Allocation of scarce resources

Allocation of scarce resources can become a difficult problems leading easily to defensive interactions

Saving time when dealing with others

By Brian Tracy

Your interactions with others consume as much time, if not more, than any other part of your day. Even technical workers spend up to 75 percent of their time communicating with coworkers. You can greatly increase the efficiency of your interactions by improving the quality of your communications.

Common Misunderstandings
A major waste of time is caused by misunderstandings between people about roles, goals, and responsibilities. People do not know what they are expected to do, how to do it, and by what time.

Misunderstandings lead to inefficiencies, anger, frustration, and unhappiness. It often requires an enormous amount of time to clear up a misunderstanding and get matters back to normal.

Unclear Priorities
Misunderstandings about priorities often lead to your working at the wrong job, at the wrong time, for the wrong reason, and perhaps aiming at the wrong level of quality. Or the problem may be that you are working for the wrong person.

The single most important cause of positive feelings and high levels of motivation in work is defined as “knowing exactly what is expected.” On the other hand, the number-one complaint, or demotivator, of employees is to “not know what is expected.”

In order to perform at your best, you need absolute clarity about your job and what you are expected to do.

Poor Delegation
Poor delegation to others, or from others, leads to mistakes and frustration on the part of both the boss and the employee. It is a major time waster. Poor delegation causes even the most sincere talented people to do poor work or the wrong jobs. Therefore, they end up feeling frustrated and unhappy.

Unclear Lines of Authority
Unclear lines of authority and responsibility lead to time wastage. People do not know who is supposed to do what job, when is it be done, and to what standard of quality. People are left to wonder, who is supposed to report to whom? Who’s in charge? Who’s the boss?

Incomplete Information
Another major time waster in business is poor or incomplete information, which leads to erroneous assumptions and conclusions. It is amazing how often people jump to conclusions or make false assumptions on the basis of wrong information.

The very best managers take the time to ask questions, and they listen carefully to the answers before they make a decision. If there is a key piece of information that suggests a problem or difficulty, they double-check on this piece of information to make sure that it is accurate.

Aimless or Too Frequent Meetings
Too many meetings, or aimless meetings that proceed without an agenda, direction, or closure, are an enormous waste of time at work. These are meetings that start and stop without any particular resolution. No problems are solved, no decisions are made, and no responsibilities are assigned. No deadlines are agreed upon for action.

Lack of Clarity Concerning One’s Job
People need to know everything that is happening in the company that affects their particular jobs. The very best companies are open and honest with all employees concerning those matters affecting the health of the company.

Employees need to know what is going on and how their jobs fit into the big picture. When employees are unclear or unsure, an enormous amount of time is lost as the result of conversations, discussions, and gossip, which lead to ineffective work behaviors and poor productivity.

Action Exercise
Be crystal-clear in explaining to others exactly what is to be done, and to what standard of performance, and by what date.

Develop an attitude of gratitude

By Brian Tracy

The more grateful you are for things in your life

The more things in your life you will have to be grateful for

Show the financial impact your service can have

“Make intangible benefits tangible by showing the financial impact your product or service can have.”

—Brian Tracy

Provide a compelling reason

“The single most powerful thing you can do to convince your audience of something is to provide a compelling reason why they should do what you suggest (or believe what you say).”

—Tony Jeary

Perception

Perception is  how we see things trough the filter of our lives. The writer Anaïs Nin brilliantly said ” We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are”.

Tips for Your Networking Tool Kit

Tips for Your Networking Tool Kit

There are several must-haves in any networking tool kit, regardless of your job or your goals for networking. These tools will help you to prepare for and make the most of networking opportunities.   Business Cards Business cards are the most important tool in your networking toolbox. Carry your cards with you at all times; you never know when you’ll meet someone new or run into an old acquaintance, and your card is an easy way to establish a connection. Networking opportunities happen in all sorts of environments, beyond actual business functions, even at the grocery store and your child’s soccer games. In addition to containing the pertinent contact information, business cards are an opportunity to make a positive impression. They help someone develop interest in your company or services; they set you apart; and they give you the chance to reinforce your personal brand. Make sure your card looks professionally designed and produced and that it contains your most recent, accurate information. And keep it brief- it’s a business card, not a brochure! Nametags The purpose of wearing a nametag at an event is to facilitate conversations. Knowing someone’s name and who they work for leads to a comfortable way to open a conversation. One could easily begin with “Hi, Bill, I have a friend that works for Exxon,” or “Mary, I have not heard of The Hill Group. What does your company do?” When people choose not wear nametags or if the text is incomplete, messy or too small, they are missing the point of these tools. Keep these tips in mind for the next time you write your own nametag at an event: 1. Make it legible. Print clearly and neatly. 2. Make it informative. Include your first and last name, with your company name underneath. Be sure to use the version of your company’s name that most people will recognize, avoiding internal nicknames or initials if they are not widely known. 3. Make it visible. Wear your nametag where it can be seen – not on your belt or down near your hip. If you are wearing a jacket, do not place it inside on your shirt. The best place is on your right shoulder, as when you are shaking hands with someone it is a natural line of sight along the outstretched arm to the shoulder. A Personal Tag Line It is not uncommon for people to stumble when answering simple questions like, “What do you do?” or “What does your company do?” While you certainly know the answer, verbalizing it in a clear, compelling and concise manner is a bigger challenge. There are two keys to developing an effective personal tag line. The first is to really think about the question of whom you are and what you do, and compose an answer that is relevant yet different. Avoid industry jargon or long, overly technical explanations as you will often meet people who know nothing about your line of work. Your goal is to find an original description of what you do, for whom you do it, and why. The second key to success with a personal tag line is to rehearse it to the point that it flows naturally. As you wrestle with a unique way to talk about your job and your company, try writing different versions down on paper. This will help you refine your ideas. Practice your tag line with your spouse, friends or co-workers and get their feedback. Your goal is to deliver relevant information while capturing the interest of a new contact; think of it as a headline to a fascinating news story. Letters and emails One of the best ways to follow-up with someone and begin to build a relationship is to send them a short handwritten note. In today’s electronic world, a handwritten note has become rare, and thus more memorable. Get some high quality fold-over cards with your logo, name or initials and use them often! Consider also sending correspondence that will really set you apart. If, for example, you read an article that features or even just mentions a person that you know well, clip this article and send it to them with a note. They will be flattered that you took the time to personally pass it on to them. It is also effective to send an article you read that a member of your network would find interesting. Following-up with an email is often the quickest and most effective way to reach out after meeting someone, but you do run the risk of your email getting lost in SPAM or in the many emails that person receives each day. If you do send an email, keep it brief, reminding them about where and when you met, and suggesting or confirming next steps (e.g., “Per our discussion I will follow-up with you next month to schedule a meeting.”) Do not include pages of information or attach a PDF brochure. A follow up email is not a solicitation for business, but rather a way to convey how much you enjoyed your meeting. Before you attend your next networking event, take a peek in your networking tool kit and make sure you have everything you need! Written originally for w2wlink by Marny Lifshen.

Judging

“When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”

– Wayne Dyer

Learn to ask for what you need

By Margie Warrell

http://www.w2wlink.com/Articles/Learn-Ask-Need-artid36.aspx

Achieving authority in the workplace

By Myriam Callegarin – Management Consultant & Career Coach

http://myriamcallegarin.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/achieving-authority-in-the-workplace/