Communication Success Tip

Consider personal space when you are involved in communication. Look for signals from the other person or group that indicate that you may have violated personal space or made yourself too distant. Both have the power to detract from your communication success. For further success tips and articles, subscribe to our ezine. Follow this link:

Leadership - Delegation Series - Part 3 - Building your team and members

Hello, In Part one of this series on Delegation, we looked at the Value of delegation and Preparation for Delegating and Matching the Person to the Job. Part Two covered Creating the Vision and Motivation. Now let's move on to Part 3 ... Building the Team Members Bill Gates said, “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” We need to look to the individuals in our teams. There’s an old saying that a rising tide lifts all boats. If we invest time to raise the level of each team member’s performance and feeling of self worth then it will increase the level of the team as well. This involves looking at each individual, to see what he or she could become. What are the attributes and skills that they possess, possibly without knowing it, and certainly that they do not use. Then it may be necessary to convince them that they can become the person you see within them. It may involve giving them tasks that use the skill or attribute and then pointing out how they used it to succeed. Obviously this means assigning achievable tasks, and certainly ones that do not encourage fear of failure. When we are looking at people to whom we can delegate tasks, or who could be part of the team you need, it helps to see them in a positive light - as achievers, good friends, and worthy teammates. It will make it easier to bring out the best in them, rather than thinking of them as losers, and unworthy of our time and friendship. Treat all team members differently because they are all different. Each has their own motivation, strengths and weaknesses and emotional intelligence, and will respond to different kinds of treatment. They will also bring the different skills and levels of ability that are needed in any project. Build strengths and the feeling of strength. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Building the Team If the task requires a team, then the best way to organise the team is to produce a group that, as a whole, will be stronger and more successful as a single entity than as the combined efforts of individuals. It means building individuals as we have seen above, but it also involves creating an image of the team as an entity – a valuable entity, one of which the members can be proud. Give each member the words and concepts to use, if necessary, so that they can express that value and that pride. And encourage each member to encourage, assist and praise the other members of the team. The atmosphere needs to be one of constructive assistance. If it is absolutely necessary to look at errors, or failures or matters of discontent, then they must be examined always in the light of improvement for the future. Face the future always. Constructively. The Final Part in this series will cover Building with Feedback For Workshops and Keynotes on Leadership click this link:

Speech Making Success Tip

Unless your speech is absolutely fascinating, any "pause fillers" you add repetitiously, like um, or y'know, or OK will start to stand out. They will capture the audience above your speech. Start by listening to others - sports commentators, interviewees on television, anyone speaking publicly. Listen for their fillers then you will learn to listen for your own. For practical experience and evaluation of your public speaking, visit a club:

Communication Success Tip

Everyone appreciates constructive criticism. But it is so much more palatable and therefore effective if it is couched between two layers of well-deserved praise. Further free Communication tips in our ezine. Subscribe now. Follow this link.

Leadership Delegating - Part II

Here is the second part of the series on Delegation. We covered Benefits of Delegation, Preparation and Chossing the Right People. This week, we look at Communicating the Vision and Motivation. Communicating the Vision If the project is to succeed, everyone needs to see the broader aims of the whole project and the vision involved. Information is vital, but so is communicating the enthusiasm and value of the vision. Communicate the value of the project’s success – its value to the organisation and to the people taking on the various tasks. It is also necessary to make the members feel that the vision is theirs as well, that they can contribute to it, and feed it with their own creativity, enthusiasm and hard work. Motivation Communicating the vision involves the use of positive, encouraging language. Use words like believe, confidence in abilities, success. The language needs to communicate strength and positivity both in the enthusiasm for the project and in the faith in the people involved and their ability to achieve their goals. Each person needs to be given the responsibility to achieve the task delegated to them. It will encourage them to contribute wholeheartedly to the job and its success. If the person does not want the responsibility, then perhaps it was not a good decision to delegate to them. And those who are happy to work with responsibility, will also be motivated by the knowledge that you have the faith that they can achieve the job they have been given. Expect high standards. Make sure each person has the resources and the moral support to achieve their tasks. Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing. So lead by example. Take your place on the ground floor and “at the coal face.” And if you have middle level managers, give them direct experience of the work and the workplace. The next part of this series on Delegation will cover Building your members, and your team. Access to further free articles on Communication:

Meeting Success Tip

The mover of a motion does not have to vote for it. Putting a motion on the floor is a techniqe to facilitate control of discussion and to focus the meeting on making that discussion productive. For Workshops and Keynotes on Effective Meetings:

Speech Making Success Tip

Before you start speaking, stand with your weight on the balls of your feet, not on your heels. That will give you a grounded balance which is a great base for confidence and a balanced base to support your most effective body lanugage and gestures. To practice your public speaking, polish your presentations, overcome your fear of public speaking, visit