Monsters in Meetings – Part 1, How to Manage Unproductive Behavior

Everyone complains about bad meetings and how they waste everyone’s time. Here are five general strategies to make sure that you hold an effective meeting, even when unproductive behavior threatens to ruin it. (This is the first of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)

Keywords:
effective meetings, bad meetings, business meeting, monsters in meetings, problem participants, facilitation, steve kaye, facilitator, leadership, one great meeting

It happens easily.

You’re conducting a meeting and suddenly a small side meeting starts. Then two side meetings develop. Soon you have many meetings going at once, and all of them are out of control.

Or maybe someone introduces an unrelated issue. Someone else ridicules the new issue. Everyone laughs, except the person who mentioned the idea. Then someone insults the person who told the joke. Two people stand up and walk out. Others complain that the meeting is a waste of time.

So, how do you prevent things like this from happening?

Or how do you bring your meeting back on track?

Let’s begin with basic strategies for dealing with unproductive behavior in meetings.

Respect other people.
Always treat others with respect, even if they are doing things that seem wrong. Their “bad” behavior could be based on many things, such as a lack of skill, a misunderstanding, or a response to a threat. It could also be a simple mistake. Or maybe they’re expressing an indirect warning, complaint, or cry of pain. If you respond with disrespect, such as with a counterattack, you will make a bad situation worse. They will either retreat, which means they stop contributing to your meeting, or they will retaliate, which can escalate to an argument that ruins your meeting.

Ask questions.
Use questions to find out what is really happening. For example, if someone introduces a new issue, respond by saying, “That sounds interesting, and I wonder how that relates to what we are working on.” Notice that this is a neutral, gentle question. It is not a trick question like, “What are your trying to do, ruin my meeting?” and it is not a command like, “Hey, stick to the topic.” Hostile responses are bad because they put the other person in an awkward position, which always ruins cooperation.

Focus on the behavior.
Your goal is to hold an effective meeting – not teach lessons. If you attempt to punish people, through admonitions, ridicule, or threats, you will make enemies. In the short term, that can ruin the effectiveness of your meeting, and in the long term it can ruin your career. So, when unproductive behavior appears in your meeting, talk about the behavior. For example, if a side conversation starts, you could say, “We seem to have more than one meeting going on now, and that’s preventing us from working on the budget.”

Apply diplomatic courage.
Leaders project strength and confidence; losers project negativity and fear. Detach from the behavior that seems bothersome, realizing it is simply something that the other person is doing. Assume that there is no personal intent to hurt you. Just talk about what is happening and ask for what you want to happen as shown in the above paragraph.

Show what you expect.
Be a model of effective meeting behavior. If it is your meeting, or if you hold a leadership role in your organization, realize that others regard you as the standard for their actions. If you arrive on time for meetings, others will interpret this to mean that they should come to your meetings on time. If you make positive, appropriate contributions in meetings, others will infer that this is what you expect from them.

Apply these strategies to make your meetings effective.

This is the first of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.

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Merchant Credit Card Account Applications

Since a personal credit card provides us with the means to make life easier and more enjoyable, can you imagine what a merchant credit card account can do for your business? This type of account is more than just a line of credit. It is an entire service package that offers support to help your company flourish and grow. Of course, as with any other type of credit account, it is important to use it responsibly. The first step toward obtaining this type of financial and techni…

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Merchant Credit Card Account Applications

Since a personal credit card provides us with the means to make life easier and more enjoyable, can you imagine what a merchant credit card account can do for your business? This type of account is more than just a line of credit. It is an entire service package that offers support to help your company flourish and grow. Of course, as with any other type of credit account, it is important to use it responsibly. The first step toward obtaining this type of financial and technical support is to submit an application.

Finding a merchant credit card account company is not hard at all. You just have to check with bankers in your area to see if they provide this service and are willing to work with you. Barring that route, you can do an online Internet search to find merchant account providers who are accepting new clients. There are plenty of banks and professional lenders who are looking for entrepreneurs to work with. They often will take a chance on new business owners if they think you have the potential to become a trusted client. But first you will need to pass muster by demonstrating your company’s capabilities in a few distinct areas. One is that you have a solid credit history and are not in bankruptcy. A copy of your company’s credit history should be adequate proof for this requirement. A second criterion is that your business has enough income to meet the new expenses of a merchant account. Bank statements or an annual report should help with this concern. Another thing the lender will want to know is the type of business you are doing. If you traffic in pornography, are engaged in telemarketing, or have left a trail linking your company to some unsavory dealings, the underwriter may decline your application. Conditions can vary; so ask about the eligibility requirements before applying.

The next step toward applying for a merchant credit card account is to submit the application. Some lenders provide an online form that you can submit electronically, although you may be charged a fee for this privilege. Other loan agents will let you download a print application that you can complete in ink and mail by U.S. post. Either way, you will probably receive a response to your application within a few days by e-mail or in a letter. If your application is accepted, you can immediately begin to use your credit line and service package to set up a credit card processing system. Working with an account associate, you can arrange to install a credit card processor at your store’s checkout area. Or you can buy a wireless model for several hundred dollars and take it with you on the road when you service computers or appliances, or make deliveries to homes or businesses. Discuss the applications of your new merchant account with the loan officer to clarify limits and equipment options for your company’s use.

You won’t be able to enjoy the use of merchant services until you apply for them, so ask your preferred lender about the application process for a merchant credit card account.

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Outside Help – Hiring A Personal Organizer

Some people who are too busy with work may sometimes be absent minded about certain things and tend to forget doing some of their important chores. If this happens more frequently, it is best to get a handyman of some sort to help out rather than making one’s performance suffer. A personal organizer can be hired to do just about anything, whether it is something that has to do with work in the office or activities that need to be done at home with the family.

Hiring a per…

Keywords:
organizing, organizer, organized

Some people who are too busy with work may sometimes be absent minded about certain things and tend to forget doing some of their important chores. If this happens more frequently, it is best to get a handyman of some sort to help out rather than making one’s performance suffer. A personal organizer can be hired to do just about anything, whether it is something that has to do with work in the office or activities that need to be done at home with the family.

Hiring a personal organizer is like hiring an applicant for any other job. One should prepare a list of questions that the person must be able to answer and if the individual answers well, then the job can be offered. Here are some questions that one can ask a potential personal organizer:

1. How long has the person been doing this line of work?

2. What kind of work does the individual specialize in?

3. There are many other jobs that one can do. Before the person did this, what are the previous jobs, if any, that the individual did before?

4. What is the educational background of the person?

5. If the person has done this before, who are the previous clients that worked with the individual before that can be contacted as references.

6. How much will the person expect if accepted for the job? Will it be by hour or per day?

7. Will the person charge if there will be a trial working session set up to see if there will be any problems working with that individual?

8. What are the suggestions that the person can give regarding the first impression that the individual sees as wrong or unfit in the present working environment?

9. What assurance is there that the advice given will work for the one who hired the personal organizer? Will there be a follow-up session to assess the progress if it works or not? Will there be semi-annual or quarterly check-ups offered to monitor ones progress?

10. Does the personal organizer know anyone that can be contacted if there is a need to establish organizational systems?

Once the person is able to find the right personal organizer to be around with, the individual will not have to worry about things that were overlooked since there is someone nearby making sure that everything will be alright.

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Three Ways to Outsell Your Brick and Mortar Competition

The Internet offers the flexibility to offer things to your customers that your brick and mortar competitors can’t.

Keywords:
internet marketing

When you run a brick and mortar business, you can’t be all things to all people. You’re confined by geography, time, space, and labor. Until the age of the Internet, it was rare to find a competent one-stop shop. Even then, most of those were run by retail giants with millions of dollars and thousands of employees backing it up.

Then, along came the Internet, and with it the World Wide Web, and eventually e-commerce. This made it possible to provide a customer with more services, since goods could be shipped from nearly anywhere. It negated the need for hands-on inventory, and any basic storefront could be the middleman for any number of suppliers.

What does this mean for the average small Internet business owner? You have an expansive power over your local retail and service providers in that you have the ability to connect customers with goods that you’ve never seen, don’t supply, and aren’t near you.

How can you leverage this? Online there are three major ways you can accomplish this.

1. Outsourcing
If you do web design or copywriting, or another related service, you can outsource some of your work by finding someone to do a portion for you. This could be a service you don’t usually offer or don’t wish to offer. You can add the charge right to your clients’ bills as per your billing policy. This is a simple way to complete a project and wow your client without creating a long-term commitment or adding a service to your list.

2. Partnerships
Many small Internet-business owners create an agreement through which they serve each others’ clients. One will provide coaching services, for example, and if their clients need any goal achievement training, the other person will automatically be contracted to provide it. Likewise, if one has goal achievement class clients that want to expand their training, they will automatically be referred to the coach. Partnerships allow you to provide an additional service AND receive qualified prospects.

3. Affiliates
Affiliate programs are the least seamless for your client, and there aren’t any guarantees that they will follow through with the sale, but the good news is that by now, most Internet users are used to purchasing items through affiliate programs, so they at least understand the concept. Affiliate programs are an entire beast of their own, and you can find a plethora of information online that will teach you how to set them up, how to track traffic and sales, and how to effectively promote them.

Basically, you refer your clients to another business or website and they make their purchase independently of their order and relationship with you. The business they purchase from then pays you a commission – either a percentage of sales or flat rate per sale. Affiliate programs have the potential to be highly profitable with the right quantity and quality of traffic. They do often require a lot of work to set up and maintain.

While as an independent small business owner you will still be somewhat limited as to how many services you can actually offer, the Internet opens up numerous possibilities that allow you to expand well beyond the capacities of a brick and mortar business. Take advantage of those opportunities, and maintain them wisely, and you’ll “build” a successful, profitable business.

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Who’s Your Guru?

The other day I was talking to a guy at the health club I just joined. (Never had time when I was working for someone else.) We started talking about our personal trainers. If you aren’t familiar with the term, these are fitness experts who are educated to design work-out routines based on an individuals strengths, needs and goals.

Anyway, Rick said something that struck me right between the eyes. “I got so confused reading all the books and fitness magazines. Everyone ha…

Keywords:
cbmall,affiliate,clickbank

The other day I was talking to a guy at the health club I just joined. (Never had time when I was working for someone else.) We started talking about our personal trainers. If you aren’t familiar with the term, these are fitness experts who are educated to design work-out routines based on an individuals strengths, needs and goals.

Anyway, Rick said something that struck me right between the eyes. “I got so confused reading all the books and fitness magazines. Everyone has a different opinion of what works the best. I finally figured if I was going to work out, I might as well pick one expert, listen to them and follow their program.”

Later, as I was driving my sore body home, I thought about how appropriate Rick’s comment was to Internet Marketing. Everyone’s an expert. (Even people who have yet to sell their first eBook.) And there are a million programs, books, secrets, techniques and tactics that will work for you.

The problem is, you can easily fall into what my favorite business school professor called, “Analysis Paralysis”. That’s where a lot of people are stuck. They keep reading, and it gets in the way of actually doing something.

***** I was guilty *****

I was guilty of this, too. I must have bought several hundred dollars worth of books and courses before I found what worked for me.

Fortunately, the expert I decided to follow was, in hindsight, an excellent choice. And by following his advice and listening to his ideas, I have built up a couple of successful income streams.

My point isn’t that my “guru” is the right one for everyone. The point is to pick one or maybe a couple of people you really respect, and model them. Of course, make sure they are actually successful in their own businesses first. But when you find someone you respect and whose style you like, listen to their advice and follow what they recommend in their writings.

***** Save Your Brain *****

Following this strategy can save lots of brain cells that you would spend switching strategies and tactics. It avoids confusion and gives you a good point of reference from which to work.

You don’t have to keep reading and searching for the latest eBooks. Assume your guru knows the latest tactics and will advise you of how well they work.

I’m not saying you never look at another eBook or eZine again, it’s just that you have one primary star you follow, it’s that much easier to find your way.

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What Makes Full Color Postcards So Great?

For starters, full color postcards have that aesthetic appeal that never fails to charm and allure its recipients. In fact, as you probably notice that it’s not your common looking envelopes that grab your attention whenever you rummage in your mails but rather it’s the colorful postcards that you find interesting enough to read first.

Keywords:
Full, Color, Postcards

There are so many formats of direct mails that one may choose from but the question is which among these will provide you with the best results? Here in Rush Postcard Printing we have been able to guide hundreds of clients in growing their business by means of full color postcards. Just what makes full color postcards so effective? For starters, full color postcards have that aesthetic appeal that never fails to charm and allure its recipients. In fact, as you probably notice that it’s not your common looking envelopes that grab your attention whenever you rummage in your mails but rather it’s the colorful postcards that you find interesting enough to read first.

And unlike any other direct mail advertising, postcards often times contain with it surprises. Isn’t it a great surprise to know that your favorite brand of jeans or shoes are offering a big discount for those who may purchase before the end of a certain specified date and any customers that bring along the postcard will avail additional discounts? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to receive such great news?

Likewise, direct mail postcards don’t require much of a reader’s time since it can be read in one sitting at a much lesser time. Every information included in a postcard is written in a concise and direct manner, there is no running around the bush. In addition, postcards are also great in creating name recognition and branding for business. Since postcards are not only sent once but many times, your customers will now grow accustomed to seeing your company’s logo on the postcard. That is why the next time they happen to see a similar logo they will immediately associate it with your business or company.

Postcards especially full color postcards are hard to pass up. It may be true that not all information contained in the postcard is read but the mere reading of the headline is enough to stimulate the interest of its readers.

Lastly, compared to other direct mail formats, full color postcards are by far cheaper since they foregone certain processes like folding, inserting, tabbing and many more. And it is also very easy to create since it doesn’t require too much inclusion of information. All you need is a headline and then relevant images on one side plus a glimpse of the benefits that may be derived from your products and services. And of course don’t forget to include pertinent information about your business like times and days of your operation, telephone numbers, and business address as well as other detail that you deem is important.

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Trade Show Booth Lighting Attracts Attention

The keys to lighting trade show booths.

Keywords:
trade show booth, trade show display, trade show, trade show exhibit, trade show display, booth, trade show display rental, trade show graphic

Never underestimate the value of the proper lighting of your trade show exhibit.

Creative lighting for your trade show booth is sure to lure more visitors. On the other hand, a poorly lit exhibit detracts from the trade show exhibit space and can leave it largely ignored. Your trade show lighting professional can use dramatic illumination techniques to create a show stopping effect or simply use lighting to highlight graphics and/or products.

It is essential for the lighting designer to know the exhibitor’s goals, exhibit design and budget before presenting lighting options. Once this is established, the trade show lighting professional can offer multiple options to maximize the visual appeal of the exhibit display.

By innovative use of different types of lighting, the same trade show booth can have a completely different look, effect and mood. There is a wide range of lighting choices ranging from a simple clamp on arm, to high quality fluorescent lighting, track or rail lighting, recessed lighting or fully programmable, changing color LED lighting fixtures.

Each of these forms of illumination serves a different purpose. The selection of the proper lighting product is therefore based on what effect the exhibitor desires to achieve.

For example, in the more decorative trade show booth using tension fabric, the fully programmable, changing color LED lighting creates a dynamic, dramatic effect that is certain to draw the attention of trade show attendees.

For a clean appearance in the same trade show booth, very white fluorescent lighting works well. If, however, dramatic shadows are desired, certain types of targeted track lighting may be preferred. Quality clamp on arm lights can be versatile enough to deliver good white light on focal points or to wash lighting evenly on backwalls. High quality white light ensures that colors and graphics are accurately displayed. Since light can also alter color, it is essential that your white light renders consistent and true color.

Keep in mind that when searching for the right lighting effect, there are a number of price options that can help you reach your goals. Be mindful that there are rental options available for very high end lighting that may be an appropriate way to satisfy your trade show budget constraints.

Rob Cohen, Vice President/Owner of Display Supply & Lighting, Inc. of Itasca, Illinois, offers examples of how a professional trade show lighting company can help you avoid two of the more common exhibit mistakes. They are:

1. Be aware of the electrical codes, capabilities and constraints in exhibit halls. Find out in advance what is allowed or disallowed in the convention hall to meet local lighting requirements. Find out requirements for exhibit halls whether they be the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago, the Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland, the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the San Jose and Santa Clara Convention Centers, etc.

Be sure your trade show booth lighting products meet the exhibit hall’s specified criteria for trade show exhibitors. For example, trade show halls require 3- wire grounded plugs on all lighting fixtures at the trade show. These fixtures are not commonly available at large volume box stores.

2. Scope out the location of the exhibitor’s trade show site.

This is important as not all types of light bulbs are allowed in some facilities. Recent regulations restrict a couple of major conference facilities from using certain types of light bulbs often for safety reasons.

Cohen says it is critical that your exhibit house either understand their lighting options or have a relationship with a company that can advise them on trade show lighting opportunities and concerns.

Remember, lighting can either attract or detract visitors to your trade show booth. It is best to know what your exhibit display emphasis is and what your lighting options are before you design a lighting system for your trade show display.

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Which Is More Effective And Economical In Endorsing, A Flyer Or A Poster?

Flyer and poster printing are one of the most in demand printing solution for competitive businesses.

Keywords:
4 color flyers printing

Any new business has to catch the attention of its prospective customers with a vibrant and strong piece of promotion. Flyer and poster printing are one of the most in demand printing solution for competitive businesses. Nowadays, there many printing companies that are producing more eye- catching flyer or poster printing.

These flyer and poster are both effective to use as a marketing tool. However, these two have many differences, for instance in price, a flyer is more inexpensive and highly effective way to grab attention in a very busy marketplace. A poster is also a great way to advertise a certain product or service, it can easily get the attention of readers due to its big size compared to flyer, but it can cost you higher than flyer printing.

When it regards to reprinting, because flyer is smaller and cheaper than poster, you can have them reprint as much as you want, while poster printing is expensive and I bet you don’t want to reprint them over and over again, perhaps limited. As for time management, poster printing is a time consuming process both for you and for the printing company you hired, because there are more factors that need to consider in creating a poster. One of the disadvantages of this poster printing method is that any errors on the final product are not readily corrected especially if the poster has been laminated. Unlike flyers you don’t have to laminate, it can only add to the cost.

Another advantage of flyers to posters, by using flyers as your advertising tool, you can send flyers through the mail, or post them in strategic locations, or you can hand them out to the passing customers. Flyers are a quick and easy tool for relaying information compared to posters. That is why it is important to have an eye-catching flyer design. Your design should have the design with bold captions and an intriguing design in this way you can easily capture the attention of your target audience.

Bright colors, strong type and graphics with 4 color flyers printing process are the tools to use if you want to have a stand out flyer. A 4 color flyer printing solution is inexpensive but does not mean that it is cheap. There is a big difference. Many professional printers create works of art with their state of the art printing presses, and the end result is that your flyers look great.

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