Dealing with Confrontation in Business

People who avoid all criticism fail. Its destructive criticism we need to avoid, not criticism in all forms. Similarly, there is no progress without eustress, and the more eustress we can create or apply to our lives, the soon we can actualize our dreams. The trick is telling the two apart. – Tim Ferriss, The Four Hour Work Week (via Quoty)

deal with confrontation

All of us have stress in our lives. How much of it is self imposed? Heck, a lot. Where does stress in the workplace and business arise? Who knows, it is probably the seemingly innumerable deadlines and projects that tend to pile on the average persons desk. At the same time, while we all need to relax a little, sometimes the opportunity to do so seems slim.

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3 Tips on Using LinkedIn for Business

social media business linkedin smurfsNetworking is important for business and organizations. Personal brand aficionados also point out the value for the individual as well.  The blending of online and offline contacts in a social network is key to good networking.

LinkedIn, the niche business networking social network site, focuses on building detailed and valuable profiles, connections, and groups to help collaboration and increase the level of communication.

Here are three tips to help you and your organization to get the most out of LinkedIn:

  1. Connect with the people you know – use the import contacts feature to quickly find out who you know that already has a LinkedIn profile, and optionally invite those that don’t.
  2. Make sure your profile is filled out in detail and accurate – Write a short power statement to place in the Summary on your profile and catch people’s attention. Remember that the key words on your profile help you get found in the People search feature, which is used frequently.
  3. Join industry or professional groups - Find a group of your interest; alumni, organization, industry focus. Join, and participate in the conversations, read through the news articles that are shared, and submit anything you find interesting.

Using LinkedIn as a resource and guide to your online professional social networking will help you leverage a powerful, well-connected network of individuals, companies, clients and prospects to maximize your value.

Essential Leadership Skills

A skill is traditionally thought of as an ability to perform a certain function. Another, more applicable definition of skill, is a proficiency, facility, or dexterity that is acquired or developed through training or experience.¹

leadership skill

Being properly trained, through experience, wisdom of others, or through some form of guidance whether its a manual or book, is key to your ability to take what you know and apply it to real life. In particular, to be prepared, or at least ready, for what is to come. This is a principle that applies to many different topics. In this light, the focus is on leadership skills.

How do you talk the talk, while walking the walk?

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Demise Of Accepting the Status Quo

What does accepting the status quo get you?  If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.

don't accept status quo

No matter what angle you look at it, there are typically more than a few ways to do something, or more than a couple of possible outcomes. On a cultural scale, movements have begun and ended from the initial spark and influence of an individual, or small group.  Breaking down the walls of accepting the norm, and moving on, is what it takes to get things done.

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Too Many Choices

It was cold outside recently so I stopped at a convenience store to get some water and a hot chocolate. Upon approaching the drink area I instantly saw an array of choices. I wasn’t taking my time so I scanned the various choices; vanilla, strawberry, caramel, Irish creme, then this and that… finally my hot chocolate!

many choices

A woman walked up as I was eagerly filling up my cup. Being friendly and good intentioned, said “Oh, there are too many choices!” As she said this I smiled, agreed and thought to myself afterward that we really do have many choices. Not only choices but many options.

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