Author Archive

Generation Millennials: Blog For & About “GenY” in the Workplace

This guide to corporate success for – and about – "20-somethings" has concrete advice and recommendations for everyone while focused on the generation known as "Generation Y". Hosted and posted by Bruce Yang, who lists his occupation as Problem Solver Extraordinaire, Bruce says he is "20-something and upending the status quo". The blog has video, audio, and text posts from Bruce as well as guests interviewed on related topics. Good content to make you think. Especially if you are older than "GenY" (as I am).

Every Body’s Talking: Reading & Interpreting Body Language

  (From an article in the Washington Post/Health section on how to read and interpret BODY LANGUAGE).

     Written by an ex-FBI agent who specializes in reading the subtleties of body language, the article notes that words matter little in communication. Your body gives you away in terms of the real message you communicate.
     Interesting article. Amateur drawings as graphics demonstrate what is noted in the article. An audio slide show accompanies the article on the website.
 

Eschew Obfuscation_01

  (As seen in a recent major newspaper; I won't reveal the actual publication.)

"What we have seen over the past few days has been a mix of improper disclosures of partial information mixed with inaccurate information and then drawn into unfounded conclusions."

The meaning of "obfuscation", from dictionary sources: obfuscate (verb); obfuscation (noun)

verb
1. to confuse, bewilder, or stupefy.
2. to make obscure or unclear: to obfuscate a problem with extraneous information.
3. to darken.
4. to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand: "A great effort was made . . . to obscure or obfuscate the truth" (Robert Conquest).
5. to render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore.

noun
1. confusion resulting from failure to understand [syn: bewilderment]
2. the activity of obscuring people's understanding, leaving them baffled or bewildered [syn: mystification]
3. darkening or obscuring the sight of something

To speak success language, ask yourself:
– Does what I say (and what I write) obfuscate the intended message?
– Do I use too many words? Or the correct words for the intended message?
– Do I speak clearly (enunciate), succinctly, and pronounce words correctly?

Challenge yourself to (a.) figure out what the newspaper passage is actually saying, and (b.) rewrite the sentence to clearly communicate the message.
 

Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun

  One of the topics I cover in my workshop is work-life balance. Within that topic we use a life wheel to map areas in life that need more focus than others. One of those areas is "Fun/Recreation". While researching some information on this area I found a great web video on "Eight Irresistible Principles of Fun".

Check it out. It's a nice relief from some of the videos I'm finding at the usual video site.

The eight principles, by the way, are:

1. Stop hiding who you really are.
2. Start being intensely selfish.
3. Stop following the rules.
4. Start scaring yourself.
5. Stop taking it all so damn seriously.
6. Start getting rid of the crap.
7. Stop being busy.
8. Start something.
9. Don’t worry what others will think about you.

(This list was sent to me by a friend who said he found it at a leadership website. If anyone knows from where the list originated, please e-mail me with the website info so I can add a reference to it here.)

Effective Communications Month = June: “Starter Tips”

  Effective Communications Month
June1-thru-30 (Annually)
Established by Sylvia Henderson
(Refer to: Chases Calendar of Events)

Description: The most important spoke in the wheel of interpersonal relationships is communication. Active listening, verbal variety, paralanguage, body lanague, and written communication skills are the essence of how human relate to each other personally and professionally. This month is dedicated to learning about, improving upon, and committing to communicating more effectively in our lives.

The best way to celebrate communicating effectively is to practice repeatedly. Commit to being a great communicator and change the world for the better…one day at a time.

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"Starter Tips" for Being a Better Communicator

The Words You Say

• Keep words positive. For example, "can" instead of "cannot"; "do" instead of "do not"; "like" instead of "dislike".
• Kick the "but…" "Yes, but…" cancels the positive and alerts the listener to be wary of what comes next.
• Use short, exact words. For example, "pen" instead of "writing implement"; "couch" instead of "ottoman"; "truck" instead of "semi tractor-trailer".
• Oust "of the". For example, "open the door" instead of "opening of the door"; "write the report" instead of "writing of the report".
• Encourage rather than discourage. For example, "I believe you can…"

Quotation: "No one would talk much in society if s/he knew how often s/he misunderstands others."
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

More tips on "The Words You Say" are in the Pocket Reference Book (PRB) "Tips for Busy People: Proven Techniques You Can Use to Be an Effective Communicator", by Sylvia Henderson. This PRB, or similar, is a free gift upon joining the Subscribe2Succeed community for continual learning connections.
 

E-Mail @ Three Inches Squared: Eliminate E-Mail “Wheelies”

     I am eyeing a technology purchase; one of those new PDA/cell phones called a SmartPhone. The new gadget I'm eyeing will allow me unlimited access to my e-mail while I am on the road.

     With the tiny, 3-inch screen of a PDA-Personal Data Assistant, e-mail length and frequency becomes even more an issue than it already is on the computer screen. To help maintain sanity while communicating using PDAs, here are tips on keeping e-mail manageable for those tiny screens.

** E-mail Wheelies **

     Wheelies wow them but you tend to fall down! Apologies to the WeeblesTM wobble ditty. Did I get your attention? Wheelies are dangerous show-off maneuvers on motorcycles where the rider drives the motorcycle with one wheel in the air and one wheel in contact with the road. A lot of wheel-spinning is involved (pun intended).

     E-mail tends to emulate the wheelie wheel-spinning by going on and on, traveling dangerously to incorrect receivers, and carrying messages inappropriately. You can avoid doing e-mail wheelies using the following guidelines.

• Keep notes to one screen-length so that the receiver need not scroll down the screen to read your entire message.
• Use blind carbon copies when sending to multiple addressees to limit the addressing the receiver sees before getting to your message.
• Make your subject line capture attention.
• Edit your distribution lists once a month or before you use a list if not used regularly.
• Copy-and-paste text you want to send to others rather than forward notes to avoid sending information not intended for sharing.

     Think twice and review your messages before you hit the "send" key to ride safely with e-mail communications.
 

Do Your Home Work

     In a recent workshop I was asked about how to communicate with management about the prospect of working from home. I did a, "Let me get back to you with some information about that" answer. I thought I might as well share with you the information I provided since communication is one of the prime concerns about distance workers.

    Telecommuting and work-at-home are viable ways for workers to accomplish more work while spending less time getting to work. As "rush hours" become all-day conditions, changing population patterns and deteriorating infrastructures threaten public transportation growth, and terrorist threats create fear of crowded situations and appreciation for home and family, increasing numbers of people want to work from the comfort and perceived security of their own homes.

     But what of employers? There is continued reluctance-from private industry, government, association, non-profit, and other employers-to allow workers to work from home. There is a fear that: 

• not enough work will get done,
• too many interruptions will diminish workers' productivity,
• workers will "goof off" and claim they are working,
• the lack of community will keep workers isolated, or
• management cannot accurately evaluate workers' performance when they cannot watch over them "all the time".

     Yet, successful track records abound for managing and leading from a distance. There are successful models that provide employees opportunities to work from home, or an outbased work center, at least one or two days a week. Many other people-both managers and workers-have questions about how to implement a successful work-at-home or work from a remote location strategy.

     Examples of questions from managers/supervisors include: 

• How do I maintain open lines of communication and feedback with my remote workers?
• What processes can I implement to ensure fair performance evaluation and career development for my remote workers?
• How do I provide the professional development and support my employees need to maintain their "edge" and grow in their careers when they primarily work from a remote location?
• Where can I find resources to help me implement a work-from-home strategy?

     Examples of questions from workers/employees include:
 

• How do I establish and maintain a leadership position in my organization or with my team?
• What work processes do I follow in order to maximize my productivity away from the primary work location?
• How do I ensure my managers/supervisors stay up-to-date on my accomplishments and achievements?
• How do I maintain a community in which I can keep up-to-date in my area(s) of expertise, network for professional growth, and get the help and support I would otherwise get from the office or cubicle down the hall or in the break room?

     Success stories, suggestions, and guidance from organizations with successful remote work models are found from the following resources. These resources are starting points for continued research on, and setting policies toward, a comprehensive work-at-home strategy for your organization.

• Work at Home/Telework as Reasonable Accommodation (article) – http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/telework.html
• http://www.homeworking.com/ – Website and resources for those who work at home and those considering doing so. Includes case studies to use as stories and examples.
• Avoid Work-at-Home Job Scams (article) – http://career-advice.monster.com/job-search/getting-started/avoid-work-from-home-job-scams/article.aspx
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (stats, legalities, and resources) –http://www.bls.gov/news.release/homey.nr0.htm
• Book – Managing Telework: Strategies for Managing the Virtual Workforce. Jack Nilles. ISBN# 0471293164.
• Book – The Work-at-Home Sourcebook. Lynie Arden. ISBN# 0911781196.
• Search HR.com for articles, interviews, and book recommendations using "telework" and "work at home" as your search arguments.

        (I received a list of items as search results from these two entries.)

Conversation Matters(c)

    What kind of conversationalist are you? I've been receiving a wonderful e-newsletter full of content, new words to learn, and interesting communications skills facts and tidbits from Dr. Loren Ekroth. He writes excellent articles about the art of conversation, with specific how-tos and content you can immediately apply to improve your success language skills. I recommend signing up for his newsletter and checking out his articles at http://www.conversationmatters.com.

…And he doesn't even know that I've recommended him, so this is an honest referral. 
 

BuzzWhack Jargon

     Huh? What's "buzzwhack" mean? Speaking of jargon…

     The industries and businesses we're in have their own jargon and buzzwords. We use slang every day. We toss around idioms and sayings in our regular speech without thought to whether someone else relates to the terms or not. Many times, they do not.

     Our differences in age, generations, gender, culture, socio-economic standing, and any other demographic you can identify give us different perpectives and sets of experiences that cause us to mis-interpret or not interpret at all the terminology we use. While we strive to eliminate jargon in our speeches and presentations (especially formal ones), we still slip now and again.

     A resource for identifying – and purging – buzzwords and other pompus and overused terminology in the workplace, with humor added, is Buzzwhack.com.

     While the list changes daily as words are added through contributions from anyone who wants to send them in, the entries that struck me as applicable to success language (communication, leadership, presentation skills) today include:

• nanomanagers: Bosses who have taken micromanaging to a whole new level of nitpicking.
• PowerPoint singalong: A presentation read verbatim from the slides without observations, notes, comments or asides of any kind. Monotone optional, but not required.
• airball: The corporate version of a cat hairball. Someone who makes lots of noise, disrupts everything, has the potential to make a big mess – but ultimately does nothing.
• friendquest: Requesting someone to be a friend and or buddy on an online social network.

     There is a lot more at this site, organized alphabetically like a "real" dictionary. Humorous, yet sad because I hear and see this stuff in the workplace every day!

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 (Sylvia's "No Advertising/Marketing" Blog Policy: As always, the resources I recommend I so do because I've found them, used them, or someone I know and trust has done so. I accept no marketing or advertising on this blog so don't even try!)

Build A Strong Social Support Network, for Balance & Success

  (Edited from: Mayo Clinic staff article)

     Surrounding yourself with supportive family, friends and co-workers can have a positive effect on your mental well-being. A strong social support network can be critical to help you through the stress of tough times, whether you've had a bad day at work or a year filled with loss or chronic illness. It is never too soon-nor too late-to cultivate important relationships that become your social support network.

     What is a social support network?

     A social support network is different from a support group. A social support network is made up of friends, family and peers, while a support group is generally a structured meeting run by a mental health professional. Although both can play an important role in times of stress, a social support network is something you can develop when you are not under stress, providing the comfort of knowing that your friends are there for you if you need them.

     You don't need to formalize your support network with regular meetings or an official leader. A coffee break with a friend at work, a quick chat with a neighbor, a phone call to your sister, even a visit to church are all ways to reduce stress while fostering lasting relationships with the people close to you.

(From: Sylvia Henderson)

     You may have "friends and family" consisting of varying definitions and levels of intimacy. With the advent of online social networks, the word "friend" has come to define anyone who connects with you through a network. As society admits that the traditional, American, 1950's-defined nuclear family (father, mother, and 2.5 children) has long been just one form of "family", family-in this document and in my workshops-represents whatever definition and reality are true for YOU. When you have a strong social support network you have people who meet your needs at varying levels-online connections, casual in-person acquaintances, professional colleagues with whom you interact only at work, friends for fun, special more-intimate friends (not sexual), specialists (doctors, therapists, and other professionals), people who raised and cared for you, blood relations, love relationships (includes sexual intimacy), and more. We need healthy interpersonal relationships of all levels.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE from MayoClinic.com on managing stress by building a strong social support network. Links to many other well-researched articles on managing stress and life-balance are at this site. This is more than just pop-psychology.