Increasing Employee & Client Engagement

Even though 20/20 vision is about clarity of sight with distance, this actually was referring to the year 2020. 

 Do you remember in the 80’s when we sang, Party Like its 1999.  Did we think we would live in a world like the Jetson’s by now?  Well we are not there yet, but the world is changing faster.  The last 6 months to a year seemed to change as much as the first 9 years of the decade combined.  Technology is rapidly shaping the world.

With this decade coming to an end and a new one beginning… I wanted to give a months notice that we need to really take a look forward.  However, it will be just as important to take a look back where the only real 20/20 vision is useful. 

As the world moves faster our visions gets shorter… We lose track of long-term goals because we do not feel like they will be as relevant because of all the change.  The problem I see with most long term plans is that they are isolated and not contingent.

Goals are basically intentions… right?  Your strategy needs to have goals that are congruent and leading you where you ultimately want to end up.  It is easy to get off track.  The first half of the decade I thought I had all these great “goals” of getting my MBA and other isolated things.  They were great in their own way but they were not leading me to where I wanted to go.

I do personal branding workshops & boot camps… and really worked hard putting together 10 steps that help hinge upon themselves that will keep you going toward your ultimate goal.  Success is not an event, it is a journey.  It is taking a look at everything that is possible and defining its potential and putting action steps into performance.  Every action needs to set you up for your next action and build upon that.

So as you start thinking about the next decade, use 2020 vision.

With Social Media still being relatively new to so many people, everyone is still trying to figure out the protocol & rules of engagement.   The same way the sociology of the handshake evolved.  How far to stand, the firmness of the grip etc.  As people were learning, it had to be very awkward because each person had a different set of information of what it should be like.  To simplify, just assume the difficulty was in the same culture because I can not even imagine all the cultural barriers and obstacles.

With the tools of the Internet…  it is very easy to track what is being said about us, our products, our company or whatever you track.  Never mind that it is human nature for us to want to be proactive, aware and alert of everything that is being said about us anyway.    We always want to feel like we are in control and make sure we are leading the conversation.

The challenge comes with how do you decide when to act and when to sit back…   Well, let me urge you to use the words of the bible… Be quick to listen and slow to speak.   Social Media is a fantastic listening tool.  When you hear something you do not necessarily want to hear.   Your first instinct will be to refute, but don’t… use restraint.

Before you hit send on that email or comment… let it sit there for a few hours.  Seek to understand first.  See if it can be handled offline outside the lights.  Show that you really care and are not doing it just to show responsiveness publicly.

If you do what is right, then you have done your job…  If you try to prove it by you doing something publicly, it may appear insincere.  This is not your chance to get a spotlight. The best PR will be if that person affected shares the goodwill or resolution.  If they do not, then they don’t.   Keep it on their plate.  If they do share, it will have 10 x the impact then if you did it.

Why??? Because it goes back to the authenticity and genuineness the situation offers.    Your actions will speak louder than your words.  Your intention no matter how pure may be misconstrued.  Remember you will not be judged on your intention because their perception is their reality. 

So before you decide to jump in and control the situation, stand back and look through the window.

With Halloween this past weekend, it got me thinking about Fear.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of a future event.  I wanted to share some of my learnings from my past as a collegiate athlete and golf professional. 

When we have fear… we tighten up, our heart rate & pulse speeds up, we stop breathing (sometimes literally) and we focus on the future and unknown rather than the task at hand.  So instead of focusing on the execution we get stuck in fear.

The best athletes and gamblers in the world know that to conquer fear… you have to stay in the moment.  The best know how to look at the current situation for only that, the current situation.  They do not get caught up in what ifs and they do not place value on the moment.  They do not make it bigger than it is. 

Just because the atmosphere is louder or larger… does not make the actual act any different. 
A five foot putt whether you have $5 riding on it or $1 million is still just a 5 foot putt.  A free throw in your backyard, or in a game or to win a championship is still just a free throw.  The hoop is the same height, the distance is the same, but the circumstance is different.  However, when you couple the act with the circumstances, it changes everything…  The expectation changes within yourself and with the fans or spectators.

The best athletes in the world know… how to stay in the moment and not get ahead of themselves.  They treat a championship game mentally the same they would a regular game at the park.  It is a way of devaluing it mentally so they can perform at their greatest peak performance. 

I see fear in business all the time…  Employees, managers & owners are faced with decisions all the time and fear is bound to set in.  Will the decision they made be successful?  How will people look at the decision they made?

I have seen grown men afraid of “prospecting or cold calling”…  I say to them… you are afraid of picking up the phone and speaking into it?  Of course not, they are afraid of the result.  I have to teach them to separate the act from the result.   What is the absolute worst thing that could happen… they can hang up.  Whoa that is scary…

I love speaking in front of groups & audiences…  I know tons of people who are truly afraid of getting in front of a group and speaking.   I have seen them speak to me so I know they have the ability & are capable.  We know the problem is not that they are afraid of opening their mouth, but rather they fear the result.  They fear the result of saying something wrong or what people will think of them etc.   So when I teach people to get in front of a group of 10 or 100 they have to separate the act from the result.  Then apply tactics.  One thing I have seen work is to connect eyes with one person and feel as if you are speaking to them only and then moving your eyes to another person to deliver the next line etc.  Then no matter the size of the audience you are still speaking one on one…

Here are a few things I believe you can do in business or anything in life to help conquer fear.

1. Have a Routine… Even Tiger Woods feels nervous and has butterflies.  He knows how to channel it.  He is one of the strongest mental athletes alive.  He relies on a very strict routine that keeps him in that moment’s process rather than the future. When making a decision, preparing for a presentation, client meeting, or a call have a set routine.

2. Stay Objective… Keep things objective and away from subjective.  Most fear comes from a first person perspective.  By keeping things objective then it will also keep it from the first person perspective.  Everyone in that same position would make that same decision based on that set of information.  That belief also can instill confidence.

3. Stay in the Present… Anything you face with fear will have some future consequence facing you.  Strip away the future result and look at the situation from the present state.

4. Unbundle… Take the information and the decision and unbundle it. Most decisions are based on multiple sets of wrapped information.   If you took all the crap out of the decision and just looked at the core of the decision would you still make the same decision?  Does it have more or less fear attached to it?

With the passing of my grandfather this week, Charles Hudson Rothschild II, my namesake, I wanted to pay him a special tribute.  This week I really got to thinking about Legacy.   My grandfather was a great man and he passed on a lot of virtues to me that I will take with me.  I loved sitting around talking and listening to him. 

His generation and era lived through the real Great Depression.  He taught me the value of money & to save.  He taught me the value of work and tireless effort. The great part is if you love what you do, then you never work a day in your life.   He taught me that your word was his bond and to say what you mean and mean what you say.  You might be able to doubt what I say, but you can never doubt what I do.  

He was a very strong and athletic man.  Even in his old age he was a tough man with strong discipline.   He was an astute businessman.  But there was the other side.  The big bear hug, the ultimate family man.   He was a charmer.  He never met a stranger and he always made you feel like the most important person.

As I look at my son & my future, what legacy will I pass to my son Charles Hudson Rothschild V…  Life is more than what you pass on.  It is what you do in the life you have.  As Maximus from Gladiator said… What you do in this life will echo an eternity. 

I cannot change my past, I can only learn from it.  Since my future is unwritten, I have the pen and therefore the choice in what the ink says on the paper.  Carpe Diem, live every day as if it were you’re last and live it to the fullest.  Life is just a glimpse.  You do not own anything… you just get to borrow it for a while.  So make sure you leave the earth better than you found it.   

You may or may not of read this poem, but this poem reminds us to live for today.  Even if you have read it, then I hope you read it one more time and take it to heart.

The Dash Poem - by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

©1996 Linda Ellis

I love you & will dearly miss you II.

IV

It is Motivational Friday.  I was glad to see the discussion, insights and debate about my last article – We Do Not Need More Managers, We Need Leaders – In Case You Did Not Read - http://bit.ly/3pIEq1

Majority of people got it, but I think a few may of missed the spirit of the article.  I think we all agree that 90+ percent of managers are just… pawns & robots.   Most do not have skill to be a manager, they were just put there because it was their turn or they were a great salesperson and now they are suppose to carry the torch.

They take their job as a role rather than a position…  They are reactive based on circumstances rather than proactive based on needs.  They do what they think they are suppose to do or what is safe, easiest or popular… not what is best to do even if it means turning the boat over because they fear change or are scared because what someone might think.

So my point was that managers absolutely must lead…  My goal is for every manager to want to be a leader… BUT the great part about leadership is it does not have to be appointed by position or role.  EVERYONE can choose to lead no matter what his or her role is in the organization.  It is a matter of CHOICE.  That could be the only thing holding someone back.  The decision to lead…  Lead the conversation, Lead the discussion, Lead by doing…

Before everyone goes crazy about the title…  I was in the process of writing this as a follow up article and actually had a great response by Melissa Paulik “I think I understand the spirit of the post and if you can be a manager that is actually a leader that is clearly a good thing. But, save me from the company that is full of self-proclaimed leaders who never actually manage anything. Sometimes even the leaders need to roll up their sleeves”

Melissa, we are on the same wavelength.  It fed perfectly into my thoughts for this week.  There are two different leadership styles.  One that sits atop the mountain like the old kings did and pushed their men into battle or the style like General Patton or Maximus from Gladiator that led from the front and were pulling their men into battle. 

One is a spectator and one is a PARTICIPANT…  One has a pressed shirt and one is in the trenches up to their neck in dirt.  I believe in delegation & empowerment and will talk about those soon. It is important for people to see that you are in the game.  You have felt what they have felt and you share the same sweat they do.  Those actions will speak volumes and more than your words.

I am going to leave you with one of my favorite quotes. 

Not even seats on the 50 yard line interest me… BECAUSE I CAME TO PLAY.

I am fortunate to be head of the Atlanta Bloggers Community.  This community is passionate about Social Media & the Blogosphere.  It is comprised of all different types of bloggers from every niche thinkable.  It has some of the best and most experienced bloggers to some of the newest.  I like to think of it as a place to discuss relevant topics, a place to share ways to increase the value to every blogger but also a support group. 

The Community is only as strong as its members so please come join us if you are in Atlanta.  So if you are looking for the benefits of a blog, throwing out the idea to start one or if you are already a rock star, you can mentor and share your learnings.

You can find us here and RSVP – www.meetup.com/atlblog -

If you want more information - Our next meeting is November 4th at Gordon Biersch in Midtown.  We will be talking about how to create killer content. One of our Members Jennifer Carter wrote this PR Release  http://bit.ly/3dhb45 

Here are some articles on Blogging you may get value from

Why Blogging is Alive to Me - http://bit.ly/rwwTR 
Dynamic Content – http://bit.ly/2EV36E
Blogoshpere is Your Home –  http://bit.ly/293bD2
Blogging Is The CenterPiece to Your Social Media Strategy –  http://bit.ly/15jn5D
Blogging Audience Revealed – http://bit.ly/1FYQum 
Does Your Blog Resonate With Its Audience –  http://bit.ly/27XRjS
Blogging – What is in it For You? –  http://bit.ly/2qxg4O 
Pulling Back The Curtain on Engaging Content – http://bit.ly/3ve8Bv 
5 Ways To Engage Your Audience - http://bit.ly/1tHqPo

Personal Branding is more important than ever. Whether you are looking for a job or want to stand out from the crowd & noise.

Here is a couple of articles I wrote you might like
Personal Branding Is More Important Than Ever -   http://bit.ly/sc1m1 
Change Your Script Re-channel Your Foucs -   http://bit.ly/jZDJu 
The World Doesn’t Need More Managers, We Need Leaders - http://bit.ly/3pIEq1
 Circlenomics - http://bit.ly/oCyaA
Are You Worth Mentioning - http://bit.ly/1dJeps 
Are You Memorable -  http://bit.ly/1fIJRx 
Build It & They Will Come - http://bit.ly/QDy4t

Learn how to FLIP the switch, by having people hunt you down, wanting you to be on their team. Increase your presence in the marketplace. Whether it is prospects, customers or employers you seek, I will teach you how to turn on the magnet.

I will share with you 10 things you must do to take control of your life by showcasing your expertise and becoming a trusted advisor and expert resource to your network.

CLICK HERE: Sign Up Here

It is Motivational Friday. Hopefully, you do not think manager and leader are interchangeable…  They are almost polar opposites in many ways.

A manager according to Wikipedia is a human organization activity, which simply is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives.

A definition of Leader more inclusive of followers comes from Alan Keith of Genentech who said “Leadership is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen” – like change.

So that says to me that Leaders lead people and managers manage tasks. 

Leadership from Seth Godin’s perspective… Leadership is not management.   Management is a manipulative resource to get a known job done.  It is following a process and reacting to the outside world and managing it as efficient and cost effective as possible.

Leadership is creating change you believe in… Movements have leaders and movements make things happen.  Leaders have followers.  Managers have employees.

Managers make widgets and Leaders make change…  Change is frightening.  Change seems more like a threat than a promise.  That is too bad because the future belongs to our leaders regardless of where they work or what they do. 

This says to me Leadership is at the outer edges and Managers stay in the center where it is known and comfortable…  A Manager’s authority comes from their role and a Leader’s influence comes from their ideas.

You may have heard the phrase, Leaders do the right thing and Managers do things right…

When I was reading info and researching for my Google Wave article, I ran across another cool but scary Google toolbar.  Google has just launched a new sidebar called Sidewiki.  You better get familiar with this because it takes commenting to a whole new level.  Now TRULY, the conversation will go on with or without you and it is going to be attached to every web page.  So ‘control’ is absolutely gone.  So for those of you still holding on, this will help release that grip.

This is new, so go ahead and install this toolbar immediately…  Go to all of your blogs, websites etc. and see if anyone has commented about you or your products.  If anyone has a bad customer experience and makes a comment, it is going to attach to your page so that everyone who visits and uses the Sidewiki will see it.  That is only half of the bad news.  They can also share it via Twitter and other platforms.  Now the converse is true, if they have a positive recommendation they can post and share that as well.

I knew something like this was coming…  I knew websites would be coming out with social elements attached to them.  I think the next step will be the same thing but internal inside the websites that allow your friends to tag products they like and do not like. It would allow you to subscribe to see those reviews & recommendations like you would on Twitter.

Time to think of a proactive stance… on how you are going to monitor and handle this new platform.  This may be the first, but will not be the last.

I had watched the Video on Google Wave back in May or June of this year.  It is suppose to revolutionize our communication and collaboration.  Email was built a long time ago and now they are building it as if it were built with all the 21st century enhancements.  Wiki’s, chat, Social Media, Document sharing etc.  So is it time to hit the reset button?   I read this great article on 5 Reasons To Dive Into Google Wave that does a good job explaining it a little better.

Google has only released 100,000 beta users…  It will be rolling out soon to everyone. 
I did get a chance to see one of the beta’s and it looks really cool.  I initially thought it was like email, but it really behaves differently.

GMAIL Threads… you probably have seen on GMAIL the new way email is more about individual threads.  You can open up any part of the email thread as if each is a separate conversation that stacks on top of each other.  Google Wave has this but it appears more like a document than an email because it is not a back and forth.  It doesn’t go from my inbox to your inbox and back etc.  It just sits there on the cloud and everyone can contribute to it in real-time. 

So think of it as inviting a group to create and edit a document…  It provides synchronization in real time.  Google is using API (applied programming interface) with this platform like Twitter & Facebook did to help enhance its functionality.  So it will be interesting to see what developers come up with to really make Google Wave cool.

The real question is… what products is it really challenging.  It is obviously revolutionizing what we think of email, but is it also taking on Social Media tools?  Is it trying to compete with Twitter but private rather than public because everyone has to be invited to each conversation?  Live chat etc. 

I cannot wait to see and actually play with this new tool.