Networking Is Not Selling

Everyone has personality quirks. How we behave when well rested and relaxed is often quite different from when we are tired or stressed. Beneath the variations, we have our fundamental personality. Some personalities are beneficial, even when they are annoying. Some personalities are better avoided. Here are four personalities I’ve labeled Nags, Neds, Nits, and Nuts.

NAGS
Contrary to popular fiction, this personality occurs in both genders. They repeat, repeat, and repeat the same information or direction. Since it’s impossible to find their “off” button, an effective strategy is to discover which communication style works best for them. Everyone uses sight, sound or touch to communicate. We each prefer one above the others. If your Nag prefers sight, a large erasable board to log their directions will often satisfy their need to know the message is received. If your Nag prefers sound, a return phone call to repeat back the directions could suffice. If your Nag prefers touch, ask them write to the message on your erasable board or on your priority list for the week. Once they know their message is heard, Nags are usually content to leave you in peace; at least until the next set of directions.

NEDS
Neds, also known as Negative Ned, never see the glass as half full. To them the glass is always broken and water is dripping on the floor. This personality kills all energy and enthusiasm out of their environment. They find fault with every suggestion, every innovation, and often with individuals as well. The only way to cope successfully with Neds is to keep them away. One Ned on the team drags everyone down. It is not your role, nor in your best interest to try and “cheer up” a Ned. Help them out the door!

“The only true disability in life is a bad attitude.” Scott Hamilton

NITS
Nits, also known as nitpickers, can be a gift. Nits’ role is to point out the details that separate the good from the best. Nits find the typo on page 372 of a 600-page manuscript and tell you about it. Nits remind us about due dates, in advance, so we can be successful. I appreciate the Nits in my life, even though I get frustrated when they find a detail I missed. If you are a Nit, be selective about which nits to pick. It’s more valuable to connect, rather than to correct, people.

NUTS
Humans are like a can of mixed nuts; some are enjoyable, some tolerable, and some need to be tossed. Unlike the can, human Nuts cannot be identified by appearance alone. It takes time to get to know the real person behind their persona.

There are Scary Nuts with little or no self-control of their behavior. There are Odd Nuts who have a zeal for a collection, an era, or an event. They love to share their passion with others. Best of all are Delightful Nuts who view life as a comedy and invite you to laugh with them.

Based on observation, Scary Nuts tend to have few friends. Odd Nuts tend to belong to groups involved in their fields of interest. Delightful Nuts will invite other Delightful Nuts to join their circle when they discover each other.

Odd Nuts and Delightful Nuts add tremendous joy to the workplace and to our personal lives. Scary Nuts are best avoided.

Be Aware
Personalities on the team have a huge impact on the success of any venture. It’s easier to be aware of the personalities prior to adding them to your team. There are tools and experts who can help you hire for personality as well as for competency. It’s worth the money to use their help. If you have Neds or Scary Nuts on your existing team, start the process now to help them find a new place to work. When those personalities get “hired away” it’s a happy parting.

© 2010 Straight Edge News All Rights Reserved.

Abigail Dougherty
Straight Edge Solutions
503-297-5798
Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

People, who are building their business through networking, can be some of the most successful professionals, and also some of the most active.  Because of this, I asked Abigial to contribute the following article so we can all gain some benefit. Enjoy.  Thanks, Abigail!

When someone else is managing a project or outcome they will remind you of what is due and when. When it’s your own business, especially if you are a sole proprietor or only have a few employees, it is often extremely difficult to stay focused on the priorities or to feel like you are making progress toward your goals.
 
Tyranny of the Urgent
If you’ve read the Steven R. Covey book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, you already understand the difference between important and urgent tasks. If you haven’t read this book, it’s worth making the time to at least understand the four quadrants and where you are spending most of your time.
 
Taking Action
In addition to understanding the difference between urgent and important, it’s crucial that you understand the difference between an action and a project. What we think is one action might actually be a series of actions required for a result. My own experience and my clients have taught me that business owners often label a result as an action.
 
“Update your website” is a result I often see on my client’s list. It’s usually been on their “To Do” list for months, because they haven’t taken the time to break it down into bite-sized actions. Without breaking it down, they cannot figure out what action is needed, so none is taken.
 
Example
Let’s talk about the steps involved to get to the desired outcome of an updated website. This list is neither comprehensive, nor in priority order. It’s merely an example to clarify the difference between the desired result and the many actions it takes to achieve that result:

• Establish a budget for updating website
• Get recommendations for a web designer
• Hire a web designer
• Establish priorities for the site update
• Call photographer for new photo
• Schedule haircut prior to photo
• Select photo
• Hire a writer to update content
• Hire marketing expert to consult on new brand/content/logo
• Book meetings with designer to review updates
• Proof updates
• Schedule soft launch of new site
• Marketing blitz for major launch of new site

The important point is that most of these steps are easy to do. If necessary, assign them to your assistant for completion.
 
Prioritize Daily
When there is a fabulous vacation coming up, or a crisis, most of us easily prioritize what must be done and what can sit or be delegated. Developing that skill on a daily basis dramatically increases results and reduces stress. Many years ago I discovered that I need to write things down.
 
All that writing meant I spent years with a “To Do” list with 20 to 40 things on it, every day. The pressure of undone tasks was exhausting. Recently, I learned a new discipline – prioritize three daily. I still keep a list in my notebook of all the things that need to be done for my businesses, my health, my home, and my family. The night before, I review the list, and select the three next actions that will have the biggest impact. I write those down and make them a priority for the next day. I might get them all done by noon; sometimes it will take the entire day to get them done. At the end of the day, I know I am moving forward on my highest goals. Occasionally, when I’ve been able to complete the three priorities for the day early, I will take on the next two or three highest priorities in the same day. Some days, once I’ve accomplished the highest priorities, I give myself permission to take the rest of the day “off.”

 © 2009 Straight Edge News          All Rights Reserved.

Contributed by:

Abigail Dougherty
Straight Edge Solutions 503-297-5798

Abigail@StraightEdgeSolutions.com

 We’d like to believe people pay more attention to what we do or say than how we look. However, people believe what they see far more than what they hear.

Abigail Dougherty - Straight Edge Solutions

My work is talking to business people. Sometimes I hire them. Sometimes they hire me. Sometimes we are peers meeting on a collaborative project or being a support team for one another. The more business people I work with, the more I realize that deal breakers often hinge on how you show up.  Here are five areas that can kill a business deal regardless of the product, service or price.

On time:

Everyone has a different definition of what “on time” means; however, few business people accept a 2:15 arrival as being on time for a 2:00 meeting. Calling 10 minutes before your appointment to let the other person know that you will be on time or are stuck in traffic is more professional than apologizing for being late. Many businesspeople plan to arrive 15 minutes earlier than scheduled to eliminate traffic concerns.

Dress:

We’d like to believe people pay more attention to what we do or say than how we look. However, people believe what they see far more than what they hear. Deals can fail for a number of seemingly petty reasons such as unpolished shoes, unkempt hair or inappropriate dress. Most business people see attention to a professional appearance as a reflection of your attention to details in a job.  Having a dress code for your employees is a basic component of your business brand.

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