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This Week in the World
SpeakStrong Training in Denver April 30th
Learn to say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean when you say it. Two sessions - Speak Strong and The Difference Between Lightning Bugs and Lightning Bolts.
Feedback, Toastmasters International
There's nothing like honest and specific feedback to help you succeed. I get feedback in the form of evaluations from almost everyone who hears me speak. Some of it is not useful, some helpful, and some, transformative.
This week I received a different kind of feedback from a group of Toastmasters I spoke to. Usually people limit their feedback to comments about how I affect them emotionally and how they will apply my information.
Toastmasters is a speaking organization, and my audience members applied the principles they are learning to my presentation. They were able to be very specific about what skills I have mastered and where I have room to improve. Also, a few comments summarized my messages better than I do.
So, to Art, thanks for noticing that I sought to motive, inspire, and inform in my few minutes. I'm glad I succeeded. For Cheryl, you gave me great feedback about finishing my points before I look at my notes. And Lenora, I am delighted with your comment about branding being much more than a marketing process. You are so right about that. Your comment will help me as I continually refine my Brand Aid process. Personal Brand Aid
And thanks to everyone at Toastmasters' Golden Speakers, to my Military and Health Care Association audiences, and all to all of my readers who take the time to give me considered feedback.
I encourage you to invite feedback from your “audiences.” You never know what you’ll discover.
"Your friends will tell you unpleasant truths. Your enemies will tell everyone else. "
~ Meryl Runion
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PowerPhrase of the Week
The way I work best is…
In the CD that comes with my SpeakStrong book, I talk about how important it is to have conversations about work styles. When I negotiate with someone about working with or for me, I tell them up front how I like to communicate. This week, a consultant I've been communicating with initiated that dialogue from her side. Here are a few things Phyllis said:
- I work best when I work with someone - as opposed to 'for' someone - where we work together. Where everyone gets to express how they feel about things - really open - because really both people are creating something new - birthing it - so to speak. it's all about cooperation instead of competition.
Open communication is essential for me, I address that before I agree to work with someone. It was heaven to have a consultant initiate that conversation before I did.
We all enter work commitments with different expectations. It's so much nicer to agree to what they will be than to guess, collide and wonder why.
Speak Strong is the next step after PowerPhrases!
Poison Phrase of the Week
And your point is…?
Sure, it’s frustrating when people ramble without getting to the point. You need to focus people at times. Just don’t do it by saying,
- And your point is?
Get them thinking linearly instead by saying something like
- Can you tell me three things you want me to do?
- What’s your first priority here?
- Can you summarize your most important point in a three or four sentences?
What phrases do you use?
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Read about my new book release: It's the next step. |
Reader question
No bonuses this year: Performance evaluation question
Annual evaluations are coming up. This is the first time the employees have been informed there will be not be a yearly raise accompanying this year’s reviews. Do you feel the reviews should be handled any differently?
Meryl responds
I turned this question over to my coauthor for the book How to Say It: Performance Reviews.
Janelle Brittain said,
I'm assuming there are no raises due to the economic situation (thus something that is out of the employee and, somewhat, the company's power). First the staff should understand that this is the reason there will be no raises. Then, I'd encourage the managers to think beyond financial rewards and get more creative. For positive performance, here are 3 ideas:
1.Use recognition (both public and privately) to let the person know how much the company appreciates their efforts. There are a 1000 ways to give recognition form hand written notes, to appreciation pizzas to team celebrations.
2. Many people are motivated by training, so look for inexpensive training sources or scholarships.
3. To help people feel like they are part of the solution, have contests for people who find ways to save or make the company more money. Then the person receives a percentage of the money made or saved. That is "found" money for the company and a nice reward for the person.
When people know everyone is in the same boat, they don't take it so personally. However they still have the need for appreciation and ways to earn more money if possible.
Do you have a communication question? You can Ask Meryl.
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There's lots of information about how to communicate |
Success Story
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Issue
345 April 16, 2009 |
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We will respond with our best suggestions. We may publish your question and response anonymously unless you request that we only respond 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.
SpeakStrong Definition
To express yourself both powerfully &
effectively;
to say what you mean,
mean what you say,
without being mean
when you say it.