Casual Articles - Listening: The Foundation of Communication

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• Become a Raving Fan!
  "Get Into Their Lives"This is the mantra at Marquis Jet, a company that sells "flight time" on a private jet in the form of calling cards, starting at $110,000.00 for 25 hours. Their client list is a who's who of Hollywood, including Matt Damon, Christina Agulera and J. Lo. When Carrie Underwood was named the American Idol, she was given a record contract and a Marquis Jet card.To Co-founder Jesse Itzler, it's not enough for his employees to just "know the customer." He wants his employees to Get Into Their Lives. "We become friends with our clients," says Itzler. It's not enough to know Matt Damon's favorite wine...Itzler takes Damon to play poker in Las Vegas. NBA Star and Marquis client La Bron James has been to Jesse's lake house to jet ski.You may not want to go as far as Itzler and bring your customers home with you. (Although, if you have a lake house, I'm open to an invitation!)You can, however, become the President of their fan club.Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles wrote an excellent book about making "Raving Fans" of your customers. However, it seems to me that the way to get your customers to be raving fans of your business is to BECOME raving fans of your customers.Fans are enthusiastic devotees of their favorite artists. They follow their career and their life! They post photos of them on the wall! They collect autographs! They give them standing ovations. They feel as if they know them.You can demonstrate that you are a fan of your customer by getting to know them and creating an environment where the customer feels like "part of" your company, like a member of the family.For instance:Katrina Campins, star of the first season of The Apprentice and CEO of The Campins Company, a boutique real estate brokerage firm based in Miami, Florida, Listening is the #1 communication skill for leadership, selling, customer service, and even romance! The problem is, most of us don’t listen very well. We’re not trained to listen and we don’t even realize that listening is a skill. People have lost jobs, customers, employees, and relationships because of an inability to listen.  In this issue we’ll examine ways to become a better listener.
  Listening Means Peace
  Sheng jen is the Chinese word for wise person. It literally means “one who listens.”
  Joanna Rogers Macy, a peace activist, said listening is “the most powerful tool in peacemaking  and any other kind of social change work.” I wonder what would have happened if students, teachers, and parents were really listening in Columbine? Someone, somewhere missed the distress signals that the two young killers were sending out.

  Just Be
  When I was a volunteer on a suicide crisis intervention line, we were taught to take all threats of suicide seriously. How often have we told young people, “You’re too young to be depressed.” Or “You they’re just going through a phase.” Suicide is anger turned in against the self. How did we miss their anger? Why wasn’t it taken seriously? The mistake we make is to talk, advise, and debate instead of listening.  We don’t have to have words of wisdom. We just have to lend an ear. Most times people can solve their own problems. They just want to be heard.  Take the case of my friend. She had a problem she wanted to discuss. I listened as she thought through alternatives and discussed how she felt. She came to a decision. She thanked me for helping her to decide. I never did anything. She did it all. I just listened. Sometimes all you have to do is be. Be there. Be present for another.

  Soothing the Savage Beast
  Did you know that talking actually reduces stress and anxiety? That’s right. Talking, confessing, getting it off your chest, will feel like a weight has been lifted. But if people are jumping in with their own opinions, the person never gets the opportunity to vent and the anxiety continues to build.
  Let’s consider customers. Customers may be external people who pay us, or they may be people we serve internally— co-workers and other departments.

  When a customer is irate, why doesn’t the person immediately calm down when you present a solution? Because the customer is in an emotional state.  Solutions or problem-solving are intellectual exercises. The person isn’t there yet. To calm the emotions, you must have a meeting of the minds. Acknowledge the feeling. “I can understand why you’re upset.” “Waiting on line for an hour must have been so frustrating.” Until you acknowledge the feeling, the conversation will go nowhere. People need to be heard. It’s a form of validation. Respecting the feeling doesn’t mean you agree with their opinion. It means you understand.

  BodyTalk
  Communication breaks down when people ignore what they see in favor of what they hear. The body doesn’t lie. Visual communication is more than half the message. When you hear a mixed message it’s because you are giving too much power to the spoken word. Watch the body language for the real message and tune into the tone of voice. People use words to conceal. What words conceal the body will reveal. If a customer or co-worker says, “Sure, no problem” and doesn’t make eye contact, seems distracted and curt, don’t trust the message.

  Listening is Spiritual
  What are your fondest memories as a child? Is it the person who bought you expensive gifts or the person who told you stories? In our materialistic society, we think that providing for physical needs is the measure of success. We work two and three jobs to give children things “we never had.” In the frenzy, we may rob them of the riches we did have—time and attention. I’ve never heard anyone be accused of listening too much.  When I was an adolescent, I could sound off on all sorts of topics to my Aunt Gloria and she would listen. We were never judged. So all the nieces and nephews confided in her.
  Listening is a spiritual act. You must suspend you own ego in order to really listen to another. Listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give another. It lasts a lifetime in our hearts.

  Listening to Ourselves
  While we’re busy trying to listen to others, how well do we listen to ourselves? How do we really feel about that customer, accepting that new job, going out with that friend? We don’t take enough time to listen to ourselves. What is your body telling you? According to Louise Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life, the body gives off messages. Different parts of the body signify different issues that are going on in your life.

  Are you getting a lot of colds? You have too much going on.  Slow down and smell the roses. Lower back pain? You may feel a lack of financial support.  Money problems need to be addressed. To be a better listener of others, we need to listen to ourselves, our intuition. Meditation is a form of self-listening. Is your head cluttered with mind chatter? Is the TV going all the time? You can’t hear inner messages unless you have quiet time.

  Tips for Better Listening

  • Take all threats seriously. Listen when people speak about harming themselves or others.
  • Be present. Let people talk. Talking relieves anxiety.
  • Respect feelings. You may not agree but you can acknowledge their right to their feelings. Empathizing will calm an irate customer.
  • Believe the visual message over the words. The great lie detector is the body. Tune into the nonverbals and you will hear the real message.
  • Trust your intuition. Take time to meditate. One day a week, sit under a tree during lunch, or go into a room by yourself and tune into your thoughts, and body. Quiet your mind. When you get a “gut feeling” don’t dismiss it.
  • Listen to children. Spend time hearing their ideas, dreams, troubles, and success. They are our future.
   Practice shen jen. Be a wise person. Listen.

  Copyright Diane DiResta 2001. All rights reserved.

  Diane DiResta is President of DiResta Communicaitons, Inc. a New York-based consultancy. She is an International speaker, coach, and author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz.(Chandler House Press) and Conversations on Success (Insight Publishing) http://www.diresta.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_DiResta

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  • Chief Information Officer CIO Plays a Significant Role in the Decision-Making
    Information Technology IT took the lead in developing and implementing frameworks for business collaboration - financial and operating models and legal frameworks. Operating areas are now more aggressively pursuing joint business opportunities in CRM, integrated product development, transaction processing, and other areas.The language can be a barrier when finance speaks finance and Information Technology IT speaks technology. To forge stronger working relationships, both parties have to learn more about the operations and demands of the areas they're not actively leading.According to research done by Gartner's Browning, companies with fewer than 100 employees still have little formalized technology management. By contrast, many companies with between 500 and 1,000 employees already have CIOs or somebody acting in a similar function.In the 20 to 99 employee group, you see loose Information Technology IT departments where the Information Technology IT staffers wear multiple hats. That hasn't changed much. Companies in the 500 to 999 employee group operate more like larger enterprises where the Chief Information Officer CIO plays a significant role in the decision-making.Finance is moving from being one of T's biggest internal customers to one of its strongest allies in striving for standardization and integration.The Govern recommended that agencies address Chief Information Officer CIO turnover by implementing human capital flexibilities, such as recruiting bonuses, retention allowances and skill-based pay.
  ow that talking actually reduces stress and anxiety? That’s right. Talking, confessing, getting it off your chest, will feel like a weight has been lifted. But if people are jumping in with their own opinions, the person never gets the opportunity to vent and the anxiety continues to build.
  Let’s consider customers. Customers may be external people who pay us, or they may be people we serve internally— co-workers and other departments.

  When a customer is irate, why doesn’t the person immediately calm down when you present a solution? Because the customer is in an emotional state.  Solutions or problem-solving are intellectual exercises. The person isn’t there yet. To calm the emotions, you must have a meeting of the minds. Acknowledge the feeling. “I can understand why you’re upset.” “Waiting on line for an hour must have been so frustrating.” Until you acknowledge the feeling, the conversation will go nowhere. People need to be heard. It’s a form of validation. Respecting the feeling doesn’t mean you agree with their opinion. It means you understand.

  BodyTalk
  Communication breaks down when people ignore what they see in favor of what they hear. The body doesn’t lie. Visual communication is more than half the message. When you hear a mixed message it’s because you are giving too much power to the spoken word. Watch the body language for the real message and tune into the tone of voice. People use words to conceal. What words conceal the body will reveal. If a customer or co-worker says, “Sure, no problem” and doesn’t make eye contact, seems distracted and curt, don’t trust the message.

  Listening is Spiritual
  What are your fondest memories as a child? Is it the person who bought you expensive gifts or the person who told you stories? In our materialistic society, we think that providing for physical needs is the measure of success. We work two and three jobs to give children things “we never had.” In the frenzy, we may rob them of the riches we did have—time and attention. I’ve never heard anyone be accused of listening too much.  When I was an adolescent, I could sound off on all sorts of topics to my Aunt Gloria and she would listen. We were never judged. So all the nieces and nephews confided in her.
  Listening is a spiritual act. You must suspend you own ego in order to really listen to another. Listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give another. It lasts a lifetime in our hearts.

  Listening to Ourselves
  While we’re busy trying to listen to others, how well do we listen to ourselves? How do we really feel about that customer, accepting that new job, going out with that friend? We don’t take enough time to listen to ourselves. What is your body telling you? According to Louise Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life, the body gives off messages. Different parts of the body signify different issues that are going on in your life.

  Are you getting a lot of colds? You have too much going on.  Slow down and smell the roses. Lower back pain? You may feel a lack of financial support.  Money problems need to be addressed. To be a better listener of others, we need to listen to ourselves, our intuition. Meditation is a form of self-listening. Is your head cluttered with mind chatter? Is the TV going all the time? You can’t hear inner messages unless you have quiet time.

  Tips for Better Listening

  • Take all threats seriously. Listen when people speak about harming themselves or others.
  • Be present. Let people talk. Talking relieves anxiety.
  • Respect feelings. You may not agree but you can acknowledge their right to their feelings. Empathizing will calm an irate customer.
  • Believe the visual message over the words. The great lie detector is the body. Tune into the nonverbals and you will hear the real message.
  • Trust your intuition. Take time to meditate. One day a week, sit under a tree during lunch, or go into a room by yourself and tune into your thoughts, and body. Quiet your mind. When you get a “gut feeling” don’t dismiss it.
  • Listen to children. Spend time hearing their ideas, dreams, troubles, and success. They are our future.
   Practice shen jen. Be a wise person. Listen.

  Copyright Diane DiResta 2001. All rights reserved.

  Diane DiResta is President of DiResta Communicaitons, Inc. a New York-based consultancy. She is an International speaker, coach, and author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz.(Chandler House Press) and Conversations on Success (Insight Publishing) http://www.diresta.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_DiResta

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  • Morale And Business - Happy Employees Are Your Best Salesman
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  • How Not to Improve Things Even Worse!
    Wikipedia states that “Change management is a structured approach to change in individuals, teams, organizations and societies that enables the transition from a current state to a desired future state.”So, why is it that the implementation of change breaks down so often in organisations?Kurt Lewin postulated that there are 3 broad stages to change; these being:· Unfreezing (i.e. planning and preparation)· Change implementation, and· Refreezing (consolidation and refinement)The language of “freezing” is illustrative of reality in organisations. People do naturally become “frozen” into familiar patterns, environments and behaviours. Life does need to have a degree of predictability in order for us to function. However, herein lays a major challenge for a significant change.Effectively implementing organisational change is clearly a management responsibility. However, human beings throughout an organisation need to “feel” the need for change. Even an intellectual understanding that things could be done better is not enough to engage individuals in a change process. Nothing beats the proverbial WIIFM (“What’s In It For Me”) factor!This is a major reason that consultation is so important in working toward change. The WIIFM factors for individuals will vary widely, but the sense of being included and listened to are fundamental in motivating people toward change.Remember, Lewin’s theory talks about “unfreezing”. Change is not about creating an ice sculpture. Change management can take this approach, but the organisation risks breaking off critical pieces well into the change management process. This is a wanton waste of precious time, resources and opportunities. Melt the ice with education about the rationale and the benefits of change. Do no
  think that providing for physical needs is the measure of success. We work two and three jobs to give children things “we never had.” In the frenzy, we may rob them of the riches we did have—time and attention. I’ve never heard anyone be accused of listening too much.  When I was an adolescent, I could sound off on all sorts of topics to my Aunt Gloria and she would listen. We were never judged. So all the nieces and nephews confided in her.
  Listening is a spiritual act. You must suspend you own ego in order to really listen to another. Listening is one of the greatest gifts we can give another. It lasts a lifetime in our hearts.

  Listening to Ourselves
  While we’re busy trying to listen to others, how well do we listen to ourselves? How do we really feel about that customer, accepting that new job, going out with that friend? We don’t take enough time to listen to ourselves. What is your body telling you? According to Louise Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life, the body gives off messages. Different parts of the body signify different issues that are going on in your life.

  Are you getting a lot of colds? You have too much going on.  Slow down and smell the roses. Lower back pain? You may feel a lack of financial support.  Money problems need to be addressed. To be a better listener of others, we need to listen to ourselves, our intuition. Meditation is a form of self-listening. Is your head cluttered with mind chatter? Is the TV going all the time? You can’t hear inner messages unless you have quiet time.

  Tips for Better Listening

  • Take all threats seriously. Listen when people speak about harming themselves or others.
  • Be present. Let people talk. Talking relieves anxiety.
  • Respect feelings. You may not agree but you can acknowledge their right to their feelings. Empathizing will calm an irate customer.
  • Believe the visual message over the words. The great lie detector is the body. Tune into the nonverbals and you will hear the real message.
  • Trust your intuition. Take time to meditate. One day a week, sit under a tree during lunch, or go into a room by yourself and tune into your thoughts, and body. Quiet your mind. When you get a “gut feeling” don’t dismiss it.
  • Listen to children. Spend time hearing their ideas, dreams, troubles, and success. They are our future.
   Practice shen jen. Be a wise person. Listen.

  Copyright Diane DiResta 2001. All rights reserved.

  Diane DiResta is President of DiResta Communicaitons, Inc. a New York-based consultancy. She is an International speaker, coach, and author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz.(Chandler House Press) and Conversations on Success (Insight Publishing) http://www.diresta.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_DiResta

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  • Tips on Ordering High-Quality Rubber Silicone Bracelets
    Everybody knows about rubber silicone bracelets. But how would you know if your bracelets are one hundred percent silicone? What most people don’t realize is that most of the time, what they are wearing is not really made from pure silicone.Good news is that there are some companies that produce cheap 100% rubber silicone bracelets. You just have to know how to distinguish real rubber silicone bracelets from fake ones.Real rubber silicone bracelets don’t easily snap off or go out of shape. Think about it. How would you show your support to the cause you are championing if the bracelets you are wearing snaps off? This will not only be bad for your fundraiser, but also bad for your image.One more thing is that the real rubber silicone bracelets are very flexible. No matter how hard you stretch it, it won’t easily break.The sides of 100% silicone bracelets are very smooth and shiny. These rubber silicone bracelets are processed using machines. That is why you are sure that the silicone bracelets will come out smooth.Rubber silicone bracelets are available in different colors. What you can do is you can contact the manufacturer and let them know what color you would prefer. They have this chart called the “pantone chart”. All shades of all colors are there. You just pick one and inform the manufacturer.Don’t be fooled by imitations. Ask the manufacturers if their bracelets are 100% silicone. If not, you will not get your money’s worth.
  elings. Empathizing will calm an irate customer.
  • Believe the visual message over the words. The great lie detector is the body. Tune into the nonverbals and you will hear the real message.
  • Trust your intuition. Take time to meditate. One day a week, sit under a tree during lunch, or go into a room by yourself and tune into your thoughts, and body. Quiet your mind. When you get a “gut feeling” don’t dismiss it.
  • Listen to children. Spend time hearing their ideas, dreams, troubles, and success. They are our future.
   Practice shen jen. Be a wise person. Listen.

  Copyright Diane DiResta 2001. All rights reserved.

  Diane DiResta is President of DiResta Communicaitons, Inc. a New York-based consultancy. She is an International speaker, coach, and author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz.(Chandler House Press) and Conversations on Success (Insight Publishing) http://www.diresta.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_DiResta

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    New York is a very busy city and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) every 10 seconds someone in the USA is involved in an auto accident. The traffic and congestion causes so many accidents that the services of a New York Auto Accident Lawyer is required. In New York City accidents can happen for various reasons. If driver is not careful or under the influence alcohol or banned drugs, if the weather conditions are unclear or vehicle parts are faulty etc, are some of the common ones. Often it is not just the driver who is a victim in the accident but also those standing by. An auto accident lawyer looks after the claims and compensation for human life as well as destruction of property. Those auto accident lawyers who operate in this city and specialize with regards to the laws and regulations of this place are referred to as New York Auto Accident Lawyers.In New York, the law stipulates that in case of accidents both the operator of the at-fault vehicle and the owner of that vehicle is responsible for compensation to the injured. Also all medical bills and compensation for lost wages are to be paid by the insurance company if your car is not at fault.When does a New York Auto Accident Lawyer come into the picture? Usually in an accident, claims have to be filled in within 30 days from date of the accident in order to get full benefits. Many a time your insurance agency may not tell you about it. If there is personal injury you must also file a personal injury claim to recover your costs.In event of the above, when you face a dead end or a very difficult time recovering what is rightly yours, you need to take on the services of a New York Auto Accident Lawyer. The New York Auto Accident Lawyer will file a lawsuit in your favor; he will also represent you in al
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