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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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It seems - providing advice on how to succeed is nowhere near as difficult as helping people succeed.

by Rick Baker
On Jan 7, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Most people have lots of advice [opinions, suggestions, criticisms, commands, etc.] to share with others.

Few people edit/tailor their communications to actually help others. 

***

For decades, sales people have been taught: "Sell, Don't Tell".

That sales education aligns with this Thought Tweet. In sales, people are taught to give consideration to the other party's needs. 

***

"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."

John Quincy Adams

In business, the best relationships are built when pleasant personalities exchange interesting ideas.

by Rick Baker
On Jan 4, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

And, of course, the ideas contain value and there's following through on commitments.

Link to Thought Tweet #278

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Marketing | Sales | Thought Tweets

Keep your eyes & ears open: They may be able to preach what they cannot practice.

by Rick Baker
On Jan 2, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

"Do as I say, not as I do."  &  "Practice what you preach.

We use these sayings as justifications and criticisms when advice appears sanctimonious or disingenuous.

The first saying may be more annoying than helpful...just throwing gas on the fire. The second saying is a close-minded response to people who give us advice they, themselves, cannot follow.

While it would be wonderful if all the people who provide advice were masters of performance, we should not expect our teachers will be masters of performance: knowing how and doing well are 2 different things. For example, the maestro conductor does not have the combined performance abilities of all the master performers in the orchestra. Nonetheless, the maestro conductor has the ability to teach all the master performers.

An ounce of predilection is worth a pound of objection.

by Rick Baker
On Jan 1, 2021

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Human beings are biased creatures. Our minds are geared to recognize patterns and, sometimes, our minds jump to conclusions. As one example, this happens when we accurately identify a piece of information but conclude, inaccurately, it is part of a certain pattern. In common words, we call that "jumping to conclusions."

When we jump to conclusions we use one piece of information to reach an inaccurate conclusion. 

This was a real benefit in prehistoric times...jumping to conclusions saved lives.

In business, often, jumping to conclusions is more problem than benefit.

Sometimes, when we jump to conclusions, we also try to foist our inaccurate conclusions on others. If we happen to be a leader who does this then an ounce of our jumping to conclusions can offset a pound of followers' objections...and this, over time, kills followers' spirit.

[That's the reality of position power.]

When you criticize people their brains scream "No" and constructive communication is over.

by Rick Baker
On Dec 25, 2020

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When 'No' thoughts are filling the brain there is little room for 'Yes" thoughts. In fact, chances are 'No' and 'Yes' thoughts will not want to occupy the brain at the same time. They would rather take turns. And, for most people the 'No' thoughts are much more sticky. When they find their way into people's brains they stick there until they run out of reasons to defend and bolster the ego.While 'No' thoughts are sticking around the brain, working away to defend and bolster the ego there is little, if any, opportunity for constructive communication...particularly communication involving the person who triggers the 'No' response.

 

If we had not learned the word "No" when we were young, we would spend a lot less time thinking about our mistakes.

by Rick Baker
On Dec 20, 2020

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we were young a lot of people started to say "No" to us. We were made to believe it was wrong to say and do certain things....many things. The rules of "No" versus "Yes" were inconsistent, depending on who was saying the rules and where all of us were [mental schema, states of mind, etc.] when the rules were being expressed.

Regardless, when we were instructed "No", we received the message we were doing something wrong...i.e., we were making a mistake. We heard "No" so many times when we were young much of our current thoughts involve our past mistakes, sometimes even the mistakes we made when we were very young. 

We should learn to shake mistakes off.

Copyright © 2012. W.F.C (Rick) Baker. All Rights Reserved.