I was recently reacquainted with an old trick for becoming more persuasive. Instead of just making a request, add the word “because” to your sentence. Giving a little context gets a much more positive response, with 55% more compliance than if you omitted it, according to a classic Harvard study conducted in a traditional office setting. …
Last weekend, I got to attend the United States Olympian and Paralympians Association Reunion in Colorado Springs as a guest of Jennifer Chandler, a gold medalist diver (spring board). This group reconnects every four years, bringing together fellow athletes who competed on the world stage to get briefed on future Olympic games. This time we …
I took away the most interesting quote from a recent article on the power of positive thinking: “Optimism is fuel for quality of life.” To summarize, people who have the “glass half full” mentality tend to preform better at work, have better overall health and live longer. They argue for what’s called “conditional optimism,” where you take deliberate action to positively …
Like many, I have spent some time following the war and tragedy in Ukraine. When I heard about a seminar comparing the leaders of both countries led by industrial psychologist and friend Duncan Hulsey, I was curious to hear his thoughts. It’s interesting to note that even though Russia seems to have superior resources, for the …
I recently heard a smart rule for making the decision of how to communicate: Use email primarily for notifications where emotions will be low. Save the discussions for two-way communication like a call, or better yet, a face-to-face meeting. While it may take a little more planning on the front end, this allows for instant responses back and …
Impatience has long been a characteristic that people try to improve upon, control or reduce. “Good things come to those who wait,” as the saying goes, but what if impatience is actually good, when taken in small doses? According to this article, in certain circumstances, being impatient can also make one a bit more efficient …
Over the years, I’ve learned this truth: Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems at first. Most people tend to exaggerate in one direction, especially in the evening. I have also discovered that a few days of waiting on either side of the equation is a good practice. That little bit …
Do you remember that old expression, “The customer is always right?” Sometimes, it’s a hard pill to swallow. In any business, there will be times when you know you are right, but you have to back down a little for the sake of a relationship. It may be that you are quibbling over a detail …
It’s human nature to want to compare ourselves to others. That goes for just about anything, from business to sports, personal accomplishments and even our own happiness. The reality is, someone will always “have it better” than you. We would do well to heed the old adage, “Don’t measure yourself using someone else’s ruler.” Everyone …
We don’t always find the answer or make the right decision inside the “yes” bubble. Let me explain. We’ve all been at a meeting where everyone around the table is an optimist, or perhaps eager to please. There is a lot of head nodding and agreement with the leadership. While the intentions are golden, this …
The first time I wrote a post about archaic parking regulations was ten years ago, and I revisited the topic in 2016. Time has passed, and things have gotten a little better, but we still have a long way to go. I recently read a post from a friend and business associate titled Parking Laws …
All of us, at one time or another, need to take some time for ourselves to reenergize and reconnect. That’s exactly what I did a couple of weeks ago at the Renewal Retreat, hosted by Kanuga in Hendersonville, North Carolina. I found Kanuga to be a special place with more than a century of history. …