Monday, November 26, 2007

Book Report: "How to Talk So People Will Listen" by Sonya Hamlin;

In This Issue:
Book Report: How to Talk so People Listen: Connecting in Today's Workplace, by Sonya Hamlin
Please add "emilie@zooop-design.com" to your e-mail address book, so you have no trouble receiving future issues of Grow Your Biz eZine!

[book report] How to Talk so People Listen: Connecting in Today's Workplace, by Sonya Hamlin
Good communication is important in all areas of life, but it's especially crucial for an entrepreneur. My goal for this book report is to distill the information I found most useful, and leave you with strategies that you can utilize immediately.
In her newly updated book, Sonya Hamlin begins by reminding us to consider the listener/s very carefully before any important meeting or public presentation.
First, consider the listeners' generation and background, as this affects their perceptions and thinking significantly. Of course, there are some gross generalization going on here, so I'd consider each person or group individually, while keeping generational and background differences in mind.
Next, Ms. Hamlin urges us to make a "pre-think" chart, before any important meeting, speech or presentation. Because we're generally programmed for our own interests and survival, taking time to examine our own, goals, emotions and expectations; as well as our listener's, will help create win-win situations.
A Pre-think Chart Will:
1. Give you a basic framework for collecting your thoughts in a predictable, orderly fashion
2. Organize your insights so that you can figure out what and how you should communicate
3. Help you understand what to expect and why
4. Reveal how the other side's issues compare with your own
5. Lead you to productive techniques and answers
To Create the Chart:
1. Ask yourself: "What do I want to happen in this meeting?" and make an honest list of all of your goals.
2. Based on what you know about your audience (or what you know about human nature and people's needs and goals), project yourself into his/her/their position. Perhaps you know the person/people you will be speaking to, and have a sense of their goals or desires. Whether you do or not, list all the goals your audience might have.
3. Emotions affect everything we do, yet we don't often consciously look inside ourselves to find out how we really feel about things. What we say and do springs as much from that hidden subjective place of needs and feelings, as from our more objective goals. Ignoring or denying our feelings can make us behave irrationally, and not in our own best interest. Become clear on, and write out your emotions about your upcoming encounter.
4. Put yourself in your audience's shoes and list their probable emotions as well. Being empathetic to them in this way, may give you a new perspective on what to say and how to say it.
5. Past experience has given us a certain ability to foresee and predict. Listing your expectations helps you to judge whether you're on track with what you want to say, alerts you of your own attitude, and allows you to adjust it. Often negative expectations inhibit our ability to facilitate a desired outcome in our encounters, so being conscious of these will help you to more consciously plan you want to say.
6. Listing your listeners' expectations can help you to avoid being too predictable and boring. Now you can use the element of surprise to get their attention, energize the meeting, and elicit a more honest reaction.
Address Anger, Hostility, or Other Negative Reactions
Because dealing with anger or hostility is unpleasant, we tend to pretend it's not there, and not address it. Or sometimes we get defensive, or feel like it's our fault. The problem is exacerbated, and our chance of reaching our desired outcome is diminished.
Instead, the author recommends: "When you see it, deal with it. Say it's there". Usually this will help the other person recognize what's happening, and start explaining the reason behind it. It will be much easier to proceed after clearing the air.
Closure
1. Recap and clarify what you spoke about or agreed on.
2. After a meeting, follow up in writing. Send an email detailing what you'd agreed on, what should happen next, who will do what, dates and times, and when you'll follow up with each other.
3. End on a high note. The final exit lines will affect how the other person/people remember the meeting or presentation.
I found the above information and advice from How to Talk so People Will Listen, to be relevant to my day to day business communication. I hope they are helpful for you as well!
© 2007 Emilie Nottle

Want to use this article on your website or ezine? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb, including the links with it: Emilie Nottle of Zooop Design, publishes Grow Your Biz, a bi-monthly eZine for entrepreneurs and small business owners. If you're ready to take your biz to the next level, using your website as an effective marketing tool and automating your marketing efforts, subscribe at http://www.zooop-design.com/subscribe_info.html

Book Report: "How to Talk So People Will Listen" by Sonya Hamlin;

In This Issue:
Book Report: How to Talk so People Listen: Connecting in Today's Workplace, by Sonya Hamlin
Please add "emilie@zooop-design.com" to your e-mail address book, so you have no trouble receiving future issues of Grow Your Biz eZine!

[book report] How to Talk so People Listen: Connecting in Today's Workplace, by Sonya Hamlin
Good communication is important in all areas of life, but it's especially crucial for an entrepreneur. My goal for this book report is to distill the information I found most useful, and leave you with strategies that you can utilize immediately.
In her newly updated book, Sonya Hamlin begins by reminding us to consider the listener/s very carefully before any important meeting or public presentation.
First, consider the listeners' generation and background, as this affects their perceptions and thinking significantly. Of course, there are some gross generalization going on here, so I'd consider each person or group individually, while keeping generational and background differences in mind.
Next, Ms. Hamlin urges us to make a "pre-think" chart, before any important meeting, speech or presentation. Because we're generally programmed for our own interests and survival, taking time to examine our own, goals, emotions and expectations; as well as our listener's, will help create win-win situations.
A Pre-think Chart Will:
1. Give you a basic framework for collecting your thoughts in a predictable, orderly fashion
2. Organize your insights so that you can figure out what and how you should communicate
3. Help you understand what to expect and why
4. Reveal how the other side's issues compare with your own
5. Lead you to productive techniques and answers
To Create the Chart:
1. Ask yourself: "What do I want to happen in this meeting?" and make an honest list of all of your goals.
2. Based on what you know about your audience (or what you know about human nature and people's needs and goals), project yourself into his/her/their position. Perhaps you know the person/people you will be speaking to, and have a sense of their goals or desires. Whether you do or not, list all the goals your audience might have.
3. Emotions affect everything we do, yet we don't often consciously look inside ourselves to find out how we really feel about things. What we say and do springs as much from that hidden subjective place of needs and feelings, as from our more objective goals. Ignoring or denying our feelings can make us behave irrationally, and not in our own best interest. Become clear on, and write out your emotions about your upcoming encounter.
4. Put yourself in your audience's shoes and list their probable emotions as well. Being empathetic to them in this way, may give you a new perspective on what to say and how to say it.
5. Past experience has given us a certain ability to foresee and predict. Listing your expectations helps you to judge whether you're on track with what you want to say, alerts you of your own attitude, and allows you to adjust it. Often negative expectations inhibit our ability to facilitate a desired outcome in our encounters, so being conscious of these will help you to more consciously plan you want to say.
6. Listing your listeners' expectations can help you to avoid being too predictable and boring. Now you can use the element of surprise to get their attention, energize the meeting, and elicit a more honest reaction.
Address Anger, Hostility, or Other Negative Reactions
Because dealing with anger or hostility is unpleasant, we tend to pretend it's not there, and not address it. Or sometimes we get defensive, or feel like it's our fault. The problem is exacerbated, and our chance of reaching our desired outcome is diminished.
Instead, the author recommends: "When you see it, deal with it. Say it's there". Usually this will help the other person recognize what's happening, and start explaining the reason behind it. It will be much easier to proceed after clearing the air.
Closure
1. Recap and clarify what you spoke about or agreed on.
2. After a meeting, follow up in writing. Send an email detailing what you'd agreed on, what should happen next, who will do what, dates and times, and when you'll follow up with each other.
3. End on a high note. The final exit lines will affect how the other person/people remember the meeting or presentation.
I found the above information and advice from How to Talk so People Will Listen, to be relevant to my day to day business communication. I hope they are helpful for you as well!
© 2007 Emilie Nottle
Want to use this article on your website or ezine? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb, including the links with it: Emilie Nottle of Zooop Design, publishes Grow Your Biz, a bi-monthly eZine for entrepreneurs and small business owners. If you're ready to take your biz to the next level, using your website as an effective marketing tool and automating your marketing efforts, subscribe at http://www.zooop-design.com/subscribe_info.html

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Learn how Technology Drives Business, Duquesne University SBDC Holding Tech Conference

Technocrats Teach Technology Tools at Duquesne SBDC Technology Conference
Pennsylvania Business Technology Conference
on December 6, 2007.

Experts to Share Sales-Driving Strategies & Technologies

ü Is your Web site generating the business that it should?
ü Want to learn how to utilize affordable and fast eMail marketingeffectively to secure new business?
ü Are you utilizing the latest sales tools that can help you close morebusiness quicker and strengthen customer relationships?

Are you interested in learning how you can drives sales with new medialike eNewsletters, blogs and talk casts?Learn how today’s technologies are helping successful companies cut costs and drives constantly increasing sales!Don’t miss the Pennsylvania Business Technology Conference onDecember 6th.

· 11 information-packed, expert-led workshops
· Keynote address by John Clinton, The 10 Greatest Myths of the Internet
· Talk Shoe Developer, Dave Nelson on Pod casting for Profit table
· Business Technology Roundtable & Showcase


Register today!For full workshop, speaker and discount registration information,

Visit www.conference.duq.edu.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

The Lion and the Gazelle, Spit and Shoe Polish

This is from, “The Lion and the Gazelle”


African Proverb

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle awakens. He has only one thought on his mind: To be able to run faster than the fastest lion. If he cannot, then he will be eaten.
Every morning in Africa a lion awakens. He has only one thought on his mind: To be able to run faster than the slowest gazelle. If he cannot, he will die of hunger.
Whether you choose to be a gazelle or a lion is of no consequence. It is enough to know that with the rising of the sun, you must run. And you must run faster than you did yesterday or you will die.This is the race of life."
- African Proverb

This is on my wall facing my desk beside my window attached to a picture of a great large, cat. This is my paraphrase:
“Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up
And knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion
Or it will be killed and eaten
Also every morning in Africa a lion wakes up
And knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle
Or it will starve to death.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle..
When the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

So that’s the basis of Monday Morning Marketing. Every Monday Morning, first of all start your day by thanking God for another day in a free country based on free enterprise and for another day to be in the hunt. Lion or Gazelle makes no difference you still have an opportunity to dominate and YOU WILL.

Years ago when I was a very young entertainment agent, an old man who had been in the business since Vaudeville, also an entertainment agent and would be competititor except that he was somewhere around 90 and tired and basically doing his business as a hobby, gave me some advice. He said, “You know show business is 98% attitude and 2% spit and shoe polish.” This is a lesson I have repeated to many mentees over the years about business and life as well as entertainment.

So join me every Monday Morning at 9 AM and You work on your attitude, I will bring the spit and shoe polish.
© Joanne Quinn-Smith 2007