Maybe you're working with colleagues most of the time, or maybe you're out and about seeing clients or meeting with people from other organisations. If you work on your own, you probably meet up with people at networking events or even online.
How much do our expectations affect the way we relate to people? Maybe more than we think.
Dealing with difficult people is the ultimate test of our interpersonal skills - it's easy to be nice to those who are nice to us and when everything is going well, but it's harder to keep our cool with those who rub us up the wrong way and when everything is going wrong.
I’m writing this blog in Washington Dulles airport while I’m waiting for my flight home and I’m watching people (including myself!) ‘connecting’ to their world via electronic devices and it makes me wonder if we’re failing to connect with real people as much as we could and should.
"I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble." Rudyard Kipling
We are all born with a personality somewhere on the spectrum between passive and aggressive – you probably know where on the spectrum you are – if you’re not sure, ask your nearest and dearest!
Nothing inspires people more than a leader who is full of zeal. Their energy and enthusiasm is infectious and gets results. When we are excited about what we do, others want to follow. A positive mindset does wonders in any workplace.
Warren Bennis, pioneer of modern leadership studies, said that "Managers do things right. Leaders do the right things." Both are very necessary qualities in today's workplace.
Have you ever had a boss or teacher who believed that you could do well - if so, then you probably responded to that belief by doing your very best - better than you might have for the boss or teacher who didn't think much of your abilities.
I've recently returned from an amazing trip to Africa, and while in Uganda had the opportunity to facilitate workshops for the 20 or so managers of Kampala Children's Centre and then for 91 of their staff. The result was that the various work groups came away buzzing with ideas of how to improve their planning, processes and outcomes.
