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Potential Power Lies in Your Personality by @SBSLEducSoltns

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( A walk in the personality ‘park’ under temperament ‘trees’ & social style ‘leaves’  )

Personalities.

 

We all have one.

And we know others do, too.

Far from an earth shattering observation, mind you.  Yet, why do so many entrepreneurially minded pros, whether in a sales role, running a micro or small business, or self-employed ( CPA, consultant ), not lean into their personality type, or gloss over them entirely?

One root reason?  Conventional classroom based schooling, whether primary/secondary (‘K-12’), collegiate/undergrad, even graduate program studies, oft times don’t include it in curricula, required or elective.

I’ve discussed becoming a self educated, lifelong learner, with no expectation of credentials before; now this becomes ever more valuable, since there are so many ‘trees’, with multi colored ‘leaves’ in this ‘park’. Said another way, there’s much to share about how much potential power there is in knowing about your own personality & temperament, let alone those of your client/customer, your staff, & your prospects.

 

 

Going Beyond Generic Labels

 

“You’re too much of an introvert, Emma. Join us at happy hour to network! ”

 

“I think I’m an extrovert, Lianne; do you agree?”

 

Introvert. Extrovert.

Two commonly mouthed words in many professional workplaces in all industries, in your home office, & at the coffee shop.

 

We should be more specific; we mustn’t over complicate matters, however, the more we can unpack ( depth ) & expand our horizons ( width ), it’ll benefit our businesses in a number of different ways.

 

 

Everything DISC

 

The DISC model has a long & storied history

( to trace it: Timeline )

 

DISC ** is unencumbered by complexity; most anyone can clearly interpret the results from the assessment.

I stress that it’s an assessment & spotlights preferences & tendencies, and is not a test, nor an exam.

 

If you’re having challenges with closing sales, or tend to be someone who wants to please everyone, you just might be an ‘S’.

Are you often inadvertently forgetting appointments, or talking your way out of a deal?  Say ‘hi, ‘I’ !’

Maybe you’ve had issues with turnover, or staff satisfaction in your workplace?  Look into swapping your ‘leader’ , who is a ‘D’ style , for someone else.

Or, perhaps you need someone to do your financials for you that won’t miss a single number?  Put a ‘C’ in this position.

 

 

Personality Plus

 

This model was the first that I learned about, not long after my professional development journey began nine years ago this month.

 

While the roots of it are birthed in faith, please don’t assume or close your mind off to how it can apply to any type of workplace, for a sales manager/team, or in your home based business.

 

The four types which Mrs. Littauer discusses have history stretching back millennia, to ancient times. One small drawback is a need to learn, or brush up ( if you’ve been classically, or liberal arts centric educated ) on what ‘choleric’, ‘sanguine’, ‘phlegmatic’, & ‘melancholy’ mean, before you read the books *** & take the assessment.

 

I’ve found much value in combining DISC & Personality + together when I talk with others; it’s a double dose of learning how to better walk in the ‘personality park’.

*** please see below for all 3 #mustreads

 

 

MBTI   

 

Myers-Briggs [Type Indicator/s] usually is the 1st to be recognized: some would say it exemplifies what marketers refer to as the ‘First-Mover Advantage’

 

This isn’t to downplay its value due to age, or perhaps apparent complexity. There’s much value in being aware of it, & perhaps deploying in your assessment ‘toolbox’ for talent, or people development; sales training; & as a high value input into hiring, firing, & promotability decision making.

MBTI Online is a great place to start to build understanding of this model’s philosophical underpinnings and practical applicability to your business/workplace, and you’ll also find certain consultants, trainers, & coaches who leverage it, such as Jeff ( someone I know fairly well. )

 

Tying it Together

 

Silo’ed results, in any business let alone an academic setting, isn’t ideal. So, let’s do our best to intermingle all 3 measures of personality, temperament, & social style together.

 

MBTI’s ‘E’ & ‘J’ =  ‘D’ (ISC) = ‘Choleric’  while ‘N’ & ‘P’ = ( D ‘I’ (SC)) = ‘Sanguine’ , as ‘I’ & ‘F’ = (DI ‘S’ ( C)) = ‘Phlegmatic’ , & … lastly, MBTI’s ‘S’ & ‘T’ = ((DIS) ‘C’ ) = ‘Melancholy’

 

Lots of letters …

Some lingo/language that might be unfamiliar, let alone the acronym.

 

Please embrace your walk, and study the leaves under the trees. 🙂

 

 

Suggested Social Profiles

 

Everything DISC

 

MBTI

 

Personality + ‘s  Marita (daughter of Florence)

 

Interested in More?

 

There are gold & silver veins below the surface of this ‘park’.

Please invest time to buy your entrepreneurial pickaxe, plan a trip, and begin your dig!

 

Best Personality Assessment

Top 10 Most Popular

*** All suggested books in the series ( PP 4 Parents ; PP – Original Bk ; & PP 4 Couples )

MBTI to DISC

 

 

In short …

 

  • The ‘gap’ : why personalities, temperaments, & social styles oft aren’t utilized.
  • Generic labels
  • Model 1 > DISC
  • Pers + >> Model 2
  • Model 3 >>> MBTI
  • Intermingling all three models
  • To continue your journey

 

Thank YOU for reading!

________________

Disclaimer: I’m an authorized partner & recommend DISC ahead of others, however, I’m very open minded & often will intermingle other models/assessments in my 1:1 mentoring, consulting projects, & family advising.

6 Traits That Characterizes The Essence Of Being A Strong Woman @SheinBusiness

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by Aakanksha Srivastava

Since the History Books state it, the Governance of the Civil Laws mean it and the Society in general follows it, have we, as 21st Century Citizens ever tried to figure out the epoch where we began to consider women to be the members of the weaker sex?

NO! Not Really!

But Seriously! Did God send us with an attached label that bracketed us to be the debilitated being of the genus?

So, why do femmes all around the world still have to prove their power and strength in regards to whatever field they boot up for?

They absolutely shouldn’t.

And there shouldn’t be any urge for you to do the same. A strong, confident woman portrays her robust and fierce characteristics with her captivating demeanour, her stark wit and compassionate vehemence.

The vibe around such woman makes her stand apart. And you should too try to imbibe the same characteristics in your personality as well.

Remember: Whatsoever, the weight of the truth your speech expressions might sustain, Your Acts would always manifest what your words cannot!
So Shall I or Shall I not?

No! No! No! No! No!

(Apparently, there is going to be a good count of No’s in the article, so, you should better try to perceive it as an adamantine word of honor)

Now, retorting to the specific question, you must understand that you do not, at any point of time have to self-doubt yourself. As females, we are bestowed with the capability of 6th Sense and Intuition. We almost, majority of the times, know the road that could be taken for our goodness sake. So why shall there be a room for bubbles of incompetence? Go where your inner voice directs you to proceed! You should not even care to listen to the unwisely and negative opinions put up by others. This, subsequently, brings us to our next point:

Owning up to the Mistakes. Now, now, as per the majority: minority ratio, there are a few chances of us making the wrong decisions for certain things. And it is OKAY! As a strong woman, you should know how to battle out your tough circumstances. I mean, nobody has got their life sorted. And then Sorted often oughts to be kinda Boring!

And as the exceptional Author, Isabel Allende once quoted, “We all have an unsuspected reserve of strength inside that emerges when life puts us to test”, it should be our reverence to comprehend the depth of her writing.

The next point, is rather, a very complex and delicate one, and Mother’s Day being (a) round the corner, having an acknowledgement about the fact of the many a times our mothers, grandmothers, the wives, the daughters, sisters, girlfriends have performed to be the backbone during our tough times, it is a humble request for all of you, to Not to Unfollow your Ambitions and Life Goals for looking after the household. After all it is a matter about your career.

Now. Please try to understand this with a calm mind. Your family should be your priority. Undoubtedly! But you should remember to fulfill the purpose of your life. And do it at the most definite. I mean come on! Women can balance their work and personal life very well. Many have and so can you. And now when the whole world is going digital, you can take care of your family and look after your job and business while discharging your personal duties! You can start up your own business, pledging upon the burgeoning of your talent. And a Platform to Reform Digitally, ‘She in Business’ lays out exactly an opposite proposition for all the aspiring women entrepreneurs out there. Getting enlisted in the Ace Directory of the particular website could turn the wheels of your Business Goals, hence, affirming you the deserved progression of your Business. So, Register now with ‘She in Business’ Business Directory to observe success in both your professional and private life!

Now, according to facts stated by ‘Dove’, a Personal Care Brand owned by Unilever, 70% of women do not relate to how they are represented in Media & Advertising. It is the Foundation of Comparison that Ruins your Self-Esteem and Confidence. But Woman! You are definitely worth it! And you do not require a backing by the society for the approval of who you are, what you look like, where are you from. A single streak of credence regarding what an incredible woman you are, is just enough for you to get going. Do learn from others, but do not weigh up your life with theirs! Remember! Everybody is fighting a battle of their own! You are there to focus on your Goal.

So, Constant Challenge to Yourself Would Encourage You to Take Risks.Make sure as a Strong, Independent woman, you should embrace yourself to not to live in a bubble. Being exposed to tough situations could help boost your conviction towards your goals and yourself.
And lastly, keeping this point short and simple, always strive to Be Realistic. Do not overplay your strength. You do not have to unnecessarily give explanations to people for any act of yours. Be certain that Confidence is Silent. Silence is Classy. And Insecurities are Loud.

Therefore, wrapping it up, I would like to emphasize again_ you as a woman are not liable to prove your strength to any individual on Earth. All the traits mentioned are to be imbibed, not to be flaunted. Make sure of that!

Happy Empowerment to you!

 

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With her thirst for innovation, Aakanksha Srivastava devised a remarkable initiative of ‘She in Business’, a Prominent Feature Directory and Nexus Platform that could help in reforming the presence of Women Entrepreneurs Digitally. With a passion to uplift women, Aakanksha pulls out all the stops into her work. And not just limiting herself to that, Aakanksha transpires to be the Co-Founder of the ‘The Aspiring CEO’, a Digital Media and Marketing Agency as well. To know more about the strong-willed lady, visit SheInBusiness.Com

Why female olderpreneurs are valuable for tech startups by Megan McLatchie of @WeAreNovaUK

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by Megan McLatchie

Very often it’s too easily assumed that the only successful tech startups are only created by teenage boys living by laptop light in their bedrooms. What doesn’t help is that the idea has been reinforced by the likes of Mark Zuckerburg, who launched the first version of Facebook from his Harvard dorm room in his early 20s. Arguably, young founders have some advantages. Their generation has lead them to be early adopters of technology and have no big commitments such as marriage, mortgages or children.

Sure, students are in a good position to start something of their own after graduation and before the reality of life kicks in. But does this determine a successful founder? Various research studies have shown the average age of a UK entrepreneur to be in their forties, and ‘olderpreneurs’ are more likely to achieve top growth. So really, do good things come to those who wait?

Respect your elders
An obvious reason age is a benefiting factor for startups is experience. Startups are notorious for being risky, and the frequent unexpected surprise and challenge doesn’t go amiss. It could be argued that young people may have the edge by being in the know of fad trends, but older entrepreneurs will be bringing years of valuable insight and experience from work and everyday life, valuable experience that can be drawn on to solve a problem worth solving (precious knowledge that you can’t learn from a quick google online!).

Passionate for Problem Solving
You’ve identified a widespread need, and have an idea that is commercially viable. Good ideas are good ideas irrespective of what age you are! What matters is that you’re passionate about the solution needed to drive the idea forward. Years of experience also means you have a greater understanding of who your audience is and the passion to find the solution when you identify what would/would not work. Believe in yourself and your idea, Sheownsit.com suggests five ways to overcome doubt and start your own business.

Are you really Middle-aged?
You’re only as old as you feel. People are now living longer and healthier lives than ever before, so there is no rush to begin your tech startup in your younger years. The average life expectancy for women in the UK is 82.9 years and according to an article from Forbes, a 50-year-old founder is about twice as likely to achieve success compared to a 30-year-old. If we associate youth with a more carefree approach to life, it could be argued that with age we take greater care to think things through. Startups are risky business, so maybe caution could help. Nova’s lean approach means we’re constantly testing a startup’s success in order to foresee potential pitfalls and make appropriate changes to MVP.

Multi-tasking Queens
Broadly speaking, when we get older we tend to have more responsibilities: family, mortgage, secure day job, and marriage being the biggies! We women are known for our multi-tasking. “Women bring a different life experience to business,” says Lynne Cadenhead, chairman of Women’s Enterprise Scotland.“[They] always have multiple roles in society: they’ll be wives, carers, mothers. They’re much more used to [juggling things] and more comfortable doing it.” Alongside this, technology has really broken down the barriers to starting a business alongside your day job, one of the reasons why ‘side-hustles’ are increasingly popular. Nova’s own process for starting a startup requires just one day a week from founders and actively encourages founders to stay in their full-time jobs.

Golden oldies
Let’s finish with some famous examples of female entrepreneurs that started later in life.

  • Vera Wang, (goes without saying) is well known for her global fashion brand but she didn’t open her high-end label until the age of 40. A long career working for Vogue meant she had the skills and life experience needed for her business to grow (and still continues to do so!).
  • Martha Stewart is now a familiar household name, beginning a successful career as a chef and writer of cookbooks. At the age of 56, she created the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia media conglomerate. Branching out into TV, radio and even wine, it has continued to go from strength to strength.
  • Robin Chase, the founder of car-sharing service Zipcar (the transportation service which allows customers to rent cars by the hour), only made the decision to set up her own company at 41. In 2013 it was sold for $500 million, making Chase one of the richest women in the world overnight!

So, maybe good things come to those who wait?

 

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Megan McLatchie is a Marketing Executive for Nova, a tech startup co-foundry based in Liverpool. Nova provides free mentorship, support and guidance team, and resource investment to turn a good idea into a great startup. They have cofounded over 40 tech startups in the last 5 years, with a success rate far above the industry average.

Five reasons why Band-Aid solutions are all you need

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by Debra Arbit

When I first started doing business consulting, I somehow was under the impression that when people paid me actual United States Dollars in exchange for solutions to their business problems, those solutions needed to be complex. Multi-layered. Something they could never figure out for themselves. God forbid I should give them what has been termed in the industry as a Band-Aid solution. That would not be worth their hard-earned money. You don’t pay a consultant for a Band-Aid, right? Not so fast.

Much like people like to use the phrase “that would be like using a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound” when they suggest an overly simple solve to a systematic, business threatening problem, the same could be said about why it would be crazy to amputate your left index finger because you have a deep paper cut.

Bottom line, sometimes a Band-Aid is exactly what you need. Here are five reasons you might want to seriously consider a Band-Aid solution before overcomplicating your problem and calling in a neurosurgeon for what might just be a minor headache.

  1. They’re cheap. If you go to your nearest Walgreens, you can probably pick up a box of Band-Aids for less than five bucks. Now, unless you have toddlers who like to use them as stickers, that box could potentially last you through several months of minor injuries and issues. Compare that to the last doctor’s bill you received. Bottom line, Band-Aids are good for the bottom line. And sometimes, especially if the issue facing your business was unforeseen, they are all you can afford.
  2. They’re temporary. Band-Aids can come on an off as you need them. They are a great solution in the midterm while you wait to have enough time, money or capacity to employ a better, more permanent solution. Don’t have the time to completely revamp your website today? Just change the critical pieces that need changing now. Sure, it may not be the prettiest website on the block but you might be surprised how long those Band-Aids will stick while you make a smarter, long term plan.
  3. They are readily available. You can find a Band-Aid almost anywhere. The aisles of Target, online, I mean I could probably find you 3 different sizes in the bottom of my purse alone. Band-Aid solutions are usually pretty easy to spot and ideally, even easier to implement. This should be something almost anyone on your team could help with from the intern to the admin. You don’t need a task force or quarterly check-ins. Just a person willing to take the time to brush the gravel off of your wound and stick the solution on roughly the right place.
  4. They allow you to get the important work done. Think about the last time you had a blister. I’m a person who has given birth to three live humans and yet, I still find blisters on the back of my heel after wearing pumps all day to be one of the most unique forms of torture known to man woman. Enter Band-Aids. Slap one of those on (maybe even one of the fancy blister-blocker kinds) and you can refocus your energy where it belongs. The actual “injury” isn’t always the main problem but rather a giant distraction from what really needs to get done.
  5. They come in many shapes and sizes (and even colors) Sure, back when Band-Aids were invented in 1920 (coming up on 100 years!), I’m quite sure that they probably came in one color and maybe one or two sizes. Luckily for us, we live in 2019 when there are aisles full of them. Small problem? Small Band-Aid. Bigger problem? Bigger Band-Aid. The best solutions are flexible to fit different needs at different times.

Next time your company is faced with a business problem, take a minute to decide if you need to spend time and money on a complex solution or if what you really need lies no further than a simple washing of the wound, wiping of the tears, a brave face and a stick of a Band-Aid.

 

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Debra Arbit is the founder and lead strategist at Athena Strategy, a company dedicated to helping women-owned businesses with strategic planning. She spent the last decade buying a business, growing it and successfully selling it while getting married and having three kids in rapid succession. It all seems so simple in hindsight, doesn’t it? Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

She is incredibly passionate about helping fellow female business owners utilize their innate mindsets instead of censoring them. Debra is always thinking, strategizing, and leading, but in her personal time, she’s busy running after her three kiddos, going down internet worm holes, and snuggling with her ridiculously fluffy dog, Daisy.

Find Debra on LinkedIN -> Personal LinkedIN or Business LinkedIN.

Why Squarespace Is the Best Choice for Your Business

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by Kate Scott

So you’re ready to build a fabulous new website for your business. Congratulations! You may be facing the question many a business owner before you has sought to answer:

Should I build my website on WordPress or Squarespace?

I worked with WordPress as a webmaster and content creator for 8+ years before making the radical career move of becoming a Squarespace designer, so I’m fairly qualified to speak to the advantages and disadvantages of each platform. Here’s what I’ve learned:

WordPress is the most robust content management system in the world. It can do anything and it’s a great option if you plan to…

  • Host a forum or message board on your website.
  • Manage an affiliate program without using a third party like Share-a-Sale or Awin.
  • Build a paid membership site.

If any of these things apply to you, WordPress is your platform. If they don’t apply to you, keep reading and I’ll give you 7 reasons why Squarespace is the best choice for your business.

1. Squarespace is cost-effective.

WordPress isn’t as economical as it’s made out to be. First of all, you don’t want to get hacked, so you’ll need a secure web host and they don’t run cheap. If you plan to DIY your site, you’ll need a premium WordPress theme. And let’s not forget the paid plugins you’ll need to add functionality to your site. With WordPress, there are a lot of “hidden fees” that add up over time.

Squarespace is one flat, all-inclusive annual fee and offers plans for every type of entrepreneur. You’ll even get your first year of business email hosting through Google for free.

2. Squarespace is secure.

If you want to keep hackers out of your WordPress site, you’ll have to pay for premium managed hosting (think Flywheel or WP Engine). Squarespace offers premium security without the premium price tag.

3. Squarespace is user-friendly.

If you have a problem with your Squarespace site, you can contact their award-winning customer service team for help. If you have a problem with your WordPress site, you’ll have to figure out where the problem originated–with your web host, theme, a plugin, etc. and then contact the appropriate customer support team. And if the problem is caused by a free service, like a free plugin or theme, you’re on your own. And let’s face it, you’re much more likely to have a problem with WordPress because it’s 1000% more complicated than Squarespace. Talk about a learning curve!

 

 

4. Squarespace is SEO-friendly.

Squarespace makes it easy to add SEO descriptions to your pages and blog posts, and it has a solid SEO foundation. Plus, it’s fast, secure, and mobile-responsive–three important factors Google takes into consideration when ranking websites.

5. Squarespace is integrated.

Squarespace seamlessly integrates with third-party services like MailChimp, Acuity Scheduling, Google Analytics, and more without having to install any plugins.

6. Squarespace is more flexible than you think.

Squarespace is a closed system, which is what makes it so secure and reliable, but there are numerous ways to customize and make it your own. The built-in style settings offer numerous options for creating a one-of-a-kind design. But if those aren’t enough, you can add custom HTML, CSS, and Javascript to your site or hire a Squarespace designer to craft something completely custom. Your options are practically limitless.

7. Squarespace will save you SO MUCH time.

With Squarespace, you don’t have to update plugins and themes, worry about getting the dreaded white screen of death while editing your website, deal with hackers, or any of the other things that make WordPress such a time-sucker. Squarespace offers elegant simplicity and peace of mind.

So after 8+ years of blowing the WordPress horn for all to hear, I fell in love with Squarespace and built a whole new business around helping other entrepreneurs find their zen with Squarespace too. And I truly believe that if you give it a try, Squarespace will make your life a lot easier.

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Kate is a strategic web designer crafting intuitive Squarespace websites for passionate women business owners and creative entrepreneurs. Find her on Instagram and Pinterest.

The Fine Art Of Leaning Into Environments In The Workplace, Even When It’s Difficult By @ANGEKYOUMATTER

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by Angela Kambouris | Featured Contributor

Workplace conflict is on the rise. Whether it be with colleagues, clients, bosses, or navigating work relationships, you need to use your voice rather than avoid these situations. When you don’t speak up, you remain trapped in your conflict.

At times, conflict is needed.

Many humans skirt the chance to confront challenges or opt to avoid conflict when given an opportunity. Your fight or flight response kicks in when faced with potential threats, and often, the flight is much easier. When you avoid addressing workplace issues, they will fester than face away. Whether it be interpersonal issues, job function challenges, or personality quirks, conflicts are inevitable. Working towards a resolution is ecological for all involved – you, your team, and your organization.

Maybe your boss lashed out at you during a team meeting, or your direct report started to cry while you are giving feedback, or perhaps a business partner hung up the phone on you. Whether it be self-preservation, people tend to do everything they can to avoid the most obvious solution: talking. Recognizing the need for an awkward conversation is a starting point.

Being direct is an art-form that many people never master. Being too direct can have you labeled as rude, inconsiderate, or intimidating. On the flip side, if you avoid being direct, being a push-over or follower comes to mind. Either way, labels that you don’t want to adopt.

Most professionals are phenomenal at arguing on behalf of their clients, yet many don’t welcome having tough personal conversations. Rather than avoid, why isn’t your instinct to lean in? People invest their energy into all the negative consequences of their interactions.

The cost of inaction results in ongoing tension and stress. The feeling of being stuck only compounds over time. When you shift your approach and instill a new habit of stepping into difficult conversations, it can be a game changer. Imagine the benefits of not having to spend hours or weeks avoiding conversations, immersing yourself in the inherent underlying fear about them, and instead of the energy of possibility of a successful resolution.

The key is to learn how to produce a better outcome for all while keeping your relationship intact. Consider the following strategies to break through the resistance of mental obstacles by taking the first step to lean in.

Intention is everything

Catering to an audience is an important skill to keep in mind. Delivering constructive comments, without personalizing and finding a tone that adopts an empathetic approach is your priority. When being direct, remain to the facts, keep a measured tone, listen to the talking points, empathize with their response, and breathe when it’s time to respond. Listen to understand, not respond.

Get Uncomfortable

There is a certain level of messiness when dealing with difficult conversations. Getting comfortable with the uncertainty of the outcome is what often consumes people’s thoughts.

Adopt a frame of understanding the nature of difficult conversations and how to handle them, identify the preferred strategies for managing these conversations and use enhanced listening and empathy in a way that minimizes tension and conflict and strengths relationships

Adeptly navigate the murky waters.

When a swag of negative emotions is involved, people avoid talking to those whose behaviors create problems. You talk about them and not to them. Avoidance kicks in, and difficult conversations become foreign concepts.

People make the mistake of avoiding what is uncomfortable, scary or challenging. They choose to lay low or invest in seeking comfort from others who are just as uncomfortable and disagree with the behavior that is causing the difficulty.

When avoidance is the chosen response, people continue to stay stuck. Frustration accelerates, trust remains low, productivity lowers, health and wellbeing become compromised, and problems fester.

Decide to have the conversation or not.

You always have a choice, to have a conversation or not. Not choosing is still a choice. If you decide not to have the conversation, then you have the responsibility of moving on and letting it go.

If you choose to participate in the conversation, check the ego at the door alongside the soapbox of opinions, or morals. In the workplace, organizational values must be the platform for the discussion to launch from, to discuss workplace behavior and establish agreements on how to move on.

Kickstart the conversation

Begin the conversation by stating its purpose and your intention to come to some resolution. When you separate facts from emotion, you can articulate what you know to be true objectively and minimize the opportunity for the conversation to escalate.

By being present during the conversation, you are open to listening and acknowledging their views and engaging in a solution-focused discussion. Being problem-saturated helps no one.

Embrace the pause

During conversations, it can be tempting to fill the silence. Embracing the silence, and embodying the pause, creates an opportunity for the other person to feel listened and valued. Be respectful, patient, and open to walking in another person’s shoes.

Breathe in the Moment

The calmer and more centered you are, the better you respond to difficult conversations. Practice mindfulness where you focus on your breath. It creates a space where you can refocus and collect your thoughts.

Determine what is fact from the story.

Ask quality questions such as:

  • What do you know for sure?
  • What would add more value right now?
  • What are the facts? List all the facts and ask yourself, do you know that for sure? Is it a fact or part of a story l am telling myself?
  • What are you committing to move forward?
  • What is the simplest, fastest yet more thorough way to make this happen?

Find common areas of agreement on how you will both move forward and work together.

Lessons Learned

After a courageous conversation, it is worthwhile to reflect post discussion and consider what went well, would be improved, and what were the lessons learned from the experience. Reflect on the tone of the meeting, the responses, and could have there been a different approach. Investing in observing mentors leading these conversations is an opportunity to emulate their language, strategy, and tactics. Having courageous conversations is not just a skill, it is brave.

 

 

Engage and Retain Employees through Elearning by @DrRKayGreen

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Engage and Retain Employees through Elearning

by Dr. R. Kay Green | Featured Contributor

Employee retainment is a real struggle for businesses. High turnover rates are plaguing corporate offices, with many not knowing how to solve the issue.

A big part of the problem, I believe, comes from a lack of engagement. Employees do not feel invested in what they are doing. They go through the motions, but they do not feel ownership of what they do. They continue on autopilot and do not care about their job past getting a paycheck.

So, how can business owners solve this problem?

Some turn to incentive programs or competitive benefits. And while these are all wonderful things to have, there is one powerful tool that many businesses overlook: elearning.

Many people think of elearning as “a good thing to have.” And they can probably list a few reasons why someone might want to invest in it. But when it comes to the benefits of elearning, employee engagement and retention is probably not at the top of people’s minds. That said, it makes perfect sense that investing in this sort of platform would yield results.

Elearning helps employees think about their jobs in a new light. This will keep them from going on autopilot, as they are thinking critically about how they are working and what they are doing. Days will stop being routine as they begin implementing what they learn.

Employees should not just act and follow instructions. They should know why those instructions and policies are there in the first place. This will help them behave mindfully, and use critical thinking skills in situations where the rules do not have an easy answer. Elearning can help achieve this by teaching them why they are doing things and getting them to consider what they would do in certain situations.

Elearning also encourages employees to be independent and to take action in their careers. If done well, it can get them thinking about their future with the company.

Knowing that they have room to grow and expand with your business will greatly improve your retention rate. They will not go looking for a “better” position somewhere else if they know that they have room to grow with you.

Elearning prepares employees for future hardships. Instead of making them learn in a “trial by fire” setting, it lets them anticipate problems in a safe space. This will improve retention, as it will decrease the chances of an employee leaving when they encounter hardship.

Finally, investing in elearning shows employees that you care about their futures. It shows that you want them to learn and succeed, and this can mean more to many employees than anything else you could do for them.

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Dr. R. Kay Green – Marketing Expert from RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. from Atlanta, GA.

Dr. KayDr. R. Kay Green is the CEO/President of RKG Marketing Solutions Inc. With over 190,000+ Twitter followers, 35,000+ Facebook Likes, and the Top 1% LinkedIn profile designation, Dr. Kay, a self-motivated trailblazer, is the Quintessential “New-Age” Professional Woman, and PhD Marketing Pro. She earned a Doctorate of Business Administration in Marketing, and has completed PhD coursework in Leadership and Organization Change. She also holds a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Management, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and an Associate of Arts in Marketing Management.

She is affiliated with several prestigious universities and has instructed over 350 courses online. A popular speaker on Marketing and Business topics, Dr. Green is currently featured on Huffington Post, Black Enterprise, Black News, The Network Journal, Business Review USA, Digital Journal, College View, Business New Hampshire Magazine, Bay State Banner, Reader’s Circle, North Dallas Gazette, Harlem News, Top News Today, One News Page, NE Informer, Women in Business PR News, Consumer News Today, Women PR News, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Daily Herald, The Miami Herald, and Book News Articles.

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How to Protect Your Professional Image from Damage by @PhyllisReagin

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by Phyllis Reagin

In one fell swoop, Lori Loughlin (and many others) damaged a carefully crafted professional image. Only she knows what motivated her to take such extraordinary risk. Lori created a successful acting business built on the professional image of being wholesome and trustworthy. Like Lori, entrepreneurs build their professional images with a direct impact on their businesses.

For any entrepreneur, your professional image is tied directly to the livelihood of your business. Your professional image may be cemented by your social presence that is built on the backs of social media, websites, blogs, and vlogs. ‘You’ are interwoven into the products and services you are selling. There is much power in the hands of entrepreneurs to create who they are to the outer world. This also sets up entrepreneurs to be precariously close to tarnishing their image with one wrong statement, viewpoint, or action.

A damaged professional reputation can be very difficult to rebound from. An example of this is a business owner who has built a socially conscious business that states “We are here to make a difference” but who is captured in the media displaying behaviors that show indifference, such as partying on a yacht. Whether or not it is true or fair, the damage is done. The fallout can be others no longer believe in her and don’t want to follow her. Thought leader Tom Peters stated, “All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You.”

Actions that are completely out of alignment with who the public believed her to be, is the reason Lori Loughlin has been dropped from all her acting contracts and is social piranha. What could have prevented such an unnecessary tarnishing of her reputation? The very same actions that any entrepreneur can take to ensure that their professional image is not marred.

Know What You Stand for and Don’t Sway

Many entrepreneurs think their work stands for what they stand for, but they fail to recognize that people follow people, not the work. Entrepreneurs need to spend time uncovering what their top five values are, whether these values are in alignment with how they project themselves, and how to manage their businesses from their values.
A good example is a business owner whose number one value is “commitment.” She needs to assess if she demonstrates this value to her team and customers. Her communication and actions need to align to this value. There can’t be any misalignment or confusion. When customers and followers visibly experience your values, they feel like they know you and can believe in you and what you are selling. Entrepreneurs who don’t know their values can’t stay focused on who they are and can cause others to be confused or angered by what they say and how they behave.

Walk the Talk

You probably have been around an entrepreneur that espouses that people behave a certain way and then doesn’t do this herself. This can look like an entrepreneur who tells others on social media that her marriage is the bedrock of her successes but then is caught having an affair. Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment, Peter Guber, states, “Truth is a point of view, but authenticity can’t be faked.”

Entrepreneurs must take every opportunity to demonstrate that what they say to others also matters to them as well. People can easily recognize incongruencies and will not follow these entrepreneurs. Walking the talk is not just a saying. It is truly a reminder to be the evidence of what you say to others, in tangible and authentic ways.

Mind Your Words

Every word an entrepreneur says to his team and others matter. Your team and consumers are constantly trying to connect dots to the “Why” of your business and the surest route is by the words you use. Make sure all your messaging ties back to your overall stated vision and purpose. What you say should be like a continuous commercial for “who” you are and what you believe in.

To prevent tarnishing your professional reputation means knowing who you are as an entrepreneur and what you truly stand for. This is your vision and conviction and it must be modeled by what you do and say. Lori Loughlin missed the mark with this. Her action did not align to her professional persona. As an entrepreneur, it is imperative to your reputation that you strongly tie your values, actions, and words to who you say you are an entrepreneur. When managed well, others will follow you willingly and believe in you and your business.

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Phyllis Reagin is a Confidence Coach and Founder of At the Coach’s Table. A former leader for a Fortune 500 entertainment/media company, she teaches female leaders how to uproot their insecurities, to assertively deal with others and situations, and to find their empowered voice. Widowed while 8-months pregnant, Phyllis uses these important life lessons to help her clients face challenges with resilience and confidence.

 

I’ve applied, now what? by @KerryHeaps

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by Kerry Heaps  | Featured Contributor

The process of applying for speaking engagements can be tedious, and frustrating because it does have a long turnaround time for a response. I’ve compiled a few tips on how to create a follow-up system after you’ve had a conversation with a meeting planner. Keep in mind after you apply for an open call for speakers, it can take a month or two before you hear back. Sometimes the email will be a “thanks but no thanks” email or they’re interested in your topic and would like to talk to you further. After that initial conversation it’s good to apply some of the techniques listed below, these are especially useful when you apply to colleges, universities, and private companies.

  1. Send a handwritten Thank You note. Sending a handwritten thank-you note in the mail is a lost art, it’s the little things that can make the biggest difference and help you standing out. You can buy thank you notes in bulk, so sending a note in the mail should be costing you less than a dollar per card including postage. It takes just a few minutes to say thank you for taking the time to speak with me, I look forward to establishing a relationship with you and your company. Then drop it in the mail. Meeting Planners get so few sentiments, especially in the mail so this is always a nice touch and it’s not forgotten.
  2. Send a copy of your book. If you have not written a book, I recommend that you do so, as we are asked 95% of the time if a potential speaker has written a book, more so than a request for video. Sending a copy of your book, not an electronic copy but an actual copy in the mail is a great way for you to establish a relationship with the meeting planner and it gives them the opportunity to learn more about what you do.
  3. Connect with them on LinkedIn. Another step to take is to connect with them on LinkedIn, do a quick search and see if they are listed and send them an invite to connect along with a personalized note.
  4. Pick up the phone. This last one seems to be a task that most speakers don’t want to do, however you will find out more when you pick up the phone and talk to the meeting planner then you ever could from an email or text. Having a conversation with them, just finding out more about their event, what’s going on, do they need additional information, etc. If you can’t reach them definitely leave a voicemail, I would recommend reaching out once a week until you get them on the phone, you don’t need to leave a voicemail every time, just once.
  5. Keep track of your results. Keeping track of your results is crucial, that way you know the date and time when you sent a thank-you note, when you connected with them on LinkedIn, and each time that you’ve reached out via phone. A follow-up system can be as simple as pen and paper or Excel, your choice. This will also give you an idea of the timeline for each event that you are pursuing.

Why Should Your Website Have a Blog? by @DONNAAMOS

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blogging

by Donna Amos | Featured Contributor 

If your business strategy includes inbound marketing, business blogging is essential. If you’re new to inbound marketing or blogging, you may have some questions. Why should your website have a blog? What is it? Why do we do it? What’s the goal of it all?

According to HubSpot, “Business blogging is a marketing tactic that uses blogging to get your business more online visibility. A business blog is a marketing channel (just like social media, direct mail, email marketing, etc.) that helps support business growth.”

Here are four major ways blogging helps support business growth, and why you should have a blog on your website.

Blogs Drive Traffic

A blog on your business website provides the opportunity for you to create relevant content for your customers and potential clients. This is a very effective marketing tactic to drive traffic back to your website.

  • You have a 434% higher chance of being ranked highly on search engines if you feature a blog as part of your website (Tech Client).
  • Businesses using blogs as part of their content marketing mix get 67% more leads than those who don’t (Hubspot).

The blog on your business website becomes the foundation for all your social media platforms. Posting links and relevant visuals from your blog articles to all your social sites gives your followers a reason to click through to your website. Plus, you can also post inbound links directly in your blog articles, to drive traffic to specific landing pages of your website.

Blogs Increase SEO

Blogs substantially increase your SEO. Fresh, quality content is still the key to beating out your competitors on search engine results pages like Google. Use keywords in your articles. List out the keywords, topics, and categories for which you want your business to be found, then these words and related expressions when writing your posts.

And, whether you actively seek these out or not, blogging regularly about your business, industry, products, services, or customer lifestyle will naturally increase your search keywords. Being intent about your words will only increase results. Keywords and topics on your website are a significant way in which Google (and other search engines) find your site for these searched words.

Moreover, don’t forget voice searches that consumers now perform through platforms like Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cortana. If you asked any of these voice search digital assistants where your business is located when it’s open, or what you offer, what would they say? According to AdWeek, 67 million voice-assisted devices will be in use in the U.S. by 2019. This changes the way that digital content is managed. And, 58% of consumers have used voice search to find local business information in the last year alone. Voice-powered services have created a seismic shift in how consumers find information about your brand. Voice search needs to be part of your SEO/content strategy.

Blogs Position Your Brand as an Industry Leader

Well-written, helpful articles position your company as an industry leader. By posting topics that resonate with your market and show your knowledge, you are marketing your skills for your business, service or product too.

If you are a retailer, for example, write blog posts about your products. Your customers will get to know you as the knowledge source for the products they want. If you are in B2B, post articulate, well-researched articles about your services. Become the hub or the place to get answers, for your industry.

You are building trust, too. The more you can show that you are well-versed in your field, the more likely your consumer will trust you to supply what they need. Your customers additionally benefit from the learning you provide them.

Blogs Develop Better Customer Relationships

Blogs provide another source to deepen the connection with your customer. By connecting directly on your website, your clients are able to get to know your business or product from the comfort of your online home. As discussed above, build trust by being a source of information. Consumers like to be informed, and they will remember that you are the one teaching them.

Also, just as on your social media sites, respond to comments and interact with consumers. If they have questions about a product you are writing about, respond to them directly on your website. Unlike many social sites, a blog is generally searchable on your site for some time. Your website comments last longer than a Twitter response or Facebook post. Other customers will see your interactions and learn from them, too.

A blog is a fantastic tool for your business in our digital age. If you don’t currently have one, start one and upload some high-quality content. If you currently use blogging in your marketing, how do you think it is working? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Share them in the comments below.