smiling boosts your confidence official!

I picked up this article in the dreaded Daily Mail a couple of weeks ago. Here it is:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1213604/A-simple-smile-takes-boost-womans-confidence.html

So it's official: if you smile, you feel better. This is based on research on women: interestingly enough, why not on men.... For the sake of argument, let's
focus on men AND women. Smiling is a powerful communication tool. It takes less effort to smile than it does to frown! A true smile, where you are using your eyes as well as the mouth, creates a positive response from other people. I occasionally challenge myself to smile to everyone I interact with, and the world is a calmer, happier place!
Finally, the voice is more uplifting; happy and confident when you smile. On the telephone, remember to smile because your voice is more engaging.
Smiling costs nothing, but is an extremely powerful communication tool - verbally and non-verbally. Try it and see the difference.
For more information on Executive Voice go to http://www.executivevoice.co.uk

Five ways to communicate well when the chips are down in the office - podcast (phoneboo)

"Five ways to communicate well when the chips are down in the office" by executivevoice on audioboo.fm

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How to cope with office politics

Over the weekend, the Sunday Times published the following article. IT was in the Women's section of the paper which is interesting.
How to cope with office politics - Times Online

There was also a questionnaire.
Take the office-politician test - Times Online

The interesting point about this article was that it was 'encouraging' people to forget their morals whilst fighting for their job. Now, I know more than most about daggers in the back having been an opera singer. One story that's true, is that I was up for 2 roles over a year with a small professional company: not one that has ACE funding! Dates were discussed and the feedback I had after the audition and subsequent phone calls with admin and the director was very positive. Then everything went quiet.... A very inferior (in my opinion) singer was cast for both roles although they weren't suitable for her. A few years later, I was on a tour and a member of the company's board was singing. I'd forgotten the disappointment but he revealed the real story of the casting: the other singer threatened everything from cutting up the director's clothes, to leaving threatening messages on answerphones. What clinched it for her was when she threatened to take her life - she even staged a mock suicide (over the phone) to get her way. Of course no one has any respect for her (and didn't then) but she got her way. This article would encourage immoral shenanigans like this in order to keep your job.

So: getting back to the article; many people, particularly women were encouraged to 'keep your head down' and work hard. This is particularly a trait of women (at school they should be good) and people of my parents' generation who had a job for life. Yet the questionnaire would consider you to be 'naive' and up for losing your job in the next cull. The opposite "The loser" who basically throws their toys out of the pram every time something goes wrong also gets the red card.

Interestingly our opera 'friend' would be a Machiavellian: a trait that can keep your job, whilst 'star player' also wins on the job keeping stake. The premise of this article is that you have to forget your upbringing and morals to keep your job. You need to point the finger at others when things go wrong and blow your own trumpet when things go right.

We can all cite examples of people taking credit for work you or others have done; we also see examples of people putting the boot in on The Apprentice. The trouble is that if one isn't careful, they could reach the top - think Mandelson...

I'm not a work psychologist, but the message I have here is - keep sending positive messages - verbally/by email/actions etc of your work. If you can't stand someone and have to work with them, openly discuss it so that you can come to a working agreement and be more focused on the project. Be visible - working - bringing in good news stories - being there - available. Keep your head up; shoulders down. Even if you're worried about your job, don't give the impression you are.
Lastly: have at least 2 'good news' stories that you can discuss with anyone you bump into at work each week. You can always spin a neutral story. Focus on yourself: your team and the work you are involved in.

Good luck. More information from http://www.executivevoice.co.uk

Human contact with a human voice

I caught an interesting phone in on Radio 2 a few weeks ago. The entrepreneur Karen Darby, who founded youswitch, was answering questions from exasperated parents, who could see their school or university leaving off spring weren't able to get jobs.

Karen Darby was brilliant. In fact I've seen her speak live and she's very funny: intelligent: humble - and talks a lot of sense. She also has children of a similar age.

She recognised that there is a shortage of jobs: particularly for this age group; what it does to self esteem and for carefully planned out career dreams. But she's lived through recessions and survived, and was able to reassure listeners that this isn't a permanent situation. However, she did have some good advice for job seekers. One stuck in my mind: the human voice. She said that this is the most powerful tool we have to communicating with others when searching for opportunities. Many people send off speculative emails: tweets: letters, but actually picking up the phone - which I know can be scary, sets you apart from others. Not just because it's more scary and takes more effort, but because there is real human contact and the person you are calling is able to engage with you more easily.

She actually suggested calling people or companies that were of interest and asking if it was possible to come in: observe and find out about the job. She cited examples of young people doing this. Although there was no work - and they hadn't asked for a job, because they'd taken an interest; developed a relationship - and kept in touch, they were contacted when an opportunity became available.

She also has people that have contacted her: asking her about the job and company: can I come in etc. She doesn't respond to the emails: text messages or letters, BUT does when the person calls.

Of course everyone is different, but in a world where it is easy to 'round robin' your CV to hundreds of email addresses with the push of a button, it is interesting to hear what a successful entrepreneur is saying about the voice.

So: my message is - pick up the phone as well as send those CVs and speculative emails out. And Good Luck!

For more information go to http://www.executivevoice.co.uk

I recommended a business: then was accused anonymously of Nepotism

This is rather an extraordinary story! I was recently asked by a supplier to provide her with a recommendation. This is something I was delighted to do; not only did I want to support an excellent small business, but I also believe the quality of her service is outstanding.
The supplier was putting together a showcase of her work and the clients she represented, and put my 'quote' at the front of the marketing brochure. One of the clients she represents is my husband: a co-incidence since I have an independent business relationship with her.
However, upon the supplier sending out the brochure, she received an anonymous: unsigned email accusing her - and me, of nepotism. The cowardly emailer was also 'menacing' saying that the business is very small and nepotism is unacceptable.
Well... First of all, a definition of nepotism is when favourable treatment is given to family members. Within certain business areas, there is no doubt that 'nepotism' is the reason why certain individuals.. Peaches...Pixie... Etc. have opportunities that their talent doesn't warrant. In family businesses, of course, family members could have opportunities and responsibilities given to them in preference to more experienced employees.
In this instance, the cowardly accuser: hiding behind his bizarrely named email persona is wrong. My business relationship with the supplier is completely separate to the representation my husband has with her. And also, my giving a recommendation to her to support her business does not give preferential treatment to my husband within her business because he PAYS for representation and for being in the showcase.
Looking at forums and message boards on Newspaper sites (I recommend the Daily Mail for particularly vile comments), there are people that hide behind a ridiculous name; writing cruel, damaging and in some cases untrue comments. Clearly they don't have much to do or their lives are driven by jealousy and hatred.
When I am asked to write a short testimonial or recommendation, provided I am happy with the supplier, I am happy to do so. The economic situation in UK is currently very challenging, and any support we can give like minded businesses, that supply good quality products and services should be supported; not undermined by petty, jealous or untrue emails.
And as for Mr-cowardly-emailer: unfortunately, I'm not able to attend the showcase. I'm really sorry I won't have the opportunity to meet you.

What do you think?
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