Message of the Day - Bridging the Gap in Perspective

Good Morning,

 

I find it interesting when people try to share ideas with each other, and one has a solid understanding of a subject and the other people know next to nothing. Like trying to show someone how to make their first PowerPoint Presentation when they never used the program before.

 

The savvy instructor is certain it is an easy message to pass along as the software is very user friendly. Yet, those who have little knowledge of the software may see it with large horror filled eyes. All the buttons, the icons, the animation, oh my!

 

This gap in understanding, or perspective, happens in many different areas of our lives.

 

Karen and I recently had a great vacation, and on our flight home, our Captain informed us that a leak was found in one of the hydraulic components on the front landing gear hatch (some folks after reading this are already lost). He told us that we had to wait for mechanics to look at the leak and see if they can fix it, and if not, if we can get onto a different airplane, and he would update us in five minutes.

 

Five minutes later the Captain came back on the intercom and made mention to car repairs. Like when you go in for one problem, the mechanics often find more things wrong, that this was our situation too. He also mentioned that they had found two other airplanes we might be able to use, but both of those had mechanical issues as well.

 

The Captain said that the mechanics would remove the working part needed for our airplane from another airplane and thus have one working airplane instead of three non-working. He then looked down the aisle at the passengers and said: "Those of you whose eyes just became extremely large...TRUST ME...It will be okay'.

 

To the Captain's perspective, this was a routine fix, to the rest of us, we were a bit unnerved, fearing all the things that can go wrong with an airplane with problems. Enough on that.

 

Anyway, we were deplaned while the repairs were started and sat in the terminal just long enough to be told that a new, working airplane was found and quickly we were boarded and went on our way, and obviously home safely.

 

Having innate or deep knowledge in a subject and trying to share with others who do not requires us to cross a sometimes large gap in perspective.

 

Bridging that gap takes clear words and thoughts which our audience can understand and allows them to build the mental bridge between where their understanding is now, and to where you wish to bring them.

 

One of the challenges is understanding where the gap exists and working to shrink it by building on what the audience knows, not what WE think they know.

 

Prattling on about how easy PowerPoint is to use while showing feature after feature on a fancy presentation may not make the new user any more comfortable, rather may make their fears worse. I know, I recently did this.

 

A better approach, which I hope to use next time, is to start where the audience's knowledge is, by opening up a blank presentation, and starting there.

 

Bridging the gap is a lot like bridge building, and we can be successful if we know where to start building to close the gap.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

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502-533-9336

Message of the Day - The Trust - Follow Relationship

Good Morning,

People follow those who they trust.

When we trust our boss, we follow their lead more willingly. When we trust our pastor, we listen more intently to their sermons. When we trust an author or speaker, we tend to read or focus more on their message.

The more we trust, the stronger we accept what is said and what is asked of us. The less we trust, the less we are willing accept, listen to, or follow what is shared with us, or asked of us.

This seems like a simple concept, but if we think about it, we are more willing to blindly follow those who we have greater trust in, than those who we have questions. For example, when my best friend, Howard, suggests a book to me to read, it always goes on my list of books to buy or gets ordered on Amazon within a day or two. I often do not even read the book description, I just have a very high level of trust in Howard. So I just go.

When the level of trust is not there, we tend to be hesitant from just going or just doing when it is asked or suggested to us.

If we are looking to have others follow our advice or guidance, because we hope to make another's life better, or help them through a difficult situation, we will be more successful to the degree that these people trust us. If their trust in us is high, then their willingness to follow will also be high.

If people have a low level of trust in us, then they will be more likely to question what we say or more likely just ignore it and write it off for any number of reasons (often not even including trust) like 'that's just so and so', 'what does she know', etc.

When people follow our advice, when they hang on our every word, then it behooves us to honor that trust and not betray it. As once trust is lost, it takes a lot more effort and time to earn it back, if that is ever truly possible.

To build trust, we simply need to be ourselves, and follow through with what we say we are going to do, and communicate our successes, difficulties and failures with those who would follow us. Being honest and true in our words and actions, and people will be more likely to follow us.

From the first book Howard recommended to me, "How to Swim With The Sharks and be Eaten Alive" by Harvey MacKay back in 1997 to "Marketing Warfare" by Al Ries and Jack Trout in 2003, etc., each has been a powerful addition to my library of knowledge.

In the end, it is not about our name, our title or stature, it is the trust others have in us which determines how closely and how strongly others will follow us.

Enjoy!

Sanford

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net
http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg
http://learnandgrowdaily.com Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"
502-533-9336

Message of the Day - A Double Dose of Great Customer Service from Motor Vehicles!

Good Morning,

 

Last week I found out that I needed to renew the auto registrations not on one, but two of our cars due to some clerical mishap on my part. One of which was being driven by our college bound daughter and had been expired for more than a several months. Being from New York, and the lack of tolerance that State has with expired registrations, I had a great urge to get these resolved ASAP.

 

I went to the County Clerk Office by my house and was served by a very nice lady, Kirsten. She was able to help me renew my car without any issues. The other car was a lease buy out (we leased the car and then bought it when the lease expired). I had all the paperwork, and as Kristen asked for each item, I presented it.

 

She realized I did not have everything I needed (missing some signatures from Karen, my wife). She was professional in speaking with me (because you know I feel two inches tall at the moment). 

 

Instead of saying next, and sending me on my way, which is what I have come to expect from dealing with motor vehicles departments, Kirsten listed out everything I needed to do. She highlighted where documents needed to be signed and what additional information was needed.

 

She pointed out that my insurance card (the new one which shows coverage starting next month) was not good enough and that I would need the card showing the car was insured the whole time. She suggested I call my insurance agent and have them fax the necessary insurance card to their office.

 

When I mentioned that I would need to go to the downtown location with the additional paperwork because I work downtown, she then pulled out an evelope with office locations and circled the fax number for the downtown office. I thanked her and left.

 

As I got home for a quick pit stop (Did I mention that I live about 2 minutes from the county clerk's office), I got a call from Kirsten. I left my reading glasses at her desk.

 

So, I headed back and thanked Kirsten again as I picked up my glasses.

 

Later in day, as I took my lunch, I ran down to the downtown county clerk's office to finish off the paperwork and get the other car renewed. I had thoughts of my daughter being pulled over running through my head, so I needed to get it done that day.

 

I was served by Jamalia (I think that was her name) who took all the paperwork, and saw the notes from Kirsten and walked me through the rest of the processing. And just when I thought it was going to go smoothly, we ran into problems.

 

Jamalia was undaunted and meticulously went through each step of the paperwork, ensuring that everything was correct. She even apologized to me that it was taking longer than normal, when the situation was really my issue.

 

As each step of the process was completed, Jamalia told me what still needed to be done, and she then worked on that step.

 

In the end, some 30 minutes after I arrived, I had the paperwork for the other car and was amazed at the amazing service rendered by two different people in two different offices of a motor vehicles department.

 

These ladies showed a great degree of personal accountability in ensuring that I got what I needed, and when they could not resolve my issue, they helped guide me along the path to achieve my goals.

 

Kudos to Kirsten and Jamalia for their helping provide great service.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

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502-533-9336

 

Message of the Day - What Did I Learn Today?

Good Morning,

 

Each day, I spend time reading, listening to the radio, spend time emailing, chatting, and performing other electronic interactions, speaking to others, and more importantly, listening to others. I do the work assigned to me and try to keep my regular duties up to date both in the office and in my other activities. I try to fit in time for a meal here and there and some time with the family at the end of the day (it will be both morning and evening, when school starts again).

 

At the end of each day, I consider it a good day if there is at least one thing that I learned that day.

 

Beyond finding that one or more things I have learned, I try to reflect on these new bits of wisdom and knowledge.

 

When I reflect, I am thinking about what I have learned and what it means to me. I consider what can I do with it, how can I use this information to help others. I also think about how knowing this information will impact my life, if at all.

 

Sadly, a lot of what goes into my brain on a daily basis seems to march out on its own. And no, I don't think duct tape over all over my noggin will help to reduce the amount of info loss.

 

By reflecting at night, I can better visualize what I have learned and make it part of my repertoire of information. And as I do this each day, the amount of knowledge gained grows.

 

With all the knowledge that goes in I sometimes think about Johnny Mnemonic (http://artie.com/johnny.htm) and whether my head will someday explore with too much info.

 

What I have found, though, is the more I learn, the more I can know. The more I put into my brain, the more is there for me to ponder and reflect on. There may be no logical limit to what we can know.

But it all starts with learning something new each and every day, or as I like to say, Learn and Grow Daily!

 

Each day, learn, and each evening, reflect on what you learned.

 

It is a recipe for continual growth each and every day.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

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Message of the Day - Learning Leaders Lead Learning

Good Morning,

 

My current read is "Be, Know, Do. Leadership the Army Way" by Frances Hesselbein and General Eric K. Shinseki, Ret. (http://www.amazon.com/Know-Adapted-Official-Leadership-Manual/dp/0787970832) which has adapted the Army's way of Leadership for use in every day life.

 

About halfway through the book is a section on leadership where leaders are urged to focus on improving themselves, helping others improve themselves and collectively raising up a team or organization by their own bootstraps.

 

In this section is a fantastic quote by Mentoring expert, Lois Zachary (http://mentoringexpert.wordpress.com/) who has this to say about leadership and learning:

 

"In today's competitive business environment, the need for continuous learning has never been greater. At the same time, the hunger for human connection and relationship has never been more palpable. It is no surprise that mentoring has become a basic leadership competency. Leaders who do not learn and do not promote learning within their organizations often end up thwarting their own ability to lead effectively. It is the leader's responsibility to serve as a role model, to mentor the next generation of leaders, and to make sure that continuous opportunities for learning and development are provided. When leaders strengthen themselves, they simultaneously enhance their ability to strengthen others." -  Lois Zachary

 

I really don't think there is much to be added to this, if at all.

 

Leaders learn, and leaders encourage others to learn, and everyone improves, which improves the overall organization.

 

Simple, really.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com  Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"

502-533-9336

 

  

Message of the Day - The Greatest Power

Good Morning,

 

There is so much emphasis in our world and in our society in having and using power. Power over people, power of business, power over mother nature, whatever. Many people strive long and hard to build up their ability to harness and use power for the betterment of their lives or the lives of their loved ones and or organizations they work with.

 

In some of my recent reading and experiences, I noticed a greater power than that people strive for. It is power that is not used. Some may call it potential power. Having power and not using it is a far greater show of achievement and accomplishment than having power and using it, or worse, abusing it. 

 

Chuck Norris shared a story about going to a bar & grill after filming all day on location and sitting in a booth waiting for his friends. A big guy came up and gruffly demanded Chuck to leave the book because it was his. Chuck simply got up and moved to another booth. As Chuck Norris' friends arrived, the big guy kept eyeing him and then finally came over to their booth. He asked if he was the Chuck Norris, and after finding out it was, he asked 'why did you give up that booth, you could have kicked my #$3%'. Chuck smiled and said 'What would that have proved. In not using power, Chuck Norris made a friend that day.

 

Having power is not always brute force, it is also situational power. We can achieve a lot by not using the power we have. As a boss, we can work with our team instead of ordering them around. As a parent we can be loving and supportive instead of being strict and domineering. When we have information that can help others, we can share it instead of hoarding it.

 

In this sense our not using our power actually becomes a catalyst to helping others by supporting them, loving them and empowering them.

 

As we acquire power in the different aspects of our lives, we may find it hard to NOT use the power. That restraint is a true showing of our control and capabilities.

 

There are many applications of this concept, lets all look to find some way to apply it, and help us continue to learn and grow as we do.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com  Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"

502-533-9336

Message of the Day - Artful Advice

Good Morning,

 

My current read is Jeswald W. Salacuse's "The Art of Advice: How to Give it and How to Take it" (http://www.amazon.com/Art-Advice-How-Give-Take/dp/081292102X). While this book is focused to help the professional advisor and consultant, it offers a lot to the casual advisor as well.

 

Like all facets of life, we may not realize all that goes into a skill or profession. This is certainly the case with giving advice. It is a lot more than just listening to someone who has an issue and giving some feedback and suggestions. Sure most of us do this, but a seasoned and highly sought after advisor does so much more.

 

In this book, the author shares with us some principles on giving advice:

 

1. Know your client. By knowing who we are giving advice to, we can cater our advice to who they are, and what situation they are in. We may also find that we are really not qualified to give advice to certain people or in certain situations. If we find ourselves in a conversation with some Doctors talking about the latest therapy, and wondering if it will be effective or not, then chiming in to give advice when we, ourselves have little knowledge of the field would be kind of silly (and embarrassing).

 

2. Help, or at least, do no harm. That old Hippocratic oath strikes again. Most folks probably do not even think real hard about what advice they give others. That if followed or ignored, what impact the advice will have on them. Some folks just want to be the one giving the advice, no matter how inane, or worse, dangerous it really is.

 

3. Agree on Your Role. Were we even asked to give advice? Are we an advisor? If so, are we going to give advice as seasoned professional in the area the person needs help. Are we going to offer advice in a one-way diatribe, or are we going to work in a supportive role, helping by giving little nudges here and there. Think of it this way, are we like a manager giving orders, a coach who directs while supporting, or are we like a cheer leader giving support with little nudges as necessary.

 

4. Never give a solo performance. Advice is for the recipient to use, or not use, for them to learn from and grow from. Advice should not change into they who give advice are now they who do the work being suggested. Some folks are known for that. You make a suggestion to a friend or a boss and you get the task. Kind of makes it acceptable not to offer any advice in those situations...

 

5. Make the Process Clear and Constructive. Advice should be mostly positive and focus on what can be done. Telling someone about a lost opportunity or a mistake that cannot be undone is a waste of time and also demoralizing. Remember number 2. Advice should also be given in a form the recipient can understand, and in a manner which they can readily employ. Suggesting the impossible or even improbable is not going to get us invited back to give further advice.

 

6.  Keep Your Advice Pure. People often ask for advice when they are mired in a difficult situation and are having trouble being objective. The independent advisor can be that objective voice. The challenge, though, is to remain unbiased. If we have interests in the outcome of the situation we are advising for, then our advice is not pure, it is skewed to our interests. True advisors must separate themselves and suggest what they feel is best for their client, friend, etc.

 

7. Agree on the End at the Beginning. When advice is asked for, it makes sense to know if this is a one shot exercise, or if the advisor will be tapped multiple times over the course of a project or a career. Understanding this up front helps paints the picture of what the advisor is being asked to do by the person asking for advice. Knowing the start and stop of the advisory relationship helps keep everyone focused.

 

As mentioned above I was not aware of the complexities which can become part and parcel of being asked for advice. While not all interactions may need this full framework, it is helpful to see this to understand how we all can be better advisors to those who we care about.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

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502-533-9336

 

Message of the Day - With a Poor Foundation....

Good Morning,

 

In a discussion the topic of having a poor foundation came up. That thought raced through my mind and ended with me wincing in memory of my accident back in 1985. We were raising the roof of a garage. The roof was 6 feet high and we worked to raise it another 3 feet to allow the installation of garage doors. The weight of the roof sat on three spin jacks which each sat on a pile of cinder blocks. These piles where effectively the foundation for the roof as it moved slowly upward.

 

Those same cinder blocks had previously sat outside, exposed to the elements for what may have been years. They looked worn down, but the crew had confidence in their ability to take the weight. The foundation was thought to be sound. Although, just to be sure, we had a back up plan in place just in case the foundation did not hold. It was not much of a back up plan, as there was confidence in the foundation of cinder blocks.

 

As the events unfolded, one of the cinderblocks started cracking and buckling under the stress, causing the free-standing roof to start moving and ultimately collapse.

 

When the foundations of our organizations or the foundations of our beliefs encounter stresses, they too can buckle and collapse under the stress and strain. While newer cinder blocks could have kept the foundation firm, allowing our foundations to age and not be maintained pose the same problems to our beliefs and organizations.

 

It makes sense to revisit the foundations of our beliefs as well as the foundations of groups and organizations we belong to. As we make these revisits we can look at what is important to us and rekindle these foundations, make them fresh and new. 

 

We can ask ourselves if these foundations are still true for us today, or if our values or beliefs have changed. At that time, should there be changes we can move forward accordingly and avoid the messes of finding these truths when we least expect it.

 

As we move through our lives, some of our values and beliefs will change. It may be as minor as hating artichokes as a child, and loving them as an adult (Penn Station Subs has an awesome artichoke and mushroom sandwich by the way) or something as major as what religion you follow and how you interact with others. 

 

Knowing our foundational beliefs and checking on them from time to time helps sure up the core of who we are. 

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

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502-533-9336

 

  

Message of the Day - Words of Personal Responsibility

Good Morning,

 

One of my recent reads was "Who Are "They" Anyway?: A Tale of Achieving Success At Work Through Personal Accountability" by BJ Gallagher and Steve Ventura (http://www.amazon.com/Who-Are-They-Anyway-Gallagher/dp/0793188296).

 

The tale starts with our protagonist looking for who is the cause of his woes at work. The further he looks for the source, the more he finds new people who are supposedly the cause. Each time when he thinks he found 'Them', these very people, themselves, blame some other 'Them'. It is a vicious cycle.  As the tale unfolds our protagonist starts realizing that everyone, if they wanted to, could point to some mysterious 'They' who are the root of all problems. It is when he realizes that personal accountability starts with himself that he starts to realize the truth of his situation and can finally do something about it.

 

At the end of the book is a wonderful list of phrases I wish to share with you.

 

The Most Important Words in Personal Accountability:

 

The 10 most important words:

 

I won't wait for others to take the first step.

 

The 9 most important words:

 

If it is to be, it's up to me.

 

The 8 most important words:

 

If not me, who? If not now, when?

 

The 7 most important words:

 

Let me take a shot at it.

 

The 6 most important words:

 

I will not pass the buck.

 

The 5 most important words:

 

You can count on me.

 

The 4 most important words:

 

It IS my job!

 

The 3 most important words:

 

Just do it!

 

The 2 most important words:

 

I will.

 

The most important word:

 

Me

 

-------------

 

All personal accountability does come back to ourselves. It is just that simple.

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg
Sanford@berenberg.net
http://www.berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/
Follow Me on Twitter! http://twitter.com/sberenberg

http://learnandgrowdaily.com  Click here to order: "Learn And Grow Daily!"

502-533-9336