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Seeking Simple

by Rick Baker
On Mar 23, 2010

A couple of years ago I wrote a blog, more like a detailed paper, titled Seeking Simple.

Seeking Simple is about making good decisions.

Seeking Simple is about really communicating.

Seeking Simple is about solving problems.

Seeking Simple is about reducing our stress levels.

  

Seeking Simple© is about more than that…but that’s a good-enough introduction for now.

Here are a couple of pieces of inspiration…

A 14th century English friar, William of Ockham, came up with a razor [rule of thumb] that has been translated many ways, one being:

"When confronted with multiple solutions to a problem, choose the simplest one."

In 1916, Robert Updegraff created a little classic book titled, ‘Obvious Adams: the story of a successful businessman’. [I am thrilled to have a 1916 copy, with a most-endearing father-to-son note penned on the title page.] Obvious Adams is a little story about a fellow who sees what everyone else misses. While everyone else is bogged down in the details, Obvious Adams sees the obvious. And, the obvious is simple. We can learn from Obvious Adams.

Here’s a link to an Obvious Adams book review

http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadershop/2030-3.html

My goal here was to introduce the concept - Seeking Simple.

I would like to obtain help from you folks who read my blog…I would like to hear or read your stories about how simple decisions or simple communications or simple solutions to problems have served you well.

So, please, if you have some personal anecdotes then please share them with me…and our other readers.

More about Seeking Simple in future blogs…

Tags:

Delegation & Decisions | Seeking Simple!

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21 Words for the 21st Century

by Rick Baker
On Mar 18, 2010
The communication expert Dr. Frank Luntz recommends 21 Words for the 21st Century.
 
To be accurate, he recommends a few more than 21 words and some of his recommendations are short phrases.
 
Frank spends most of his time consulting to businesses; however, he is well-recognized for helping politicians.
 
Most of his 21 Words for the 21st Century apply to both politics and business.
 
A listing of the words, as I am doing below, does not come close to doing justice to the thought Dr. Luntz has given to these words. Not just the thought...but also the research and the intense testing through surveys.
 
The 21 Words for the 21st Century are:
  1. Imagine
  2. Hassle-free
  3. Lifestyle
  4. We Deliver (Accountability)
  5. Results and the Can Do Spirit
  6. Innovation
  7. Re-words: renew, revitalize, rejuvenate, restore, rekindle, reinvent
  8. Efficient and Efficiency
  9. The Right to...
  10. Patient-centered (medical)
  11. Investment
  12. Casual Elegance (travel)
  13. Independent (no conflicts)
  14. Peace of Mind
  15. Certified
  16. All-American [in our case…All-Canadian]
  17. Prosperity
  18. Spirituality
  19. Financial Security
  20. A Balanced Approach
  21. A Culture Of...
Throughout his book, ‘Words That Work - It's not what you say, It’s what people hear’, Dr Luntz stresses 'being positive' over 'being critical'.
 
He also stresses simplicity….keep your messages simple, easy to read, and easy to understand.
 
 
What impresses me most about Dr Luntz’s approach is he is a champion for targeting messages to meet the audience…putting yourself in the audience’s shoes, doing what you can to understand their views, doing your best to understand how they hear things, etc.
 
That approach to communication is perhaps the most-important thing in 21st Century business.
 
This is what Tarmarvalproda© is all about.
 
More on communication in future blogs…

Tags:

Marketing

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I have some good news for you

by Rick Baker
On Mar 16, 2010
Initially, I wanted to title this blog, ‘I have some bad news for you’.
 
I remembered the experiment we did last year. It proved people read ‘good news’ communications twice as much as they read ‘bad news’ communications. So, I used the ‘good news’ title.
 
[I offer that as a little communication tip.]
 
Also, I really don’t have bad news.
 
I just want to share some thoughts on how to deliver bad news.
 
These are not my thoughts. I am relaying a summary of Jill Malleck’s thoughts.
 
Link to Jill - www.epiphanyatwork.com
 
I had the pleasure of attending Jill’s presentation at our Centre For Family Business meeting last month. www.cffb.ca
 
Jill provided a great presentation. She also provided books. A number of names were drawn and I was fortunate to have my name drawn. Jill wrote a nice note in my book and signed it for me. So, ‘Epiphanies @ Work’ will have a place in my library of author-autographed books. [that library – well, that’s another story]
 
Here is an introduction to some of Jill’s thoughts…
 
Delivering Tough Messages
  1. Plan what you will say
  2. Increase your credibility
  3. Think ahead about the receiver’s likely questions or concerns
  4. But don’t assume the worst
  5. Accept emotions with empathy and neutrality
  6. Allow the receiver to digest the message
  7. Don’t take it personally
Good advice!
 
I particularly like 3 followed by 4. Thinking about the possible reactions people could have when they receive tough messages is not pessimistic. It is realistic. It is prudent. It is the decent thing to do. Assuming people will have the worst reactions would be pessimistic. That’s not a healthy way to think.
 
More on communication in future blogs…

Tags:

Change: Creating Positive Change

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Do you hear what I’m saying?

by Rick Baker
On Mar 11, 2010
Words That Work: it's not what you say, it's what people hear
 
That's the title of a book by Dr. Frank Luntz
http://www.luntz.com/
 
The book title grabbed me.
 
The book is worth the read…or 'the hear' if you prefer audio books.
 
Dr. Luntz draws strong reactions. He strikes people's chords. In some cases he hits sour notes. In others he finds believers.
 
I am a life-long learner…at least that's what one assessment told me.
 
And, the topic of communication fascinates me.
 
While politics is not one of my areas of interest, the communication skill of politicians is.
 
Dr. Luntz's book is not restricted to political communication…it digs into marketing communication. Of more importance, it addresses communication with the hearer in mind.  
 
The book offers vivid examples of what works and what does not work.
 
One section of the book really struck my love-of-writing-and-books chord. Comparing one section of George Orwell's classic '1984' to the [same] scene in the movie '1984', Dr. Luntz illustrated how written messages can out-communicate visual messages. [I have never read such a clear argument of this point. I have read numerous arguments, arguing in favour of visual messaging.]
 
Here is a summary of Dr. Luntz's 10 Rules for Successful Communication
  1. Simplicity
  2. Brevity
  3. Credibility
  4. Consistency
  5. Novelty
  6. Sound and Texture Matters
  7. Speak Aspirationally* [humanize, personalize]
  8. Visualize
  9. Ask a Question
  10. Provide Context and Explain Relevance
Excellent advice.
 
Footnote: Aspirationally - that's the 'word' I heard when I listened to the audio book…I cannot find that word in the dictionary [yet].
 
More about communication in future blogs…

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication

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A Thought About Networking

by Rick Baker
On Mar 9, 2010
There has been much talk about networking recently.
 
For example, I have the privilege of working with one of The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce’s networking committees…the recently announced Chamber Connections. The Greater KW Chamber is working to refresh and enhance its events, formerly held as BA5.  The first new event will be held in April. Here’s a link to the Chamber’s website. www.greaterkwchamber.com
 
Recently, I listened to the audio-book ‘Greater Than Yourself’, written by Steven Farber www.stevefarber.com  In the book Farber recommends we help other business folks achieve their potential. He uses the name Greater Than Yourself [GTY] to describe his philosophy. He provides a simple set of guidelines on how to go about doing GTY, which can perhaps be summed up as philanthropize for life. At least, that’s how one of the characters in the book described it.
 
Farber used a story-telling style to convey his Greater Than Yourself message. The writing style reminded me of the Og Mandino classic ‘The Greatest Miracle in the World ’and our friend Dave Chilton's major best seller ‘The Wealthy Barber’. The author or a very-similar character plays the lead role in the book and he learns as the reader learns.
 
www.ogmandino.com Og Mandino | www.wealthybarber.com Dave Chilton
 
To my thought about networking…
 
This thought hit me: the Greater Than Yourself philosophy is networking at its best extreme.
 
To truly network, we must expand ourselves and we must give to others. We must have a sincere interest in helping other folks achieve their goals. We must give without keeping track of favours owed.
 
More on networking in future blogs…

Tags:

Networking: The Joys of Connection

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Compelling Presentations

by Rick Baker
On Mar 4, 2010
This blog provides a sampling of what experts have to say about how to give compelling presentations.
 
We should only give public presentations if the following circumstances exist:
  1. We love to give public presentations.
  2. Our boss tells us to give public presentations.
  3. Both 1 and 2 apply.
I wish I could say I made that up. I did not. I read it somewhere, some time ago.
 
Here are some more pieces of advice…
 
From Dale Carnegie’s book ‘The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking’, to make sure your mind is in the right frame to improve your public-speaking skills:
  1. Take heart from the experience of others
  2. Keep your goal before you
  3. Predetermine your mind to success
 
From Peter Urs Bender’s book ‘Secrets of Power Presentations’, a speech has to have at least one of four objectives:
  1. To inform
  2. To entertain
  3. To touch the emotions
  4. To move to action
A good presentation covers all four objectives.
 
From Stephanie Palmer’s book ‘Good In A Room’, the secrets of rapport:
  1. Allow yourself to really care about the other person and to be curious about who he or she is. Empathic interest creates trust.
  2. Common ground cannot be faked or fudged. Rapport requires honesty.
  3. The warmth that signifies true rapport is not something you can force.
  4. Keep the spotlight shining on the buyer.
 
*****
 
I will never forget my first two ‘engagements’, when I was called
on with short notice to speak to major groups of business people.
But, I certainly hope the audiences have forgotten them.
 
*****
 
My next blog will be on Networking…

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication

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