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12 Subtle Signs You'd Make a Good Boss

Paul Michael — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 08:00:07 +0000

There are good managers and there are bad managers. Sadly, the people who would make really great managers often don't realize their potential to lead. These subtle signs — ones that you have either overlooked or never noticed — signal that you could be a fantastic boss. Don't let others miss out on your leadership. When you've checked off enough boxes, go get that promotion!

1. You give constructive feedback

There are several ways to give feedback on a project or idea. You could simply smile and say you like it, regardless of what you really think, in fear of hurting feelings. That helps no one, especially if you see glaring errors. You could be the naysayer: Whatever the idea, and whoever the project manager is, it's awful, try again. Even if a project really is bad, that kind of feedback can stop progress in its tracks.

Genuine, constructive feedback includes specific action items and suggestions on ways to improve or expand the idea. If you have a gift for that, and people are often asking for your opinions, well done. You've got a great managerial skill.

2. You're already treated like a manager

Some people are just natural leaders. They're the alphas in the group, and have the ability to step up and take charge when others are disappearing into the bushes like Homer Simpson. These people are magnets for co-workers. Yes, there is a boss, and they will formally go to that boss to make sure everything is done by the book — but if they're coming to you for solutions to problems, advice on projects, or mentoring of any kind, you are the manager they really want.

Think about how many bosses you've had that never quite seemed up to the task; they were promoted through nepotism, favoritism, family ties, or pure luck. Now think about the people working under them that had it all together. You could very well be that person in your company.

3. You care about performance more than titles and money

Both money and titles are important to a certain degree. You need money to live. Titles dictate responsibility and influence. However, if you put those things second to the performance you give, that's the sign of a great manager.

For you, it's not about peacocking around the office, sucking up to the executives, and impressing people with your shiny new company car. No, you are there to do a job, and do it well. You want to see the company grow and you want your input to have impact. When you do that, the titles and money will come to you anyway.

4. You're a natural listener

Have you ever noticed that your co-workers are inclined to tell you their problems? For some reason, you're the go-to shoulder to cry on, or you're getting that phone call at midnight from a friend who really needs your advice before an interview. You clearly have a knack for not just listening to other people's problems, but making them feel like you really hear what they're saying. This is an excellent trait for a manager. It can defuse tense situations at work and help with team-building and employee motivation. (See also: 15 Soft Skills Every Employer Values)

5. You are a cheerleader more than a naysayer

Are you a stop sign or a green light? Do you build up ideas or cut them down? Are you generally more positive than negative? If you're nodding, you have the mindset that makes for a great manager. This isn't to say you have to agree with everything and bury your head in the sand when bad ideas are presented. But, you see potential when others don't. You can take the acorn of an idea and help it grow into a mighty oak. Your enthusiasm for the work and the initiatives will benefit your company, your employees, and your career.

6. You are always looking for ways to improve yourself

Self-improvement should never stop. Jim Rohn, a famous motivational speaker, once said, "Work on yourself more than you do on your job." By following that advice, you will not only become a better person, but a better employee and a valuable contributor. If you have a manager that believes they know it all, that's a cause for concern. The greatest thinkers and entrepreneurs from history continued to learn and improve right up until the day they died. They were smart and humble enough to know that self-improvement is a proven path to success.

7. You show empathy for your teammates

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It's important to know the difference between that and being sympathetic, which is an internal feeling and does not take into account someone else's emotions.

If you are blessed with great empathy, you have the natural ability to understand what someone else is going through emotionally, and usually know just how to respond to make that person feel better. You listen, you engage, you react, and you leave someone in a better state than you found them. This is a fabulous skill for a manager for obvious reasons. From helping employees with difficult and stressful situations, to dealing with anger, disappointment, and even sorrow, your empathy will take you a long way. (See also: This One Skill Can Make You a Better Boss)

8. You don't get stressed or shaken by sudden change

Turbulence is not just for flights. All businesses, large or small, are going to experience ups and downs. When you're plunged into boiling water, do you go soft like a carrot, hard like an egg, or create something wonderful, like coffee? If you're the latter, you are going to excel in any kind of working environment.

Managers that react to sudden change with professionalism, positivity, and a can-do attitude will inspire a team, solve the problem, and come out smelling of roses. What's more, this is a skill that can be learned, strengthened, and refined. So if you currently turn to Jell-O when the pressure is on, find a mentor that can help you get better in a crisis. (See also: 8 Types of People Who Will Help Grow Your Career)

9. You don't get involved in gossip or company politics

That's not to say you don't understand the politics in a company. But there is a difference between knowing how to survive, and actively engaging in all the water cooler chitchat and backstabbing moves. Anyone who climbs the ladder by throwing other people off it will eventually find themselves on the receiving end of the same treatment. And in the process, they will lose the respect of their team. If you avoid all of the nonsense that is inherent in most corporations, you will be a better manager, and honestly, a better person.

10. You are always ready to step up and solve problems

It's always not easy; in fact, it can be downright intimidating or require a bunch of extra work and hassle. But, you do it anyway because you know you can help. That's the attitude of a great manager. You roll up your sleeves and you're not afraid to get dirty. You have no doubt had managers that were more like dictators; they were happy to bark orders, but never stepped up to the plate. Those people do not inspire the same kind of respect and confidence from their employees as the managers that dive in.

11. You put the team and the outcome before personal gain

It's not about you. It's about the end result. You don't feel the need to take credit for those times you swooped in to save the day. In fact, you'd much rather see one of your team members get rewarded for the work they did, even though you were right there with them every step of the way. This selfless attitude is a fantastic trait of a good manager. To be happy when the team does well, and be proud when their employees are getting results, is rare in many organizations. Sadly, a lot of managers are quite happy to take the credit when they've done nothing at all, and that creates awful morale and a loyalty problem. That will never be an issue when you're in charge.

12. You're doing a manager's job already

Take a look at your current task list. What is in your job description, and what are you actually doing day in, day out? You may have been doing way more than required for quite some time now, and that's often the case these days. As departments are downsized, some employees are required to take on more work. So much more that they have actually taken on a managerial role. If this is you, the time is ripe to sit down with your boss or human resources department and talk about a raise. (See also: How to Be Successful as a First-Time Manager)

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This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 New Podcasts That'll Improve Your Money Mindset

Christa Avampato — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 08:00:06 +0000

Podcasts are all the rage right now. We even have podcasts that review and recommend other podcasts! I'm proud to say that I'm a podcast junkie, as is most everyone I know. But did you know that your podcast addiction could actually help you manage your personal finances? Here are 10 that will improve your money mindset.

1. Listen, Money Matters

Listen, Money Matters lives up to the promise of its tagline, "Manage your money like a badass." If you think personal finance is dull, Andrew Fiebert (a self-professed personal finance nerd) and Thomas Frank (a productivity expert) are here to dispel that myth. They'll help you work smarter so that your money works harder for you. They break down complex terms and host some of the smartest minds in the personal finance field. Topics range from investing to debt reduction, and everything in between.

2. Planet Money

This superb NPR podcast is the gold standard when it comes to personal finance programs. Think breaking financial news meets the nuts and bolts of how our economy actually works told to you by your best friend. At almost 800 episodes, Planet Money has clearly found the secret recipe to making personal finance fascinating.

3. Stacking Benjamins

Endlessly action-oriented and infinitely original, Stacking Benjamins is all about taking personal finance advice and putting it to work for you immediately. With episode titles such as "Where Financial Planning Goes Wrong" and "69 Things That GO BUMP in Your Portfolio," this podcast is so much more than tips on how to save money. It's actually changing your mind about how you view money and its place in your life.

4. The Money Tree

If investing is an area of personal finance you haven't delved into until now, The Money Tree is the place to grow your knowledge and personal wealth. From choosing the right investments, to making career choices, to answering your questions about pensions and Social Security, the hosts and their guest panelists for each episode will help you invest like the best.

5. Money Box

This gem from the BBC combines the latest personal finance news with brief guides on topics such as compound interest. It also offers societal commentary on topics like the future of retirement. What I like best about Money Box is that it serves up full episodes plus very short clips that tightly focus on one concept, such as energy savings and the return of the 100 percent mortgage.

6. HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

A personal finance expert, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author, Jean Chatzky is masterful at breaking down personal finance advice and combining that advice with what's happening in the lives of women. This mindfulness includes acknowledging finance challenges women face, such as saving for our own retirement while caring for our older loved ones, and providing timely advice based on big calendar events like back-to-school and tax prep time. Though it's geared toward women, this podcast is a winner for male listeners, too.

7. Freakonomics Radio

If you're looking to expand your mind and your thinking around money, Freakonomics Radio is for you. In the tradition of their wildly successful books Freakonomics, SuperFreakonomics, and Think Like a Freak, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner bring together masterful storytelling with human psychology. From supply and demand through the lens of line standing, to explaining the stupidest thing you can do with your money, this highly-provocative, well-researched gem is perfect for intellectually curious listeners.

8. The Dave Ramsey Show

Dave Ramsey approaches the management of money from a Zen place — he wants you to make peace with it so you can focus on doing what you love and spending time with people who matter to you. He recognizes the stress that money can place on your relationships and happiness, and his goal is to help you mitigate that stress with knowledge and a game plan. That perspective and motivation make the content about wealth building, reducing debt, and budgeting easy to digest. His message resonates with a wide listener base — this year he's celebrating his 25th anniversary on the air.

9. The Dough Roller Money Podcast

Interviews, Q&As, deep dives into individual money topics, and career advice from a financial perspective make The Dough Roller Money Podcast one of the most well-rounded personal finance podcasts. The variety of content and format has helped Rob Berger and his 14-member team become one of the highest rated personal finance podcasts with 75,000 downloads per month.

10. Money for the Rest of Us

For everyone who needs their personal finance advice beautifully wrapped in a compelling story that has nothing to do with personal finance, Money for the Rest of Us is tailor-made for you. You're going to get the knowledge and lessons you need to create a money mindset, but they'll be delivered with such an immersive and entertaining narrative that you won't even realize you're learning. Some of my recent favorite episodes are "Do Homeowner Tax Breaks Cause Homelessness?" and "Is Infrastructure a Good Investment?" Combining personal finance education with social justice and impact gets people to pay attention and take action.

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This article is from Christa Avampato of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

This One Skill Can Make You a Better Boss

Paul Michael — Mon, 22 May 2017 09:00:10 +0000

What is it that every great boss has, and every rotten boss lacks? Here's a clue: it's not a fancy degree or something you can buy.

The answer is empathy.

With it, you can be a boss that is revered. Without it, you're tone deaf and often hated. Along with your actual ability to do the job, it is the most important trait of a truly superb manager.

What is empathy?

This may sound like an obvious, or even patronizing, question to ask. But empathy is often confused with sympathy, which is related, but different.

According to TheFreeDictionary.com, empathy is "the ability to identify with or understand the perspective, experiences, or motivations of another individual and to comprehend and share another individual's emotional state."

Sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for someone else. It is more general, and more distant. Empathy is deeper. It means that you can put yourself in the other person's place, and share their emotions and outlook on life. "I feel sorry for you" is sympathy; "I feel your pain" is empathy.

The importance of empathy in the workplace

Whenever people are asked why they quit their job, "the boss" is often among the top answers. That is no coincidence. Whether the boss is a bully, or just inept, it can make a workplace intolerable. In many cases, a lack of empathy is to blame.

Employees want to feel understood and appreciated. An empathetic boss will not only fulfill those needs, but will do it in a way that does not feel forced or "required by management."

If you are not a naturally empathetic person, don't worry. With enough time, support, and encouragement, managers can learn to be empathetic. Here are some positive steps you can take right now to become that beloved boss.

1. Put yourself in the shoes of various employees for a day

It may not always be practical, or even possible. But if you can walk in an employee's shoes for the day — or even a few hours — it can completely open your eyes and show you a whole new perspective. This is especially important if you did not come up through the ranks.

From taking orders at the front of the store, to working on the production line, to assembling a report, you will gain firsthand experience of the different roles for which you are responsible. It will also send a positive message to your staff.

2. Conduct more one-on-one and group interviews

Your employees want to feel heard. If you never give them the chance to tell you what's on their minds, you aren't leading with empathy.

So, arrange regular appointments with them, either for private interviews or group meetings, and let them clear the air. Be open to new ideas, and do not use this time to rebuke anyone, or shoot down suggestions. Make it a positive experience that they look forward to, and make sure good things come from it. Act on the ideas you like, and tell them why you're not implementing ideas you don't like.

3. Get to know staff personally

Ask people how their weekends were. Get to know them beyond the daily grind. How's the family? Are they taking on a lot of extra work at home? This could be the reason they look tired, and have made some mistakes recently. Have they had a major life change, or has there been a bereavement? The more you know, and genuinely understand, the more empathetic you will be, which will in turn make you a better boss.

4. Be open with the staff

You're not expected to be everyone's best friend. You're a boss, and you should define those boundaries. But, there is absolutely nothing wrong with telling people about some of your own management struggles.

Your staff may be annoyed because you haven't implemented something they have been requesting for months. Explaining that you have, in fact, been trying to push that through upper management and are being stonewalled will let the team know you're on their side. Don't pass the buck, bad-mouth your bosses, or make yourself out to be a victim. Just let them know you're working for them.

5. Learn to read body language

If you ask how someone's doing and they say they're fine, it may not be the end of the conversation. How do they look? How's their stance? Is their head drooping? Fingers constantly fidgeting? There may be something they want to tell you, but are hesitant to ask. You can break the silence and find out what's wrong. Don't prod. Simply showing genuine concern can have a major positive impact on how your employees view you.

Above all, be honest, sincere, and understanding of what your employees do. Learn more about their work, their troubles, their lives, and their hopes for the future. Even if you cannot solve their immediate problems, understanding them will make your staff feel so much better having you as their boss.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

These 10 Money Podcasts Will Help You Save Tons

Ashley Eneriz — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 10:00:08 +0000

Want to save money and become more financially literate without hitting the books? Podcasts are a great way to pass the time, and they serve to entertain and educate. You can find a podcast about almost anything, and best of all, they are free.

Listen to podcasts while commuting to and from work or listen to one while taking a walk. I even enjoy listening to financial podcasts when I am cleaning or folding laundry. (See also: The 5 Best Money Podcasts)

1. Dave Ramsey Show

Even though I don't agree with all of Ramsey's money philosophies, he is one of my favorite personal finance gurus. The Dave Ramsey podcast is a mix of stories and interviews of individuals and couples who have conquered their debt, as well as personal finance advice from Ramsey. It is more of a talk-show type podcast than a financial monologue, which makes for an engaging listen.

2. Money Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for a Richer Life

Want to become financially smarter in the least amount of time possible? Then the Money Girl's podcast is the right fit for you. Most podcasts are around 15—18 minutes, which makes it easy to fit financial lessons in a busy schedule. Money Girl discusses a wide range of tips, from more serious issues such as protecting your money in a divorce to fun topics, such as choosing a wardrobe on a budget.

3. Chris Hogan's Retire Inspired

Hogan just started his Retire Inspired podcast in June 2016, but his book of the same name is a best-seller. His advice for retirement is not just for those close to retirement. Hogan talks to Millennials and those on the edge of retirement simultaneously. Listen to this podcast for retirement and saving and financial motivation, but don't expect in-depth strategies for investing or 401K advice.

4. Radical Personal Finance

If you feel like you have already heard it all when it comes to personal finance advice, then Radical Personal Finance is one podcast to listen to. Host Joshua J. Sheats tackles very interesting and off-the-wall finance topics that are just fascinating. Some notable show titles include, "Tips to Hitchhike Europe (or Anywhere) on $40 a Week" and "Investing in Rare Coins With Numismatic Value." Sheats also has podcasts on every day finance topics too, including a recent show titled, "The Recovering Spender: How to Live a Happy, Fulfilled, Debt-Free Life."

5. The Clark Howard Podcast

Clark Howard is a household name when it comes to personal finance. His podcasts are all over an hour but are packed with financial news and advice on how to save money and avoid scams and being ripped off.

6. Listen Money Matters

Listen Money Matters (LMM) is a podcast for both those new to money management, as well as more seasoned investors. The podcast focuses on four main areas: budgeting, investing, getting out of debt, and growing your income. The practical advice spans from podcasts like, "How to Prioritize Your Financial Goals," which is useful to everyone, to "How to Calculate Your Rental Yield," which is important for those who want to profit in real estate.

7. Smart Passive Income

Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income is a must-listen for individuals interested in growing passive streams of income in their lives. Flynn also has a lot of influence, which means he has a lot of interesting guests and interviews on the show. He has interviewed Tim Ferris, Michael Hyatt, Chalene Johnson, and Ramit Sethi. It is a fun listen, even if passive income is not your first passion in life.

8. You Need a Budget Podcast

The creators of the You Need a Budget (YNAB) financial software have a weekly podcast that discusses debt, saving money, and getting out of the paycheck to paycheck cycle. Topics include reasons to pay cash for your next house and whether you should outsource your finances.

9. The Investors Podcast

The tagline of The Investor Podcast is, "We study billionaires." If that doesn't grab your attention right away, I don't know what will. The podcast studies the habits and books billionaires read and breaks them down for listeners. The podcast also includes fascinating interviews, like the recent one that interviewed billionaire investor, Carl Icahn's friend, Mr. Mark Stevens.

10. Mad Fientist

Mad Fientist considers themselves a financial independence podcast that covers early retirement, investing, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Unlike many of the other podcasts, this podcast is not just one voice/person giving financial advice. Instead, this podcast is all interviews of some of the top experts in personal finance, including Nick Loper, J. Money, and JD Roth.

Don't be overwhelmed by all of the amazing choices of podcasts. Subscribe to a handful of them, find out which ones are your favorite, and only listen to shows that are directed toward your unique situation.

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Ways to Get People to Listen When You Talk

Linsey Knerl — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:00:05 +0000

Whether you are leading a business meeting, attempting to persuade an opposing view point, or questioning the actions of your city council, grabbing the attention (and keeping it) of those in your audience is essential to accomplishing your goal. (See also: 25 Ways to Communicate Better Today)

In this day and age of Internet communication, many of us do not feel comfortable speaking in front of a group of people. The tips in this article will help persuade an audience to sit up, pay attention, and hear what you have to say.

1. Consider Your Audience

Before you speak to any group of people, it is important to consider who your audience is going to be. If it for a formal event listed on a public ticketing site, like Eventbrite, check the attendee list to get a feel for who is attending. Scheduling apps and even Facebook event pages have similar RSVP features that can help you get a guest list ahead of time to research and analyze. Once you have an idea of the types of people you are going to be speaking to, think about what it is they want to hear. Spend time trying to find the best possible way to give them what they want while saying what you need to.

What happens if you can't preview who will be there ahead of time? A quick survey at the beginning of the talk can be helpful. A simple show of hands for finding out who has used a particular smartphone app, for example, can be a game changer in making the talk pertinent for a majority of the audience. For small talks (like a one-on-one conversation), prefacing the discussing with a few questions can go a long way.

2. Use Your Big Kid Voice

Parents are constantly telling their children to use their "big girl" or "big boy" voice. That simply means speaking without baby talk or a lot of whine. The same can be said for the adult who is trying to command a room. Slow down, take breaths as you speak, control your pitch and pace while enunciating clearly. If you find your voice cracking from nervousness or dryness, stop to drink some water (which you should keep on hand at all times!)

3. Be Confident

When you are looking to get the attention of others, it is important to show your confidence in what you have to say. A timid, shy person who is stumbling over her words will not garner the attention she needs. Stand tall, hold your head high, speak clearly and with a strong voice. Remember that taking deeper breaths oxygenates your blood and relaxes you, thus helping you think more clearly.

4. Stand (or Sit) Tall and With Purpose

Whether you are standing or sitting, there is an optimal position that you should take to attract the attention of your audience. When standing, keep a tall back, your head held high and your hands clasped near your belly button. Use small gestures with your hands to add emphasis to your words — watch how regulars in the media use their hands. This also can make you appear taller, which is proven to help your authority with an audience. Many experts have claimed that raising their stature by even a few inches has helped them succeed.

When standing, your legs should be slightly apart. This shows confidence. When sitting, however, leaving your forearms on the table in front of you shows a confident, approachable stance that will sustain the attention of your listeners. (This is likely based on the theory that leaning into the table shows dominance of the table, which can help convey to the room that you own all the room — and therefore, the conversation, as well.)

It is also helpful to identify all of your fears ahead of time and think them through to keep them at bay. It's natural to be nervous or even frightened, but using strategic tips such as exaggeration of your symptoms and imagining the best outcome can be effective if done every time you speak.

5. Remain Sure of Yourself — Even If You Lose Your Place

If you are speaking to an audience and lose your place, fumble, or can't seem to get back on track, it may be the appropriate time for a well-planned joke. Those that can laugh at themselves can recapture an audience quickly and get back on track in no time.

No matter what, avoid apologizing when things get rough. Remain sure of yourself and the message you are sending, or the audience will quickly lose interest in you or perceive you as no longer being an authority on your subject.

If someone in a group argues that what you are saying is wrong, invite them to table the discussion to a more appropriate time, rather than saying "I'm sorry you feel that way."

If you are having a one-on-one conversation, choose your words to show you are empathetic but not dissuadable. Go with phrases such as "I hear your words — here are the reasons why I am saying what I am."

Keep track of your goal with any talk, and attempt to get back on topic during moments of conflict. Simply letting the audience know that you understand their frustrations, but that you need to get back to the topic at hand is a must-have skill for anyone speaking publicly.

6. Make Frequent Eye Contact

Making eye contact keeps the audience engaged as no one wants to be caught drifting off or ignoring a speaker. If you catch someone not looking at you while you are speaking, make eye contact with them and repeat it every few moments to maintain their attention. If catching their eye initially is difficult, take a few steps in their direction. Sometimes all a person needs is a reminder that there are other things going on in a room and their attention should be reverted.

7. Keep Them Interested

A person is naturally equipped to change focus every few minutes. To keep your audience from losing their focus on you, change your method of delivery every few minutes. Add in a story that relates to the listener and your topic, apply humor (if you feel comfortable with it), or present the material in a new way.

Teachers use this method daily in a classroom. Those teachers who are considering today's lower attention spans change activities for students every 10-12 minutes and rotate the type of activities from passive to active regularly. Take a cue from teachers and interchange your method of delivery to keep and sustain the attention and focus of your audience.

Whether you are presenting your ideas to a potential client, attempting to motivate your staff, or providing crucial instruction to a group of 15 year olds, these tips will help you ensure that your audience is engaged, focused, and ready to hear what it is you have to say.

How do you keep listeners listening? Please tell us about it in comments — we're all ears!

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This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Simple Networking Tricks

Thursday Bram — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:00:31 +0000

Networking is an absolutely necessary skill — it can make all the difference in landing a job, launching a new company, or bringing in a new client. But while networking is something that comes naturally to some people, most of us have to work at it to get good. These simple tricks can make the process easier. (See also: Networking Basics for Regular People)

1. Set Goals for Your Networking Efforts

Networking can be a relatively time-consuming process. It may sound cynical to say that you need to focus your efforts on the people most likely to help you, but the truth is that you need to know what you’re getting out of networking and find the opportunities that really help you the most.

2. Make Networking a Habit

In order to really get the most out of your network, you need to be doing more than just going to the occasional networking event. You need to make a regular habit of reaching out to new people and connecting with them, even if you can’t find that many events to attend in your area. There’s always email, phone calls, and one-on-one meetings.

3. Think About How You’re Different From Everyone Else

You don’t need to have a full-on existential crisis, but you do need to understand why someone would (or wouldn’t) want to network with you at this point. Consider how you can help your connections and how you stand out from your industry. If you need to, write out a few points so that you can get some ideas for conversation topics.

4. Get a Better Address Book, Preferably Software-Based

There are dozens of different address book tools out there these days that can do all sorts of tricks. Some can even fill in websites and other public information about a new contact based on just a few details you can add. If you’re trying to build deep connections, you shouldn’t be spending time alphabetizing your Rolodex.

5. Always Set a Way to Follow Up

No matter who you’re networking with or what your goal is, you should make sure that you have already arranged to follow up before the conversation ends. It can be something as simple as promising to email a copy of an interesting article — you just want to skip that awkward phase of wanting to contact someone but not have a reason to do it.

6. Carry Business Cards With You Constantly

With today’s technology, the information on a business card isn’t particularly important. But it does provide a physical reminder to your new contact that he or she did meet you, making it easier for you to build on the connection.

7. Look for People You Want to Network With Ahead of Time

It’s common to be able to look at the expected attendees for many events these days, and social networking can provide you added insight on who will be attending a given event with a little searching. Identify the best people to network with and make a point of introducing yourself at the event.

8. Make Your Connections Deeper

Just meeting someone in passing at an event (or even online) is just a shallow connection. It’s a great starting point, but if you can take the time to make that connection deeper — say with meeting up for lunch or passing a few lengthy emails back and forth — you can make build a much deeper relationship. It can be as simple as telling yourself that you want to make one connection deeper every week and make a point of acting on that commitment.

9. Listen More Than You Talk, at Least at First

We all like to talk about ourselves, but a good networker spends a conversation learning as much about her new connection as possible. Ask questions, listen, and generally pay attention. Then, when you talk, you can talk about the reason for your networking within your contact’s frame of reference, like what you can do to help her. This approach is much more effective than going in and trying to sell at a networking event.

10. Develop a Thick Skin

It’s easy enough for a new connection to ease himself out of a conversation or turn you down during the follow up. It’s important to be able to let such situations go. There are just some people who you will never click with, and that’s fine.

11. Don’t Shy Away From People Who Don’t Seem Useful

You never know what the future may bring: You could change industries, strike out on your own, or generally need to know very different people down the line than you do today. Don’t brush off anyone who doesn’t fit in with your current networking needs just for that reason.

12. Go Outside of Your Industry or Niche

It’s very tempting to build most of your connections within your own industry — especially if your goals focus on sales or business. But by going further afield, you can build a more useful network. It’s rare that any of us only need sales connections, after all. Vendors, media, and other potential contacts are crucial to a healthy network, even if they don’t directly work in your industry.

13. Connect Your Connections

Take the time to make helpful introductions within your own network. The more interconnected your network is, the easier it is to get your contacts to take action. It doesn’t hurt if you can build the reputation as the person always able to make a useful introduction.

14. Follow-Up Is Always Your Responsibility

It’s easy enough to go to an event and hand out a stack of business cards — but the odds are that only 10-20% of the people that you connect with will follow up with you, even if you give them a great reason to do so. If you want to create connections that will actually be useful to you in the long run, you have to take responsibility for following up.

15. Don’t Forget Your Existing Network in Your Hurry to Add to It

Going back and regularly strengthening your ties to your existing network — friends, family, coworkers and so on — is just as important as building new connections. That’s because your deepest connections are the ones most likely to help you.

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25 Ways to Communicate Better Today

Julie Rains — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:24:13 +0000

Communicating effectively is not always easy. You have to make sure that your message is received as you intended and work to understand the messages that others are sending you. As a literal thinker and introvert, I have often missed social cues or simply failed to speak up in order to correct misperceptions, leading to misunderstandings. But I have learned from my mistakes and gotten better at adjusting my style to various scenarios. (See also: How to Learn From Your Mistakes)

Have you ever struggled to express your thoughts or grasp what others are trying to tell you? Use these techniques to communicate better today.

Interacting with People Who Don't Know You Well

Misunderstandings can happen easily when you are talking with someone who doesn't know you well. There are many possible causes of confusion. For example, the listener may work in a field in which specific words carry meanings different from common usage or may be hypersensitive to certain topics. Or you may forget to give background information that is pertinent to your conversation. Pay attention to what is happening and clear up any potential misunderstandings.

1. Speak Up

Even when you use the right words, tones, and inflections, someone else may not receive the message you intended. If you see an inappropriate reaction, identify the source of the misunderstanding and restate your message in a way that makes sense to the other person.

2. Clarify

Be attentive to clues that you need to clarify your statements. Questions often stimulate thoughts that allow you to see the discrepancy between your intentions and the listener's perceptions. Elaborate to address any apparent inconsistencies.

3. Issue a Correction When You Know You've Misspoken

Occasionally, you may make a statement that you immediately realize has mischaracterized your thoughts. Rather than ignore your mistake, acknowledge and correct the error as soon as possible.

Navigating New Territory

When you find yourself in foreign situations, you may need to adjust your communication tactics to make sure you are understood. Decision makers are more apt to listen intently and respond favorably when you act like you know what you are talking about.

4. Learn the Lingo

Discover keywords that are meaningful in new contexts. For example, when my oldest son, a high school senior, broke his right arm just days before the SAT, I quickly learned about testing "accommodations," which helped me communicate with College Board officials and guidance counselors at his school about his need for a computer at the testing site.

5. Write Down What You Want to Say

Before making an important phone call, outline key points on paper. Adjust your message to fit the flow of conversation. Keep your notes nearby so that you can verify that you have covered pertinent details.

6. Stick With the Facts

New situations warrant presenting facts and asking reasonable questions rather than talking excessively about your emotional concerns. So resist being dramatic, especially around those who you don't know well. If your listeners are reasonable people, they will understand and respond appropriately.

7. Research Before Complaining

Learn more about an organization's policies and procedures before lodging a complaint. When explaining why you are dissatisfied, get attention by explaining how the company failed to comply with its own standards rather than how employees' actions fell short of your expectations.

8. Be Poised

Uncertainty and fear can cause you to share too much irrelevant information. Act as relaxed as possible in new situations, even if you have concerns that make you anxious; as a result, listeners will more readily grasp your message and focus on offering guidance rather than calming fears.

While Working

Workplace communications can be tricky as acceptable styles vary depending on the company culture. However, techniques that involve modifying your message and its delivery to the unique needs of your audience are useful in nearly any situation.

9. Adjust the Volume of Your Voice as Necessary

Speaking softly is fine in face-to-face conversations with close friends in quiet homes, but it doesn’t work well when making a presentation in noisy workplaces. Likewise, those who speak to large crowds on a regular basis may need to turn down the volume when chatting with a small group.

10. Speak Slowly

If you are new to public speaking or have limited experience in this area, slow down. Conversational pace does not translate well to speeches to large groups, who may not be familiar with your manner of speaking. Pause at the end of key points so that listeners can process your content easily.

11. Get the Full Attention of Your Audience

If your listener is involved in a high-priority assignment, battling a deadline, or getting ready for a business trip, pick a better time to talk.

12. Research Before Asking Questions

To elicit useful responses from an expert (whether a thought leader in the industry you are pursuing or the technical services rep of a vendor you are evaluating), do some research. Find out what is considered common knowledge and determine the various schools of thought on certain issues. As a result, your conversation moves beyond the basics to more substantial and significant issues.

13. Be Clear About Deadlines

When you make a request or extend an offer of assistance, talk about timelines. Whether you are asking for a report from a colleague or preparing content for a presentation for your boss, confirm the deadline to make sure you stay on schedule.

Communicating in Writing, Online or Offline

Whether you use a casual style for emails, posts, etc. or a formal style for printed letters, research papers, and so on, understand that readers will see your words only and may miss subtle meaning that could otherwise be conveyed easily in a face-to-face conversation. So be as precise as possible.

14. Re-Read Your Message

Re-reading an email (or any written communication, such as a personal note, professional bio, or research paper) brings typos to light. Revise and read again.

15. Use Correct Grammar

Many people are genuinely confused by misplaced commas and dangling participles. Rework awkwardly worded sentences.

16. Use the Right Word or Phrase

If you have even the slightest doubt about the meaning of a word, look up its definition. Discover a word's original meaning as well as its present-day connotation.

17. Use Formatting Tools in Emails

To highlight key points and deadlines, bold and underline text to emphasize important content. Place certain items, like names of program participants or event schedules, in bulleted form for easy scanning.

18. Avoid Using Humor

Your family and close friends, or those who are familiar with your style, may appreciate your humor. But those outside of your inner circle may misconstrue your words. Sarcasm especially does not translate well in writing.

Listening

Listening is often overlooked as a tool in effective communication. One of the easiest ways to improve communication is to pay more attention to those who are speaking and sending messages to you.

19. Slow Down

Comprehend what the speaker is saying, rather than trying to move quickly through a conversation. Avoid predicting what the other person will say and focus instead on what is being said. And, rather than interrupting with your thoughts, wait for a pause before responding.

20. Confirm Your Understanding

If you are interacting with someone for the first time, there is a strong possibility of a failed communication. If you are unsure about what happens next (what action you should take or what the other person will do), ask questions. Even if you think you are sure, rephrase statements to confirm mutual understanding.

21. Remember

The more you can recall about the content of previous conversations, the better you can communicate in subsequent conversations.

22. Archive Your Emails

Store emails so that you can re-read them if necessary. Verify key points as well as details such as meeting dates and assignments.

Adapting Your Message to Your Audience

Another commonly overlooked but simple way to improve communication is to adapt your message to the needs, preferences, backgrounds, values, etc. of those who are listening to you speak or reading your written messages. Avoid hot buttons and try to convey ideas in ways that resonate with members of your audience.

23. Assess the Knowledge of Your Listeners

Rather than underestimating or overestimating someone else’s background in a certain subject, ask what they know about your topic. (Keep in mind that audience members' lack of knowledge in your field does not mean that they are ill-informed or poorly educated in general.) Check for understanding during your conversation and make adjustments as appropriate.

24. Show Respect for the Values of Your Audience

Do some basic research by reviewing individual or company websites, statements of purpose, operating principles, etc. to gain an understanding of others' perspective of the world. Make sure that your business proposals, idea pitches, etc. are compatible with their values.

25. Use Familiar References

Learn about the professional backgrounds, hobbies, lifestyles, families, etc. of audience members. Tell stories and use metaphors that relate concepts to their life experiences.

What techniques have you used to improve communication?

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This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Leadership by Listening

Julie Rains — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:06 +0000

Are you a good listener? Listeners can be great leaders because they have volumes of field intelligence that no one else has bothered to notice. I know from firsthand experience.

Sometimes, good listeners aren't recognized as excellent or potentially excellent leaders because we're not standing in front of large groups of people making speeches. Instead, we're having one-on-one conversations: learning more about our friends, coworkers, and acquaintances, tapping their domain knowledge, and getting a handle on their passions, frustrations, and dreams. It's this information that we use to identify opportunities, plant seeds, spread ideas, and make things happen.

If you happen to be one of those people who might be listening so much that you don't have a chance to promote yourself, and perhaps you're a bit on the quiet side, you can still be an incredible leader. Consider these ideas.

Find Good Opportunities

Tackle the project that no one else wants. The project might seem troublesome, controversial, or inconsequential. A factor in being a great leader is choosing projects carefully. But just because no one else is interested doesn't mean the project (or program or problem) isn't worthy of our attention. If you're trying to establish yourself as a leader and can't get the right opportunities, then taking on a challenge can be a great way to earn recognition.

Solve a problem. For whatever reason, the powers-to-be (no matter how wise and well-informed) have a persistent or particularly annoying problem. They're concerned, reasonably or irrationally, about seeming insensitive, setting too-rigid guidelines, not preserving the peace. The truth is that I get mired in similar problems because I've listened to others' concerns and complaints, which may make it easier to sort through these dilemmas, recommend solutions, and stand firm.

Learn to recognize "amazingness." Some of my best leadership successes have involved learning from incredibly talented people and adapting their fresh, relevant concepts to the needs of my group and community. Listening to lots of people can mean noticing trends and recognizing novel ideas as well as knowing when a group is ready to hear about new approaches.

Keep Listening

Assess and leverage strengths. Learn about other people's strengths and preferences by asking questions, listening to responses, and showing genuine interest in varied topics, common and obscure. Rather than assigning people to random tasks, leaders who listen can easily locate and call on the right people for expertise, support, and collaboration. Remember to make an open call to find folks with unadvertised talents and those who are lousy at self-promotion but still want to contribute.

Challenge and encourage, but don't push. Be upfront about commitments you'll need as well as the support you're willing to give. Listen for a negative response and accept "no" as readily as you embrace "yes." Understand that too many "no's" may mean that the timing for a project, program, activity, etc. just isn't right. Knowing when to walk away is a valuable asset.

Listen to people with diverse viewpoints. Meet with stakeholders who can influence the success of your mission and uncover their concerns. Use these insights to modify project details, avoid violating values held by team members, and ensure integrity in communications. Take this time to explain your intentions and how your actions will benefit their long-term goals.

Be Real

Accept that your leadership style will be different. Feigning ultra-confidence probably isn't going to work well for those who are intent listeners, especially those on the introverted side. You've probably detected inconsistencies in others' calls to action and execution of action plans. You don't want to mislead in any way so you might not act totally fearless. Some will reject your style but others will be attracted.

Admit mistakes. No one wants to repeat the same mistakes. Actually, many people don't want to make mistakes at all, especially ones that might become public. But if you're taking on the projects that no one else wants, then you are likely to encounter new territory and make missteps. Staying upbeat is extremely valuable in rallying support. But acknowledging imperfection makes you more approachable by those with great ideas and shows that you're not obsessed with your plan but rather with fulfilling a mission.

Take Action

Leadership opportunities exist at the convergence of troublesome projects, hand-wringing problems, people who have the knowledge and desire to help, and amazingness. If you are truly listening, you'll see these opportunities and seize them.

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