Blog with CLASS

Success Starts With Wisely Responding To Flaming Email

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:00:00 GMT

Business Email Netiquette

If you ever received email that insulted you, caused a sinking feeling in your gut, or a horrible sense of personal violation, then you have been the victim of a flaming email. Undeserved, unwarranted and hurtful words can put a real damper on your day. The longer you are in business and the more customers you serve, the more likely it is this will occur.

I’ve included four real-life examples of business emails and posts’, and followed them with suggestions of HOW to respond to similar inflammatory attacks. Our goal here is to maintain your brand, your professionalism and your reputation. At the end of this article there are points to keep in mind if you are tempted to initiate or reply with a flaming email.

#1 Lawsuit Threat. “I realize that I am public enemy number one, since I chose not to expose you or me to the inevitable lawsuit that would come because you decided to _____ in the first place.”

This is meant to stir you up. Writing a defense will not help – no matter how good the reason. Disregard the "public enemy #1," it is added for effect, disregard the "inevitable law suit," it's a mute point. Disregard the accusation of "because you decided to." Now, how much actual content is left? There is no response to this statement.

If you must respond to a flaming email, look at the UNDERLYING issues – these are only symptoms of something much deeper that may or may not have anything to do with you. Once you decipher what the cause of the accusation is, professionally deal with those facts and let the rest go.

3 Must Do's For Better Networking

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:52:17 GMT

3 Must Do's for Better Networking

The other day I was pressure washing my driveway and when offered a respite, I refused because I was enjoying seeing the instantaneous results of my driveway changing before my eyes from Oregon moss green to almost bright grey. Networking does not usually offer this kind of result every time you talk with someone unless you have a successful strategy.

I’ll define networking as the act of attending an event that requires mixing, mingling, and meeting, greeting, schmoozing and smiling. You may seriously enjoy networking, yet, are you seeing a great return on your investment into this highly capricious scene?

If you are not getting enough return to make it worthwhile financially, then maybe you are interested in learning 3 powerful tips to improve your networking advantage?

Workplaces Can Either Be Nurturing Environments Or Toxic Wastelands.

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:42:14 GMT

Workplaces Can Either Be Nurturing Environments Or Toxic Wastelands.

Which One Is Yours?

If you selected the Toxic Wasteland, here is a vital tool for both management and staff that will not only bring your workplace culture to healthy levels, it will improve all business relationships, pick up workplace productivity and increase your income. Certainly worth looking in to, wouldn’t you say?

Two top communication conflicts in the workplace are:
• Lack of Employee Recognition
• Unsupportive Management

Here is one thing I suggest you do to address these conflicts…

What Do You Say To Somebody Who Just Lost His or Her Job?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:37:12 GMT

What Do You Say To Somebody Who Just Lost His or Her Job?

IT CAN BE DOWNRIGHT AWKWARD, CAN'T IT?

As Sally is ‘downloading’ her version of her recent job loss, here is what NOT to say; “Oh, it could be worse, why I remember when…” Or, “Just think, now you get to sleep in – lucky you!” Or, “Did you see that McDonalds is hiring?”

Trying to cheer someone up before they have given you the cues that they really WANT to be cheered up can be perceived as more patronizing than comforting. Also, attempting to get them to move on before they’re ready can be just as ineffective. Your friend, coworker, or family member who is no longer gainfully employed can’t help but get the message that you just want them to move into a different emotional space - NOW. This is an uncomfortable subject for both of you, remember, this is about the person being laid off from his or her job. Even if they didn’t like their job, it still leaves them feeling rejected, unwanted and full of doubts about where and how they will find their next paycheck.

Presence in the Presence-tation

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:02:58 GMT

Presence in the Presence-tation

I liken presenting in front of people that I want to impress to a horse trainer walking into the stall of a very obnoxious and mean spirited stallion. Frightening, yet, if you want to move the horse, you must do something that will get the horse’s attention and respect. It is no different with moving a group to buy-in to you.

What's Missing?

Most of us don’t have the mental mindset or inner confidence of presenting or even standing in front of a group to start with; we need something that will work right now. Self-defeating thoughts no longer need to hold you back when standing before a group. It all starts with the power of presence. The way you present yourself in front of people is a defining moment, that moment indicates what the group will expect from that point on.

Where Do You Start?

I completely believe that all things manifested start in the mind, yet fixing my mind is an arduous process. Lets start with the most profound and easiest place to bend the mind to your will: your personal presence.

My Reading People Faux Pas

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:30:08 GMT

My Reading People Faux Pas

If you have ever had difficulty in reading the very people you are supposed to know, read on, you might learn from my mistake.

My Story, and I'm Sticking To It!
I pride myself on reading others, in fact, it’s what I get paid to do, and I usually do it quite well. “Usually” is the operative word here. I am about to make a confession that will not only assuage my guilt; it also might prevent you from messing up.Several months back, a local firm’s fun committee asked me how I might facilitate a workgroup getaway for 100 people. This was to connect three offices with the same firm scattered throughout the state. I took most of the appropriate steps: asked a bundle of questions, got lots of information, and spent hours of research on what might be entertaining and engaging for the fun committee to consider. I missed reading my target audience and their preferences or predominate behavioral style.

Can’t Say “No?”

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:49:38 GMT

Cant' Say "No"?

Do you have trouble saying “no” to certain people? Or maybe you find you resent the people you say “yes” to because you don’t really want to say “yes?

Do You Feel Trapped?
No one wants to continue to feel like they are trapped inside their own inability to stand up for themselves. Yet, a majority of us have that exact problem. Saying “no” to someone you know well is not about them as much as it is about you.

What Causes That Trapped Feeling?
Have you ever thought about what is really going on inside your head? I’m sure you have and yet, if you didn’t get the answer that gave you the ability to say “no,” then you really didn’t get the right answer. Let’s look at what causes you to say “yes” or “no” and discuss what mental shift needs to happen for you in order to conquer this challenge.

Extraordinary Listening

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:20:16 GMT

Extraordinary Listening

The two most powerful ingredients of a successful exchange between people are things most of us think we do, others swear we don’t.

Remember the last time you were intently focused on a project, things were going well, you were in the zone, and then right in that highly productive moment someone jarred your thoughts and broke your flow of concentration? Unless you decided to surface, you probably only sort of heard them but mostly didn’t, right? If you are like me, you probably responded with an “uh, huh,” “Ok,” “if that sounds good to you” mumble and kept right on working. For those of you who stop in that very moment, make the mental shift and give them your full attention, congratulations, good job, awesome, you are amazing and you can forget the rest of this article, it’s not about you. For the rest of us…

When that same person wants to know why you forgot to do what they just asked, do you get that deer in the headlights look? Perhaps you say they never told you, they say they did tell you. Let’s be honest here; you really don’t remember, do you? If this conversation happens to you more often than not, you have some work to do.

The problem described above is, neither you nor the interrupter listen that well. Fixable? Yes, Let’s pull us both out of the soup and work on improving our listening skills.

3 Tips on turning a bad day to a GREAT day

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:37:43 GMT

This is dedicated to those of us that fight with our mental attitude about life and feel like we are losing that fight…

I love having great days, don’t you? For me, a great day is a day when everything seems to fall into my lap; I get lavish compliments, people call out of the blue because they were told they had to call me. They are days when the sun shines, every traffic light is green and everything I seem to say lands prophetically on people’s ears. For me, those are results that demonstrate my state of mind is attracting a GREAT day.

What about the days when nothing seems to go right? What if you wake up determined to have a great day and the sun is not shining, you don’t get your way, the kids are fighting, and the dog throws up your son’s homework? And then you get out of bed? Maybe you sense your thoughts creeping toward anxiety and begin thinking its going to be a bad day; is this a “sign?”

I love it when I have the “is this a sign” thought, because I take that kind of “sign” as a warning that my attitude is in the wrong place and it needs some major adjusting before I attract everything I don’t want into my life.

Here are a few tips I’ve found to help me turn a bad day into a great day:

Challenges at Work?

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:13:06 GMT

Behaviors inappropriate for the workplace, acting out, sabotogue, bullying, passive-aggressivness and the like have no place in our work environment, and yet they exist in most organizations. Millions of people leave one workplace each year and trade it for another one, often just as dysfunctional. This cycle must end, this cycle can end. Our facilitation, training and coaching will make the difference you are looking for in your workplace.

* Keep your people

* Gain agreement on respectful behaviors

* Improve performance and increase your bottom line