October 14, 2013 Positively Use Empathy OK, it’s not the most friendly Bob Dylan song ever (in fact, I’d hate to have been the person he wrote this about!), but Positively 4th Street has a lyric in it that really resounds. “I wish that for just one time You could stand inside my shoes And just for that one moment I could be you” This was written to a person with whom it seems Mr. Dylan was having a major feud. He was clearly angry and upset, and felt that communication was not working, since neither one could truly empathize with the other. If they could…
August 23, 2013 Simple Things Make Life Worth Living You ever overthink a problem? Hire consultants to help you figure things out? Go round and round with committees, dancing around issues but never coming up with solutions? Planning forever but never implementing? Pretty frustrating, huh? Quoting Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi from the song mentioned in this blog title, “I don’t claim to know all the answers.” However, I can offer a few suggestions. Often, the simple solution is the best one. Lots of sayings have sprouted around this one (i.e. KISS, if it barks like a dog, etc.) and for good reason. The straightforward answer is often the easiest and most…
May 21, 2013 How Do You Love Your Clients? Do you put yourself in your clients’ shoes? Are you empathetic? Can you feel their stress, pain and worry? How else will you be able to help them if you don’t become them? At least for a while… The best way to do this is to always be asking questions, and then listening to the answers. Clients don’t always want to tell you the truth or the whole truth. It is our job as interested problem solvers to get at the truth in order to provide the best help possible. Be caring and concerned. Be tender if you can. I…
