Wednesday, March 29, 2017
2017 is off to an exciting start, for many reasons. There are many opportunities for insights from the Academy Awards, the latest remote communication technology announcements, or the latest Change Masters’ products.
The improved version of our book, “Seeing Yourself as Others Do“, third printing, is being released this month. The latest printing has updated content, and includes our book study guide to use with groups and individuals. Sales of our book have reached the “Best Seller” level for business books.
We have also launched our fun and informative “The Sport of Business” video series, featuring a CBS sports commentator and Carol Keers. This series can also be used by groups and individuals to explore the many links between sports and business.
Our recent blogs have addressed some wide ranging topics; charisma, new webcams, the value of worry, asking how old you really are, and lessons from a fun Haribo ad/video. I hope you find our blog posts interesting.
Oscar Lessons
“And the winner is …” All was going smoothly at the Academy Awards. It was almost over. The last envelope was opened and announced … incorrectly. What can we learn?
- Distraction: Brian Cullinan was likely distracted by tweeting a picture of Emma Stone as he handed out the next envelope.
- Question: Warren Beatty opened the envelope and thought something was wrong … he hesitated. There was an opportunity for correction.
- Hand-off: Faye Dunaway took the envelope without concern of a possible error and made the announcement.
- Backup: One role of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) auditors is to respond if there is an error in the announcement. They did so quickly. The right award was given at the end.
- Apology: PwC quickly determined they were the source of the error and took full accountability.
What does this say about decision making and crisis control?
There are many articles about this being the biggest mistake since PwC started auditing in 1935. However, how does this inform our everyday decision making?
For most of us, day-to-day decisions and mistakes impact us much more than a mistake made at the Academy Awards.
Distraction: Automobile insurance rates in the USA, as well as auto-related deaths, are going up due to distracted driving. Distracted workers [more …]
Likeable and Charismatic
So many people think that people are born with, or without, charisma. It simply is not true. A little charisma goes a long way in relationships and is well worth developing. Jeff Haden has a list of ways to be more likable and charismatic [List …]
New Webcam with Zoom
Technology continues to get better and more cost-effective for web-conferencing. The latest webcam for hanging on your laptop screen has a number of new features. The Logitech Brio has a 5x zoom capability that 
significantly increases it’s usability for 1:1 meetings or small groups. It can capture life-like pictures with 4K video, and has 3D awareness for Windows 10 recognition. It requires a Windows 7 or newer operating system.
To be able to zoom, I currently have a standalone camera that cost more than three of the new Brio cameras ($199 US). With certain software, it is reportedly able to remove the background of your office, or huddle room, if you choose. I have not [more …]
Worry Serves a Purpose
Worry is a cognitive process as opposed to the emotional impact of anxiety. Worry serves a purpose. We think of problems that may occur in the future and look for solutions to either avoid the problem, or deal with the problem when/if it occurs. A certain amount of worry increases our quality of life and probably extends it, if it can help us avoid danger. Worry may move you to better prepare for a presentation or a job interview.
Excessive worry, however, wastes our time and typically limits our life. Being too nervous in a job interview, or on a stage, tends to undermine our effectiveness. So what can you do? A Wall Street Journal article on worry gives some suggestions: [more …]
How Old Are You?
When my father was 60, he referred to himself as being “middle-aged”. His friend asked him, “How many people do you know who are 120?”
A life well lived … Minnesota Orchestra Conductor Laureate Stanislaw Skrowaczewski was born in Poland 93 years ago. He started playing piano at age 4. He loved playing music until he was injured by a bomb during World War II. He became a conductor in Warsaw and Cleveland before he took over the Minneapolis Symphony in 1960. A few months ago we heard him conduct the Minnesota Orchestra with such gusto that it was hard to believe he was 93 years-old. His love for the music was clear. 
One non-stop performance was 80 minutes long without using the written score. Last year he conducted in over a dozen countries. So how old was Skrowaczewski? Sadly, he died last month. He fully lived all of his 93 years.
Being Engaged in Life
There are numerous studies that all point to being engaged in something you find worthwhile (for pay or not) significantly improves our happiness and our health. I feel blessed to feel that way about [more …]
Excellent Communication Lessons
This Haribo ad does an excellent job of demonstrating the impact of vocal tone.
Visual and Vocal – Lesson 1
We like to think that our content is our communication. In fact, our vocal tone and body language are a major part of what others perceive when we communicate. Vocal tone matters. You need to be choiceful. On a conference call it represents 85% of your communication. Pace your message. Over articulate is helpful for most people. Use short sentences. Place pauses in you message for emphasis. Shorter sounds smarter.
Pattern Interruption – Lesson 2
Part of the reason this ad gets our attention is [more …]
Other blogs you might be interested to review:
YouTube Tops 1 Billion Hours of Video a Day, on Pace to Eclipse TV [blog link …]
Mobile Games Brought in More Revenue in 2016 than PC’s and Console Games [blog link …]
The rest of 2017 …
We are very optimistic about the year ahead and look forward to keeping you updated.