ProMatch

I've been actively involved in creating and participating in a number of workshops for ProMatchers - who are professional people in job transition. My latest is to hold a regular Tuesday morning drop-in for people interested in advancing their job search and professional skills.  
 

I will be offering a new workshop on Dec. 16th - all day.  It will be a Business Planning Seminar for those ProMatchers who are starting - or thinking of starting - their own businesses.

Among the workshops I've offered (or been heavily involved with presenting):

• Jump Start Your Job Search:      
  •   this is the how and why of what you need to do.  
• Marketing (Branding) Yourself:    
  • Most people out of work don't know how to market their services.
  •  Also, when people think of marketing they tend to think of product marketing and service marketing is different - services are intangible and thus your image, reputation, and "free samples" become critical in how you sell yourself.   
• Self-Assessment Seminar:
  •  Knowing your wants, needs, values, interests help you decide  
• Strategies and Tactics for your Job Hunt
  • Lots of time, people just blindly do a bunch of chores without having an overall plan - that's what this workshop was designed to help.  
• Who are You?  Part I & Part II  
• • Part I:  How do you describe yourself professionally in a conversational manner (rather than the stylized elevator pitch we've all been taught to use.)
  • Part II:  "What's in it for Me?" - How do you answer the unspoken question posed by the person to whom you are speaking, whether that is someone with whom you are networking, or a recruiter/HR person or hiring manager?  
• Negotiation Skills for Women:     
  • Maybe part of why women don't earn as much as men is because they don't know how to ask for what they want. 
  • This is also one of the reasons I decided to start a new women's forum.  
• Getting Your Mojo Back 
• Being out of work is debilitating, depressing and frightening.  This workshop gave participants ideas for re-vitalizing themselves emotionally and psychologically as well as physically.
• Enhancing Your Professional Image:  Your Unique Brand
• This is about marketing services and employment - how to create a brand that takes in the perception you want to create, what you do, and what;s in it for the person to whom you are speaking.  This workshop is being repeated in August.
• Negotiation Strategies and Tactics
• In this workshop we will be using role-playing, fishbowl exercises, feedback and suggestions for those practicing their negotiation skills.
• Enhancing Your Professional Image:  Your Unique Brand - again
• WOW, we had about 50 people in attendance and actually spent an extra hour giving feedback to people as they offered their revised introductions and elevator speeches.  Lots of feedback that this was an outstanding experience - and people want me to come back and do more for them regularly.

Campaign Consulting and Involvement

Diamond Associates' team is now fully launched supporting several candidates for office.  Our Treasurer is helping several candidates, our events consultant is speaking with a few candidates to help them with meet and greets and fundraisers - and of course I am offering my ideas about persuasion, image, and messaging with several people running for office.  

Consulting Clients:  Individuals and Organizations

Lest I forget:  I am still earning money by consulting and offering workshops to organizations, private, public and government and also working with some individuals wishing aid with their professional development.  Truth of the matter is, these are my major activities.  Your referrals are always appreciated - and in this slowly climbing out of the recession - needed.

Stanford University, Continuing Education: Conflict in the Workplace

 Books - Published  

Leading and Managing in a Global Economy -                   Super Star Press 

Conflict in the Workplace:  Causes and Cures      Robertson Publishing Co.

The following books can be ordered directly: www.ProductivePublications.com  

Training Your Board of Directors:  A Manual for the CEOs, Board Members, Administrators and Executives of Corporations, Associations, Non-Profit and Religious Organizations.  

The "Please" and "Thank You" of  Fundraising for Non-Profits:  Fifteen Essential Ingredients for Success.

Shameless Self-Promotion:

My videographer and friend Carlos Cruz has started a series of programs he is calling Titanslaws.  He interviewed me as part of his series - and this is the link.

http://titanslaws.com/webcast/episode-1-Interpersonal-Relationships-in-a-Global-Environment.php

The Tyranny of Pleasantness

One of the chapters in my Conflict in the Workplace: Causes and Cures is The Tyranny of Pleasantness.  The general theme of the chapter (which comes from a much longer article I wrote with Bob Finnochio) is that there is danger in "going along to get along." 

We are so busy not hurting anyone's feelings, being politically correct at all times, and never disagreeing with someone else's decision that we fail to communicate what we really know and believe.  To tell someone they are wrong is a guarantee to get chastised by someone in supervision.

I was thinking about this because something reminded me of the student trip I accompanied to Europe a few years ago.  Although we visited some wonderful places, the way we were treated by the tour company *(EF Tours), the accommodations offered and a host of other things were, to be polite - sub-par.  If one of us complained to the teacher who had invited us to join her on the tour, she took it personally.  It was as though we were insulting her - but she was as fooled by the promotional hype as were the rest of us.

We've gotten so thin-skinned that if, for example, you tell someone they have a stain on their shirt, they react as though you were saying the shirt was hideous, therefore their taste is hideous and you think they are evil and awful.

Why have we reached a point where the slightest disagreement leads us to hateful reactions and loss of goodwill?   

When did we stop being real and decide the socially appropriate way to be is to always smile and never say an unkind word about anything at any time?

My belief:  Be honest - if you have something to say, say it - without insulting the person - mention the item, or the behavior or the specific about which you are disappointed - without generalizing or attacking the individual his/her self.

If we remain euphemistic we run the serious danger of being misunderstood. 

Let me remind you of one horror story that makes this point.

Many years ago there was a man who went crazy and shot out a bunch of people at ESL.  He believed that by acting as "Rambo" he would be able to get a real date with the woman he had been "courting." (That's in quotes on purpose - because he didn't know how to court properly.)  She,  never wanting to hurt his feelings was too polite in telling him she wasn't interested in him - and he, wrongly believed he had a chance with her.   Now, I hasten to add before anyone attacks me - I am not blaming the victim.  She and the others at ESL were victims of a mind gone crazy.  However, this and other similar tragedies might have been averted had a clear and convincing statement that she was not at all interested in dating him been communicated early in their work relationship.

We've gotten so bad at the way we handle disagreement that people with a different point of view as ours are considered by some as evil, dangerous, stupid and other pejorative terms - instead of a mere recognition that they hold a different point of view.  If we stopped being so thin-skinned about it, we might learn that their point of view has validity and we might learn something from them - and also, might teach them that our point of view has validity.

BUT, if we exaggerate every disagreement, because we have to be kind and euphemistic, we will never get to learn from each other.

Transforming and Maintaining for Organizational Excellence

This was an interesting interactive talk I gave to the management group of IEEE.  In addition to my talking about strategies to change - to create vision - to motivate - and to reinforce excellence, my audience members posed questions for me and others to answer.  It was a small cozy group which led to lots of interaction.

What makes some companies thrive - while others merely limp along?  I believe it has to do with the entire attitude and values of all the executives.  They and the vision and mission of the organization create the culture - and the culture is created whether consciously or unconsciously. 

In my talk I mentioned some of the key elements necessary for a culture of excellence.  They include:

• Attitude - of everyone in the C suite
• Logo - Trademark - Reputation
• Hiring correctly - hiring the best
• Believing in and encouraging the best in people
• Not giving in to the tyranny of pleasantness
• Managing for creativity - and rewarding it, and
• Funnel theory of management (my theory)

Diamond Associates Additional Professionals:

Introducing Michael (Mike) Johnson

I'd like to introduce you to a new member of my "virtual" organization.  Mike Johnson is not only a superb sales expert, but an internet media marketing expert. 

He is working with me to upgrade all my media - such as my website, youtube, linkedin, my blog and anywhere else I appear.  He is available to help you as well.  Mike has also accepted responsibility for doing some new business development for me - and I look forward to acquiring some new accounts thanks to his diligence.

Introducing Jeff Wald

I probably should have done this months ago - and Jeff I apologize for not thinking of it sooner.  My friend Jeff Wald is a computer expert - both hardware and software.  

Since he is also the political Treasurer in my virtual political - consulting division, I failed to let you know that we - he - can solve many of your computer problems.  

So, How Can I help you?