SueTrinder.com - Sue Trinder & Associates

The Power of Influence

'If one manages for the sole outcome of gaining compliance then one is operating from power.

The power template is short term, focuses on the issue level of communication and is result oriented;

whereas influence is longer term, focuses on the relationship level of the communication and is more process oriented.'

Michael Grinder

Cockaigne - meaning -an imaginary land of ease and luxury.

A new word that arrived in my inbox today from dictionarydotcom - just as I was in the middle of learning how to add an image to today's article.   Always amazed at how the universe speaks!

Freedom from Complaints

I've just come back from a three day Freedom Class in internet marketing run by Tim Brocklehurst.  Some of us celebrated on the last night by going to Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, just round the corner from the venue.  Fantastic food, brilliant customer service, beautiful and unusual light fittings!

The Freedom Class course was awesome, am on a very steep learning curve, which is just how I like it – and met some lovely inspirational people.

One of the presentations by Martin Avis was about how to communicate effectively writing articles for the internet, and how it differs from the way we have been taught to write for business ie make it more conversational and not so literary.  Also, to keep your sentences short and snappy.  Am still learning that one as you can see. 

There was an interesting article by Lucy Kellaway in the FT on Monday about complaints and how we Brits differ from Americans.  According to new research by Julian Baggini, it seems that American tend to complain to the right person and expect a result, whereas Brits just like complaining.

It got me thinking about complaints at work.  One of the problems that new managers ask us to help with, is how to

Language at Work - an important people skill

Some of you may have heard of Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP.  Some of you may be slightly wary or sceptical of it. Some of you may have heard it’s a way of manipulating people to do what you want them to do.  NLP is simply a way of thinking about the world, a revolutionary approach to communication and personal development. Its basic principles will help you perform more effectively at work, at home and in all parts of your life.  You can enhance your relationships and your emotional health, as well as making your work more rewarding. 

In my experience, using NLP in the workplace, you can dramatically improve staff performance, including your own.  If you are a new manager, you will be aware that people skills are the most valuable asset you can develop and that the ability to influence others to achieve the goals you've set is the greatest management talent of all.  Your success will depend on supporting others, so they can do their best.  If you want your team to be more successful, you may want to consider how you build rapport with others.

Are you speaking the same language as your colleagues?

What does an elephant see when it looks in the mirror?

Itself apparently – a rare cognitive feat that was previously only known in humans, dolphins and apes, according to a recent article in National Geographic.

In studies, and I'm not quite sure how they were carried out, Asian elephants, those are the ones with the smaller ears, were given mirrors, which to begin with they treated as objects.

But on further inspection it is thought that they may realise they are seeing themselves as they will repeatedly touch a mark painted on their heads which they wouldn't be able to see if it were not for the mirror.

On a smaller scale an 8 week old cichlid fish with a brain the size of a pea may adopt female colours to sneak food from another male's territory. Isn't this fascinating to know that social relationships can alter a fish's brain cells?

The Power of Belief

I went to see Derren Brown the other night at the Garrick theatre.  It's the first time I've seen his live show and it was awesome.  In my experience, Derren is a bit like Marmite – you either love him or you hate him. 

I fall into the former category.  I love the way he sets out his stall and tells us that what we are about to see is conjuring or a trick.  Despite this, some of us still believe that it is spooky or supernatural.  We put our own interpretation on to what we see around us, even though the evidence is immediately in front of our eyes.   Even when we can't yet see it.