Posted: December 11, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement

“An insincere grin?  No. That doesn’t fool anybody.  We know it is mechanical and we resent it.  I am talking about a real smile, a heartwarming smile, a smile that comes from within” – Dale Carnegie

A few days ago I attended a seminar hosted by a trade association.  For most events that I attend I know some people.  For this particular event I was a stranger in the crowd.  That changed quickly. Read More…

Posted: November 13, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement, Team Building

Are you the easy going, “don’t worry” type?  If so, you probably need to give some credit to those who surround you – particularly those of the strategist style.  It is almost painful for me to write about these folks.  They demand so much of themselves.  They are thorough, painstaking, hard-working tacticians who are very structured and instinctively good at analyzing people and solving problems. They believe in following the rules and are thoughtful and deliberate in their actions.  They evaluate everything and everyone.  A passion for accuracy is their driving force and they are particularly hard on themselves when they make mistakes.  They are usually diplomatic and communicate clearly.Read More…

Posted: October 23, 2014 | Categories: Leadership, Self-Improvement

Now it is time to explore the 3rd style of communication – the mediator.  If all the world were completely of this style, there probably wouldn’t be any wars.  I doubt that hockey or football would have ever been invented either.  Those who are of the mediator style tend to be gentle, subtle, indirect, and inclusive.  They seek to understand others and built bridges of good will.  They are well-liked and seldom “ruffle feathers”.  Rooting for the underdog comes naturally to the mediator because of their innate compassion.  They show appreciation and are creative with lots of ideas, and do so with a “laugh-at’life” sense of humor.  Unlike the “presenting” style, they are not motivated by being in the spotlight and are quite comfortable doing their work on the sidelines.Read More…

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…