[To comment: larry at larry litwin dot com]
Here is Tip No. 89 from Larry Litwin’s The ABCs of Strategic Communication. Like The Public Relations Practitioner’s Playbook for (all) Strategic Communicators, The ABCs is used at two-dozen colleges and universities and has found itself on the desks of hundreds of professionals. It contains 7,000 definitions and nearly 300 proven successful strategic communication tips and techniques.
A leader, whether in or outside of the office, must be able to
understand the different types of personalities on his or her team.
Here are some tips to help strengthen professional and personal
relationships:
• Don’t criticize, condemn or complain. Avoid being negative and
offer only honest and sincere appreciation when warranted.
• Always show you’re happy to see someone. A pleasant or warm
greeting, especially after some length of time, is a particularly
effective approach.
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk more about themselves,
reaffirming your sincere interest.When you do speak,
always try to talk in terms of the other person’s interests.This is
an excellent way to redirect a conversation should you want to
move on to a different subject.
• Never forget that people are always impressed when you remember
their name.Nothing can strengthen a relationship like showing
you are interested enough in a person to recollect his or her
name. It adds an effective personal dimension to any relationship.
And saying the person’s name when you meet them is
exactly what they want to hear.
• Make the other person feel important.Use a sincere and honest
manner to establish a sense of worth and importance. Remember
that everyone has some quality or skill that makes him or her
important. When you recognize this in others, point it out in a
proactive manner – like catching them doing something good.
(From: Dale Carnegie Training of Central and Southern New Jersey)
[To comment: larry at larry litwin dot com]