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Better Business, Better Life – Issue 68
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As we head into another week, I take great pleasure in sharing my curated articles, tips & tools in a short read that will hopefully give you a few ‘aha’ moments as well as some laughter or joy. Most of all I hope it gives you pragmatic inspiration & helps you on your journey to doing what you love, with people you love, making a huge difference, being compensated appropriately with time to pursue other passions – #TheEOSLife.
Here’s this week’s business tip, life hack & find of the week… Some of them are original, most are things I have come across in my weekly pursuit of self-improvement & living a better life, through creating a better business. And don’t forget the inspirational quote, which you can download as a wallpaper or lock screen for your phone.
As always, if you find great things that you’d like to share then feel free to email me for inclusion in one of my weekly newsletters. I’m always looking for new & exciting things to share each week. And if you think someone else would like to receive the newsletter in their inbox, directly from my inbox (no newsletter apps used here!) then please let me know – debra@debrachantry-taylor.com
BETTER BUSINESS
4 steps for leading with honesty & openness
Mark O’Donnell, our Visionary at EOS worldwide wrote this article to help Entrepreneurial leaders become their best. He starts by saying, “In my 14 years as an entrepreneur, I’ve seen many times that open, honest, vulnerable leaders see better results than those who always want to look like the smartest or most powerful person in the room and don’t communicate from the heart.”
Some leaders show intrinsic abilities for vulnerability-based trust and transparent communication, but for most it comes after a lot of learning and hard work. Remember that it’s all about trust and having the courage to let your guard down and be real, raw, and human with your employees.
The 4 steps that he then goes into more detail on can help leaders lead with openness, honesty, and vulnerability and encourage the same approach throughout their businesses:
- Stop saying interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence are “soft.”
- Read with your team and work together to meet the standards those books set.
- Remain teachable and reach out for help.
- Practice courage when it comes to tough conversations.
From my own personal experience, it’s tough to stop calling these skills ‘soft skills’ & something I need to work on.
There are some great books in point 2 (most of them I have read) but I love the idea of reading them with your team.
Reaching out for help can be tough but essential & tough conversations is something that has taken me almost 52 years to get right. It still feels horribly uncomfortable but I think I am getting much better at them. 😊
BETTER LIFE
Using The Imago Technique To Deal With Unhappy Customers
Life would be a whole lot easier if we didn’t have issues – with our family, with our friends, with our colleagues & with our customers.
“We’ve all dealt with our fair share of challenging situations in the workplace, and among the most trying are unhappy customers. Sometimes our clients are having a bad day and other times the business is at fault for doing something genuinely wrong.”
Most issues stem from either miscommunication or unmet expectations leading to disappointment. Using Imago dialogue may prevent this situation entirely.
I first came across IMAGO when I was a member of The Entrepreneurs Organization (EO). In one of our forums, we were introduced to the tool. I loved its simplicity but also how it created a deeper understanding & relationship.
This article goes into greater depth about what this tool is & how to use it. I highly recommend it for unhappy customers & relationship miscommunications & issues.
Using the 3 simple steps of mirroring, validation & empathy, you often deepen relationships, turning conflict into an opportunity for compassion & growth.
FIND OF THE WEEK
Warmth with fun & function
This one is for the ladies this week. As you know, I am currently on a tour of the South Island in an RV or motorhome in what is touted to be the coldest week on record.
So I needed to pack things that would keep me warm. I had seen these pompom hats on a few of the Netflix shows I have been watching recently & so googled to see if I could find one for Steve to treat me to, so that I can stay warm whilst we’re away.
I came across this cashmere blend one which I loved for 2 reasons:
1. The smooth pure mulberry silk lining helps reduce frizz & tangles, and protects hair from the cold weather.
2. The pompom is removable, so you can choose to have it on for fun, or off if you prefer a sleeker look
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE
I am in the middle of a winter wonderland. The puppies have seen snow & ice for the first time & I am just blown away by how much beauty we have in our backyard in NZ. It’s been absolutely freezing – sometimes down to minus 5 degrees Celsius, so it would be easy to get miserable about the cold but as Aristotle said,
“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” – Aristotle
You can download this as a wallpaper or lock screen for your phone.
NEED HELP?
If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business, then book a free Discovery Call with me.
We’ll talk about what you want to get from your business & your life & come up with a plan to do that!
Debra Chantry-Taylor
Certified EOS Implementer | Accredited Family Business Advisor | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker & Workshop Facilitator