Thursday, January 22, 2009

8 Things Obama "Must Do" to Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere

To get along with congress,fellow republicans, democrats and to get everyone singing his praises, here are 8 key communication steps Obama must use on a daily basis.

* Accept Other Points of View

Be open to accepting other points of view. Our tendency in many situations is to immediately become defensive when someone does not agree with us or sees the world in the same perspective as us. Look at opposing points of view as an asset and not a liability. As Steven Covey states, ?focus on understanding others first than trying to have others understand you?

* Focus on Issues, not Personalities

Many people unknowingly use trigger words that can disable a conversation and

may ultimately destroy a relationship. Such words as, dumb, stupid, unprofessional

and poor attitude criticize the person and not the content of their ideas or specific

actions. Instead of saying, "Your idea is dumb" you might say, "your solution will

cost an extra $50,000 which we don't have.

* Communicate Clearly

Clearly communicate your ideas so that others understand. Being able to get your

ideas across in a clear and concise manner is one of the most important and sought

after skills. Always ask questions such as, "Am I making any sense?" or "Do you

understand what I am saying"? Also, make sure you paraphrase what you have said

and if you see blank or confusing faces check for understanding.

* Don?t Create Nonverbal Drama

Your body language has many different connotations. For example, shaking one's

head, turning away from the group, shoulder shrugging, groaning, rolling eyes,

yawning and sleeping can all send the wrong message. It?s not what you say, but

how you show it and say it that counts.

* Thank People

One of the most overlooked words in the English language is "Thank you". Make

sure you always thank people for their efforts and contributions. It?s not just

important to value people, but make sure they KNOW you value them.

* Admit Mistakes

The six most important words in the English language are, ?I admit I made a

Mistake?

* Share Yourself

Share your ideas, opinions and be open to sharing yourself. Sometimes this may

feel risky but in the long run people will feel closer and more comfortable with you.

It also makes them feel more comfortable in divulging information about

themselves.

? Be Interested vs. Interesting

Besides being the key to popularity, you also learn a lot about others and how to communicate with them.

Arnold Sanow, MBA, CSP is a speaker, seminar leader and author of 5 books to include ?Get Along with Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere ? 8 keys to creating enduring connections with customers, co-workers ? even kids?. He can be reached at www.arnoldsanow.com ? speaker@arnoldsanow.com or 703-255-3133