Become Master Communicators

There are good communicators. And then there are amazing, outstanding, powerful communicators who will have you on the edge of your seat with their riveting delivery. But what makes the difference between a decent communicator and someone who will instill awe in the people they interact with?

There are several, sometimes subtle habits that master communicators have truly understood and leverage on a regular basis.

 

If you’re looking to elevate your own communication skills, adopting these habits will help you get to the next level. But it’s important to remember to be authentic and not try to be someone you’re not — it’s not about emulation but learning how to unleash your own strengths and style.

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned strategies, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive your Free download of my book by Clicking this Link

 

The tendency to lean in a particular direction is heavily influenced by personality type and this fact alone is often overlooked. When in doubt or ignorant about your communication style it’s easy to overcompensate or adopt a style that doesn’t suit you. The best communicators are comfortable in who they are and their personalities. They are able to authentically connect with their audience because they have first authentically connected with themself. However, if you’re ready to crush it while also staying true to yourself, here are a few pointers to level up your own communication game. 

Leverage your personal experience - There is a reason people say what is most personal is most universal. It turns out that your past experiences that don’t seem immediately relevant or some of the insights you learned the hard way can end up being your edge when transmitting the information. 

Continuously honing your craft and providing value - Master communicators love analyzing their communication habits, strengths, and areas of improvement. Some good communicators enjoy hearing themselves talk. But outstanding communicators transcend their own experience to focus on the experience of the audience they are addressing. They have a value-first mindset. 

Master communicators are amazing listeners - Here’s a secret about the best communicators: They sometimes spend more time listening than talking — and that’s what makes them excel when they do speak. In order to talk about things that are of the utmost importance to others, they have to first be able to form those thoughts. Those thoughts can come from spending adequate time receiving information from others, thinking deeply and being able to see what others are missing. 

So, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing you don’t need to try to be like the very topmost expert communicators to nail your next presentation and you can forge your own path to create value and earn the respect of your clients and peers.

 

Time-Management tips for your Workplace

Time is our most precious resource. And whether you’re a high-powered executive or just starting your career as an intern, it doesn’t discriminate: We all have 24 hours in a day!

But, when the temperatures get warmer and the A/C is blasting in the office, those 24 hours all of a sudden seem even shorter. Even as a dedicated professional, you might find yourself longingly looking at the clock while trying to power through your tasks as fast as possible so you can head out and dive into the non-working half of your life.

 

The good thing is that depending on how you manage your resources, you can manipulate time and get the most of your working hours — and enjoy life outside of work to the fullest as well. Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. 

To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Get your Free download of my book by Clicking this Link

 

So, before you dive in and enthusiastically adopt a new workflow, it’s important to embrace a couple of important mindset shifts.

 

First and foremost, you need to switch your thinking from time spent to results achieved. The most effective time-management tactics are about improving efficiencies and maximizing the impact of every minute spent — not all tasks and activities are even and every working hour is precious.

 

Keeping results at the forefront of your mind will help you get the most of any productivity method. Set the 80/20 rule which  states that 80 percent of results tend to be caused by 20 percent of efforts. Think of your most important project and its most crucial deliverables and outcomes. Are you spending most of your time on activities that move the needle towards the successful completion of that project? Or do you regularly get caught up in things like attending meetings with unclear agendas or answering emails?

 

Next, you must be willing to be real with yourself when it comes to the way you currently spend your time. Are you stuck in a spiral of over-commitment because you’re afraid of saying no? Do you tend to procrastinate or are you a multitasking addict? Assessing the present with honesty and humility is the first step towards building a schedule that allows for more freedom. 

Try time-blocking which is about dividing your calendar into blocks allocated to specific sets of activities. If you’ve got a lot on your plate, you can fight off that feeling of overwhelm by planning in advance how you want to split up your various activities throughout the week.

 

So, as long as you regularly check in with yourself and your productivity levels and are willing to focus on working smarter instead of harder, time management should be a piece of cake to enjoy (watch the calories though!).

New Face of Business during this Pandemic

If anything, maybe you too are getting tired of hearing the term ‘new normal.’ While many people took the pandemic day-by-day for a while, waiting for life as we knew it to circle back, the reality is we’re starting the third quarter of the year already. As many offices come up with contingency and re-opening plans, professionals reimagine job applying and interviewing via Zoom, and everyone adjusts to life through a COVID lens, it’s vital to accept that many aspects of conducting business may be impacted for the foreseeable future. Take, for instance, the handshake. Considering it’s not recommended to go within six feet of another human, greeting someone this way isn’t safe either.

So how will we network? What should be the business greeting for now? How can companies attract new business during this pandemic? There are some old and new truths that need to be embraced during this ‘new normal’ (that term again!).

Bowing and nodding could be the new handshake – try using symbolic gestures or mindfulness practices to replace the old handshake. One idea could be bowing, nodding or hand movements that are commonly used in yoga. If you’re familiar with conducting business in Asia, you know that bowing is already considered a way to illustrate respect, so carrying this custom to the west is an easy way to cross borders. Another option may be placing your hand over your heart as a way to say ‘hello’ when meeting a colleague from afar. While these shifts may feel strange to those accustomed to more traditional business environments, we have already seen how quickly social customs can change under challenging circumstances.

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned strategies, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive your Free download of my book by Clicking this Link

Video conferencing and networking on the rise - before 2020, video conferencing wasn’t widely used across all industries. But this year has made this skill that much more imperative. Even once we are able to congregate in person again, video is here to stay. Part of this is due to the versatility that it offers: connecting with your current employees in a personal way, screening possible candidates for opportunities without putting them at risk, or in the future, without requiring them to commute in, and so on. Pre-pandemic, did you frequently have lunch dates with friends? Or check-ins with mentors over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee? Those small touchpoints may not have seemed significant, but they challenged you to remain relevant within your field, and they still matter now but adapting those to not-in-person connections.

Having an online presence will become truly vital - your LinkedIn and online portfolio are in significant need of an update if you intend to land a job during this unpredictable time. Maintaining a substantial online presence will be important as people look for ways to validate who you are. For business professionals and Entrepreneurs, one should think of a few professional contacts who share similar interests and challenges and would be willing to show up regularly and set up a monthly catch-up with that group to share ideas and best practices for current times and network smartly.

Attention to Details as a Job Skill

 

If you’re in the job market, chances are you’ve come across plenty of job descriptions where the requirements say something like, “must have attention to detail,” or some iteration of that phrase. Some of you might even have this desirable quality listed as a punchy bullet point on your resume.
 
Attention to detail continues to top the list for desirable qualifications because it clearly sets up expectations on both sides. You know what a prospective employer wants, and said employer also knows what you can bring to the table. Employees who have exceptional attention to detail, frequently require less supervision, and they don’t tend to make costly mistakes.  
 
Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link
 
According to experts, poor attention to detail not only impacts the individual but the organization as well. We live and work in a world where change and innovation are happening at a pace never before seen. It is easy to get sloppy when a lot is being thrown at you and where you are expected to make speedy decisions.
 
The result of not focusing enough attention on the details can be devastating professionally, and they will also have an impact on the company you work for. If “attention to detail” falls into your “weaknesses category”, and you skip over certain job descriptions for that reason, there are things you can do to improve it.
 
Get Organized 
 
Whether it’s your calendar, your emails, or even your desk, one of the first steps to sharpening your attention to detail is to get organized. Knowing what’s on your calendar for the week ahead will ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines or meetings. Moreover, managing your inbox and clearing out digital clutter will allow you to prioritize what’s important. 
 

Make Lists 

This may sound like a cliché, no brainer because everyone does it — but that’s probably because it works. The good news is, it’s as easy as it sounds. Make a list of what you need to accomplish and check each item off as you complete it. And don’t think this is an amateur move. Everyone (even surgeons and pilots) needs a list, a well-designed checklist will lead to better outcomes.

Focus – Don’t Try To Multitask 

Attention is a finite internal resource, and research tells us time and again that multitasking is a myth and we’re not really good at it. While multitasking is often glorified, the truth is it splits our focus and diminishes our attention to detail. To maintain your focus, refer to your list (remember) and focus on one task at a time. 

5 Skills to Impress Potential Employers

With the current economic climate, job markets become scrambled – unemployment is higher and competition is even more fierce. Because of this current state, the dynamics of hiring have also shifted.

As you look for a new job, you have to pivot in order to adapt to the current economic and job climate.

That said, here are the top 5 skills that you should have to impress any potential employer:

1. Communication Skills

One of the skills to put on your resume is communication skills. In any kind of job, communication is of utmost importance. Employers are always on the lookout for people with strong communication skills, both external and internal. Representation of the company, which refers to external communication, will depend on how employees communicate during presentations, meetings, emails, calls, and other correspondence.

Internal communication skills are equally important. You need employees who can clearly explain their point of view in a very articulate, professional, and concise way.

Employers are also looking for people who can clearly convey ideas into words. This will involve synthesizing data and translating it into layman’s terms. You can easily show off this skill by writing a good cover letter and speaking well in an interview.

2. Graphic Design

With everyone on social media, employees who have a knack in creativity and graphic design, such as having the skills in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Gimp are all well-received skills that employers will be impressed with. This will come in handy if your company needs to create some social media posts.

This will also be very important when it comes to advertising and marketing.

3. Leadership

Leadership skills come in short supply. Leadership is a skill that comes naturally for some people, and employers look for that. That’s why when employers sniff this out of you, you’ll easily stand out.

Leadership skills include teaching, coaching, supervising, and motivating the people you work with. The ability to motivate people towards a common goal is a skill that employers are very impressed with. So, if you have experience in leading a team or a project, then you should add those into your resume and mention it during your interviews.

4. Confidence

Confidence is also key to have your employer swept away by you. You need to find that balance between not being too arrogant while exuding confidence. If you don’t have confidence in yourself, how can an employer put their confidence in you?

Employers need to see that you’re aware of the fact that you have something to offer on the table. Otherwise, why should they even get you? Candidates with confidence in themselves are usually looked upon with awe by employers.

You can impress any employer with these credentials and skills. In the competitive scape of the job market, impressing employers with these key skills will be your way into your dream job. And if you don’t have these skills yet, it’s never too late to start learning them.

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link

5. Resilience

What’s the use of all these skills if an employee didn’t build up resilience? Hence, another skill that’ll make you stand out in the eyes of an employer is your appetite for resilience.

Employers will look for people who have overcome problems and coped with changes gracefully. Employers usually assess this through your experience and during the interview. Don’t be afraid to talk about your hardships and how you overcame them because these are things that’ll also make you stand out to any employer.

Sacrifices needed to have a Better Future

This is one of the most difficult things to give up because it is so deeply embedded in our cultural narratives that it becomes the standard by which we measure our lives. Even as entrepreneurs we have collectively agreed that fame and fortune are the markers of success. 

But, giving up other people’s definition of success is incredibly liberating and ultimately leads to the fullest expression of who you are and what matters to you. It’s not a one-time thing. It’s a daily habit of comparing less and creating more. “Success” doesn’t just mean what the larger mob of society says it means: lots of money, fame, and fortune. Many people with fame, fortune, and money have terribly empty, imbalanced lives. 

Your success isn’t defined by what other people say. 

No one can define your success but you. If you continue to let others tell you what success is, you’ll never reach it. 

“The most successful people I know are not busy. They’re focused.” - Jeff Goins, best-selling author 

How you spend your days is how you spend your life. 

A lot of people love being “busy.” They wear it as a badge of honor. When you ask them how they’ve been, what’s the response? “I’m so busy,” they lament.  

But it’s a subtle brag. They like the feeling. But when you’re busy, you don’t really do anything — just because your calendar is full of meetings, appointments, and commutes doesn’t mean you’re actually making any progress towards your true goals.

Oftentimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link 

Reinvesting your free time is one of the most important ingredients to your success. 

If you’re working a full-time job, with a commute and family and bills, you don’t have a lot of free time. If you’re like most people, the precious little free time you do have is spent on entertainment and distraction, not learning, and growing. 

This is low-level thinking, and it will lead you to a, frankly, low-level life. 

But true success requires sacrifice. A common misconception many of those sleep-when-you’re-dead hustle-entrepreneurs claim is that you need be working all the time. 

The truth is you need to work your butt off — for a time. After you’ve spent the time creating your life, you can sit back and enjoy the work you’ve done. 

5 simple tactics to adapt businesses for Social distancing

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has created uncertain times for just about everyone, including business owners. People are getting a lot of information from a lot of different places, but ‘social distancing’ is one recommendation that just about everybody seems to agree on to help slow the spread of the virus.

The goal is to slow the spread of the disease, “flattening the curve” to give healthcare organizations a better chance of providing care to all the people who need it.

I have dedicated my career to resolving many challenges facing entrepreneurs and business owners during trying times such as these and many others.

Sometimes, when you try to implement some of the mentioned elements, you may run into challenges. To resolve this very issue, I wrote my book "The Breakthrough Accelerator - Resolve your Biggest Challenge in 4 weeks"- Receive a Free download of this book by Clicking this Link

Whether you’re a small services business like an accounting or consulting firm, a high-traffic business like a financial institution or an entrepreneur of an independent business, here are 5 important actions that you can consider to help keep you, your customers, and the community at large safer while practicing ‘social distancing’ in your business.

First, arm your customers and employees with more information. The CDC offers a number of printable factsheets you can display at your place of business, informing people about the need for social distancing and how diseases like COVID-19 are transmitted.

Second, Physical contact is the fastest and most common way for viruses to spread. Do what you can to limit physical contact between people at your location. Do not shake hands. Do not hug. Find another way to greet people that involves no direct contact – do the cross-arm bump or greet with a Big smile! Everyone understands.

Third, Replace in-person meets to meetings virtually. In most cases, it’s not too difficult to replace a simple meeting with a video conference or a conference call. Pick a platform that will suit your meeting needs. If it’s a small committee meeting, Google Hangouts will fit the bill. If you need to host a webinar or large meeting, try Microsoft Teams Live Events or Zoom meetings.

Fourth, allow remote work and transition to a remote work setup, if possible. If any of your employees can do their jobs from home, let them work from home. The need for many businesses to operate as dispersed teams also presents an opportunity to go paperless. You don’t have to go into the office for a form or report if you can access it remotely.

Fifth, enable flexible scheduling. For employees who must be physically present, consider staggering your work schedules. This way, you can have a smaller number of employees present at your location at any given time.