Last week I suggested there is an enormous difference between these two words. Based on your feedback, I believe it is important to understand that difference. Simply put, sympathy is feeling for someone, while empathy is feeling with someone. Source: SimplyPsychology, May 4, 2023. Link. INSIGHTS: Empathy requires your respect for another’s point of view at that … [Read more...]
How to deal with an angry client
Since you’re in business to serve your customers, you’ll likely encounter rude or angry individuals at one time or another. While this article suggests sympathy, I suggest it means empathy . . . an enormous difference. Source: Forbes, August 2, 2013. Link. After the situation has been resolved and the customer is on her way, it is helpful for you to take your own … [Read more...]
Building trust
Trust is essential for in-person teams and remote workers. Without it, any employee is likely to be less motivated and productive. Source: Achieve, September 22, 2020. Link. Workers at high-trust companies report 74 percent less stress, exhibit 50 percent higher productivity, and experience 40 percent less burnout. INSIGHT: Begin by trusting yourself. … [Read more...]
Set clear, actionable goals for yourself
While the thrust of this article is goals for a business, you are a business and will benefit by having clear and actionable goals for yourself. Source: Bplans, June 2018. Link. You don’t have employees, but you do have a team that could include your spouse, children, parents, mentor, college friend, co-workers etc. INSIGHT: If you don’t know where you are going, how will … [Read more...]
Make it clear!
One of the most overlooked, yet lethal forms of organizational rot is toxic ambiguity. Basically, killing people with fog. Source: AXIOS, May 4, 2023. Link. Many people feel foggy, even if leaders feel they are clear.” INSIGHT: The top priority is to make it clear to the recipient(s). … [Read more...]
Cope wth work stress appropriately
Effectively coping with job stress can benefit your professional and personal life. Source: Mayo Clinic, June 16, 2021. Link. Even a few minutes of personal time during a busy workday can be refreshing. Similarly, take time off when you can, whether it's a two-week vacation or an occasional long weekend. INSIGHT: Stress is often self-induced … [Read more...]
Establishing rapport
Sometimes we are so enamored with our breadth of knowledge and our point of view that we cannot understand another point of view other than our own. Source: Vet Advantage, April 2023. Link. Too many times we say we understand. Instead prove you understand. INSIGHT: Respect given comes back in multiples. … [Read more...]
Trust lost
Only 21 percent of U.S. employees strongly agree that they trust the leadership of their organization. Source: Gallup, April 17, 2023. Link. Building trust in leadership is necessary to drive the performance that companies seek. INSIGHTS: Hearing and real listening are two distinct abilities. Start by listening. Also see: Leaders, don’t be afraid to admit your flaws, … [Read more...]
Enhancing your customers’ experiences
Customer experience is a key strategy for companies to differentiate their products and services from close competitors. Source: ASCM, October 2022. Link. Customer experience passion must be part of company culture, meaning that employees should never be satisfied with what they are doing for customers today. INSIGHTS: First, someone needs to own the customer experience. … [Read more...]
Busy work
Self-generated busyness can crowd out the important things we need to do in our personal and professional lives. Source: Fast Company, March 20, 2023. Link. Letting go of distraction can feel difficult at first because it requires courage and determination. INSIGHT: Identify your business and social KPIs. Then determine what activities impact them positively. Prioritize … [Read more...]
Managing compassion fatigue
The reality for most people working in the animal healthcare industry is that you will get compassion fatigue. The only question is do you manage it or allow it to control you? Source: AVMA. Link. . . . build a self-care plan that charts the path you think is best designed to help bring your life back into balance.” INSIGHT: Be compassionate with yourself first. Then your … [Read more...]
Different consequences, same skills
While consequences in business are decidedly less dire than in the military, we face similar challenges in trying to determine the best way to achieve our goals. Source: IndustryWeek, November 10, 2022. Link. There are too many variables in today’s world for a leader to have all the answers.” - Kathy Widmer INSIGHT: Shoulder the blame, share the credit. … [Read more...]
Words matter
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best course of action. Source: INC, February 16, 2023. Link. …sometimes tiny changes really do seem to significantly improve how we think about things, leading to more and better solutions.” INSIGHT: Challenges may come dressed differently today but at their core they have changed little over the years. … [Read more...]
The right stuff for success
The right stuff works across industries, professions and occupations. Source: Veterinary Advantage, February 2023. Link. Their focus is on the problem, not the person involved. INSIGHTS: High performance attitudes, characteristics and skills are universal. … [Read more...]
Added value
Think like a product manager and act like you are the product. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 17, 2023. Link. Know your value and highlight it in the right way so you are clear on what sets you apart from competition. INSIGHT: Continuous improvement will ensure your value never expires. … [Read more...]
Feedback as a gift
Annual performance reviews are controversial. Some people praise them in public, but most hate them in private. Source: Fearless Culture, April 25, 2018. Link. Regardless of how much training they receive, some managers don’t like telling people the truth.” INSIGHT: When people get used to ongoing feedback, it feels more human, less threatening, and dialogue becomes part … [Read more...]
Attitude, teamwork and resiliency
Characteristics of success for a world champion football team or in a multi-national, multi-billion-dollar corporation also apply to a two-doctor practice in South Carolina. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, February 8, 2023. Link. Whether we think we can or think we can’t, we’re right.” – Scott Bormann, Merck Animal Health INSIGHTS: Add in a culture of continual improvement and … [Read more...]
Dos and don’ts of recognition
Recognition, celebration and appreciation are powerful and renewable energy sources. It starts with valuing people. The next step is how you express this appreciation. Source: The Clemmer Group, January 18, 2023. Link. Don’t make promotions a reward. You’re creating the Peter Principle. INSIGHTS: Spend more time looking for what’s right and recognize that. … [Read more...]
People, power and burnout
Recognizing burnout and taking the steps needed to address it is difficult, especially for leaders. Realizing and acting on our individual mental and emotional limitations is a strength, not a weakness. Source: LinkedIn, January 20, 2023. Link. All too often we see politicians and chief executives who are unwilling to loosen their grasp on power, even when it may well be … [Read more...]
Mental health and productivity
Recent research reveals 40 percent of U.S. workers report their job has had a negative impact on their mental health in the prior six months. Source: Gallup, December 16, 2022. Link. The foundation for improving mental health among workers is employee engagement.” INSIGHTS: Building trust is key. … [Read more...]
Being happy at work
If you find yourself longing for greener work pastures, try these 10 tips. Source: Monster.com, December 2022. Link. You're in charge of your own mindset. Steering yourself toward the positives can help make your job more enjoyable. INSIGHTS: 24/7/365 happiness would be boring. Remember pearls come from irritants and diamonds come from pressure. … [Read more...]
Important small talk
"How are you," are the three most useless words in the world of communication. The person asking doesn't really want to know, and the person responding doesn't tell the truth. Be interested instead of trying to be interesting.” – Patrick T. Malone Source: CNBC, November 11, 2020. Link. The key to making the most out of small talk, according to Harvard researchers, is to … [Read more...]
Successful manager traits
Becoming a successful manager is not easy; it requires their developing trust with their team members and continuous development to become better. Source: Inc, December 12, 2022. Link. When micromanagers do not let go and trust their team members to perform their work the employee experience is demoralizing. INSIGHT: Clear, concise and measurable expectations is a great … [Read more...]
Take a break
A well-timed and well-planned break can get us back on track — and boost productivity. Source: AXIOS, December 13, 2022. Link. Use breaks to boost your mental and physical health no matter what you're doing. INSIGHTS: Managers: encourage your people to take micro-breaks. … [Read more...]
Creating an honest workplace
When leaders are confident enough to solicit and reward feedback, it encourages employees to say what they really think and to be willing to hear the opinions of others in return. Source: Fast Company, November 22, 2022. Link. Workplace candor is open and honest dialogue." INSIGHTS: When leaders are proactive and set the stage ,people feel psychologically safe to recover … [Read more...]
Happiness and meetings
One of the more straightforward paths to happiness at work is to fight against the scourge of time-consuming, unproductive meetings at every opportunity. Source: The Atlantic, November 17, 2022. Link. The average full-time white-collar professional in the United States spends 21.5 hours a week in meetings. INSIGHTS: Set a goal (desired outcome) for every meeting. By the … [Read more...]
Thank you!
Gratitude at work has been linked to higher rates of employee satisfaction, motivation and engagement. Source: Gratitude in the workplace, Turknett Leadership Group. Link. Turknett leaders share what gratitude looks like in the workplace and how leaders can develop and leverage it to benefit all stakeholders. In an APA study 93 percent of employees who reported feeling … [Read more...]
Hire a misfit
Culture fit is the idea of recruiting individuals whose value systems, beliefs and everyday behaviors align well with the hiring organization. Source: Gallup, October 11, 2022. Link. While this might seem reasonable and harmless, hiring decisions based on an individual's perception of culture fit can be unfair and influenced by unconscious bias. INSIGHTS: Remember … [Read more...]
The power of questions
One of the most effective ways to make others happy is simple and easy: ask questions. Source: AXIOS, November 8, 2022. Link. We don't realize just how powerful questions can be.” INSIGHTS: Be interested instead of trying to be interesting. NOTE: Listening skills are referenced in these AHD archive posts by Patrick T Malone: The hard conversation. Link. Be … [Read more...]
5 ways to demonstrate leadership
Repeat after me. “Leadership is not a job title. Leadership is the skill to influence people to a common course of action.” Dan Hopmans shares five ways you can demonstrate your leadership. Source: Massaro Consulting, April 5, 2019. Link. Managing expectations shows your ability to see the big picture, that you understand the outside forces and complexities of even simple … [Read more...]