Introducing yourself via email requires finesse and a little strategy to stand out among the other emails in an inbox. These six steps help make the process easier. Source: Grammarly, July 31, 2017. Your goal is to create a connection with an individual, so you want your greeting to be personal. Always use their name. Make sure it’s spelled correctly and avoid using … [Read more...]
Beat the mid-summer slump
Unless you’re on vacation, dragging yourself into the office during the summer can sometimes feel like the last thing you want to do. It’s not just because the weather is perfect and you couldn’t imagine spending the entire day indoors. Sure, the office might be the last place you want to be because your colleagues are gone, and your productivity might feel like it hinges on … [Read more...]
Social media snapshot as a stunning infographic
Social media, a name we once gave for a platform such as Facebook, has become difficult to define. Constant iterations expand and grow how social media is used. Those trends include the growth of live streaming, messaging apps and conversational commerce. Source: Mashable, August 2017. It’s meant to remind the viewer that social media is about the people in the center of … [Read more...]
August 15 JAVMA ready for study
From the news section: A fatal neurologic disease is raising the possibility of local extinctions of Western deer and elk herds. In other news, disagreements over information sharing, technology, and privacy have hindered progress on how to track horses on a wide scale, although microchipping advocates say this approach provides an ideal solution. Source: JAVMA, August … [Read more...]
Call me. Please!
If you’re one who prefers texts, emails and emojis, it’s likely time to use your phone’s keyboard to call coworkers, customers; even suppliers. In this CEO’s experiment, it turns out that effective phone calls save time, uncover clear direction and yes, tighten relationships. Source: Fast Company, August 1, 2017. What I found was that particularly for more nuanced … [Read more...]
Manage negative feedback
If you’re not getting negative feedback from time to time, you are not pushing your limits. Negative feedback is a fact of life and some negativity is especially personal and biting. So, being able to manage those situations in a respectful and effective manner is important to your overall success. Here is a classic illustration. Source: Inc., June 2017. I've written … [Read more...]
Assertive or aggressive; it’s a fine line (includes video)
It is not always easy to identify truly assertive behavior. This is because there's a fine line between assertiveness and aggression. People often confuse the two. Source: Mind Tools, August 1, 2017. Being assertive means finding the right balance between passivity (not assertive enough) and aggression (angry or hostile behavior). It means having a strong sense of yourself … [Read more...]
How we search continues to change
Marketing a practice has really changed. Instead of putting an ad in the yellow pages and making sure the phone number is correct in the white pages, a hospital now has to be found on multiple platforms and be accessed in a variety of ways. These areas need to be managed on a constant basis. Source: MWI Messenger, August 2017, page 21-22. The next leap in accessing and … [Read more...]
Don’t apologize. Do this instead.
Excessive apologizing can take away others' confidence in you as a leader. Instead, practice moves like thanking people for waiting if you are late to a meeting rather than saying, “sorry,” writes Judith Humphrey. Avoid apologizing before giving bad news so you don't reinforce the negativity of what you will say, and focus on solutions rather than feeling sorry for not being … [Read more...]
Badass barrel racer has inspiration for us all
When you’re having a rough day or trying to master a task for the umpteenth time, don’t sweat it too much. Simply go at it again. That’s the suggestion from Amberley Snyder. A broken back caused by a pickup wreck when she was 18 years old left the barrel racer and roper in a wheelchair since 2010. It hasn’t slowed her down. She shared her story with attendees of the 2017 Ag … [Read more...]
Why sitting at your computer all day can wipe you out
If you’re conscious, your brain demands your energy and lots of it. Using your brain takes real, honest, physical work — it’s just not visible to us the way using our muscles to exercise is. Source: Science of US, July 19, 2017. Because we’re more likely to get sick after period of heightened mental exertion, too, it’s important to treat mental fatigue with the same care … [Read more...]
Is technology being used counterproductively? (audio program)
In this thought-provoking audio interview, David Allen ( Getting Things Done® ) talks with Dr. Theo Compernolle, a doctor with a 35-year background in medicine, psychiatry, teaching and research. His most recent book is Brain Chains. Source: Getting Things Done®, July 13, 2017. You’ll find this interview to be educational, and perhaps challenging, as you learn that we may … [Read more...]
Coaching: Help other success
Since I was a good salesperson I would work with my reps and close more deals for them. After six months of running ragged closing deals without improving the total district sales, I realized that once again I had misinterpreted the trainer’s advice. For the first time in my life, I began to see the real value of coaching as a skill that helps others succeed. Source: Vet … [Read more...]
Office hugs require etiquette
Workplaces are seeing a rise in hugging culture. Hugging is a social minefield, says Kara Deringer. Context is all-important. Source: BBC News, July 20, 2017. Not everyone's so keen on the idea of hugging. Deborah Wallsmith, an assistant professor of anthropology says that the graduations of hug discomfort depend upon nuances, relationships, and personal … [Read more...]
Great leaders focus on one important thing
We preface our comments reminding animal health pros that in any given interaction any one of us may be the leader. Results come from great teams, and great teams start with a strong coalition. If you know relationships could be your key to getting ahead, but you’re struggling to get them right, read what Joel Garfinkle shares about how coalition building can help you succeed … [Read more...]
All of us need to be in sales (video)
Sales is that five-letter word no one wants to mention. But, John Baldoni makes a case for everyone to consider sales as a reflection of you, your work and your commitment to customers. Source: SmartBrief, July 14, 2017. Re-framing sales then means re-thinking what you do. Very basically, consider sales as everything you do for a client -- service, execution, follow up and … [Read more...]
Start a meeting right
Too many meetings drag on without participants discussing the real problems that need to be addressed. People talk around the important issues during the meeting and then address them before or after it. This renders the meeting a waste of time and makes you, the meeting organizer, look bad. Combat this risk by explicitly asking that issues be discussed during the meeting, not … [Read more...]
Opinion – Bank ATMs turn 50
The authors have created an innovation-centric overview of the ATM. It is a fun read. I am old enough to remember when ATM transactions were free and ATM networks allowed for free transactions from a machine branded with a bank you did not use. Today, ATM fees range from $2.00 to $5.00, no matter how much cash you receive. The average is about $3.00 per transaction where I … [Read more...]
Gratitude improves response to electronic communication
The speed of today’s communication has been blamed for poor spelling, bad grammar, little to no punctuation and a variety of other communication breakdowns. The sheer volume of emails needing attention can be overwhelming. So, anything that helps get your emails noticed and better responded to is very helpful. Source: Power Social Media, June 2017. Emails that ended in … [Read more...]
Dog writers contest underway
The Dog Writers Association of America announced that sponsors have added 11 new special awards to this year's writing contest and an additional $7,900 in cash prizes that brings the prize tally to $14,000. If you’ve been holding a story, now is the time to put pen to paper. Source: Germinder and Associates, July 10, 2017. The Dog Writers Association of America is the most … [Read more...]
This is nuts: It takes 30 minutes to refocus after getting distracted
And we wonder why we can’t seem to get enough work done. If you thought that the amount of time you spend on email — 1/3 of your office hours — was bad, this isn’t going to make you feel better. Source: The Muse, July 18, 2017. Taking much-needed and deserved breaks (intentional) are one thing—getting distracted (involuntarily) is another. There’s a reason that distractions … [Read more...]
Active listening requires training
Listening is a skill that is essential. The importance of learning how to actively listen is critical to true communication and understanding. This article explores the dynamics of listening starting with the core components of active listening: Comprehending Retaining Responding Source: Farnam Street, July 3, 2017. Listening is difficult because it involves … [Read more...]
Ditch email for a full day
Our dependence on digital communications uses up much of our attention. LaSalle Network declared a “no email day” for a weekday. Here’s what its staff learned: We move faster It builds relationships We’re more creative We learn faster It encourages call-before-email We’re more energized and productive Source: Fast Company, July 5, 2017. Sometimes we need … [Read more...]
5 nonverbal ways to get someone to quit talking (includes video)
If you get trapped in a conversation, try one of these nonverbal tips to get out of the situation from author Vanessa Van Edwards’ article and excerpts from her book. The fish The bookmark The pupil The touch The teacher Source: Science of People, July 5, 2017. If you’re going to have a conversation with someone who you know is likely to interrupt you, you … [Read more...]
Work at feeling successful
Lauren Siegfried shares some insights about the first 10 years of starting a career. She notes the restlessness often felt throughout careers which is not exclusive to the first decade. She suggests these things to set yourself up for success: Document your wins Contribute to team achievements Pursue a personal project Source: The Muse, July 11, 2017. According … [Read more...]
Empathy trumps cuteness in viral videos
Animal health marketers frequently find that and images of pets “sell.” Autumn Sullivan suggests otherwise. Her position is cuteness helps, especially with viral videos, while the real secret ingredient to creating viral content is empathy. The post referenced here is promotional but the message applies to marketers stretching their companies in the social media and video … [Read more...]
Take back your word
We’ve all hit “send” on an email and wish we hadn’t. Gmail users can unsend emails fairly easily and quickly. This video shows how. Source: Business Insider, May 15, 2017. If you’re a regular Gmail user, you can prevent yourself form accidentally sending the wrong email to your entire office in just a couple clicks. Here’s how. … [Read more...]
Sponsored Content – Canine cardiology today podcast
Cardiology is discussed in a series of podcasts available free from VetFolio. The series includes: Episode 1: Canine Cardiology and Heart Disease – The Basics Episode 2: Risk Factors and Signs of Canine CHF Episode 3: Making Dog Owners Part of the CHF Care Team Episode 4: The Involved Pet Owner- The Key to Compliance in Long-Term CHF Therapy Source: VetFolio, … [Read more...]
5 ways to de-stress without leaving your desk
There’s not always time to step away from the daily grind. But you can opt for right-where-you-are de-stress techniques, according to Katrina Davies. Try one of these 5 options: Ear massage Workplace reset Hand-trick Breathing technique Progressive relaxation Source: The Muse, June 26, 2017. Here are five tips to reduce stress at the office, perfect for … [Read more...]
Distinguish fact from fiction; call BS, BS
We decided to post this since there seems to be so much hype to sift through. We hope you’re not offended by the BS references. It can be hard to know what to do with the onslaught of fresh BS and when you can no longer distinguish fact from fiction. Source: Science of US, June 26, 2017. Inspired by two professors at the University of Washington, Science of Us talked to a … [Read more...]