by Pamela Jett, CSP

It’s that time of year again.  The time of year when we start to beat ourselves up because we may have given up on our New Year’s resolutions.   Research indicates that 80% of us will give up on our resolutions or goals within the month of January.  If you are one of the 80% who may have thrown in the towel, here are a few communication tips to get you back on track.

• Monitor your self-talk. We all talk to ourselves and the vast majority of our self-talk tends to be negative.  We start to beat ourselves up because we have fallen off the “resolution bandwagon.”  The next time you start saying things to yourself  like “I really blew it” or “I should really be more self-disciplined” or even “I’m such a loser,” take a moment a moment to re-frame the internal conversation.  Replace the negative with things such as “I am re-committed” or “I am learning to have more self-discipline” or “I am human.”  When we can replace the negative self-talk with more positive, growth oriented communication to ourselves we are far more likely to stay the course, start again, or re-commit and thus increase our chances of success.
• Replace “past” focused communication with “future” focused communication. If you are talking about the status of your goals and resolutions with others, resist the temptation to focus on what you didn’t do.  Avoid focusing on the past.  Avoid phrases such as “I didn’t exercise yesterday” or “I should have spoken up in yesterday’s meeting.”  Instead, commit out loud “I am headed to the gym this afternoon” or “I am asking to get on the meeting agenda next week.”  Stop focusing on the past and what you didn’t do or what you did wrong and instead keep your communication, both internal and external, future focused.
• Press the “re-set” button. Go ahead, press it right now.  Stop saying to yourself, “I will start again Monday” or “next month.”  Go ahead and give yourself permission to start again immediately instead of waiting for some supposedly logical start point like tomorrow or the beginning of the week.  Recommit right now, this very instant.  Taking small strides towards your goals and objectives right now is far better than planning for a “big step” or change in the future.

We so often sabotage our success in many areas of our lives with our communication.  Use the power of positive, future focused communication both internally and externally to stay the course and achieve great things!  For more tools, tips, and communication techniques to help you achieve your goals and objectives, join my teleseminar “Beyond Goal Setting 101″ on Thursday January 19, 2012. Register here.

by communication skills expert Pamela Jett, CSP

We’ve all been given the advice to give our bring our leadership solutions, not problems.  And yet, it can sometimes be difficult to communicate those solutions in a polished, professional way.  Here is a simple 3 step process anyone can use at any level to communicate solutions in a powerful way.

1.  Situation – Succinctly and clearly describe the current situation or problem.  It’s not necessary to go into too much detail – a simple overview or a definitive statement will do.

2.  Solution - Describe your proposed solution to the situation.  Use powerful words such as “solution,” “plan,” or “answer” and again, keep it brief.

3.  Support – Ask a closing question designed to get their support such as “do I have your support on this?”

When we use this simple 3 step process, we are communicating with clarity, brevity, and impact.

Please post a comment and share this blog with others.  Pamela Jett is a communication skills expert who believes that “Words Matter.”  Find her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, connect on Linked In and sign up for her “Brain Wrinkle” on this website.

by Pamela Jett, CSP

Do you love Chick Fil A?  I do!  And, it’s not simply for their yummy food (milkshakes are to die for!)  It’s not only because of their clever cow marketing scheme.  And, while I admire an organization that puts principles before profit and stays closed on Sunday, it’s not that either.

I love Chick Fil A for all of the above and because their employees consistently model a remarkable communication technique.  Their employees understand that WORDS MATTER and they practice this awareness in their customer interactions.

Anytime you say “thank you” to one of the employees, their standard response is “my pleasure.” What a remarkable way to practice good customer service!  This response doesn’t de-value the appreciation like some other responses do.  Some people respond to a “thank you” with the following:

• “It was no big deal” or “no biggie”
• “It wasn’t a problem”
• “It was nothing”

These responses de-value the appreciation.  Perhaps it wasn’t a “big deal” to us.  However, it may have been important, meaningful, or valuable to the other person and replying in this dismissive fashion de-values what they value.

The next time someone says “thank you” to you for any service rendered, be it big or small, consider taking a page from the people at Chick Fil A and respond with “you’re welcome” or even “my pleasure.”

I would love your thoughts on this blog post.  Please feel free to post a comment.

by Pamela Jett, CSP

I’ve long suspected the research would bear this truth out – good communication is one of, if not the, most important skills sets professionals can possess.  Now, the research results are in and it’s official!

I recently surveyed hundreds of professionals about the importance and power of communication.  Here are a few of the most interesting results:

• 41% of respondents indicated that communication is the most important skill set in the workplace.
• 50% of respondents indicated that communication is an extremely important skill set in the workplace.

When those in leadership positions were asked what type of communication skills they would most like to see their employees improve the top answers were:

1. The ability to deal more effectively with difficult people
2. The ability to handle conflict and confrontation
3. The ability to communicate with emotional intelligence.

What are you doing to improve your communication skills in these areas?  Are you consistently looking for new tools and techniques for dealing with difficult people?  Are you working to gain more emotional intelligence so that that you can handle conflict and confrontation with tact and finesse?

Communication is the most important skill set we possess.  I invite you to work consistently to build your communication skills and reap the rewards in your professional life.

What do you think about the importance of communication?  Leave a comment on this blog and watch for more survey results coming soon.

by Pamela Jett CSP

It’s 2011 and many of us, myself included, have big plans for this year.  Goal setting or resolutions seem to be a hot topic every January.  If you were unable to attend my teleseminar “Beyond Goal Setting 101″ Here are three quick tips to increase the likelihood that you will achieve all that you set out to achieve in 2011.

1.  Use the word “by” when you are writing out your goals.  For example, “I am improving my communication by taking one communication course, teleseminar, or workshop each quarter” or “I am more promotable by volunteering to serve on two high profile committees at work this year.”  Using the word “by” to add action to your goals.

2.  Write you goals as “I am” statements.  This puts your goals or vision in the present tense.  The word “will” makes us think in the future.  I want to be behaving in a way that moves me towards my end result now.

3.  Post your goals or your vision where you can see them and read them regularly.  I use vision boards to help me keep focused and moving in the direction I’ve chosen.  I make one every year and hang it in my office, where I spend a lot of time.  Some years I will do a business and a personal board.  This year, I’ve combined the two.  I need the wall space for a white board.  That white board will serve a crucial role in helping me achieve something I’ve committed to on my vision board.   I like to make mine pretty.  Some people use pictures.  I often use pictures and words.  This year, I opted for words only.  You can make your vision board any way you like.  By posting it in a prominent place it can help you stay focused all year long.

These quick tips are just a few of the many I shared during my teleseminar “Beyond Goal Setting 101.”  If you want more information on up-coming teleseminars, you will find it here on my website.

Here’s to a joyous and prosperous 2011!

Pamela

by Pamela Jett, CSP

According to Deloitte’s fourth annual Ethics & Workplace Survey, one-third of employed Americans plan to look for a new job when the economy gets better.  Yikes!   Since turnover is extraordinarily expensive, it is in the best interest of organizations to focus now on preventing this massive loss of talent and intellectual capital.  Why do people plan on leaving?  48 percent cite a loss of trust in their employer and 46 percent say that a lack of transparent communication from their company’s leadership are their reasons.

Here are a few simple steps that anyone at any level within an organization can take to improve trust and communication.

Keep people informed. It is a fact of organizational life that when people begin to suspect that “something is up” the rumor mill starts working overtime.  And, the scary part is that in absence of good or reliable information, people will simply start to make things up.  They speculate, they guess and pretty soon those speculations take on the power of truth.  A good leader (at any level of the organization) keeps people informed to the best of their ability.  Even if they, the leaders, don’t have all the answers, a great leader will communicate that they are aware the concern exists and they will share information as it becomes available.  Employees would much rather know that their leader doesn’t have all the answers than to suspect their leader is holding out on them.

Point out the impact of contributions. Help people feel like what they do matters by pointing out the impact or the difference they make on a regular basis.  Instead of simply praising someone for a job well done, offer the praise and let them know why what they did is valuable.  When employees know that what they do matters, when there is no mystery around the role they play and the value they add to the organization, they are more likely to stay even when other opportunities are on the horizon.

Communicate awareness of career development. Although in the current job market the temptation is to “protect” and “hoard” opportunities, a great leader knows that delegating and putting opportunities for career development in the path of others is a great way to stay valuable to an organization.  If you are in a leadership position, demonstrate your awareness of the career development needs and wants of others.  Do what you can to acknowledge and support that need.  Spread the “high-profile” assignments around instead of relying on one or two “go to” people all the time.  Communicating and demonstrating an awareness that people need opportunities to shine in organizations makes you a more trustworthy leader.

While people may currently be happy to have any job, turnover will happen and it will happen sooner than later.  Now is the time to put your remarkable communication skills to work so that you are the kind of leader or colleague others want to work with and for.    Not only will this help prevent good people from leaving in the future, it can make your current work environment more rewarding, it can improve employee engagement, and it can make you a better leader (regardless of your title or job description.)

Pamela Jett, CSP is a communication skills expert who believes that communication is the most important skill set any professional can develop.  As a a keynote speaker, workshop leader, and coach, she works with professionals worldwide to develop remarkable communication skills for remarkable results.  If you enjoyed this blog post, please share with others, leave a comment, tweet it, or post it to your social networks.  For more information about Pamela, click here.

By Pamela Jett, CSP

Interruptions happen about seventy-three times a day!  They can eat up more than 2 hours of the work day.  And, the result is a cost to U.S. businesses of an estimated $588 billion a year.

How would you like you and your team to better manage interruptions so that they don™t take such a terrible toll every day?  During Pamela™s informative 60 minute teleseminar learn how to communicate more effectively and either prevent interruptions or minimize the negative impact of interruptions.

• Discover the key role communication plays in keeping time wasting interruptions at bay.
• Learn how to let others know that œnow is not a good time without appearing disinterested or uncooperative.
• Master the œacknowledge and reschedule technique to stay on task while still being a team-player.
• Enhance your ability to get things done by communicating effectively and manage interruptions with tact and finesse.

Pamela I want to let you know how much we here at the International Monetary Fund enjoyed your teleseminar.  Your presentation was crisp, clear and strong–a real inspiration for how we all need to be communicating! – Paula D., PhD

Learn how to manage interruptions with tact and finesse and watch your productivity soar!  Register for Pamela™s 60 minute teleseminar here (March 8, 2010 noon pacific time.)

]]> http://www.jettct.com/blog/communicate-and-minimize-the-havoc-of-interruptions/feed/ 0 http://www.jettct.com/blog/how-to-improve-communication/ http://www.jettct.com/blog/how-to-improve-communication/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:06:59 +0000 pamela http://www.jettct.com/blog/?p=91

by Pamela Jett, CSP

In a busy work environment it can be very easy to get  caught up in managing a multitude of tasks, meeting tight deadlines, coping with constant change, and being asked to do more with less.  In that environment, it can be very easy to forget to use remarkable communication.  Here are a few quick tips to keep you focused on using remarkable communication even in the midst of chaos:

1.  Focus on making one change at a time. If you are looking to make remarkable communication one of your personal and professional hallmarks, pick one thing to work on and stay focused on mastering that change.  For example commit to replacing the words “idea” and “suggestion” with more powerful words such as “solution” or “plan.”  For more ideas of small changes in communication that can make a big difference, click here .

2.  Teach someone else. When you learn a remarkable communication tool, share it with someone else.  I often have great conversations  about communication with a friend, Charlotte, who is committed to self-improvement. Charlotte is an active blogger and she often shares what she has learned during our conversations with others through her blog and by teaching it to her family.  This reinforces her commitment to practicing the technique because she has declared herself publicly.  (Read Charlotte’s fantastic blog here.)

3. Recruit a colleague. If you decide to make a change in your communication, recruit someone who knows you well to support you in your efforts.  They can applaud you when you succeed and keep you on track when it is easy to lose focus.

Communication is the most important skill we possess.  Make a commitment to enhancing your communication and hence your credibility and professionalism, even in the midst of the pressing daily grind.

Pamela Jett is a communication skills expert who is committed to sharing remarkable communication tools that create remarkable results.  For more information on bringing Pamela to your meeting or event, click here or call Aimee at 866.726.5388.

Want to learn remarkable communication tools without even leaving your desk?  Attend Pamela’s next teleseminar!

By Pamela Jett, CSP

In previous blog posts I’ve shared the power of vision boards.  And, I have even shared pictures of my vision boards.  I firmly believe that if you post a “vision” of what you want your life to look like, the goals you want to achieve, and the areas of life that you want to improve you greatly increase the likelihood that you will achieve those goals and objectives.  So, I was thrilled to see this commercial as I watched the Olympics tonight.  Enjoy and congratulations Julia!

Click here to view the embedded video.

By Pamela Jett, CSP

I am a huge “Olympic Geek” – particularly the Winter Olympics (OK, I confess, I am not really a huge fan of curling, but just about everything else has me glued to the television.)  This weekend I watched Apolo Anton Ohno win a  silver medal in Men’s Short Track (speed-skating).  Short track is very exciting to watch because all sorts of things can happen in a very short amount of time and the medal race was no exception.  Ohno was sitting in fourth place behind 3 Korean skaters who were pulling away from the pack during the last moments of the race.  All of a sudden, one of the Korean skaters attempted to improve his position.  The result – two Korean skaters slammed into the wall and Ohno, because of positioning, won a silver medal – just like that.

In many ways, success in short track is all about strategy and positioning.  According to his coach, while “Ohno may not have the power to simply blow by someone on the final turn, he™s much more aware of positioning, angles and setting up his opponents for the pass.”  It’s all about positioning.

The same thing goes with career success.  It’s all about positioning.  Are you using your powerful communication skills to take advantage of opportunities?  Are you communicating in a powerful, professional fashion?  Do you use confident language and avoid disclaimers and minimizers which can make you look weak?  Are you positioning yourself in such a way that when opportunities arise for advancement your name is at the top of your leader’s list?

One way to use great communication to position yourself for success is to send regular “I’m great up-dates.”  These are brief e-mail reminders  you send to your leader about once every quarter which highlight your contributions to your organization’s success.  This is not done to brag, simply to keep your leader in the loop.  Sending an “I’m great up-date” not only displays confidence, it is a proactive step to let your leader know how valuable you are.  It makes it easier for them as well.  When review time comes around they can use your “I’m great up-dates” to help them write a great appraisal.  For more on leveraging your “I’m great up-date” and communicating with confidence, listen to my “Mind Your Own Business” audio CD program available at my success store.

If you’ve successfully used an “I’m great up-date”, I would love to hear about it.  Leave a comment, tweet this blog, forward it to your friends and let me know what you think.  And remember, use powerful communication to position yourself for success. Take a lesson from short track, it is all about positioning.