August 8, 2008This Week in the World ~ An invitation to SpeakStrong in Love: FREE presentation in Denver, article summary
Last week’s SpeakStrong in Love presentation surpassed expectations and was so well received that I scheduled another one in Denver next Monday.
If you live too far away to attend, the invitation to SpeakStrong in Love is for you too. You can read my summary of the talk and get the information.
But for those of you in Colorado, here’s the info. It’s
Monday, August 11th, 7-9 PM
The Peoples House
3035 West 25th Ave, Denver. Park in the lot in the back.
You don’t need to register. If you’re thinking about driving up from Colorado Springs, we could ride up together. Please tell your Colorado friends about this talk. There is no cost beyond an optional $5 donation to People House.
Get more information at SpeakStrong in Love.
August 8, 2008This Week in the World ~ People House
I met People House Director Katie Brown for lunch last week. Here are just a few of the things I like about her.
1. She knows the pleasure of service.
2. She listens to and loves knowledge: including (but not limited to) my knowledge, my husband’s knowledge and Jeffrey’s knowledge.
3. She kept thinking my husband and I were newlyweds because the way my husband speaks about me sounds “far too in love for a couple who has been married twelve years.” Thanks to my husband Bob, Katie and ancient relationship wisdom for that “warm and fuzzy.”
4. Her communication is so filled with inspiring words of wisdom I literally take notes.
5. She is decisive. When I suggested presenting at The People House in under a week, she set it up immediately and sent out notices the next day - as soon as she got them from me.
People House does some really great work. I was particularly interested in their Veteran Reintegration Workshop and their Day with Joan Borysenko, the pioneer in mind body medicine and advocate for blending science and spirituality for an awakened world. Check it out on the web and in person if you live in the area. It’s so wonderful to connect with people who are dedicated to growth, service and the good of all.
August 8, 2008PowerPhrase of the Week ~ Call in the Coach
My editor, ghost-writing colleague Barbara Mc Nichol edited a book called Extraordinary Parenting. She suggested the alternative title
- Call in the coach
And the agent loved it. The book immediately drew the interest of four publishers - all because of a title that had “zing.”
If you’re not an author, this post still relates to you. Think of subject lines in your emails as titles. Get some ideas from listening to the audio that goes with lesson 45 of my Say What You Mean eCourse.
Barbara Mc Nichol and I presented a teleseminar last year called How to Add Power and Persuasion to Your Writing. You can find it in the SpeakStrong bookstore.
August 8, 2008Poison Phrase ~ I don’t suppose
The producer of a local TV News station called today for details regarding an interview we scheduled for the speaker I’m hosting next week, Jeffrey Armstrong. I wanted TV coverage of the event Jeffrey is speaking at the night before, and I started asking this way:
- I don’t suppose you could send a news team out to Unity Church for the talk he’s giving the night before…
I stopped and told him, “I’m the PowerPhrase woman, and that was a bad way to ask.”
The producer laughingly agreed with me and proceeded to tell me what to do to arrange coverage.
August 8, 2008Ask Meryl ~ The problem with…
Meryl,
My director starts many sentences about staff and co-workers as “The problem with ________ is….” She is always quick to name names and give examples.
What can I say to her that would let her know this is unfair, unsolicited and unnecessary? This makes me angry because she appears to be planting seeds.
Meryl says,
Use the formula, when… the effect is… what I’d prefer is… For example,
When you tell me the trouble with someone, I feel disloyal in listening but disloyal to you if I don’t. I‘d like to speak about people the same way I would if they’re in the room.
How does that sound?
August 3, 2008PowerPhrase ~ A distraught man entered a church…
I attended services at All Souls Unitarian Church this week. If you follow the news, you know that their Knoxville church suffered a shooting that killed two church members and injured several others.
I was deeply moved by the memorial, yet my sorrow was laced with joy that this group was able to talk about the tragedy without losing their compassion and humanity. The program leader said,
- A distraught man entered a church with a gun.
He didn’t say an evil man, or a vicious man. Even though the gunman had targeted his spiritual family, the leader had the compassion to speak graciously.
Lest you think this kind of attitude is passive and a sign of weakness, be aware that the man was apprehended because congregants tackled him. It’s possible to hold people accountable for their deeds without adopting hatred. True power takes action when needed and does not allow poison to fill our own hearts.
August 3, 2008Reader comment ~ Nurses who don’t speak up
I am e-mailing to let you know that I am using your article and test on Communication Styles for my staff development education. Preceptors feel if they communicate openly and honestly, that they are being “mean.” I keep saying if they aren’t communicating openly and honestly then they are being mean…because they are doing a dis-service to the new employee by not giving appropriate feedback to support or change behavior.
Meryl’s Comment / request: Beautiful point, fabulously put.
I am speaking at the Emergency Nurse’s Association in September and need nurses stories. I invite any and all. Thanks!
August 2, 2008Reader story ~ The “Merrill Reunion”
Last week I was in Pine Bluff, AR and I drive by the Conference Center and, on the marquee, it says, “Merrill Runion 7-9 PM” So, I think to myself, I would really like to meet her. She is probably giving some sort of seminar here tonight - I’ll drop in and introduce myself.
About 20 minutes into it, I realized that I was the only person of my race there, and everyone was looking at me funny. I thought it was weird that I didn’t have to check in or buy a ticket, but I grabbed some appetizers and sat down anyway.
I asked a passer-by when Merrill was going to start speaking and they didn’t know what I was talking about. So, I re-read the sign from the window and realized it said, “Merrill Reunion”
July 31, 2008This Week in the World ~ Expectation management
Which would you prefer …someone who promises ten things and delivers five, or someone who promises one and delivers four?
Did it occur to you that the previous question is a false choice? How about the option of someone who promises five and delivers five?
Members of the American Society for Quality tell me their motto is to: “say what you’ll do and do what you say.” If I know what I can count on, I can plan accordingly. It’s simple expectation management. And it’s essential for great communication.
July 31, 2008Poison Phrase ~ Industry Standard
It’s time for my annual reprinting of PowerPhrases. I print and pay for 20,000 - 25,000 copies at a time, so you can imagine what that bill looks like. Even so I don’t like paying for things I don’t need. That’s why I asked that the proofs not be ovenighted, since sometimes I have been billed upward of $100 for expedited shipping I didn’t want or need. The response was,
- It’s the industry standard to overnight proofs and to charge the customer.
I don’t contract the industry, I contract one supplier. This phrase suggests that policy and procedure trump customers. Had she given me some good reason for the procedure, I would have felt more accepting of the charges - particularly if the reason benefited me somehow.
