Self-talk is the act of communicating to oneself, either aloud or in your head. Self-talk can be positive, such as when we pump ourselves up for a job interview, “This is the job of my dreams and I’m going to get it,” or negative, “I’m never going to get the job. I don’t have enough experience.” […]
Let’s face it, we all like being comfortable. I love my comfortable jeans, my most cushy pair of shoes, and the amazing new mattress on my bed. I love the comfort that I have being a self-employed person, of being able to work from home when I want, set my own hours, and choose how […]
We all know the importance of giving feedback to others, especially employees, but what about seeking feedback? When was the last the time you asked your boss, employees, customers, and even your family members, “How am I doing? What could I be doing better?” Never assume that people will let you know if there’s something […]
Although not many of us want to admit it, we’re all pretty self-centered. Someone drives too slowly in front of us and we get mad because they’re messing up our schedule. Our child gets in trouble in school and we’re embarrassed because it reflects poorly on us. A coworker gets credit for something we did […]
I remember when I first realized how annoying vocalized pauses can be. I was sitting in a college course listening to student presentations, when I began counting the number of times each speaker said “um,” “uh,” or “you know.” These fillers were so distracting, that by the time each speech was over, I couldn’t tell […]
Conflict is an inevitable consequence of human interaction. However, most of us don’t like to confront conflict at all, let alone by ourselves. As a result, we seek support from others. Instead of going directly to the person with whom we have a problem, we discuss the situation with just about everyone else, hoping they’ll […]
The other day, I sat through a presentation by a “subject matter expert” that was so boring, I began daydreaming about standing up and screaming, “Get to the point already!” I also momentarily considered jumping up from my chair and running screaming from the room. It was torture! Have you ever been in a presentation […]
One day an old man was casually walking along a country lane with his dog and his mule. Suddenly a speeding truck careened around the corner, knocking the man, his mule, and his dog into the ditch. The old man decided to sue the driver of the truck, seeking to recoup the cost of the damages. […]
The number one most incorrect quote about customer service that is perpetuated time and again, is: “The Customer is Always Right.” WRONG! Training employees to believe this fallacy and insisting that they live by it is not only wrong, but it’s bad for business. Consider these situations: Would you let a naked customer dine in […]
One of the things bloggers always want to know is “What are my most popular posts?” They want to know so that they can meet the needs of their readers. However, when I look at my top five blog posts for the past six years, they’re quite frankly, all over the place. Why Laziness is […]
