Training Modules and Workbooks

On the Fourth of July:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:27:00 +0000

The fourth of July is a special time for people to picnic and celebrate family in the United States. Everywhere you go, there are fireworks in the evening. I love watching fireworks. I love the rumble and bang. I love feeling the earth shake. I just love fireworks!

My Dad, on the other hand, hates fireworks. He doesn't want to be anywhere near them. He doesn't want to hear them or see them. Yet you wouldn't blame him at all because he has experienced war - the Korean War. After what he has experienced, I suspect that I wouldn't want to see or hear fireworks either...I would have seen and heard them in a more frightening, life-changing form that I would never want to experience again.

Ah, fireworks!

On Feedback versus Coaching:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Feedback is just one aspect of coaching. Coaching can take many forms. In fact, feedback situations can turn into coaching situations. Feedback is just one more way to help coach a person to be the best they want to be.

For more on feedback, check out the Giving and Receiving Feedback eWorkbook and module.

On July:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:38:00 +0000

July always starts on the same day of the week as April.

July and August are named for emperors Julius Caesar and Augustus. The months had been called Quintilis and Sextilis because they were the fifth and sixth on the Roman calendar.

July is traditionally the busiest month for air travel in the U.S.; while August is traditionally the slowest month for new-car sales and Web traffic.

On Happiness:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:36:00 +0000

A study in The British Medical Journal has shown that happiness actually spreads from person to person, up to three connections away. "So if your friend's friend's friend becomes happier, it ripples through the network and affects you, even if you don't know that person," says author Nicholas Christakis, MD, a medical sociology professor at Harvard Business School.

Proximity plays a part: A happy sibling who is a mile a way can increase your probability of happiness by up to 14%; a nearby friend by 25%; and a next-door neighbor by 34%.

The effect also applies to smoking and obesity. According to Christakis, "If people around you gain weight, it changes your expectations about what an acceptable body size is. Our work strongly suggests that when one person quits smoking, loses weight, or becomes happy, others around her follow suit. I am reluctant to suggest you pick your friends solely on this basis, but one could say that helping a friend do better is a roundabout way of helping yourself."

So, create a happy day and watch the ripple~~~~~~~~

On Standards of Performance in Performance Management:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Standards of performance define what employees are expected to accomplish within a defined timeframe and the end result. Standards of Performance are reviewed and updated individually on an annual basis, subject to interim changes for legitimate business purposes.

For more on performance management, check out my eWorkbooks on Performance Management 1: The Cascade and Performance Management 2: The Details and my Performance Management module.

On Being Late:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:57:00 +0000

I hate to be late. Today I'm late providing my blog because there was a tremendous storm last night and we've been without power until just now.

We experienced hurricane winds (without rain that lasted for several hours) last fall. That was amazing...but nothing compared to the storm I experienced last night. I think it was the worst storm I've ever seen. It not only had the wind; it had the rain, too. It may have been short-lived as compared to the winds last fall, but it was destructive. For much of the time I thought I was Dorothy on her way to Oz.

On Leading By Example:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Nell Merlino, in Stepping Out of Line: Lessons for Women Who Want It Their Way in Life, in Love and at Work (Broadway) says, "In bathrooms, boardrooms, buses, bagel shops, and everywhere else, we all need to imagine a little girl following us around, repeating everything we say and everything we do. Think about all of the things you want for yourself and your daughters, granddaughters, and girls everywhere - and teach them by living it yourself."

Hmm...something to consider.

On Customer Service:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:16:00 +0000

Some studies show that it costs up to 85 times more money to get a new customer than to make an additional sale to an existing customer. So how do we retain our current customers?

Well, customer service is about reliability and it's about relationship. It's about trust. It's about the quality of your product. But more importantly, it's about the quality of your service before, during, and long after the sale.

So, what one step will you take today to retain your current customers?

On Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Energy Drains:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:02:00 +0000

What mental, physical, and spiritual energy drains have you allowed to enter and stay in your life? Are they tangible or intangible? And, what will you do about it?

For more on stress, check out my Coping and Stress eWorkbook and Stress Management module.

On Technology:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Oh, technology. We have gotten so "hooked" on technology that when it isn't working like we want it to, it throws off our whole day. I've been having "issues" with my wireless connection...ergo the late blog entry. I'm connected now, but not in my office...it seems to be too far away. A "booster" is on order that we hope will address the situation.

Not being at your desk brings up a whole other set of issues...like carrying everything to the new location...and forgetting some things, even after multiple trips. Not very efficient.

Life is good if this is the only issue I have to complain about:)

On the Brewers in Cleveland:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:03:00 +0000

Luckily Ron had business in Columbus and Cleveland, which allowed us to go to Cleveland to see Mat Gamel, the Designated Hitter for the Brewers (and my cousin's son), play Cleveland on both Tuesday and Wednesday night. We got to see him bat 10 times for a sweep of the Indians.

It was really exciting to be there. It was my first time in Cleveland's stadium. I hope I get to visit a lot more stadiums over the next decade! Congrats, Mat!

On Giving Thanks:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:48:00 +0000

I don't know about you, but each day I thank for what I have and ask for what I want...my desires.

Catherine Ponder, author of The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, said "I give thanks for the immediate, complete, divine fulfillment of these desires. This or something better comes forth with perfect timing according to God's rich good for me."

I like that Catherine reminds us to be ready for what we ask for...it or something better. I like to "breathe in" that idea...it makes me smile!

On Kentucky Mr. Baseball:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:10:00 +0000

Senior catcher, Luke Maile, was named 2009 Kentucky Mr. Baseball. Our nephew was also named the Gatorade Kentucky Baseball Player of the Year.

Luke has had many other honors, which I can't seem keep up on. Regardless, Luke is a talented, intelligent, young man to watch. He'll be successful whatever he chooses to do.

Good luck, Luke.

Feedback and Coaching:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:48:00 +0000

Both feedback and coaching are ongoing processes that help others improve and grow. Yes, not events, but processes. Feedback and coaching are meant to uplift; make us better; help us grow. What a gift to have someone help me grow and be better. I feel uplifted already!

For more on feedback, check out the Giving and Receiving Feedback eWorkbook and module.

On Strange Facts:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:56:00 +0000

The king of hearts is the only king without a moustache on a standard playing card.
The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. It was the fashion in Renaissance Florence to shave them off.
There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
Every day 20 banks are robbed. The average take is $2,500.
The most popular first name in the world is Muhammad.

On Interviewing:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:17:00 +0000

According to Dan and Chip Heath, authors of Made to stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Other Die, research consistently shows that one of the best predictors of job performance is a work sample. So, if you want to figure out whether the candidate can do the job, get them to "do" what they will need to do on the job. Interviews just show how well a candidate can interview.

For some of us, this requires us to rethink a belief about interviewing and consider modifying our approach. Happy interviewing...

On Keys to the City of Covington, KY:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:51:00 +0000

When my Great-Aunt Dorothy turned 100 years old on Tuesday, she was given the keys to the City of Covington by Mayor Bowman. Dorothy Muehlenkamp is the oldest of seven siblings. Her brother, Tom, lives in Hyde Park, Ohio and her sister, Betty Royce, lives with her husband, Bill, in Bend, Oregon.

Aunt Dorothy looked beautiful in her red dress. She had many well-wishers to celebrate this auspicious milestone. Congratulations, Aunt Dorothy. We love you!

On Position Descriptions in Performance Management:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:29:00 +0000

Each position description should contain a list of principal accountabilities that are required for the job. Principal accountabilities should not change unless the position description changes. Standards of performance are derived from the principal accountabilities.

Is this confusing? Then check out my eWorkbooks on Performance Management 1: The Cascade and Performance Management 2: The Details and my Performance Management module.

On Being 100 Years Old:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:19:00 +0000

Today is my Great-Aunt Dorothy's 100th birthday. She is a true testament that you can drink and smoke until old age. And, she even breaks the idea that you live longer if you're married - she's been single all her life. She's a "squeezer" (Ron's term) like me. For example, her favorite restuarant was Bill Knapps, where we had to go on our birthday - you got your age percentage off (her dinner would be free today) plus you got a chocolate cake! (No wonder they are out of business now!)

Dorothy Muehlenkamp is the oldest of 7. My grandfather was the second oldest. Other siblings are Sue, Bob, Tom, Rita, and Betty. Tom still lives in Cincinnati, Ohio and Betty Muehlenkamp Royce lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband Bill.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Dorothy! Here's to a life well-lived!

On Copy and Paste:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:15:00 +0000

Blogger has always let me copy and paste my thoughts for the day. Today...no luck. Which reminded me of how we get use to doing things a certain way. I must admit that I wish it would work, but I'm not frustrated. This experience reminds me that I always have a choice as to how I react. How will you react to things that happen to you today?

In the meantime, I'll hope that the copy and paste feature works tomorrow:)

On Planning as Part of Time Management:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:13:00 +0000

Successful time management demands careful, regular planning. If you're like most people, you may feel you don't have enough time to plan. The problem is, you won't have any more planning time available for your activities until you begin to plan effectively. That's the paradox.

For more on time management, check out my Time Management eWorkbook and module.

On Milestones Reached On The Diamond:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:31:00 +0000

In its victory over Holmes, Covington Catholic senior Luke Maile (my nephew) got the 1,165th hit of his high school career, setting the all-time school record. He also hit his 36th career double to set another CovCath record. An excellent season!

On 20 Ways to Get Mentally Tough:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:56:00 +0000

Here's the next 5 (Excerpt from Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else):

When you wake up in the morning, take a morning walk of gratitude and prayer. It will create a fertile mind ready for success.
When you fear, trust. Let your faith be greater than your doubt.
When you fail, find the lesson in it, and then recall a time when you have succeeded.
When you head into battle, visualize success.
When you are thinking about the past or worrying about the future, instead focus your energy on the present moment. The now is where your power is the greatest.

On Relationship Coping Resources for Stress:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:50:00 +0000

The Relationship Coping Resources are:

problem solving, which is the ability to deal directly with the difficult situations and make positive changes to resolve them.
communication, which is the ability to share thoughts and feelings with others, in order to promote mutual understanding, even under difficult circumstances;.
closeness, which is the degree to which you have the ability and desire to develop supportive relationships in each area of your life.
flexibility, which is the degree of organization in your life - openness to diverse thoughts and opinions - as well as a level of comfort with situations that are unstructured and unpredictable.

For more on stress, check out my Coping and Stress eWorkbook and Stress Management module.

On Something Better for Me:

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Otto) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:55:00 +0000

Dolly Parton said, "I went from no electricity in my early days right into this new high-tech world. Course I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground about it. But I surround myself with people that do."

Danny Nozell, Parton's manager, says, "Her faith drives her. She thinks about things, she prays about them, then she makes a decision. And the decisions more often than not go her way."

When they don't, Parton still keeps the faith. "I think, 'Well, maybe God's got something better for me.'"

I like the way Dolly thinks! Thanks for the reminder, Dolly.