I recently read about the United States Memory Championships. You might have had a chance to win if you could memorize the order of a shuffled deck of cards in under a minute. The Championships actually consist of five events (a mental pentathlon if you will):

- 15 minutes to memorize 99 names and faces, and 20 minutes to recall them.
- memorize an unpublished 50-line poem in 15 minutes.
- memorize a series of random digits.
- memorize a list of random words
- memorize a shuffled deck of playing cards.

The original article was reprinted by Mind Power News. You can read it HERE.

There is of course a significant connection between memory and learning. While they aren't the same, there is overlap. (Most of us have expanded the overlap in studying for tests in school and or at work!)

Becoming a student of memory techniques is one way to continually expand your knowledge of and competence as a learner.

You'll find the article interesting and worth reading. I'm confident you'll learn something.

Also posted in Learning.

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I had a breakfast meeting at a new place last week, and since I don't drink coffee, I ordered tea. I was hopeful that this place wouldn't serve me Lipton or some restaurant supply-house Orange Pekoe. Those are fine for iced tea, but as a morning cup of tea they leave something to be desired. I was pleased when they asked what flavor I wanted. I smiled as I said "Earl Grey."

What arrived moments later was the typical small pot of water and a little box.

I soon found that my tea bag (an infuser I now know) was inside this box.

The tea was very good, but the box is why I write.

Whether we own a business or work for someone else, there is a message in that box. The box is the message. The people at Revolution Tea found a unique way to package their product that added to the value and "buzzability" of their product.

It needs to be the same for us. Think about how you package your products (and ideas). You may find that a unique packaging or story will be the way to get your product or idea noticed.

The box reads, "Great Things in Small Packages."

I say "Put your great ideas in great packages."

Also posted in Creativity and Learning.

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I have a bit of a problem with the concept of boredom. After all, our world is full of opportunities and options.

I know though, that not everyone agrees with me. Certainly not the creators of I-am-bored.com. Interestingly, their Flipbook application is a great way to get past any short term boredom you might experience, and stimulate your creativity at the same time.

In one of the most unique web interfaces and designs I've ever seen (it stimulates my creativity itself!) you have the chance to design your own animation and save it for others to see.

It truly is like a digital flipbook, where each successive pages creates your animation.

Check it out and try your hand at it - either now or the next time you need a creativity boost.

Bottom line?

It's cool.

Also posted in Creativity.

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I recently realized that I would soon need a new Drum for my HP LaserJet2500L. From past experience I knew that while I can get toner at any office supply store, I can't get the drum locally. So, being proactive, I went online to order one. After a bit of searching, I decided to order a re-manufactured product at a significant savings.

The order went to PrimeToner.com. Previously, I knew nothing about this organization, but the order process went smoothly online and I received an email confirming shipment. I was feeling pretty good about my purchase.

The box arrived a couple of days ago, and in doing some work in in my office I decided to open it up this morning.

Within 1 minute this company has guaranteed themselves my next purchase (assuming the product is satisfactory).

1. A card for a 5% discount on my next order. Very nice. Not huge, and not incredible, but valuable.
2. Inside the box, near the top of the Styrofoam peanuts, is a copy of the DVD of the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance. I don't know how Bagger Vance relates to toner. But I know I was surprised and impressed (and I like the movie).

The lessons for all of us in delivering better Customer Service:

- Get the basics down. While they should be a baseline, when they are well executed, it is always welcomes and usually noticed.
- Reward me for my business and you will turn me into a long term Customer.
An additional surprise doesn't have to be extravagant (I'me sure they bought these for less than $5 wholesale).
- Surprise me in unusual ways and I will tell others.

How can you apply these lessons today?

Also posted in Customer Service.

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It's back to school time.

If you don't have kids you may think of this as an after Labor Day (in the U.S.)/early September event. But my kids started on Tuesday, and many local Colleges and Universities start next week.

Back to school means new clothes, new backpacks and new pencils.  New notebooks, calculators, and erasers.  Back to school means back to a routine, but it shouldn't mean back to learning.

My kids were involved in camps, outings, field trips and a myriad of new experiences this summer.  All of these were learning opportunities.

So it should be with us.  Perhaps you haven't kept up your learning habits, and perhaps you need to get back into a learning routine.  If so, you can get "back to school" without enrolling in a class.  

Re-energize yourself about learning.  Recognize the power and the value.  If you want to read some more thoughts about continuous learning, you'll enjoy my article this week in our newsletter, Unleash Your Potential.

Classes are back in session.  Are you in your seat?

Also posted in Learning and Training.

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As leaders we are often in a position to influence, champion or lead change.  Of course the reaction that people will have to any change will vary across any number of factors.  Too often I find leaders worried most about, and concentrating their efforts on the vocal opponents of a change.

This situation reminds me of the old saying that there is a fine line between love and hate.  The same is true for change.  Some people will accept it, and some will oppose it.  At some point those who oppose it will come on-board and will often become the biggest, most vocal proponents for the change.  These are not the people who will always impede your progress towards change.

That distinction belongs to a third group – those who are indifferent to the change.  Indifference leads to inaction, procrastination and well, indifference.

My advice then?  Focus on identifying those who are indifferent and try especially hard to understand their perspective.  With that insight you can build communications and approaches to reduce indifference, open dialogue and short the time required to make your change happen.

Also posted in Leadership and Teamwork.

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In my Powerquotes Plus members today received the following...

"Conversation means being able to disagree and still continue the discussion."

- Dwight Macdonald, author and editor

Questions to Ponder

1. Given this definition, how often am I in conversation, rather than discussion?

2. What is my biggest barrier to conversation?

Actions to Consider

1. Listen more.

2. Keep an open mind.

3. And focus on conversation, not discussion.

Make it a Day of Conversation!

To which a long-time member wrote ...

I apologize, but I'm in having a bit of confusion over this one. It appears to me that "conversation" is a superset of "discussion" rather than something different or contrasting. I believe that "conversation" vs. "arguing," or something similar, may be the contraries.

And here is how I replied...

...For many people, the idea of a discussion is something akin to a debate, where two sides "discuss" a topic, hoping to convince their "opponent" to agree with them. In fact, the origin of the word discussion literally means to "smash to pieces." (It shares a similar history with the word concussion - ouch!) Some people have "discussions" with their bosses. They have "discussions" with their parents (or children). With those origins, it is clear to see why many people carry a somewhat negative perspective of this word...

Which is why I like conversation or dialogue as a concept and expectation for positive, collaborative interchange. As you can see, I might not have used the authors words, but I think his point is valuable.

It is valuable, because the words we choose matter. In your next intercahnge, whether with a colleague, family member, customer, or neighbor, have a conversation, because I'm sure you don't want to "smash something to pieces."

Converse.

Listen.

And keep an open mind.

Also posted in Customer Service, Leadership, Learning, Teamwork and Training.

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A couple of nights ago I facilitated a Speed Networking Event sponsored by IABC Indianapolis and Hoosier PRSA.

Before we started I tried to help people reframe networking in their minds - moving from "passing out business cards" to "building relationships and seeing how you can help others."

We built the format to be somewhat like what I'm told speed dating is like. People were in two lines and paired up. They had 3 minutes with their partner, 90 seconds devoted (in theory) to each partner. Rather than just sending them off to do this, we gave them a stack of 4 x 5 cards:




With each partner their job was to fill out the four blocks (or at least use the four blocks as their guide for conversation.)

Name - of the other person
Needs - What they need or how they could be helped
Expertise - what they are especially good at
Offering - How you an help them - personally or who you could connect them with.

The energy in the room was fantastic! Relationships budded and people left with smiles, new connections, and I'm guessing more than one pressing problem solved - all because of networking.

In the end the format might have been based on speed, but the lessons, and the results were all based on solid relationship building principles.



Also posted in Learning and Teamwork.

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I took the Dale Carnegie Course in 1986, and assisted in deliverying it a couple times in the late 80's. At the time I took the Course one of the things you received was a little 6 page pocket sized summary of two of Carnegie's classic books - How to Win Friends and Influence People and How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.

I carried this booklet with me in my Daytime for many years, but with the advent of Palm Pilots and now my Treo, it apprently found a home in my desk drawer... where I ran across it last week.

Here is just one sample:

Don't Worry About Criticism
1. Remember that unjust criticism is often a disguished compliment.
2. Do the very best you can.
3. Analyze your own mistakes and criticize yourself.

Perhaps you don't call it criticism, but constructive feedback" or "corrective feedback." It doesn't matter what you call it, this advice is very powerful.

Criticism can help us get better when we put it in the right perspective. Carnegie's three tips written more than 70 years ago are as good of a way to give us that perspective as any.

If you have taken the Dale Carnegie Course, look up your copy of The Golden Book. It is worth re-reading... often.

Also posted in Learning.

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One of the things I love about helping people develop their leadership skills is that as we become better leaders, we become better in all parts of our lives - we become better people. In no area is this more true than when we are grateful.

As leaders we have been given so many priviledges and opportunities to serve our organizations and others, and I know that most of us don't stop often enough to be grateful for those blessings.

I read a great post on this topic in the Leadership for Lawyers blog. It features a fantastic essay from Ben Stein that ran in the New York Times in June.

Do yourself a favor and read this essay. It reminded me of similar personal stories in my life and I'm sure you will find it as insightful as I did.

By the way, I am very grateful that you choose to read my blog.

Thank you.

Also posted in Leadership and Learning.

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In this week's Indianapolis Business Journal, Bruce Hetrick's column reminded me of three of Dr. Edward Debono's great questions - designed to overcome negativity (and who among us doesn't encounter this?)

He suggests that when you first encounter or are considering a new idea ask:

1. What are the positives of the idea?
2. What are the negatives of the idea?
3. What are the most interesting things about this idea?

It is the third question that is the most powerful. Imagine at your next meeting a group of talented people pondering what is interesting about the new idea? The ideas and application thoughts will fly. Team morale will increase (especially for those used to having their new ideas ridiculed), energy will soar, and innovative solutions will be created.

So, what is the most interesting part of this idea?

Also posted in Creativity, Leadership, Learning, Teamwork and Training.

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If you are interviewing for a job, thinking about the kinds of questions you'll be asked (and preparing your responses) is a good strategy. I ran across this list of "The 25 most difficult questions you'll be asked on a job interview".

You may find them instructive in preparing for an interview (whether you are asked them or not) andor you can add them to your collection of questions to consider when interviewing someone for your team too.

Also posted in Leadership, Learning and Training.

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I first learned the Force Field Analysis tool many years ago when teaching and consulting on Quality Improvement methods at Chevron.

Force Field Analysis helps you look at a proposed change and identify the forces promoting the change, and the forces resisting the change. Each force is rated for it's relative strength.

Once the forces are identified, you can determine which forces you can "push" on, and which resistors you might be able to alleviate or remove. I have used this tool with great success when helping groups think about instituting change.

I was reminded of this today when I saw a post in Curt Rosengren's Occupational Adventure blog. He references a nice page on the MindTools site that has a a great visual and solid instructions for using the tool.

Thanks Curt!

Also posted in Leadership, Learning, Teamwork and Training.

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In preparation for our upcoming teleseminar on Mastering the Art of Mentoring, I have been thinking a lot about mentoring.

Most of us have had many mentors in our lives. In fact, I believe that more successful people have had more, and more effective, mentors when compared to other people. Let me ask you a question:

Who has mentored you?

If you don't come up with several people right away, maybe you haven't thought of these people as mentors, so let me ask you a different way:

Who are the people whose experinece, insight, knowledge and ideas have helped you throughout your life?

We have all had the benefit of these wise people in our lives.

As leaders (whether in title or not), one of the most exciting and valuable roles we can play is to mentor others - to help them reach their potential.

When we choose to invest the time in mentoring others, the other person benefits, our organization (or the organization that person works in) benefits, and you certainly benefit.

If you aren't already doing so, it is time to give back. Be a mentor.

If you would like help in improving in this role, check out our upcoming teleseminar. Whether you use this opportunity to build your skills matters less than getting out and doing it.

I wish you great success on that exciting journey.

Also posted in Leadership, Learning and Training.

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... so says an article in today's New York Times, entitled, Your Body Is Younger Than You Think (free reg. required).

Science is learning more about how long our cells last. At this point it appears that the cells lining our stomach last about 5 days, the outer layers of our skin a couple of weeks, red blood cells last about 120 days, and our liver regenerates every 300-500 days.

In fact almost all of our cells are replaced within ten years. The only areas they don't think this is true for are the cells in some parts of our brain, heart and eyes.

The next time you are feeling old (like when you attend a class reunion like I did last Saturday), remind yourself that almost all of you is ten years old or less. You see, ten year olds are great at some things we aren't always so good at any more:

- learning new things
- laughing
- being curious
- coming up with great ideas
- making new friends
- being forgiving

... are just a few that come to my mind as I type.

So, science is telling us (in a way), that is isn't just ok to be a kid again, but that most of our body actually is.

Go ride a bike, laugh, and learn something new today.

Also posted in Learning and >Creativity.

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I wrote a post last month called Are Best Practices Best? which generated several conversations with Clients (I'm glad they generally agreed with me.)

As I said then, the concept of pure imitation, makes the process, by nature, one that doesn't make us best.

Tom Peters wrote in his blog recently, Forget Benchmarking! Try Futuremarking! I couldn't agree more.

Would you rather catch up to someone's process that is most likely already behind, or figure out a new process that will excel 10 years from now?

I know which option I'll pick.

Also posted in Creativity, Leadership, Learning, and Teamwork.

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Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba's blog, Church of the Customer is one of my favorite blogs. Forbes apparently agrees as they were selected as one of their favorite marketing blogs.

Posts like this one are the reason why. Ben describes a recent trip to the dentist (Hint, go read it), and closes with a powerfully profound quote:

"For service providers, generating word of mouth often means doing the emotionally unexpected."

Indeed. Ask yourself what emotionally unexpected thing you can do for your Customers/Clients (or those you lead or work with or live with for that matter) tomorrow/today/right now?

Also posted in Customer Service, Leadership and Teamwork.

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