Test Your Commitment to Goals

Test Your Commitment to Goals Now that tax season is over, it is time to revisit your goals. You may have big goals, but do you have the passion to bring them to life? Success usually requires a road map and a strategy, but it also calls for an overwhelming drive. Try testing yourself with these questions:  Do you feel strongly about the importance of your goal—why it’s necessary to achieve it?  Does your idea match your values and beliefs?  Is this something you’ve dreamed about for a long time?  Is your goal vital to the future of people you
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Succeed with Your Powers of Persuasion

Persuasion is a skill you need every day, whether you’re negotiating a big business deal or telling your children to eat their vegetables. Try these techniques for influencing people of any age in any situation:  Speak their language. Listen to how people express themselves, particularly when it comes to sensory words. Some people will see things (“I don’t see what you mean”), others will hear (“That doesn’t sound like fun”), and others will feel (“I don’t feel good about that.”) Use their preferred mode of expression back to them (“I see your point … I hear what you’re saying …
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Out Of This World Customer Service When Managing Stressed Customers

Smart executives who look forward to a long and happy life for their companies know two things about customer service: 100% of your customers won’t be 100% happy with you all the time.  Interactions with stressed customers are critical to the strength of a business. A company’s reputation for poor customer service spreads quickly, especially in a time when social media has such a powerful effect on shaping public opinion. Even before the days of social media, the rule of 10 applied. A bad night’s sleep and a cranky morning that results in a negative interaction with a customer spreads to the next 10
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Nuanced Tips for the Best Office Etiquette

Office etiquette is a subject that has been discussed and debated in depth for some time. The recommendations are typically the same: be punctual, avoid gossip, keep your devices silenced, and be aware of your lunch mess. However, there are some subtler aspects of practicing office etiquette that you may not be aware of. Make an effort to include excluded coworkers Cliques are the bane of any workplace.  Making an effort to include excluded coworkers in conversation inside the workplace, at workplace functions, and even at office happy hours will create a more positive environment for all employees. In order
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