Posted: October 22, 2014 | Categories: Presentation skills, Sales, Self-Improvement

In my last blog I talked about those who exhibit the “Directing” style.  Now let’s take a look at the next quadrant – The “Presenting” style.  A person who displays this style is usually the life of the party.  In any group of people, you will be aware of their presence.  They know how to have fun, they are always up and they communicate easily.  They are motivating and full of ideas.  Rather than resist change, they welcome and embrace the new.  They are natural promoters, thrive socially, and are open to others.  Empathy, flexibility, and good intuition come naturally to the “Presenters”.  They love being in the spotlight and enjoy seeing others in the spotlight.  Presidents Reagan and Clinton are two examples of this style.  I have known individuals who have met both of these men personally and they both talk about how special they felt during the conversation.  One said, “I walked away feeling like I was the greatest person in the world”.Read More…

Posted: October 14, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Team Building

Today I would like to talk about the first quadrant of the four personality types listed in the last blog – the “Driver” (choleric).  Before I begin, I want to emphasize that this is not one of those personality tests where someone tries to categorize us or put us in a box.  The purpose here is to improve our skills in communication and managing relationships.  In the roles we play each day, the understanding of ourselves and the basic personal style of others can create more quality conversations.Read More…

Posted: October 8, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Sales, Self-Improvement

“If out of reading this book you get just one thing – an increased tendency to think always in terms of other people’s point of view, and see things from their angle – if you get that one thing out of this book, it may easily prove to be one of the building blocks of your career” -Dale Carnegie (How to Win Friends and Influence People)

I read the above words for the first time about 40 years ago.  In my years of managing and coaching since then, I have found this to be an absolute truth.  Since I read that book, I have been on a never-ending search on ways to keep growing in my ability to understand and positively influence others.

I want to share with you one of the most useful tools I have learned in keeping communication and understanding strong.  I call it the four quadrants.  Their origin goes back to ancient Greek/Roman times.  They have been used as the foundation of personality profiles in modern day.  Here they are:Read More…

Posted: September 30, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Time management

“For want of a nail…the shoe was lost…for want of a shoe…the horse was lost…for want of a horse, the battle was lost.  What a sorry tale!  And all for the want of a horseshoe nail” – An old nursery rhyme

If we want to be the best, attention to details are critical.  As General Colin Powell put it, “Check small things…be demanding”.  Top achievers know and live the value of relentless attention to detail.  Everything counts.  Everything matters.Read More…

Posted: September 23, 2014 | Categories: Self-Improvement, Time management

Last week I was working with a client on time management.  She is a CEO, and like most in that position, has more coming at her than she can attend to.   As Peter Drucker often said, effective executives know how to manage their time well.  Here is what she already had in play:Read More…