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Issue # 62: May 17, 2007
To our readers:
Theodore Roosevelt said, "The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
Some experts estimate that 15% of your financial success comes from your skills and knowledge, while 85% comes from your ability to connect with other people and engender trust and respect.
Six Tips for developing key skills using the acronym
P E O P L E:
1. P is for Problem Solving. Being good at problem solving is often a matter of looking at things from several different angles. Instead of focusing solely on your own immediate duties, practice identifying some of the roadblocks that impede the workflow in your department. Try to come up with an innovative solution or even suggest forming a process improvement team or holding a “work smarter” meeting.
2. E is for Ethics. Some qualities just can’t be easily taught. They are absorbed by observation over time. Pay attention to the way people you admire use diplomacy, courtesy, compassion, loyalty and honesty – all elements of ethical behavior – in various situations. You might even seek out a mentor. Having high ethical standards is a critical people skill.
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3. O is for Open-mindedness. Your success as an individual will be determined to a large extent by your ability to be innovative and flexible. These skills take practice. As you go about your routine, be open to new possibilities even when you believe your way is best. Don’t be afraid to offer unproven ideas. And make an extra effort to listen to others’ ideas with an open mind. Remember, we generally consider open-mindedness to be an indication of reasonableness, and close-mindedness an indication of unreasonableness.
4. P is for Persuasiveness. Communication and negotiation skills are not optional for the successful professional. All of us need to be able to present our ideas in a positive and convincing light. Practice eliminating words like “no,” “can’t,” and “won’t” from your vocabulary, as these words lead listeners away from a point of view rather than toward one. Attempt to make all statements from a positive point of view.
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5. L is for Leadership. Build your leadership skills by volunteering to head up a project, or pull together a departmental or company-wide event, or lead a process improvement team within your department. Remember, your department “doesn’t have to be sick to get better,” and every group or team has room for improvement. In each of these endeavors you will learn about accountability, process management, and motivating others. You will probably sharpen your verbal presentation skills as well.
6. E is for Education. Your education is never complete. Embrace the concept of lifelong learning. Set clear learning objectives to fill the gaps in your formal education and experience. Books, articles, workshops, and conferences are just a few of the options available to support your learning and development.
It’s always a good time to consider how to improve your people skills. Our facilitated discussions assist your staff in keeping people-skills behaviors top-of-mind. For information contact Kirk Miller at 404/299-1480 or e-mail him using the "contact us" button on the menu.
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