Category Archives: Workplace Tips

Self-improvement advice for your work

10 rules for crisis management

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We are often asked advice about our rules of communications during a crisis. It is best if organizations think about crises before they hit. Be assured, a little bit of preparation will pay off ten-fold.

So, here’re 10 rules CG&A COMMUNICATIONS promotes to assist with crisis management:

1.  Write it down! Before a crisis occurs, draw up and distribute a comprehensive crisis communications plan. Always have a plan on paper.

2.  Know who will speak. Designate a small list of possible spokespersons and ensure they have training to give media interviews. The objective in responding during a crisis is to have a single voice, not a chorus.

3.  Organize yourself. Establish internal communications lines to ensure fast, accurate information when a crisis does occur. Prepare a list of inside and outside people to inform of a crisis. And, ensure all employees know where to direct media inquiries.

4.  Make good first impression. When the issue breaks, there must be an immediate meeting with senior management to determine the stance to take with the public. You have two critical hours to effectively respond. Your challenge is to define the issue accurately, deploy constantly changing tactics, and anticipate reactions.

5.  Prepare for media. Spend time briefing designated spokesperson(s) and ensure message lines are tight and clear.

6.  Be pro-active. Get out in front of the issue/event and make a public statement. No comment is no response and silence is anything but golden.

7.  Keep everyone in-the-know. Remember to keep your own house informed. Distribute statement to staff and other key people.

8.  Keep the channel(s) to media open. The media must know who the spokespersons are. An inquiry number should be made available to send and receive messages. In a crisis, it is essential that you are honest, accessible, and forthcoming.

9.  Always stay ahead of the issue. If the crisis is on-going, release periodic statements or hold periodic media briefings/news conferences.

10.  Never follow a list of ten golden rules. Each crisis is unique and requires special tactics to ensure the issues are dealt with effectively. Do not limit your options in answering to your crisis. A creative, pro-active plan is your best offense.

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

 

Your Wordplay Weapons

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For writers (and flacks and hacks), there are many weapons at your disposal to ensure the written word is lively and engaging. Here are but a few.

  • Malapropism – a comic misuse of language
  • Neologism – a made-up word
  • Anagram – a word formed by transposing letters
  • Acronym – a word formed by combining first letters or syllables of other words
  • Antonym – a word that means the opposite of another word
  • Paraphrase – to state something differently
  • Double Entendre – a word or phrase with an extra, often racy meaning
  • Metaphor – a figure of speech suggesting a likeness, but offering a description that is not literally applicable
  • Homophones – words with the same pronunciation
  • Cipher – secret writing, such as diplomatic writing
  • Palindrome – a text that reads the same in reverse
  • Spoonerism – transposing first letters of two or more words (i.e. right lane / light rain)
  • Pangram – a phrase using all 26 letters of the alphabet
  • Portmanteau – a word blend of two other words (i.e. breakfast and lunch becomes brunch)
  • Retronym – a modified name for an old item
  • Sesquipedalian – having many syllables
  • Paronomasia – a pun or play of words

(ed. – We dug this helpful piece out of the By George archives. Through the next few weeks By George will post lists of these “wordplay weapons.”)

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

The art of listening

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Listening is not the same as hearing. It is comprehending what is being said to you, and what is being communicated, and internalizing what is said so that you might provide thoughtful comment.

There is an art to listening and many people do not do it well as they are too busy trying to figure out what to say next, rather than fully understanding the other person’s comments.

Here are 6 great pointers on how to become a better listener.

  • Take the time to converse… permit yourself to “be lost” in a conversation
  • Look into the eyes, give your undivided attention (put away that cell phone)
  • Think to yourself: I will listen to understand, not to respond
  • Watch for any non-verbal communications signs
  • Ask questions to clarify anything not understood; and ask open end questions to obtain more details of what is being discussed
  • Be patient; do not interrupt but allow the speaker finish her thoughts

The best conversationalists are great listeners (is this not true?!). So, let the other(s) speak and learn from them how you can thoughtfully contribute to the exchange. In making an impact with your communications, it is quality not quantity that will create a lasting impression.

Think about the pointers provided in this post to become a better listener. If you wish to improve your listening skills over the next month, take Psychology Today’s “Listening Skills Test” and mark down your score. Print off the pointers and consciously think about them in your work and social exchanges. Then retest yourself in a month’s time and measure your improvement.

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Rules for Writing Plain English

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From How You Can Write Plain Language by Just Following These 39 Steps
By William D. Lutz, author of Doublespeak Defined and The New Doublespeak

 

The Writing Process

1. Know your reader, and write with your reader’s viewpoint in mind.

2. Organize your text: in a logical sequence, with informative headings, and with a table of contents for long documents

3. Use short sentences

4. Say only what you have to say, avoiding too many messages in a single sentence, and omitting surplus words.

5. Keep equivalent items parallel.

6. Avoid unnecessary formality.

7. Give an overview of the main idea of the text.

8. List conditions separately.

9. Arrange your words with care.

10. Punctuate carefully.

11. Use an average of 25 words per sentence.

12. Put most of your messages at the subject-predicate position.

13. For variety or emphasis, invert your sentences.

14. Use the art of subordination to smooth out choppiness.

15. Avoid disrupting your sentences with thought-stopping gaps.

16. Tabulate particularly complex information.

17. Get rid of compound prepositions.

18. Rewrite the adjective, adverb, and noun clauses to other structures satisfying the same functions.

19. Use phrases to smooth out the choppy noun-noun modifier.

20. Be fair and nonsexist, but don’t be stupid.

 

Usage

21. Prefer the active voice.

22. Use simple, “everyday” words.

23. Use words consistently.

24. Use familiar, concrete words.

25. Avoid multiple negatives.

26. Avoid nouns created from verbs.

27. Use action verbs; avoid the verb “to be.”

28. Use personal pronouns.

29. Avoid noun strings.

30. Avoid deleting words such as “which is,” “who was,” “that are,” etc. – that link a subordinate clause.

31. Avoid language quirks.

 

Presentation of Material

32. Make the document attractive and designed for easy reading.

33. Use white space in margins and between sections.

34. Use ragged right margins.

35. Do not use all caps.

36. Use highlighting techniques, but don’t overuse them.

37. Use 8 to 10 point type for text.

38. Avoid lines of type that are too long or too short.

39. Avoid strings of symbols.

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Text Message Abbreviations

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There are few who will argue against the fact that modern language has degenerated with the advance of on-line communications – particularly our use of strings of abbreviations when we send text messages. For your reference to this new world of abbreviations, we have compiled some of the most commonly used:

AFK – away from the keyboard
ASL? – Age? Sex? Location?
B4 – before
BAK – back at the keyboard
BBL – be back later
BCNU – be seeing you
BRB – be right back
BTW – by the way
FAQs – frequently asked questions
IMHO – in my humble opinion
L8R – later
LOL – laughs out loud
MOF? – male or female?
NM – never mind
N/M – not much
NP – no problem
OMG – oh may god!
ROFL – rolling on the floor laughing
TTFN – ta ta for now
UR – your or you’re
W/ – with

.

Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Peter Munk’s 34 Golden Rules

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In author Donald Rumball’s 1996 biography of Canadian business legend Peter Munk, “The Making of a Modern Tycoon,” Rumball enlists Peter Munk’s 34 Golden Rules about business success and a rewarding approach to life.

As we launch into implementing our Fall business plans, By George Journal offers these rules of Munk’s to not only guide you, but inspire you onward to a prosperous season.

  1. Never raise money when you need it. Raise it when financial markets are buoyant; invest it when markets are depressed.
  2. Always give away some of the upside to protect the downside.
  3. Work with people whom you respect and who have characteristics you don’t have.
  4. Time is short. If you want to achieve much, you’ve got to run.
  5. Don’t give away your destiny. Don’t put control into the hands of a body that doesn’t have interests aligned with yours. Governments are a good example.
  6. Play with the hand you’re dealt. It’s very frustrating to apply your mind to a different hand.
  7. You don’t need to know the industry you’re going into. If you apply yourself, you can always find the experts.
  8. Take your company public when its value is rising in order to raise more money on the stock market for diversification.
  9. Always leave something on the table in a public issue. If you push for the last penny, it may hurt you the next time around.
  10. If an acquisition is strategically right don’t worry about the price.
  11. Look for partners who will argue with you, because it disciplines your thinking and enables you to pick up negatives that you yourself may overlook.
  12. Life is about meeting objectives. Sometimes your objectives cross other people’s. Then you have to fight — and you fight to win. What’s the point of fighting if you don’t win?
  13. If you focus, you win.
  14. Don’t give up.
  15. Leaders should compensate for other people’s weaknesses, and draw on their strengths.
  16. People are motivated by much more than money. You just cannot be humdrum. There has to be a joy in achieving objectives, a joy in creating wealth, a joy in making properties better.
  17. If the market discounts your shares, you can’t use the market to raise capital — so buy back your shares.
  18. A successful partnership always has someone who ultimately can make a decision and take the responsibility.
  19. Be prepared for trouble when bankers are optimistic about your industry — especially when the bankers are Swiss.
  20. Never buy high, hoping it will go higher. Buy low and hope it will go higher.
  21. When you’re young or when you’re old, failure should not be an impediment to trying again.
  22. Don’t stop dreaming — and don’t stop dreaming big if you want to succeed.
  23. It’s management’s job to do what’s right, not what’s easy or convenient.
  24. Trust is the foundation. You cannot substitute for trust. Trust means you say the truth.
  25. Always deal from a strong equity base. Dilute every time you can get equity for more than book value.
  26. Be very aggressive operationally and very conservative financially.
  27. Don’t ever confuse gambling with business. You take your chances but you hedge your bets.
  28. Do deals only if they help your strategic objectives.
  29. Listen to smart people.
  30. If you want to dream big, expect big problems. Big dreams challenge the fates.
  31. Don’t expect to buy at the best price. Expect to sell at the right price.
  32. You cannot build a team without mutual confidence, mutual trust, mutual reliability. And there’s no team if you don’t have the strength. You need the strength when you go into battle. Whatever you tackle — and in business you’re always tackling things — the other party has to feel that there is total cohesiveness, there’s total awareness of the objectives, and there’s total support of each other.
  33. If you have to worry about the consultants pay, you shouldn’t retain any.
  34. Share the wealth.

 

Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Workplace Tip: How to Listen

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In a LinkedIn article, By George recently saw Dr. Travis Bradberry’s “7 Things Fabulous Listeners Do Differently”

 

Bradberry rightly points out that listening is a skill you want to be great at. He cites a recent study conducted at George Washington University showed that listening can influence up to 40% of a leader’s job performance.

 

Effective listening is something that can absolutely be learned and mastered. There are straightforward strategies that can make you a better listener.  Here are Bradberry’s 7 tips:

 

  1. Focus — The biggest mistake most people make when it comes to listening is they’re so focused on what they’re going to say next or how what the other person is saying is going to affect them that they fail to hear what’s being said.

 

  1. Put away your phone — When you commit to a conversation, focus all your energy on the conversation.

 

  1. Ask good questions — People like to know you’re listening, and something as simple as a clarification question shows not only that you are listening but that you also care about what they’re saying.

 

  1. Practice reflective listening – Psychologist Carl Rogers used the term “reflective listening” to describe the listening strategy of paraphrasing the meaning of what’s being said in order to make certain you’ve interpreted the speaker’s words correctly.

 

  1. Use positive body language – Become cognizant of your gestures, expressions, and tone of voice (and making certain they’re positive).

 

  1. Don’t pass judgment — If you want to be a good listener, you must be open-minded. Being open-minded makes you approachable and interesting to others.

 

  1. Keep your mouth shut – If you’re not checking for understanding or asking a probing question, you shouldn’t be talking. Not only does thinking about what you’re going to say next take your attention away from the speaker, hijacking the conversation shows that you think you have something more important to say.

 

This post comprises of excerpts from the original. Read Dr. Bradberry’s full article here…

Source:  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-things-fabulous-listeners-do-differently-dr-travis-bradberry

 

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Workplace Tip: How to Talk

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In a great Inc.com article, Bill Murphey Jr. reveals “17 Verbal Habits of Highly Likeable People”

 

It starts with what you say–and what you know not to say.  Murphey contends that how you listen to people will add (or take away from) your charisma.  Here are some of the most important things highly likeable people do every day.

 

  1. They are polite when then can be — Words like “please” and “thank you” might be technically unnecessary but they’re invaluable if you want to be more charismatic.

 

  1. They acknowledge small favors — “You’re welcome.” These two short words communicate much more than “no problem” (or, of course, “yup”) when someone thanks you for something.

 

  1. They offer meaningful praise — The key word here is “meaningful.” Charismatic people give sincere compliments–never bashful, never obsequious. When someone merits praise, they say so.

 

  1. They express sincere empathy — They use phrases like, “That must have made you feel proud,” or “I can imagine you must feel angry,” thus both exploring and validating other people’s feelings. Everybody wants to be understood.

 

  1. They share useful information — Some people like to hoard information because they think it makes them more powerful. Don’t be that person.

 

  1. They offer to help — The most charismatic people among us start simply by looking for chances to help–in their families, in their communities, and in the small moments of their day-to-day lives.

 

  1. They speak with justifiable confidence — They don’t boast or brag. But when faced with challenging situations–especially things that affect other people–they’re the ones who approach the problem with an air of calmness, curiosity, and confidence.

 

  1. They use names and titles that connote respect — Charismatic people remember other people’s names, and use their titles in circumstances when it makes those people feel good.

 

  1. They express their faith in others — Four simple words: “I believe in you.”

 

  1. They remember that they’re part of a team — A sense of camaraderie makes tough situations bearable. Having a sense of humor can even make them fun.

 

  1. They make introductions — Want to know five of the nicest words anyone can ever say to two people at the same time? “I’d like you to meet….” .

 

  1. They take their turn — Likable people aren’t afraid to step up when it’s their turn to do something enjoyable, or even to bear the burden of something that isn’t so great.

 

  1. They let others make their own decisions — Truly charismatic people have confidence in their opinions–but they also recognize that other people may legitimately see things differently.

 

  1. They listen–and they want to hear more — Highly likable people are active and sincere listeners. You can tell them your opinion or a story or ask for their advice, and they respond with questions and verbal cues that suggest they’re present in the moment.

 

  1. They take responsibility — When it’s their job or their fault, they step up. They take control of the things they’re supposed to have control over.

 

  1. They voice their support — We all appreciate people who stand by us and who let us know that they’re there.

 

  1. They ask, “Why not?” — Likable people are often dreamers, optimists, and doers. RFK put it best: “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”

 

This post comprises of excerpts from the original. Read the full article here…

SOURCE:  https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/want-to-be-more-charismatic-17-verbal-habits-of-highly-likable-people.html

 

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer or experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

8 Things You Should Do After 8 P.M.

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Here are some great tips on how to unplug and recharge. These suggestions are from a column written by Elle Kaplan in Thrive Global of LinkedIn:  “8 Things You Should Do After 8 P.M. If You Want to Be Happy and Successful — Wake up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.”

 

Elle Kaplan tells you hows you how to set yourself up to have a more productive day.

 

  1. Strolls by the moonlight

Adopt a routine of nighttime walks to decompress.

 

  1. Unplug. Literally.

Unplug everything besides your alarm clock, and watch the tension recede. Unplugging is also a key to a good night’s sleep.

 

  1. Sleep hygiene

Sleep hygiene is about more than just making your bed. Give yourself at least an hour to unwind before you actually doze off.

 

  1. Read up

Bill Gates found great success by reading for one hour every night, no matter what.

 

  1. Prioritize

You can avoid the morning scramble by laying out clear goals and priorities for tomorrow.  You’ll reduce your anxiety, and you’ll rest easy knowing you already have your ducks in a row.

 

  1. Stop mid-sentence

“The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next,” Ernst Hemmingway once said. “If you do that every day… you will never be stuck.”

 

  1. School’s in

One of the best times to learn is after a long and exhausting day. Learn something new while winding down.

 

  1. Write your stress away

Writing down our problems reduces open “loops” of bad thoughts, and washes away anxiety.

 

FULL ARTICLE:  “8 Things You Should Do After 8 P.M. If You Want to Be Happy and Successful — Wake up on the right side of the bed tomorrow.”

 

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Harold S. Geneen sharing good business sense

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Here are a dozen quotes on a decent approach to the world of business from the legendary, American corporate leader Harold S. Geneen.

  • The worst disease which can afflict executives in their work is not, as popularly supposed, alcoholism; it’s egotism.
  • You can’t run a business or anything else on a theory.
  • In business, words are words; explanations are explanations, promises are promises, but only performance is reality.
  • Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.
  • Leadership cannot really be taught, it can only be learned.
  • Better a good decision quickly than the best decision too late.
  • A true leader has to have a genuine open-door policy so that his people are not afraid to approach him for any reason.
  • I don’t believe in just ordering people to do things. You have to sort of grab an oar and row with them.
  • The best way to inspire people to superior performance is to convince them by everything you do and by your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartedly supporting them.
  • The only unforgivable sin in business is to run out of cash.
  • Telephones, hotels, insurance—it’s all the same. If you know the numbers inside out, you know the company inside out.
  • In the business world, everyone is paid in two coins: Cash and Experience. Take the experience first. The cash will come later.

Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

30 Behaviors That Will Make You Unstoppable

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This is an excerpt from blogger and writer Benjamin Hardy’s list of suggestions for “what it takes to succeed.” It was first posted in Thrive Global on LinkedIn.

 

  1. Don’t think — know and act.

“Don’t think. You already know what you have to do, and you know how to do it. What’s stopping you?” — Tim Grover

Rather than analyzing and thinking, act.

 

  1. Always be prepared so you have the freedom to act on instinct.

Become a master of your craft. Learn the left-brained rules in and out so your right brain can have limitless freedom to break the rules and create.

 

  1. Don’t be motivated by money or anything external.

 

  1. Never be satisfied.

“The drive to close the gap between near-perfect and perfect is the difference between great and unstoppable.” — Tim Grover… Even after you achieve a goal, you’re not content. For you, it’s not even about the goal. It’s about the climb to see how far you can push yourself.

 

  1. Always be in control.

Act based on instinct, not impulse.

 

  1. Be true to yourself.

Unstoppable people purge everything from their life they hate. Have the self-respect and confidence to live life on your terms.

 

  1. Never let off the pressure.

“Pressure can bust pipes, but it also can make diamonds.” — Robert Horry… Pressure is what keeps you alert and active.

 

  1. Don’t be afraid of the consequences of failure.

It’s all in your head. If something goes wrong — if you “fail” — you adjust and keep going.

 

  1. Don’t compete with others. Make them compete with you.

Competing with others makes absolutely zero sense to you. It pulls you from your authentic zone. So you zone out all the external noise and instead zone in to your internal pressure to produce.

 

  1. Never stop learning.

When you’re relentless, success only increases the pressure to do more. Immediately following the achievement of a goal, you’re focused on your next challenge.

 

  1. Don’t get crushed by success.

“Success can become a catalyst for failure.” — Greg McKeown… But for you, no external noise can push harder than your own internal pressure. It’s not about this achievement, but the one after, and the one after that. There is no destination. Only when you’re finished.

 

  1. Completely own it when you screw up.

No blame. No deception or illusion. Just the cold hard truth. When you mess up, you own it.

 

  1. Let your work speak for itself.

“Well done, is well said.” — Anthony Liccione

 

  1. Always work on your mental strength.

The better you can be under pressure, the further you’ll go than anyone else. The best training you will ever do is mental training.

 

  1. Confidence is your greatest asset.

You’ve heard it before: Running a marathon is far more mental than physical. A person’s ability to run a marathon — or do anything hard — is more a reflection of their level of confidence than their actual ability.

 

  1. Surround yourself with people who remind you of the future, not the past.

Surrounding yourself with people who you want to be like allows you a fresh slate. You’re no longer defined by your past, only the future you are creating.

 

  1. Let things go, but never forget.

 

  1. Have clear goals.

 

  1. Respond immediately, rather than analyzing or stalling.

“He who hesitates is lost.” — Cato… Just do it. Train yourself to respond immediately when you feel you should do something. Stop questioning yourself. Don’t analyze it. Don’t question if it came from God or from yourself. Just act.

 

  1. Choose simplicity over complication.

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein…

Cutting to the core and hitting the truth is hard, because it’s simple. As Leonardo da Vinci has said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

 

  1. Never be jealous or envious of someone else’s accomplishments.

 

  1. Take the shot every time.

You miss every shot you don’t take. The only way you can become unstoppable is if you stop thinking about it. Just take the shot.

 

  1. Don’t get caught up in the results of your success. Always remain focused on what got you those results: the work.

It can get easy to “ride the wave” of your previous work. Keep practicing. Perfect your craft. Never forget what got you here.

 

  1. Think and act 10X.

“When 10X is your measuring stick, you immediately see how you can bypass what everyone else is doing.” — Dan Sullivan… When you take your goal of earning $100,000 this year and change it to $1,000,000, you’re forced to operate at a different level. The logical and traditional approach doesn’t work with 10X.

 

  1. Set goals that far exceed your current capabilities.

If your goals are logical, they won’t force you to create luck. Being unstoppable means your goals challenge you to be someone more than you currently are. As Jim Rohn has said, “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.”

 

  1. Make time for recovery and rejuvenation.

“Wherever you are, make sure you’re there.” — Dan Sullivan… Recovering from my work generally consists of writing in my journal, listening to music, spending time with my wife and kids, preparing and eating delicious food, or serving other people. These things rejuvenate me. They make my work possible, but also meaningful.

 

  1. Start before you’re ready.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” — Chinese Proverb

 

  1. If you need permission, you probably shouldn’t do it.

No one will ever give you permission to live your dreams.

 

  1. Don’t make exceptions.

 

Read the full article here: 30 behaviors that will make you unstoppable

 

Chris George, providing reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

10 Simple Truths Smart People Will Forget

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#1 – Education and intelligence accomplish nothing without action.  There’s a huge difference between knowing how to do something and actually doing it.  Knowledge and intelligence are both useless without action.

#2 – Happiness and success are two different things.  “What will make me happy?” and “What will make me successful?” are two of the most important questions you can ask yourself.  But they are two different questions.

#3 – Everyone runs their own business.  No matter how you make a living or who you think you work for, you only work for one person, yourself.  The big question is:  What are you selling, and to whom?

#4 – Having too many choices interferes with decision making.  If you’re trying to make a decision about something in your life, don’t waste all your time evaluating every last detail of every possible option.  Choose something that you think will work and give it a shot.  If it doesn’t work out, choose something else and keep pressing forward.

#5 – All people possess dimensions of success and dimensions of failure.  Trying to be perfect is a waste of time and energy.  Perfection is an illusion. Our successful dimensions usually encompass the things we spend the most time doing.  But behind whichever polished storyline we publically promote, there lies a multi-dimensional human being with a long list of unprofessed failures.

#6 – Every mistake you make is progress.  Mistakes teach you important lessons.  Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.

#7 – People can be great at doing things they don’t like to do.  If someone dedicates enough time and attention to perfecting a skill or trade, they can be insanely good at doing something they don’t like to do.

#8 – The problems we have with others are typically more about us.  Quite often, the problems we have with others – our spouse, parents, siblings, etc. – don’t really have much to do with them at all.  Because many of the problems we think we have with them we subconsciously created in our own mind.  All we need is the willingness to look at things a little differently – letting go of ‘what was’ and ‘what should have been,’ and instead focusing our energy on ‘what is’ and ‘what could be possible.’

#9 – Emotional decisions are rarely good decisions.  Decisions driven by heavy emotion are typically misguided reactions rather than educated judgments.  Don’t let your emotions trump your intelligence.  Slow down and think things through…

#10 – You will never feel 100% ready when an opportunity arises.  One of the greatest things holding smart people back is their own reluctance to accept an opportunity simply because they don’t think they’re ready.  They believe they require additional knowledge, skill, experience, etc. before they can aptly partake in the opportunity.  Sadly, this is the kind of thinking that stifles personal growth. The truth is nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises – because most great opportunities in life force us to grow emotionally and intellectually.

(ed. – This post is abbreviated from a very thoughtful piece “10 Simple Truths Smart People Forget” first posted in a blog Marc and Angel. Source Link )

 

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

12 Habits Of Genuine People

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How genuine are you? Here is a list of character traits that Travis Bradberry (author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and principle at www.TalentSmart.com) has compiled that will provide you with a measuring stick of your moral fiber as it pertains to genuineness.

Consider the hallmarks of genuine people.

  1. Genuine people don’t try to make people like them. They are who they are. They know that some people will like them, and some won’t. And they’re OK with that. It’s not that they don’t care whether or not other people will like them but simply that they’re not going to let that get in the way of doing the right thing. They’re willing to make unpopular decisions and to take unpopular positions if that’s what needs to be done.
  2. They don’t pass judgment. Genuine people are open-minded, which makes them approachable and interesting to others.
  3. They forge their own paths. Genuine people don’t derive their sense of pleasure and satisfaction from the opinions of others. Their direction comes from within, from their own principles and values. They do what they believe to be the right thing, and they’re not swayed by the fact that somebody might not like it.
  4. They are generous. Genuine people are unfailingly generous with whom they know, what they know, and the resources they have access to. They want you to do well more than anything else because they’re team players and they’re confident enough to never worry that your success might make them look bad.
  5. They treat everyone with respect. Genuine people are unfailingly polite and respectful. They believe they’re no better than anyone else.
  6. They aren’t motivated by material things. Genuine people don’t need shiny, fancy stuff in order to feel good. Their happiness comes from within, as well as from the simpler pleasures—such as friends, family, and a sense of purpose—that make life rich.
  7. They are trustworthy. People gravitate toward those who are genuine because they know they can trust them. Genuine people mean what they say, and if they make a commitment, they keep it.
  8. They are thick-skinned. Genuine people have a strong enough sense of self that they don’t go around seeing offense that isn’t there. They’re able to objectively evaluate negative and constructive feedback, accept what works, put it into practice, and leave the rest of it behind without developing hard feelings.
  9. They put away their phones. When genuine people commit to a conversation, they focus all of their energy on the conversation. Genuine people create connection and find depth even in short, everyday conversations.
  10. They aren’t driven by ego. Genuine people don’t make decisions based on their egos because they don’t need the admiration of others in order to feel good about themselves. Likewise, they don’t seek the limelight or try to take credit for other people’s accomplishments.
  11. They aren’t hypocrites. Genuine people practice what they preach. And genuine people fix their own problems first.
  12. They don’t brag. Genuine people don’t need to brag. They’re confident in their accomplishments, but they also realize that when you truly do something that matters, it stands on its own merits, regardless of how many people notice or appreciate it.

In summary, genuine people know who they are. They are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. They are firmly grounded in reality, and they’re truly present in each moment because they’re not trying to figure out someone else’s agenda or worrying about their own.

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(SOURCE – Read the full article in Forbes Magazine: 12 Habits of Genuine People)

Chris George, providing reliable PR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

 

 

8 Things Every Person Should Do Before 8 A.M.

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Benjamin Hardy has nailed what might be every productive person’s perfect morning routine.

 

He states that although life is busy, You are the designer of your destiny. You are responsible.

You get to decide. You must decide — because if you don’t, someone else will. Indecision is a bad decision.

 

Hardy has provided his insights into a short morning routine that has the potential to quickly change your life.

Wake up

Get in the zone

Get moving

Put the right food in your body

Get ready

Get inspired

Get perspective

Do something to move you forward

 

Here is a Readers Digest version of his thoughts…

 

  1. Get A Healthy 7+ Hours of Sleep

Getting a healthy amount of sleep is linked to:

  • Increased memory
  • Longer life
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Increased creativity
  • Increased attention and focus
  • Decreased fat and increased muscle mass with exercise
  • Lower stress
  • Decreased dependence on stimulants like caffeine
  • Decreased risk of getting into accidents
  • Decreased risk of depression
  • And tons more… google it.

 

  1. Prayer and Meditation to Facilitate Clarity and Abundance

After waking from a healthy and restful sleep session, prayer and meditation are crucial for orienting yourself toward the positive. What you focus on expands… Prayer and meditation facilitate intense gratitude for all that you have. Gratitude is having an abundance mindset. When you think abundantly, the world is your oyster. There is limitless opportunity and possibility for you.

 

  1. Hard Physical Activity

If you want to be among the healthy, happy, and productive people in the world, get in the habit of regular exercise.

 

  1. Consume 30 Grams of Protein

Protein-rich foods keep you full longer than other foods because they take longer to leave the stomach. Also, protein keeps blood-sugar levels steady, which prevents spikes in hunger. So, eat at least 40% of your breakfast calories as protein.

  • Do it with two or three whole eggs (each egg has about 6g protein)
  • If you don’t like eggs, use something like turkey bacon, organic pork bacon or sausage, or cottage cheese
  • Or, you could always do a protein shake with water
  • For people who avoid dairy, meat, and eggs, there are several plant-based proteins. Legumes, greens, nuts, and seeds all are rich in protein.

 

  1. Take A Cold Shower

Cold water immersion radically facilitates physical and mental wellness.When practiced regularly, it provides long-lasting changes to your body’s immune, lymphatic, circulatory and digestive systems that improve the quality of your life. It can also increase weight-loss because it boosts your metabolism.

 

  1. Listen to/Read Uplifting Content

Ordinary people seek entertainment. Extraordinary people seek education and learning. It is common for the world’s most successful people to read at least one book per week. They are constantly learning. Taking even 15–30 minutes every morning to read uplifting and instructive information changes you. It puts you in the zone to perform at your highest.

 

  1. Review Your Life Vision

Your goals should be written down — short term and long term. Taking just a few minutes to read your life vision puts your day into perspective. If you read your long term goals every day you will think about them every day. If you think about them every day, and spend your days working toward them, they’ll manifest.

 

  1. Do At Least One Thing Towards Long-Term Goals

So your mantra becomes: The worst comes first. Do that thing you’ve been needing to do. Then do it again tomorrow. If you take just one step toward you big goals every day, you’ll realize those goals weren’t really far away.

 

By George recommends that you read the whole of this great Benjamin Hardy column – right here:

https://www.thriveglobal.com/stories/2280-8-things-every-person-should-do-before-8-a-m

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Your Checklist for Effective Meetings

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Through this week, the By George Journal has posted some helpful tips on how to make the meetings you attend more effective, more relevant to your work and/or interests. We start this feature by providing you with a useful checklist (this advice has been taken from the By George Treasury). We trust these tips will make for more efficient and productive meetings in the future.

We suggest you clip and save this checklist for effective meetings!

  • Have an agenda and circulate it prior to the meeting. Ensure the agenda expresses the objective of the meeting.
  • Invite the correct people at the meeting those who have information to contribute or must follow-through on what is being shared.
  • Prepare yourself and know the issues to be discussed.
  • Circulate materials prior to the meeting, if there are articles or items that will be discussed.
  • Start the meeting on time. Keep the meeting moving along by sticking to the agenda.
  • Announce expectations at the outset of the meeting. Should the discussion be derailed, bring the meeting back on track by restating the objective(s) and expectations.
  • Be attentive to the person speaking — do not begin sidebar conversations or be reading or completing paperwork while a person is talking. You expect common courtesy from others, so practice it yourself.
  • If you are the Chair, attempt to engage all the participants in the discussion. This will ensure everyone is on the same page.
  • At the end of the meeting, review discussion and decisions made and any action items for follow-up to the meeting.
  • Attempt to keep the meeting to 60 minutes — spend as little time as is needed to understand the issues and agree on action items.

 

(ed. –We have tagged “meetings” and these articles you can find many more tips for conducting an effective meeting.)

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

 

On more effective meetings

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Here are a few additional thoughts on meetings….

 

Effective meetings begin and end with common courtesy. The Golden Rule of Meetings is: Do onto others what you’d want done to yourself. Take a moment to recall all those things that frustrate you about meetings – and don’t repeat the most common mistakes. Good meetings don’t happen by chance; they are a by-product of a thoughtful person who plans in advance. So, in the interest of workplace sanity, we are forwarding a few thoughts on how to run an effective meeting. Let’s start with the call of the meeting…

If you are arranging the meeting, make sure to circulate an agenda to the participants. If you are being called to a meeting, ask for the agenda. The ideal is for everyone to understand the purpose of the meeting. A printed agenda ensures everyone will be on the same page.

In preparing for the meeting, you should take some time to acquaint yourself with the meeting’s issues and prepare in advance for the discussions.  If you are Chair, be sure to have the best people possible at the meeting to speak on the particular issues. And, be sure everyone has as much information as they need to prepare for the meeting.

Once people are gathered, be sure that all expectations are expressed and understood. Place the issues into context and ensure everyone is aligned with the purpose(s) of the meeting. It is important to start the dialogue with everyone at an initial point of understanding.

The best meetings will start on time and finish on time. Punctuality certainly sets the tone of the meeting and, in many cases, can drive the participants towards the objectives. A good meeting will also ensure all participants contribute to meeting the objectives and mutual expectations of the gathering. Most importantly, well-run meetings will remain orderly and focused on the objectives at hand.

Lastly, a good meeting will end with a review of the decisions made. There will also be a review of the action items arising from the decisions of the meeting. By reviewing decisions and action items in a recap, all participants will leave the meeting room with a clear understanding of outcomes and follow-up. In this way, everyone will have a feeling that the time around the table was not only well spent, but also a positive experience.

 

FIVE RULES OF EFFECTIVE MEETINGS

  1. Have an agenda, circulate it prior to the meeting, and then stick to it!
  2. Prepare yourself – know the issues and consider how you will contribute to the discussions.
  3. Prepare others – announce your expectations at the beginning of the meeting and ensure any support materials are circulated.
  4. If you chair the meeting – start and finish on time and engage all participants. If you’re a participant, support the Chair in his/her efforts to adhere to the agenda.
  5. Conclude by reviewing action items the group are tasked to follow-through on – and set a timeline and reporting-in process for action items.

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Effective Meetings Tips: Your follow up after the meeting

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  • Ensure minutes are prepared and circulated participants as soon as possible after the meeting date.  Read minutes and note any necessary edits that need to be made to reflect what transpired.
  • Send any post-meeting communications to all participants in a timely manner.
  • Evaluate the meeting and note whether it met the stated objectives. Pass along your assessment if it is appropriate.
  • If you were the chairman, seek feedback from the meeting’s participants.  Ask how the next meeting may be improved.
  • Complete your personal notes on meeting’s subject matter – denoting persons present and any significant points raised.
  • Ensure you follow-up appropriately with any specific action items arising from the meeting.

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

 

Effective Meetings Tips: Participating in the meeting

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  • Start the meeting on time. Review the agenda and announce all expectations at the outset of the meeting.
  • Keep the meeting moving along by sticking to the agenda.
  • Be attentive to the person speaking — do not begin sidebar conversations or be reading or completing paperwork while a person is talking. You expect common courtesy from others, so practice it yourself.
  • If you are the Chair, attempt to engage all the participants in the discussion.  This will ensure everyone is on the same page.
  • Should the discussion be derailed, bring the meeting back on track by restating the objective(s) and expectations. Get their feedback during the meeting when you can improve the meeting process right away.
  • Consider the timely use of printed materials and visuals.
  • At the end of the meeting, review discussion and decisions made and any action items for follow-up to the meeting.
  • Assign action items and an agreeable follow-up process.
  • Attempt to keep the meeting to 60 minutes — spend as little time as is needed to understand the issues and agree on action items.

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Effective Meetings Tips: In preparing for a meeting

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By George begins this week by sharing tips on conducting more effective meetings. (We all spend too much time in meetings not to consider how to make them more efficient and productive.)

Here is the first of three posts this morning… tips in preparing for a meeting.

 

  • Determine whether there is a need for a meeting. Avoid a meeting if the same information could be covered in a memo, e-mail or brief report.
  • Set realistic objectives for the meeting. What information must be shared and what can be accomplished.
  • Have an agenda and circulate it prior to the meeting. Ensure the agenda expresses the objective of the meeting.
  • Circulate materials prior to the meeting, if there are articles or items that will be discussed.
  • Invite the correct people at the meeting those who have information to contribute or must follow-through on what is being shared.
  • Consider the physical surroundings of your meeting – a seating arrangement, writing materials and space, audiovisual aids including extension cords and outlets, refreshments, etc.
  • Prepare yourself and know the issues to be discussed. Consider print-outs and visuals.
  • If you are the chairman, you must: know the group, prep members prior to the meeting, set the agenda and plan ahead, prepare speaking notes in advance, be prepared to lead discussions – and evaluate the proceedings during and after the meeting.

 

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.

Leaders within our Workplace

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In surfing through old business columns (dated 2010), we came across a good commentary on effective leadership in today’s workplace. Dave Jones, then with Proximity Canada in Toronto, comments on the distinction between two types of people in the workplace – managers and leaders.

Jones says: “There are few true leaders in the world.  It’s risky.  It’s hard.  It’s often times unappreciated.”  

Here’s his distinction.

 

Managers:

  • deal with what’s handed to them
  • iterate on what’s been done
  • chart a course in ink
  • check boxes
  • have “not my…” in their vocabulary i.e. department, job, budget, responsibility
  • lean to the conservative
  • maximize resources against goals
  • measure at the end

 

Leaders:

  • redefine their environment
  • allergic to “this is how we’ve always done it”
  • head in a direction, but not certain to reach destination
  • colour outside the boxes
  • strive to be innovative
  • focus resources on goals; but saves some for the sandbox
  • measure along the way; course-correcting on the fly

 

SOURCE:

http://davejones.ca/blog/2010/11/17/manager-or-leader-whats-the-future-of-the-corporate-social-s.html

    

Chris George provides reliable PR & GR counsel and effective advocacy. Need a go-to writer and experienced communicator? Call 613-983-0801 @ CG&A COMMUNICATIONS.