Tip #437: How To Maximize A Third Party Relationship

Many businesses depend upon the services of a third party business partner to succeed and grow. This could include vendors, suppliers, other businesses, the government and consultants. However, the age-old question is this: How can you get the most out of that business relationship?

Click here to read Google's Advertisers Guide To Working With A Third Party Partner.

Third Party Relationships Require A MUTUAL Commitment.

When partnering with a third party organization, you need a level of commitment from everyone in your organization AND everyone in the other party's group. This means keeping the lines of communication open (especially with all decision makers), planning carefully and meeting expectations.

8 Things To Do Before Entering Into A Third Party Business Relationship.

If you want your outside business relationships to run smoothly, you need to work out the details before entering into the business relationship:

1. Get It On Paper And Signed: Detail and outline all agreed upon services, procedures, parameters, marketing commitments and deadlines. Make sure it's official, approved by both parties and also on paper with the necessary signatures.

2. Perform A Background Check: It's a typical business practice to ask for references when considering a business partner. Check their website for testimonials and follow up with anyone listed there. Using Google, high-profile business professionals should not be hard to find.

3. Work Out Expense Details: Who pays for what expenses? Expenses can include transportation and shipping fees. If you hire a consultant, will she want you to compensate her for travel time and lodging? Find out before you sign an agreement.

4. Check Scheduling: Ensure that the outside vendor can meet your schedule and deadlines.

5. Interview The Third Party: Talk directly with a representative of the third party. If possible, try to speak with the business leader or CEO.

6. Keep It Confidential: Since your third party isn't directly employed, he is free to work with your competition unless it's otherwise agreed upon. Even if it is, you should ensure that all third parties sign confidentiality agreements.

7. Detail Your Expectations: Make sure you and the outside party's decision maker understand exactly what is expected and when. The best way to meet expectations is to understand them AND put them in writing. 

8. Employee Commitment: Make sure your employees are aware of your relationship with the third party.  They also need to know what they need to do to ensure your commitment.

Executive Summary: Working with a third party can increase your efficiency, profits and customer satisfaction. After finding a third party that can do this for your business, make sure you take the time at the beginning of the process to ensure a smooth business relationship.   

It is also recommended to confirm each other's commitments and deliverables in writing.

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Tip #436: 6 Components To Creating An Effective Team

 After working with different teams, have you ever wondered why some teams complete goals efficiently and successfully while others fail? When components are missing, a team can end up elongating a process instead of completing a task. While every team is different, is it possible that there is a magic recipe for success? 

The 6 Components Of Effective Teams:

1. Active Team Members: Your team will not function effectively unless each team member is willing to put in an effort. You need team members who are proactive and understanding of their own parts in the larger process.

 2. Demonstrated Leadership: If one or more team members demonstrate leadership qualities, you can delegate duties to them (and simply supervise the team). And as you can imagine, this is a more efficient use of a leader's time. Additionally, a good leader will:

• Inspire the best work performance from others.
• Describe and communicate visions and goals (clearly and often).

 3. Integrity: An effective team is guided by an overarching sense of values. Completing work with integrity means sticking to the company guidelines and mission statement. Workers with a strong sense of integrity do more than simply avoid rule-breaking practices; they ensure the highest quality on all work presented. Examples of this include:

• Double checking all work before turning it in.
• Sharing processes with their coworkers. 

4. Goal-Oriented Thinking: To succeed, a team must be able to keep a goal in mind. Future-oriented team members can visualize how their work efforts will create a better future. This type of thinking really galvanizes a team, resulting in a higher level of focus and an emphasis on teamwork.

 5. Enthusiasm: Teams always work more efficiently when they are not bogged down by negativity. Successful teams consist of members who maintain realistic perspectives while tackling all problems with enthusiasm and positive attitudes.  Keep the FUN in doing business. 

 6. Ability To Connect: The ability to work well with others is an asset to any team. When team members aren't buried in interpersonal conflicts, they focus on achieving goals. Workers who demonstrate this quality can:

• Work well with someone even though personalities clash.
• See diversity as an asset.
• Maintain positive relationships.
• Include the entire team in success.

 Executive Summary: Does your team possess these essential qualities? If not, a good leader will work diligently to make a team work together in unison.  Additionally, solving problems effectively and efficiently in a team environment requires a number of conditions to be met: Experience, attitude, willingness and motivation.  But most importantly, valid coordination.

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Tip #435: 5 Steps To Solve Problems Fast

Problems at work are inevitable, but you can solve them faster and lessen your stress by resolving problems efficiently. Specifically, if you tackle a problem when it arises, there is less of a chance that it can develop into a less manageable problem in the future. Fortunately, solving business problems is not unlike how we solve problems in our personal lives. You must identify the problem, determine its cause, gather information about it and decide on how to solve it.

You can solve even the most difficult problems quickly using the steps outlined below.

The 5 Steps For Solving Business Problems Quickly Are: 

Step #1: Identify The Problem - What is the problem you need to solve? Before you can tackle an issue, you need to know the parameters of the problem. If the problem involves a team member, third-party vendor or customer, describe the issue after they explain it to you. This will ensure that you are properly identifying the issue.

Step #2: Determine The Cause Of The Problem - Of course everyone wants to resolve the problem, but before you do, you should determine what caused the issue in the first place. This will prevent the same mistake in the future. If there was a breakdown in communication or a deviation from procedures, note that weak point in your process.

 Step #3: Brainstorm Solutions - Using a whiteboard, quickly brainstorm possible solutions. Write down everything you think of and don't over-think it. Keep in mind that there may be more than one right answer.

 Step #4: Decide On A Solution - Eliminate solutions that cannot or will not work. Rank your remaining possible solutions in order, best to worst. Consider all positives and negatives of each solution while doing this.

 Step #5: Take Action ASAP - The longer you wait to fix a problem, the more likely it can get out of hand. This will only add to your stress and spawn new problems. Formulate a quick action plan and immediately embark on the first step.

 Executive Summary:Problem solving skills are important skills - both in your business and life. That said, effective business leaders handle work problems calmly, quickly and efficiently. By working quickly towards a fast and amicable solution, you will show your team that you are able to handle these issues fairly AND effectively and as they arise.  

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Tip #434: 6 Essential Tips For Communication

Do you ever go into too much detail when talking with someone? Or how about talking too much or getting hung up on arguing a point rather than building consensus? If you do, this article might be of interest to you or someone you know.  

Almost every decision maker wants a team leader who can clarify objectives and create specific goals/plans for their teams to achieve.

 When you are a leader, you are the hub of communication as well as the intermediary between executives and employees. Because of this, your communication skills significantly affect the direction of your team.

 To help you become a better communicator, we have assembled five tips to help you analyze and improve your own communication skills.

 6 Essential Communication Tips For Leaders Are:

 Tip #1: Remain Adaptable - Great leaders adapt quickly to new situations. When you encounter changes in your work environment, demonstrate flexibility and remain an example to your team.

 Tip #2: Act Approachable And Open To Change - Some of the best ideas in your organization will come from the employees that you manage. If others see you as approachable and willing to accept new ideas, they will be more likely to share these ideas with you.

 Tip #3: Handle Stress Professionally - Keep calm in stressful situations and it will help your team do the same. Observe and control processes to make sure that one team member is not getting overloaded.

 Tip #4: Work Creatively - Without innovation, your business cannot grow. Even if you have a novel idea, you need to continually develop creative solutions to stay ahead of your competition.

 Tip #5: Listen Actively - Active listening ensures that you understand the other person's concerns. Additionally, it allows you to provide a concise and targeted response, maximizing your clarity.

 Tip #6: It's Not About You - The key to talking with someone is asking more questions than not. As all experts agree, you have two ears and one mouth; therefore, listen twice as much you talk.

 Executive Summary: Great leaders communicate effectively and openly. They are also easy to engage in conversation. To help you become a better leader, you should listen actively and remain a positive example for your team and know that you are the communication hub for everyone as well. The key to your success will be your ability to focus on clarity to avoid confusion or misunderstanding. 

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Tip #433: How To Create Opportunity From Conflict

Some business leaders avoid conflict if they cannot determine an immediate benefit in resolving the issue at hand. Additionally, they may feel uncomfortable with confrontation. However, conflicts are a reality; therefore, they also can present an opportunity for learning and improving work behavior, the work environment and your overall processes.

Not Dealing With A Conflict Can Lead To Staff Confusion And Lack Of Respect. 

When a manager is extremely uncomfortable with confronting others directly, it can lead to confusion in the team or worse, lack of respect. Furthermore, by not dealing with the issue or conflict, it tends to grow and worsen. And if it does, it can negatively affect your corporate culture. 

4 Tips For Creating Opportunity From Conflict Are:

Tip #1: Deal With Conflict Resolution Directly - Address an issue as soon as you encounter and identify it. This can prevent the problem from worsening and will prevent misunderstandings. If you can help conflicting employees see each others perspectives early on, it is easier to frame it as a learning experience.

 Tip #2: Differentiate Between Positive And Negative Stress -Did you know that stress can be positive or negative? Positive stress (such as that associated with meeting a realistic deadline) is different from negative stress (such as stress generated from working with an emotionally abusive employee). If you can tell the difference between positive and negative stress, you will know when to simply coach an employee through a situation versus directly intervening.

 Positive stress can cause a bit of tension, but generally it causes employees to remain dedicated to a task. Negative stress causes extreme irritability and results in hurt feelings and conflict.

 Tip #3: Develop And Use Your Interpersonal Skills - If you relate well to others before a conflict even occurs, you have the best possible tool for dealing with issues when they do happen. If your team trusts and respects you, they will listen to you when it is time for you to step in and resolve a conflict.

 Tip #4: Enhance And Utilize Your Communication Skills - Listen actively and let your employees understand that they are being heard. You can do this by reiterating their concerns in your responses. Use an objective perspective to avoid emotion and stick to fact-based solutions. Your calm and diplomatic demeanor will provide an example to your team.

 Executive Summary: When you deal with conflict directly, you have the opportunity to provide a teaching moment to the parties involved. Additionally, you will cut down on employee dissatisfaction, negative morale and decreases in production. 

While it is easy to understand how conflict can create a divide between two coworkers, an effective leader can demonstrate the opportunity in such a situation. If you set the example, you can be the change you wish to see in your corporate culture.

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Tip #432: 6 Tips For Appreciating Your Employees

One of the best ways to generate loyalty among your staff is to make them feel appreciated. This can result in more consistent, high-quality work. Additionally, your employees may feel more inclined to give you honest feedback and will have a vested interest in the success of team projects. 

When it comes to making your staff feel appreciated, the simplest things go a long way. That said, we have created a list of six easy tips that will help you convey your appreciation. 

  

6 Tips For Appreciating Your Staff Are:

1. Just Say "Thank You" More Often 

When your employees complete a task in a satisfactory manner, point it out. Thank them for a job well done. Having their hard work recognized will validate their work experiences and let them know that a good job is appreciated. Sincere, in-person thanks are most genuine and effective. 

2. Criticize People Less

Negative and constant criticism will only put your team members on the defensive and create employee frustration. Instead, provide

constructive

criticism. If appropriate, pad the constructive criticism with a compliment. Additionally, avoid drama and gossip as no one appreciates this type of subject matter. 

 3. Learn Everyone's Name

It can be hard for an employee to believe you are keeping track of her accomplishments if you do not even know her name. Even if you supervise a large number of employees, take the time to learn all names. This personal interaction goes a long way.   

 4. Listen To Someone's Concern

- Your employees understand that your time is valuable, and they will greatly appreciate it if you make time to listen to their concerns. When you listen to a staff member, avoid talking over him. In your response, let him know that his concerns have been heard by reiterating them and thanking him for his feedback.  

 5. Cultivate Your Internal Talent

After completing the same tasks every day, it is easy to understand how an employee can feel as though her job is stagnant - or worse, unimportant to the overall organization. To combat this, recognize an employee's natural talents and help her develop them. This will also let the employee know that her strengths are appreciated - and that she is on the right track. 

6. Stay Positive

Leading by example is crucial, and keeping a positive attitude will have a positive effect on your team. Remain conscious of how you talk about other people and keep your tone positive whenever possible.  

Executive Summary: Employees who feel appreciated tend to commit to producing quality work. They are also more likely to have a vested interest in promoting a positive corporate culture and the overall success of team projects. Appreciation fosters trust and employee loyalty, allowing you to retain the best members of your team and get the best results from them. 

Your Next Step: If you want to find out more about how Dale Carnegie® Training can make your business more effective, or need more information on this subject, please send us an e-mail at the address below. 

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5 Tips For Handling Difficult Questions

Have you ever had to answer difficult questions after a business presentation or during an important meeting?

As a manager, salesperson, executive or business owner, it is your job to arm yourself with information and set the tone of the meeting. The ability to appropriately address difficult questions will set a positive example in your organization.

Many business leaders find presentations and crucial business meetings extremely stressful. Usually, long meetings and presentations concern topics of change, such as changes in an established process. And generally, people do not react well to change if they like the way things are already going.

  

5 Tips For Handling Difficult Questions After A Presentation Are:

Tip #1: Be Informed ­- Arm yourself with necessary and supplemental information about your topic. Even if you cannot answer a difficult or emotional question, you can at least provide the questioner with facts, statistics, and evidence. If you do not have a direct answer to the question, offer to follow up with it in an e-mail to the group - and follow through on that promise.

Tip # 2: Maintain Control ­- Set some ground rules for your Q&A session. At the beginning of your presentation, ask listeners to hold their questions until you are finished. If you have a time limit, manage expectations by mentioning it at the start of the presentation. To prevent interruptions, provide your listeners with pens and notepaper - this will encourage them to write their questions down and ask them later.

Tip #3: Rephrase The Question - After you receive a question, rephrase it and confirm that you have understood the questioner properly. If the question contains incorrect information or assumptions, take this opportunity to provide the facts.

Tip #4: Answer Questions Carefully - A questioner might try to bait you with a question, so choose your words carefully when you respond. To avoid becoming too emotional over the topic, make sure you address the entire audience in your response. This will also make everyone feel included. Additionally:

• Remain professional towards all audience members.
• Answer questions directly.
• Construct your answer to relate to the point you wish to emphasize.
• If someone has a specific question that does not apply to others, offer to speak with him or her independently following the presentation. 

Tip #5: Prepare A FAQ Document - To save time, provide a FAQ (frequently asked questions document) that you can hand out after the presentation. This allows everyone to have firm answers in writing. By anticipating questions, you can also save on time.

  

Executive Summary: Difficult questions are a challenging aspect of leading a business meeting and/or presentation. To succeed, ensure that you maintain positive body language and continually demonstrate how the answers can benefit the audience.

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Tip #430: How To Get A Management Job

Acquiring a management position or being promoted to a new one may seem like a difficult task. Despite this difficulty, it is not impossible to acquire one. To help you take the next career step, we have listed below five tips that can help you or someone you know.

5 Tips To Help You Get A Job In Management:

Tip #1: Excel In Your Present Position - If you are satisfied with your current place of employment, consider going for a promotion. The best way to do this is to excel at your job. While top performance is important, you don't have to be the best - top performers are not always the best leaders. Instead, strive to manage your own work properly and become a team player. Think of it as taking leadership of your own job.  

Tip #2: Observe Good Leaders - If you have a favorite or an effective manager you respect, observe their habits and ask yourself this: How have they nurtured their employees' careers? Additionally, you can supplement these observations with hands-on leadership training.

Tip #3: Become A Better Communicator - Good communication is about more than simple politeness. Managing others involves a thought process: you need to anticipate how people will interpret or react to issues that come up. Additionally, use your words and actions to communicate respect for others and encourage the same in turn. Establishing this rapport (even with difficult coworkers) will allow you to more easily work with them. If you aren't liked or can't get along with others, it's not likely you'll receive a promotion or new career opportunity.

Tip #4: Start Taking The Initiative - Starting with your current job duties, take the initiative on getting things done as great managers are proactive. When it comes time for a review or a chat with your manager, you need to ask them what steps you need to take if you are interested in obtaining a management position. Be prepared for your manager to delegate a small "test" task to you immediately. Additionally, watch for job postings at your company and keep tabs on who is talking about leaving the company. This way, you can position yourself to seize upcoming opportunities.

  

Tip #5: Ask Thoughtful Questions - Asking questions is a great way to get people thinking about what you'd like them to do. If you bring up the right questions in team meetings, your manager may notice that you are serious about improving processes and taking initiative. 

Consider asking the following questions: 

• "How can we manage costs better?"
• "How can we accomplish this task more efficiently?"
• "How can we better meet our clients' needs?" 

When you ask these questions, it's best to have your own answers prepared. Presenting a solution with a problem always reinforces initiative.

 Executive Summary: If you're ready to take the next step in becoming a manager, take ownership of your current position, observe effective leaders and demonstrate initiative.  However, we also recommend talking with your manager about upcoming management opportunities.

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Tip #497 - Tips for Managing Stress and Goal Setting

Goal setting is a worthwhile and necessary function on the road to success. But over-striving to meet goals often results in more stress, and thus, the need to find ways to reduce it.

When attempting to reduce goal-oriented stress, Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut recommends first examining the goals you've set for yourself. Goals should be difficult, but achievable with persistent effort. Goals that are too far fetched, such as doubling your income in one year, nearly always lead to failure and discouragement. Attainable goals work because you persist and focus your efforts in a specific direction. Without that direction, we'll often find ourselves bouncing from one task to another like a pinball, more at the mercy of outside forces that have no stake in our welfare or success.

The good news is there are ways available to us to combat goal-induced stress. The first line of defense is to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Also try to establish a firm time each day that you won't work past. Pre-plan vacations and weekends so that you have something to look forward to outside of work, and schedule social events with friends at least once per week. However, be mindful of not over-booking social activities so that you can build in some time rest and recuperation.

Also keep in mind that goals need to be set for all aspects of your life, including relationships, finances, home, physical and mental health, as well as spiritual development. Be specific and reasonable when setting goals so that you don't invite more stress into your life. The more you regularly review your goals and focus on them, the more likely it is you'll meet them. Write down your goals, read through them periodically, visualize them and consider keeping a picture journal that represents your achievement of those goals. And don't resist making adjustments to those goals when necessary. Career plans seldom unfold exactly as plotted, and you need to be flexible and adaptable in order to keep an overload of stress from creeping into your life.

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Tip #496 - 7 Tips for Using Your Voice to Improve a Presentation

Everyone has experienced boredom by a conference speaker at one time or another. Good presenters, on the other hand, know their voice can make or break a presentation. A well-trained voice can make a huge impression on listeners. And despite how well you know the presentation, there is always room for improvement.

To help you be more successful during your next presentation, your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut have listed below seven quick tips that can help improve your speech and sales communication when making a presentation to both large and small audiences.

1. Articulate Clearly - If you talk quickly, mumble or slur words, the important points you are trying to make can and will get lost. Worse, people will simply tune you out during your entire presentation.

2. Vary Your Tone To Drive Home A Key Point - Nothing will numb an audience more than somebody who speaks in a dull monotone. Project your voice powerfully and clearly. Learn to use pitch for variation and accent your power words. This helps keep the audience involved and on their toes.

3. Use The Right Tempo - Do not speak in a slow, drawn-out manner. The speed of speech affects how your message is interpreted. Increase your tempo when you wish to convey excitement or urgency. Slow down when you want your words to sink in.

4. Control Your Volume - Project your voice so people can hear you easily. Raise and lower your voice when you want to emphasize certain words or concepts.

5. Get Rid Of Speaking "Crutches" - Avoid punctuating sentences with "you know," "like," "uh," "really," "kind of" and other similar fillers. This pattern becomes tiresome to listeners and portrays a nervous or lazy speaker.

6. Use People's Names - Make sure you connect with your listeners by telling stories and using the first name of someone from the audience. By using names, your words become embedded in the audiences' mind.

7. Practice Out Loud - It is hard to know how you sound to other people. Try using a voice-activated recorder to listen to yourself practice out loud. Play the recording, listen to how you sound and make positive changes. Better yet, audition your speech in front of someone who will give you honest feedback. Do not get upset or frustrated when they give you criticism. Instead, recognize they are trying to help and find ways to incorporate their suggestions. And if they tell you it was perfect, get a second opinion.

With the right articulation, inflection, tone and tempo, your voice will be the means to hook your audience. Get accustomed to using the first names of audience members to personalize your presentation and drive the topic home. Most importantly, know how you sound to others and practice to improve. Over time, your voice will become more effective during your presentations.

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