How Positive Thinking is Ruining Your Life
I am a member of a cult.
The cult of positive thinking. I know it is mostly garbage. Yet, it makes me feel good.
The job...
Why Case Studies Don’t Work and What to Do Instead
Do you want people to care about your cause, idea or product?
A client of mine, we’ll call him Don, was struggling to get funding...
Why Wine Costs More with a Story
The hand blown bottle was labeled with the year 1787 and the word “Lafitte,” a top French vineyard, etched into the glass. The wine...
So, What Are These Things Called “Soft Skills”?
So, What Are These Things Called “Soft Skills”?
Soft Skills’ is a catch-all term referring to various behaviors that help people work and socialize well...
Should Managers Be Required to Take Courses in Hiring and Firing?...
Over the past week, I have had two clients tell me some pretty disturbing stories about experiences they have had with managers from two...
Why Teambuilding is an Important Soft Skill in Hi-Tech
Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships. - Michael Jordan
John Adair defined “team” as “a group in which the individuals share a...
How to Leverage Emotions at Work
When was the last time you felt inspired? What made you feel that way?
If you’re like most humans, inspiration requires an intense level of...
5 Changes You Can Make to Improve Customer Experience at Your...
Setting yourself apart from the competition is definitely one of the top priorities of any store owner. In a world where customers can choose...
Research into the Social (Soft) Skills of Hi-Tech Workers
Over the past few months I have been shifting my attention to the Hi-Tech industry. I have this sense that there is a need...
Hi-Tech Hiring: Where do Soft Skills Fit?
Last week I wrote about how the Hi-Tech industry is feeling the pinch from workers lacking basic soft skills. A recent article published in...
Useless Employee Surveys and How to Avoid Them
Have you ever done an employee survey? How honest were you? Did the questions even scratch the surface of the true feelings you have...
How To Deal with a Whining Employee
As a leader, it’s frustrating to hear whining. In response, leaders often say, “Don’t come to me with a problem, come to me with...
How Influencer Marketing Helps Boost Your Business Growth
Did you know that 92% of consumers have made a purchase after reading about a product on their favourite blog? A further 62% are...
Seeing the Other Side – Influence and Persuation
In a recent coaching conversation, a client mentioned that he always feels like he is second guessing his actions. He wondered why he was...
The Two Rewards of Low-Cost High-Gain Favors
Could you do me a favor? It’s a common phrase, but it’s packed with meaning.
Most of us like to do favors. But we’re often...
5 Best Practices For Business Blogging
Great business blogs have been known over time to have created value for potential and current customers of a business without compromising business growth.
Often...
How to Become a Successful Freelancer
Becoming a freelancer is an interesting career choice, to say the least. Many people find freelance work to be appealing and uplifting as they...
Interpersonal Communications: It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say...
“Fluency in non-verbal communication can be as powerful a tool as masterful negotiating techniques or expert salesmanship” – Joe Navarro
Have you ever experienced a...
Little Moments, or How to Give a Great Speech
I was supposed to give a presentation at the GuruFocus conference in Omaha, a day before Berkshire Hathaway annual meeting. I was more nervous...
Your Job is Like Cake
Do you like cake?
I love cake. Give me a piece of cake, and I’m happy.
A good job is kind of like cake. One piece...
The Three “Apologies” That Makes Things Worse
Sorry. Not sorry. We’re all familiar with the non-apology, people who toss off “I’m sorry” without meaning it or understanding how their actions affect...
5 Tips to Hook Your Reader with a Persuasive LinkedIn Summary...
Did you know that after the headline section LinkedIn is the second most widely-read section on your profile? Furthermore, studies show readers spend more...
6 Benefits Of Digital Marketing That Help Your Business To Grow...
Every business in this world is getting online. They are trying to do the best to keep their business up, which can be said...
Employee-Friendly Work Culture Is The Key To Success In Call Center...
Lots of call centers nowadays are totally focused upon how to perform various tasks in a competent as well as cost-effective manner. These call...
Will Google Penalise You For Duplicating Content? Exclusive Expert Interview
WILL GOOGLE PENALISE YOU FOR DUPLICATING CONTENT?
I was asked this question in my private members group earlier this week, and as a business marketing...
How to Improve Retention in 10 Minutes
We all know turnover is costly. But the costs extend far beyond having to rehire. When you factor in leadership time, loss of momentum,...
How to Reduce Your Words and Increase Your Impact
Have you ever experienced death by PowerPoint? How about your boss asking you to read the endless business plan?
We’ve all been there. A well-intentioned...
How To Use Facebook Live For Your Business
Did you know that people will spend 3x longer watching a video which is LIVE compared to a video which is no longer live?
At...
Efficient Customer Support: Build Customer Loyalty The Astute Way
With numerous brands hitting the shores, many of the existing brands are finding it exceedingly difficult to retain their customers. Most of these brands...
Strategic Advantages of Using IVR System in Inbound Call Centers
The usage of IVR (Interactive Voice Response) system is not new to inbound customer service industry. Several call centers have already embraced this technology...
21 Effective and Useful Content Marketing Tips
Whilst content marketing costs 62% less than outbound marketing, it generates more than three times as many leads. What innovative and useful content marketing...
How to Re-Enter the Job Market and Kick Ass
If you were on the job market during the great recession, I don't blame you if you're a little risk averse when it comes...
What Every Future Entrepreneur Needs To Know
Starting your own business and becoming an entrepreneur is like entering a dark room you've never seen before and trying to navigate through it...
So What Stops Them From Succeeding?
Neville Guant wrote a comment to my last blog post asking the question, “...all your readers and mine ... know it already. So what...
Positioning a Failed Startup into a Winning Experience During Your Job...
Many of my clients come to me because their startup endeavors didn’t pan out, and are hoping a return to Corporate America will provide...
What is your niche?
One of the advantages of being an independent coach is that I get to connect with other coaches around the world, usually using either...
5 Career Options for People Who Want To Help Families
With all the chaos and loss in the world around us, it can be hard to feel satisfied with the job you currently have....
6 Major Benefits of Outsourcing Call Centre Functions To India
India has always been preferred by global organisations when it comes to outsourcing. There are various reasons because of which call centres in India...
Five Steps to Deep Dive Company Research
Whether identifying companies to target or preparing for an interview, research is a critical component to any successful career strategy.
Most career coaches and interviewing...
Unveiling Some Unique Benefits of Choosing Call Centre Outsourcing Services
Indubitably, establishing a well-equipped call centre requires an extensive investment in upfront costs and ongoing maintenance. Putting an idea of running an internal call...
Networking – Growing Your Business in 2017 and Beyond
Vince Lombardi, the well known and loved US football coach, is known, among other things, for his famous speech, “What It Takes to Be...
21 Tools to Share Your Expertise Through Content Marketing in 2017
With content marketing costing 62% less than outbound marketing and generating more than three times as many leads, you must find a way to...
Underwhelm Yourself
I attended a holiday party the other day. Delightful event. Chatted with a vivacious person named Melissa who I had not met before. There...
5 “Leadership” Lessons of Donald J. Trump
Like many people around the world I was surprised by the election of Donald Trump but I was not shocked at all. In my...
What Are The Most Efficient Ways Of Getting Fit and Healthy...
For the majority of every day workers. The usual working day involves staying stuck behind a desk for hours on end, 9-5. With a...
When We Are Happy For Others
I am happy for you. Powerful words, right?
And my two favorite variations:
I am so pleased for you (a bit more cautious).
I am thrilled for you (yes, over...
How To HYPER-CONTEXTUALIZE
There’s context, and there’s CONTEXT.
Granular HYPER-CONTEXT.
Context creates expectation AND anticipation in any conversation. It invites complex inquiry. It inhibits a conversational shut-down. It hopefully normalizes...
Paid v. Free LinkedIn – Which Option Makes Sense for Me?
As LinkedIn continues to grow and expand, it’s account offerings continue to evolve. As has always been the case, members still have free and...
Leadership is… About Who We Are Leading
I’m in the midst of getting my materials ready for the Leadership course I will be teaching this coming January at the University of...
Are You Going to Stop the Buck, or Assign Blame?
The buck stops here. The famous sign on Harry Truman’s desk applies to all of us.
At a certain point, we all have a buck...
Beyond Shock
Shock. And shock. More shock.
A US president-elect who by most everyone’s moral compass engages in objectionable business practices, routinely resorts to offensive rhetoric, flaunts...
Startup Advice From Successful Entrepreneurs
The path of becoming a thriving and successful entrepreneur is more than likely a process of trial an error, and here are some tips...
Leadership vs Management – Encourager!
There is a certain quote uttered by one of the US presidential candidates that keeps coming back to me. Perhaps you can guess which...
9 Top Tips for Business Success
Today, we’re bombarded with so much ‘noise’ in business, right?
Everywhere we turn – LinkedIn, Facebook (especially sponsored adverts), Twitter, online blogs, emails from people...
Venting Doesn’t Release Negativity; It Rehearses It
It starts with the speeches. You know the little speech you rehearse in your head, getting ready for the big moment when you finally...
The Reward for Risking Public Embarrassment
What if you gave a party and no one came?
It’s almost worse than getting stood up for a date. At least on a no-show...
How Nutella Pancakes Helped Me Understand That Data Doesn’t Matter
I was reminded of a great secret yesterday. It came twice, both times unexpectedly.
It started while I was making chocolate batter pancakes covered with Nutella...
Smile Mechanics
There is a field of smile studies. Yes, there really is. This got my attention.
Most of us believe that smiling is a good thing,...
Inclusive Recruiting Practices Benefits Everyone
Several weeks ago Simon Fraser University released a comprehensive study on the discriminatory recruiting practices in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. The research project was...
What Do Employees Want for Holiday Gifts
The holiday season is upon us and while pretty much every business owner or manager is thinking about how to entice as many customers...
Why You Wanna Greet Well
Hi. How are you? A standard greeting. We utter it daily, many times over. A great social invitation, right? Well, it ought to be....
What’s the ONE thing that will make the difference?
There are only two months left in 2016. So Carpe Diem – seize the day – or actually…. Seize the next two months with...
Lead with Your Energy Touch
I spent four days in Chicago last month, hosting a leadership program. I enjoyed my group immensely. The energy was good.
That’s my language of...
How To Apologize Well
It’s a bruising paradigm.
We expect a leader to have answers. The level of your leadership pay is commensurate with the expectation that you execute...
The Zen of Getting in Sync
Cool when science catches up with what we already know.
That occurs to me as I flip through the latest article by Sue Shellenbarger, my...
Practice the Relaxation Paradox
I want to yell at the dental assistant. Mariana is taking an x-ray. My mouth is stretched open wide, a metal contraption wedged into...
Six Steps to Giving Your Resume a 21st Century Facelift
No one looks for jobs in the paper anymore. Why use a resume designed for that era?
A resume up-to-date in terms of career history...
2017 is around the corner
Yep, can you believe it, 2017 is around the corner – only two months away. Where has the year gone!?
Are you on track to...
Four Easy Ways to Increase Your Profile Views on LinkedIn
If your goal is to generate attention (particularly from recruiters), a stagnant LinkedIn profile or one merely up to date is not likely to...
How to Become a Successful Professional Speaker
THE TRUTH IS, WITHOUT HAVING THE SPEAKING PLATFORM THAT I DO, I WOULD NOT BE AS SUCCESSFUL AS I AM IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA...