It’s a 411 not a 911

That’s right, your email is important but not urgent.

If it’s urgent, pick up the phone!

So, now that you've slowed down a beat, check your email to make sure it delivers the exact message you intend, for the exact results you need. 

1. Clarify your objective

2. Consider the reader:

a. What other information might they need?

b. What communication style are they? 

Re-read your email, check for typos, and test for tone.  There, now you can press send.

Is email your primary source of communication with customers, clients and co-workers?  We've got a webinar to help.  Email us to be notified when we host our next public webinar or ask us about hosting a private session for your office.   Learn more about The Write Stuff.

Sound available

You are busy, but you shouldn’t sound busy.

If you slow down and don’t interrupt your caller and they will feel heard, cared for and like you better.

Wow, that’s quite a promise, you say! 

But it’s true.  When you fully listen to your caller and act as if they are the most important person in your world (right now) they can feel it. 

Tips:

Choose to speak at a slower pace to indicate you have time for them.  Need help?  Say this tongue twister “Around the rugged rocks the ragged rascals ran.”  That’s the pace and nice job with the enunciation! 

Choose not to interrupt.  Snap a rubber band on your wrist as a reminder to let them finish their sentence… completely.  Resist the urge to help them along. Just listen.

You know that feeling you get when you help someone?  When they say ‘thank you’ and you know you earned it?  Ya, that feels good and these techniques will help you experience that more often.

Have you been watching?

So much competition in the Olympics, but only a few winners.  What helps winners win?

Choosing to focus on what’s in their control and visualizing success.

An athlete can’t change how prepared the competition is, how hot it is, or what’s happening politically, but they can choose to focus on what’s in their control.

One technique that Olympians use to enhance this focus is visualization or mental imagery.  Before they compete, they imagine themselves running through their event, thinking through the movements and winning.

Take a moment to think through your day before it happens and imagine it going really well.  Play through some typical interactions and handle them in medal-worthy fashion.  Then head back to reality and enjoy your day. 

Want to learn more?  Read this article.

Keep your eye on the prize

Have you been watching the Olympics? The athletes are achieving great feats, breaking records and winning medals.

Do you ever wonder what it took to get there?   Sacrifice.

Olympians have been so focused preparing for their event that they’ve given up vacations, parties, hobbies and even participating in other leisure sports.  They’ve kept their eye on the prize.

Do you ever get:

1. Thrown off your game by an upset or intimidating caller?
2. Frazzled when someone asks about price?
3. Upset when they threaten to leave?

Today, when you get that tough caller, keep your eye on the prize by being patient, actively listening and offering empathy. 

The prize?  Happy Customers. :-)

Smile and the World Smiles with You

Smiling, like yawning, is contagious. 

When someone comes into your office, your cube or the company kitchen, look up and smile at them. 

Bet they smile back, betcha it goes viral faster than Pokemon Go!

Tip:  If they don’t, be extra kind.  They might be having a tough day and need a little extra care.

It's Monday...

and due to recent events in Orlando, it might be tough to focus on offering friendly and upbeat service today.

Rather than trying to make yourself happy so that you can make customers happy, do the opposite.

Choose to make someone else happy.  The world could use some extra empathy right now.

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else
”

— Booker T Washington

Got Millennials on your team?  Looking for a way to work better together?  We can help.

It's MONDAY!

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you sit down at your desk on a Monday morning?

• Here we go again.... can't wait till Friday
• I hate Mondays
• I have a busy week planned
• Yay!  Wonder how I can help someone today?

“If you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you’ll rarely disappoint yourself. Wayne Dyer, PhD”

Mondays set the tone for the week.  Wouldn't you rather have a good one?  Try one of these tips: 

• Call it "A Marvelous Monday"
• Rise to the challenge - stand up and stretch
• Have a little chat with yourself and say your mantra: "I'm awesome, I'm awesome, I'm awesome"

What do you do to master your Mondays?