ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION

Are you the type of person who always say "yes" to your co-employees or to your superiors? If that is your problem, my friend, you need to learn how to communicate assertively. Here is a simple recipe for assertive communication.

1. Only raise one issue at a time. Only raise one issue at a time so that your communication will be more focused.
2. Resist the temptation to wound or score points. We have to understand that we assert ourselves. We communicate not to score points, not to wound or injure other people, we are communicating assertively because we believe that what we think our opinion is also of equal value with that of other people.
3. Use “I” instead of “you.”
   
4. Take out all inflammatory or emotive languages including always and never. Never say never. Take out the inflammatory or emotive f language. Be as objective as possible and never use weeping generalizations.
5. Focus on the issue or the behavior and not the person.
6. Explain the tangible or intangible effects the behavior has on others including you.
   
7. Tell what you would like to see happen. It is not enough that you explain the situation. If you want to be assertive, if you want to be heard, tell what you would like to see happen.
8. Listen and give others fundamental respect. If you want others to listen to you when you are talking, if you want others to value what you are saying, you should do likewise.
   

Encourage assertive communication and you will discover a lot of great ideas from your people.
Remember no one has the monopoly of all the knowledge and all the good ideas in the world, so start listening to your people and when you start listening, people will become braver and more courageous to assert themselves and communicate what they are thinking of.
(this post is an excerpt in one article written by Alan Billingham, workshop facilitator of Media Associates)

HOW GREAT LEADERS RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM

Can you recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency? According to John Maxwell in his book Developing the Leader Within You, great leaders usually recognize a problem in the following sequence:

1. They sense it before they see it - that is what you call intuition. Hindi pa man nangyayari medyo kinukutuban na, mayroong gut feel and they pay attention to their gut feel.
2. They begin looking for it and they ask questions - yan ang curiosity.
3. They do not simply rely on intuition or curiosity, they gather data - iyan ang tinatawag na processing. They start to process the information that they have gathered prompted by their curiosity and intuition.
4. They share their feelings and findings to a few trusted colleagues - that is what you call communicating.
5. They define the problem and they do not just verbalize it, they write it.
6. They check their resources and that is evaluating.
7. They make a decision - that is leading.
   

Under the leadership of great men and women, problems do not reach their gigantic proportions. Why? Because at the problems are detected at an early stage and given immediate actions. John Maxwell said, “Great leaders are seldom blindsided. They realize that the punch that knocks them out is seldom the hard one. It is the one they did not see coming.” Therefore, it is always important to look for signs and indicators that will give you insight into the problem ahead.

5 TRAITS OF SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

To start off a brand new work week, let me share with you the five secrets of a successful person.

1. Consciousness of an honest purpose in life.
2. Adjust estimate of one’s self and everyone else. In other words, he knows himself, he sees himself as God sees him.
3. Frequent self-examinations. A successful person takes time to evaluate himself.
   
4. Steady obedience to what one knows to be right.
5. Indifference to what others may think or say. The only opinion that truly matters to this person is God’s opinion of him.
   

The tips that I shared with you today are from the book “Lists To Live By: The Third Collection.”

Be a blessing in the workplace today.

10 RULES FOR DELEGATION

AWe know that delegation is important if we we want to train leaders for the company. We also know that delegation helps us manage our time wisely. Question is, do you delegate? Here are the tips on how to delegate successfully. “Smart Moves” 10 rules for delegation:

1. Make sure the employee has the skill, talent and ability to perform the job. Do not delegate a job destined to result in failure or frustration.
   
2. Check with your boss. Unless you have been given complete discretion in this matter, be certain the boss agrees to your giving up a particular responsibility.
3. Delegate not only the menial unimportant jobs but also the significant ones. Kasi iisipan ng mga tao, if you delegate important responsibilities you are communicating to the person, that you trust the person, you value his or her judgment and they have the ability to do what you ask them to do. Employees will see this as a vote of confidence.
4. Make sure subordinates clearly understand the task. Have your subordinate describe what they think you want them to accomplish.
5. Allow the subordinate latitude in how the job should be performed. Your way is not the only way. Tel this to yourself - “My way is not the only way.” However, if there are rules or constraints which must be followed make sure you communicate them.
6. Provide all the resources necessary to perform the job. If you are going to delegate also provide the necessary help.
   
7. Remain accessible. Always provide a safety net for the subordinate. Be available but do not engage in over-the-shoulder surveillance o micromanage.
   
8. If the job is performed well, praise the subordinate.
9. If the job is not performed well, tell your subordinate how to improve.
10. Delegate often because everyone wins in that situation. You are able to multiply yourself, you are able to manage your time well, and you are able to train future leaders for your company.
    

Be a blessing in the workplace today.