Everyone Needs a Break

I didn't post last week. I was on vacation. I timed my vacation to coincide with the school district's mid-Winter break. I didn't do anything fancy, but I was able to spend time with family and friends. Just by unplugging (no classes, no blog posts, no LinkedIn) I was able to really relax and fall into unique experiences. We went to the zoo with a friend who used to work there and was able to give us amazing insight into the animals and their behavior; afterwards we had lunch in a great little spot and wandered through the most amazing store in the world: Archie McPhee. The kids and I took the light rail and then a streetcar to get to the new location of the Museum of History and Industry it took 3 times as long to travel this way but we had TIME together. We pulled out rubber stamps and stickers and pens and journaled in the evening about our days. We talked. We played. Downtime is important for everyone. Are you able to relax and rest and unplug when your vacation hits? Or do you feel like it will negatively affect you at work if you don't check in everyday and respond to emails immediately? Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is say, "I'm completely unplugging, I'm not answering work emails or texts this week."

Hollywood Stars And Your Elevator Speech

It is award season. I'm a performer so I watch pretty much every award show and I quite often cringe at the acceptance speeches. Sometimes I have to leave the room they are so awkward.

I'm convinced that someone could make an absolute FORTUNE coaching nominees on how to write and perform a kick-butt acceptance speech. I see so many performers stumbling over their words, reciting a boring laundry list of thanks; or worse, announcing that they are unprepared, "Gee, I didn't think I'd win so I didn't write a speech." That's crap. What they've done is wasted the audience's time and wasted a moment when they could've made a genuine connection with their fans and with others in the business who might want to work with them in the future.

I started thinking, a kick-butt acceptance speech isn't much different than a kick-butt elevator speech.

Here are some tips:

• Be genuine. People can see through the bull. Don't say what you think people want to hear; share what genuinely means something to you. If you are showing off or connecting on a superficial level you could find yourself making a bad impression; or working on a project that doesn't interest you in the least!
• Tailor your communication to each person. The Grammys are more relaxed than the Oscars. What goes for Grammys might not work at the Oscars. Define who it is you want to connect with and what you would say if you were given the opportunity.
• Don't recite a "laundry list"-for celebrity-types it would sound like, "I'd like to thank my agent, my producer, the Hollywood Foreign Press. For business-types it would sound like, "I did this. I did that. I did the other." Boring. And, you just blew your chance to make a real connection.
• Pay attention to what goes on in your company and your industry. Talk about THAT rather than yourself. "Hey, congrats on landing that big client. After your work on a-b-c project I'm sure they were dying to have you." 
• Ask questions to find out how YOU can help the person you want to work for. "Is this project going to involve any global marketing?"
• Listen to the answer, if you -or someone you know- can help, then offer that. "That's great. Our department just started a global initiative. Let any of us know if you need some help."
• Wrap it up well, circling back to the OTHER person. Not yourself. "Great talking with you. Again, congrats on that new client."
• Practice -Don't skip this part, it is crucial! Practice in your car. Practice in front of a mirror. 

Give and Take

It is Valentine's Day. The day your co-worker might get a bouquet of flowers and you are allergic -nothing life-threatening -you will sniffle all day. Me, too. I'm highly allergic.

As you sniffle, how do you react? Do you take an allergy pill and enjoy that your co-worker is happy? Or, do you complain to management and demand the flowers be removed?

Life is give and take, friends. You probably do something that bothers a co-worker once in a while. Why not let the flowers stay? That's expressing true love on Valentine's Day.

Personal Qualities

There is a school that has this posted. I love it because these are also the qualities not often measured by job interviews. How DO you measure these things in a job interview??

Three Little Words

I am sorry.

Those are the 3 most powerful words in any relationship; especially if a leader says it.

WARNING: Those words should be said and left alone. If you add a "but" it negates the apology.

Examples:

I am sorry, but . . . you were doing it wrong so I had to step in and fix it.
I am sorry, but . . . you are too sensitive.
I am sorry, but . . . we're going to have to let you go.

See? The "but" is never good.

Here are other ways to say, "I am sorry":

I was wrong.
I was mistaken.
You are right.
I apologize.
Please forgive me.

Leaders, memorize those. They are important to have in your lexicon.