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Content by Label
PERSONAL & CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Podspots
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1 to 10
(Length: 01:12)
A question rich with possibilities for you, your team, and your customers
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Accepting Help Doesn't Mean You Failed
(Length: 1:43)
by Jim HopkinsNo one is successful alone, and often we don't seek help because we think we should know how to do everything. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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Aligning Values: Yours and Your Organization's
(Length: 1:27)
Help make work rewarding for everyone
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Anticipating Your Reader's Questions
(Length: 2:12)
Readers appreciate receiving a thorough, well-written announcement that says it all, on the first pass.
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Appreciating Personal Styles: The Achiever
(Length: 3:01)
All about the one in your group who can get it done.
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Appreciating Personal Styles: The Adventurer
(Length: 3:13)
Learn how to work with and encourage this forward looking teammate
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Appreciating Personal Styles: The Analyzer
(Length: 3:00)
Find out what motivates these creative, yet logical people.
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Appreciating Personal Styles: The Anchor
(Length: 3:00)
Learn about the one on your team who's both practical and caring.
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Avoiding Burn Out
(Length: 03:43)
How to replenish yourself
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Back-Stabbing
(Length: 00:52)
What to do when it happens to you
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Be a Star!
(Length: 02:17)
Easy ways to get noticed
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Beating the Pavement
(Length: 01:39)
Walking to work for fun, friendship, and better ideas
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Building a Relationship That Leads to a Sale
(Length: 02:31)
Relationship-selling makes all the difference in your success
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Building Customer Loyalty
(Length: 02:30)
It's that little extra that makes the difference between a satisfied customer and a loyal customer.
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Challenges and Opportunities
(Length: 1:06)
by Leo BrodieThere's a saying that "every challenge is an opportunity in disguise." Is that for real?
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Customers Love to Be Surprised (Really!)
(Length: 01:51)
How to exceed expectations with surprise
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Dealing with Stress
(Length: 02:20)
With stress, perception is everything, and it's the place to start.
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Do What You Love, Not What You're Good At
(Length: 02:31)
Caring about your work is the key to real success.
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Driving Customers Away
(Length: 02:30)
5 Examples of Lousy Customer Service
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Failure: Winning by Losing
(Length: 01:33)
Failing fast to learn what you need to succeed.
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Feedback: Ask for It
(Length: 01:14)
When it comes to work, ignorance is hardly bliss. Be assertive for your own sake and ask how you're doing.
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Finding Your Creative Spark
(Length: 02:50)
Being creative in a task-filled world.
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First Impressions Count with Customers
(Length: 02:04)
What are your customers concluding about you?
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Forget Balance
(Length: 2:04)
by Diane KubalFocus your energy on using your natural talents both personally and professionally and balance will be an outcome because you are aligned.
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Gaining the Cooperation of Others
(Length: 02:10)
Tips on getting others to come along
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Getting the Bottom Line
(Length: 02:04)
When you have business acumen, it pays off for you, your organization, and its customers. (Recorded at the American Society for Training and Development International Conference)
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Improving Customer Service Systems
(Length: 02:15)
Initiate solutions for poor systems and problem patterns
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Inquiries for Growth
(Length: 01:56)
Tapping your own wisdom for a fuller life at work and everywhere else.
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Is a Promotion on Your Horizon?
(Length: 02:03)
Be prepared for your next big move.
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It's All About Character
(Length: 02:21)
The value of your integrity at work and in life. (Recorded at the American Society for Training and Development International Conference)
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Just Do The Right Thing
(Length: 1:50)
by Marianne CherryWhat would you do in this tempting situation?
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Know Thy Prospective Customer
(Length: 02:24)
Be curious about the customer and treat them with respect. Help them find the best solution to their needs.
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Know where you're going
(Length: 1:53)
Crafting a powerful vision
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Knowing Your Level of Authority
(Length: 1:33)
How to get clarity at the start
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Leaving in Style
(Length: 02:19)
Strategies for quitting your job constructively.
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Lighten the Load
(Length: 1:58)
In this podspot, we’ll explore and practice how to edit sentences to cut out excess words.
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Likeability Rules!
(Length: 00:47)
The simple act of being likeable allows everyone to win. (Recorded at the American Society for Training and Development International Conference)
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Loving the One You're With -- At Work
(Length: 01:51)
Before moving your office romance to the next level, check here first for some savvy advice for both of you.
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Making Fast Decisions
(Length: 01:54)
Tips for quickly tapping your head and your heart to make the best choices.
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Making that First Call
(Length: 03:02)
Prepare for the call, learn about the contact, clarify your objective, write a script and visualize a positive outcome.
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Making the Strategic Choice
(Length: 3:08)
Four steps to deciding well
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Managing Up
(Length: 01:58)
Managing your manager for the best outcomes.
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Meeting Objections with Questions
(Length: 02:18)
Using questions to better communicate with your prospects
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Mentors and Coaches -- Teammates for Success
(Length: 01:38)
The differences between the two, and making the most of each.
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Owning Your Customer's Experience
(Length: 02:31)
How to make sure your customer leaves feeling totally satisfied
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Pick Yourself Up and Go On
(Length: 02:04)
Learn from failure and move forward to success
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Prisoners, Vacationers and Explorers in the Classroom
(Length: 02:42)
Your perspective makes the difference in how you learn. (Recorded at the American Society for Training and Development International Conference)
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Promises, Promises: Holding People Accountable
(Length: 02:39)
Strategic suggestions on how to hold yourself and others accountable
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Real Accountability
(Length: 02:32)
A poll reveals a key secret to your success
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Resilience -- The Art of Making Lemonade
(Length: 01:44)
How to make the most of what happens when things go south.
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Revitalizing Your Career
(Length: 02:22)
Tips for making work fresh again.
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Risky Business
(Length: 01:30)
How to take chances at work the right way.
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Six Editing Questions about Content and Layout
(Length: 1:57)
Six editing questions that will ensure your content and layout will make your ideas crystal clear to your readers.
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So You're About to Be Evaluated
(Length: 02:29)
How to maximize your next performance evaluation.
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So You're Leading a Committee
(Length: 02:12)
How you can meet people needs plus task needs for high performing committees.
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Solving the Puzzle of Your Best Work
(Length: 1:56)
Discover what it takes to make your job hum
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Starting a New Job
(Length: 03:33)
Make room for open communication, clarity, training, history, co-workers, and observe the routine
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Stop Procrastinating NOW
(Length: 02:58)
No matter what kind of procrastinator you are, here are the best ways to move forward to get it done.
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Stressed About the Little Things?
(Length: 01:28)
by Alex GeorgeHere are a few ways I discovered that allow me to stay on task and make it through the day.
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Success without Struggle
(Length: 01:15)
Changing hard labor into engaging work.
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Sucking the Lemon: the Fine Art of Apology
(Length: 02:22)
Taking responsibility for your impact on others.
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Table Manners Matter
(Length: 01:30)
How to make the right moves at any meal.
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Take Control of Your Career
(Length: 02:06)
Planning for your career success. (Recorded at the American Society for Training and Development International Conference)
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Tell the Truth
(Length: 02:30)
Explore how your honesty and willingness to tell the truth create better relationships.
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The Cycles of Change, Part 2: Change
(Length: 1:24)
What to do while in change.
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The Cycles of Change, Part 3: Instability
(Length: 1:34)
Being aware of the way you handle yourself in this in-between place will affect how well you take advantage of the next Cycle of Change.
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The Cycles of Change, Part 4: Rebalancing
(Length: 1:04)
Suggested ideas and alternatives to embrace the changes.
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The Myth of Career/Life Balance
(Length: 02:36)
Blending your personal and professional lives for results that matter.
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The Secret to Confidence
(Length: 02:20)
Learn the art of building your own sense of confidence.
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The Value of Mentoring
(Length: 01:38)
Encourage everyone on your team to grow. (Recorded at the American Society of Training and Development International Conference)
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The Workplace Bully
(Length: 02:06)
They're rude and useless, and you don't have to put up with them.
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They Never Taught You This in College
(Length: 01:05)
How to take total responsibility for you and your career. (Recorded at the American Society for Training and Development International Conference)
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Three Editing Questions about Language
(Length: 2:04)
Three questions for helping you pay attention to your use of language.
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Time Management for the Perpetually Challenged
(Length: 02:49)
Secrets for getting it all done while enjoying the process.
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Transitioning from the Military
(Length: 01:30)
by Alex GeorgeYour time in the military was well spent, now you can move forward.
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Tweak Your Job
(Length: 01:52)
Our jobs can always be made better. Here's one way to do it.
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Values: Cashing your Emotional Paycheck
(Length: 02:13)
How to spot your values and then put them to work.
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Vision: Know Where You're Headed
(Length: 01:29)
Designing what's possible and starting to make it real.
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We Are All Self-Employed
(Length: 01:20)
Taking control of your career by seeing your work as your business.
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Wellness Works
(Length: 01:20)
Choose to live well to work well. (Recorded at the American Society of Training and Development Conference)
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What Career Path?
(Length: 01:40)
Focusing on the work you want to do rather than what's on an artificial and ever-shifting "path."
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What Matters Most to Customers
(Length: 02:43)
Six factors that matter
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What's Wrong with a Little Competition?
(Length: 02:47)
Advantages and disadvantages of competition in the workplace
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When and How to Call In Sick
(Length: 02:49)
Here are some general guidelines to help you stay out of trouble.
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When the Boss is Wrong
(Length: 01:38)
How to know if it's time to confront the boss and how to do it right.
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When You're the New Kid on the Block
(Length: 02:15)
What to know as a new hire
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Why Appearances Matter
(Length: 02:55)
Look at what you're wearing through the eyes of your customer.
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Why Customers Buy Anything
(Length: 02:13)
Customers have logical and emotional needs.
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Why Customers Rant and Rave
(Length: 02:52)
If you think about it, opportunities to make people smile literally surround you every day, especially your customers. So, how many will be raving about you soon?
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Why Do You Exist?
(Length: 1:39)
Co-creating your team’s purpose
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Winning at Politics
(Length: 01:42)
Getting what you want and working through others.
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You Are So Fired!
(Length: 01:59)
What to never do on the job. Or anywhere else for that matter.
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Your Brand, Your Reputation
(Length: 1:51)
Creating one that matters
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Your Path to your Best Work
(Length: 03:10)
Seven steps to your next and best work.
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Your Personal 360
(Length: 02:30)
Getting clear about how you're doing on the job by tapping those around you.
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Your Personal Success Team
(Length: 01:36)
How to get and give support in a group that wants only the best for its members when it comes to succeeding at work.
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Your Routine and Strategic Decisions
(Length: 1:33)
How to know the difference
Knols
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12 Ways to Thrive in Challenging Times
by Carol Kinsey GomanA dozen tips to consider, whether you feel secure or think your job may soon disappear
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17 'Must Ask' Questions For Planning Successful Projects
by Adele Sommers17 insightful queries that can expose the uncertain aspects of your project, and thereby help you avoid expensive surprises
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3 Ways To A Happier And More Productive Workplace
by Lynda SilsbeeIn today’s shaky economy, many employees have the doldrums. After all, they face longer work days and heavier workloads, and they fear losing their jobs over using vacation or sick time. With a stressed work force, morale and productivity may be low. To boost employees’ spirits and get them working at full speed, employers should foster a more humanistic attitude in their companies. This brief article offers three tips to help them get started
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6 Mistakes Managers Make Delivering Performance Reviews
by Lynda SilsbeeAsk employees how supervisors could improve the performance review process and you’ll probably get more responses than you know what to do with. This article addresses six common mistakes managers make and how they can improve.
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6 Steps To Becoming A More Effective Leader
by Lynda SilsbeeWhat makes a leader great? One key skill is the ability to garner the support of others. And good leaders realize they must continually enhance their skills and set an example for the rest. This brief article offers six steps to becoming a better leader.
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7 Secrets to Psych Yourself Out of Pre-Presentation Jitters
by Dianna BooherSeven hints helping you deal with that sense of discomfort known as stage fright.
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7 Steps for Pinpointing Your Audience and Designing Your Offerings (Part 1)
by Adele SommersSeven recommendations for identifying your audiences, discovering the most compelling ways to speak to them, and then using the information you gather to create your book, product, service, Web site, or custom solution.
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7 Steps for Pinpointing Your Audience and Designing Your Offerings (Part 2)
by Adele SommersIn Part 2 (this article), we’ll explore the remaining steps in the sequence to continue determining what to offer your audiences.
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Aim Your Sights at Your Customers' Downstream Success
by Adele SommersBy using a variety of techniques to expose more of your clients’ and customers’ needs, you can pinpoint more completely the project, product, or service requirements.
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Aligning Consequences: 4 Keys To 'Walking Your Talk'
by Adele SommersAligning consequences with expectations is easier said than done. But by becoming aware of and applying these cause-and-effect principles, you’ll encourage the very best performance from your colleagues and staff.
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Answering the Call of Everyday Work
by John SchusterIn our work-a-day world, we can see the value in what we do--when we look.
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Apologize--Do It Wrong and You'll Be Sorry
by Dianna BooherSuggestions on good ways to apologize and preserve the relationship with coworkers and friends.
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Appraising Performance: The Slide Show
by Cynthia ClayMany supervisors dread conducting the periodic performance appraisal discussion. That's often because they don't have a framework to make the discussion painless, constructive, and valuable. We see the discussion as a slideshow in which supervisor and employee revisit events and experiences.
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Are You Aligning Your Business Purpose with Your Passions in Life?
by Adele SommersFrom sending crystal-clear, compelling marketing messages, to maintaining our business momentum, to developing a distinct competitive advantage around an appealing cause, nothing speaks as powerfully as doing what we love.
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Are You Getting Ready To Explode? (Growth-wise That Is!)
by Adele SommersEstablishing a robust foundation, developing personnel expertise, removing obstacles to productivity, aligning consequences, managing projects, and refining customer experiences with your offerings can produce an organization that thrives on growth — and then sustains its momentum through constant refinement.
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Ask The Advisor: Are Your Employees Breaking The Dress Code?
by Lynda SilsbeeHow to handle the don'ts of employee dress codes.
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Ask The Advisor: Help! Cupid's Arrow Is Darting Around Our Office
by Lynda SilsbeeHow to deal with dating in the workplace.
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Ask The Advisor: How To Deal With The Wayne Arnolds and Nelson Muntzes of The Workplace
by Lynda SilsbeeBullying in the workplace.
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Boosting Productivity: 10 Ways To Eliminate Obstacles To Success
by Adele SommersAre you unsure of where to begin identifying your burning hassles? Try asking your staff or colleagues what’s impeding their work. Remember to use these ground rules: No blaming or accusing! Everyone should feel free to speak up without being criticized, and everyone can help brainstorm the solutions.
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Broadband Communication Skills: Building Open Communication
by Cynthia ClayBroadband services can send multiple channels of data over a single cable or telephone line simultaneously. Our conversations are also broadband transmissions. Whether we are conscious of it or not, we send and receive information along several channels.
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Coaching and Counseling
by Lynda SilsbeeHow everyday coaching boosts performance, what makes an effective coach, when counseling is needed, and how coaching and counseling create change.
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Communicate With People The Way THEY Need To Communicate
by Carolyn ThompsonDesign your communication around the preferences and expectations of your receivers. With a bit of practice, you’ll see a dramatic increase in your communication effectiveness!
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Creating Meaning at Work
by Jamie WaltersHow to discover meaning in your work and encourage your co-workers to do the same.
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Don't Forget to Breathe
by Jennifer Kahnweiler, Ph.D.A simple way to focus: breathe
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E-Mail: The Shortest Distance Between You and Trouble
by Lynda SilsbeeHere are some ways to protect your company from devastating e-mail consequences.
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Effective Employee Performance Management
by Lynda SilsbeeThree steps to developing an effective performance management system
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Effective Selling: Does your aroma come on too strong?
by Nani PaapeIs your fragrance or cigarette smoke losing you sales?
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Electronic Support Systems: A Great Way To Stretch Expertise
by Adele SommersThis kind of guidance can come in the form of interviews, tightly interwoven tips and hints, overviews, demonstrations, wizards, decision guidance, calculation tools, and other systematic interactions that intelligently aid people in achieving their goals.
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Focusing on Consistency (Part 1)
by Adele SommersTo recognize the value of consistency in customer retention and in over-delivering on promises, both explicit and implied.
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Focusing on Consistency (Part 2)
by Adele SommersThis article, Part 2, explores four more techniques that can help ensure top-to-bottom consistency in creating positive customer experiences.
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Glow
by Lynda GrattonHow you can radiate energy, innovation and success to create a great work environment and deliver superior value through work
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How Do You Measure Your Customer's Wow Factors?
by Adele SommersBy continuously measuring your customer "wow" factors — such as ideal features and functions, ease of use, simplicity and elegance, and error-free operation — your efforts will pay for themselves many times over through customer loyalty, a solid reputation, and increased profitability.
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How To Say Thank You
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonSend an email, jot a note, write a card of thanks. Make someone feel valued. Be grateful and show it.
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How To Stay Ahead Of The Harassment Curve
by Lynda SilsbeeBy Jan. 1, 2006, many California companies finished their initial mandatory training for supervisors. Although the law applies specifically to California companies, the details are worth noting regardless of your location. This brief article looks at the new law and why all employers should take notice
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How to Write an Apology
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonApologies communicate the message “I respect you” without actually using those words.
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How to Write E-Mail That Gets Results
by Natasha TerkSteps to better your professional email communications, and common problems to avoid.
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How to Write Faster and Get Results
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonHelpful tips on writing quickly, effectively, and efficiently in your business.
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How to Write Persuasive Business E-mail
by Natasha TerkDo's & Don'ts of writing an email that sells.
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Introducing NetSpeed Fast Tracks: podcasts with a twist
by Cynthia ClayThe use of podcasting is changing the culture of learning. NetSpeed Fast Tracks combine short podspots with articles, blogs, and expert interviews in a searchable database.
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Is A Master Mind Group On Your Horizon?
by Adele SommersDeveloping the perfect Master Mind or other support network can take a bit of work. Parties who mirror your values and are qualified to meet your particular needs aren’t always easy to find.
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IsYour Writing Too Abrupt?
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonSeven simple ways to warm up your writing and reduce the risk of abruptness
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Keeping Your Offerings Easy to Use (Part 1)
by Adele SommersKeeping your offerings simple and consistent, while simultaneously supporting whatever people are really trying to accomplish, should lead to years of customer gratitude and loyalty.
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Keeping Your Offerings Easy to Use (Part 2)
by Adele SommersPart 2 (this article), we’ll probe more deeply into how to reverse this trend by simplifying what we have to offer.
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Know Can Do
by Ken BlanchardPeople today know a lot more about leadership and management than anyone ever sees. The gap between knowing and doing is probably wider than the gap between ignorance and knowledge.
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Leading at Net Speed: How to Stay on Course
by Cynthia ClayToday's leaders face countless challenges, familiar and unfamiliar. But by following just a few clear principles, leaders can stay on course despite the pull in many directions. We look at five such principles: (1) Create an optimistic culture; (2) Promote collaborative relationships; (3) Encourage exceptional performance; (4) Focus for high impact; (5) Cultivate trust.
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Learning from Your Successes
by Cynthia Clay"What can we learn from our missteps?" and "What can we do differently next time?" are two questions that often come up in project debriefing sessions. But two other key questions -- especially useful in managing your career -- have to do with accomplishments. Ask yourself "What did I do well?" and "How did I do it?"
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Make Testing and Evaluation Your Best Friends
by Adele SommersBy making testing and evaluation your partners and allies, you will give your brand and offerings enormous competitive advantages.
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Make Your Sales Compensation Plan Hit The Mark
by Lynda SilsbeePinpoint weaknesses, redesign your plan, and support your strategic vision for an excellent compensation plan.
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Managing Project Risks (Part 1): Don't Be Snared by These 6 Common Traps
by Adele SommersYou and your team can learn to avoid project pitfalls by paying close attention to the cause-and-effect relationships among these six important keys!
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Managing Project Risks (Part 2): 10 Major Mistakes Your Team Can Avoid
by Adele Sommers10 major mistakes to avoid (or risks to flag) when choosing, estimating, and staffing your projects.
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Managing Project Risks (Part 3): How To Quickly Assess Potential Pitfalls
by Adele SommersThis article (Part 3 of the series) explains how you can quickly evaluate any risks you’ve identified to see whether they’re likely to overwhelm your project.
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Managing Project Risks (Part 4): A Simple Risk Mitigation Process
by Adele SommersThis article (Part 4 of the series) takes you through asimple, four-step risk management process.
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Managing Time in Fast Forward
by Cynthia Clay"Fast forward" is normal speed in business today. As we move through meetings, demos, projects, plans, phone calls, contacts, and videoconferences, it is difficult (if not impossible) to set our days on "Pause." And "Stop!" is our last resort. In this article, you will find strategies -- some new, some tried and true -- for managing time in fast forward.
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Meet Your Customers More than Halfway: Anticipate Their Circumstances of Use (Part 1)
by Adele SommersBy packaging the components of your products in complementary formats, you can help your customers consume what you offer in any mode they choose. You’ll also provide more value than your competitors will by giving your audiences more convenient ways to learn or do what they’ve turned to your offerings to receive.
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Meet Your Customers More than Halfway: Anticipate Their Circumstances of Use (Part 2)
by Adele SommersThis article, Part 2, addresses an often-overlooked arena — how people might try to use products or services in unusual or even extreme circumstances.
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Meet Your Customers More than Halfway: Anticipate Their Circumstances of Use (Part 3)
by Adele SommersIn Part 3 (this article), we’ll explore another aspect of meeting our customers more than halfway by screening their eligibility for what we have to offer.
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Meeting Change with Resilience
by Marla MasonHow do we use the challenges presented by change to strengthen our skills and boost our creativity?
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Meeting Change With Resilience: Preparing For Change
by Cynthia ClayWhat has changed lately? In business, roughly everything: the economy, technology, travel, tourism, employment rates, energy costs and availability, regulations, the global marketplace, and more. Change is everywhere -- some of it anticipated, some without notice. In this article, you will find four key questions. Answering these questions will help you prepare yourself and your organization for the inevitable changes ahead.
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Performance Appraisal On Purpose
by Cynthia ClayPurposeful performance appraisals produce effective outcomes.
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Personnel Development: 7 Keys To Aiming Your Talent In The Right Direction
by Adele SommersYour staff will be much more productive and your customers more satisfied when you apply far-sighted personnel development instead of shortsighted luck.
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Preparing For Retirement, But Not Yours, Theirs; How To Cope With An Aging Workforce
by Lynda SilsbeeBaby boomers are quickly approaching retirement age, which may drastically affect many organizations’ workforces. This article explains how preparedness and willingness to step outside the business-as-usual model can help companies make this demographic reality work for them, rather than against them.
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Quality Lives In The Eye Of The Beholder
by Adele SommersRemember that quality in perception is not a substitute for quality in fact. But it can go a long way toward minimizing customer and client dissatisfaction, as well as powerfully reinforcing stellar quality when you ultimately deliver it.
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Reap What You Sow
by Lynda SilsbeeCreating a successful and objective performance review process.
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Retention: Cost Effective Ways To Improve
by Lynda SilsbeeWays you can retain key employees on a tight budget.
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Setting and Achieving Goals: Six Questions
by Cynthia ClayIt's always a good time to set and work toward goals, especially at the beginning of a new year. But every now and then we need to think too about how we set and achieve our goals. Are we doing the right things to achieve meaningful results? Does our approach work for us and for our teams? Consider these questions.
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Setting the Criteria and Conditions For Success
by Adele SommersThis article explains how developing a set of"business success criteria" can help you select a worthwhile undertaking with much deeper insight, and thus establish conditions for successfully pursuing it.
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Seven Steps to Your Goal
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonAlthough we cannot control our readers’ behavior, we can easily adapt our writing to improve our results. Here are seven steps guaranteed to improve your chances of achieving your objectives.
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Six Steps to an Inspiring Work Culture
by Cynthia ClayA leader sets the tone for employee performance throughout the organization. These six specific actions -- which involve vision, values, stories, branding, and other elements -- can lead your staff to higher performance through a work culture that inspires.
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Six Steps to Written Communication that Gets Results
by Natasha TerkSix-step writing process to get the results you want from your written communication.
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Slim Down Your Writing
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonTo trim your sentences, cut extra words and phrases.
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Taming Your Stress with the Five Elements
by Melody IvoryIs your stress level too high? If it is, how do you bring it back down to a normal level—quickly and easily?
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Tell An Engaging Story In Just 90 Seconds
by Adele SommersProduce a 90-second narrated synopsis and entice your audiences to consume your story, either in advance of your live presentation or after the fact.
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The Case for Coaching: An Effective Business Strategy
by Cynthia ClayIndividual and small group coaching is a viable strategy for improving individual performance, and ultimately, bottom line profitability.
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The Case for Delegating Smartly
by Cynthia ClayThe Gallup Organization reports that only 16% of employees feel actively engaged at work. Organizations that want to develop that sense of engagement ensure that their managers and supervisors know how to delegate smartly.
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The Communication Styles Challenge
by Cynthia ClayStrategies for communicating effectively in culturally diverse business environments.
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The Power of Everyday Mentoring
by Chip BellMentoring as an every day event leading to business learning, growth and success
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The Rules of Engagement: How To Increase Productivity and Keep Your Best Employees
by Lynda SilsbeeImproving performance, increasing productivity, and keeping your best employees.
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The State of Customer Service: What's Your Score?
by Cynthia ClayDeveloping systems and skills to deliver effective customer service.
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Thinking to Break the Box: Asking Fresh Questions
by Cynthia ClayWe often talk about the need to think outside the box. Yet typically it's our thinking methods which create that legendary box. We box ourselves in by the way we approach an issue, problem, or opportunity. Here are some useful springboards for thinking to break the box, which involve asking different kinds of questions.
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Thoughts on Five Key Management Topics
by Cynthia ClayWould you like quick, practical tips and bits of wisdom on five important topics? Here is some of our latest thinking on communicating, delegating, managing one's career, transforming team conflict, and working with communication styles, taken from five new NetSpeed Leadership modules.
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Tips for Giving Written Feedback
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonHere are nine tips to help you meet the challenges of written feedback.
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Tips for Removing 'Customer Hassles'
by Adele SommersRevealing and remedying annoying hassles can stem the exodus of cranky customers and help you begin building a base of “raving fans.” Your customers deserve no less than the very best of experiences with every facet of your offerings.
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Tips for Winning Proposals
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonFollow these 10 tips, and you will definitely increase your chances of having the winning proposal.
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Transforming Team Conflict: First Steps
by Cynthia ClayIt's easy to sink under team conflict, especially when it gets "resolved" negatively. But it's possible to thrive and succeed when we constructively transform team conflict. Transformation begins with acknowledging the value of conflict, increasing conflict competence, and giving conflict situations a neutral name.
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Uncovering The Secrets of Great Bosses
by Lynda SilsbeeThere are plenty of reasons to be a good boss. Perhaps, most important, employees with good bosses perform well and are fully engaged in their work — which creates results that support your business. But also keep in mind that, when people jump ship, they generally leave because of their boss, not their job. Researchers have even linked a poor relationship with a supervisor to depression and other mental health problems. This article offers some of the secrets of top leaders’ success.
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Using Positive Power
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonHere are steps to creating a positive experience through writing.
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Using Stories and Fictional Elements To Get the Most Out Of Your Projects
by Adele SommersStorytelling elements are potent tools for clarifying requirements; exploring new techniques and approaches; and engaging your audiences' attention, interest, imagination, and satisfaction once your project is complete.
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Vital Success Measures: Keys to Rescuing Ailing Projects
by Adele SommersVital success measures help reveal why a troubled project has gotten off track and how to reframe its success. By 1) continuing to investigate where the project stands, 2) assessing and re-planning the project as needed, 3) resetting everyone’s expectations, and 4) aiming to deliver, you can resuscitate an ailing project and deliver the desired results.
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Want To Motivate Employees?
by Lynda SilsbeeHow to build team behavior and assign the right person to a job.
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What Should You Really Say When Your Customer Complains?
by Bernice JohnstonHigh quality service consists of three elements:
1. Explicit quality: meeting the specifications,
2. Implicit quality: delivering on the implied and unstated, and
3. Benefit quality: delighting with the unexpected.
If you consistently deliver on #1 and #3 and work smarter on #2, you may never have to learn what to really say when the customer complains or how to turn a complaint around: you won’t have any!
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What to do in Tough Times
by Kathleen RyanWhen faced with tough economic times, choose engagement over self-protection.
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What's Your Networking Quotient (NQ)?
by Mike DulworthThe Networking Quotient (NQ) self-assessment measures the strength of your current network and also your current networking capabilities.
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Working With Communication Styles: A Tip Sheet
by Cynthia ClayWe are all different. That's a given. The challenge for us in the world of work is to recognize and adapt to style differences. Rather than going through our day thinking that others are "flaky" or "nit-picking," we need to work successfully with them. Here's a tip sheet on how to do it.
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Working with Purpose: A Powerful Key to Employee Engagement
by Kenneth ThomasImprove employee productivity by making work engaging through non-financial rewards
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Writing for 1.4 Billion Readers
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonThese are ten suggestions to writing effectively for viewers worldwide.
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Writing for High-Speed Readers: On the Pit Crew
by Cynthia ClayImagine yourself on the pit crew of a high-speed auto racer. You want your vehicle and your team to win. But winning will require -- among other things -- efficient, foolproof, lightening fast communication. How can you communicate at high speeds? Read these 16 tips on writing for high-speed readers.
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Writing Messages of Comfort and Condolences
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonIt’s thoughtful and appropriate to send messages of comfort and condolences to anyone you know—not just friends and family but employees, clients, customers, vendors, and others. Everyone will appreciate your caring message in his/her time of discomfort and loss, and you will feel good about having connected with them.
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Writing Tips for RecentGraduates
by Lynn Gaertner-JohnstonSix tips about writing for business
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Your Personal Brand: Becoming a More Authentic and Effective Leader
by Karl SpeakHave a real impact on how people see you--for the better.
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Your Real Work: Management As More
by Dan KennedyAs the one in charge, your real work is about more than getting the job done. It's about your people being engaged in getting the job done.
Insight Interviews
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A New Perspective: Be the Hero
Noah Blumenthal
Changing how we work by changing our stories
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A Relationship of Trust
Joanne Ciulla
What employees need to expect and employers need to deliver for a workplace that works well for all
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Being Proactive: Getting what you want, dealing with difficult people, balance
Sharon Jordan-Evans
Ideas for getting what you want, working with difficult people, and career/life balance
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Career Growth: Grow Where You're Planted
Joe Frodsham
Six practices for making the most of your career without leaving your job
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Career Growth: Purpose, Passion, and Your Roadmap for Change
Carol Vecchio
How to renew yourself and your career, and make the most of the changes that come your way
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Career Growth: Your Life, Your Work
Po Bronson
An elevated look at money, meaning and how we spend our days.
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Coaching at Work: Coaching for Results, Success and Fulfillment
Karen Kimsey-House
How managers can coach best, and how to find a coach for ourselves
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Extreme Success
Rich Fettke
Why increased effort and longer hours aren't the answer -- and what is.
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Freeing Yourself from the Compromise Trap
Elizabeth Doty
When your challenges at work are calling for you to bend too far, it's time to play a new game.
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From Conflict to Collaboration
Stewart Levine
A master "resolutionary" shares his 7-step model for achieving true resoution
And be sure to read his knol, 10 Principles of Resolutionary Thinking here.
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Golf and Business: More Than A Game
Jim Corbett
Why business and golf are a perfect match--and your perfect opportunity
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Relationships: Love @ Work
Karen Fenstermacher
A look at the pros and cons of romance in the workplace, plus how to make your move while keeping your job
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The Abrasive Manager
Laura Crawshaw
When bosses are abrasive, everyone loses. The good news is that they can change. An expert tells you how.
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The Cure for Toxic Work
Barbara B. Reinhold
Time-tested advice on overcoming your workplace and career challenges.
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What Work has Become
Margaret Wheatley
A fresh and somber look at work, and what we each can do to make it better for ourselves and others
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Your Brain at Work: iBrain
Gary Small, M.D.
How your brain and the brains of your coworkers are remapping, retooling, and evolving.
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Your Relevance: Do You Matter?
Barbara Thomas
How to show up, plus stay fresh, noticed, and on your game
Blog Posts
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15 minutes to Learn
Accepting Help Doesn't Mean You Failed
Ask them “What do you do best?”
“What Have You Learned This Week?”
Develop Employees During the Slow Times
Giving and Getting Support
Have you brought your child to work yet?
Learning and the Liberation Effect
Let's get rid of management
Letting Your Life Speak
Living in a Past Perfect World
My Favorite Management Acronyms – Part 1
New Year's Resolutions - they're not just for losing weight
Ready to be a Starter?
Show Up, Tell the Truth, and Trust the Process
Show Up, Tell the Truth, and Trust the Process
Stupid Questions
Sustainable Competitive Advantage -- Learning
Taking the Plunge into Google Notebook
The 4-Hour Workweek - Part 1
The 4-Hour Workweek - Part 2
The Dream -- And the Rest of the Story
The importance of Last Impressions
The Passion and the Paycheck
The sky is falling! No, the world is flat!
Think of success as a game of chance...
Twenty-twenty Vision and Walking 'Round Blind
What questions did you ask yourself this week?
Wrtng n th age of txtg ("Writing in the Age of Texting")
You Can’t Do Business During Times Like This. Or Can You?