12 Most Valuable Listening Skills Which Will Lead You To Success

Listening is a vital management and leadership activity. Of all the skills we use when we lead our people, it’s vital that we communicate effectively and that is always two way.

What we hear is vital as we work to create rapport with others, as well as clearly understanding the information they want to share with us.

Here are some skills you can use today, right away!

1. Pay full attention

Whenever you are listening to anyone (team members, customers and clients, friends and family — anyone!), it’s vital to always pay full attention to them. This builds rapport, makes them feel valued in whatever role they have in your life, whilst creating trust along the way. So, put down what you are doing, face them and show them that you are listening.

2. Ask another question

When you listen and hear fully what others say to you, you can then ask more about what they’ve just told you. This helps you find out more, it helps them feel heard and to appreciate that what they have said is valuable enough for you to want to know more.

3. Seek clarification if you aren’t sure

If you aren’t sure what someone means when they are talking to you, simply ask for clarification. Even by truly listening, you will not always “get” what you hear, so it’s far better to ask to give them the chance to explain better, which helps their processing and understanding too.

4. Make eye contact with them

Good listening starts with making — and maintaining — eye contact with whoever is speaking. When you look at people as they speak, you are building a relationship, quickly creating the rapport you need to make the most of the interaction. Eye to eye contact can sometimes be too intense for some people, so eye to mouth works perfectly!

5. Summarize what you hear

Summarizing what you hear when someone else is talking to you, shows that you are listening (“So, what you are saying is…”). It also gives them the opportunity to reconsider and, if necessary, rephrase to get their point across.

6. Avoid being disturbed

While you can be great at listening, if you don’t get the respect of the individual speaking, much can be lost in the interaction. It’s important to make sure that you create an environment where you can’t be disturbed. By creating clear boundaries about when you can be disturbed, you will mostly be freed when others need you to focus on them.

7. Say less and make it about them

The mantra is “Two ears, one mouth. Use them in that proportion.” Listening is about that, listening. If you are so full of what you want to say, there’s not much room for the skills you need to listen effectively. By focusing fully on the other person and what they are saying, you will be a much better listener. Say less.

8. Follow through with what you say you will

Although it might not sound like it’s a listening skill, this is. By ensuring that you hear properly and reflect on when action is expected of you, you will show you are a good listener and build trust and respect for being so. Do what you say you will when you’ve been in conversation with someone (well, all the time actually), is a good habit.

9. Body language counts

A smile. A frown. Even a wriggle of discomfort. They mean so much when you are listening to others (as, of course, what you see on their face means to you). By being expressive in alignment with what you are thinking as you hear what they say, your expressions show you are listening closely. Be the reflection of what they say, because it encourages their thinking to progress too.

10. Switch stuff off and focus

In the ever busier world we inhabit, there seems to be less and less time to get things done. So it can be hard to switch off and make sure we listen closely when others are with us. It is made easier by turning computer screens and phones off so they don’t get in the way of conversations. And when on the phone — well, this is often more of a challenge, so it’s vital to be even more careful then.

11. Say it again for effect

Sometimes when we listen, we can get confused by what’s being said and the message is unclear. After all, what people say is passed through their outgoing filter and in through our incoming one. It’s hardly surprising that confusion arises. So it’s a good listening step to ask them to say it again; to rephrase; to put it into one sentence maybe. It show you are listening; that you care enough to ask for clarity and ultimately, this builds even stronger bonds between you.

12. Prepare for action

Create relationships to build trust, in advance of when it’s critical. By informally building rapport all the time, when you really need their collaboration, both sides will listen better when there is a good foundation at you foster by making the effort.

12 Most Inescapable Leadership Teachings

Leadership is a journey where the first steps are often the most difficult. Throughout that journey you learn through your own experiences and the lessons of others. However, those early lessons are often the most critical.

These 12 most inescapable leadership teachings are a combination of both types of learning: wisdom gained from early mentors as well as experiences along the way. They apply as much today as they ever have — you can’t escape them! I hope these early lessons help you build a solid foundation or refresh you on your journey to change the world!

1. Your number one job is to build your replacement

The most important work you’ll ever do is to invest in other people. You simply cannot change the world on your own. Leaders build leaders. If you want additional responsibility or increased impact, help others learn to do what you’re doing.

2. Don’t believe your own press release

Success can easily turn sour if you start to assume all the good things you hear about yourself or your organization are automatic… that things will go well because they always have in the past. Enjoy praise and affirmation when they come, but remember the work it took. That work usually took place where no one could see it.

3. People don’t argue with their own information

You may have a great solution to a problem others don’t even know exists. The time you take to outline problems and get input from others will pay for itself ten times over. It is critical to involve stakeholders in problem solving. We are all more likely to implement solutions we have helped craft.

4. All of us are smarter than one of us (sometimes)

Crowdsourcing has demonstrated this one in many ways. No one person has all the answers or knows all the facts. But I say “sometimes” because crowds can also make pretty dumb decisions. Your job as a leader is to set clear criteria and a vision of what we can accomplish. Leaders help all of us to be smarter than one of us.

5. The greatest are the least

Humility is fundamental to influence. Humility can take many forms, but at its core it says:
“We are both human beings with value”
“I know enough to know I may be wrong”
“How can I help?”
“Come and join me” not “go do this for me” — people intuitively know if you think you are better than they are. No one follows that.

6. We, not I

Leaders say “we”, not “I.” It’s not about you, it’s about the team.

7. Bring people with you

Once I was leading a group of fifty or sixty people from outside an arena through doors, around the concourse, and down to a bank of seats on the arena floor. We each put a hand on one another’s shoulder and I set off. When I got to the chairs, however, only three people had made it with me. I had gone too fast and the team broke apart. I was a great scout that day — I found the chairs. But leaders take people with them.

8. No responsibility without authority

This one I learned very early in life. As the oldest of six, I was asked to get the house clean by the time my father returned home. I was given responsibility… but I was 12 years old. 12 year olds don’t have a lot of authority. Effective leaders do not give responsibility without also giving authority to go with it.

9. Say “thank you”

No one must do anything for you. They choose to do it. Acknowledge that miracle!

10. Apologize

When you’re wrong, own it. Apologize and make it right. A real apology acknowledges that you were wrong.

11. Flowers bloom in their own time

As a child I would be so eager for the first spring roses or peonies to bloom that I sometimes “helped” them along. I would pry open the green leaves covering the blossom and try to coax the interior petals into the semblance of a flower. Of course, it ruined the whole thing.

Flowers bloom when they are ready and you cannot force them. People also have natural seasons and you can ruin good people by forcing things. Sometimes you have to go slow to go fast.

12. Protect people’s dignity

Extend worth to everyone. Celebrate their contribution to the world. Do not spend time with those who steal another’s dignity.

Even in difficult situations such as ending someone’s employment, extend dignity. There is never a reason to belittle or make someone feel small. If you do, you will lose credibility as well as lose the person and their network.

12 Most Efficient Ways to Keep People Awake During Your Presentation

Most people would rather face the electric chair than sit through a PowerPoint presentation. This is fairly sound reasoning, considering most Power Points are capable of boring someone to death.

It’s unfortunate that so many PowerPoint presentations are poorly constructed and delivered, because when executed properly they can be tremendously persuasive.

Here’s how to get the most out of your presentation:

1. Have a point

A point is what puts the power in a PowerPoint presentation, what keeps people from walking away thinking they wasted their time. One way to develop your central point is to complete the sentence, “The most important thing you will gain from this presentation is —.” Whatever the point is, it should matter the audience, not the presenter. Example: “This presentation will show you how we can reduce your procurement costs by 25%.”

2. Do an outline

The point of your presentation is the starting point for your outline, and it should be stated both at the beginning and the end. Staying with the example, continue the outline by adding a slide for each of the high-level ways you can reduce the customer’s procurement costs. Then, add slides for ways that need detailed explanation. A point-based, benefit-driven outline forces you to put ideas in a sequence that the audience can follow — and more importantly, wants to follow.

3. When in doubt, leave it out

Avoid the temptation to go into detail by asking yourself, will the listener get the point and be willing to act on it without this information? The huge value of hitting only the high points is brevity. The longer the presentation, the less people remember. For complex topics, deliver a high-level presentation, and then email listeners a copy of the PowerPoint with additional, detailed slides.

4. Highlight personal benefits

When discussing the value of saving 25% on procurement costs, go beyond the mundane business benefits like a stronger bottom line, and touch on how your customer can be a hero to the boss, or maybe even earn an extra week’s vacation. This draws people in and influences them on a deeper level.

5. Use powerful images

Especially for slides with a personal angle, use visuals that evoke an emotional response. Everybody complains about dry presentations, and poor imagery is a big reason why. Just make sure images are relevant to the slide’s content; otherwise, they only distract and confuse.

6. Use images to simplify complex ideas

Everybody knows a slide loaded with lengthy bullet points is tedious. If the idea is that complicated, forget the text altogether and use an image that you can walk the audience through. A visual explanation is more easily understood and longer remembered.

7. Use slides for emphasis, not exposition

A slide should not attempt to tell the whole story — that’s what the presenter should do verbally. Generally, the best way to leverage a slide is to draw attention to and reinforce key points.

8. Use humor, carefully and selectively

Engaging Power Points often contain a cartoon or two, and an occasional joke breaks down barriers and prevents clock-watching. Effective humor for a business presentation steers clear of controversial topics and has at least some relevance to the topic. Humor can also be used to help make key points sink in.

9. Ask great questions

Instead of giving a speech, engage the audience in conversation. For this to work, you must ask questions that force people to think, but not so hard as to make them clam up for fear of giving a dumb answer. A couple of easy ways to get people to speak up: ask them to share a (not too) personal experience or to give you their gut reaction to what you just said.

10. Rehearse again and again

You can always tell when a presenter has practiced: slide transitions are impeccably timed, explanations are crystal clear, and questions are fielded smoothly, never disrupting the flow of the presentation. Polished execution captures and sustains interest, and cannot be accomplished by “winging it.”

11. Solicit audience feedback afterwards

Great presenters usually start out just as clumsily as anyone else. Perhaps the second best way to improve is to ask the audience what they liked and what could be improved. People are more likely to give answers while they are there, so try passing out survey cards and collecting them as they leave.

12. Watch yourself on video

If audience feedback is the second best way to improve, watching yourself in action just might be the best. Most of us feel the other way around, but our flaws really are more glaring to ourselves than to others. It may be painful, but even a few minutes reviewing your performance on video could save you hours of time in a PowerPoint training room.

The 3 Stages of Career Success

Every person with a financially successful career goes through these three distinct stages.

1. Self-awareness.  Most people do not know what they want to do with their lives or even what kind of activity makes them happy.  You ask these people "What's your dream job?" and they reply "I dunno..."  So the first stage of any successful career is knowing enough about yourself to know what you ought to be doing with yourself.

2. Monetization. Most people get stages one and two backwards.  They take a job (or a major in college) with the intent of making money and then wonder why they're not enjoying themselves.  The recipe for success entails first finding out what you want to do and only then figuring out how to get people (customers) to pay you money to do it.

3. Expansion.  Now that you know what type of work makes you happy and you've gotten people to pay you money to do it, you expand your ability to do what makes you happy by reaching more people (customers). This inevitably results in you receiving more money for what you truly enjoy doing.

Here's an example from my own life.  I knew from the time I was four years old that I wanted to be writer.  I fought against that self-awareness for decades, working at jobs that, while they made me appear to be successful from the outside, were not what I really wanted to do in my heart of hearts.

When I finally gave in to that self-realization, my main task was finding ways to get people to pay me to write. This is was when I first started learning about selling, because monetization is always an act of selling.  As a result, within two years of becoming a full-time freelance writer, I was making twice what I was making before.

Because I was now doing what I always knew I was supposed to be doing.

At this point of my life, I'm at stage three: focused on expanding my reach as a writer, secure in the knowledge that what I write has real value to my readers (that's you guys) and that the more readers I get, the more value I can provide and therefore the more money I'll make.

I'm not telling you this to impress you, but to impress upon you that you that you must listen to that inner voice of self-awareness that knows what you should be doing with your life.  Once you listen to that voice, I absolutely guarantee you that there is a way to get people to pay you to do what you truly love.

12 Most Practical Strategies to Beat Stress at Work

Taking a chill at work to reduce stress is challenging, as we all juggle the work-life merge. You have to make the time to do it, in the way that works for you. It’s highly unlikely your boss will “Om” you into a relaxed state, even though it might drive the innovation to create the next “Google.”

As I tell the executives I work with, there’s no quick fix to beat stress. Creating a stress-busting routine is more of an individual journey, than a destination. Think of your workday as a lab and try different experiments to consume the chaos.

To get a handle on stress, it helps to build up an arsenal of tools so you can harness a little “inner chill” when you need it most.

1. Take a few deep breaths

It’s not about a quick breath to calm you down, it’s about the science of the breath. Take deep breaths throughout the day, in through the nose, and out through the mouth. Breathing into the nostrils, stimulates the pre-frontal cortex of the brain. It triggers the release of stress-reducing hormones such as dopamine and serotonin.

2. Take a break from office gossip

Avoid the water cooler gossip factory. It’s important to cultivate healthy relationships at work, but diving into the trashing and bashing of fellow colleagues, managers and office politics just feeds negativity, is a time waster and induces stress.

3. Recharge with physical activity

Create healthy habits of exercise. Even just a walk outside around your building or some seated yoga postures are beneficial. Try to schedule a half hour of white space in your calendar twice a week, to take a movement break. Getting the blood and lymph flowing in the body is good for the immune system and reduces stress.

4. Modify your environment

Change your working conditions. Work from a conference room, head outside for a bit, or telecommute for a day. It gets your brain thinking differently. What can you put on your desk to generate positive thoughts? Try a family picture, small statue, knickknack, or just a post-it note with an inspirational phrase or word.

5. Focus on the positive by journaling

Try journaling once a week at a scheduled time. Reflect on some of the better moments at work or in your career. Even if you don’t like your job, write a list of the good points associated with your position. Note how new friends, clients or colleagues, are enhancing your working experience.

6. Cultivate a contemplative practice

We’re on overdrive. But you can slow things down by taking time to read some inspirational material in the middle of your work day. For some, reading prayers, meditative passages, or philosophy calms the mind and soul. Others prefer the repetition of positive affirmations or spiritual mantras.

7. Get a handle on your info-intake

Sensory overload triggers stress and creates distractions. Limit checking and responding to e-mails that don’t need immediate attention. Inform clients and colleagues of your patterns. Create your own plan of monitoring news and blog feeds, aggregating information, and scheduling the timing of your intake.

8. Create some work-life flexibility

How you determine your work-life flexibility strategy is an individual journey. Check out flexible workplace policies at your company. To make it work, it might mean having a conversation with your manager or human resources. Be ready with suggestions for your unique situation that will mutually benefit you and your employer.

9. Focus on meaningful communication

Poor communication creates frustration, can result in inefficient interactions and can lead to stress. Strive for the 3 C’s: Co-creation of a Conscious Conversation. The trick is to be more mindful of how and when you communicate with colleagues or clients, and being aware of the goal for the communication.

10. Do a time management check

Sometimes we unintentionally clutter the playing field of the mind with confusion, rather than taking the time to prioritize and get organized. How we manage our time is a huge part of the puzzle to reduce stress. Keep a log of how you’re spending your time daily and monitor it weekly. Assess, then adjust, on a regular basis. Identify the unproductive demands on your time.

11.Take in visual soul food

Check out screen savers and apps that offer visual meditative exercises. What we watch impacts our brain and can either hype us up — or calm us down. Surf the web or YouTube for comforting videos. Nature or animal videos are easily found on the web, and are generally relaxing to watch.

12. Listen to relaxing music

Classical music might not be for everyone but studies show that it has a relaxing effect on brain waves. Generally, in a busy work atmosphere, the brain is in a beta state which tends to be frenetic. Relaxing music induces an alpha state which reduces stress.

12 Most Sharp Reasons Your Audience is the Key to Your Future

Every speech is an opportunity to advance your career in some manner. Be that your reputation, your status in certain people’s eyes or your ability to have people accept your recommendations.

Next time you are feeling a bit lazy about creating and rehearsing a presentation, think about what your audience could or could not do for you depending on your performance.

1. They could hire you

Someone in your audience may be in a position to hire you — either now or in the future. You never know, so always make a good impression.

2. They could recommend you

Someone will probably be asked about your talk. You want people to praise your content and its relevance to them as well as your enthusiastic, engaging delivery.

3. They may need your information

Some need to know your content and are counting on you to help them understand it well enough to use it or share it with others. You want them to feel able to explain the key points of most relevance to them.

4. They could sabotage your presentation

Keep up your reputation. Prepare so no one will try to come after you and show that you aren’t really that knowledgeable on the topic.

5. They could ask relevant questions that show you know what you are talking about

When people are learning and enjoying the experience, they are more motivated to ask relevant questions rather than aggressive, difficult ones.

6. They could ask a question that helps you in your work

Once in a while someone will ask a question that gives you a new insight into a challenge, product, or service you are presenting. You’ll get some valuable information for the future direction of your work.

7. They could provide career opportunities

When you do well in a presentation, your boss is more likely to give you additional opportunities to speak. You’re more likely to stand out as promotion material and be included in the succession plan.

8. They could refer you to someone who can add even more value to your topic

Someone may say to you, “I believe you would really enjoy talking to this person about this area. Here’s her name and email. Tell her I suggested the two of you connect.”

9. They could suggest other opportunities to speak

Someone may come up after your presentation and say, “I think so and so’s group should hear this information. I will have the vice-president of that group contact you.”

10. They could help you reach your objective

Is the objective of your presentation to drive action? Your audience members may be decision makers or approvers — the people who can turn your recommendations into reality. Help them want to be on your side and support you.

11. They could get really excited and feel part of a team

If your objective is team building, you want to engage and motivate your audience to work towards certain key objectives. Teambuilding might translate into the project getting done ahead of schedule.

12. They could buy your service or product

You participants may be in a place to say “yes” to a purchase. If not, they are certainly all in a place to tell someone else about your service. Make it easy for them to want to connect you to a potential buyer.

12 Most Pointedly, Pivotal Blogs about Presentations and Speaking

Does the thought of giving a speech fill you with dread, anxiety or even horror? You are not alone! Even the most seasoned speaker feels the butterflies and the lump in their throat before giving a pivotal presentation. We all want to excel and share our message with an audience.

Luckily, there is a wealth of great advice on presentations and speaking to help you prepare for your BIG speech. My passion and goal in life is to help speakers speak up and build relationships with their audience. Here are 12 of my favorite presentation and speaking blogs that I read when I am not perusing the pages of 12 Most. (click the name of the blog for a link)

1. 6 Minutes by Andrew Dlugan

This blog has a wealth of information on almost any speaking subject imaginable from how to present data to a guide to your first 10 speeches at Toastmasters.

2. Duarte blog by Nancy Duarte

This is the blog of the author of Slide:ology. There are great tips and tricks for designing visually stunning presentations.

3. Speak Schmeak by Lisa Braithwaite

If you are looking for examples and lesson learned from real life speaking experiences, then look no further than Speak Schmeak.

4. Speak & Deliver by Rick Hopkins

Rich’s blog is written for speakers who are just starting out to those who are advanced in their speaking career. He encourages all of us to speak and deliver.

5. The Eloquent Women by Denise Graveline

An excellent resource that analyzes the challenges and gives tips aimed at women speakers.

6. Craig Valentine’s Blog

What I love most about Craig’s blog is that he shows either through video or audio how he implemented his own speaking advice.

7. TED Talks

Looking for inspiring talks with clear messages and great delivery? Look no further then TED Talks. One of my favorites is Brene Brown’s talk on the power of vulnerability.

8. Communication Studies

A great resource for students studying communication and wondering what to do with their degrees.

9. VoicePro blog

What communication and speaking lessons can we learn from popular culture and current events? Many! VoicePro delivers speaking advice with wit and fun.

10. Ovation Communication blog

Seamless blending teachings from the theater and etiquette for an impactful blog about all things speaking and communication.

11. HugSpeak by Lauren Hug

Lawyer by day and high school speech coach by night, Lauren blends what she has learned from law and coaching into compelling presentation and personal branding advice.

12. Book More Business by Lois Creamer

Professional speaker or aspiring to go pro? Lois’s blog is a must read for speakers who want to make a living from speaking.

Giving that big presentation doesn’t have to be scary. There is a plethora of advice for delivering your message in a compelling and impactful way.

What are some of your favorite presentation and speaking blogs? I am always looking for new reads!

12 Most Dangerous Meetings: Career Caution!

Meetings are a fact of life in organizations of all sizes. Lately I’ve been to one too many of a meeting about a meeting. Why must we waste time in this way!? I often wonder how we actually get any work done. The ideal meeting has an agenda, is run by a person either trained in facilitation or a leader of some flavor, is held in a work space with steady-state temperature, and is populated by people committed to solving a problem or advancing the company’s goals.

REALITY CHECK. Bet you haven’t been to a meeting like that lately, have you? I bet you’ve been to meetings about having other meetings. Meetings in rooms where the temperature ranges from 55 to 89 in two minutes flat and at least one person is menopausal or depressed. Meetings where people are answering their phones, texting, whispering, coughing with their mouths open. You know these kinds of meetings. Wink.

In real life, most meetings are ineffectual, sometimes even a disaster. Handle yourself wrong, come in unprepared, and that meeting could be career-limiting.

Here are 12 common types of meetings you’ll encounter in the workplace – and how to behave in such a way that the next meeting is not your last. Trust me, I’ve been there.

1. The Staff Meeting

A well-run staff meeting can rally the troops, provide useful information to all employees simultaneously and provide people with a view into where the company is going, why, and why their efforts are important. Sadly most staff meetings are poorly organized, put together at the last minute and attended by surly and aggrieved co-workers. Survive the staff meeting by being attentive, taking notes, commenting with positive ideas (hold those negative thoughts for a private follow up) and practicing active listening. Tip: leave the cell phone at your desk. Nothing is more annoying than people who take calls or text madly throughout a meeting. The truth: poorly-run staff meetings are soul-destroying. Warn others.

2. The Project Update Meeting

You’re part of a project team. Half the people are in other locations. You’re using a bridge line and conference phone, which of course has latency issues or faulty noise reduction software, so you can’t hear when someone starts talking over another person. Bonus round: only a third of the people have completed their assignments. Get through this meeting by jotting down notes of what you need to say, not talking over or interrupting others, sitting near the phone, and – it almost goes without saying – doing your work before the meeting.

3. The One-on-One

Know that this is a test, and be prepared. If your boss asks for a one-on-one, make sure you know the topic in advance, and prepare. The one-on-one is always about how you’re doing – or not doing. Never make excuses, don’t apologize and don’t argue – be prepared, have a script, know your stuff. It’s the most lethal meeting type, so be on your toes. If you’re called in to a one-on-one with HR, you might want to start working on your resume.

4. The Client Visit

Not all clients are nice people. Some are sadists. Some visit to check up on you. Some want to get out of their offices for a day. Some like to watch your team twist. Some want to see if your offices are real, state-of-the-art and clean. Probably less than half of client visits actually accomplish anything. Have a written agenda; have drinks and some light food; make sure the whiteboards are clean; have a facilitator to make sure you go through the entire agenda. Make sure someone takes notes, summarizes action items and sends them to all participants. Follow up on all action items. Treat your client like a guest, not a pal, not an enemy, but don’t put up with any crap, either. You’re in a business relationship, so act that way. Even if the client is a jerk.

5. The Project Kickoff Meeting

It’s always high-stakes in a project kickoff meeting. It’s where goals are set, pecking order is established, deliverable's and dates are agreed on. Run through goals with your manager first. Know why you’re at the meeting and what’s expected of you. Agree in advance on three things you need to accomplish, and get them done. Take notes and report back – and include personality sketches, and your assessment of who’s really in it to get things done. Remember it’s a project, not the rest of your life. You can do this.

6. The Team Meeting

Regular team meetings are essential in many organizations, but they can be fraught with danger. Not all teams get along. Some people may be disorganized or have negative attitudes. Go in acting like a leader. Make people accountable. Have your own assignments complete. And use each team meeting as an opportunity to build consensus and team spirit – don’t act like a cheerleader, but a leader. Stuck with a dysfunctional team? Well, aren’t we all at some point?

7. The Off-Site Meeting

Beloved of managers who think going to a hotel or conference center in the middle of nowhere will invigorate the troops and get things back on track. Games may be involved, or consultants doing Meyers-Briggs and other party tricks. IRL, this is bad strategy and almost never results in team building. Expect lots of eye-rolling and borderline disruptive behavior. Don’t plan off-sites unless you have a goal and a really good reason. Never think of these meetings as a ‘reward’ – they are to be survived. Don’t kid yourself that they’re fun.

8. The Performance Review Meeting

Some managers do quarterly reviews, some annual. Either way this can be the most dangerous meeting of all. A good manager will never surprise you in a performance review, but good managers are few and far between. So prepare by reviewing at your objectives, re-reading your last review, and coming prepared with a document that lists all your achievements against objectives, as well as areas where you went above and beyond expectations. Expect a few surprises and be prepared to hear hard things – some manager think it’s bad form to give an all-positive review. Be strong, and keep you emotions in check. Don’t argue – note where what you hear diverges from your reality, and ask to review those sections. Be dispassionate, not defensive.

9. The Budget Review Meeting

Another essential meeting, and one which should go smoothly if you’re prepared. If it’s an internal meeting, have your numbers crunched in advance. Ask for what you need but don’t pad too much. If it’s a budget review with a client, be realistic. Look at what you really need for budget to service the client properly, have your rationale, and ask for an appropriate budget. Don’t be defensive or uncertain. If you can’t add, bring a calculator or a colleague who didn’t flunk math three times.

10. The (Insert Year) Planning Meeting

Yes, you really do need to do an annual plan, even though chances are things will change. This is the meeting where you should bring your vision for what should be, strategies that will support the vision and tactics that will get you there. If there isn’t an agenda available in advance, bring a straw-man. And have last year’s plan as reference. Gosh – remember when companies did five year plans? At least those days are over.

11. The Industry Conference

If you’re sent to a conference or trade show, you’ve been sent to a meeting, just with another set of people. Behave well. Don’t get drunk and throw up on an industry analyst’s shoes. Know the company messaging. Know the competitors. Don’t tick off a potential customer, and don’t eye the gal or guy at the next booth. Especially in Vegas.

12. Any Company Party

Yet another dangerous meeting. The goal here should be to do no damage to your reputation. Dress appropriately, don’t get outrageously drunk, and say thank you. Remember management thinks these parties are a good thing, and they also think you should enjoy them and be grateful. Don’t smirk or scowl. Try to get into the spirit of the thing. If you bring your spouse or partner, remind him or her not to say snide things to the boss’s partner. Smile. It won’t kill you, and you might actually enjoy yourself. It could happen.
 

12 Most Successful Tips for Working At Home

For many, it’s impossible. “How could I ever work successfully at home?”

I’ve never had a full time office job. I’ve worked exclusively at home for the past seven years and love it. Here’s how you can do it too.

1. Define the why

I’ll work from home while I’m raising my child. I’ll work from home to start my own business. I write so I don’t need to go to an office.

What’s your reason for making this choice? Be specific. Why do you want to work from home? That’s the first question you should ask, but there are others: Why will you enjoy working from home? What will you get out of the experience? Why will you succeed working from home?

2. Remember it’s work

Most people have a natural division of work life and home life. Each life has their own location and their own hours. When you work from home that line is blurred. You have to make your own division.

Start work at a specific time and designate a specific place in your home as a work only space. You can even go so far as to create an actual line on the floor. When you step over the line, you are in work mode.

3. Create a routine

A day at work often starts exactly the same way. Coat off, computer on, cup of coffee. There’s a routine that begins the work day. One way to establish a work/home life division is to create a routine that begins your day. Set three actions that put you in the right frame of mind to move from home to work.

4. Those pj’s have to go

One action that will help divide work from home life is to change clothes. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie — think “Casual Friday” attire. Loungewear isn’t designed for working. It’s designed, well, for lounging.

5. Break the rules

Establishing a work life at home does not mean you have to copy the office from beginning to end. You don’t have to work nine-to-five every day. You don’t have to work for eight hours in a row. You don’t have to take an hour lunch because that’s how it’s done at the office. I get up at 6:30 and the bulk of my work is done by noon. Some people thrive late at night. Some thrive doing their work in small chunks. Find out when and how you work best.

6. Make the time sacred

When you’re breaking the rules, there is only one thing to remember: make your time sacred. It doesn’t matter if you work one hour a day or seventeen, so long as you value your time. Make work important to you and it’ll get done. This mindset more than anything will help you succeed when working from home.

7. Set boundaries

Treat your work time as sacred and make sure those around you do the same. Sometimes people find out you’re working from home and they don’t hear the word “working,” they only hear “home.” They assume that if you’re home, it’s OK to bother you.

Be clear with friends and family — set hours where they can’t visit or call. You also have to set boundaries with yourself — those who work from home can burn out easily. They work long into the night or on weekends because there’s no official beginning or ending.

Define the time that work ends. Do the same for days off. Set them in stone and stick to them. You’ll be more productive in the long run.

8. Define your distractions

It’s one thing to say “my time is sacred,” it’s another thing to follow through. Distractions are plentiful in the home office. One way to succeed is to define your distractions. Everyone has their Achilles’ heel. Know what’s going to pull you away from your work: Is it people? Is it games and puzzles? Is it TV? Is it being in a messy house? Define your distractions and then take steps to get rid of them.

9. Take breaks

Some who work from home become easily distracted because they haven’t figured out their most effective work pattern. They try to work for eight hours in a row and their brain rebels.

The truth is the normal work day may be eight hours, but few people actually work for that length of time. There are many breaks built into the office day — don’t beat yourself up for not working eight hours straight. Nobody does.

Take a coffee break. Make sure you leave your space for lunch. End your day at a reasonable hour.

Breaks are important for productivity. They recharge the brain.

10. Find your motivation

Working from home means there’s no boss standing over you tapping their watch to make sure you meet a deadline. You have to be self-motivated and your own task master. Not everyone enjoys motivating themselves — they like having someone else crack the whip. If you’re that kind of person, working from home won’t be ideal.

11. Find your focus

Do you work best when you listen to music? Do you need white noise? Silence?

Everyone works differently and you may need to experiment to find your optimal focus environment. When you’re focused you’ll get more done.

12. Like being alone

It can be lonely working from home. It’s just you and the work — all day long.

For some, the appeal of the workplace can be spending time with your coworkers. There’s someone there to talk to, joke with, blow off steam with. Make sure you enjoy working in solitude.