Dianna Booher's Blog, page 25

12 Communication Habits to Be a Better Boss

Nobody intends to be a bad boss. Managers aspire to earn the respect of their team, engage their people in the mission, and win their loyalty for the long term. For the best bosses, those things happen. Other managers, however, struggle with the relationship-side of their responsibilities.

 

So What’s The Big Challenge?

Ask their team members to identify problem areas and you’ll find that most of the glitches in getting things done center around communication:

 

Do These Communication Comp...

5 Ways to Gain Credibility With Executive Leaders

(This article first appeared on Forbes here.)

Few things are more frustrating than identifying a problem, developing a viable solution, hearing accolades from coworkers only to have your executive team question the very premise of your recommendation.

Rather than being greeted with gratitude and confidence, in their presence, you feel as credible as Bernie Madoff offering stock options. So how do you gain credibility as a trusted advisor whom your executive team calls for opinions and solu...

8 Signs You’re About to Hire the Wrong Job Applicant

Piles of résumés represent time to wade through job applicants, trying to match a position with a person’s expertise and skills. It would be so much faster if the unsuitable job applicants walked in with a stamp on their forehead: “Reject.” Then you’d have time to spend with the best qualified candidates.

The best candidates have unique qualifications, while the worst candidates share common flaws. Here are the glaring signs that can help you short-circuit those time-wasting interviews in...

Why Going to Funerals Is Good for You

Please hear me out on this: Life is not all about hype and happiness. Meaning bubbles to the psyche from moments of sadness as often as glee. Relationships among coworkers, friends, and family mean you’ll eventually lose those you love. And as part of working through your grief, you’ll attend a funeral or memorial to celebrate their life.

Certainly, “paying your respects” honors the deceased and comforts their family members. But consider how your presence at such services benefits you by...

Why Prospects Don’t Answer Their Phone—and How to Change Things

Answering your phone can be a dicey experience these days. Having some off-beat, unhelpful caller waste your time—or worse, insult you—can spoil a good day.

If you have a sinking feeling some of your salespeople may be making such critical mistakes (or heaven forbid, you yourself have tried these call openers), pass on this warning: These call openings can be hazardous to your sales health. Don’t try them yourself at home—or especially at work.

 

4 Phone Call Openings That Turn Off Prospec...

Syncing Your Communication Style With Your Boss’s Preferences

(This blog first appeared on Forbes here.)

Have you slipped into the habit of Sonic-style communication with your boss—much like you drive by for an Orange Slush? “Drive-by” interactions sound like this: “I need to talk to you sometime before we make final plans for the tradeshow.” Or: “Can we talk about a few things before you leave on vacation?”

For better results, consider the choices offered on social media settings.  “Set your preferences” for how your boss likes to receive communicat...

Is Your Discussion a Helpful Debate or a Heated Dogfight?

You’ve heard that politics and religion are taboo topics in the workplace. But it’s not just politics and religion nowadays. It’s also social issues and controversial company policies and values that cause people to hold their tongue and wonder: Where’s the line?

Is it smarter to keep quiet and “play it safe”? Or do you as a leader speak up on these matters—even if the consequences mean damaging your career?

 

4 Differences Between a Helpful Debate and a Heated Argument—and How Damaging Is...

5 Communication Practices to Revolutionize Customer Service

These two recent customer service experiences are all too common:

Scenario 1—Failure to Follow-Through: To ask a question about my life insurance policy, I called the two agents who sold it to me. (Their names are listed on the statement the company mails to me quarterly.) I discovered that Joe retired 8 years ago; Helen, 5 years ago. The person taking my call promises “my” new agent will call back. He doesn’t.

I call again 2 days later. This time I get connected to a regional director, wh...

Understand Their Frame of Reference to Get Your Point Across

Recently, I called a property-tax reduction firm about protesting my property taxes. The form downloaded from their website requires homeowners to list renovations done on their home, along with accompanying photos and receipts.

I was puzzled. Didn’t renovations INCREASE rather than decrease the value of a home? How would knowing about renovations help the firm build a case to protest and LOWER my taxes?

The agent assured me that knowing about my previous renovation would definitely lower...

5 Best Practices to Prevent Business Writing Blunders

It pays to write well and fast. Here’s how to prevent the most common business writing blunders that can sink a project, your credibility, or your career:

 

Prevent Business Writing Blunders: 5 Best Practices

 

Don’t Start Too Early

The toughest part of writing is thinking.  When your thinking has been insufficient and you draft too early, what often drips from your fingertips is drivel. Think first; then write.

 

Put Self-Interests Aside

Frankly, readers don’t care all that much about you...