Randy Clark's Blog, page 13

How to Help Your Team One Member at a Time

So, what do I know about how to help your team one team member at a time? It took me more years in management than I want to admit, learning to help my team rather than attempting to boss and bully. Fortunately, I did learn. Here are a few of the lessons.

How to Help Your Team One Member at a Time See more in people

See more in them than they see in themselves – When you recognize the potential in others that they don’t see in themselves and help them achieve their potential, you become a life changer.

Provide Personalized Feedback 

Offer constructive feedback specific to each team member’s development areas. Encouraging their growth through personalized guidance can lead to improved skills and confidence.

Share what you know

Share your knowledge. Train, teach, present, and offer to meet one-on-one

Share what you’ve learned

Let others know your successes, but more importantly, your mistakes. Give others a chance to learn from your              miscues. Inform them of pitfalls, roadblocks, and challenges.

Keep an open mind

You may not have the best or only thought. Support the initiatives of others.

Be a mentor

Take people under your wing. Help others get what they want by giving them what they need. Elevate those around you. Share your talents, give your heart, be courageous, and make a difference. Share insights on how you can support professional growth and development. Highlight the importance of providing opportunities for learning, skill development, and career advancement.

Understand Individual Needs  

Take the time to understand each team member’s strengths, weaknesses, and aspirations. Tailoring your support to their specific needs can boost their performance and morale.

Listen Actively 

Actively listen to individual team members’ concerns, ideas, and feedback. Showing that you value their input can foster trust and create a supportive environment for each team member. Emphasize the role of open communication in promoting a positive team environment.

Speak Simply and Value Ideas 

When interacting with team members, communicate clearly and value everyone’s ideas. Keeping communication simple and straight to the point can prevent confusion and encourage participation. Provide constructive feedback tips and actively listen to team members’ concerns and ideas.

Schedule Regular Open Meetings 

Set up regular meetings to create opportunities for open communication and feedback within the team. Using this time to discuss challenges, successes, and goals can help build a stronger team bond.

Build Trust

Explore strategies for building trust and camaraderie both one-on-one and within the team, such as team-building activities and creating a supportive work culture. Discuss the impact of personal connections and informal interactions on team dynamics.

Celebrate

Discuss the significance of celebrating team successes and recognizing individual achievements. Explore ways             to  show appreciation and reward individual team members for their hard work and contributions.

Connect Outside of Work 

Take team members out for coffee or engage in informal settings to build personal relationships. These interactions can create trust and a sense of camaraderie within the team.

A Challenge

I have a challenge for you. Since You Can’t Talk Shit Done (or read it done), pick one bullet point from the list to take action on to improve, even if it’s taking it from good to great.

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

Does your business have a management training plan? Businesses and universities use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. I’m also available to conduct training.

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

 

 

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Lifestyle Choices

My wife taught me about lifestyle choices. I thought I knew what it meant, but I didn’t. A couple of years ago she lost nearly 20 pounds in less than a year. It wasn’t unusual for old friends and acquaintances who hadn’t seen her for a while to ask her if she was okay. She was. She wasn’t obese initially, and she wasn’t obsessed with losing weight. She wanted to live a healthier lifestyle.

Lifestyle Choices Competition or Lifestyle?

I was the opposite. I joined a weight loss competition and weighed myself daily, sometimes more than once. I starved myself before weigh-ins, didn’t drink water or coffee before I stood on the scales, and took my shoes off. For me, it was more about the competition than an improved lifestyle.

My wife asked me what my weight loss intentions were, and I explained that I wanted to lose weight weekly during the contest. Then she asked, “What about after that?” Good question. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. I wanted to keep the weight off, but the truth is I’d participated in this group weight loss effort previously, lost weight, but eventually put it all back on.

A Lifestyle Choice 

My wife looked at me and said, “If you want to live healthier, you won’t accomplish it through an eight-week contest. You’ll have to change your lifestyle.” She was right. I’m still working on lifestyle changes. I’ve cut out several foods that trigger compulsive eating, such as potato chips and cookies. I’ve reduced late-night snacks, and I’m working on eliminating them.

I’m walking, hiking, gardening, and exercising more, and I’ve reduced my intake of carbohydrates by at least 75%. These changes aren’t only for the Thursday before the Friday morning weigh-in. They are lifestyle choices that are becoming lifestyle changes.

Healthy Lifestyle ChoicesReplace Trigger Foods 

For me, it was chips and cookies. I‘ve replaced them with seaweed snacks; my favorite is Wasabi-flavored. I also snack on edamame, almonds, and carrots. Another key for me is avoiding temptation; for example, I no longer walk down the cookie or chip aisles in the grocery store. When I worked in an office I avoided the Friday morning box of donuts. I knew I couldn’t just eat one.

Sleep 8 Hours

Sleep at least eight hours a night. I’ve always believed I was a night owl and didn’t need as much sleep as others. The truth is I could function on less sleep but wasn’t at my optimum. It wasn’t a healthy lifestyle choice. For me, the key to eight hours of sleep is turning off my TV at night and not falling asleep with it on.

Smile and Cry 

Be happy. Be a glass-half-full person, and you’ll live a longer, healthier, and happier life, but at the same time, don’t hold it in when you need to let it. A good cry is a healthy lifestyle choice; it gives relief and removes toxins. Psychology Today — The health benefits of tears. 

Stop Stressing 

Stress is a killer, mentally and physically. More and more research shows us that stress can lead to chronic illness, shortened lifespans, and mental duress. Stop Stressing Out Now!

Exercise 

You don’t have to run a marathon, bench 300 pounds, or do CrossFit seven days a week. You do need to get off the couch and exercise. My preferred activity is hiking because it accomplishes two things: exercise and time outdoors.

Lifestyle Change is a Choice 

Your plan for improved health and wellness won’t look like mine. Our needs, as well as our triggers and bad habits, aren’t the same. However, like me, If you want to change your life, you’ll have to change your choices.

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

Does your business have a management training plan? Many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. I’m also available to conduct training.

If you enjoyed this post you might also like,   A Book Review: Make Peace with Your Mind

Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash

 

 

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Are You Behind On Your Blog? How To Meet Your Deadlines Today!

So, are you behind on your blog? The better title for this post might have been How to Get Ahead of Your Blog because I will talk about that. However, I feel confident that most readers who see and read this title have a blog and are behind.

I hope that doesn’t sound snarky or mean-spirited. It’s just what I’ve found to be true. Too many blogs inconsistently post new content, and some haven’t seen anything new for a long time. Why is that?

Why Are You Behind on Our Blog?

I said I’d talk about how to get ahead of your blog, but that begins by knowing why you’re behind. I’ve discussed this with individuals, marketing teams, and social media clubs. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Lack of Priority. Something is always more urgent than blogging. Part of the problem is when people get caught up in urgent tasks, those sudden fires that only they can put out, it keeps you away from the important tasks. The important tasks are those that help you reach your goals. Everyone who has a business blog knows how important content is. I don’t have to talk about Google bots, content, and SEO because you already know. So why are you behind? Try this: the next time you have an urgent task that will take you away from important tasks such as blogging, ask yourself this.Should I do this right now?Who else could handle this?If I do this now, what am I putting off?

Sometimes, you’ll need to jump to the urgent task, but not always.

The exception becomes the rule. We’re creatures of habit, good and bad. Blogging is an easy thing to put off. There’s no immediate reward. Deadlines aren’t real; we won’t miss a sale or a contract because we’re late on a blog post. And that’s a big part of the problem. Once we let a blog post slide, it becomes easier and easier to let it go until you realize the last time a new piece of content was published was four months ago.The lack of a plan. There are very few things in business of much significance that don’t require a plan. Procedure books, written policies, and checklists abound. We wouldn’t think of attempting to complete payroll, accounting, or human resources by the seat of our pants, but that’s precisely the blogging plan that too many businesses use. The lack of a plan is a plan to fail.So, How Do You Get Ahead of a Blog?

I was having dinner with a friend. She has her own business and recently hired her first employee. This entrepreneur was behind on her blog but believed adding an employee would give her more time to write.

She asked for my advice. I inquired as to her writing plan. She didn’t have one other than carving out a couple of hours here and there. I asked her how her plan was working, and she admitted she often sat in front of the keyboard and wondered what to write about.

She’s not alone, is she? I’ve heard the same from national firms, NFPs, and private businesses I’ve helped. I know the trauma of staring at a blank keyboard all too well. You see, it’s the same mistake I made several years ago. Here’s what I’ve learned.

You Can’t Do it All at Once

Like my friend learned, if you plan to block out time and write, it may be more challenging than you think. Like many complicated tasks, it may be better to break blogging into segments. I’ll explain.

Writing uses the creative side of your brain; editing uses the logical. Attempting to write and edit at the same time creates a disconnect. Try this the next time you write. Turn off spell check while you write. You’ll find the creative juices flow freer because you don’t keep turning them off by switching your brain to and fro.

Break Your Blog Down Into Actionable Steps

If you’ve tried sitting down to write with no plan, how’s that worked for you? So, make a plan, here’s a start.

Identify topics and add them to an editorial calendarUnder each topic, list three or four ideasPick an idea to write about and do a little researchWrite the post; do not edit as you goLet the post sit for 24 hoursEditPost it on your siteFind an imageProofread one last timePublishDouble-check it on your website

That’s the basics of a plan. It’s a start. And if you want to get ahead and stay consistent, have at least four posts ready before you publish the first. If you publish one new post per week, you’re four weeks ahead.

How to get started today!

I’ve thrown a lot at you fast, and I know I’ve over-simplified it, but if you’re behind on your blog and want to get ahead, it’s a start. If you want more, go to my book, How to Stay Ahead of Your Business Blog Forever, It’s only 14 bucks, but if you can’t afford it, contact me, and I’ll send you a free copy because I’ve been where you are, behind on my blog, with no light at the end of the tunnel. This book, which is based on all the mistakes I’ve made, is a way to the light, and I’m more than a little passionate about it.

You might also enjoy 6 Ways to Update Old Blog Posts.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

 

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10 Business Social Media Good Manners to Follow

While researching 10 business social media good manners, I found this article, 16 Forgotten Manners Every Parent Should Teach Their Child. I recommend sharing the article with your children, and if you use social media in business, share it with your team. Here are a few points from the article that you can use with kids and on a business’s social media.

10 Business Social Media Good Manners Respect other people

Don’t belittle or laugh at others in public, which includes social media networks, unless you want to lose prospects and be known as negative. If you could offer suggestions for improvement and genuinely want to help, do it privately. 

Be helpful to others

I’ve said this many times, but social media is attraction, not promotion. It feels good to help others and is also one of the best ways to attract potential partners and customers.

Say good morning and good afternoon

Pretty simple. But it can set a tone, especially when sent to an individual.

Say please, and thank you

I don’t believe we do this enough in business or on social media. Do you disagree with me? Try this: a “please and thank you project.” Take one day and say the “magic words” at every opportunity, whether in-person, on social media, by email, or in any correspondence, then let me know if you say “please” and “thank you” more than usual.

Be polite

Once again, being rude or inconsiderate towards others is a great way to lose customers.

Don’t use foul language. It may be offensive to others

I recently DM’d a friend thanking them for the hilarious link they RT’d, which was not PG-rated. I did not RT it. I’m not a prude. I’m in business, and it could negatively affect my business. You might dispute me with, “Today, most people aren’t offended by harsh language; it’s part of our culture.” This may be true, but no one is offended by polite language, so why take the chance?

Have fun, but don’t be so loud you attract the wrong kind of attention

Honestly, this is a tough one for me. I like to have fun, and I like to talk about beer. A co-worker says I’m really a 13-year-old boy. Just be careful, and don’t over-do it.

Don’t make fun of anyone – everyone has feelings

This can be difficult. It’s easy to poke fun at someone’s expense, and sometimes, it’s funny, but it can be hurtful. Has this happened to you? Don’t misunderstand me; we all poke fun at our friends. However, we should always stop and consider before hitting send. 

Use good manners so you don’t embarrass anyone

Another sure way to lose friends and customers is to embarrass them. I know because without thinking, I’ve done this and then wished for a do-over. Think first, act second. There are no do-overs.

Introduce new friends to people you are with

If you want to make friends, help others, and gain new clients, introduce people.

Trust me, I’m not throwing stones. I need these reminders as much as anyone, maybe more. Is there anyone who DOESN’T believe these manners are worth teaching our children? Is there anyone who hasn’t occasionally NOT followed them? I might print a copy and hang it over my keyboard.

This post was originally published in 2012, 10 GOOD MANNERS FOR KIDS AND BUSINESSES ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I think it’s held up well. 

  How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

So, does your business have a management training plan? If not, many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. Check it out. It might help you stop putting off what you want to do.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like Pick One.

Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash

 

 

The post 10 Business Social Media Good Manners to Follow appeared first on Randy Clark Leadership Training.

The Next Big Thing in Blogging The Scanabilty Filter

Editor’s note: While editing this post from Mr. Clark, I searched for a hyperlink to “The Scanabilty Filter – A New Way to Write.” I didn’t find one because there is no such thing, and this post is illogical. You can be certain the writer’s tongue was held to his cheek throughout the entire post.

Content marketing is not going away, but it IS changing. Modern society continues to demand all things shorter and faster with more convenience, from food preparation to social media. The Scanabilty Filter – A New Way to Write will impact blogging. It’s become a common practice to browse blogs and not really read them. Most of us look for a blog’s key points or takeaways; few actually read the entire piece. Presentation and typography have become increasingly critical; whether it’s using bold bullet points, multiple subheads, or infographics the idea is to make it easy for the reader to grasp the key content quickly.

The Scanability Filter Takes Blogging to a New Level

A mentor once told me common sense wasn’t common; it was genius. Sometimes, something is so simple and obvious we don’t see it, such as what The Filter does for our writing. When we read what do we really take in? Do we read every conjunction? Do we sub-vocalize every adverb? And how about punctuation, do we even pay attention to punctuation when we read? I don’t think so, and neither does The Filter.

How Does it Work?

It’s so simple. The Filter cuts out everything except nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs. I mean, that’s all we need anyway, right? Who needs all those pesky exclamation points, commas, and semicolons anyway? All you have to do is put any blog post through the Filter, and voila! Nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs are all that remains.

An example using the paragraph above:

“Its simple Filter cuts everything except nouns pronouns adjectives verbs all we need Who needs pesky exclamation points commas semicolons you do blog Filter voila nouns pronouns adjectives verbs all remains”

It’s SO much better and more readable, isn’t it?! Well ok, it looks like there are some issues, but The Scanability Filter – A New Way to Write is still in beta.

Do you want to take your blog to the next level of readability? Are you ready to follow the simplicity trend, and keep your writing in touch with today’s world?

Comments on this post are appreciated. However, they will be limited to nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs only.

How Can I Help You? 

Let me know if I can offer any help or advice. If this post struck a nerve, you should check out my book, How to Stay Ahead of Your Business Blog Forever. The book contains action plans to create a blogging/writing system that works for you.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like, What Makes a Blog Attractive to Readers?

Photo by Devin Pickell on Unsplash

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How to Conduct Sales Meetings that Bring Results

How to conduct sales meetings that bring results might not be what you think. I work with businesses as a consultant. One small but growing company has retained me to work with twelve managers on leadership development. One of the managers worked with me twenty years ago. He’s the sales manager for this organization. Last week, he asked me how, twenty years ago, I got so much out of him and others from our meetings. How did I conduct sales meetings that brought results? I told him. He took notes. I’ll share it with you, but first, let’s set the stage. (If you can’t wait, jump ahead to how to get the most out of every meeting.)

How to Conduct Sales Meetings that Bring ResultsKeys to an Effective Sales MeetingHave a Plan

I don’t care how good of an extemporaneous speaker you are; you’ll do much better with a plan. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but you should know what you want to cover, who you want to involve, and how you will deliver the message. How to Plan an Effective Meeting

Follow a Schedule

Set a start time, be on time, and expect others to be punctual. This is where most advisers tell you to have a start and an end time, but I won’t. You should have a “no later than” time but not an arbitrary end time. Parkinson’s Law states, “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” I will explain this rule before meetings and state we may not need all the allotted time; if so, we’ll end early. 3 Ways Understanding Parkinson’s Law Leads to More Productive Meetings

Don’t Gripe and Complain

I worked for a sales manager who spent every morning complaining about the previous day in a sales meeting. If business was good, he scolded the team on paperwork; if the paperwork was good, he told us our work areas weren’t professional enough. He never had a problem naming names and calling people out. After being called out publicly, one team member stood up, tossed his office keys at the sales manager, and stormed out; he didn’t return. A meeting isn’t the place for reprimand—that should be one-on-one. A meeting is a place for recognition, not castigation.

Avoid Lecturing

Your team will only listen to 15 – 20 minutes of you droning on and on before they fade away. To avoid this:

Involve your team in the meeting.Allow them to ask questions rather than lecture.Call on teammates to share, demonstrate, or offer advice.Don’t be the only one in the room talking.

I’ve conducted thousands of sales meetings; at one time, I held meetings five days a week for more than seven years. Very few of my meetings lasted thirty minutes. Most were shorter. The key to meeting brevity is to keep it simple by choosing one topic and not straying from it.

Eliminate Distractions

Don’t settle for turning phones off—leave them out of the room. Even a phone on mute is a distraction. And leave yours out of the meeting as well. Don’t allow interruptions. Tell your staff to take messages and DND the meeting. Very few things in life are so urgent they can’t wait 30 minutes.

 How to Get the Most Out of Every Meeting 

In the first paragraph, I told the story of my former teammate asking me how I got the team to produce from meetings. The answer is all the points listed above, plus actions and commitments. I learned the most effective meetings ended with an action plan and a commitment to follow through. Actions and commitments should be at the top of the list for how to conduct sales meetings.

At the beginning of the meeting, introduce the topic and announce the end goal of the meeting, which is for each to devise an action plan and commit to the plan.Share actionable ideas throughout the meeting.Allow team members to devise an action plan of their own.At the end of the meeting, ask for each member’s action plan and their commitment to follow through.Note the action plans for follow-up.

When I gave my former teammate the answer to his question, I said to end with an action plan and a commitment. He looked thoughtful, made a note, and said, “Yea, that’s it.” I waited a minute and asked, “What’s your plan?”

Are You in Sales Management?

Are you leading people or managing projects? Do you set goals based on activities to continue, eliminate, or improve or do you strictly look at the results? Do you believe one sales strategy fits all your clients and all your sales team? If so, you’re walking the streets I paved, and those streets lead to disappointment. The good news is if you recognize these behaviors in yourself, you can change. I did. I eventually became a highly effective sales manager and so can you. This workbook is a good place to start. The New Sales Managers Workbook

Photo by Cherrydeck on Unsplash

The post How to Conduct Sales Meetings that Bring Results appeared first on Randy Clark Leadership Training.

How Many of These Collective Nouns Do You Know?

I saw a post about collective nouns last week and was surprised at my ignorance. I knew a three. Three. So, it was time to learn about collective nouns. Most of these animal collective nouns first appeared in the 14th and 15th centuries and were based on hunting. Yes, hunting. How many can you answer correctly?

a murder of ____________________________________a tuxedo of _____________________________________a bask of _______________________________________a destruction of _________________________________a tower of _______________________________________a parliament of __________________________________a cackle of ______________________________________a smack of ______________________________________an ambush of ___________________________________a wisdom of _____________________________________a sounder of ______________________________________a leap of __________________________________________a bevy of __________________________________________an exaltation of ___________________________________a murmuration of _________________________________a troop of _________________________________________a barrel of _________________________________________a tower of _________________________________________a parliament of ____________________________________How many did you get right? a murder of crowsa tuxedo of penguinsa bask of crocodilesa destruction of catsa tower of giraffesa parliament of owlsa cackle of hyenasa smack of jellyfishan ambush of tigersa wisdom of wombatsa sounder of swinea leap of leopardsa bevy of quailan exaltation of larksa murmuration of starlingsa troop of baboonsa barrel of monkeysa tower of giraffesa parliament of owls

Did you know collective nouns aren’t only about animals?

Here are seven examples a feast of brewersa goring of butchersa doctrine of doctorsa congregation of peoplean eloquence of lawyersa drunkenship of cobblersa skulk of thieves

Some collective nouns are easy to understand, such as a leap of leopards. I get it leopard’s leaping or a tower of giraffes, and if you’ve ever owned a cat, you can relate to the destruction of cats. But why a murder of crows?

“Etymologists suggest that the association of crows and ravens with death might have led to the name, but the writer of the manuscript where a murder of crows first appeared gives no hint.” — Collective Nouns — What do you call a group of cats? Dogs? Marmosets? Lawyers?

But wait, there’s more! 

What about a herd, flock, colony, swarm, or school? Are they collective nouns? If they include a living thing, then yes. A herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, or a swarm of bill collectors, I mean bees.

So, I hope this was fun. It was for me. If, like me, you only knew a few, it’s an enjoyable rabbit hole to jump down. With enough research, we can rise above the ignorance of people who collectively don’t know a collective noun from a melody of harpists.

Photo by JJ Shev on Unsplash

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Getting the Most Out of Working with Salespeople

Getting the most out of working with salespeople isn’t always easy or possible. We’ve all had sales experiences that left a bad taste in our mouths, for example, Just Say No to Bad Sales Tactics. Most of us have dealt with salespeople that didn’t deliver the goods. And more than once, we’ve been disappointed when working with salespeople or a sales team that didn’t meet our expectations.

Unless we cut salespeople out of our lives, the odds are we will all be faced once again with sales teams whose results are less than desired. So, what’s the answer? Buy everything online. I don’t know if that’s possible, and besides, one can still be disappointed with an online purchase. There might not be an absolute answer. However, there is something we all can do to avoid the bitter pill of a disappointing sales experience by being the best, most proactive customer possible. Here’s how:

Getting the Most Out of Working with SalespeopleKnow What You Want

Know what you want, not what you think you want, but what you need, and then share your expectations of the product or service. If you don’t give the salesperson your expectations, what can you expect?

Share Your Budget

If you’re worried that sharing your budget will jack up the price, you can do one of two things: offer a range or find another provider because if the level of trust is that low, then other problems will emerge. Sharing your budget can help the sales team serve your needs.

Explain What You Don’t Want

If there’s a product or option you don’t want, then don’t waste your salesperson’s time. Let them know upfront what doesn’t fit your needs.

Provide Information

Give the sales team every bit of information they need. Don’t guess at it when the salesperson asks for information, don’t wait a month to provide the info, and don’t change the information several times during the sales process.

Unify Your Team

Never tell a sales team to begin the process without consulting everyone on your end who could affect the decision. From the sales perspective, nothing is more discouraging than starting work on a project and then scrapping it because the customer changed their mind. If you’re the sole decision maker, don’t begin the order process until you know what you want. Change orders can be expensive and lead to problems.

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

Give the salesperson time to deliver the product you want. Rush jobs are a sure way to lead to mistakes and disappointments.

Pay Your Bill

What does paying your bill have to do with working with a salesperson? Try not paying your bills promptly and see how responsive the sales team is to your next request.

Know What You’re Talking About

If you don’t understand what you’re hearing, don’t nod your head in agreement, ask questions, or bring a team member into the discussion who does understand.

And Sometimes it Won’t Matter

Yes, occasionally, when working with salespeople, you can do everything right; you can dot all your I’s and cross all your T’s, and the outcome may still be less than desired. However, you can avoid a lot of expense and disappointment by being a proactive customer. The best customer can make a mediocre salesperson look good, and isn’t that the outcome we all desire?

Are You in Sales Management?

Are you leading people or managing projects? Do you set goals based on activities to continue, eliminate, or improve or do you strictly look at the results? Do you believe one sales strategy fits all your clients and all your sales team? If so, you’re walking the streets I paved, and those streets lead to disappointment. The good news is if you recognize these behaviors in yourself, you can change. I did. I eventually became a highly effective sales manager and so can you. This workbook is the place to start. The New Sales Managers Workbook

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

 

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How to Be a Mindful Driver

Learning how to be a mindful driver isn’t difficult. Laws and regulations such as FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) Distracted Driving Regulations have been implemented as an attempt to reduce the incidence of distracted driving by regulating some of the causes. The NHTSA stated that distracted driving led to more than 3,000 fatalities in 2020. However, the toll is much higher when you consider not all distracted driving crashes lead to deaths. Think about this: 324,652 people were hurt in distracted driving crashes in 2020.

How to Be a Mindful DriverMindful Drivers Are:Rested 

Would you drive after consuming several adult beverages? Why not? Inebriated driving is an obvious distraction. Alcohol alters thinking and slows the brain. So does the lack of rest. You shouldn’t drive in either altered state.

Prepared 

Remember Driver’s Ed? What were the first things your instructor taught you to do when you got behind the wheel? Check mirrors, set the seat, fasten the seat belt—be prepared before you start the engine.

Clear-minded

Leaving emotional issues, projects, and problems at the door will clear your mind for the task at hand.

Vigilant

Mindful drivers are aware of their surroundings; they drive ahead and never have to tell a law enforcement officer, “I didn’t see him.”

Calm

Driving America’s highways isn’t a competition. It’s not NASCAR. It should never be a source of anger. In its single-mindedness, road rage may be the worst driving distraction of all. I remember a story about a local teenager being clocked at 135 MPH because he was mad at another driver. Thank goodness he was stopped by law enforcement.

Cautious 

Driving cautiously isn’t only being aware of traffic and road conditions but adjusting driving accordingly. Not dangerously slow, such as 35 in a 55 MPH, but at a speed fitting the conditions. Once, I drove from southern Indiana to Indianapolis in an ice storm. Ice and sleet covered the highway for most of the trip. In my younger days, I would’ve pushed the car and my abilities to the limit, endangering myself and others. I averaged less than 40 MPH. We arrived safe and sound.

Undistracted

Yep, mindful drivers don’t text and drive; they aren’t on the phone and only check their Facebook updates once parked.

If you want to be a mindful driver and not a statistic, it’s simple: keep your mind on driving. Driving isn’t an activity that should be shared with part of your consciousness; it takes your entire mind and concentration to avoid disaster. The next time you’re behind the wheel, be mindful of mindful driving.

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

Does your business have a management training plan? Many organizations, large and small, use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. I’m also available to conduct training.

If you enjoyed this post you might also like,   A Book Review: Make Peace with Your Mind

Photo by Jan Baborák on Unsplash

The post How to Be a Mindful Driver appeared first on Randy Clark Leadership Training.

How to Keep Customers Happy or Lose Them

How to keep customers happy is a hard lesson to learn. At least it was for me. When was the last time a customer fired you? Have you ever been surprised by a customer leaving you? It’s never a good situation, but it’s worse when you realize there was something you could have done. And if a customer left you for a competitor, there most likely was something you could’ve and should’ve done. If the relationship with the lost client cannot be salvaged, at least you can take a hard look at why you lost your customer and work towards avoiding the same with other customers.

How to Keep Customers HappyTimely Communication

Customers want updates, and most don’t want to have to initiate the contact. Customers have communication preferences, and it’s up to you, the provider, to determine if they prefer an email, call, or visit. They don’t want to be put off or ignored; when a client asks for information—they wanted it an hour ago.

Tell the Truth

The surest way to begin down the path to losing a customer is to over-promise; when a company under-delivers, the customer starts to doubt and suspect every action and correspondence. It’s not a fun path to be on. Don’t surprise customers with invoice add-ons or undisclosed exceptions. Be upfront.

Make it Personal

Treating your customers like friends makes it difficult for them to leave you. Of course, you must deliver a good product at a fair price, but knowing your customers’ preferences goes a long way. How would you treat a friend who bought your product?

Be on Time

No, be early to the meeting for a conference call and deliver the product. None of us have enough hours in the day in this hustle-bustle world we live in, and if you make your customers wait—you may be waiting a long time.

Show Your Professionalism

Be professional in appearance, demeanor, and presentation. Don’t present an idea to a customer on a napkin. Create outstanding collateral material; use PowerPoint presentations, and product mock-ups. If not, someone who is more professional will steal your customer away. Take the time to research their industry and get to know your customer’s niche. Send a thank you card through the mail, and occasionally send a promotional gift.

Solve Problems

Listen to your customer. Ask questions. Learn what their needs are and find solutions.

Follow-up

Send a customer satisfaction survey, call or visit, and ask for criticism. Learn what you and your company could do better, what else you should offer, and where you fail to meet your client’s expectations.

What Makes Customers UnhappyOver-promising and Under-delivering 

Overselling delivery time, quality, or function is the fastest way to lose a customer.

Lack of Timely Information and Follow-up

When a customer calls—answer your phone. When they email, respond when you open the email; if you have time to open it, you have time to reply.

Not Listening 

If you spend your client time pitching your customers rather than determining and fulfilling their needs, they’ll pitch you out the door.

Forgetting Their name 

People don’t want to be a number. They want to matter. They want you to make them feel important, and aren’t they?

Lying

Not only out-and-out lies but lies by omission. Is it a lie to omit important product information because it may not be favorable to your customer’s needs? So, is it a lie to not thoroughly explain pricing, invoicing, and payment? Is it a lie to sell an inferior product to hold the price down when a superior product is better suited to the customer’s needs? Would your customer consider these lies? Would you if you were in their shoes?

Unprofessional Behavior

If you’re unorganized and unprepared, you’ll be un-customer-erd. 

If You Don’t Make Them Happy, Someone Will 

Knowing how to keep customers happy takes a commitment to professionalism, your customers, and your organization to do what is needed to retain customers. However, committing the time and energy required to keep your customers happy is still less expensive and less time-consuming than trying to replace them.

How Can I Help You?

I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me. 

Are ou in Sales Management?

Are you leading people or managing projects? Do you set goals based on activities to continue, eliminate, or improve or do you strictly look at the results? Do you believe one sales strategy fits all your clients and all your sales team? If so, you’re walking the streets I paved, and those streets lead to disappointment. The good news is if you recognize these behaviors in yourself, you can change. I did. I eventually became a highly effective sales manager and so can you. This workbook is the place to start. The New Sales Managers Workbook

Photo by Blake Wisz on Unsplash

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