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Friday 25 March 2011

It feels like Spring!

The sun is shining, the temperature has reached 17 degrees and the flowers are blooming...it’s finally feeling like spring!

It’s amazing what a little bit of sun can do to your mood, it puts a smile on your face when you get up and makes you feel optimistic about the day ahead. After the cold, snow and grey of the last few months it finally feels like things are changing and that anything is possible. The sun always helps to lift my spirits and make me feel happy.

‘The world always looks brighter from behind a smile’ Anonymous

With spring comes new beginnings, so what better time is there to take another look at your news years goals or even to set some new goals.

1)First look at what you have already achieved this year. You may not have reached all your goals but I bet you have done more than you first thought. Write down what you already done this year and this will give you a boost for achieving your next set of goals.

2)Goals are not just limited to your career. You can set goals in any area of your life, goals typically fall in to the following categories – family, social, financial, career, health, spiritual, mental state and community.

3)Make sure that as well as concentrating on what you want you also look at what you are becoming. Setting self-improvement goals will allow you to accomplish your goals more quickly and effortlessly.

4)Share your goals with those around you so that they can support you and assist you in reaching your vision.

Achieving your goals will probably involve time and effort but make sure you have fun while you are doing it and wear a smile on your face. Enjoy the sunshine!

Sophie Whittall
Marketing & Admin Co-ordinator

http://www.london.dalecarnegie.com/

Friday 18 March 2011

A helping hand

Tragedy struck Japan in the last week. A major earthquake and a resulting tsunami struck on March 11 2011 which caused destruction, death and suffering to thousands of people.

Images have been plastered all over televisions the world over and every newspaper in the world has been covering the catastrophe.

Living just under 6000 miles away I can still feel the impact. The unbelievable loss of human life has left a permanent mark on my mind. To say this puts things into perspective is a major understatement.

We spend most of our lives worrying about things which at the time feel more important to us than anything else in the world. I have to hold my hands up and say that I am more guilty than most. I spend too much of my time procrastinating and worry about the past instead of taking action.

I have always been drawn to success stories. I remember reading books and articles about people that have come from nothing and achieved amazing feats.

Many of us are in a privileged position, unlike those suffering in Japan or the millions of people that are born into poverty and struggle everyday of their lives.

I do agree with those who say we should help others whenever we can. That could be donating to charity or volunteering to help others when they are in need.

In addition I believe we need to help ourselves. Think about it, there are millions, nay, billions of people that would swap their life for yours. I have often seen more drive and determination from people living on the streets of Punjab than I have in some office blocks in London.

It is our responsibility to make use of our position. To educate our mind, change our behaviours, improve our skills. The more we do this the more likely we are to be able to make a difference in the lives of those who can not.

Dale Carnegie Training is running a free preview of our flagship programme, The Dale Carnegie Course: Skills for Success on the 23rd of March, you are more than welcome to attend. I will leave you with a quote from Mr Carnegie himself.

'When ill luck besets us, to ease the tension we have only to remember that happiness is relative. The next time you are tempted to grumble about what has happened to you, why not pause and be glad that it is no worse than it is?'

Amar Garcha
Sales Consultant


Friday 11 March 2011

Purpose

John Fisher's transition curve is an excellent analysis of how individuals deal with personal change.

Fisher explains the different emotional stages that a person faces behind a change, with the following order:

1.Anxiety. Can I cope?
2.Happiness. At last something’s going to change!
3.Fear. What impact will this have? How will it affect me?
4.Threat. This is bigger than I thought!
5.Guilt. Did I really do that?
6.Depression. Who am I?
7.Hostility. I will make this work if it kills me!
8.Gradual acceptance. I can see myself in the future.
9.Moving forward. This can work and be good.

If we notice how people think and feel depending on their situation when their environment is changing, we can anticipate their behaviour and take actions.
People’s feelings can provoke them to give up just before a task is achieved.

How do great leaders engage their people when everything seems to be going wrong?
In relation to the above emotional stages, leaders have the power to remind their teams why they are there and give them a purpose.

Most people spend the majority of their time at work, why not give them a purpose for being there everyday? A purpose is what will fill people with the energy and enthusiasm to come to work with the desire to succeed and achieve the impossible.

One of the reasons why Dale Carnegie programmes have been so successful for the last 98 years is because we are focused on changing behaviours by giving people a purpose and a vision. Every participant is encouraged to take risks and try new things that stretch them out of their comfort zone. With this new mindset and courage, people will love their jobs.

People love doing business with people who love their business!

Jose Bort
Sales Consultant

Friday 4 March 2011

Outstanding Service

What's stopping us from building a great lasting impression in our customers mind?

Is it the confidence to ask questions outside the norm? Is it the belief that the customer might not want to have a deeper conversation about anything else outside your business? Whatever that is, I recognise the importance of really connecting emotionally with our customer, prospects, etc...

After meeting one of my clients, the HR Director of a recruitment company I got the feeling she's into fashion. So at my next meeting I told her about a secret designer sale she might be interested in checking out after our meeting. The result? She was so happy she sent me message especially to thank me for the new dress she bought and absolutely loves!

You might not be into fashion, shopping events, etc, but it really adds value when we can think about our customers outside what they might want to buy from us. By taking a genuine interest in them and observing what they're passionate about, we will get far more in return.

So what can you do to add value to your customers?
Corina Balaneanu
Sales Consultant