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This Week in the World
A few seats left for Denver April 30th
Learn to say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean when you say it. Two sessions
SpeakStrong and...The Difference Between Lightning Bugs and Lightning Bolts.
SpeakStrong is about how to have those challenging conversations. Lightning Bugs and Lightning Bolts is about how to speak so people take you seriously. It's persuasion that doesn't seep over into manipulation. You can attend one or both sessions. The morning session is almost full, so register immediately if you want to attend that one.
The 4th task – saying no
A few weeks back I mentioned The Myth of Psyche and her four tasks. I emphasized the second task about gathering power. This week I reminded a friend whose life isn’t her own of Psyche’s 4th task – saying “no.” In order to achieve her goal, Psyche had to refuse requests for help from some people in great need. Most people, and particularly women, find that kind of boundary-setting difficult.
Life has a way of testing resolve. If you decide to leave a job that requires you to be unethical, you might find yourself being offered a raise. If you decide to clean up your diet, you’re likely to have someone drop by with your favorite cheesecake. And if you decide, as my friend had, that you need to stop serving others to the detriment of yourself and those closest to you, you are likely to have someone need you in a bigger way than usual.
We all are tested and we all have been tested throughout the ages. Ancient cultures faced the same challenges you, my friend and I face.
Myths exist to help us be heroes and heroines rather than victims.
Skills help us do that too. PowerPhrases! offers a chapter on saying no and SpeakStrong offers several chapters on setting great boundaries. How to Use PowerPhrases shares stories and examples of people who have learned to say no. I just put a package together that includes these three resources. It's called The Quick Start Communication Transformation BOOK Package.
Article: Back Off, Bully
Some of us need to learn to say no to requests. Others need to learn to say no to greed and unsavory opportunities. Then there are times when we need to learn to say no to bullies. I posted an article this week about saying enough and standing up to bullies. It’s called Back off, bully! Stand your ground with PowerPhrases.
It will give you a jump start on your boundaries, and my transformation package will take you from there.
Two new NIA dance workouts at SpeakStronginLove.com
"Get bullyproof. "
~ Meryl Runion
Sign up for your SpeakStrong Quote and Tip of the Day
PowerPhrase of the Week
Describe your vision
When Genetic Food Engineering expert Jeffrey Smith heard about a web site I have in the works called TheDivineFeminist.com, he said,
- Wouldn’t it be great if you could describe your vision of what the different segments of life would be like if the masculine and
feminine voices were balanced? Politics, journalism, everything?
If you’ve read my Brand Aid article, you know Jeffrey’s suggestion is the first step in my Brand Aid process. Isn’t it interesting that it took someone who has never read my process to encourage me to apply it?
What would your industry look like if the masculine voice was balanced with the feminine one? Leave comments here, but if you’re interested in developing the idea in depth with me, email me here.
Speak Strong is the next step after PowerPhrases!
Poison Phrase of the Week
I’ll be the doctor and you be the nurse
As a nurse, Gloria had spent much more time with the patient than the doctor had. When the doctor recommended treatment that overlooked some symptoms, she spoke up about it. The doctor’s response was,
- I’ll tell you what…how about I be the doctor and you be the nurse.
The admonishment effectively shut Gloria down, so when she suspected a patient had meningitis a week later, she held her tongue. Imagine her regret when the patient died of untreated meningitis.
What possible responses can you think of to a bullying remark like this one? I walk you through a series of options in my article: Back off, bully!
Stand your ground with PowerPhrases
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Read about my new book release: It's the next step. |
Reader question
Word power tool
Meryl,
Your March 29th newsletter has a tool that I frequently use – The Headline Analyzer. Can you place this with your own tools for easier access?
Meryl responds
It’s not my tool – but I emailed the originators to ask if we could arrange it.
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
No story this week
Stop the ramble (Reader input requested.)
Issue
346 April 22, 2009 |
SpeakStrong Award
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SpeakStrong Award.
Ask Meryl
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.