Monday, September 20, 2010

Get Out of a Tough Spot

Whether it is with a colleague, boss or family member, getting into a tough spot is usually an unexpected situation. Emotions kick in – questions about what to say; how to disagree respectfully: if there is a side to take, how to do it; an unwanted guest or person in view, what to do now. How do you keep control?


Let the event or conversation take place. Do not try to control it or you will end up defensive and not prepared to let the organic result come through.

Listen and stay present. The last thing you need is your mind wandering off covering old ground or thinking of what to say next. Do not try to anticipate what the other person is going to say. Instead, listen and give an honest response to what is being said. Your answer needs to be what you want to say, not what you think the other person would like to hear.

Be positive with the other person, recognize their ability to take part in a difficult situation – the tough spot – and resolve the issue at hand or simply hold a polite conversation. Give credit where due, and leave your personal feelings aside.

Trust your instinct. In tough spots, easy answers usually arise. The gut response usually makes the most sense. Relax and go with it.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Lead a Life of Service


There is a relationship in life to service. By living a life of service, you are in fact following a path that provides for others. It is a selfless life. Not selfless in the manner of giving everything away (unless you want to). In business, service is how we take care of our customers or clients, how we take care of each other -co-workers, colleagues, peers, leaders, support teams.

Service can be described in the following ways:
• A way to make others happy
• A transaction in exchange for payment, either for a product or experience
• The opportunity to care for others
By taking the description of service and applying it to our companies and our teams, you can begin to form a structure or even parameters to develop a service-oriented value base. By developing a service culture or atmosphere, you will then start relating how the organization operates to the benefit the customer will derive. The golden rule -treat others how you wish to be treated, or treat others how they would like to be treated, certainly lend themselves to a service environment. Understanding that service is for both internal and external customers, the rules still apply.

Should the type of customer influence our level of service? Absolutely not! The goal of a service-driven organization is to build confidence in the company- both internally and externally, and to empower good decision making based on a service philosophy. Internally, team members will make decisions in the best interest of then external customer. Externally, customers will make the decision to purchase your product or service on a regular basis.

Service requires skill. Service requires the ability to communicate, including verbal and written skills, listening skills, ability to empathize, get buy in, commitment to achieve and execute as well as admit mistakes, correct them and move forward.

Service requires patience and the ability to resolve conflicts, the ability to introduce and implement change, the ability to create a vision and build a plan to reach that vision. Service sounds a lot like leadership. In fact, leaders are in the service business.

Service provides confidence, builds relationships and creates opportunities where people can be empowered, develop and grow. Teams understand how to build relationships because of the service model they embody everyday and have a mechanism for making decisions because of the value set that service provides.

Whether you have chosen a life of service or fallen into it, you can begin to see that life and the experiences life brings lends itself well to service of others. Leaders frequently call upon stories, past experiences to teach others lessons that they have learned along the way. Sharing is service. Being available is service. Lending a hand is service. Providing feedback and open, honest communication is service. Service comes from the most authentic part of us. Service does not single out anyone but instead creates an equal footing for all. Do you lead a life of service?

Sunday, September 12, 2010

the Mastermind experience

Calling All Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs!
Time to Open Up the Conversation....

Join the Mastermind Experience today!


Teleseminar and in-person groups now forming.
Start Date:  October 2011