It depends on what you do for a living or the importance of the relationship. We won’t talk about professions where lives are at stake. But what about jobs like sales clerks, baristas, bank managers or writers? What does it cost a company if their customers (an important relationship, don’t you think?) are misunderstood by the sales or service team?  What is the cost of missing business? I have been thinking a lot about this lately. Misunderstanding lurks around every corner and is the order of business in most meetings.

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As the holidays draw near, the stress of finding the perfect gift begins to build. In the past, the perfect gift would be the latest high-tech gadget, that shiny necklace in the window, or the “Tickle Me Elmo” childrens’ toy. That idea of a perfect gift has changed. Read the rest of this entry »

Fear – it’s a topic that always comes up in Fierce Conversations. No doubt, Fierce Conversations often happen out on a limb. People call those limbs CLMs (career limiting moves). Sometimes they are CLMs, and other times they are CEMs (career enhancing moves). We don’t necessarily know if a particular conversation is going to be a CLM or CEM. In an abundant economy, people seemed more willing to take the risk and enter into the conversation. In a down economy such as the one that we are in now, I see an epidemic of people pulling back into their shells out of fear (i.e. job security). The problem is that now is when organizations need their people’s very best thinking, innovation, feedback and pushback.

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I was a ‘high achieving’ student. I made the grades. I clearly remember a day in summer school when I was 6 or 7 at Escondido Elementary School. I stood at my teacher’s desk with anticipation waiting for her to grade my handwriting assignment with one of her infamous stamps. I’ll never forget how my arm shook as I handed her my paper. I really wanted the stamp with the smiley face with the crown – the ultimate achievement in that class.

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Last night an old high school friend posted this little note on my facebook wall:

“did you know Santa Fe Chiefs took 4th in State (football)….and did you know that in last 33 yrs girls Volleyball has gone (to State) 25 times.”

A seemingly innocuous note about the championship girls volleyball program I played for during my high school career.

It’s now been almost 20 {gulp} years since those days and as I now find myself responsible for a multi-million dollar business in the last quarter of a tough year, I am fascinated by this little stat from a small town in Alma, Missouri.

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