Champion Communications

Part I

Did you ever walk away from an important business conversation and felt that you weren't really understood and /or you really were not sure what the other person was saying?

Try this: Clarifying and Confirming*

WHEN you will make a decision or take action based on the information, opinion, or suggestion offered. Or your immediate impulse is to reject, ignore, or disagree with what you are hearing, you need to CLARIFY.

HOW?  Clarify by seeking additional information about:
--- what has been said and/or why ("...what else can you tell about this?")

Next...
CONFIRM  By stating your understanding of:
--- what has been said and why ("... so what your saying is...")

This technique will dramatically decrease your frustration and enhance your credibility with business associates,  because they know you have listened to what they have said.

* IMS / Learning International

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"It’s Not What Life Makes of You, It's What You Make of Life."

---Some of my favorites "Life" quotes---

"There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle."
Albert Einstein


"Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."
Mark Twain


"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
Mohandas Gandhi


"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Martin Luther King, Jr.


"Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow."
Benjamin Franklin


"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
John F. Kennedy


"It’s not what life makes of you; it's what you make of life."
Unknown

Read more "Pecans of Wisdom" from Bob Gambone in his book:
PECAN PIE!-Click here for a preview! 

"The Secret to Success...It's in the Recipe! 

Copyright (12-10-2011) by Robert V. Gambone Sr.
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Everyone Falls, Not Everyone Fails

You know the cliche'... "What's old, is new again."

In a recent Success Magazine CD I heard something that reminded me of some heartfelt words,  shared with me years ago,  by John Susan.
 John was a mentor of mine for many years.

...After struggling through a terrible year in one particular store, I was demoted and put on probation.

John shared with me these inspiring words:

"Bob, in business there is a difference between falling and failing...just like the stock market, all businesses fall. Its takes passionate leadership to prevent the failure."

A few weeks later he sent me a note with this quote...
"Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain." ~Author Unknown

John died of pancreatic cancer in his mid 50's.
 In my book Pecan Pie, I credit John for my leadership growth.
Memory Eternal - John Susan
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Are You Still A Groundhog?

Did you know that Groundhog Day has been around since 1841?
Well, it is true!
Punxsutawney Phil has been coming out of his burrow, once a year, for 173 years!...AND he still looks the same! He never changes!

Is your business changing?  Are you adapting to changing times?... or does it look the same as it did ten, five, or even two years ago?

Top Three Ways to Continuously Improve Your Business:

1. Network! -  not just once a year...EVERY week, get out of your burrow!

2. Sunny day and business is booming?  That shadow you see is your competition. "Keep your friends close, and your competition closer."

3. Avoid the "Bill Murray Effect"... live by "Giver's Gain"...the good you do will come back to you and to your business.

Happy Belated Groundhog Day!
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Five Fundamental Business Paradigms

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• 
  Leaders are always on stage. Their attitudes are contagious. Their attitudes have the power to create an epidemic of negativity or success.
• 
  Leaders pull their teams “up the hill”, face them, and do not turn their backs. Old school managers push employees.
• 
  Leaders develop others. Leaders understand when people need to be led and when to let people take the lead.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT

• 
  Drop the word Change (negative connotation) and replace with Continuous Improvement.
• 
  Need a consistent and credible W.I.I.F.M. (What's In It For Me)
• 
  Listen to concerns, be empathetic….but stay the course.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• 
  The organization’s customer service must add value to the customers’ lives. Your customers must feel good about their relationship with your organization.

• 
  The organization’s customer service must add value to the employees’ lives. Your employees must feel good about their relationship with your customers.
• 
  Customer Service is not work. It is an integral part of everyone’s job, practiced by all team members, and modeled by leaders at all times.

INITIATIVE ROLLOUTS

• 
  Grass roots development (pilot), plant the seed with the front line employees and with guidance have them grow the ideas, creates ownership….then recognize the individuals or teams.
• 
  A top-level commitment to invest in “true” training.
  (5-step process; Intro, show, try, feedback, follow up)
• 
  Sustain the process by instilling a continuous improvement mentality and start building a bridge for that improvement to avoid “flavor of the month” ‘isms.

BUSINESS TURNAROUND

• 
  First, revisit the above 4 foundation skills to determine the current state of the organization.

• Business turnaround often calls for leadership changes, improved change management skills, ratcheted up customer service, and the introduction of new initiatives.

• The organization must identify a vision and constantly focus on its achievement. Invite ideas and actions from everyone.

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Think Small, Stay Small

A collection of  "Really?!" one-liners,  business owners or potential business owners have shared with me in my free consultation sessions. Many became clients and I have helped them. The rest? Oh well,  I hope they found help somewhere.

Here we go...

"Do I really need a logo and branding, I thought only big businesses had that."

"Well, I want to make more money but I don't trust people."

"Do I have a vision and mission statement for my business? Not at all, do I need one?"

"I really don't plan too much or even have a strategic plan...I kinda just see how things happen."

"I want to open a restaurant because I love to cook, I'm a hard worker, and I have the support of my family...isn't that enough?"

"No, I have never worked in retail, but this new franchise opportunity this guy was talking about sounds great!"

" ...not sure if my business is up or down from last year, but I do know my bills are getting paid."

"What's a target market?"

"My point of difference? I offer great service."

"There is enough free help out there...I don't need to pay for it."

"What measurements do I have in place?...they are all right here (as he pointed to his head)."

" What is horizontal growth?"

"I have more clients then I can handle...I don't need any help."

I have so many more I can share, but you get the point. Now I admit, when I started my own business five years ago I said some of the same things, that is why I hired a coach...enough said.

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Three "Gives" for 2014

Give people confidence,

by reminding acquaintances of your name.

-Did you ever forget someone's name that you should have remembered?                 

Think about how you felt during the conversation.

Give people hope, 

by answering your phone, 

 “… how can I help you?”

- Opened ended questions are always more inviting and productive.

Give people peace of mind,

by confirming receipt of their email or text.

-Did you ever send a very important email or text and wonder if he or she ever received it?

Simple, yet very impactful and rewarding. Start "giving" today!

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