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Letter From The Editor

Dear Friends,

Change is, and always has been, a component of life. Yet at this moment in history, change is occurring at the fastest rate ever. Globally our planet and its resources are being stretched to their max. Personally we face change in ourselves, our families, and our surroundings, and professionally, what isn’t changing?

Given that the one constant in life is change, it is your job to learn how to deal with change effectively. You do this by thinking through the effects of change on your business and your life, and planning accordingly. In other words, don’t hide from the change life brings your way, rather embrace it – dig until you discover the gold it contains – and take advantage of the opportunities change brings to you.

So think about it. What changes are you facing both personally and professionally in the coming months? Based upon what you know, do you have a written plan for managing the changes? If not, why?

If you don’t put your plans in writing, you can’t effectively teach your plan to others. If you can’t write it, you can’t teach it. If you can’t teach it, you can’t have it because it is so big you can’t get there by yourself. It is really that simple. So write down everything you know about the change before you, how you are going to address it, and with what specific measurable results you intend to achieve by-when. This will provide you with the clarity and tools you and your team needs to move forward and take advantage of the change that is sure to come your way.

Warm Regards,

Clay S. Nelson

Building a Good Reputation

Much is often made of how one can build a good reputation in the eyes of supervisors, co-workers, or clients, and the key to doing so is much simpler then most make it:

• Always be your word - do what you say you are going to do, by-when you say you are going to do it.
• When you aren't your word, clean it up and get back to being your word everywhere, all the time.
• Learn how to forgive on your feet - we all make mistakes. Forgive yourself as well as those you work with.
• Have a written plan that keeps you directed, on task, and present to what you say you are going to do and by-when you say you are going to do it.

In the end, the ability to build a good reputation isn't about what degree or position you hold, the clothes you wear or the car you drive. It is about who you are being. Ask yourself: “Am I being my word or not?” It really is that simple.

The Giving & Receiving of Criticism

Regardless of how “constructive” criticism is meant to be, most people are put on the defensive the second they feel as though they have done something wrong, which is why when giving and receiving constructive criticism both parties must be committed to full and complete communication. Full and complete communication leaves no room for people to read between the lines and provides the space for people to speak what is on their mind in a respectful and constructive way. Constructive criticism, whether it is construed as “poor” or “good”, can hinge on this one single factor.

How to handle “poor constructive criticism”

When receiving constructive criticism that is not helpful, it is important for the receiver to communicate that the “constructive criticism” wasn’t helpful and ask for clarification. Tell them that you don’t fully understand what they are communicating and ask them to explain it in another way.

The receiver also needs to ask permission and then express how the communication has left them feeling and allow the giver the opportunity to clean up their communication. Honestly, if one doesn’t do this, not only is the receiver left feeling made wrong, but the communicator won’t learn anything either.

How to handle “good constructive criticism”

As stated earlier, regardless of the quality of the communication in which constructive criticism is given, as human beings all of us tend to bristle at the thought of having done something wrong or incorrectly. Since this is a normal reaction, you as a receiver of constructive criticism need to be aware of your natural tendencies, thicken your skin if necessary, and see constructive criticism for the gift that it is. Acknowledge what you got out of the communication and put into practice the lessons learned.

How to give constructive criticism

• First one needs to ask permission to speak straight about what they see.
• They should speak from first person (for example: “I remember when I was working on a similar project several years ago and this same thing happened to me. This is how I handled it…”)
• When providing constructive criticism – or communicating anything for that matter – one needs to speak so that others can actually understand what it is that you are communicating. Every individual listens and filters what is being said to them in different ways. It is the responsibility of the giver of the communication to make sure that their communication is given in such a way that the receiver actually gets it!
• Be open to discussing further what you are communicating. Encourage questions and go so far as to ask the receiver to give back ,in their own words, what they got out of your communication with them.
• Don’t leave people feeling made wrong – emphasize that mistakes are part of how we learn, and what is important is that they learn from the constructive criticism in order to avoid the same mistake in the future.
• Communicators should always communicate fully and completely, leaving no room for misinterpretation, reading between the lines, or leaving people in a place where they don’t understand the communication.
• Always acknowledge and thank the person you are talking with for allowing you to contribute to them.

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