy long term success. Early on, I handled many of the responsibilities of my company, so clarity was not an issue. As my company grew, I found myself frustrated with decisions that were being made, because they did not align with our goals, and this […]
It should be normal for people to end their workday knowing how they performed. It gives them the consistent feedback that reinforces the right activity, while giving the supervisor the ability to have objective performance discussions. I am in pursuit of having every position in our company be able to have this daily feedback. We […]
It should be normal for people to end their workday knowing how they performed. It gives them the consistent feedback that reinforces the right activity, while giving the supervisor the ability to have objective performance discussions. I am in pursuit of having every position in our company be able to have this daily feedback. We […]
