One Word That Matters

This is the word my Grandmother (who was my fifth grade homeroom teacher) taught us never to start a sentence with. According to a study described by an Inside Influence Report that same word is a powerful word for persuasion as well.



Because.



Put this powerful word to work for you by having Clients give you feedback as to why they choose to do business with you.



Read this link above, you'll be glad you did. Why?



Just because.

It's Just You and Me

I was at Best Buy last night and the lines were long - much longer than I expected. As I stood in the serpentine line I was near register 9 and overheard Allison with a flustered Customer. She said, "Take your time. Don't worry about those other people in the line. Right now, it is just you and me."



I secretly hoped that when I got to the front of the line I would be directed to register 9.



I got my wish.



I told Allison that I had overheard her conversation and I applauded her. After getting over her shock at getting this kind of feedback from a Customer, she said, "She couldn't find her card in her purse and she seemed to be stressed out so I tryed to calm her down."



Best Buy is fortunate to have Allison at register 9.



And I was fortunate to witness this truth in action: All of us as Customers want it to be treated as if, "It's just you and me."



Thanks Allison.

Memory, But Much More

There is an interesting exercise in memory and observation to be found here.



Go check it out and then come back.



How did you do? (Perhaps I like the exercise because I succeeded!)



Our brains are amazing organs that allow us to recognize patterns and then move on to solving the next problem. This pattern recognition trait helps us survive and thrive in a million ways, mostly subconsciously, every day.



The challenge with this trait is that too often we don't really observe a situation, a problem, or a person's behavior because we based on initial or cursory information or brain has recognized a pattern and therefore locked into a solution or a label.



If you didn't succeed in the exercise above, ask yourself how many pennies you have seen in your life, and ask yourself how many other things that you should know well do you misinterpret, mislabel, or just plain miss the details?



The skill/habit of observation is what I'm talking about. You will become a better leader, coach, trainer, team member, parent and person when you improve and use your powers of observation more consciously.