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  • Dealing with Confrontation in Business

    People who avoid all criticism fail. It’s 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 4-Hour Workweek

    man facing a wall showing that sometimes we could be facing a clear challenge ahead of us

    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 person’s desk. At the same time, while we all need to relax a little, sometimes the opportunity to do so seems slim.

    Thus, brings confrontation. When people are noticeably stressed, it wears on others. While confrontation is often annoying and sometimes outright frustrating, sometimes it can be a good thing. A lot of the time people beat around the bush, willy nilly around and the issue at hand doesn’t get resolved or drags on and on.

    While I am not an expert on confrontation, and strive towards not getting involved in such often, I do believe there is a time and a place. As well, I believe there are a few rules of conduct to remember when faced with a confrontation.

    • Listen – Let the other person speak. Don’t be thinking of an in-your-face slap it to ya rebuttal. But also, don’t shrivel up in the corner and get stampeded on. Do stand up for what you believe or know to be right but do so in a ‘diplomatic’ fashion.
    • Honesty – Be honest and transparent. This is particularly important when you are dissatisfied with the other view or how you are being treated. Tell what is bothering you, or why you feel the way you do. (Just shy away from whining)
    • Find something you both (or all if more than two) can at least agree on. Base some of the time discussing it to assist in deescalating the situation.

    There are more, and better, bullet points that experts could come up with, particularly considering not every confrontation is ever going to be the same situation, however the above points have suited me well during these not so giddy moments. I will be honest with you though, I often think that confrontation, when handled the best to your ability can be positive in the end. Especially if both can come to some form of mutual agreement in the end.

    Question: How do you deal with confrontation in life and business?

    (Photo credit: e³°°°)

  • 3 Tips on Using LinkedIn for Business

    Networking 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 (since this was published, LinkedIn has stopped this feature) to quickly find out who you know 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.

  • Help Others and Help Yourself

    people helping someone cross the street at a crosswalk symbolizing helping others

    If you are like most people, then you have a desire to help others. With busy lives and schedules and our own needs to look after, the thought of doing something for someone else might sometimes be difficult. How can we overcome this mind frame? How can we open our hearts to others and lend a helping hand?

    Live life to the fullest

    Everyone likes the idea of living life to the fullest. Doing this or that, and getting this award or that recognition. Who doesn’t like to be recognized for something? We can have a positive impact on this world in many different ways, but the best way is to serve and help another human being.

    Reaching out

    There are so many different ways that you can and will make a difference, when you decide to reach out and help others.

    • Volunteer in your local community
    • Support community service projects
    • Volunteer at a homeless shelter
    • Donate funds to a charity or good cause

    How can doing things such as these bring a positive result in your own life? Serving another person or being charitable helps you humble yourself. In return this will help fizzle away pride, which helps you focus on whats truly important in life. Mother Teresa says it best, “If we worry too much about ourselves, we won’t have time for others.”

    (Photo credit: Ed Yourdon)

  • 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.

    people hiking a trail symbolizing leadership

    Being trained, through experience, wisdom of others, or through some form of guidance whether it’s a manual or book, is key to your ability to take what you know and apply it to real life. 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?

    Key leadership skills

    Whether you are an organizational leader, business leader, or otherwise, there are universal skills, or proficiencies that are critical, if not downright necessary for the ability to succeed, and benefit others.

    • Communication
    • Lead by example
    • Set standards

    By no means is this an exhaustive list, but for this purpose, they are at the core of essential leadership skills.

    Communication Process, Talking the talk

    Communication allows the free flow of information through many different means. As a leader, you do this frequently, through verbal and non-verbal forms. When working toward a goal, following a standard, or preferred method is as critical as timing of your ideas when communicating with others.

    What is a quick way to lose the trust of others? To set a standard or precedence and not follow it yourself.  Being able to talk the talk drives your subsequent ability to walk the walk.

    Leadership Development, Walk the walk

    What is a great way to earn and keep the respect of another? Lead by example. Roll up those sleeves and be willing to take the extra mile, and work alongside those whom you lead.

    Follow up with others and keep on track with your obligations to them. Ensure that you aren’t setting a negative landslide priority.

    By communicating well, setting principles, and sticking to them yourself, and following through on obligations to others, your leadership improvement and development will follow naturally.

    Question: What essential leadership skill would you add?

    (Photo credit: brewbooks)

  • Traffic Flow on Your Communication Bridge

    Thinking about communication as a bridge, it’s apparent that it’s a bridge for a reason. There is a gap to clear. There are over three million results on Google for “communication gap“.

    Communication comes in different forms. Verbal, non-verbal and written are the most common ways I can think of.  Verbal is convenient for face to face, over the phone, or yelling down the hall. Non-verbal can be used to suggest, with physical gestures a meaning, or spoken using sign language. Written is meant to be read, pondered, scratched, and re-written.

    bridge with traffic flowing on it at night showing the flow

    Back to the bridge analogy. With all this communication going on, there are a few possible scenarios. Smooth flowing traffic. Congested, slow moving. Don’t forget the stopped traffic.

    Whether you consider yourself a great communicator, mediocre, or would rather avoid it altogether, by now, you have discovered there isn’t a way to completely avoid it. As such, this is a good thing. Think about the last best success you had, something that you feel good about. The chances are high, communication, of any form, played a part in the success.

    What is your communication style?

    Is it more about style, or more about delivery? Honestly, both.  Style usually equates to your tone and expression. Delivery, think about the volume of your voice, intensity of your non-verbal expression.

    Taking this into consideration. If you act confidently, while still remaining humble, and have a calm tone and smooth intensity in your non-verbal motions and expressions, chances are you are feeling pretty good about the communicating thats going on.  A contrasting situation would be much different.

    The situation calls for different styles and delivery. Your mileage may vary.

    How well does your communication bridge flow?

    Besides style and delivery, and situation, the way the actual communication flows is a different matter.

    The Alcántara Bridge, a Roman stone arch bridge built over the Tagus River in Spain, between 104 and 106, is still standing today. Taking a beating over the years from wars and the elements, the bridge stands as testament to magnificent architecture and unique design.  Most significantly, considering an old bridge, and the work it has taken to continually preserve it over the years, is no different than maintaining a bridge of communication.

    No matter whether your communication bridge is newly built, or old and battered, continually taking the opportunity to make repairs as needed is critical to maintaining smooth flowing traffic. Outside elements, rain, snow, wind, accidents, and natural disasters can, and will cause bridge flow to be slowed and disrupted. Being thoughtful and maintaining an insightful poise to communication, and meeting halfway, can and will bring the flow to a meaningful point again.

    Keep crossing those bridges. Work on maintenance, and most of all enjoy smooth flowing traffic.

    (Photo credit: TalkingTree)

  • Share Your Knowledge: Time and Place Your Ideas

    Sometimes what is best for you may not be as good for someone else. On a similar note, sometimes it may.

    Recently when talking to a friend on the phone about health and fitness, I commented that I like to have the occasional diet soda pop and compensate by drinking lots of water.

    He commented that diet soda pop can assist in weight gain, but didn’t go in to a rant. We mutually agreed that water is always the best drink, and went on our way with a good conversation.

    people at a table outdoors discussing a topic

    How often does it happen that a similar conversation could take place, and the other push their ideas, especially when it might not be useful or necessary?


    Good relationships with others are built upon trust and mutual respect. These two elements are a couple of the most critical to bonding good working, personal, and general relationships.

    As leaders, and as followers, its important to be both offer advice, and receive it. Offering opinions are important too. People like to be heard; for a good reason. New ideas and different approaches are important to the progression and advance of ideas, projects, humanity and may be inspiring.

    Take time to understand how your advice and opinion might relate to someone else

    When you have a strong opinion, idea, or position on an issue, typically you feel strongly about sharing that with others, right? There is nothing wrong with that, however, timing and placement are not to be overlooked.

    What is the best time to full unveil your golden advice? A couple timing ideas include:

    • Someone asks for your input or advice on the issue/discussion at hand
    • You feel so passionate about it, and you know the other person needs it at the time (make sure you know)

    What is a great way to impart your needed, requested wisdom? Two placement ideas are:

    • No interruptions allowed. Wait until someone is done talking. Interruptions are both annoying and rude.
    • Wrap it in a nice package. Start off with the meet in the middle approach. Show both sides; A and B, explain why you feel C may be best, and consider sharing a personal experience, or how you came to that conclusion.

    Be ready to share your wonderful knowledge, opinions, and ideas with anyone who might benefit. In fact, often when you offer properly timed and placed ideas to someone, it will typically stick with them, benefit them, and in return they are prepared to help another.

  • Social Networking Isn’t All About Making Money

    Can you quantify your social media and networking efforts? Yes? No? Maybe? There isn’t a right or wrong answer.

    There are those who have tried, tested, and proven that social networking works for them. It may be the core of their leads and referrals, or at least significant enough where could answer the above question with a big yes. Others, not so much, kind of a meh, still trying to figure it out, don’t have the time and are hoping so. Of course, there are always, and some legitimately, a big stinkin’ no. This could be for any imaginable reason, maybe it truly does not work for them, and there is a chance they flubbed their efforts.

    Is social networking making you money? This question posed, in a recent article by Martha Retallick, makes a clear point that if you aren’t out there networking with your target market, whether this be online or offline, then you are essentially wasting your time. Taking time away from where you could be allocating to potentially a better target. Are you getting leads from peers or colleagues? Is your business thriving because of the time spent networking online with an old acquaintance?  As an insightful commenter stated, “I don’t put all of my eggs in one basket.”

    Social networking and media can be important components of an organization and individual’s overall branding and marketing strategy. Income is necessary, and critical, to keep business and life going, observe where your energy is being spent, use time wisely, leverage the contacts you make and be useful to others, and social networking will work, in a profitable way.

  • Customer Service Is Your Only Option

    After placing a to-go order at a local restaurant the gentleman that took my order and returned, giving me the “good news, and the bad news”. They were out of the item I had ordered and were cooking some more and would have to wait. I had to decline because I was on a time crunch, thanked him kindly and walked down to the next bistro. To his credit, he was kind and genuine, and I will return another time to order.

    The phrase “good news, and bad news” got me thinking. We have heard it many times, its a common phrase used in the English language, however, when used in a customer service setting, across any industry or vertical, it doesn’t mesh well with the empathy, or customer service aspect of the message you’d like to give across. What I have learned in my business experience across multiple industries, is that customer service is your only option.  There are lots of ways to push your message to another person, but the way its received is of valuable importance. Individuals, businesses, organizations like the “good news” and the “good news with a twist”, not “the bad news”.  Granted, there are some times when its not appropriate to sugar-coat and you have to be straight-forward, but the rest of the time, in communicating with current, past, and future clients, customers and colleagues, be a little bit more tactful.

    On the Internet we have the beauty of so much information streaming, that if we choose to tap into it and step into the wind tunnel, we can at any time, however, when you leave, you can often be left with a fatigued state. It’s similar with communication, whether direct, in-direct, verbal, or non-verbal. You can have a power struggle of a conversation and not accomplish much. Alternatively, you can have a meet-in-the-middle conversation and come out with some action items. Use that to your advantage.

  • Your Audience Is Paying Attention Use One Voice and a Common Message

    As the discussion of social media and its value continues to peak, many organizations, for-profit and non-profit are implementing various social networks in to their current marketing and communication platform. They also are discovering new ways to innovate, update and modify their existing strategies to harness the fluidity and real-time responsiveness, those who use social media, enjoy.

    In March, I had the pleasure of assisting the American Red Cross of Montana in getting started with X (formerly Twitter) and outlined some initial strategies to build up a follower base by ensuring to post useful content, communicate and follow those who follow them, and express interest. Christine Hyde, a Volunteer Coordinator working with the Montana Red Cross under a 12-month AmeriCorps VISTA position, was tasked to lead the efforts of using social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, to communicate information of interest about the Montana Red Cross and its happenings to the public. She has done a wonderful job of creating useful content and building up a community of those interested in what the Montana Red Cross is doing.

    Mark Mathson: When you were approached about Twitter what were your expectations?

    Christine Hyde: At the time we had just started making a concerted effort to utilize social media as an outreach tool. I was hopeful that Twitter would be a tool to help the Red Cross quickly spread important messages during disasters to a population that may not hear those messages otherwise. I had never used Twitter at the time, so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of how we would develop our following.

    Mark: Has leveraging Twitter and Facebook as communication platforms helped the Montana Red Cross get their message out to a wider audience?

    Christine: Absolutely! We have gotten a much larger response than I originally anticipated when I began managing the Montana Red Cross Twitter account. We seem to have a fairly diverse group of followers. When I first began this project it was with the idea of using Twitter in larger disasters, but it very quickly grew into more than that. It has become a way for us to raise awareness of our mission and day-to-day services, and a way to bring disaster prevention, preparedness, and response to the attention of Montanans. One of the major things we tweet about is what disaster services we’ve provided in a given week. Many people are surprised to learn that disasters happen nearly every day in Montana; most of them are single family house fires. We believe that when more people hear about these events, they will be more likely to prepare themselves for similar disasters. Our daily tweets, in addition to spreading knowledge about the Red Cross and disasters, have actually brought us enough followers that we now have the ability to use Twitter for our original purpose: large disasters. I think Twitter has turned out to be an extremely valuable tool, and will only become more valuable as the social media trend grows and develops.

    Mark: Emergency services and preparedness is an industry that has benefited from social media/Internet presence. What do you think will be some of the important future developments that will continue making a difference?

    Christine: Tough question! I think that, as social media and Internet communication tools improve, we’ll be able to reach more and more people. The trend seems to be towards individualizing your Internet/social media experience, so I think we’ll have to address that more directly some point. At this point we’re still spreading a pretty generalized message; it seems like we could do some targeting to take advantage of that trend.

    I also feel that improvements in portable communication technology will bring about a different level of connection between people in a number of ways. First, you can access the Internet (which seems to be many people’s preferred communications medium) from almost anywhere, so it will probably continue to increase in popularity as a means of communication. Second, I think it provides an opening for continued use of the Internet as a communication tool in disaster situations where people might not be able to access computers.

    Another tool that will help emergency services groups provide better response is the improvement and increased availability of mapping tools. Being able to create and utilize visual databases of what resources you have and where they are makes responding quickly and effectively a lot easier! I use the term resources to include our volunteers and supporters as well as material goods.

    The last development that comes to mind is the emergency messaging systems that are now in place at many universities. I think there is a tremendous opportunity for those systems to be utilized outside of a university setting. Now that almost everyone has a cell phone or email, opt-in messaging systems for emergencies could disseminate a message to a lot of people in a really short time.

    Mark: Do you have any advice to other organizations considering using social media to get their message out?

    Christine: Definitely develop a social media philosophy before you get started. Consider the type of social media you are using as you develop your philosophy, and make sure to identify your end goal. It’s tempting to try to use social media as a fundraising tool, but are people really going to follow your tweets if all you do is ask for money? Remember that people don’t believe in your organization because you asked them to give money; they give money because you’ve gotten them to believe in your organization.

    I’d also suggest designating one person, or a small group of people who collaborate, to manage your social media. Your audience is paying attention; try to use one voice and speak a common message. Finally, make sure that you update frequently. If you’re quiet for too long you’ll lose your audience.

    You can follow the Montana Red Cross on X (formerly Twitter) and become a fan on their Facebook page.

  • 5 Ways to Use Technology to Be the Change

    “Be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

    When we make the decision to serve humanity, whether it be a singular effort as an individual or through a concentrated effort through an organization or company, the trickle down effects are positive and contagious. View it as a pay it forward system. Technology both solves and creates complex problems around the globe, and if done with care, can be harnessed for the greater good.

    1. Make a micro loan. Services such as Kiva set out to change the lives of those whom desire to better themselves. Kiva accomplishes their mission by providing the connection between lender and the recipient and following through for repayment. Their use of technology entails a strong web presence and community of lenders. Visit Kiva

    2. Find recycling centers and how to recycle. Sure you can probably find a local recycling center in the yellow pages, but the ad or listing won’t provide in depth information on how to recycle or what to expect. Earth911 provides a wealth of recycling information and a search-able directory to assist you in finding local recycling centers. Visit Earth911

    3. Use blogging and social media for your cause. If you have a cause or need to get an important message out to the world, a blog along with a strong social media toolkit containing a X (formerly X (formerly Twitter)) account, Facebook page, and others as you see fit will help build the community and support necessary to make change happen. Its been done countless times before, and with our global culture becoming closer knit through Internet and mobile communications, its even more important now to educate yourself on how to use these tools, which they are, for your cause. Visit Blog Action Day

    4. Mentor someone or provide assistance. We all bring something to the table. Some are expert pie makers, others are handy mechanics. In any event, you can provide mentor-ship, or even small bits of information that could be very valuable to another. By seeking out forums of interest, commenting on relevant blogs, and giving retweets, mentions, or replying to a question on X, you can further concrete your knowledge, validate your skill, and make someone’s day. Visit Virtual Volunteering FAQs

    5. Read to someone or a group. As we all truly stand on the shoulders of giants, although it can be easy to forget, the technology of the printing press is one of the most important, if not the most influential, inventions to impact humanity. We may take it for granted, but should take any chance, and seek out opportunities to read to someone or a group, whether it is children, or even an adult who may be unable to read due to mental or physical challenge. I can attest that the fulfillment that comes from doing this outweighs what other things you could be or have filled up your time. Visit Reading to Kids We are all in this together and by leveraging technology, and good old fashioned hard work, can make a difference in others’ lives while fulfilling our own.