Monday, September 13, 2010
Courtesy Counts
Why is it so hard for some people to use the words “Please” and “Thank you” when they make requests? I become absolutely livid when someone barks an order at me. How hard is it to make a polite, courteous request? Can’t people say, “Will you please get it to me by Friday,” instead of “I want it by Friday,” or “Send it by Friday.”
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Get Creative!
A good decision making requires new and useful alternatives.The working environment is dynamic, flexible, uncertain, and unpredictable. Professionals must innovate and create new approaches to achieve make decisions and solve problems.
Brainstorming
Four rules
o Rule out criticism
o Welcome freewheeling
o Seek large quantities of ideas
o Encourage combination and improvement of ideas
Nominal Group Technology
• Each individual writes down as many ideas as possible working individually.
• Each person presents one of his/her ideas, which the group leader records on a flipchart or whiteboard.
• The process continues until all ideas have been recorded. No ideas are repeated.
• Group discussion of each idea starts after all the ideas are presented.
• Each individual ranks what they think are the top five ideas, by giving a score of 5 to the one they think is best and 1 to the one they think would be least successful.
• Combine everyone's ratings for each idea.
• The idea with the highest score is the one you choose. If there is a tie, use Paired Comparison to make a decision.
Have you used any of these tools? Have you used any other creativity tools? Share your positive, successful experiences using these or other creativity tools.
Brainstorming
Four rules
o Rule out criticism
o Welcome freewheeling
o Seek large quantities of ideas
o Encourage combination and improvement of ideas
Nominal Group Technology
• Each individual writes down as many ideas as possible working individually.
• Each person presents one of his/her ideas, which the group leader records on a flipchart or whiteboard.
• The process continues until all ideas have been recorded. No ideas are repeated.
• Group discussion of each idea starts after all the ideas are presented.
• Each individual ranks what they think are the top five ideas, by giving a score of 5 to the one they think is best and 1 to the one they think would be least successful.
• Combine everyone's ratings for each idea.
• The idea with the highest score is the one you choose. If there is a tie, use Paired Comparison to make a decision.
Have you used any of these tools? Have you used any other creativity tools? Share your positive, successful experiences using these or other creativity tools.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
With Transparency, Everybody Wins
Transparency means that what you do is visible to others. When others can see your goals for the week, you have a tool to discuss priorities. The simplest way of creating transparency is with a WEEKLY WHITEBOARD REPORT.
A weekly whiteboard report posted in your office is an effective tool to keep everyone aware of your weekly goals. Use red for critical and milestone dates. The weekly whiteboard report is especially useful if you support more than one manager.
If you do not have a whiteboard in your office, use a Word table, Excel spreadsheet or calendar page similar to Outlook. Every Monday, print out the report for the week and post it on your wall where everyone can see it.
Date Priorities
May 24
Monday .
May 25
Tuesday
May 26
Wednesday 9 – Noon: Workshop
May 27
Thursday
May 28
Friday
Contact me at haddockworkshops@aol.com for information about my workshop Prioritizing and Managing Time.
A weekly whiteboard report posted in your office is an effective tool to keep everyone aware of your weekly goals. Use red for critical and milestone dates. The weekly whiteboard report is especially useful if you support more than one manager.
If you do not have a whiteboard in your office, use a Word table, Excel spreadsheet or calendar page similar to Outlook. Every Monday, print out the report for the week and post it on your wall where everyone can see it.
Date Priorities
May 24
Monday .
May 25
Tuesday
May 26
Wednesday 9 – Noon: Workshop
May 27
Thursday
May 28
Friday
Contact me at haddockworkshops@aol.com for information about my workshop Prioritizing and Managing Time.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Finding Relief and Creating Peace from the Eight Avoidable Toxic Tendencies
My pal Kenda Swartz over at http://xtremecustomerservice.blogspot.com has this blog entry. It's worth linking over there to read it:
This post is for anyone who engages in toxic tendencies, which for most of us…is most of us! While some may not habitually have toxic tendencies, these behaviors at any time can cause harm to your relationships and certainly wreak havoc on your body through the stress response. At the very least, I would want you to consider the notion that relieving yourself of toxic behaviors will bring more joy to your life.
Go to: http://xtremecustomerservice.blogspot.com/2009/12/finding-relief-from-eight-avoidable.html for the full article.
This post is for anyone who engages in toxic tendencies, which for most of us…is most of us! While some may not habitually have toxic tendencies, these behaviors at any time can cause harm to your relationships and certainly wreak havoc on your body through the stress response. At the very least, I would want you to consider the notion that relieving yourself of toxic behaviors will bring more joy to your life.
Go to: http://xtremecustomerservice.blogspot.com/2009/12/finding-relief-from-eight-avoidable.html for the full article.
Friday, October 9, 2009
E-mail etiquette
Link to good information about e-mail etiquette--http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/636/01/
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Communicating to Employees about Change
Workshop in October
Managers need skills to communicate about change strategically, consistently and positively. This workshop helps managers:
· Plan how to communicate the right messages.
· Use a variety of communication vehicles for maximum impact.
· Monitor and squash the rumor mill.
· Empathize with employees without agreeing with them.
· Build a case for change.
· Establish and maintain credibility.
DATE: Monday, October 12, 2009 - 1 to 5 PM
LOCATION: Building J-7, Foothill College Middlefield CampusCubberly Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Cost: $85 per person
INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Haddock is a communication and training consultant who helps her clients attract, retain and develop employees, increase productivity and effectiveness, and improve interpersonal communication skills. Patricia has authored more than 600 magazine articles and 11 books.
TO REGISTER OR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: CALL: 650-949-7797 OR EMAIL: profwd@fhda.eduWORKSHOP
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
CREDIT CARD (VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER)
PURCHASE ORDER
CHECK
Managers need skills to communicate about change strategically, consistently and positively. This workshop helps managers:
· Plan how to communicate the right messages.
· Use a variety of communication vehicles for maximum impact.
· Monitor and squash the rumor mill.
· Empathize with employees without agreeing with them.
· Build a case for change.
· Establish and maintain credibility.
DATE: Monday, October 12, 2009 - 1 to 5 PM
LOCATION: Building J-7, Foothill College Middlefield CampusCubberly Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Cost: $85 per person
INSTRUCTOR: Patricia Haddock is a communication and training consultant who helps her clients attract, retain and develop employees, increase productivity and effectiveness, and improve interpersonal communication skills. Patricia has authored more than 600 magazine articles and 11 books.
TO REGISTER OR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: CALL: 650-949-7797 OR EMAIL: profwd@fhda.eduWORKSHOP
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
CREDIT CARD (VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER)
PURCHASE ORDER
CHECK
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