Anecdotal Leadership

Would you marry your job?

2012-01-29T21:12:00.002-05:00

A survey by Taleo Research took an interesting perspective concerning job satisfaction. They asked respondents to consider their feelings toward their job if it were to take human form.

Given that scenario:

· 33 percent said they like their job seriously enough to date it.

· 9 percent felt so strongly about their job that they would propose marriage.

· 5 percent claim they would break up immediately.

Being Assyrian in Canada

2012-01-25T10:31:00.005-05:00

Yesterday we shared a video about the Canadian culture. Here is a video made by an Assyrian in Canada. It looks at the issue of blended nationalities.

Crash course in being Canadian

2012-01-24T10:29:00.002-05:00

Here is a crash course in the Canadian culture.

Understanding Baby Boomers

2012-01-17T10:16:00.005-05:00

Generations X and Y are struggling to understand the Baby Boomer generation in much the way the Boomers tried to understand their parents and grandparents. The secret lies within the past pop-culture. Here is a video that explains the pop-culture during the early days of the Baby Boomers.

5 tips for understanding the American culture

2012-01-10T10:12:00.001-05:00

Want to understand the American culture? Here are five tips to help you out.

Doing business with the Chinese

2012-01-03T10:10:00.001-05:00

Have you been trying to build your business with the Chinese? Here is a humorous look at intercultural business dealings. Remember this anytime you are attempting to work cross-culturally as the humorous point it makes is that we are all different yet can we work together.

The kimono that embarrassed the tourist

2011-12-27T10:07:00.007-05:00

Visiting a resort in Japan, Mary wanted to impress others by her embracement of the local culture.

She decided to wear a dinner in one of the resort’s restaurants.

She folded the kimono from the right to the left and then went to restaurant.

The locals were polite, but they grinned with humor.

Click here to find out why.

3 tips for better listening

2011-12-22T22:01:00.002-05:00

Here are three tips for better listening.

Listening is the art of multitasking. Always listen with both your heart and your head. Networkers are usually good about listening with their head, but skip the heart part. This is the aspect of learning about the other person from a level that will reveal if you can truly work together and how they will relate to those to whom you refer them.
Empathy begins with listening. Empathy is the ability to get into another person head and better understand them. It is the key to long, strong relationships, life-long customers regardless of price, and knowing how you can provide true value within a business or personal relationship. It starts by listening with your ears and eyes. Do not focus on mere words. See the body language that goes with the words.
Listening requires a response. When you here something surprising, funny, or tragic do not discard it. Sure you may not know the perfect words to say but saying nothing is even worse. A simple “I’m never knew that” or “I’ll keep you in my prayers” or “Tell me more” are all ways to show you are about more than just money.

I hope this posting is beneficial to you and that it reinforces your commitment to fully listen to those with whom you network.

Understanding Halal food

2011-12-18T20:52:00.004-05:00

Do you understand Halal? Muslims are known for only eating Halal meats. Here is a video that explains what Halal is about.

Sharing knowledge

2011-12-15T19:06:00.004-05:00

Here are two very important rules of success:

1. Don't tell people everything you know.

Have a great day!

Motivating employees – the wrong way

2011-12-10T17:54:00.003-05:00

Think it’s easy going from front-line employee to supervisor? A supervisor’s boot camp would be helpful. Otherwise you just might see results like we see in this video:

Our Iceberg is Melting

2011-12-05T22:42:00.000-05:00

If you thought the book “Who Moved My Cheese” was a great illustration of how we handle change you will absolutely love “Our Iceberg is Melting”. It is the story of how a group of penguins must deal with the fact that their iceberg is slowly melting. Everything will change if they are to survive, but who will be the leading change agent and who will try to stick with the status quo.

It uses an anecdotal approach to learning, much like my own Life’s Leadership Lessons, so I know you will find it to be provocative and thought-provoking.

To learn more or to order this book, click here.

Overcoming fear of speaking in public

2011-12-01T19:44:00.001-05:00

Many people fear making public presentations. In fact public speaking is more feared than death and drowning in most public opinion polls.

To offset the fear, some people resort to PowerPoint as a crutch. This week’s video is a humorous look at what not to do when using PowerPoint. We think you will enjoy comic Don McMillan’s insightful review of common PowerPoint mistakes.

Insulting the New Zealand truck driver

2011-11-27T10:05:00.004-05:00

While John was driving through the rural countryside in New Zealand, he began to approach a truck ahead of him on the narrow winding road.

As he got close the truck pulled over to allow him to pass.

John gave a tap on the horn to thank the truck driver for the courtesy.

The truck driver was highly insulted.

Why? For the answer, click here.

How to leave an excellent voicemail

2011-11-22T22:03:00.004-05:00

How often do you get to speak to the decision-maker in person? Some studies say up to 70 percent of business phone calls go to VoiceMail. Clearly, it’s time to make this time- and money-saving device your friend.

Here’s how: Craft your 30-second elevator speech in writing. Use a friendly tone of voice and your client’s name. Practice your message, then read the speech as if you are saying it in person. Imagine grasping the client’s hand and looking him or her in the eye.

Most importantly be sure they are interested. A lively message addressing your product or services as a solution to a widespread business problem will capture their interest. However if you do not mention the problem in the first four seconds you can be sure they will delete you message before continuing.

Be sure to include your contact information, speaking clearly and distinctly. Visualize your client writing the number from your message. Then say, “I’ll call you back to continue or discussion.” Then do it.

Trains in Mexico

2011-11-19T07:46:00.000-05:00

Have you ever traveled to another country? You cannot understand the culture of a foreign culture by talking to people in hotels or at tourist attractions. It has been my pleasure to visit five countries. Each time I have spent some time in a subway, bus, train, or buggy meeting the country’s real people.

Here is a video from Mae Hoover wherein she shares her experience riding the train in Mexico. Enjoy it!

Monty Python’s applicant interview

2011-11-15T05:56:00.000-05:00

How are your interview skills? Monty Python shares. Python fails to realize what many HR professionals realize – applicants are also customers. Enjoy the video then contact us to learn today’s best practices in hiring.

Success can come late

2011-11-07T21:58:00.001-05:00

Age isn't always a factor in your success or failure. Consider these famous examples:

Actor George Bums won his first Oscar at age 80.
Golda Meir was 71 when she became prime minister of Israel.
At age 96, playwright George Bernard Shaw broke his leg when he fell out of a tree he was trimming in his backyard.
Painter Grandma Moses didn't start painting until she was 80 years old. She completed more than 1.500 paintings after that: 25 percent of those were produced when she was past 100.
Michelangelo was 71 when he painted the Sistine Chapel.
Physician and humanitarian Albert Schweitzer was still performing operations in his African hospital at 89.
Doe Counsilman, at 58, became the oldest person ever to swim the English Channel.
S. I. Hayakawa retired as president of San Francisco State University at 70. He was then was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Casey Stengel didn't retire from managing the New York Mets until he was 75.

Excerpt: Glenn Van Ekeren. The Speaker's Sourcebook. Prentice Hall. New York, NY

Blind people drive in England

2011-11-02T07:06:00.000-04:00

Check out this video about blind people given the right to drive in the UK.

Don’t say “fanny pack” in Australia

2011-10-27T10:03:00.004-04:00

While visiting Australia's beaches, John wanted something to help carry his stuff.

When he asked the clerk to see what she had in a fanny pack the manager threw him out of the store.

Why?

For the answer, click here.

Customer disservice

2011-10-17T18:33:00.006-04:00

Here is a cute "what not to do" customer service experience. Could any of the instances on the video apply at your workplace?

How the glasses got broken

2011-10-15T10:22:00.006-04:00

It is common for a case of fragile items to contain a picture warning the need for extra care.

However when a group of warehouse workers from the African port of Stevadores received a shipment of delicate glassware they tossed the boxes to each other to get them off the truck.

Click here to find out why.

The harmony of teamwork

2011-10-07T18:30:00.005-04:00

Learning from the people, events, and things in our lives is the subject of my book, “Life’s Leadership Lessons”. The principle is demonstrated by this melodic look at teamwork in the paradigm of music.

How The Helmsley chased away guests

2011-09-27T09:59:00.004-04:00

Leona Helmsley wanted to attract Indians to her Helmsley Palace Hotel in New York.

The ad appearing in India compared the facility to the elegance of the Taj Mahal.

Click here to find out why.

Facebook across generations

2011-09-22T07:04:00.000-04:00

Generations look at things differently. Here is a short video explaining the generationally different view of facebook.