Savvy Saturday Session - Leadership Orientation with Caroline Sutherlin part 2

Last week we looked at “The Magnificent Seven” of Resolving Conflicts Don’ts
Do’s. This week will be the Destructive Dozen.

YELLING – Few people respond well when you raise your voice loudly when
you are trying to communicate with them.

BLAMING – Verbally attacking someone else and making the focus of the
situation personal.

REACTING DEFENSIVELY - Makes the other person feel like a wall has been
erected between you.

FOCUS ON PERCEIVED INTENTIONS – Can lead you to making assumptions
that prevent you from seeing people’s actions.

NOT DEALING WITH THE SITUATION – One of the more common behaviors
in conflict situations that generally leads to creating a worse situation
than the actual one.

MAKING SUBTLE DIGS AND SARCASTIC REMARKS – Comments that belittle
others and won’t help to solve the conflict.

COMPLAINING CONSTANTLY ABOUT THE SITUATION – Constant
complaining will cause others to tune you out.

ISSUING ULTIMATUMS – Will be received as harsh demands of threats and
may create animosity and defiance.

PUSHING HARDER AND HARDER FOR YOUR WAY – Lack of consideration
for the other person’s view may make you less persuasive.

SENDING FLAMING E-MAILS MESSAGES – Telling other about your concern
can generally sound like you’re complaining or degrading that person; is
great for stimulating rumorsand stirring plenty of negative energy.

Conflicts are a part of our professional and personal lives. Take the
time to learn howresolve the conflicts … it is time well spent.

Savvy Saturday Session - Leadership Orientation with Caroline Sutherlin

Leadership Orientation
What a great time was had by all at the Texas State Chapter Leadership
Orientation last week! The setting was beautiful, the networking
outstanding and the education empowering…

One of our past state presidents, Carolyn Sutherlin, discussed with the 2010
state officers the “Resolving Conflicts Don’ts and Do’s”. These tips would
be useful in all of our relationships…. let's start with the "Do's".

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

GO TO THE SOURCE – Face-to-face interaction is best for resolving
disputes and conflicts. E-mail can’t do it; neither can voice mail

STAY IN CONTROL – The toughest job you have to do is
manage yourself.

STAY FOCUSED ON THE ISSUES – Ability to listen and understand
the other person’s point of view will positively influence the outcomes.

BE STRAIGHT AND SINCERE - Need to be direct, respectful in
your tone and constructive in your use of language.

GO FOR SOLUTIONS – Entire emphasis needs to be solutions-oriented,
so that the end result creates an improvement, corrects an error, or makes
things better than they were in their previous state.

ASSUME THE OTHER PERSON MEANS WELL – Takes your focus
away from what you perceive someone intended and places it on the
actions you see.

Next week, we will look at the "Don'ts"....

Savvy Saturday Session - "Your Golden Rolodex" - Week 4

How quickly the time passes when you are having fun or doing the things that you enjoy! It is time to finish Your Golden Rolodex: How to Network for Results! by Vicki Austin with a few last comments. Hopefully you have learned something new or been reminded ofsomething that has worked in the past.

As to social networking, the author loves technology and realizes the importance to staycurrent and to know what is available BUT technology needs to serve us….not the other way around. Building relationships are best done face-to-face with frequent connections.There is nothing casual about networking. You need to schedule time to make calls. Once an appointment is made, schedule in your calendar, confirm and keep your appointment.

Prepare for your appointment..

1. Know your audience – Use search engines to learn about the individual andcompany. Ask others in your GR about the person

2. Prepare questions – your job is to ensure that the networking conversationstays active.

3. Referrals are the very LAST thing to come up.If all goes according to schedule, you may have more people and contacts thanyou know what to do with. Use ONE calendar, a contact grid and follow upchecklist to help manage the volume. Document each call/visit and highlightaction steps needed. Once an action is completed, remember to document thefollow up, too.

Never let the Golden Rolodex grow cold. Networking should be an integralpart of your routine. Stay connected by …

1. Joining & participating in professional associations or societies (WCR)

2. Continue with ongoing training and development in your field

3. Volunteer for projects as work or in the professional associations

4. Stay involved in alumni associations

5. Block 1 day a month/every two weeks/every week to have lunch or coffee withpeople in your Golden Rolodex to keep contacts strong

6. Read articles and journals. Share copies or clips with your contacts.

Posted by VaLois Hounsel

Savvy Saturday Session - "Your Golden Rolodex" - Week 3

Networking can be seen by some as “using” people but Vickie Austin in "Your
Golden Rolodex: How to Network for Results!" contends that everyone prefers
to do business with those that they know. The content of the book is a step-by
-step process of how to network. Last week we started the Networking Toolbox
with your Mission Statement and the Golden Rolodex. Let’s add a few more tools…

3. Your message: the 30 Second Commercial or Your Elevator Speech
It is important not to get “stuck” on your history. The objective is to hear what
others have to say and how they might be able to help YOU. A formula that has
worked for many of her clients:

Past + Present + desired Future (MISSION)
+ Request
(Time, Ideas, Opinions & Recommendations)
= Success

Keep the past factual, short and sweet. The present should also be brief with
the two sentences joined by the word “and”. The 30 Second Commercial is an
integral part of the campaign that needs to be practiced and refined.

4. The Request …. Remember that the most powerful request is to ask for
someone’s time. You are asking people to help you identify strategies to help
you accomplish your mission…making money is not the objective of your
MISSION statement. Make an appointment and keep it as a formal business
meeting. The ideas, recommendations, and opinions of the individual are your
goals. We know that everyone likes to be asked their opinion. By seeking their
help, we are including in them the process.

5. Time – Campaigns don’t happen by themselves….they require time and
attention. You need to incorporate the activities into your calendar.

6. Commitment – Networking is a way of life, not a onetime event. The Golden
Rolodex must be fed with regularity!

Until next week....

Savvy Saturday Session - "Your Golden Rolodex" Week 2

Last week, we discussed the need to network but yet it is certainly not everyone’s favorite activity. Vickie Austin, in The Golden Rolodex: How to Network for Results!, promotes the importance— the gold—that resides in your existing database without seeking new people as contacts.

Ms. Austin has created a Networking Toolbox to help you launch a communication campaign.

Your mission—create a mission statement, define your purpose and wanting to make a difference. A mission statement is very different from your business objectives. Missions statements usually contain verbs like “to help, contribute or create”. It is never about the money. Your mission is about service to others.

2) Your Golden Rolodex—the key is to identify everyone, set up a system where you can tap into that reserve of contacts. Her criteria for someone in the Golden Rolodex is most interesting.
a) First of all they must know your name. If you called or left word for, they would recognize your name or the name of the person who referred you to them
b. The most important is that they must be BREATHING!

Communities need to be established. Communities are a collection of people who share or have shared a particular time, place or experience. Possible communities are: work colleagues—past & present; alumni & associations; neighbors, professional/industry associations; sororities; individuals with the same hobbies; friends; family; parents of kids’ friends; house of faith, and one of the most important—personal/professional service providers like hairdressers, barber, attorney, etc.

Now that you have established the communities, integrate the information into ONE place. This might be Outlook, cell phone, PDA, Blackberry, Palm or online programs like Top Producer or ACT! It does not matter what you have as long as you keep it current. The entering of data is an ongoing job for you or your (virtual) assistant.

Until next week with the third installment..

Savvy Saturday Session - Speaking & Presentation Skills - Leadership Skills Training

Thank you to Sharon Eddings, 2009 Texas State Secretary, for sharing the power point presentation from the Leadership Skills Training held in conjunction with the Marketing to Women Summit in Chicago this year.

The presentation shows you how to employ tips and techniques when in the spotlight, especially as a spokesperson; use protocol at meetings and events correctly and confidently; and find local resources to practice public speaking. Click here to view...

Savvy Saturday Session - "Your Golden Rolodex" Week 1 by Vickie Austin

I would like to share with you over the next few weeks the e-book "Your Golden Rolodex: How to Network for Results!" by Vickie Austin, one of the phenomenal women who presented several sessions at The Marketing to Women Summit in Chicago this year. She speaks to the importance of your current database –filled with gold - to develop your business.

“Your Golden Rolodex is based on the premise that in order to succeed, we must start by honoring the people we already know –a rich network of resources that’s typically ignored or misunderstood.

Networking is a communication campaign. Women are great at building relationships but lousy at generating results from them.

The Golden Rolodex focuses on the importance of identifying, connecting and keeping up with them in whatever style the person is comfortable and treating people in an authentic and respectful way.

A strong connection exists between networking and etiquette:

1. Return all phone calls

2. Make appropriate introductions – connecting people to each other in
business

3. Apologize – take responsibility for your actions

4. Say Thank You – if a connection resulted in actual business, send
something tangible - flowers, a favorite book, candy, or something
sweet with a card saying “Keep those referrals coming!”

Networking code learned at Sunday School : Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.

Reciprocity is at the heart of effective networking”

Until next week's installment.... building a "Networking Toolbox"...