Why You Should Send a Response After Connecting on Linkedin.

May 2 2012 by Donald Wayne McLeod in Interactive NETWORKING Workshops, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP Minutes, LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

It always makes it more personal when you do send a response after connecting on Linkedin. As in all communication remember to use the “YOU” format which means stop referring to yourself in the form of me, myself, I or my and start referring to the reader in the form of you or your. So often in our writing we refer to ourselves over and over which places the emphasis on us and not the reader.

For example instead of saying:

Dear Sarah,

“Thanks for inviting me to connect on Linkedin. I appreciate the contact and I look forward to building our relationship. Thanks again for the invite it is appreciated”

Sincerely,

(Your name here.)

You could say,

Dear Sarah,

“Thank you for your invitation to connect with you. Moving onward, I look forward to building our relationship. If I can assist you in anyway please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you again for your invitation, Sarah, you are appreciated.”

Wishing you the best in all your endeavors,

(Your name here.)

You placed the emphasis on the reader, you have offered your assistance and you let them know they are appreciated. (Not it is appreciated as in the first example.) You have used their name more than once, always a good idea, and you have wished them the best in all their endeavors. Sound personal? Sure. Will it set you apart from the crowd? Absolutely, and it opens the door for you to request their help.

LISTEN UP was founded on the belief that nothing impacts our lives and earning potential more than our ability to interact with others.

March 17 2012 by Donald Wayne McLeod in It Begins With You |Comments Off

Personally we need to work on our relationships with our wives, husbands, families and friends. Professionally we need to develop and maintain personal relationships with our co-workers and clients.

These interpersonal relationships provide the fuel that drive our lives. However, the lack of interpersonal communications skills in today’s society is quite evident. Daily, I watched as men and woman walked up and rudely interrupted a conversation when a 5 year old would have shown better manners.

Everyday people greeted me with weak handshakes, no eye contact and or a total lack of energy and expected me to do business with them. Frequently, people I met couldn’t remember my name.

Observing people treating each other as a number made me want to yell from the roof tops, “LISTEN UP people, change your attitudes, respect and be interested in others, it will benefit you!”

On a daily basis I started confronting business people on their lack of professionalism. Not in a mean, sarcastic way but on a truly personal level. My goal wasn’t to make the person feel bad but rather inform him/her on how I truly perceived him/her.

If a businessman did not stand to greet me I would call him on it and ask, “Why aren’t you standing to greet me? Do you not care to meet me? Believe me they all got to their feet embarrassed and apologetic, because they knew it was the right thing to do. If people didn’t look me in the eye while shaking my hand I would call them on it. When your hand is in another persons’ hand your eyes shall be on the other person’s eyes, Period! A simply gesture yet one that is a must to communicate sincerity.

If someone didn’t remember my name, I would make him or her remember my name while stressing the importance of such a skill. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of remembering names. Now, you might be thinking to yourself that you are also bad with names. Our advice to you is, stop reinforcing that behavior and start thinking to yourself that you are going to get better at remembering names. When asked, “how I am so good at remembering peoples’ names?”, I reply, “I know how important your name is to you.”

Remember, the sweetest sound to any person is the sound of his/her own name.
What pleasantly surprised me was the response I received from people. The majority of them, “loved it.” They responded to it. They were actually glad that I would tell them how I perceived them because no one else was willing to tell them.

They understood that I was bringing it to their attention because I truly cared about them. They appreciated my candor and promised to change their ways. Most of them would sincerely ask, “What else can you teach me?” The truth is there is so much information regarding forming personal relationships that it would take hours to give you a brief overview. In fact, most people need a complete attitude adjustment. That is something that does not happen overnight or over a month but hopefully over several months. The concept is simple Becoming truly interested in other people will benefit you. Most people are more willing to change once they realize the benefits associated with such a change.

In 2009 Teresa Dawn Simons joined LISTEN UP LLC as a Partner bringing with her nearly two decades of marketing experience and twelve years working in the digital marketing space. A Certified Inbound Marketing Professional with Honors Distinction, Teresa is proficient in best principles and practices including blogging, social media, lead conversion, lead nurturing, and closed-loop analysis. With a focus on Inbound Marketing, Teresa works with clients to construct online marketing strategies that reflect their company image and allows for optimal usability by visitors and search engines.

Two types of people will not succeed: those who don’t do what is required of them and those who only do what is required of them. ~ Donald Wayne McLeod

January 25 2012 by Donald Wayne McLeod in 21st Century Theme Skills, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group, LISTEN UP News, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

Most of us understand that if we don’t do what is required of us we will not succeed; however, few realize that in order to truly succeed we need to do more than is required of us. This rings true in every aspect of our lives especially when it comes to building interpersonal relationships. In order to build the ties that bind we need to go above and beyond what others are willing to do. The following is a true story that shows just how easy it is to endear yourself to others.

Friends of mine had a daughter who had been critically injured in a car crash that placed her in a hospital for over four months. Roughly a month into her ordeal, after she had stabilized enough for visitors, I went in to see her. Her broken jaw was still wired shut and it was difficult to understand anything she was trying to say which made even a simple conversation very difficult. However she was adamant about pointing to the get well cards from well wishers that were hanging on her wall. With great effort she would point to each card and mumble the names of the people that had sent them. It was obvious they all meant a great deal to her. There were about 30 cards on the wall and the fact that struck me the most, as she was telling me the name of each sender by heart, was that I only heard one name twice – and it wasn’t mine.

After four weeks time thirty get well cards hung on her wall but only one person was conscientious enough to send more than one card. I did not say did not care enough to send more than one card. The fact is all the other card senders may have truly cared they just weren’t conscientious enough to show her by following up with another card. I looked around the room thinking the TV, window, blackboard, chair and walls had been and would continue to be her entire world until she was released. Who wouldn’t appreciate a continuance of cards just to break up the monotony? Who of us wouldn’t want to receive more than one card from others to let us know we are being thought of while injured and trapped in a hospital?

The lesson I learned from that experience is once is never enough. If we want to build interpersonal relationships with others, and if you are familiar with LISTEN UP at all you understand the importance of building interpersonal relationships, then we need to do more than is required of us. Of course we send that first card. We want people to know that we are thinking of them in their time of need (doing what is required of us) but how many times do we send that second, third or fourth card (doing more than is required of us). I do now.

Do you want to separate yourself from the crowd? Would you like to endear yourself to others? The next time you know of someone in the hospital send them multiple cards. Remember they are staring at the same four walls 24/7 and any connection from the outside world is more than appreciated. Believe me they see every card and they know who sent them; however, they don’t necessarily have to be in the hospital. In today’s fast paced world most surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis where the person recuperates at home.

If you regularly send more than one card, I am preaching to the choir, you understand how doing so builds those special interpersonal relationships. If you only send one card or heaven forbid fail to send a card at all, LISTEN UP, now you know how to endear yourself.

By giving you really do receive.

December 19 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in 21st Century Theme Skills, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP Minutes, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

In 1999 a friend of mine started an accredited High School with roughly 25 students who were previously being home schooled. He asked if I would be willing to teach a Senior English class. Realizing the importance of presenting oneself in a professional manner I suggested that he allow me to teach a Senior Speech class, which I did free of charge.

There I had the opportunity to hold 2 hour classes twice a week for 19 weeks with the first senior class consisting of two students. During this time I discovered that there was a lot of information running around in my head. There are so many little nuances that impact our ability to communicate that I never ran out of topics to talk about. The students never realized that their energy, posture, eye contact, speech and handshakes all impacted how others perceived them and their sincerity. I continued to teach these classes for four years with the largest class consisting of nine students.

Watching shy, introverted kids develop into self confident individuals with the ability to address and hold an audience’s attention was truly fulfilling. The students started greeting adults with manners while shaking their hands with confidence. They spoke with a presence, and listened more intently. They conversed intelligently while immediately setting themselves apart from the crowd. They employed eye contact, remembered names and understood it was not about them but rather what they could do for others. Retrospectively, I have seen their professional opportunities sky rocket. They attended the colleges of their choosing and have all advanced nicely in their chosen professions.

By teaching that Senior Speech class I not only discovered how much information I possessed but more importantly I discovered the importance of sharing it with the young people getting ready to participate in the real world. Looking back, I truly believe that was a turning point in my life. By giving I received more than I could have possibly hoped for – I discovered my passion.

“The more uncomfortable I am, the more likely I am on the right path” ~ Amy Lauria

August 17 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group |Comments Off

“Are people passing on your name or simply passing on your name?” ~ Donald Wayne McLeod

May 29 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in Interactive NETWORKING Workshops, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP Minutes, LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group, LISTEN UP News, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

The road aheadThink about it.

En E 1 U NO?

May 27 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in Interactive NETWORKING Workshops, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP Minutes, LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group, LISTEN UP News, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

Would you be enticed to hire or work with someone who encourages you, who is entertaining and always energetic, who endears themselves to you, who enthusiastically enjoys life and not only encourages you to succeed but enables you to succeed, who engages you in conversation, whom you would entrust your deepest darkest secret and who enhances your life by you simply knowing them?

WHO WOULDN’T???? We are not talking rocket science here.

Endeavor so others envision you as the endangered species who encompasses all these enviable and enriching traits. In the end it will ensure your endorsement.

The 24/7/365 Interview.

May 26 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in Interactive NETWORKING Workshops, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP Minutes, LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group, LISTEN UP News, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

Whether you own your own business or you are in transition it is important to remember you are interviewing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The way you walk, talk, dress, greet and interact with others is all being perceived by everyone around you. Are you inspiring others to want to recommend you or your company? Are others “passing on your name” or simply “passing” on your name? If you didn’t get out of bed this morning with the attitude that you are going to be the very best you can be today chances are you’re not and everyone is seeing you as such. What did your behavior convey to everyone about you today?

“When you encourage others and you watch them become encouraged it will encourage you to encourage others.” Donald Wayne McLeod

May 15 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in LISTEN UP Minutes, LISTEN UP NETWORKING Group, Personal, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

“When was the last time someone truly encouraged you?” If it takes you awhile to come up with an answer LISTEN UP! We can not receive what we do not first give.

A LISTEN UP Minute – Face Value

March 13 2011 by Donald Wayne McLeod in 21st Century Theme Skills, Interactive NETWORKING Workshops, It Begins With You, LISTEN UP Minutes, Personal, The ABC's of Networking |Comments Off

Clearly a ReminderA motivational speaker once pulled a $20 bill out of his pocket and asked his audience, “would anyone like this $20 bill?” Of course a lot of hands went up. The speaker then crumpled the $20 bill into a ball and asked, “would anyone still like this $20 bill?” Once again a lot of hands went up. The speaker then dropped the crumpled $20 bill onto the floor, stepped on it then picked it up asking, “would anyone still like this $20 bill?” Once again hands went up because everyone knew that the value of the $20 bill had not been diminished. The moral of the speaker’s story was sometimes you will have bad days. You may not be looking your best you may not be feeling your best but you need to know that you are still worth your full value just like the $20 bill.

My moral to that story is the next time you meet someone who may be wearing dirty clothes or speaking broken English or has a lot of tattoos or has green hair or whatever else it may be that makes them seem less attractive to you, acknowledge them. See their full value. Get rid of your prejudices, get rid of your preconceived notions about who that person is and see them as a person.

You have no idea who you will meet today who will change your life forever. How many of you are married? Did you see that coming? What a difference a day makes. Everyday one person could change your business world. Do not preconceive who someone is by the way they are wrapped or you could miss out on a lot of opportunities.

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