Not so profitable, but great bragging rights
I just learned that my book Perfect Phrases for Managers and
Supervisors has been translated into...(drum roll please)
Bulgarian. I
recommend it in
English.
Don't hang up while I insult you
Have you ever had someone be inflammatory toward you or people
you are associated with, and act clueless and victimized when
you object? I heard someone complain on the radio about how
hosts usually hang up on him. As he launched into his attacks,
I thought - what does he expect? Does he expect the host to let
him dominate and condemn unchallenged?
I wondered the same about a friend who occasionally goes off on
inflammatory rants. I challenged this friend by suggesting he
wasn't as innocent as he pretended to be about how he came
across. My friend confessed it was true.
My friend subsequently launched into an inflammatory rant about
a
group I belong to and he doesn't.
Read the whole story here.
I owe you a whole new carpet
When Sammie entered her office, the contractor greeted her with
the news,
-
I owe you a whole new carpet.
Not something you want to have to say at all, but if you’ve
got to
break bad news, this is the way to do it.
The contractor had spilled paint all over the carpet. His way of
explaining it defused Sammie's concern right away - she never had
to wonder
if he would take responsibility..
There's a reason for this
Timing is everything. When Brenda got off the phone after
hearing
that her house was flooded, it was too soon to welcome the
words,
- I’m sure there is a reason why this is happening
People need time to experience their losses before they can take
comfort in looking on the brighter side.
Learn how to acknowledge without agreeing in How to Use
PowerPhrases.
 |
Read the in-depth description of: |
Task Rivalry
"Nina" is the best candidate for a task I have, but she's
only been
with the company for six months. Most of the team has been her
over ten years. Help me explain why Nina is best.
Meryl Responds
I’d explain why.
-
I’m throwing this one at (name) because of her experience in x.
If you think you need to address the fact that she’s a newbie, say,
-
I’m assigning this one to (name) despite her lack of tenure
here because of her extensive experience with x. I ask that
you give her all the support she needs to make the project
a success.
Mistaken lineage
Meryl
Our friends are three years older than my husband and me, but
look
enough older that people think they’re our parents. This
happened
at a restaurant the other day. When we corrected the waitress,
she
was mortified.
What could we say to defuse the situation?
Meryl responds:
When someone corrects the waitress and tells her you’re
friends,
act surprised and disillusioned and say,
-
Really? You’re not my parents?
You could let the mistake go without mention. You could also say
you’re friends without
mentioning how close your age is.
 |
There's lots of information about how to communicate |
Reader Success Story
No story this week
Reader Comments on Previous Newsletters
Blog post of the week:
Lindsey made a great catch in her comment on:
Difficulty communicating with women
Blog comments:
Vegetarian in a meat-eater's world
Blog format and new book title feedback request
|
Issue
286
September 25, 2007 |
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by request.
SpeakStrong Award
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SpeakStrong Award.
Ask Meryl
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privately. We appreciate your feedback on our response. If we publish your
question, be sure to check Meryl's Blog for further suggestions from our
readers.
Check Meryl's Blog
SpeakStrong Definition
To express yourself both powerfully &
effectively;
to say what you mean,
mean what you say,
without being mean
when you say it.