Tip #507 - 5 Ways to Delegate More Effectively

Delegating tasks efficiently is the most effective way to get the most out of your team's performance. After all, as a leader within your organization, your team looks to you for direction. The decisions you make affect everyone's workload, process and daily tasks. The way you delegate tasks can also eliminate redundancy and frustration experienced by your team members.

Here are five ways to improve your delegation methods from your friends at Dale Carnegie Training:

1. Provide Work That Team Members Can Complete Individually - Everyone enjoys the feeling of completing a task. While assembly line philosophy is important for efficiency, every team member wants to accomplish something specific. To provide this sense of completion, emphasize how each team member is furnishing a component of the bigger picture.

2. Clearly Communicate Deadlines - Ensure that everyone understands individual tasks, the purpose of these tasks and specifically when they are due. By providing firm deadlines, you will help your team learn how to manage their own time individually and as a group. If the project is large, include a timeline and due dates for milestones.

3. Convey Your Expectations - It is imperative that everyone understands your goal or output. In fact, it is perfectly reasonable to tell someone what your expectations are so there isn't any confusion to what you want or need.

4. Provide Your Team With The Right Tools to Do Their Job Better - Few things are more frustrating than receiving a task while lacking the tools required to complete it in an efficient manner. Make sure that your team has the necessary tools to get the job done, including computer software, a contact list, pertinent information sources, and suggested resources.

5. Give Rewards - Rewards let teams and individuals know that they've done a job well. While money can motivate, so can creative rewards. Before you delegate tasks, consider how you will reward top performance.

Delegation allows each team member to take responsibility for a piece of a larger project or goal. This can help you develop a more effective team and identify team members with leadership skills and qualities. As a leader in your organization, you must effectively delegate tasks and tell everyone your expectations and goals.

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Tip #506 - 5 Tips for Hiring the Right Employee

Recruiting top talent is one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. Sure, finding someone who is interested in working for you may be easy, but finding the right employee for your company is easier said than done. To help facilitate the hiring process, many companies employ a number of tactics such as administering personality and competence tests and employing a variety of interviewing techniques.

Approaching an interview from several different angles is the key to finding your ideal candidate. Unfortunately this is often overlooked by busy employers. Remember, interviewing is a two-way street. Just as you are exploring how well a potential candidate will fit into your company, they are exploring whether they truly wish to work for you.

If you are looking to bring your A-game to the interview process, then prepare by following the five steps below from your friends at  Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut:

1. Organize Yourself - You need to prepare as extensively for an interview as you would expect the interviewee to prepare. If you truly want the best candidate to work for you, put aside time to create a checklist of the qualities and skills you hope to find in such an employee.

2. Speak With the Recruiting Firm - If you are using a recruiting firm to find someone, you need to ask the recruiter for a summary of why they are recommending a particular candidate. The recruiter should be able to provide you with a list of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses.

3. Use Multiple People to Interview the Candidate - Interviewers bring their own unique perspectives shaped by personal experiences; this is why we recommended the use of a variety of people to interview candidates-preferably ones who would be affected if this candidate is hired. Having others interview this person will give you several different perspectives, which are invaluable in the hiring process.

4. Don't Give Your Answers Away to the Interviewee - One of the most common mistakes made by interviewers is giving away too much information about what they want and need in a person. Providing a company overview is fine, but do not go into too much detail about what you need in an employee. Doing so provides the interviewee with clues as to how they should tailor their responses. Instead, learn what you can about an interviewee without feeding them the answers.

5. Consider the Interview a Conversation - As an interviewer, it may be easy for you to fall into a rhythm with the questions you ask. But if you really want to get to know the candidate, you need the interview to be a mutually comfortable conversation.

Once the interview is over, you still have work to do. Make sure to check references and conduct a background check. As we all know, a person giving a reference is going to speak positively about the candidate. During that conversation, keep an ear-out for what a reference does not say or chooses to avoid answering.


Lastly, do not dominate the interview; engage your potential employee in a push-pull conversation. Remember, you are looking to add a new player to your team. Your new hire will need to play well with others and complement your operation in their own unique way. Look beyond who a person is on paper, and see who they might be as your employee.

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Tip #506 - 5 Tips for Hiring the Right Employee

Recruiting top talent is one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. Sure, finding someone who is interested in working for you may be easy, but finding the right employee for your company is easier said than done. To help facilitate the hiring process, many companies employ a number of tactics such as administering personality and competence tests and employing a variety of interviewing techniques.

Approaching an interview from several different angles is the key to finding your ideal candidate. Unfortunately this is often overlooked by busy employers. Remember, interviewing is a two-way street. Just as you are exploring how well a potential candidate will fit into your company, they are exploring whether they truly wish to work for you.

If you are looking to bring your A-game to the interview process, then prepare by following the five steps below from your friends at  Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut:

1. Organize Yourself - You need to prepare as extensively for an interview as you would expect the interviewee to prepare. If you truly want the best candidate to work for you, put aside time to create a checklist of the qualities and skills you hope to find in such an employee.

2. Speak With the Recruiting Firm - If you are using a recruiting firm to find someone, you need to ask the recruiter for a summary of why they are recommending a particular candidate. The recruiter should be able to provide you with a list of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses.

3. Use Multiple People to Interview the Candidate- Interviewers bring their own unique perspectives shaped by personal experiences; this is why we recommended the use of a variety of people to interview candidates-preferably ones who would be affected if this candidate is hired. Having others interview this person will give you several different perspectives, which are invaluable in the hiring process.

4. Don't Give Your Answers Away to the Interviewee - One of the most common mistakes made by interviewers is giving away too much information about what they want and need in a person. Providing a company overview is fine, but do not go into too much detail about what you need in an employee. Doing so provides the interviewee with clues as to how they should tailor their responses. Instead, learn what you can about an interviewee without feeding them the answers.

5. Consider the Interview a Conversation - As an interviewer, it may be easy for you to fall into a rhythm with the questions you ask. But if you really want to get to know the candidate, you need the interview to be a mutually comfortable conversation.

Once the interview is over, you still have work to do. Make sure to check references and conduct a background check. As we all know, a person giving a reference is going to speak positively about the candidate. During that conversation, keep an ear-out for what a reference does not say or chooses to avoid answering.

Lastly, do not dominate the interview; engage your potential employee in a push-pull conversation. Remember, you are looking to add a new player to your team. Your new hire will need to play well with others and complement your operation in their own unique way. Look beyond who a person is on paper, and see who they might be as your employee.

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Tip #505 - 9 Quick e-Mail Etiquette Tips

Most people in business send and receive thousands of e-mails per year. While e-mail is a valuable business tool, you always have to ensure that you follow the proper etiquette. After all, e-mail is another extension of yourself, just as if you were writing a letter or meeting someone in person. Here are some tips for composing effective business e-mails from your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut:

1. Add someone's e-mail after you write it - Even though the "to" field is usually located at the top of an e-mail, leave it blank until you are finished writing. This will prevent you from sending the message before it is finished or failing to include the necessary attachments.

2. Consider the tone of your e-mail - When speaking with someone in person, on video chat or on the phone, you can hear the inflections in his or her voice. Hesitation and sarcasm are easy to interpret. However, this does not always come across in an e-mail. Write with a neutral tone to avoid confusion.

3. Use motivational subject lines - Make sure you use a subject line that defines the topic of your e-mail and makes the recipient want to open it. Your subject line should be a clear summary of the body of your e-mail. This is particularly relevant when your sales and marketing teams send e-mails.

4. Think of your e-mail as a business letter - Unless you are writing to someone you know extremely well, you need to think of your correspondence with them as strictly professional. Although e-mail may feel more informal, its purpose is not.

5. Write clearly and concisely - Most business people are extremely busy; therefore, people want to see and digest important information as quickly as possible. To do this, write clearly. Use bullet points and make sure the recipient knows you are available to discuss the details if necessary.

6. Do not use e-mail as a passive tool - e-mail is a passive means of communicating. Although it allows you to avoid a conflict, it is rarely the best course of action when there is an issue to address. If you need to talk about something crucial or pressing, it is always better to meet in person or on the phone.

7. Use proper grammar - There are various types of business e-mails-some may go out to your entire team, while others may reach prospects. While interoffice e-mails may be somewhat informal, introductions to business prospects should not come across this way. An e-mail full of typos and colloquial language will distract your audience from the message and undermine your professional authority. Always type with an educated tone that exudes professionalism and confidence.

8. Write the e-mail first in MS Word - Most people will forgive a few minor mistakes in an e-mail, but initial e-mails must run without error. To ensure the proper image, always write an important e-mail in MS Word. Doing so allows you to use its spell check and grammar features before sending it via Outlook or comparable e-mail services.

9. Use an e-mail signature - Always include an e-mail signature. The signature should include your name, title, phone number (with extension), business address and business website. This looks professional and establishes the legitimacy of your business; furthermore, it allows the recipient to easily locate your contact information.

While e-mail is a fast and useful tool for communication in the business world, it does not excuse poor communication and it is in no way a final substitute for verbal communication. A recipient's e-mail inbox is much like a physical mailbox-it is rude to send too many messages. In the contemporary business world, e-mail can influence the amount of success you have in communicating your message. It can also enhance (or tarnish) your reputation as a consummate professional.

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Tip #504 - How to Handle Difficult Decisions in 4 Easy Steps

In business, as in life, you often need to make decisions even if you have a limited amount of information. But making decisions needn't be a gut wrenching process if you follow the four tips below from your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut:

1. Find the Facts - Before you can make a good business decision, you need to gather as much information as possible while remaining objective. Additionally, fact-finding will help you analyze a problem and uncover any underlying issues as well as possible short and long-term solutions. Determine and execute the most efficient way to collect and analyze any data that can help you.

2. Brainstorm Solutions as a Group and Establish a Deadline - As you review the pros and cons of each of your options, make sure you do it as a group, and with a deadline. This will allow you to stay focused and maintain efficiency. Consolidate your information onto a chart or spreadsheet. It also helps to have at least one associate assisting with your analysis. While the decision is ultimately yours, others can provide insight and/or pros and cons that you may not have noticed.

3. Evaluate Results - Once you have decided upon a decision and implementation schedule, you need to analyze how you have done. Do not be afraid to make adjustments or take notes for future decisions.

4. Remain Consistent - As you tackle the decision making process, keep in mind that you always want to remain objective in your analysis while managing your stress and stress of others. And of course, good decisions come from staying focused on what the options are-both short and long term.

While there are a myriad of ways to handle decision making processes, you cannot overlook this one key element: Work on problem solving as a group. Although the ultimate decision will be yours, an organization cannot move forward or remain innovative without decisive decision makers. By taking action and carefully streamlining your decision making process, you will improve the organization by just making a decision.

Tip #503 - Employ Effective Verbal and Visual Communications When Presenting

Human beings see things differently. Some may gain wisdom or knowledge through verbal means, while others learn more successfully through visual means. However, when someone is communicating an idea or a project with others, their success rate will soar if they employ both the verbal and the visuals when leading meetings and making presentations.

Once one grasps the concepts of effective public speaking, and combines that with graphics that 'paint a picture,' he or she will become a better educator and leader, as well as a stronger and more viable communicator. Here are some considerations from your friends at Dale Carnegie Training of Western Connecticut that will help make it happen:

One of the keys to conducting any business meeting is to keep it short and keep it direct. This is true for visual props as well. Each written line should contain at most, six words. And there should never be more than six lines to any one visual aid. Should the visual combine the use of drawings or images, along with written text, at least sixty percent of the space on the page should remain blank. Larger font size is key as well, as it becomes frustrating for people to read when they can't sufficiently or accurately see that which they are supposed to be looking.

This goes the same for the size of a projection screen as well. It is wise for the presenter to stand in the back row of seating before the presentation begins, just to make certain that everyone participating will have a clear view. Also avoid writing in all capital letters, which makes it very hard for people to read.

It is best to have someone look over the work before presenting it, as unbiased opinions come from those who are seeing the work with fresh eyes. As with all works in the visual word, aesthetic appeal is a must. There are many options in the graphic arts world, and experimenting with those to create various borders, shapes and lines will help provide many options in the creative process. It is a simple idea, but composition is important in the world of visual arts, and considering the layout of the work will make a huge difference in the way that one's presentation is perceived, and in the effectiveness of the communication that will be imparted throughout the presentation.

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Tip #502 - 8 Essential Ingredients for Leadership Success

The essentials of leadership are many. We live in a fast paced and complicated economy where the quickest technology wins. Our leaders in our area need an array of skills to guide teams to both goals and objectives.

Dale Carnegie Training assesses eight very important ingredients that make for success:

• Environmental awareness: The culture and the climate must be managed with vision and understanding. Human capital grows in nurturing and engaged surroundings.
• Communication: Relationships and partnering grow with open and effective interpersonal communication.  
• Listening: Assessing every moment only increases in quality with active listening and information gathering.
• Empathy: The strongest managers understand needs and wants and improve opportunity for others.
• Decision making: This heart of the action skill puts everything in perspective. Challenges, support and negotiation all go together when hunting for accurate results.  
• Learning: Leaders must get better every day. Education, both formal and informal, makes for both experience and commitment.
• Flexibility: The challenges of change and its true complications make rigidity and bureaucracy things of the past. Change must come from a series of adjustments and team play.
• Awareness: Sitting in an isolated office has made many a leader an unemployed manager. Engaging all the employees for suggestions and ideas is now a classic leadership skill.

With vision and understanding now the center pieces for growth in organizations, our leadership here will always create the history that would make Dale Carnegie and Henry Ford proud. It is all about the people and the talent they bring to the table.

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Tip #501 - 7 Traits Exhibited by a Team Player

The ability to work effectively in a team is essential to your professional growth. If this is a concern for you, then it's time to examine what type of primary traits you should work on developing in yourself and your employees.

If others see yourself as a team player, there is a good chance that you will be invited onto more projects. Should this happen, you will get tagged as the "go-to person" and meet key decision-makers within your organization.

Team members work best together when they mesh well-that is, when they respect each other and enjoy each other's company. While not everyone on your team will be friends, respect is mandatory for successful teamwork.

Here are 7 traits effective team players tend to exhibit from your friends at Dale Carnegie Western Connecticut:

1. Take Accountability - Team players accept an appropriate amount of personal responsibility. They will follow through with whatever tasks they accept.

2. Have A Great Attitude Toward Challenges - A friendly, positive attitude is required to work well with others. Team players recognize that they must share responsibility and that they cannot control every aspect of a project.

3. Have Strong Communication & Interpersonal Skills- Teamwork requires clear, effective communication. Team players communicate well with those on and off the team. They also know how to build the right working relationships, providing the maximum number of resources for their team.

4. Are Often Times Competitive By Nature - While competitive behavior can prove detrimental to a team, it can also drive the team forward. Team players who demonstrate a competitive spirit can push the group forward towards success.

5. Are Aware Of The Bigger Picture - Team players understand that the actions of themselves and their team members impact the organization as a whole - and they see just how.

6. Are Consummate Diplomats And Professionals - Team players conduct themselves with a professional attitude, respecting other team members. They do not allow minor conflicts or small roadblocks to get in the way of their ability to work on a team.

7.  Are Team-Oriented - Processes and procedures work differently in a team environment than they do for an individual. An effective team member will consider what works best for a team when laying out a path to success.

It takes a great deal of patience to be the ideal team player, but a team player attitude is an incredibly valuable asset in the workplace. Team players are respectful, accountable and forward thinking. By embodying these traits, you can positively affect your team and stand out as a leader.

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Tip #500 - 4 Tips for Just Being Yourself on Your Next Job Interview

Job interviews can be a stressful ordeal. Before you even walk into the interview room you'll likely be wondering if the employer will like you, if you're wearing the right clothing, if you'll say the right thing, or if you'll just flub the whole thing.

Most interviewees claim they did not get a job they wanted because they were nervous. They knew they could do the job and do it well, but the interviewer didn't see it. If this is happening to you, and companies aren't seeing the real you, it's simply because you are not showing your true self to them.

It's important to be yourself on interviews. If you pretend to be someone else, or employers do not see the real you, you may-or may not-get the job, but it won't be too long before you are looking for another one.

Here are 4 Steps for being yourself on your next interview from your friends at Dale Carnegie Western Connecticut:

1. Don't Let Fear Overtake You - If you are overly concerned with getting it right, then you will end up getting it wrong. Interviews are a two way street. Employers see if they like you and you see if you like them. If you just want to be "selected" for the job, then you don't get to shine. Let go of what could happen wrong and focus on what on could go right. Know that you are perfect for the job and simply go in there and show them what you got. It's OK to be afraid; you just don't want that fear to get in the way.

2. Be Prepared and Then Let It Go - It's important to thoroughly prepare for an interview. You want to know about the company, what they do, and what you can do to help them reach their goals. But at some point, preparation stops and you take over. Tell the interviewer about a time you had a challenging situation at work, and how you thought about the solution and came up with a way to solve the problem. Let the interviewer see your creative side instead of just canned answers you walked into the room prepared with.

3. Be Mindful of the Interviewer's Needs - Everyone wants to be seen as someone who can do a job well. But if the interview is only about you, and you are only concerned about yourself, the interviewer will pick up on this. Take the focus off yourself and instead put your energies on the person you are talking to. Find out about them, what they want and what's important to them. When you go into helpful mode, your concentration shifts to the other person. This is when the real you comes out.

4. Ask Questions - Interviews are a give and take process. You are asked questions and then you are expected to ask questions in return. Answers to your questions help you feel better about how you will assimilate into the company. Although you may want the job on paper, the company, its policies, and the people who work there are unknown to you. Questions help you get answers that put you at ease. And when you are calmer, the real you can come out.

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Tip #499 - A Sure-Fire Topic to Hold Your Audience's Attention

Dale Carnegie knew that you may possibly bore people if you talk about things and ideas, but you can hardly fail to hold their attention when you talk about people. Stories about people are what fuel the millions of conversations floating over fences in the backyards of America, and over dinner tables. And the predominating note in most of them is personalities.

Carnegie addressed many gatherings of school children in the United States and Canada; and he soon learned by experience that in order to keep them interested he had to tell them stories about people. As soon as he became general in nature and dealt with abstract ideas, "Johnny" became restless and wiggled in his seat, "Tommy" made a face at someone, and "Billy" threw something across the aisle.

Carnegie once asked a group of American businessmen in Paris to talk on "How to Succeed." Most of them began praising homely virtues, and in doing so began preaching at, lecturing to, and boring their listeners.

Carnegie halted the class and admonished them. "We don't want to be lectured to," he said. "No one enjoys that. Remember you must be entertaining or we will pay no attention whatever to what you are saying. Also remember that one of the most interesting things in the world is sublimated, glorified gossip. So tell us the stories of two persons you have known. Tell why one succeeded and why the other failed. We will gladly listen to that, remember it and possibly profit by it. It will also, by the way, be far easier for you to deliver than are wordy, abstract preachments."

Remember in your next speech or talk that human-interest stories-by far-appeal to your audience's nature and will always hold their interest.

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