Are You Working in the Smart Zone?

I was in Las Vegas last week and am about to break the "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" pact.  My time on The Morning Blend TV show talking with Dao and Shawn was so much fun!  Thought you might enjoy the clip and get a kick out of how I "improvised" with my Bucket Theory of Stress.  You'll see it about 2/3 of the way through the segment.

How to Celebrate National Thank You Month

I was surprised who was appearing on the FOX 4 Good Day TV Show last week prior to me. Do you remember Rob Schneider from Saturday Night Live? He did the skit where he said, "Steve-O, makin' some copies" and he's been in a lot of funny movies.

He's really not as short as he looks in this picture - my son Alex is really tall!



FOX 4 asked me to do a segment on "How to Put the Attitude of Gratitude into Action at Work and Home." (Click here to watch the segment). While we were setting up the props we ran into Rob Schneider. One way to express gratitude is to smile and make someone laugh - which is what Rob is good at!

Thank you Rob for making me laugh!

January is National Thank You Month. Gratitude, or saying "Thank You," has been called one of the 3 most important virtues along with compassion and forgiveness. People in the Smart Zone know how to show gratitude.

Here are Smart Moves for how to say thank you to the people you see every day:

• Teachers: Teachers often hear parental complaints instead of our praise. Send a note or email to your kid's teacher thanking her/him for the work she does. Or better yet, brag about how much you love her to the school principal.


• Boss: Bosses, like teachers, often hear more complaints than compliments. When your boss does something well, pay her a sincere compliment like, "You did a nice job running the staff meeting this morning. I appreciated your support." Better yet, thank your boss for a job well done in front of others. This is a really nice confidence booster and won't be forgotten.


• Coworkers: Bring bagels or donuts to your weekly staff meeting for coworkers. Or surprise a co-worker when you go on a Starbucks run by bringing a coffee back for him.


• Employees: Remember birthdays. Remembering some one's birthday makes them feel special and appreciated - it says "thank you for being you." We celebrate birthdays in my office and I'll never forget a new employee I had that didn't know this. She was so surprised on her birthday and it meant so much that she still brings it up. Decorate their inbox or cubicle. That is always a way to make someone feel special.


• Kids: Call or set them aside for a minute just to tell them thank you. Be specific about what you are thanking them for and how it made you feel. Taking out the trash at my house is a huge job - I have 3 boys. When I got home from work recently the trash was already sitting out in the alley for the following morning because my son was staying overnight at a friend's house. I called him just to tell him thank you. He couldn't believe it!


• Parents: Did you enjoy a recent get-together with family? Possibly over the holidays? Frame a fun photo from the event and give it to your parents.


• Waiter: Get the waiter off topic during your initial conversation. It can be so repetitious being a waiter so make his/her day more fun by being more conversational, which doesn't always mean more personal. Also, let the waiter know if you want separate checks first thing and leave when you are through eating so your waiter's table can open up for another tipping customer. And of course, TIP.


• Mailman: Wave and talk to the mail man when you have a chance and, better yet, keep the area in front of your mailbox clear of cars, snow and trash cans.


• Grocery store cashier: Greet and smile at the cashier when it's your turn. Stay off your cell phone. If you see the groceries piling up then be willing to bag the groceries yourself. Partially writing out your check while the cashier is scanning also shows you appreciate your cashier's time.


• Dry Cleaner: My dry cleaner has a candy dish and fresh flowers on the container. By just noticing these small things and acknowledging how pretty the flowers are I am thanking them for their extra effort to brighten my day!


• Pets: My dog Sophie loves treats and walking around the neighborhood. If you have a dog-friendly pet you can even visit some of the dog parks for a play date. If you are taking care of someone's dog, write a letter from the dog for the owners to receive when they get back from vacation. It is a nice way to set someone at ease who leaves their prized possession in your care. It is also a nice way to say "thank you for trusting me."

What can you notice about people you see each day? Be creative in who and how you thank people. Get to know people well enough to know what they like - you don't have to be nosy or spend a lot of money. My favorite way to be thanked is with a Diet Coke from Sonic!

Stay in the Smart Zone by thanking someone this month!

5 Ways to Solve Problems at Work

Someone stole my cab! Here's the story: A few weeks ago I was in San Antonio speaking at a dinner meeting and was booked for a FOX TV segment the following morning early at 7:00 am. Not only was it morning rush hour but it was raining and I planned on taking a cab. I called for a taxi from my hotel room and when I got down to the hotel lobby someone rushed past me and stole my cab! Okay so I freaked out a bit (or like I tell you, I had an "exaggerated response"). I called another cab and luckily got a driver who took me the back roads to the TV station.

In our personal lives we are often used to solving problems on our own - or we can solve them easily with an informal network. But at work, problem solving often requires collaboration. A Japanese proverb states, "None of us are as smart as all of us." People in the Smart Zone embrace the fact that a work team has the capability to solve problems and be as smart as all of us.

Problems in the work place come in all shapes and sizes. There is no magic formula for solving every problem we encounter. Adapting our problem solving process to fit the problem at hand requires both cognitive and emotional skills. Here are 5 tips for problem solving in the Smart Zone:

1. A Point on Perception. Is there really a problem and if so, is it solvable? For example, if your problem is that the sky is blue, then you will need to rethink the problem. Jochen Zeitz who is CEO of the shoemaker Puma says, "Design usually starts with 'There is no way' and then we say, 'Okay, how can we make this work?'"



2. Define the Problem in a One-Sentence Statement. This sounds easy but is really quite difficult. By having a well-defined problem it makes the solved state more measurable. Charles Kettering, co-holder of more than 140 patents and inventor of such things as the spark plug, leaded gasoline and Freon for refrigerators and air conditioners, once said, "A problem well stated is a problem half solved."



3. Focus on the Solved State. Ask yourself and your team these questions:
   a. How will we know when the problem has been solved?
   b. What does the solved state look and feel like?
   c. What is tangible evidence that the problem is solved?
   Click here for an article I wrote recently about problem solving between a staff and board of directors.



4. Use a System That Works for Your Group. There are several problem solving techniques such as brainstorming, root cause analysis, the drill down technique, etc. The appreciation technique is a powerful way to extract the maximum amount of information from a fact. First you start with a fact and then ask the question, "So what?"
   
   Example: Our warehouse does not have the required part in stock.
   So what?
   The part will need to be ordered from a vendor.
   So what?
   It will take more time to get the needed part.
   So what?
   Our customer will need to be notified of the delay.
   So...
   
   In the future, we need a process for the warehouse to order parts in advance so parts will not be out of stock when needed.
   
   While the same conclusion still could have been determined without a formal technique it still provides a framework for extracting information quickly and reliably.



5. Develop an Accountability Plan. Many problem solving sessions end when the solution is determined. But wait! Next, assign specific action items to people with a time frame for completion. Design a way to hold those responsible for the solution accountable for the results.

Just for fun, watch this video from the show Modern Family on how Cameron and Mitchell collaborated on solving a problem. Modern Family makes me laugh and I thought you just might too.

Bye way, I'd love for you to join my Facebook Fan Page or follow me on Twitter!

Interview on Creating Wealth Show & Dealing with Mental Theater

I enjoyed talking with Jason Hartman on his Creating Wealth Show a few weeks ago. Click here to listen to the podcast. Jason saw my interview in SUCCESS Magazine and was interested in learning more about the Smart Zone.

We talked about emotional intelligence and how to stay in the Smart Zone. We also talked quite a bit about mental theater. Have you ever been in a fight with your husband and he doesn't know it? This is mental theater. It's when we create drama in our heads so that it seems an event actually happened. Here are examples of destructive forms of mental theater:

• In a work environment, a manager may perceive that his boss is upset with him because he doesn't make eye contact with him while they are talking. So the manager proceeds to relate to his boss as if there really is a disagreement.


• An assistant may believe that a co-worker who is whispering is talking about her behind her back. The assistant then becomes hostile as if there has been a breach of trust.


• A wife may believe that her husband is having an affair because he is too friendly with the attractive woman next door. She then begins to treat him as if he's been unfaithful.

Ask yourself these 4 questions to work in the Smart Zone and course correct negative drama that can get out of hand.

1. Is my thinking based on fact?


2. Does my thinking help me achieve my goal?


3. Does my thinking help me feel the way I want to feel?


4. How can I change my mental theater to create a win-win situation?

Keep in mind that YOU are in charge of your own mental theater. When you have only part of a story resist the urge to fill in the blanks. Chapter 8 of my book, Working in the Smart Zone, expands on this topic if you would like to learn more.

How to Be a Good Place to Work

With the current economy and job layoffs it is critical that every individual provide the most value in your organization.

Here are some Smart Moves for how to be a good place to work:

• First impressions count. When your department has a new employee starting on Monday, designate a co-worker to call the new hire over the weekend and introduce himself. Say something like this, "Hi, this is Mike and I will be working in your department. We are looking forward to you starting work here tomorrow. I'll be at the office at 8:00 to meet you and will show you around. Also, a couple of us would like to take you to lunch on Monday, so don't worry with bringing your lunch." This will help a new employee get engaged quicker and show them that they matter. Use this checklist for welcoming a new employee.
  
  
• Blab away. According to Zig Ziglar, one of the prime needs of employees is "being let in on things that are going on in the company." After all, we all want to feel part of the "in" crowd. You don't need to share company private information with employees - but make it a practice to share and involve employees in specific short and long term goals, the direction of the company, innovative ideas in the works and a few tidbits that you ask employees to them to keep to themselves. Use these words to be more productive.
  
  
  
  
• Catch people doing something well. Many times when employees are doing something well it goes unnoticed because we assume they are just doing their job. Go out of your way today to reward a co-worker or employee for doing something right (watch retention expert James Robbins' short video on this topic). Compliment them, buy them a cup of coffee, recognize them at a staff meeting or even jot them a handwritten note acknowledging what you caught them doing well.
  
  
• Be thankful for problems. In light of Thanksgiving last week, give thanks when employees bring you their problems. General Colin Powell is quoted as saying, "The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded that you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership." Working collaboratively to solve a problem with a co-worker or employee improves company loyalty and work ownership.
  
  
• Reward loyalty. Donald Trump says, "When employees and employers, even coworkers, have a commitment to one another, everyone benefits. I have people who have been in business with me for decades. I reward their loyalty to the organization and to me. I know that they'll always be dedicated to what we're trying to accomplish."
  
  
• Delegate don't dump. Know the difference between empowering an employee by delegating responsibility to this person versus dumping additional, unwanted work on him. Delegating to an employee means you extend to the person the authority to make decisions about a task and this task helps the receiver grow.
  
  
  
  
  
  

How to Work Smarter in a Crisis

Confession time! Last month I left out some information about my Fox 4 TV segment on happiness. During the interview I got thrown off guard and had to keep Working in my own Smart Zone! I thought I would be presenting the top 10 happiest (and unhappiest) jobs based on a recent University of Chicago study, but Tim, the anchor man, had another set of bullet points on his script. Five seconds before the stage manager began counting, "5-4-3-2-1" Tim showed me the bullet points he was prepared to discuss. A deer in headlights is a good description of my face at that point. My mind shifted into crisis mode.

We all have times when we shift into crisis mode. It happens when your car won't start, a tough deadline at work gets pushed up, your company is about to lose a huge customer, an employee you're depending on quits or an OSHA inspector shows up unannounced. By staying in the Smart Zone you can get through a crisis mode and come out better for it.

During a crisis our brain falls back on simple, sometimes primitive, responses and puts aside complex thought. All focus is on the urgent present crisis. Many say that the economy falls into this category. But a crisis can be small - it can be a slip up in a conversation or forgetting an important appointment. Or, it can just be when what you intend to say doesn't come out of your mouth the right way. Click here to see how this can happen.

A crisis will bring to light shortcomings and will also help us prepare for future improvement. Once a crisis is over, our problem solving can turn a crisis into improved standards, improved conditions, improved safety and can be, overall, one of the best opportunities for improvement.

Here's how to stay in the Smart Zone during a crisis and turn a crisis into an advantage.

• Know your anchor. In other words, know your expertise. In my case, I was doing a TV segment in my field of expertise so technically no question should throw me off. When I was straight out of college I could get intimated by older, more experienced people. But as a therapist, I had to understand that this was my expertise. Even though I might not know as much as my patients knew about other things in life, I definitely knew more than they did about proper therapeutic treatments.
  
• Make a wrong right. When a mistake is made, admit it instead of covering it up. Trust is built when you are honest and accept responsibility to make it right. Blaming others, not responding, and refusing to take responsibility create a lack of trust and discredits you. Everyone makes mistakes. It is how you respond when a mistake is made that makes the difference.
  
• Don't kill the 10 Minute Oil Change Guy. Have you ever seen someone throwing a hissy fit at Minute Lube because his car isn't ready? I call this an exaggerated response. When we have too much stress our stress hormones kick in causing a small hassle to suddenly be overwhelming. Learn to recognize when your stress level is getting high and discipline yourself to eliminate it. You could exercise, go shopping, get more sleep, read a book, surf the internet, call a coworker or friend or leave the office for lunch.
  
• Figure out what you are working for. A crisis heightens our awareness and brings to light what really matters to you, your company, and the services you provide. We learn what we are willing to fight for, who to say "No" to (click here to see my quote about when to say "No" to your boss), who we trust and who trusts us and what is valuable to us.
  
• A continual crisis is abnormal. Some people seem to feed off a crisis almost like an adrenaline junkie. They may subconsciously create crises and chaos for themselves and those around them. People who grow up in chaotic surroundings, such as with an alcoholic parent, believe that crises are the norm. If a member of your team exhibits this behavior he/she might benefit from professional help. Click here to watch this CNN special report about people seeking professional counseling to help deal with the current economic crisis. Anxiety is something we can help you with in my clinical practice. Or click here for ways to find a psychologist outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
• Be solution oriented. When faced with a crisis don't focus on the problem by saying, "Why did this happen? Why did I make this mistake?" Instead use "how" and "what" statements like "How can we respond to this issue?" and "What can we do to minimize the damage from this situation?"
  

The Smart Zone in the News

A few posts ago I blogged about how to open the door to happiness in your life. The local FOX 4 Good Day show caught wind of it and asked to me to talk about in on the air. Watch it below or click here to watch it.

I was also able to share ways the Smart Zone can help you stay motivated today on the radio show Motivational Minds Radio. Click here to listen to my interview with Justin Sachs, author of Your Mailbox is Full and business consultant to Anthony Robbins and Mark Victor Hansen.

A Story of Inspiration Can Keep You in the Smart Zone

Wow! Were you inspired by Susan Boyle's performance on Britain's Got Talent? If you haven't seen the footage yet (or want to see it just one more time) click here to watch it. I enjoy being inspired by people I meet. I have spent more time talking with people who are considering reinventing themselves because of layoffs, changes in their organization, or because they are ready for a change. We all have the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. Recently, during my second appearance at a Presidents' weekend for a successful bank in Texas, I met a woman whose story is one of inspiration. Her name is Tina Solis.


Tina was born and raised in Mexico and moved to the United States when she was 12. Her family lived in poverty. As Tina says, "We didn't have TV, bikes or toys. We made our own baseballs out of tape and played with that. When I first came to the United States I started helping my mother clean houses. Somewhere along the way I decided I could do better - I could do more."

Robert Gandy, III (Bank CEO), Tina Solis and Me

Tina was ready to re-enter the job market after staying home to raise her young children. She always wanted to be a teller. I asked her why. She wasn't sure. She just knew it was in her gut. After A LOT of persistence she was given an opportunity at a local branch of a bank in Texas. That was 20 years ago. She still works for that bank and over time, moved up to become a Branch Manager and President of the First National Bank, Rogers Branch. As I enjoyed her company during dinner at the Presidents' event, I heard a number of Smart Moves from Tina and thought I would pass them along as all of us look to keep Working in the Smart Zone:

• Find a way to do what you are asked to do: I listened to Tina tell how she would learn as much as she could when she found there were gaps in her knowledge. Initially Tina knew her English speaking needed to be improved. She "studied" at night to be the best at what she was asked to do. When I asked her what motivated her. It wasn't money. It was her thirst for knowledge.



• Don't downplay your achievements. Tina did not have any banking experience which was a big roadblock. She did the best she could with the resources she had. Click here to read my feature story in the May issue of Plano Profile where I talk about this topic. When Tina finally was able to talk to a bank representative about hiring her she told him about how valuable she would be as an employee. In Tina's words, "I told him I had experience working with money at a grocery store as a cashier. I had experience managing all of the cashiers. I am a hard worker and will make this my career. I am a loyal person and will be here for the long term."



• Be helpful to everyone. Tina was so hungry to learn that she quickly intimidated her coworkers with her work ethic. Some people were even hostile to her. Tina told me, "I learned things really fast and was always asking for more work to do. I wanted to learn how to do extra reports and eventually was promoted to team leader." Tina didn't use her knowledge as a weapon - she was always glad to teach what she knew to her coworkers and managers. She didn't brag about everything she knew. Instead, she was humble about it.



• "Be a star," is what Tina tells people. "Do what it takes to be the best you can be." When Tina was asked to be a branch president she was so nervous about it that "I wanted to say 'no' at first. But then I talked to my family and started training in the areas I was nervous about."

Chapter 10 of my book, Working in the Smart Zone, lists characteristics of optimists. Optimists are persistent in achieving goals in spite of setbacks and they are hopeful for success in daily work. Tina told me that she sometimes finds herself getting out of the Smart Zone and then she works really hard to find her way back. I am inspired by Tina's work ethic and humble spirit. Tina makes me want to be a star!

Response to Facebook eNewsletter

I received a number of emails about my last eNewsletter "Why I Am on Facebook" and thought you all might enjoy, and maybe agree with, these responses.

An accountant in his 40's writes:

"Good article but I have a question. What do you think about adults socializing on Face Book with women communicating with men friends or vice versa? Do you think this could opens doors for affairs to get started? Just like we warn our kids not to talk with strangers etc. I don't use face book but saw this over the holidays with a family member. A wife who's involved in her kids school, soccer coach communicating with men parents. In this case it was noticeable that this could be something that innocently enough could turn into something more. Another example would be class reunions when people communicate by email and FB. I certainly wouldn't want my wife communicating with an old boyfriend!!! I am not meaning to be overly protective but on the other hand I don't need any more distractions in my life but more down time. I looked around at one point during the holiday and everyone in the room had either a laptop opened to FB or I-pods. The kids even played a Chess game and an I-pod in one hand, multi tasking taken to another level. Not for me!! "

Another person who was in the audience when I spoke at the annual meeting for the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) in Austin this month writes:

"You know I always thought I would never have time for that and I am no where near being someone as famous and busy as I would think you would be. I have a brother who lives in Houston and makes tons of money and he recently sent me his facebook invite, and I was amazed that he at 58 would have that. We have it blocked at our school and recently received the following as a concern.

The Attorney General has posted a brief video concerning Social Networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. It might be good 'food for thought' for parents in your districts. The video can be viewed at http://www.oag.state.tx.us/ or by clicking this link. The number of sex offenders posting on these sites is staggering and poses a great threat to our children.

Also in the news is a new term, 'sexting.' Children are taking x-rated pictures of themselves and sending them via their cell phones. Click here to read more about this on CBS news. I also googled and found other articles.

Of course that is for mainly young people that need guidance on how to make sure they know not to get involved with strange identities."



What do you think?

Why I Am on Facebook

I was resistant. How do I have time to get on that site and isn't that for kids and college students? Then we went on vacation this summer and we were watching our friends check their Facebook pages and I got curious. They didn't fit the profile I had drummed up in my head as the type of people who would be social networking. As we talked about it, they set up a page for me in what seemed like just a few seconds. Soon I had a profile picture, was listing my favorite books and began searching for people I was curious to find. I'm hooked. I am the face of Facebook, or as some call it, FB.

This is my current profile picture. My 13 year old son took it while we were in the car at the carpool line.

Social networking used to mean going to Chamber of Commerce meetings and then it got real fancy with targeted opportunities like organized weekly networking groups. With online social networking, now you can stay in your PJs and network. I don't even have to do my hair! There are currently 39,911,920 people active on FB. When I looked to see how many people in the U.S. ages 35 and up were on FB, I found out there are 9,823,660. And I'm one of them!

Here is how being on Facebook and social networking keeps you in the Smart Zone.

• Stress Management: I believe everyone has a bucket inside of them that gets full when they feel aggravated or frustrated. We need things in our lives that empty our bucket so it doesn't get full. When it gets full, we have what I call an exaggerated response. While I don't always have my FB up throughout the day, I do get on it sometimes between patients, at the end of the day, and when I am hanging out in the airport waiting for my flight. It empties my bucket and I enjoy some of what my FB friends post. Here is a video that came recently from one of my friends.


• Relationships Build Business: Many of the speakers I present with and many of those who hire me to speak are people that I really enjoy getting to know. There is an excitement about the speaking business and there are so many things we may have in common. A recent article in Fast Company shows how those who use the social networking site, LinkedIn, make more money. While I never intend for my FB page to be an advertisement, it is only natural that there are opportunities that will come your way.


• Social Networking supports the Smart Zone Secret: The Smart Zone Secret is to get out of your head and put the focus on someone else. I believe we all have the tendency to take ourselves too seriously. Recently I had a bad fall on an icy day. (What is a Florida girl doing in Texas anyway?) The fall ended up being serious enough that I got a few staples in my head. One of my best friends growing up, Don, is now a professor at Oregon State University. He and I stay in touch on FB and he called me "metal head." Only Don can get away with that. Don knows how to remind me to not take myself too seriously. He knows the Smart Zone Secret.

One caveat. Sometimes FB can fill your stress bucket. Using it during productive work hours can waste time and is unfair to your employer. Or if you stay up until the wee hours of the morning it can steal needed sleep time. This is an issue with all of us as we have the ability to work 24/7.

Keeping the above caveat in mind, I'd love to be your FB friend! So please send me a friend request.

Getting Your Head Straight and Loading the Wagon

I was recently a presenter for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in Scottsdale Arizona. It was a beautiful place at the Kierland Westin Resort. I was asked to present twice, with one of the presentations during lunchtime for some of the key leaders in the organization. The audience was mostly made up of men who travel internationally and bring high level management skills to their organizations. I always collect little tidbits of information during events like this and this event was no different.

At the end of the presentation and after the group that gathered around me disappated, a nice man handed me a piece of paper and gave me a smile. He proceded to tell me that he felt my message was smack on target for their industry and for the challenges they faced as managers.

"Don't worry about the mule going blind, just load the wagon" was written on the piece of paper. From my presentation he knew I understood this idea and believed that I would like it. I do and I believe you will too.

This well educated gentleman has read many business books, has very knowledgeable mentors and this statement guides him almost daily has he moves his business forward. This is a tidbit worth sharing as I hear from many of you that you don't want to get distracted by the economy, performance issues, and some uncertainty in your future. Stay in the Smart Zone and concentrate on loading the wagon. I hope you find this helpful and thanks to the man with the smile.

Are the Presidential Candidates in the Smart Zone?

It's finally Election Day and I have found myself glued to the television to watch debates (and even a few Saturday Night Live skits). Although I don't consider myself a political person, I find the current political climate fascinating. In fact, I voted early!

People in the Smart Zone connect with others. You will most likely vote for the candidate you feel is most relevant - who shares your needs, wants and interests.



The Smart Zone is the mental state for optimal performance using intellect, emotions, and behaviors. Sounds like something a psychologist might say - right? Let's take a look at how each candidate is IN or OUT of his Smart Zone using the model above.

• Trust: The basis of being in the Smart Zone is trust. Do you trust the candidates? People will vote for who they trust the most. For example, it's important to address and right wrongs. If you saw McCain on Late Night with David Letterman he answered the question about why he canceled being on Dave's show to do an interview with Katie Couric by simply saying, "I screwed up."


• Manage Perception: McCain wants to be viewed as a maverick and change agent. He has been perceived as having a temper and being mad. Obama wants to be perceived as a transformational leader. He has been perceived as slick and eloquent. Both perceptions can help and hurt each candidate.


• Solution Oriented: Forward looking leaders focus on solutions, not problems. During the debates how did you feel when a candidate was presenting the facts about a problem (like healthcare) vs. presenting solutions to the problem? To be in the Smart Zone the candidates have to ask and answer "What" and "How" questions - not "Why" questions. "Why" questions focus on the problem. For example, instead of saying, "Why do we have the healthcare problem" candidates should say, "What are we going to do about the healthcare problem?"


• Mental Theater: This is the drama we create in our heads so it seems an event really did happen. Both candidates have run negative ad campaigns and created negative drama about the other. When we only know part of a story our mind will try and fill in the blanks. This takes both candidates out of the Smart Zone.


• Likeability: In the business world we say people leave bosses not companies. A leader's success depends on how he or she gets along with others. In fact, smiling when you are talking makes you likeable and memorable - a trait that Obama uses. Acting disrespectful of others has the opposite effect. It makes you unlikable. Both candidates have been accused of disrespecting the other. McCain even called Obama "that one" in one of the debates (which some viewed as disrespectful).


• Manage Mood: Optimism is more useful for winning votes than pessimism. But a healthy dose of pessimism will bring out reality. During the last debate Obama took a more optimistic approach to changes he would make. McCain focused on the pessimistic realities of Obama's plans. It was a categorical difference in their approach.


• Smart Zone Secret: Both McCain and Obama definitely know it! The Smart Zone secret is: take the focus off yourself. McCain and Obama have demonstrated behavior that shows their empathy for others and the desire to make life better for the American people.

Just for fun, and if you have about 10 minutes, watch a Saturday Night Live skit spoofing both candidates. And if you have a chance, check out my blog to see some of the fun one of my associates is having with Halloween and the election.

Until One Is Committed, There Is Hesitancy

I've recently rediscovered a quote I had forgotten. "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy...Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." by Goethe.

Finding this quote again was timely as I make bold choices moving forward in business and in my personal life. With the January 2008 release of Working in the Smart Zone, our second book, we have experienced a very exciting surge in the work we are doing to keep people and companies working with Emotional Intelligence and Trust. Our commitment is strong as we move forward, without hesitation, making a difference in organizations with our consulting and in families with the clinical practice.

As my own family commitments continue to rise, I have worked to remain intentional and present in the lives of our three boys and in my marriage. After all, now that they are in eight grade, fifth grade, and third grade, homework and projects take more energy and attention than they have in the past. As my husband and I look ahead to being married longer than some of our friends, we continue to be reminded that a good marriage doesn't just happen by chance. It takes work and attention to negotiate the challenges. Being committed to making it work, without hesitation, on a daily basis has it's rewards.

We have heard from many of you that the economy, gas prices, difficult work environments, changes in company leaders, and worry have made it difficult to create the kind of change that would increase the bottom line. What we see is that there is no better time to be in the Smart Zone, where people can work to the best of their ability emotionally, intellectually, and behaviorally.

Write this where you can see it "Until one is committed, there is hesitancy...Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." Now go forward, without hesitation and be in the Smart Zone.

Another Resource Used by Top Producers

I may be one of the last people to know about this but just in case, I am passing another tool to increase productivity on to you. I just got introduced to PhoneTag. PhoneTag (formerly known as Simulscribe) uses advanced technology to convert voicemail to text and deliver it via e-mail and/or text messages.

I frequently need an efficient way to check my voicemails while traveling or going between one meeting to another. Sometimes it is too cumbersome to dial into voicemail, listen and save the voicemail. I'd prefer a text message or email so I already have the information written down and I can access it more easily. PhoneTag has fixed that problem for me.

While I don't care much for their logo on their t-shirt, I do think the service has great benefit. If you want to know more, go to this link http://phonetag.com/about.html and see what you think. We believe it is just another way you can Work in your Smart Zone.

The Explanation of Addiction

In the corporate world and in our our clinical practice, we find ourselves being told that someone has an "addictive personality". I know it is true and we can spot it as we get to know the players. What we find is that people don't always know what they mean when they say "Addiction" and they use the term loosely even when someone, in my opinion, is just "spirited."

Addiction is often brought on by stress in those people who have a genetic defect in a defined area of the brain. Addictions include drugs, alcohol, sex, food, gambling and/or spending. A typical hallmark symptom is a loss of control, craving and persistent abuse in spite of negative consequences. These consequences can include marital conflict, missing work, poor performance reviews, DWIs, and other legal snarl es. According to Dr. Kevin McCauley from the Institute for Addiction Study, "Addiction meets the standard definition of disease even better than MS and Schizophrenia."

It is not negotiable that people with true addictions learn to manage stress better. In the Smart Zone we talk about making sure you know how to empty your bucket when it gets full. More importantly, we all need to know when our buckets are getting full - when the stress is piling on. For those with addictions, it is mandatory that they be better bucket emptiers. Many people loose the ability to manage their emotions so it is also important that they increase their emotional intelligence so they are more emotionally in sync with themselves.

People who are addicted to whatever can't get by with blaming their addiction on a brain malformation or their genetic history in my opinion. We all now know that addictions can be managed with the proper support and tools to overcome the tendency.

This blog submission is being written with one person in particular in mind. It is for the wife of one of the executives we have worked with in a business outside of Texas. It is to help support the family who is working hard to deal with this thing called addiction that is a source of destruction for a husband, father, son and boss. But I believe that this information can help anyone who suspects that someone they care about, work with, or live with. Even people with addiction can work in the Smart Zone. It is just even more important that they recognize what they need to do for their sake as well as the sake of others.

Working in the Smart Zone with People of Different Cultures

Recently I was speaking to an organization which has a global workforce and a focus on diversity. An audience member pointed out to me that one of my presentation points might be different for people from Eastern cultures.

He was referring to my topic of establishing trust by "talking straight;" that is, telling people the truth in 15 seconds or less. He agreed that Eastern cultures strongly value honesty and truthfulness and that they will feel more comfortable if rapport is established first.

Talking straight as defined in Stephen M.R. Covey's book The Speed of Trust means "honesty in action by telling the truth and leaving the right impression." The opposite being to lie or deceive. We all know people who don't talk straight. We may say they are beating around the bush, double-talking, withholding information, using flattery or putting a "spin" on the situation.

It is possible for talking straight to get you out of your Smart Zone. Cruel or brutal communication used in the name of honesty (a la Simon Cowell on American Idol) is never effective in business. Keep the following Smart Moves in mind when working with people of different cultural backgrounds:

• Dealing with Conflict. In the U.S. we deal with conflict head on and work through differences as they arise. We may raise our voice, yell, and even stoke the fire during the discussion all in the name of "airing it out." But in many Eastern countries conflict is often seen as embarrassing or demeaning and differences are worked out quietly - or even in writing. Losing one's temper will destroy trust and respect in Eastern countries.
  
• Making Decisions. In the U.S. we tend to delegate decision-making authority. But in many European and Latin American cultures there is additional status with being able to make decisions oneself. Also, in the U.S. majority rules when making decisions, but in Japan the focus is put on attaining a consensus (click here for more on this subject).
  
• Reading other People. In this month's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology a study of Americans and Japanese revealed that in a group of people Americans read emotions of each individual person within the group. Japanese tend to focus more on the emotions of the whole group. Japanese are more sensitive to the social context of a situation. Keep this in mind when working in a group because a Japanese team member could react negatively to being singled out.
  
• The Handshake. In the U.S. a firm, 2-3 second handshake is respectful whereas a limp handshake is a sign of weakness. But in many countries a firm handshake is offensive. Click here for an explanation of handshakes by culture. Keep this in mind when working with people of different cultures and don't force the strong U.S. handshake on someone to show domination.
  
• Watch your Body Language. In the Middle East, India specifically, agreement is shown by shaking one's head side to side - whereas in the U.S. this signifies disagreement. Public yawning is not acceptable in most Latin American countries - turn your head and cover your mouth if you feel a yawn coming on. In France someone who smiles too much is considered condescending or stupid - so wipe the smile off your face. (Watch a brief interview on this subject).

To stay in the Smart Zone, don't assume there is only one way to communicate (yours!). Listen and try to put yourself in other's shoes. Cultural diversity brings broader experiences that can give your organization a critical competitive advantage.