February 27, 2008Success Story ~ making the work manageable
I was overwhelmed from doing two jobs. I sat down and tried to figure out how I could make it manageable, so I could talk to my manager about it in a way where I seemed like the solution to the problem instead of the problem. I was surprised to realize how many resources I had that I hadn’t considered.
I went in and told them that the long hours and extra work load was going to create a problem. I would be over-tired and I was worried that trying to handle the extra duties and my job would mean I would rush through both and would end up not being the detailed and organized person they expect me to be.
I went on to recommend how some of my workload could be redistributed to different employees. I received a huge thank-you from the President of the company in front of the whole team. And everyone was happy to pitch in. They saw the added responsibilities as career opportunities.
February 26, 2008Success Story ~ Making the work mangeable
I was overwhelmed from doing two jobs, so I sat down and tried to figure out how I could make it manageable, so I could talk to my manager about it in a way where I seemed like the solution to the problem instead of the problem. I was surprised to realize how many resources I had that I hadn’t continued.
I went in and told them that the long hours and extra work load was going to create a problem. I would be over-tired and I was worried that trying to handle the extra duties and my job would mean I would rush through both and would end up not being the detailed & organized person they expect me to be.
I went on to recommend how some of my workload could be added to different employees. I received a huge thank-you from the President of the company in front of the whole team! And everyone was happy to pitch in and saw the added responsibilities as career opportunities.
I could hug you.
February 26, 2008Ask Meryl ~ One job at a time, please
Meryl,
Meryl Responds:
Frame your comments in terms of mutual interests.
- I was happy to pitch in and do whatever it takes to keep things going while the position was empty, but the level of overtime I’ve been putting in isn’t sustainable. I’m exhausted, and the quality of my work will slip if I continue to work two jobs. I understand the work needs to be done, so let’s sit down and figure out how that can happen in a way that doesn’t compromise the work and is sustainable.
February 26, 2008PowerPhrase ~ I think of something you said…
One of the most generous gifts we can offer someone is to let them have an impact on us. And one great way to let them know that they have, is to quote their wisdom back to them or remind them of something brilliant they said. Like when Joe said to Tracey,
- I was going to cut corners on this one, but then I thought of something you said about doing the job right the first time…
It doesn’t take much to let people know how they’ve added to your life, and it bring enormous results.
February 26, 2008This Week in the World ~ a new kind of power
Life is all about power, right? Who has the marbles, who plays their marbles and how you can get their marbles from them…
Well, there’s a new kind of power in town , and it’s a kind of power that can easily be overlooked. I’m always delighted when I find someone who successfully wields this new power. It’s the power of giving them something of value and inviting them to take an action you want them to take.
I had the joy recently of having three readers take my suggestions to give something of value to people they had impasses with…and each found that their concessions opened doors to counter concessions that held far more value than what they had given.
It works in business, too. Whenever I send out a free newsletter, I see my orders climb.
I was blessed last week to consult with a marketing strategist who used this approach to launch a best-selling book. He gave away a free eBook, and had 42,810 downloads within 20 days of posting.
There are times when power means setting boundaries and standing by them. But the new kind of power - collaborative power - is showing its strength in unexpected ways.
There’s a benefit to you in my recommitment to the “give something of value” approach. I’m creating some pretty fun freebies for my new eBook, Unite and Concur.
February 14, 2008Poison Phrase ~ Business pimp
Language expert Laura Orsini posted an article about a speaker who branded herself as a:
- Business Pimp
You can read her entire post here.
My comment is: there are some ideas we don’t want to feed - even if they’re memorable or potentially profitable. I’d put the concept of “pimp”in that category. Reporter David Schuster was rightfully suspended from his job for suggesting the Clintons were “pimping” their daughter by having her work for the campaign. I would hope this speaker will rethink her brand.
February 14, 2008This Week in the World ~ shifting gears
I subscribe to a wide variety of blogs, and I read them on Google Reader. I read news, politics, financial, marketing, satire and even an astrology blog.
Sometimes I forget what I’m reading, and don’t shift gears when I change genres. I experience this most dramatically when I shift from news to satire or vice versa. I will try to see the humor in a serious news post - or marvel at the absurdity of the world, only to realize I was actually reading satire.
The fact is, we always interpret ideas within contextual frameworks. Contexts are formed based on a variety of factors including communication styles, values, assumptions, past experiences, and previous information. And, yes, what came right before your remark will color the way others hear your comments.
If you ever find a conversation isn’t connecting, take a step back and examine context. Once you share your framework, you might find the conversation goes much better.
February 13, 2008PowerPhrase ~ It gives me a chance to love her unconditionally.
My friend Norm is a saint. His divorce was finalized in December and he consistently runs into his ex with different boyfriends. When I asked if that was difficult, he said,
- It’s good for me. It gives me a chance to love her unconditionally. I want her to be happy after all.
The amazing thing is, he means it.
February 12, 2008This Week in the World ~ poetry ~ undefended
Love can’t last without boundaries. And boundaries are vital for the workplace too. Many of the questions I receive these days deal directly with the difficulty sensitive people have in setting boundaries. But if they don’t, the insensitive will set the tone of the relationships.
This week I wrote a poem for a woman who asked me a boundary question. She put her own words in it and created her own version. This is my version.
I wrote it for “Jane,” but I also wrote it for myself.
Undefended
If you tell the truth and no one cares, is it still true?
If you feel shock that no one shares, what should you do?
If there’s a bull inside your china shop that has you quite alarmed
And there are precious fragile items that can easily be harmed,
And if the guards that should protect you have come to work unarmed,
Then it’s up to you to give what’s true its due.
Otis taught me how I could change a relationship by holding others to a higher standard. Otis is the neighbor’s dog. He would bark at me and jump on me. I started ignoring him when he acted out and he stopped acting out. This dog that I did not like has become my hiking buddy, and we are the best of friends - simply because I stopped feeding into his bad behavior. There’s a poem in that story too, but I haven’t written it yet.
This week, care enough to hold others to a higher standard. If you tolerate behavior that limits love, you just might be missing fabulous possibilities.
February 12, 2008This Week in the World ~ Poetry ~ Lessons from a feline love goddess and more.
Valentine week is the week of love. We learn a lot about love from our pets, and we capture the essence of what love teaches us in poetry. This one is about patience and persistence.
Many people are interested in PowerPhrases for quick fixes. But PowerPhrases are really about the greater long term good. They’re about upshifting each other to the highest level. They’re about doing what’s right.
I’ve been like a kid in a candy store writing poetry this week. I’m delighted to have a holiday to make the sharing of my poetry timely. This poem has become my new favorite.
Lessons from a Feline Love Goddess
A thousand times she asked for love, and was each time pushed away.
And yet she kept on asking as if this would be the day.
As if today he wouldn’t mind that she had crawled up on his lap.
As if he’d let her stay with him all curled up in his lap.
As if the hand she coveted would give a sweet caress.
As if her ploy to draw him out would this time find success.
Each day she asked the question – will you love me sweetly now?
And each day his rejection grew gentler somehow.
Each day his firm resistance became just a little less.
And every day his rigid “no” was melting into yes.
She worked her feline magic until there came a day,
Where she slipped on to his cherished lap, and there he let her stay.
I learned love comes with patience and persistence over time,
I learned it from the master. From a powerful feline.
Words are powerful things. PowerPhrases are at their best when they leave you touched by love.
Have a wonderful week of love and openness. And if there are some words that have opened your heart, please post them here.
