“Given our communal attention deficit, the pressure has mounted…to be fast, funny and heartfelt as hell.” Rob Lazebnik, writer for “The Simpsons” When it comes to communication, the stakes just keep getting higher: You have to not only cut through the noise and capture attention to be heard, you have to be Liked, with a
This week is Halloween, but last week was full of terrors both large and small: A flight crashing A client rejecting a new business presentation A run in the country cut short by the accidental shot of a hunter A late night car ride with my kids ending in a wreck A headache turning out
Wouldn’t it be great if you could have more meetings? If you’re like most leaders today, your response to that question probably lies somewhere between “No” and “Absolutely not!” But hear me out… Recently, a company hired me because their people haven’t been engaged and their strategic plans haven’t been gaining traction. Year after year,
You have a service to offer, a product to sell, a cause to fundraise or a point of view to advocate. It might be worth the attention of a powerful person. But they are on airplanes and in boardrooms; they’re powerful because they don’t get easily distracted. Let’s say you get the introduction. How do
As his kindergarten classmates were selected to receive stickers for their behavior that day, my son waited with anticipation. Name after name was read. The group he sat with on the floor grew smaller and smaller. When there were just eight of them left, his heart sank as he realized it: He would not be
As the world changes more quickly and gets more competitive, and organizations restructure and retool, we work harder just to stay ahead. We get anxious and hurry, searching for the latest insights, struggling to stay relevant, fighting to protect our joy. As leaders, we feel this intense push and pull every day. And, so do
“You don’t know me but let me tell you why I’m calling.” My suspicions were instantly raised. Chris then explained he had seen me speak at an event and thought I might have contacts in his industry that would lead to a job change. He was warm and professional and quick to his request: “Could
Certain topics are considered off limits at work. In most organizations discussions of faith and religion fall into that category. One of the reasons is that many approach or experience these subjects as “causes” or “judgments” designed to make others uncomfortable and encourage them to change. However, I believe it is possible – and beneficial
Your organization is made up of human beings. That’s not a radical thought, but sometimes we forget it, even though this basic truth gives us clear signals about how to strengthen our corporate cultures. People need to feel connected to each other and to a broader whole, particularly with so much uncertainty in the world.
I’ve been thinking about our most valuable currency as leaders. It’s not something you can store in banks, lend or steal. It is, however, something you can use and accumulate in a business, whether you’re an individual, a partnership or a corporation. While general accounting principles don’t classify it as such, it is a legitimate
Matt Norman is president of Norman & Associates, which offers Dale Carnegie Training in the North Central US. Dale Carnegie Training is a global organization ...READ MORE