What Do You Say Communique

October 2008 - Fall is in the AIR!  
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Sarita Maybin
Professional Speaker
Author
"Helping People Work Together...Better!" 
 
 
 
 
                                      
 
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to go to Amazon.com and search inside Sarita's book 
 
  
 
 
Upcoming Event
 
Workplace 2008 Seminar
Sponsored by EAC/EDD
October 22, 2008 (next week!)
Sarita is the opening speaker
 
 
 
 
Greetings, 
Fall is in the AIR!  Multi-colored leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, apple pies and brisk jacket-friendly weather all make fall my favorite season.
 
I was happy to get a taste of fall when I went back east a couple weeks ago to participate in my sister's fall-themed wedding, complete with flower girl dropping autumn leaves instead of flowers.
 
And, I just returned yesterday from a speaking engagement in Green Bay, Wisconsin where fall means Football with a capital F. I had the pleasure of  speaking in a meeting venue at the Green Bay Packers Lambeau Field and getting a mini-tour while there.  The stadium was spectacular and fall was definitely in the AIR!
 
Speaking of AIR--pardon my play on words--I've included in this month's communique my acronym A.I.R., a three step process for constructively expressing concerns and sharing feedback.  I hope you get a few ideas to use at work or at home!
 
 
 
 
Use A.I.R. to Constructively Confront
 
We've all been told if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  So, when you have to share concerns with a non-performing employee,  an overbearing co-worker or an annoying neighbor, what DO you say?
 
Try A.I.R.--Awareness, Impact and Request--a three step process I share in my book and my seminar "If You Can't Say Something Nice, What DO You Say?"
 
A- Awareness - Does the other person know there's a problem?
 
"Perhaps you didn't realize..."
"I'm sure it wasn't your intention..."
"Were you aware of the fact..."
 
I- Impact  - What's the impact of their behavior on you or others?
 
"I'm concerned that..."
"When you..."
"The effect of what you did was..."
 
R- Request - What do you want the person to do differently?
 
"Could you please..."
"I would prefer that..."
"I need you to..."
 
In the workshops I do at companies and conferences, participants have come up with excellent uses of A.I.R.  Check out my favorite example -"Dwayne and the Cat" below. 
 
PHRASE OF THE MONTH:   "I need you to..." 
Featuring "Dwayne and The Cat" 

"I need you to..." is a great phrase for making a request without coming across as bossy or demanding.  And, it is certainly better than using the "you" word and saying  "you need to."  That phrase tends to cause people to react defensively. 

A property manager named Dwayne in one of my workshops shared with the group how he would use the "I need you to" phrase as part of A.I.R. to approach a resident who had disregarded the "no pets" policy:
 
A- Awareness
"I don't know if you realize it, but I've seen the cat in your window."
 
I - Impact
"If I let you keep the cat, everyone in the neighborhood will want a cat."
 
R- Request (not demand!)
"So, I need you to get rid of the cat!"
 
A more detailed discussion of A.I.R. can be found on the Resources page of my website:  www.SaritaMaybin.com
  
 
I look forward to connecting with you this fall season and assisting you with you speaking and training needs. 
 
Now is the time to finalize plans for your end-of-year staff appreciation event.  I'd love to share an upbeat, motivational message to help your staff stay positive and productive in these uncertain times!  
 
All the best,  Sarita
 
PS - MARK YOUR CALENDAR - clocks "fall back" one hour on November 2nd.