|
a computer password, pick one that’s easy
to remember so you don’t have to write
it down. Insert a special character or a numeral
into a familiar word to make it unique. Example:
dive+r. |
|
| What customers
want to see: |
| 
‘Customers will keep reading your promotional
newsletter because of quality content - not
flashy design’. That advice comes from
Elaine Floyd, author of ‘Marketing with
Newsletters’. In her book, Floyd offers
these content tips:
· Include information
about your products and services, such as
additions to the product line or changes in
existing products, services or equipment.
· Offer news about your organization,
such as recent policy changes or hire of new
manager.
· Keep coupons, contests and free offers
to a minimum, so that the newsletter doesn’t
come out as a pure sales piece.
· Include items about breakthrough
research and opinions of industry leaders.
· Offer technical information that
sends the message that you will still be around
for service after the sale.
|
|
| When hiring
new staff you can ask: |
What is the most rewarding day you’ve
had at work in the last year? Why?
If I would meet your pervious employer at
a party what would he say about you in one
sentence?
This can give you a fairly good image about
their personality. |
|
| Some
ideas when negotiating: |
Whether you haggle over money, deadlines or
vacation schedules, skillful negotiation can
influence your boss or colleague to approve
your raise, extend your timetable or give
you that week off. Try these tips to improve
your negotiating ability:
· Avoid arguing. Always open with a
positive remark.
· Telegraph your communication. Say,
‘ I would like to make a point’
or ‘ May I ask a question?’ The
listener is then prepared for your move and
might drop his or her guard.
· Control the conversation by questioning.
Asking questions helps control the content
and direction of the negotiation.
· Cut out counterproposals. Don’t
go high after the other person goes low. Suggest
shortcomings with the proposal and work to
improve it.
· Stick to your strong points. Don’t
say ‘yes’ to something that will
cause future conflict. Ask the party, ‘Now
if we are going to have a problem, what do
you think it will be?’.
|
|
|
| Putting Humour
in its Place |
Humour has a place in your presentation,
briefing and your work with others. Even
if you feel you can’t tell a joke,
you can still make humour work for you.
Humour should be relevant
to the message you are giving. Link it to
a point you are making, and make it the
type of humour that is in good taste.
· Analogies are one way to use humour.
Linking your present situation or problem
to something else often provides an opportunity
for humour. The link can be either logical
or illogical.
· Another way to use humour –
and an easy one for the person who falls
into the ‘cannot-tell-jokes’
category - is to use funny quotes. Get a
book of humorous quotations.
|
|
| 6 Ways to build
TOP staff: |
To build staff into a team that does the best
for the Company:
· Be friendly to staff members but
don't treat them like close personal friends.
They want you to be the boss, and they want
to be employees. It works better that way.
· Tell them everything. Expect them
to tell you the same. Shared knowledge builds
loyalty and trust.
· Reach out to your professional community.
Someone, somehow, somewhere will know how
to help you if you need help.
· Invest heavily in loyalty. If staff
members know you are always loyal to them,
they will give you the same in return
· Realize that fairness is essential.
· Never be too busy to laugh. Nothing
gets people through a crisis like a good laugh. |
|
| Traits of Bad
Leaders: |
Management consultant Dr. Lois Hart says that
people in her management workshops, when describing
bad leaders, list three traits:
1. They steal others’ ideas and take
the credit.
2. They rarely recognize the work of others;
seldom do they say ‘Thank you’.
3. They infrequently provide feed back; when
they do, it’s usually negative.
4. They take forever to make decisions. |
|
| Phone Tip |
To speed up interaction on the phone, try
this: "I know you are busy, but I have
a quick question." This is a polite way
of saying, " I am busy." It helps
the other party get right to the point.
Another approach: "Ali, before I have
to take my next appointment, I need to ask
you …." |
|
| Tip of the
Month: |
Make expectations clear. Don't assume employees
will do things the way you would like unless
you are specific. Don't say: "I need
this as soon as possible." Do say: "
I need this by 3 p.m. today." |
|
| What they like
about Instructors: |
A study that was done recently in the States
shows that people attending training sessions
like instructors who:
· Are available before and after sessions
to answer questions and talk about important
points.
· Use effective visuals and training
aids properly.
· Encourage participation and call
on the participant's experience.
· Have mastered their subject, yet
communicate it at a level appropriate to the
participant's experience. |
|
| A MUST! |
Someone inside the Company has to be in charge
of proofing any printed material. Wether it
is a new price list, letter to the clients,
or even a generic mail message. |
|
| Ways to cope
with changes: |
Managers are no longer watchdogs, police officers
or slave drivers. Today, they must be coaches
and facilitators. To cope with this change,
managers should:
· Realize that younger workers want
jobs they feel have meaning and a larger purpose
than just getting a salary.
· Consider that the top three things
people listed, in a recent study, as most
important in deciding to take a job were open
communication, effect on personal and family
life and the nature of the work.
· Take very seriously the task of sharing
information with all employees. Tell them
what you know when you know it.
· Involve employees in decisions that
affect them. Better yet, whenever possible
let them make the decisions.
· Allow for greater flexibility and
autonomy in individual jobs to account for
non – work needs. A little flexibility
in working hours can go a long way in making
employees' lives less stressfull.
· Let employees know why what they
do is important. Help them to develop skills
that can make them more valuable.
· Show employees, in as many ways as
possible, that you appreciate their efforts.
|
| >>Top
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Beyond
Diving: 