In today's world of complex sales and business issues, it's important to understand some solid "basics" that can help you in presentations or negotiations.

Present both sides: You'll gain a lot of credibility and effectiveness by openly discussing both sides of the issue.

Lead with a need: People will remember your message most clearly if you begin your presentation by arousing a need, then providing information to fill the need.

Close with your preference:  Listeners tend to remember the end of a presentation better than the beginning; so, present your own viewpoint last.

Don't be too subtle:  State your point as explicitly as you can; don't assume your audience will figure it out on their own.

Repeat, repeat, repeat: State your message over and over again to help people accept it and remember it.

Share good news first: When you have a "good news/bad news" message, your audience will accept it more readily if you deliver the good news first.

Emphasize similarities: People are more apt to embrace the message if you stress similarities rather than differences.  For example, in a merger situation, talk about the common denominators between your two organizations rather than what distinguishes them from each other.

Ask for agreement:  Agreement is easier to reach if you emphasize how important it is.  If you've got a controversial message to share, try connecting it to one that everyone can easily agree with:  "Although these challenges will be difficult, I think we all understand the need to serve our customers better."

You appreciate workers who cover late shifts or who stay late to finish projects, but "thank you" isn't enough - they also need some special safeguards.  Keep employees safe as they burn the midnight oil in your workplace with these precautions:

Provide adequate supervision. Workers who get drowsy may be more prone to errors.  Train them to check in with each other periodically.  Less experienced workers may need more attention from managers and co-workers.  This is particularly true when working around machinery.

Maintain your workplace.   Work areas, doorways, and stairs need adequate lighting.  Keep the temperature on the cool side to prevent drowsiness.  Be sure floors, stairs, and parking lot surfaces are smooth and even to prevent slips and falls.

Encourage breaks and exercise.  To prevent drowsiness and muscle fatigue that could lead to accidents, allow workers to take breaks and exercise.  Encourage them to eat lighter meals at work.

Secure the site.  Provide adequate lighting in outside entrances, passageways, and parking lots.  Install working locks and security codes, and arrange for guards as necessary.  Post police and fire department numbers.  Encourage workers to walk together to their cars.

Encourage safe driving.  Warn employees who drive home about the dangers of drowsiness on the road.  Provide them with a place to nap in your workplace, and remind them, if driving, to pull over in a safe area until they can keep themselves awake.

If you are concerned with cost, quality, productivity, and competition, consider adding value analysis into the overall planning process of your organization to identify and resolve value problems in your operations.  This step by step plan to do more with less by Richard Sievert is a must-read. 

 

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Have exciting news at your facility?  For example, recognized for community service or install a new press?  Hire a new employee you want to show off?

 

Send your news to Michael Makin at mmakin@wsprint.org.