May 2023 - Page 7 of 8 - Jeff Cassman

4 Steps to Manage a Manager Who Can’t Communicate

You want to succeed but when managers create confusion high-aspiration people pull their hair out. Managers who communicate poorly demotivate talented people.

People want to go all in, but don’t want to waste energy doing the wrong thing.

How to manage a manager who can’t communicate:

#1. Focus on things within your control.

You influence people; you can’t control them. You drive yourself nuts when you try to fix people. And you drive them nuts too.

#2. Use the “I intend to method.”

When your manager tells you something that requires action or decisions, send them a follow-up email that contains 4 things.

Subject line: Just double checking (or equivalent).
In a few sentences, explain what you heard. “I heard you saying….”
Now say, “Based on what I heard you say, I intend to ….” (Briefly describe your next steps and the goal you’re trying to reach. Just a few sentences.)
Finally ask, “Does this make sense to you?” (You could also ask, “Any suggestions?” Or, “Am I on track?”)

I adapted this from something I learned from a nuclear submarine Captain.

Perhaps your manager will find more clarity and consistency if they see their own message/request in writing.

Another advantage is you create a paper trail that could be helpful if people are being told different things. Be sure to get your manager’s response to your 3-part email.

If your manager doesn’t respond, feel free to send a follow up. “I’m just double checking. Did you see my question about xyz? Am I on the right track?”

Encouragement:

You feel discouraged when managers who can’t communicate hold you back. Keep doing stuff that would make momma proud, even when other folks might not.

What can you do when your manager can’t communicate effectively?

What tips do you have for managers who need to learn effective communication?

Still curious:

Words You Don’t Say But Should

The Do’s and Don’ts of Manager/Employee Communication

Like this:

Like Loading…

The Foods That Boost Weight Loss And Reduce Heart Disease

Eating these foods has considerable health benefits, scientists have found.

Eating more fibre-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, could decrease the risk of heart disease by 30%, research concludes.

Higher fibre intake has also been linked to weight loss and lower cholesterol levels.

Studies conducted over almost 40 years find that eating around 25-29 grams of dietary fibre a day has clear health benefits.

Most people, though, consume less than 20 grams per day.

In the US, the average intake is 15 grams per day.

Fibre-rich foods reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, (15-30%), heart disease, stroke type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer (15-24%)

Fibre-rich foods include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and pulses.

Professor Jim Mann, study co-author, said:

“Our findings provide convincing evidence for nutrition guidelines to focus on increasing dietary fibre and on replacing refined grains with whole grains.

This reduces incidence risk and mortality from a broad range of important diseases.”

The study included data from 135 million people in almost two hundred different studies.

The results clearly showed that the more dietary fibre people consumed, the more they were protected against a wide variety of diseases.

Professor Mann said:

“The health benefits of fibre are supported by over 100 years of research into its chemistry, physical properties, physiology and effects on metabolism.

Fibre-rich whole foods that require chewing and retain much of their structure in the gut increase satiety and help weight control and can favourably influence lipid and glucose levels.

The breakdown of fibre in the large bowel by the resident bacteria has additional wide-ranging effects including protection from colorectal cancer.”

The study was published in the journal The Lancet (Reynolds et al., 2019).

Keep reading here

Creating a Journey to Customer Satisfaction

Today, consumers have an increasing number of options for how to interact with your brand. These include virtual channels like social media and influencer marketing.

While it’s great that technology has provided us with plenty of new methods and marketing tactics, it also means you need to up your game. As a result, customers are placing a higher value on the overall shopping experience than ever before.

The way your brand presents itself at various touch points is a major factor in conversions. Customer journey optimization works to raise overall customer satisfaction (CSAT) and promotes growth in your business.

What is customer journey optimization?

Optimizing the customer journey involves mapping out and analyzing every touchpoint in the buying process. You can then improve the buyer’s journey by eliminating friction at each of these.

This encompasses all available touchpoints, including digital advertising, content and social media marketing. Customer journey optimization improves processes behind the camera, so to speak, so your brand, team, and products can be the stars of the show.

Benefits of customer journey optimization

When you optimize the customer journey, you stand to gain several benefits.

Save money

Mapping out the customer journey paints a clear picture of your current marketing and sales strategies. You can easily identify redundancies and remove these by analyzing them from an outside viewpoint. Long story short is that you’ll save money on operational costs and labor.

For example, simple customer actions like order tracking might be better and more efficiently managed by a virtual receptionist, freeing your team up to work on tasks that are more obviously profitable, such as sales.

Increase productivity

Customer journey optimization helps you cut out the fat. A well-trimmed buying process is much more efficient when it comes to how your team members’ time is used. By focusing their efforts on the most valuable touchpoints and prospect interactions, they’ll be able to generate more leads and conversions in less time.

Part of this optimization might mean investing in software that gives the customer more control over their journey. For example, if you offer co-working spaces, you may wish to invest in coworking space management software that empowers users to book and pay for rooms without having to speak to a team member in person or over the phone.

Better teamwork and collaboration

The results of the 2021 Statista survey shown above found that inter-departmental siloing is the biggest challenge when optimizing the customer journey. This is where customer journey mapping rises to the challenge.

With a big-picture view, those working at the top of the funnel will better understand where their prospects are heading, meaning they’re more able to prepare them for their next interaction. Likewise, salespeople working in the middle of the funnel can give…

Continue reading here

4 Surprising Realities That Infuse Meaning into Leadership

Organizations can’t give leadership meaning. Bosses and colleagues can’t give it.

Meaningful leadership is your responsibility alone.

Meaning is energy to run a painful race.

4 surprising realities that infuse meaning into leadership:

#1. Responsibility.

Do something where failure matters.

You cozy up to oblivion when you reject responsibility for meaningful things. One day you’ll look around and feel empty.

Someone said, “Not my monkey. Not my circus.” It is your circus. Don’t take everyone’s monkey, but when you grab a monkey grab one that matters.

Do noble things.

#2. Engagement.

Disengagement leads to oblivion. A person trying to do as little as possible ends up lonely and disenchanted. Getting by is going down wearing a blindfold.

Engagement means overcoming friction. It’s easier to do nothing than something in the short-term.

Hiding in your office and avoiding challenging situations moves you toward a blackhole.

#3. Control.

Choose behaviors that make things better. Leadership is trivial when you focus on things outside your control. Frivolous actions produce disappointing results.

You move toward meaningful leadership when your actions matter.

#4. Identity.

Identity determines behavior. The Stanford Prison Experiment demonstrated the power of self-perceptions. Participants who perceived themselves as guards became cruel.

Know yourself by embracing what you know about yourself.

Don’t ignore frailties. You know your own pain. Life is short, screwing up is inevitable, your strengths produce results and your weaknesses hold you back.

You know what you love and what you hate. What does that say about who you are?

Choose how you show up based on the realities you know about yourself.

Challenge:

You didn’t get up this morning wishing to be trivial. You yearn for relevance. The challenge is hammering it out.

You collide with personal hell when you fill life with frivolities.

Which of the above ideas most applies to you today?

What would you add to the above list?

Still curious:

Like this:

Like Loading…

A Night-Time Sign of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Around one-quarter of people could have a deficiency in vitamin B12.

Poor sleep can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency, research suggests.

Deficiency in this vitamin, as well as other micronutrients, is linked to poor sleep quality and having to use medications to sleep by the study.

Researchers have found that deficiencies in niacin, magnesium, calcium and dietary fibre are all linked to short sleep.

More common signs, specifically of vitamin B12 deficiency, include pale or jaundiced skin.

This is a yellow tinge around the eyes and/or in the whites of the eyes.

Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been linked to nerve problems.

This may manifest as pins and needles or numbness, especially in the legs.

Other psychological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include problems concentrating, depression, confusion and even forgetfulness.

It can be difficult to trace these symptoms directly to vitamin B12 deficiency as they can be related to a variety of other causes.

Around one-quarter of people may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Adults under 65 need around 1.5 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day.

Vitamin B12 is normally acquired by the body through diet.

Foods that contain vitamin B12 include dairy, liver, salmon and eggs.

Other good sources of vitamin B12 include poultry and low-fat milk.

Fortified breakfast cereals also contain vitamin B12.

The conclusions about diet and micronutrients come from a study that analysed data from the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey, which regularly surveys many thousands of people in the US.

The study’s authors explain the results:

“…short sleep was significantly associated with the greatest number of nutrients; showing an inverse association with magnesium, niacin, vitamin D, calcium, and dietary fiber intake.”

The study also linked lower levels of vitamin B12 with worse sleep.

The study was published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition (Ikonte et al., 2019).

Keep reading here

Unlocking the Secrets to Recruiting and Retaining Top Talent in Your Agency

They say employees are a company’s greatest asset, and it’s just as true for marketing agencies as any other business. The right team can help prove your agency’s quality, credibility, and competency to potential clients. So, it just makes sense that you want to find qualified candidates and, more importantly, ensure they’re in it for the long haul.

Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. Chances are, you’ve experienced this firsthand. Maybe you’ve lost one of your most talented employees or been disappointed by a lack of interest from candidates. Whatever the case, it’s worth looking at why this is and how you can change your approach for greater success.

Why Finding and Keeping Qualified Candidates Is Tough

There are many reasons marketing agencies struggle to find qualified candidates and retain them. The two biggest factors are as follows:

Competition in the labor market
Employee expectations

For starters, consider the competition in the labor market. There are more than 14,000 marketing and advertising agencies in the U.S. alone. And according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marketing job demand is expected to increase 10% by 2026. However, there’s a limited pool of candidates willing and able to perform at the desired level.

We’re all looking for a specific type of professional, right? At a minimum, the ideal team member is knowledgeable about marketing, has skills in one or more areas, and possesses the right attitude for success. A person with these traits who cares about helping clients grow is a hot commodity. Every agency that’s hiring wants them!

In short, the competition is fierce. Your competitors are trying to attract the same high-quality candidates as you are. So, you have to work extra hard to stand out and encourage them to apply for a position at your agency. And if you manage to bring them on board, you need to prove their decision was the right one. After all, there’s no shortage of options available to them.

But that’s not the hurdle you have to overcome…

There’s also the fact that the wants and needs of today’s marketing professionals (and workers in general) have changed.

For instance, employee expectations include more than just a salary reflecting their value. People are looking for things like…

Positive work culture
Recognition
Flexibility
Transparency
Respect
Purpose

Unfortunately, these are things that many agencies neglect to highlight when recruiting—or worse, fail to deliver in the workplace. And in the second scenario, it leads to great talent leaving for other opportunities. In fact, 2022 showed 62% of professionals considering a job change.

To say that finding strong, qualified candidates and holding on to them is a challenge would be an understatement. But here’s the good news—it’s not impossible. It’s just a matter of changing your approach, putting your marketing…

Continue reading here

One Simple Question That Keeps Projects from Going off the Rails

It’s unusual for projects to come in on target, on time, and on budget. Ask one simple question that gets teams solving problems before they happen.

12 reasons good projects go bad:

Unrealistic planning.
Poorly defined goals and milestones.
Disorganized leaders.
Lack of motivation.
Frantic schedules.
Communication breakdowns. Misunderstanding slows progress. Crossed wires create conflict.
Ineffective resource allocation.
Failure to adapt to evolving market demands that change project requirements.
Software bugs.
Hardware failures.
Economic upheaval.
Legal issues.

One simple question that keeps projects on track:

“Imagine this project is over and it’s a catastrophic failure. What did we fail to do that contributed to the failure?”

Before you mess with the language of this question, consider why it’s worded this way.

Set the stage:

Get teams in problem-solving mode by asking about imagined failure. It’s normal to worry about projects. It means you care. Tap into problem-solving power before problems happen.

Soft landing:

Declare intent so you won’t give offense.

Team members might take offense when you say, “Imagine this project is a catastrophic failure.” They could think you don’t trust them. Or something worse.

First say, “I’m asking this question because I want to tap into your problem-solving skills before problems happen.” Now say, “Imagine this project is over and it’s a catastrophic failure. What did we fail to do that contributed to the failure?”

Be specific:

“Fail to do,” is designed to extract specific actions. If you ask, “What went wrong?” the conversation will go off the rails. They’ll think of things outside their control. Maybe they’ll bring up a lousy economy.

Time:

Include a time factor for long-term projects. When projects are months from completion, say, “What did we fail to do this month….” Or “This quarter.” Short timelines require timely action.

What makes this question useful?

How would you modify the language of this question?

A Premortem: Reverse Positive Thinking for Success – Leadership Freak

How to Get Projects Back on Track Fast – Leadership Freak

Keeping on Track (projecttimes.com)

Like this:

Like Loading…

How to Find Out How Much a Domain Name Costs in 7 Simple Steps

Purchase a domain name from GoDaddy, an affordable registrar with over 500 top-level domains to choose from. Get a special discount for domain registration, web hosting, and more through GoDaddy.

A unique domain name is what sets your website apart from the billions of other sites on the internet. However, it’s more than an address on the internet—the right domain name resonates with your audience, attracts organic traffic, and helps build credibility.

But how much does one actually cost? Most domain registrars advertise their lowest price, which is often far from the actual, long-term cost. I’ll explain all the factors that add up to the true cost of a domain name so you can budget accordingly.

How to Find Out How Much a Domain Name Costs.

The 7 Best Domain Registrars for Purchasing a Domain Name

GoDaddy is a famous domain registrar, but far from the only one. Our research team identified several quality options, with each one rising to the occasion for specific needs.

GoDaddy – Best for Domain Protection and Privacy
Hostinger – Best for bundling domain registration and web hosting
Porkbun – Best for creative domain extensions
Domain.com – Best for fast and simple domain purchasing
Network Solutions – Best for long-term domain registrations
Namecheap – Best for affordable domain registration
NameSilo – Best for buying domains in bulk

We’ve also put together a comprehensive post comparing the best domain registrars that you can read to learn even more about your options and the domain buying process.

Find Out How Much a Domain Name Costs in 7 Easy…

The Weirdest Way To Instantly Relieve Stress

Difficulties dealing with stress are linked to mental health problems.

Smelling your partner’s clothes helps to reduce stress levels, research finds.

Women who smelled their partner’s t-shirt felt calmer afterwards.

In comparison, those who smelled a stranger’s t-shirt experienced increases in the stress hormone, cortisol.

Women may be particularly susceptible to the effect as their sense of smell is stronger than men.

Ms Marlise Hofer, the study’s lead author, said:

“Many people wear their partner’s shirt or sleep on their partner’s side of the bed when their partner is away, but may not realize why they engage in these behaviours.

Our findings suggest that a partner’s scent alone, even without their physical presence, can be a powerful tool to help reduce stress.”

96 opposite-sex couples were included in the study.

The women were subjected to a mock interview and math test to make them stressed.

Afterwards, they smelled t-shirts that were either unworn, smelled of their partner, or of a stranger.

Saliva tests showed that cortisol was lower when women smelled their partner’s t-shirt.

The stress-reducing effect was even stronger if the women successfully recognised the t-shirt as belonging to their partner.

Ms Hofer said:

“From a young age, humans fear strangers, especially strange males, so it is possible that a strange male scent triggers the ‘fight or flight’ response that leads to elevated cortisol.

This could happen without us being fully aware of it.”

Dr Frances Chen, study co-author, said:

“With globalization, people are increasingly traveling for work and moving to new cities.

Our research suggests that something as simple as taking an article of clothing that was worn by your loved one could help lower stress levels when you’re far from home.”

The study was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Hofer et al., 2018).

Keep reading here

20 Unexpected Firsts that Make Average Leaders Remarkable

Being first isn’t always good, sometimes it’s necessary.

When you see remarkable leaders you know they did something first. Sometimes it’s crafting plans. Other times it’s trying something new. Some firsts are unexpected.

Moving from average to remarkable leadership requires being first in twenty ways.

20 unexpected firsts remarkable leaders adopt:

Practice vulnerability first. Self-protection weakens relationships.
Build relationship first. Fear pulls back.
Act collaboratively first. Leaders are more than individual contributors.
Self-reflect first. Failure waits for leaders who stop noticing themselves systematically.
Seek perspectives first. Input is protection. Acting on your own devalues others.
Evaluate based on action and result first. The story in your head is part fiction.
Think impact first. Shift from how things impact you to how you impact others.
Pause first. Spontaneous response is like spilling spaghetti.
Forgive first. Grudges corrode your heart.
Listen first. Talk last.
Learn first. Burst the façade of perceived knowledge with questions.
Trust first. Trust can be unearned but must be given first.
Look forward first. Notice the direction of conversations. The past never changes.
Challenge assumptions first. Ask, “What makes you say that?”
Encourage first. Truett Cathy said, “How do you know if someone needs encouragement? If they are breathing!”
Take responsibility first. Blame destroys trust.
Turn toward tough conversations first. Stress is the tax on avoiding.
Get help first. Reach higher if you don’t need help. Fools struggle until pain drives them to seek help.
Seek feedback first. Improvement begins with feedback.
Ask how first. “How can we do this?” is better than, “We’re doomed.”

Tip: Practice humility first. Most items on the list offend arrogance. Curiosity is a fundamental component of humility. Show up asking questions first.

Twenty firsts are too many to remember. Which first most applies to you today?

Why You Need to Stop Fighting Arrogance

How to Be a Good Leader – businessnewsdaily.com

Like this:

Like Loading…