A Master Communicator Influenced This New Book 33 years later →

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A Master Communicator Influenced This New Book 33 Years Later Article originally posted on Brent Jones’s LinkedIn Newsletter

Brent M. Jones Published Author, Writer, Speaker, Career Development Advisor, Consultant, and Experienced Business Executive June 19, 2023

It has been 33 years since the day I sat by Stephen Covey, preparing to speak ahead of him. I just completed a new book, Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language, and that experience and some thoughts about it served as chapter one.

Seeing how Covey’s The 7 Habits book is doing now impresses me as an author. Back in 1990, it had just come out. I had read it several times, and my path had crossed Mr. Covey before, but look at his Amazon Book Stats.

• Best Sellers Rank: (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)

• #7 in Motivational Business Management

• #7 in Personal Success in Business

• #11 in Business Leadership

• Customer Reviews: 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars

•     11,822 ratings

  
  

  Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language

  Chapter 1: Listening to a Master Communicator

    I learned some valuable lessons about effective communication firsthand from a master communicator. I had the privilege of speaking at the same event as Stephen R. Covey and sitting next to him in the speaker area one Sunday in 1990. He was a guest speaker at a church meeting where I also was assigned to speak. 

Stephen Covey was in every way a master communicator and a renowned author. He was named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential Americans in 1996, and his book, which had just come out, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," has so far sold over 40 million copies worldwide since its first publication in April 1989

The experience taught me how a speaker can capture an audience's attention and what makes communication more powerful through the speaker's skills.

Covey was different in front of an audience than privately. We visited before the meeting started and while sitting together. I knew several people who worked with him who had said that the speaker and the everyday man were very different men. It seemed to me visiting with him that he was exciting and indeed a good man, but besides his relaxed presence and bald head, he didn't stand out. Our conversation was low-key and casual.

When he stood up to speak, everything changed. He was charismatic and purposeful, and every eye was on him. His messages demonstrated his deep understanding of people and an incredible memory of recalling relevant details often sparked by his surroundings. He spoke without notes and found powerful words to deliver his message and, when needed, instant recall from long past events. The day I spoke with him, he didn't use a slide deck (a collection of slides used as visual aids during a pitch or presentation). He did many business presentations and often had hundreds he could have brought up to a screen and seemed to know each one by number, calling the needed slide up by number.

Over the years, I have asked others who knew him what made him so charismatic. Some felt that his bald head made him stand out, drawing attention to him, while others believed that his use of power-packed words, incorporating data into his speech, and speaking spontaneously without notes was unique. Many have commented on how well-dressed he always was when speaking. The audience didn't take their eyes off him when he said or was in the room. He seemed to be

Covey's message to the young adults in the audience that day was inspiring. He knew his audience, spoke their language using powerful words, and delivered his message using familiar church-based terms. Covey understood their goals and talked to them, not just at them. His body language was fascinating, and he stood in a calm, relaxed, and reverent manner while moving his head and arms like a symphony conductor bringing relevance to his words. He spoke without notes maintaining eye contact with his audience. His credibility made Covey stand out, evident from his effort to learn and understand what he presented to young adults. It was indeed a masterful message.

As a skilled master communicator, Covey could adapt his style to different audiences. He spoke using the terms of this audience's faith and the setting they were in. In his book, he said, "Becoming a good communicator requires behaving and thinking in a certain way." He demonstrated this thought that day showing clearly that he could adapt to find what the audience was listening for.

For my book, just released in ebook and paperback, the product description is:

This book will equip readers with the essential toolkit for becoming a Wordsmith. With the right words, readers can communicate effectively and express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas with clarity and precision. Inside, readers will find a comprehensive guide to understanding communication, effective communication, and how to improve communication skills.

The benefits of reading this book include:

- Unlocking the power of influential communication to establish meaningful connections

- Discovering the right words to make a lasting impression

- Transforming your life with the right language

Inside, readers will find:

- Step-by-step instructions on how to become a Wordsmith

- Industry-specific terminology, search engine optimization, demographic analysis, and situational analysis

- Tips and tricks for effective communication

You can buy a copy of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People on Amazon - Link to: amzn.to/3Nf6s3Y

Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language can be found by using the link: amzn.to/42I4Fdi

The Primary Function of Nonverbal Communication is to Convey Meaning →

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   The title of this article is also the title of Chapter 10 in my new book, soon to be released, “Mastering the Art of Communication: The Power of Precision in Language.”

    The chapter begins: A primary function of nonverbal communication is to convey meaning by reinforcing, substituting for, or contradicting verbal communication. Nonverbal communication is also used to influence others and regulate conversational flow.

    Your nonverbal communication cues—how you listen, look, move, and react—tell the person you're communicating with whether you care if you're being truthful and how well you're listening. Your nonverbal signals match your words and increase trust, clarity, and rapport.

We use nonverbal communication to:

•         To Convey Meaning and Provide Information. ...

•         To Regulate Interactions.

•         To Express Our Identities.

•         To Indicate Relational Standing.

    People use this type of communication to:

•         Contradicts verbal messages

•         Reinforces or emphasizes the verbal message

•         Regulate the flow of verbal communication

•         Complements their verbal messages

•         Substitute for their spoken words

    Nonverbal communication is a crucial aspect of human interaction. It involves using body language, gestures, facial expressions, and other nonverbal cues to convey emotions, attitudes, and intentions.

  Professor Mehrabian Albert Mehrabian, Ph.D. well known for his studies in nonverbal communication. He believes there are three core elements in the effective face-to-face communication of emotions or attitudes: nonverbal behavior (facial expressions, for example), tone of voice, and the literal meaning of the spoken word. These three essential elements, Mehrabian argues, account for how we convey our liking or disliking of another person. His particular focus is on the importance of such nonverbal ‘clues’ when they appear to conflict with the words used and the tone in which they are spoken. Mehrabian developed his early theories on this subject during the 1960s. Drawing on the findings of two experiments he conducted in 1967, he formulated the 7-38-55% communication rule.

Professor Mehrabian's findings as typically cited or applied:

•         7% of messages about feelings and attitudes are in spoken words.

•         38% of messages about feelings and attitudes are paralinguistic (how words are said).

•         55% of messages about feelings and attitudes are in facial expressions.

   The Professor’s studies did not account for the profound changes in communication since the 1960s and assumed some things that likely changed the outcome.

   For example, when he used test subjects, he had a speaker present a word, but he wasn’t asking about the words at all from those in the test, but rather the speaker’s intent. When asked that, the audience responded that it decoded the intent behind the speaker’s words from visual clues 55 % of the time and from the tone of voice 38 % of the time. Only 7 % of the time did the audience go to the actual words.

   The words we use are less important than our feelings and attitudes about the words and, generally, when we present them. It is also clear that body language, especially eye contact and facial expressions, are far more influential than words.

Body language offers the speaker and the audience a great deal of insight into how words are received. The speaker also uses body language demonstrated by the audience to judge and moderate the impact they are making.

Your body language is directly related to your mind; according to Dale Carnegie, well known for his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, and a renowned professor at Harvard University, stated that our body language not only impacts others but has a tremendous impact on our behavior.

Nonverbal language is the most honest form of communication because the body rarely lies. People will first believe the nonverbal when you say one thing and do another (when your verbal and nonverbal language is not aligned)

Posted on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/primary-function-nonverbal-communication-convey-meaning-jones

Is saying that soft skills are underestimated really an employment trend?

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When you hear about “Upskilling” what they are saying is more than soft skills are needed. That new hard skills are felt to be necessary in todays evolving job markets?

Are they really more important than polishing and using your soft skills. That has been the push in recent years. The implication is that with economic uncertainty on the horizon, upskilling opportunities for the workforce will become a prominent retention strategy, demonstrating an organization’s desire to drive employee growth and development.

Organizations today have picked up on employee’s desire for continuous learning, and push to offer learning and development programs set in place.

Employers want to attract the best talent and many now believe that to do that a potential employee would be wise to cover any skill gaps that may have. The result is offering the opportunity to job seekers and employees to develop or learn new skills is a solution.

Technical skills constantly change, but soft skills remain with you throughout your career. That's because they are relevant, transferable and keep an individual highly employable.

Soft skills sets top leaders apart. Interpersonal communication, decision-making, time management and collaboration are all soft skills for employees and job seekers alike.

More News about Soft Skills

LinkedIn's Global Talent Trends report found that 92 percent of hiring professionals say soft skills matter as much or more than hard skills

Is Zillennial a real thing? Put simply, Zillennials are a micro-generation that sits in between Millennials and Generation Z. Ketchum Inc. defines GenZennials as those born from 1992 to 2000.

Power skills are soft skills rebranded as people skills and they're a top asset in today's workplace. If you want successful managers and leaders, you need them to have power skills. Power skills include traits such as emotional intelligence, integrity, empathy, communication, and more

Are Soft Skills Important? According to the Society of Human Resource Management's (SHRM) 2021-22 State of the Workplace report, 77% of HR professionals said that improving employees' soft skills was key to their organisations' future plans.

Why Millennials Lack Soft Skills. Because Millennials are so proficient and reliant on technology, many of them haven't properly developed other skills apart from working on digital device

The Secret to Networking and the Informational Networking Revealed →

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I have written two books about Networking, and both used up space explaining the “informational interview.” In some ways, it is a surprise how these terms are just accepted, even in some cases understood, but so infrequently ignored when they would help.

This isn’t just for job seekers. It is what we do. You’re a lawyer with a big case but must understand what the other side thinks. You are a salesperson, and you need to understand who the real competition is and what they have. All your buddies at the hangout seem to have changed their attitude about you, and you don’t know why? Here it comes, the secret solution. Go ask. Of course, in some cases, you need to know who to ask.

Many years ago, going into sales and selling food to restaurants, I needed to know what they were buying. The easy solution I used then was to look in their garbage can. In some cases, it even told me who the competitors were.

Networking will likely take you places you never expected. Yes, garbage cans, but you will find meaningful connections everywhere. You know someone who knows someone. Remember, six degrees of separation is the idea that all people are six or fewer social connections away from each other. As a result, a chain of "friends of friends” can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. This is also known as the “six handshakes rule.” In March 2023, I published “Networking With a Purpose The Informational Interview, Its Use, and Why it is a Valuable Tool.” The introduction page states:

“In the following pages, I explain the purpose of informational interviews, their benefits, and the strategies to build a network efficiently. Here you will find a step-by-step guide, including a list of sample questions to ask to feel confident embarking on this critical process in your journey. Rest assured, the skills and strategies detailed in this book will serve you long after they land you that coveted job (or answers about your lawsuit or competition) as a powerful weapon for long-term success.

Did I hear someone say, “Gosh, Brent, is that why you wrote this article today to sell your book” Of course not. (Amazon link amzn.to/3T50llg )

Career Change Considerations: Active - Passive Search, Loyalty, and Needed Research

This article is also included in CEM LinkedIn Articles Section as well as on LinkedIn on my newsletter site

Why do passive job seekers have an advantage over companies looking to hire? Fear of making a hiring mistake is the driving force behind this practice. It leads to some employers judging job applicants by their employment status, although it has nothing to do with their talent or ability. It seems clear that part of what drives this fear is that the hiring manager do not trust their own instincts

Good jobs are often filled by the HR department or a recruiter asking someone employed if they would consider a change or finding a candidate that looks like a great match on LinkedIn and even though they are employed reaching out to them to consider the job. (Strong hint here, keep your profile current)

The employer assumes in these cases that don’t need to worry about why the candidate really left their last job and that the person must have value since they have a job. The employer puts themselves in a postion of a buyer. They may overpay and find that they didn’t have all the facts they needed. A potential employee is in the position of a seller where they hae to present their case. They still make the decision on whether to take the job but they also have to present the reasons why they should get the job and in the case of a company approaching a currently employed person they have already taken the first step in the “buying” process.

These folks are called "passive candidates." They aren't even candidates for a job until someone from the employer reaches them out of the blue.

Why would any employer prefer someone a recruiter finds on LinkedIn -- someone who may never have heard of your company -- to someone who has invested time and energy in reaching out to you to inquire about employment?

These issues bring the subject of loyalty into some focus. Will the employee a company steals or entices to leave their current employer be loyal to them? Would a potential employee who research the market and determined that his best fit might be with a particular company be more loyal to that company because of the work it took in finding that job?

Does hiring ethics belong in this discussion? I am reminded of a friend who told me how he was hired away from another company around 1950. He was working for a company that sold to stores in San Francisco. He was well known and the bigger competitor had been impressed by his work. Things changed for him at his company and he approached the main competitor and was taken to the President of the company in his interview. My friend had taken a lot of their business and it was obivos that he would be a valuable new hire. The President saw it that way and hired my friend but under a special condition. The new hire was not allowed to call on any accounts, not just his own but any accounts in the area for one year, and was required to work in the warehouse. The reason was that the hiring company did not want to take advantage of their competitor. Non-compete clauses were not used at that time in this area and field but company ethics, when practiced, were all that was needed. My friend stayed loyal to this company and their President throughout his career from that point forward.

Work Matters, and Volunteers Matter, but the Benefits and Motivations will often Vary.

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All work matters, but it isn't just the work itself that matters; all who contribute to it matter. All sides gain.

Volunteers do some work, but for most work, those doing the work are paid. Participants learn new skills, meet new contacts, and help get things done in both cases. Sometimes volunteers get things done that paid workers might not have done. With these benefits, you would expect a long line of volunteers from those out of work.

It is usually unknown who will be showing up to volunteer on a project, and those doing the work also often meet new people from various life backgrounds. Your connections with coworkers, suppliers, recipients, and organizations can make a difference to you long after the work is done.

Those receiving the benefit of the work done are lifted, improving their lives. Volunteering, working side by side with others, connect you to other human beings. When you volunteer, you are making connections. Paid for your time or not, always do your best in your work. It matters.

When you know, you have made a difference; you feel better about yourself. Therefore, taking pride in your volunteer work and doing your best work is essential.

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it

This quote is by bestselling author Charles Swindoll. Another similar thought is from a Japanese proverb:

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

We must react positively to falling by returning up, even if it means falling again.

It is what is inside us that motivates us and keeps us going →

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Starting at about four, my mother would have me kneel at my bedside and say my prayers. The importance of that part of my life story has changed over the years, and I see it differently. I value this experience, and I am grateful for it.

The early assumption that God was listening and that taking problems to him would be helpful has been a comfort, even without confirmation of having been heard at times. This sentiment is summed up well in a quote by C. S. Lewis: “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties.”

Others have shared how they were taught similar lessons at a very young age by saying a prayer many are familiar with: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” I have thought about this often: If a person dies and his soul is taken, what is the soul, and what exactly is taken?

 If the soul is eternal and lives on when the body dies, it must be made of different materials. If that substance is spiritual, then where does it reside within our living bodies? Is it separate or part of our living flesh?

Some have referred to the soul as the seat or location of our character and emotions. It is sometimes explained as the spirit within a person and the person’s mental abilities, personality, feelings, memories, perception, thinking, and even skills. Wherever our soul goes, if our particular skills are needed, perhaps our work ethic learned in obtaining those skills is part of the package.

Whatever it is that will go with me, if I die before I wake, I want to understand as much about everything as possible and make sure my knowledge is worth taking along.

Louis Armstrong once said, “Musicians don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them,” and “What we play is life.” What, then, is that music if you are not a musician? How did that music, or that passion, get to be inside us?

Armstrong is saying that music is a part of his work ethic and life and is needed to exist. This leaves the question of what our music might be and how we keep from losing it. I conclude that my “music - passion” and what makes me feel alive are family, reading, writing, and service, but these items have evolved g and changed as I look back over my life story.

Music can be a connection between our physical selves and our very souls. We feel the music. It reflects our hearts. Music with scriptures are hymns, and we worship through hymns. The feelings of our hearts are conveyed in prayer with music.

Our bodies and faces reflect the images of happiness and sadness. Music and singing open up those feelings. Sometimes we sing for what we long for, using music to help us get by without the necessary things.

What do we long for? What do we have a passion for? Love and kindness are passions that can focus on us and drive our actions. We lose ourselves in those feelings; for some, opportunities for service to others reflect their hearts. When applicable passions fill our minds, we have a little place to worry about ourselves.

For each of us, what we play, rather than music, can be whatever we love. It can be anything we choose, but we need to feel passionate about it. If you’re lucky enough to love knowledge, learning, or service, then you are indeed blessed. That, like the music for Louis, never stops being an option.

Intellectual arrogance can blind an otherwise intelligent person to recognizing the truth →

Intellectual arrogance is a set of characteristics that tends to blind an otherwise intelligent person from recognizing the truth. Intellectual humility is “the recognition that the things you believe in might be wrong,” A benefit of intellectual humility is the recognition that one's perspective will always be limited. This recognition leaves a person well-positioned to learn as much as possible from peers and subordinates.

Examples of intellectual humility

I question my opinions, positions, and viewpoints because they could be wrong. I reconsider my thoughts when presented with new evidence. I recognize the value in views that are different from my own. I accept that my beliefs and attitudes may be wrong.

These thoughts were presented in Inc Magazine’s article: “Warren Buffett: Only 1 Thing Will Hold You Back From Achieving Great Things in Life.”

Buffett discusses the one bad habit to pay close attention to that could become self-destructive in the long run. He adds that not becoming aware of this bad habit, “intellectual arrogance,” and doing something to rid yourself of it may hold you back.

The need to show people that you think you're smarter than they are is one way to derail yourself from building solid bonds.

To counter the effects of intellectual arrogance, the most intelligent people stretch their knowledge by being open to soaking up the philosophical wisdom of others. In other words, being clever without arrogance means acknowledging that you don't know everything. Then seek knowledge from those who may know more than you do.

Because, let's face it, if you're the most intelligent person in the room, you're in the wrong room.”

What to Read Next and Why?

The question of what to read next comes up over and over throughout our lives. Some offer answers but don’t explain why their choices should be of value to us—so understanding the why is the more complex question.

A successful fiction and fantasy writer, Neil Gaiman doesn’t hesitate to suggest an answer and offer a why; he said, “Fiction is the gateway drug to reading.”

He added that fiction drives us to want to know what happens next, and it becomes exciting and satisfies the excitement as we turn the pages.

When we read fiction, it increases our imagination and results in our finding something new of interest. The new things we find may lead us in a direction such as science, history, or art. So we could look for a biography of a person with an area of similar interest to our own.

Often the path to the next book, or even choosing one to re-read, is built on past choices. Years ago, I watched the movie “Apocalypse Now.” That led me to reread Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” set in Africa with the same basic plot. The book was considered one of Conrad’s best. 

Some criticized Conrad’s book for having a white man’s perspective on life in Africa. I wanted to find another view.  I wondered if there were good African writers that I could read. At that point in my life, I had never looked for African writers. I looked and found many good ones who were respected for their work. I found several authors of interest.  At the time, Chinua Achebe emerged as a well-known African author for his book “Things Fall Apart.”

It seemed to be the perfect “other point of view” I was looking for. This book is indeed something that should be read by anyone who reads “Heart of Darkness” and wonder if they have seen Africa correctly.

The question is still what to read but answering the why is easier. Reading is good for you because it improves your focus, memory, empathy, and communication skills. It can reduce stress, improve your mental health, and help you live longer. Reading also allows you to learn new things to help you succeed in your work and relationships.

Proactive Management is a Leadership Style that Emphasizes Strategic Planning and Risk Management →

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Proactive management is a leadership style that emphasizes strategic planning and risk management rather than taking a reactive approach to situations and business goals.

“If you're proactive, you focus on preparing. If you're reactive, you end up focusing on repairing.” - Quote by John C. Maxwell

Proactive management can be applied to any industry through leadership that emphasizes planning and forward-thinking by seeking out new opportunities for the company and dealing with any threats or problems before they even emerge.

An article in the Journal of Business and Psychology Vol. 29, No. 1 (March 2014) by Diane M. Bergeron, Tiffany D. Schroeder, and Hector A. Martinez titled “Proactive Personality at Work: Seeing More to Do and Doing More?” states:

“that a “proactive personality is a stable personality related to taking personal initiative and behaving proactively.”

Proactive people don't see challenges as having the final say, as they keep their focus on solutions. As a result of early action, they typically have confidence as they face the future. This gives them a sense of calm about the future and composure when facing obstacles

Finding Inspiration Involves Taking Action That Then Leads to Inspiration →

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Many wait for inspiration to act, but it won’t come because it is the other way around. Action triggers ideas that lead to inspiration. Start with something in your emotional periphery and take the first step. Make a call, write an outline, or volunteer just once. The process and inspiration will unfold before you.

When motivation is at odds with inspiration, continue.

Inspiration is about a person reaching a point of wanting to act, whereas motivation is more about giving people reasons to take action.

Inspiration is an act of influencing people mentally and emotionally to do something creative. Motivation is something that compels or persuades you to take action. Inspiration is what pulls you towards something.

A highly motivated person takes an idea, goes out there, and won't let anybody interfere with them—that person who isn’t going to stop along the way but keeps going down the road.

What about someone who will stop on the road somewhere and seemingly be drawn off course? Perhaps what stopped them on the road was an inspiration. Unlike motivation, inspiration works in precisely the opposite way. If the reason is when you get hold of an idea and carry it through to its conclusion, inspiration is the opposite because an idea gets hold of you and takes you to a place that inspires people to think is the better direction.

Does this mean that motivation is a distraction from inspiration?

To find the answer to this question, we have to stop and think about it, but then that would answer the question and ignore the fact that the motion involved in motivation makes it easier for inspiration to find us.

Either way, it seems clear that motivation and inspiration are connected.

Effective Communication brings people closer together or ensures that they don’t get closer. →

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Effective communication requires you to become an engaged listener. That means changing the usual focus of trying to listen to decide what to say next. Listening well will help you understand the words being communicated, but a person needs to learn how to understand the emotions conveyed.

When you listen, you’ll hear more than just words; you will hear the feelings in someone’s voice and understand that more than terms are being communicated and how a person feels about those words are more important.

Listening this way lets the other person know they were heard and understood. Resulting in a better connection.

What is being communicated often has nothing to do with the words, and the real intention (motive) can be a concern if known.

Snakes have motives

Retired Rattlesnake Roadside-Romeo was on a dirt road in rural Arizona. On the other side of the road was a chicken.

So, he hollers, "Hey there! Babe! I don't usually talk with random chicks, but you should know I am a hundred years old. Do you want to know the secret to long life?"

The chicken is intrigued and asks, "Well, what is it? Tell me"

Roadside-Romeo replies, "What'd you say? Can't hear you."

The chicken says, "What is the secret to long life?"

Roadside-Romeo says, "What, babe? Whatcha sayin'?"

So, the curious chicken crossed the road.

And went near Roadside-Romeo's ear and yelled, "What is the secret to long life?"

Roadside-Romeo hissed and rattled and replied, "Oh!!! The secret is - Don't talk to strangers!"

And in one quick swoop, the snake pounced and swallowed the bird.

And smugly, he thought, "Amazing, I can still pick up chicks with that joke!"

“Effective Communication is not just for good guys.”

#effectivecommunication #earlycareers #motivation #communication #community #listening #intentions

Learning from the "public-spirited-bird- approach" →

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For those that have subscribed to this newsletter and come back for new posts, I thank you. I have published a website (Brent M. Jones Connected Events Matter) for 4 + years and before that under another name. The breadth of material covered on the website is amazing. Grammarly told me I had reviewed over 6,000,000 words just this year in everything I do. How is that even possible? If this is your first visit, I hope you will subscribe using the button at the bottom.

A post on October 9th titled "Why, Why, Why do things happen?" featured a picture of a chicken crossing the road at the beginning and then discussed the subject: Why. The answer was suggested that it could be concerning the cause or reason something is done. (Chicken crosses the road?) Sometimes these reasons are called goals, and some are called problems: either way, the attempt to find out why can involve receiving advice.

Today's post involves geese flying in formation. Of course, if you live near someone like me who lives by a lake, you will notice that sometimes both sides seem even and others do not.

Why are there more birds on one side of the V? The simple answer is that geese care about each other. They relieve each other in intervals. Sometimes when geese or other birds are flying in formation, one side of the V has many more individuals and looks like a wedge. This is because they seldom fly directly into the wind, making the formation's downward part easier.

This "bird-public-spirited" approach doesn't stop with the formation. The decision of which bird leads the V formation is also made out of concern for the whole team. The flock of birds will share the lead of the V and rotate throughout the migratory flight. Therefore, as the leaders tire, they fall back into the community, and the birds behind will take over. This indicates that the lead would often change during a very long flight. Leadership is shared, and each takes a turn at it.

What lesson is evident from this short article? The lesson here is that with a team working together to reach a common goal, the group will gain momentum from the first push, continue supporting each other, and develop strategies, values, and action plans. In a V-formation, the whole flock extends at least 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone.

An obvious question would be, why would any intelligent goose want to lead the formation and work twice as hard? The answer has to do with fairness, not just goodwill. The time a bird leads a formation strongly correlates with the time it can profit from flying in another bird's wake. The birds match the time they spend in the wake of each other by frequent pairwise switches of the leading position. They cooperate because it is in their own best interest.

An obvious conclusion would be to ensure your teams are set up and functioning reasonably.

Networking, Make it Real

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We have already reached the time when an algorithm can analyze the data of those you connect with to identify interests, career goals, and general experiences. This information can match the user to contacts, making the networking process more efficient.

Professional networking will foster connections and keep you updated on current trends & conversations in your field and areas of interest. They can help you access connections you would not necessarily have gotten offline.

In an article published by Indeed’s Editorial Team on March 15th, 2021, “Top Networking Skills You Should Have (And How To Improve Them),” these three skills were presented as steps you can take to improve your networking skills

1. Practice improving communication habits:

Improve your networking skills by practicing good communication habits. Maintain eye contact when speaking with someone and nod your head in understanding or agreement. Use simple, straightforward language, ask questions and invite opinions. Please pay attention to the body language of the person you're speaking with to make sure they understand and confirm whether they agree or disagree.

2. Ask friends for constructive feedback:

Consider asking friends how you're coming across in conversation. Understanding where you can improve can help you improve your communication style, which can significantly impact your networking skills.

3. Attend networking events:

One of the best ways you can improve your networking skills is to practice them regularly. Attend networking events and focus on building a genuine human connection with the people you meet. Ask questions that show you're genuinely interested in getting to know the person you're speaking with, and listen closely to the answer while maintaining eye contact. Respond with relevant questions to show you were listening. Focus on the quality of the relationships you're having rather than the quantity.

Still, the most important thing to remember is that networking is a two-way street.

Make it real, and do what that requires, giving and taking to build trust.

Staying in contact with your new connections is needed, and looking for ways to help them achieve their goals will develop and strengthen the relationship. It works best one on one because both sides can participate equally.

Finding Inspiration: Should Life be About Winning?

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Is winning a good life goal? Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach, said, "Winners never quit, and quitters never win." He is among several coaches credited with saying, "Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing.”

The coach’s point of view sees winning as a victory in a contest or competition. Looking for my answer, I turn inward and consider the question as to whether I have ever won anything, which then suggests some game or random drawing.

Whom did I beat to win? If it was just luck, did it matter? Does winning matter? Good questions, but if winning is about getting a prize, is that a good reason to beat others? If it is about the effort, that helps answer this question.

Yes, in my life, I have many times focused all my effort on reaching a goal. When you win in life, you're living the life of your dreams, achieving your goals, and being content with where you're coming to the end of the day. The point is that winning is about your dreams, which still could mean that you want to beat everyone else, and if that is the case, then I have not won anything.

However, looking back, I have to say that my life has been about living and working toward my and my family’s dreams.

If I worked as hard and bright as possible to achieve a goal and someone else also worked as hard and bright as they could to accomplish a goal, and if we both reached the goal, did we win? What if the other person’s results were better? Did we still both win? The answer would depend on whether our goal was to do our best or to succeed the most. Working with your most intelligent thinking and doing your best is the best goal.

What happens when you have to win to survive? Is winning an accomplishment or a necessity? Can you start out wanting to improve on your best and sometimes be the best in the crowd and then wind up in trouble if you are not? If winning is the only thing you value, then problems will come.

#winningtogether #winningmindset #winningteam #winning

Why, Why, Why do things happen? →

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Why is a word concerning the cause or reason something is done? Sometimes these reasons are called goals, and some are called problems: either way, the attempt to find out why can involve receiving advice.

Goals often change before they are realized, suggesting they are not the best fit to accomplish what was wanted or wasn’t enough.

The goal can be about anything. The list of accomplishments is endless: winning a game, learning a new skill, doing well on a test.

Offering help to goal seekers is like selling books on how to market their books to newly published authors: an excellent business.

The number of self-help and positive thinking books seems endless.  As I look back at my reading, I recall reading every positive thinking book I could find when I got out of college. After a few years, I started reading the classics, philosophy, religion, and history. Then after many years, I looked at Steven King, Lee Child, David Baldacci, and even Louis L’Amour and got hooked on good mystery writers. One conclusion might be that starting life or reading books about goals didn’t lead to me staying in that genre.

The self-help approach to goals is very much focused on accomplishing some specific thing. Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich is an obvious example. Hill’s book does lay out approaches and mindsets that could be like a policy and procedure manual for life, but it assumes that the goal will be lifelong and doesn’t leave much room for what happens if that goal changes and why it did.

I recently read an article about setting goals, and the suggestion was that a person must find the “why” first. Why was the goal wanted or needed? If that was clearly understood, everything was supposed to fall in place.

Understanding the why of the things we seek is good, but goals can change even if we don’t change our understanding of why they would be good to accomplish.

As an employment career coach, I often meet with people who have been employed in a particular field for 10, 20, or even 30 years. Sometimes they lose their jobs and are bitter about the forced change. Sometimes they are overwhelmed and feel burned out. They often start their conversation by telling me why they don’t want to do what they have been doing.

They want to change directions and find something new. Of course, it usually is the case that their years on the job have given them a strong history in what they have done, and it is easy to ask the big question.  Are they willing to start at entry level in a new job and take up to a 50% salary cut?  A close examination of a person's skills and experiences will usually allow some different direction directions to use the same skills, which is the best direction in these cases.

Sometimes careers are entered with the idea that becoming good in that profession is a life goal. Then when the time comes that a change does have to happen, the question about why it happened turns into why their life failed. Did it turn out that the original choice was wrong?

If a career was picked was a deep passion for that career, then that needs to be accompanied by an ongoing focus on what changes the job and the need for it over time.

Asking why things change opens doors to where the next move is.

The smart chicken crosses the road because it pays attention to the side of the road and knows the best thing to do and when to do it.

#why #careerdevelopment #why_not #careergoals #careercoach #goals #whatmattersmost

Introduction Page "The Human Factor: How Finding Your Dream Job Starts by Getting to Know Yourself

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Introduction

Despite our many differences, all human beings share at least one thing in common. We all want to be the best version of ourselves.

Some of us define that goal as connecting to a community, having a big family, or excelling at a job we love. Others can’t necessarily define it but seek the abstract idea of “happiness.” Surely, once we find our “purpose” and fulfill it, we will find that elusive “happiness,” right?

Alexander Pope said, “Act well your part; there all the honor lies.” But what if you find yourself unsure of your place in this world? What if you know your part but find your goals too impossible to reach?

You need a change, and in order to get that, you need to change.

Only then will you have the confidence and focus on making that big career change or learn that new skill to help you jump into another profession. The big life changes can be scary. It can sometimes seem impossible, especially after feeling you’ve lived a whole life without changing.

#careerdevelopment #findingajob #passivejobsearch #careerchangers #creativitycoach

#jobopportunity #jobopportunity #Reinvention #Change#educationchangestheworld

#Networking #dreamjobs

#dreamjobmakers #dreamcareer #dreamcareerlaunchpad

#jobopportunity #jobchange #jobseeker #jobhunting

#jobhuntingsucks #jobhuntingtoday

Bob Dylan's song Blown in the Wind tells us"the answer is blowing in the wind" - What was the answer? →

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The song “Blowin' in the Wind” by Bob Dylan raises questions. It has been described as a protest song and poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war, and freedom but is it literature?

Both songs and poems often bring out human emotions, and both have patterns of sounds, which bring melody to the verses. Some say poetry is more literary because it uses words better and conveys deeper feelings and emotions. Both reflect the same social concerns as literature.

Before you dismiss this post and the question it presents, don’t forget, or if you never knew, let me tell you that the Noble Prize for literature in 2016 was awarded to Bob Dylan for "having created new poetic expression within the great American song tradition.”

Another big thing, assuming you like Bob Dylan, is that Harper’s Magazine, after this award was given, said that “literary means not only what is written but what is voiced, what is expressed, what is invented, in whatever form.” More restrictively, writing is considered an art form or any report deemed to have artistic or intellectual value, often due to deploying language in ways that differ from ordinary usage.

"Blowin' in the Wind" was written and performed by Bob Dylan in 1962. The song became a symbolic song of fighting for people’s rights and equality in society and an anti-war song. It poses a series of rhetorical questions about peace, war, and freedom.

Lyrics

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly

Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, 'n' how many years can a mountain exist

Before it is washed to the sea?

Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free?

Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head

And pretend that he doesn’t see?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

Yes, 'n' how many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky?

Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take 'til he knows

That too many people have died.

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind

The answer is blowin' in the wind

How does reading books help you become more creative? →

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Neil Gaiman’s book, the View from the Cheap Seats, talked about fantasy and imagination.  What he learned from his trip to China is very interesting regarding this subject. 

Neil Gaiman is a fiction writer, especially for young readers, and in 2007 went to a worldwide meeting for fiction writers in China. He knew that over the years, China didn't even allow fairy tales and fiction in their schools, so he was surprised that this event had invited him to China for this event.

He asked an official of the event what had happened and why the interest now was in fantasy and fiction. He was told that top Chinese officials had toured all the big companies they did outsourcing work with within the United States and asked those they met "what they read.” They all said science fiction was a top choice, and fantasy and fiction went along with this. They were looking for why these plants excelled in creativity.  It seemed clear from their findings that creativity was sparked by imagination.  Fiction and fantasy were added to the school curriculum in Chinese schools.

The book contains speeches, articles, introductions, and essays.  His first chapter sets the tone with his focus on "Why Our Future Depends on Libraries, Reading and Daydreaming.” He said in the introduction that he liked fiction because he wanted to "tell the truth without ever needing to worry about the facts."

A creative effort that I have spent years on has been my website:

( connectedeventsmatter.com )

The website has evolved to focus on first books, now around 500, and then positive influences, personal reinvention, career development, books I have written, and other interests that will complement these goals.

Reinventing Ourselves & Our Careers. How to “Be the Change.” How to Reinvent Yourself Each Day. Reinvent the Future. Make Order out of Chaos. Choose Your Direction in Life. Finding Inspiration.

As I added other areas of interest to the site, I found that the base and variety of reading were helpful and complimentary.

Reading helps us be open to new ideas and understand new things. We practice imagination by letting words describe a particular image and manipulating the picture in our minds. This strengthens our minds because we learn from others' experiences and adapt the learning to our environment.

Are we like the old or the new wineskin and why does that matter →

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A wineskin is an ancient container made of animal skin. Usually, a goat is used to transport liquids such as water, olive oil, and wine. Is trying to bring motivation, or even change, to an organization like putting new wine in an old wineskin?

The old wineskin has become brittle and set in place. It had done its job for years with no problem, but the new wine hasn’t fermented yet, and as it expands, it will split the old container.

The Bible, Mark 2:22, used this example to teach about dealing with change. “And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.” ……. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one, after drinking old wine, wishes for new, for he says, ‘The old is good enough.

Good news for the Old Wineskins: A fresh wineskin can be a new wineskin, but it can also refer to an old wineskin that has been reconditioned. A reconditioned wineskin is as supple as new and can hold new wine. An old wineskin must be cleaned and soaked in oil to recondition it. The wineskin is soaked until it is rejuvenated to its supple and soft state to be ready for the new wine. So old wineskins are not thrown away or only being used to hold old wine. It can be made fresh again to have new wine!

Of course, we’re talking about people, not wineskins.

People, in their way, can also seem brittle and set in place. The problem is often the perception of what is happening around them. The roadblock is often just the attitude that “this is the way we have always done this.”

A person who has done something the same way for years can seem brittle or inflexible. Several years ago, I knew some managers at a small distribution warehouse with limited space. Jim, the warehouse manager, had a new boss who was expecting things to be done that he was not used to.

Changing things that had always been done one way for years became an obstacle for Jim. The last straw was when an item bought weekly for years, 50 cases at a time, was changed to 100 cases, and the order frequency was changed to once every two weeks. Jim knew about the reasons for the change and the plan, but he did not feel right about all the changes. This resulted in him quitting his job, where he had spent 35 years working, and advancing to warehouse manager. 

Change itself was not foreign to the environment for this company, which had grown a great deal over the years. I was more than that “they had always done that way.” It was about the fact that he had always been the sole decision-maker.

Over the years Jim worked for this company, it had expanded its warehouse size many times. He faced increased reserve levels on many inventory items and changes to accommodate buying brackets. If he hadn’t been flexible, he would not have made it far as he did.

Why did Jim become brittle and set in place?  He was upset by what he was afraid the future would bring. After Jim left, he enrolled in some classes at the local community college and took some computer classes. Perhaps for Jim, it was more than just turning brittle and unchangeable. Maybe he was just smart enough to see that he needed more skill, but he still was not flexible enough to come and talk about that side of the issue before leaving.

The poet Maya Angelou said, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Jim didn’t feel good about his new manager, and that reality was far more critical than the challenges of warehouse changes. The new manager didn’t know Jim and hadn’t had the chance to build a relationship of trust with him.