Author Archive

Body Language

Steer a conversation like you are steering a 600-pound motorcycle…through your body language. Motorcycle riders are taught to push the handlebars in the direction they want to go rather than to turn the front wheel. While this may seem awkward, the maneuver requires less strength to accomplish and it works. To go left, push left; to go right, push right. The more we push, the tighter the steering around curves.

You can steer a conversation using your body language.

Look more attentive by leaning towards the person speaking and they will be encouraged to continue talking.
Mirror the other person’s motions and hold a stance similar to theirs and they will feel that you are in sync with their words and messages.
Step back a step and cross your arms while frowning and you signal disapproval or disagreement, causing the speaker to hesitate, stop, or question your reaction.
Nod your head while asking a question and the other person’s answer will more-likely be “yes”.

Next time you are engaged in conversation, try steering the direction using subtle body language and imagine yourself maneuvering a 600-pound two-wheeled vehicle with relative ease.

Bonus gift: Research specific body language signals .

Beat of Da Feet

What does physical fitness have to do with success language? Everything! Success language = everything you do and say that communicates (language) who you are and what you stand for (success). Your physical conditioning is part of what you do to be ready for and manage your successes…and your actions leading up to your successes. If you feel good you "do good".

While physical fitness improvement remains one of my "to dos" on the list, I found the following chart unusual – and interesting. It appeared recently in one of my health plan printed bulletins. I'm a disco queen and love doing the limited exercise I do do to the beat of disco and house music. Perhaps you'll find one of your favorite tunes in this list (if you're a Baby Boomer, that is!)

PLAY THIS WHILE READING!

Beats Per Minute (BPM) Exercise Chart

ACTIVITY	PACE	BPM	ARTIST, SONG TITLE
Stroll walking	3.0-3.2 mph	115-118	Blondie, Heart of Glass
Easy walking	3.3-3.5 mph	118-121	Vanilla Ice, Ice Ice Baby
Moderate walking	3.6-4.0 mph	124-126	ZZ Top, Sharp Dressed Man
Fast walking	4.0-4.3 mph	130-138	ACDC, You Shook Me All Night Long
Power walking	4.3-4.5 mph	137-139	Nirvana, Drain You
Jogging	5.2-6.0 mph	147-150	Vince Gill, Next Big Thing
Running	6.0-8.0 mph	147-160	Beatles, I Saw Her Standing There
Moderate cycling	60-70 rpm	139-145	Prince, Baby I'm A Star
Fast cycling	75-80 rpm	147-150	Billy Joel, We Didn't Start The Fire
Stair-climbing	N/A	124-128	Elton John, Philadelphia Freedom
Elliptical machine	N/A	124-128	Gap Band, You Dropped A Bomb On Me
Motorcycle-riding and walking my Corgis	65 mph & fast little legs	N/A	Shouldn't be listening to music! Enjoy the scenery.

Awesome Photographic Detail (Inauguration Photo 2009_0120)

This is a dated photo. (Aren’t they all?) Yet, regardless of your political affiliation, this photo and its zoom capability is awesome!

CLICK HERE

You can zoom in to amazing detail…like who is grumpy; cold; asleep; interested; etc. Pan around to see this snapshot in time at doorways and other corners we don’t usually see.

How to Determine Your GMT Time

Many times I encounter sites that ask me for my time zone in GMT time. GMT is Greenwich Mean Time – which meant nothing to me other than confusion. This site helps you define your own time zone in GMT terms for both standard time and daylight savings time.

Dress Code for Hospital Staff: Professional Image

If you can get past the "purity" mention, this article is an example of how an organization is specific about a dress code that communicates professionalism. Individuality is fine, as expressed by the variety of scrubs and currently available and worn by medical personnel. Yet, a unified "organizational look" sometimes communicates that individuals are professionals within that organization.

Much as we like expressions of ourselves as individuals, the military branches, law enforcement and medical personnel, and others demonstrate that uniforms convey "I'm a professional" better than individual expressions. This medical institution has gone back to the future with its medical staff.

Link to Article

Never Know Until You Ask

My 95-year-old mother underwent physical therapy to build strength in her legs. She was attempting to rid herself of the cane with which she walked. Just before we left the doctor’s office I returned to the physical therapy area and asked about alternatives to the recumbent bicycle the doctor recommended. At 90+ years of age my mother could use equipment either for the next few years (I come from solid stock!) or only the next month. One never knows.

After I asked about alternatives to the expense and space such equipment requires, one of the Physical Therapists momentarily disappeared. He returned with a small contraption with pedals. He noted that it had been in the storage closet for months waiting to be discarded. He preferred giving it to someone who would use it over simply trashing it, but no one had asked before now. And there I was…asking.

As Mom and I exited through the waiting room, more than one person inquired about the contraption in hand. They exclaimed how useful such a device could be to them. Until they saw me with it they would never have thought to ask for something like it.

What have you missed out on by not asking?
What’s the worse that can happen if you do? Hear “no”?

You never know until you ask. More often than not, I hear “yes”. It’s not luck. Assert yourself. And just ask!

2009_Jan-thru-Jun Summary: Pings, Tweets, Updates, Posts (Sylvia Henderson_Springboard Training)

Effective Communications Month Tips:
June is Effective Communications Month.
(http://www.mhprofessional.com/?page=/mhp/categories/chases/content/special_months.html#june)

Tip#11: Speak w/a telemarketer & ask questions. Make THEM listen & answer. More tips @ http://ping.fm/mOBxk
Tip#10: Vary your vocal usage.
Tip#9: Practice saying tongue twisters out loud.
Tip#8: Enunciate.
Tip#7: Listen to an audio broadcast & envision what the people talking look like. U hear vocal cues.
Tip#6: Write a formal email note that is only 1 screen long (does not require scrolling). Here's why. http://ping.fm/WdSuN
Tip#5: Use illustrations 2 convey concepts. More people R visual communicators than use other modalities. http://ping.fm/H3BsU
Tip#4: Stand (or sit) using good posture; it projects confidence whether you feel it or not.
Tip#3: Smile @ someone you pass by. #5. Be conscious of your gestures. More tips @ http://ping.fm/dop3w
Tip#2: Ask a question to clarify a point. #3. Look up a word you do not understand. [LINK TO BLOG POST WHEN TRANSFERRED.]
Day 1-Tip#1: Listen a greater % of time than U speak. U have 2 ears & 1 mouth. Use them proportionally.

Don't hold another meeting until you read, circulate, and print this! "We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This". http://ping.fm/g2Zfo

Effective Communications Month Tips: Answer the phone (remember them?) on the 2nd or 3rd ring. Give a professional greeting.

Take ownership of your actions and decide U can do something about other people's reactions 2 U. Placing blame elsewhere gets U nowhere.

RozTrieber says "Live Life Laughing" 2 counter negatives of illness. Spread the word_buy the book 2 support cancer fight. http://ping.fm/dw56D

RSVP=respond with an answer. You are invited. People plan food and setups based on numbers. Have the courtesy to reply.

Why quote someone else when U can write your own, then use it until everyone else quotes you. It "brands your brain".

Compiled a list of phrases that encourage cooperation from suggestions after change inhibitors. Use these often http://ping.fm/IgXFK

Accept compliments with a simple "Thank you" rather than "Oh, it's nothing" or "No problem".

Best customer service still person2person yet this is an interesting alternative http://ping.fm/TwED3

Compiled a list of phrases that inhibit change. Need lots more that encourage change! http://ping.fm/za40r

IM NT UR BZNS WRTG STL. Text messaging has its place as a communications tool, yet not in a professional business environ.

"Let's do lunch." If serious, follow up immediately w/2-3 dates & "Which of these R U available?" Gets commit & shows U mean biz.

Facilitated BunnySlippers_Balance_BFFs-Evolving_ Professionalism. Use "Contact Us" menu at SpringboardTraining.com to request handout.

Learning to manage multiple network updates using PING.fm (Steve Dorfman's recommendation)

10 Tips for Communicating Effectively (Effective Communications Month is June!)

(From "Stuff for Busy People: Proven Techniques You Can Use to Be An Effective Communicator" pocket reference book by Sylvia Henderson.)

Here's a sample of the 91 tips I've written and published in the above Pocket Reference Book. Ordering instructions are at the end of this post should you so choose. Feel free to pass these tips around to those who can benefit from them!

Speech Patterns – Practice articulation by saying tongue twisters out loud. Here's one to try: The sixth sheik's sixth sheep's sick.
Your Voice As A Tool – Be silent after you ask a question. Allow the other person time to answer.
Empathize, Clarify and Understand – Paraphrase or summarize the message you hear by saying-in your own words-what you think you heard.
Active Listening – Nod your head and verbally acknowledge you are listening at appropriate intervals in the conversation.
Body Language – Honor others' personal space. 1.5 feet-to-4 feet is considered American culture's personal space.
Small Talk – Keep conversations high-level at first. Deep feelings and stories are inappropriate for first meetings.
Giving and Receiving Feedback – Make a request to initiate the feedback session. For example, "May I talk to you about…"
Conflict – Avoid exaggeration. Reveal feelings and situations directly and use facts instead of gossip.
Meetings – Participants. Decide who will benefit from, contribute to, or will make decisions about the meeting topics.
Written Communication – E-Mail. Copy-and-paste a note rather than "forward". You eliminate the long list of e-mail addresses and the system transmission information that accompanies forwarded notes.

To order any of the Pocket Reference Books by Sylvia Henderson, go to http://www.springboardtraining.com/products/invest-success .

While June (every year) is Effective Communications Month, make every day of the year a day for communicating effectively.

“Success” Quotations: Resource

A zillion (is that a real number?) quotations sites are on the Internet. Here's one that has a nice set of quotations on the topic of "SUCCESS".

Wisdom Quotes – Success Quotations Resource

Across The Generations: Is Success Language the Same Language?

While researching for notes on generations in the workplace (WWII; Boomers; Xers; Millenials) I found a couple of excellent readings to share with you. Yes, this promotes other people's "stuff" rather than my own but that's okay. The more knowledge out there the better for all of us. So once you're finished reading these articles, come back to my blog 'cuz I'll continually have more for you.

And you can post a comment for your answer to the question: Is success language the same language for each of the generations in the workplace? Explain your viewpoint. You may find yourself noted on a future blog entry.

Across Generations:

As a note to the CURRENT Generation Y / Millennials. Based on an article in The Washington Post, YOU will be dealing with multi-generational issues in the workplace on the other end of the equation when this NEW CROP of people – born now – enter the workplace within 20 years!

(Sylvia's interjection: Why is it a lot of search results I find imply that it's the Millennials who need managing? Why not Millennials managing other generations? Just a thought.)