Diamonds to You

 

 

Welcome to the May issue of my newsletter.  I am so grateful to all of you who have written and/or told me that you really enjoy reading it.  Of course, like anything else, you can’t please all the people all of the time.  Someone recently told me it was “too chatty.”  Well, that’s my style.  I want it to be a friendly and informal newsletter – but one filled with valuable information as well.  If my opening “chat’ bores you, please just skip to the meat below. 

Thanks.

Live “Asks”

WOW!   I was delighted to be a guest at the fundraiser-lunch for Wardrobe for Opportunity, an Oakland and East Bay organization.  The event was well planned and coordinated and a real pleasure to attend.  I so enjoy anything done well.

I watched them create a Live Auction, using actual pictures of the items that could be purchased for the different amounts of money donated.  For example, a suit, a pair of shoes, a whole outfit, a week’s wardrobe, etc.  It was clever and effective – yet another exciting way to do the “ask”.

This organization helps women and men who are job-seekers needing to upgrade their professional wardrobes.  They have served over 13,000 clients since 1995. They are well worth checking out:.  www.wardrobe.org

Speaking of Asking I’m Available for New Projects

A few big projects (management training, compliance training and O-D consulting) have recently been completed – and I am available to take on some new large contracts   I’m also available to take on one or two individual Professional Development clients, having just completed working with two professionals individually.  Rather than bore you with all I do – and have this sounding more like a commercial than it already does, please either call me or visit my website (www.DiamondAssociates.net) for more details.

I really thrive on your referrals to me.

Persuasion and Negotiation in Management

Since so many of the people we manage are intelligent, well-educated and able to go elsewhere if they are not treated well, we manage not by the whip, but by persuasion and negotiation.

Persuasion is an art form with science thrown in that requires of you that you engage people in a dialogue rather than talk at them.  It usually includes a friendly exchange with full respect and courtesy for all the people involved.
Persuasion is accomplished easiest when you listen to the other person’s point of view carefully and try to ascertain exactly where they are coming from, why they believe the way they do, and what areas of their belief you agree with and which can you choose to discuss – moving them carefully step by step from where they are to where you wish them to be.

In the process, you might learn something as well – and be persuaded to change your point of view. 

Good persuasion is not the same as under-handed manipulation.  The later tries to trick people, the former to actually have a discussion leading to a change of mind.

Negotiation is making a deal.  Poor negotiation, like manipulation, is trying to get one over on the other person – a win/lose.  Good negotiation results in an exchange and agreement leaving both sides feeling good about the deal.  It is a win/win.

Alternative dispute resolution – particularly conciliation and mediation – is a form of negotiation.  As you may recall, I’ve been an arbitrator, conciliation and mediator for many years and have taught these subjects at the university level as well as for associations (including the Better Business Bureau) and corporate clients – calling it “conflict resolution.”

Although both persuasion and negotiation are art forms – the science can be taught and I find myself giving workshops on these subjects to associations and some of my corporate clients.

I’m now even more International!!!

In addition to China, India, and Rumania (see April newsletter for details), I am going to be published in Malaysia too.   Wouldn’t it be wonderful if I could travel to all those countries offering management training services.  I’d love it.

Globalization

I’ve been reading some articles about Tony Blair who believes that “the process of globalization compels us to be interdependent, and that the world will flourish only if the international community enforces shared, universal values.” (In a recent article in the San Jose Mercury News by David Brooks a columnist for the New York Times – [I lost the date of the article.]

It’s an interesting theory and reminds me of the “core values” theory advocated by Barbara Walker, Esq., when she was with Digital Equipment – and in the vanguard of diversity training.  Barbara believed that each organization needed to establish its core values and that all employees needed to embrace these values – while at the same time honoring and being accepted for their own cultural values and norms. 

In addition to diversity training, Barbara supported Infinity groups which were groups of people from the same cultural or country background.  These affinity groups had as their purpose to aid and support each other.  Unfortunately, sometimes they became cliques and the worst of them gangs.

When I teach diversity – and working in a global economy – I try to find the commonalities that enable all people to work well together.  In my opinion these include (but are not limited to):

• Respect and courtesy in the treatment of others
• Recognizing that “my way” is not the only right and good way
• Learning to “walk in the other man’s shoes”
• Honesty in dealings with others
• Keeping promises
• Seeing each other as team members to be helped – not as adversaries
• Outstanding internal and external customer service
• Respecting the differences in others
• Creating a work environment that is safe for all people
• Doing your best
• Striving to learn and to continue to grow professionally
• Walking your talk
• Respect for the “stars” as well as for the “followers” in teams
• Listening to learn, rather than to disagree
• Finding ways to accommodate the needs of those different from us – at work, in meetings, and even in work-related social activities.

I’m sure there are more attributes on my list – but I can’t think of them at the moment.  I’d be interested to learn what items you’d add to your list of important values and behaviors that enable people to get along with each other better in the workplace. –

That’s my ultimate consulting goal – because not only does it help the individuals working there – it improves motivation, productivity, efficiency, effectiveness – and the bottom line.

Business Retires Casual Dress

This is the headline in the Employment section of the San Jose Mercury News on Sunday, May 20th.   I love the article – it says what I’ve been saying all along.  We’ve become so casual, we’ve become sloppy – sloppy in dress, grooming, bathing and thought.

Many companies around the country are now instituting a more formal dress code for employees, demanding jackets and ties for men.  Other companies, not demanding that much of a change are still putting limits on how casual employees can dress.  Sports jackets, long trousers (no shorts, cutoffs or jeans)

The article ends with a quote that says:  “Lackadaisical attire looks like
lackadaisical work performance.”

Prior Newsletters

Several people have asked for information about my prior newsletters.  Rather than list all the articles here, let me refer you to my website, where Pete has published them.  (Pete is my great computer guru.)  To find these newsletters please visit:  http://diamondassociates.net/articles/Newsletters.shtml

Workshops and Speeches

SVProject Management Blog – week of May 21st.
I am the guest blogger once again –  and am writing short articles every day this week.  Please visit the blog and offer your ideas, questions and comments.  www.SVProjectManagement.net. 

CSIX – May 29th
I will be speaking to this group again, this time I hope to be able to spend extra time working on networking and interviewing tips and practices.  This is truly a wonderful volunteer organization serving hundreds of out-of-work people.  If you have any job leads, please let them know:  www.csix.org.

SVII -  June 6th.
As I previously mentioned, I will be presenting about Leading and Managing for Creativity.  Their website.  www.svii.org

Recent Publications

Four of my articles have been published in dozens of e-magazines and newsletters.  These articles are being published so frequently that I can’t list all of the references.  Instead, I suggest you Google:  ArLyne Diamond.

• Building Trust in Distant Teams, in Management Issues Feb. 20, 2007.

• Workplace Conflict Resolution:  What’s Creating Workplace Conflict and 9 Easy Ways to Resolve it appeared in Impact Articles:  The Business and Coaching Network on January 26, 2007   With my permission, this article will also appear in a series of newsletters created and marketed by Haley Marketing Group to their staffing industry clients.

My two published books are available at www.ProductivePublications.com.

• Training Your Board of Directors:
  A Manual for the CEOs, Board Members, Administrators and Executives of Corporations, Associations, Non-Profit and Religious Organizations
• The “Please” and “Thank You” of Fundraising for Non-Profits:
  Fifteen Essential Ingredients for Success

Dial 211

United Way of Silicon Valley is on line with the 211 Community Service Program.  By dialing 211 you get a live operator who will help you find any non-profit community service you require.  This is great for finding housing for the homeless or elderly, treatment programs, health services, etc. 

So, how can I help you?

The following quote comes from the Chair of a Citizen’s Task Force who was involved with a long series of system streamlining and problem-solving workshops I conducted for a city trying to increase its customer service to the members of its community, the local businesses and the members of other departments in the city. 

Your professional, adroit and humorous handling of the many meetings gave everyone a comfortable and open approach to problem solving.  That has accomplished more than I eve thought possible.  I appreciate your ability not only to lead people, but to redirect their energies to look at problems differently.  More importantly to change attitudes, the hardest of all to reshape.  L.D.M. CEO.

 

Let me be your Aufin—your advisor to Kings.

 

ArLyne Diamond, Ph.D
ArLyne@DiamondAssociates.net