by Cary Paul | Oct 4, 2012 | Improvisation
This article is from Cary Paul, our Chief Improv Officer:
There are some great lessons we business types can learn from the world of biology, one of which leads us back to the basic truth about survival: adapt or die. Read on to discover an improv favorite that offers invaluable practice with moving out of personal or organizational ruts and into positive and constructive thinking.
by Andrea Howe | Sep 19, 2012 | Client relationships, Consulting
Most people usually don’t think of empathy as having much business value. In fact, you might think if you start empathizing with your clients,
you’ll lose your edge; you’ll appear “soft;” you’ll lose business. Here’s a compelling story* about a global firm that turned that conventional wisdom on its ear and transformed a big loss into a big win.
by Andrea Howe | Aug 21, 2012 | Client relationships
I lead workshops in different parts of the world that can consume me for days at a time. Heaps of work emails pile up in the meantime. And because I’m slightly obsessive about being responsive, I believe in using auto-replies. A few months ago I started experimenting with unique and sometimes quirky ones (for me). Little did I know they would cause quite a stir.
by Andrea Howe | Aug 20, 2012 | Client relationships
Our Story Time
series brings you real, personal examples from business life that shed light on specific ways to lead with trust. Our last story proved that
good intentions won’t keep you from screwing up. Today’s story highlights the business value of taking time to see the world from another’s perspective.
by Andrea Howe | Jul 25, 2012 | Client relationships, Trusted advisorship
Our Story Time
series brings you real, personal examples from business life that shed light on specific ways to lead with trust. Our last story told of
innovation, trust, and the freedom to fail. Today’s anecdote zeroes in on the importance of
living the trust principles all the time.
by Andrea Howe | Jul 17, 2012 | Client relationships
I can easily preach to my clients that it’s a disservice not to sell—that it’s part of our professional obligation to be of service. Apparently though, I have a problem practicing what I preach when it comes to selling myself—being assertive about calling attention to who I am and what I contribute. Just the other day I was admonished by a colleague (in a very nice way) for being reluctant to send a promotional email to a list of favorite clients. His exact words were, “Don’t waste another moment on worrying about it being too commercial; it is not too commercial, it is very well stated, and it is a service to all of your readers. So, stop that now!”
by Cary Paul | Jul 12, 2012 | Improvisation
This article is from Cary Paul, our Chief Improv Officer:
Strong leaders inevitably face the challenge of helping people step outside their comfort zones. Today’s blog sheds light on the two key components of creating an environment that makes it safe for people to try something new.
by Barry Edwards | Jul 11, 2012 | Improvisation
This month’s improv tip is from Barry Edwards, Improv Contributor
There is a saying by American essayist John Burroughs: ”Leap and the net will appear”. I first heard this quote from a good friend when I was considering leaving a good job to change careers. Ever since then, I’ve been living my life with that in mind. Whether it’s changing careers or moving to a new city, whenever I’ve leapt that proverbial net has always appeared.
by Andrea Howe | Jun 28, 2012 | Trusted advisorship
Trust is a complex concept in human relationships. In our
Chapter 1 of the still-pretty-new
The Trusted Advisor Fieldbook, we explore ten fundamental attitudes that take aim at the complexities of trust, breaking it down so that it can be managed and more readily increased. Think of the Three Ps as the short list; they represent the core of our thinking on trust.
by Andrea Howe | Jun 19, 2012 | Trusted advisorship
A few months ago I was leading a day-long program on
trust-based selling to 26 men and women at a global market intelligence firm. We were knee-deep in a conversation about
empathetic listening as a primary driver of influence. Listening with empathy is how you earn the right to be right, not to mention how you learn what is deeply valued by the person you want to influence—while building a whole lot of trust in the process.
