Selling
Your Idea
To The Boss
Here's some advice on making the right
moves at the right time to get the boss to champion your ideas:
- Don't waste the boss's time with every
idea you have. Wait until you have something for which a compelling need exists. And be
ready to list negatives as well as positives.
- Create a trail of memos or letters
about your idea. Reason: They give you a chance to be persistent by ending each one with
something such as, "I'll check with you on this tomorrow."
- Put the benefits up front in any
proposals you write. Use numbers if possible, and be specific. Example: Don't say "We
can realize some potential savings in production costs over the next year if..."
Instead, say "Here's how we can cut production costs 20% over the next year."
- Invite the boss to contribute. If the
boss says, "It's a good idea. I'll pass it along," suggest that he or she add
some comments.
- Check the progress on your idea. Don't
push, but do it regularly. Always tell those you contact when you'll check again.
- Shepherd your idea by writing a memo
with your suggestions on how to proceed each time your idea moves ahead. Ask for a part in
implementing it, and make sure your performance gets noticed.
—Ideas That Work
The trouble with
experience is that by the time you have it you are too old to take advantage of it.
—Jimmy Conners
Five Keys To
Meeting Tough Deadlines
You can get
workers to take seriously and meet every tough deadline if you:
- Provide people with a believable sense of urgency. People need
to know that you are serious about deadlines. Use them all the time --- not unnecessarily,
but as part of a structured way of doing things.
- Explain why the deadline is so important, particularly if it's
to meet a customer's special request or to beat a competitor to the marketplace.
- Hold daily meetings to break the day into several
mini-deadlines that will help workers pace their workday.
- Offer feedback after each mini-deadline to let workers know
whether they are hitting the mark or falling short.
- Do your part by tracking progress, offering help, answering
questions and providing gentle reminders about upcoming deadlines.
By having a formalized way of handling
deadlines you can assure that work flow through your department will stay on schedule.
— Dynamic Supervision
I am only one,
but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I will not let what I cannot do interfere with
what I can do.—Edward d Everette Hale
Effective Communication
When preparing a speech, begin at
the end. Write down what you will want the audience to do as a result of having heard your
speech. Keep this perspective as you're preparing the rest of the speech. This way your
whole speech will build toward the conclusion you want.
The same approach can be useful in preparing effective memos and structuring verbal
arguments.
— Speechwriter's Newsletter
I try to take one day at a
time but sometimes several days attack me all at once.—Ashleigh Brilliant |
Free
Advice On Making
Your Life More Fulfilling
- Do one thing every day that scares you.
- Don't be reckless with other people's
hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
- Don't waste your time on jealousy.Sometimes
you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race Is long and, In the end, It's only with
yourself.
- Remember compliments you receive.
Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
- Keep your old love letters. Throw away
your old bank statements.
- Sing.
- Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do,
you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble,
and children respected their elders.
—Chicago Tribune
The one thing that unites
all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic
background, is that deep down inside, we all believe that we are above average drivers.
People who want to share their religious
views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
—Thought Starters—
Get into the habit of giving. It can be a
monetary donation, your time, or doing a favor for someone. Call on a person who is
elderly or ill. The people who receive the most in this world are the people who give the
most.
•••••
Reward yourself when you achieve a goal. It's a
way of affirming abundance and prosperity and saying, "I deserve to be treated
well."
•••••
Managing by example is the basis of a leader's
credibility. If you expect others to follow policies, you must be willing to follow them
as well. Important elements of this are: clear communication with your staff .. an
understanding that in a team effort, you too are part of the team... a willingness to set
and meet deadlines for yourself, not just for others ... visible attention to expense
control.
•••••
Enthusiasm is that kindling spark which marks
the difference between the leaders in every activity and the laggards who put in just
enough to get by.
•••••
The effective leader must have a vision of a
desired future for the company. The task of developing this vision may be shared with
other key members of the organization, but it ultimately remains the leaders core
responsibility. It cannot be delegated. The vision must begin at the top and be accepted
enthusiastically by the inner circle of top officers.
•••••
Before making an important business
presentation, ask an associate who is both smart and impartial to listen to-and
critique-it. The rehearsal will be valuable. The criticism may be even more so. Point: Ego
often deters people from seeking out criticism-but it's much better to receive it in a
practice session than on the firing line.
•••••
When you use your own business card to write
some information on the back, cross off your name and address. If you don't, you might
accidentally give away the card.
•••••
While you have your cards out, put one in the
pocket of your raincoat. That way, if you leave your coat somewhere, you'll have a very
good chance of getting it back.
•••••
Employees nearing retirement can be very
valuable training assets. They know the company and their own jobs better than anyone. Ask
them to update their operating procedures manual and help train their own replacements.
They may also play an important role as mentors to other new employees.
Question: Do old
fireflies fly around with their blinkers on?
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