No Bull Business Blog

ManageElite: Great new tool for training managers

Most managers get little to no training. Yet they need it as much or more as anyone on the staff. Biggest problem? Getting the time to train. And it’s always expensive. Here's a new product that is extraordinarily affordable (only $37 a month for unlimited use) and fits every manager's schedule.

A new product called ManageElite just launched and it’s perfect for getting managers the training they need. It’s online and the training modules are short – only 10 to 20 minutes long. And it is interactive. Plus, it’s real practical stuff and many of the modules have real-life scenarios that require the manager to make choices.

And managers can do the training right at their desks – at any time. Even on weekends when they are at home.

There are also other interactive pieces and PDF handouts in many cases.

The modules cover everything from Handling Difficult Conversations to Interviewing job applicants to doing Performance Review. Plus, there are modules on those tricky compliance issues like Sexual Harassment, Workplace Bias and Retaliation.

But one of the best points, is that it really affordable. ManageElite's charter subscription is only $37 a month, though the cost will eventually go up. But charter subscribers will lock in at $37.

Check out the site at ManageEliteTraining.com

What their body language is saying

Excerpted from the Executive Report: 70 Ways to Hold Fewer, Shorter, But More Productive Meetings

One way to gauge the effectiveness of a meeting while it's taking place is by reading the body language of those around you. Here's what to look for:

• Open palms: Sincerity and openness.
• Leaning in toward the table: Interest, comfort.
• Leaning away from the table: Lack of interest or discomfort with what is being said.
• Nodding: For a man, this signals agreement. For a woman, it says, "I hear you; keep going." It's a woman's way of encouraging the speaker to continue.
• Crossed arms: Resistance, defensiveness.
• Gesturing with hands: Interest in the discussion.
• Hand to cheek: Thinking, evaluating.
• Clasped hands behind the back: Frustration.
• Clasped hands behind head: Superiority.
• Drumming the fingers: Restlessness.
• Holding fingers in steeple position: Forming a barrier between the individual and the rest of the group.
• Hand over mouth: Disapproval or withdrawal from the discussion.
• Tightly holding pen or pencil: Nervousness.

DIGGING DEEPER
One of the secrets of great managers is what they accomplish in meetings. Find out how to do a better job by reading the Executive Report: 70 Ways to Hold Fewer, Shorter, But More Productive Meetings

13 ways to improve your writing

Excerpted from the Executive Report: Business Writing - 83 Tips to Keep You from Looking Dumb

Here are 13 ways to make your memos, e-mails and other business writing clearer and more powerful.  

1. Shorter verbs will add power to your writing. Instead of: terminate and secure Write: end and get  

2. Personalize your writing by putting people in it.

Instead of: Profits are up 12 percent.
Write: CFO Julie Smith reports profits are up 12 percent.  

3. Write in specific terms.

Instead of: He worked for a company in the South.
Write: He worked as a consultant for the XYZ Co. in Atlanta.  

4. Try to keep sentences short - between seven and 20 words.  

5. Spell out numbers from zero to nine. Use figures for 10 and higher.

Example: Work on the facility will begin in four days and last about 12 weeks.  

6. Express large numbers clearly.

Instead of: $7,000,000
Write: $7 million  

7. To give your writing a more personal tone, use contractions: it's, isn't, couldn't, here's, etc.  

8. Pronouns help draw in the reader: you, me, him, her, our, etc.  

9. Unless the reader will react negatively to your news, try to stick with the active voice.

Instead of: Two proposals were approved by the committee.
Write: The committee approved two proposals.  

10. Use questions to make your writing livelier.
Instead of: Let me know if the plan has merit.
Write: Do you think the plan has merit?  

11. Try not to proofread on your screen. You'll catch more mistakes if you print out a document.   

12. Do not rely on spell checker. It will not detect misused words.  

13. Avoid using formal, stuffy phrases.

Instead of: As of this date
Write: Today

Instead of: The committee was in agreement
Write: The committee agreed  

DIGGING DEEPER
One of the biggest problems in business is communicating clearly. How often have you had to scratch your head after trying to decipher someone's memo? For help, read the Executive Report: Business Writing: 83 Tips to Keep You from Looking Dumb

How many writing mistakes can you find?

Can you find all of the mistakes in the paragraph below? Note: We're not trying to trick you. Every error below is a common mistake by businesspeople every day.

Nothing is more embarassing than making a writing mistake. Of course, we all think its funny when we spot a mispelled word in magazine ads or on billboards. If one of your employee’s are making the the mistakes, it can be disasterous. And if you have a typo in a memo to the boss, how do you think they will view your professionalism? These kind of mistakes can be prevented, irregardless of the persons job title. The people that make the mistakes can seriously effect how other’s view you’re company. That can cost any organization money and hurt it’s profits. 

Okay, how did you do? If you found all 16, then you're brilliant.

To see the answers to this quiz, go to the PBP Executive Reports site.

Keep it simple: 25 ways to say it better

Excerpted from the Executive Report: Business Writing- A Guide to Clear, Concise and Effective Writing 

 

One of the easiest business writing rules to remember is: Choose shorter words over longer words. The simpler you keep it, the greater the chance the reader will read (rather than skim) your memo or letter and take action. Take a look at these examples:

 

Instead of: The Board looked at several viable alternatives that will facilitate optimizing our health benefits package.

 

Write: The Board looked at a few options to improve our health benefits package. 

 

Here’s a list of some long, heavy words to avoid and substitutions:

 

   Instead of:                               Use:

  accommodate                         serve

  advise                                       tell

  affirmative                                yes

  approximately                         about

  cognizant                                 know

  concerning                              about

  endeavor                                  try

  expedite                                   rush

  facilitate                                   help

  generate                                  make

  indicate                                    say

  in lieu of                                   instead

  numerous                               many

  observe                                   see

  originated                               began

  personnel                               people 

  precipitated                            caused

  pursuant to                             under

  remunerate                            pay

  require                                    need

  retain                                       keep

  solicit                                      ask

  sufficient                                enough

  transpire                                happen

  utilize                                      use

 

 

DIGGING DEEPER

Communicating clearly and succinctly are keys to successful management. But most of us are not great writers. To get help, check out the Executive Report: Business Writing - A Guide to Clear, Concise and Effective Writing.

No Bull Quote

"Don't find fault, find a remedy."
- Henry Ford

26 phrases you should never use in writing

Excerpted from the Executive Report: Business Writing: A Guide to Clear, Concise and Effective Writing

 

Certain phrases are part of the business world - but that doesn’t mean they’re the best choices. You can easily improve your writing and more effectively communicate by using more direct terms and phrases. Here are some examples of wordy phrases and what to use instead:

 

Instead of:                                                            Use:

At this point in time                                               Now

Come to the conclusion                                         Conclude

Despite the fact that                                              Although

Exhibits a tendency to                                           Tends

I am of the opinion                                                 I think

In the amount of                                                    for

Is indicative of                                                       indicates

It is incumbent on me                                            I must

Make a decision to                                                Decide

On the grounds that                                              Since

Perform an analysis of                                           Analyze

Pertaining to                                                         About

Prior to that time                                                   Before

Provide information about                                       Inform

Reached an agreement                                          Agreed

Subsequent to                                                      After

Take under advisement                                          Consider

The committee made an agreement                        We decided

The question as to whether                                    Whether

To summarize the above                                        In summary

Under no circumstances                                        Never

We deem it advisable                                            I suggest

With a view to                                                       To

With regard to                                                       About

With this in mind                                                   Therefore

You will find attached                                            Here is

DIGGING DEEPER
Writing clearly and concisely is key to being successful in business. This writing guide can help: Business Writing: A Guide to Clear, Concise and Effective Writing.

No Bull Quote

"When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt."

- Henry J. Kaiser

Do ya think Eliot Spitzer asked for a discount?

It didn't take long for the jokes to start flying about now former Gov. Eliot Spitzer and his sex scandal.

But No Bull admires how Shamus Brown, the sales guru, turned Spitzer's woes into his own sales pitch. Brown's EGOPOWER e-mail newsletter just arrived with the subject line: "Do Ya Think Eliot Spitzer Asked for a Discount?"

Before you think Brown was just after a cheap laugh, he actually used it to make a point about sales. An excerpt from his e-mail:

Do ya think he got a discount?

I sure hope so.

But some how I doubt it.

You see, some people just aren't that price sensitive.

In fact many premium customers use price as a proxy for quality.

Tis true.

Many of us have a built in belief that the higher the price is, the more quality there is in the service.

I think it's pretty obvious that Eliot thought this way.

It's a good reminder for your salespeople. Customers are always hammering them about price, but the truth is, most customers believe that you get what you pay for. And they really don't want second best.

DIGGING DEEPER
Every salesperson has heard it. "Your price is too high." So how do you turn price-conscious prospects into value-loving customers? This Executive Report can help: Overcoming Objections - Value vs. Price.

The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint

The biggest problem with most presentations: They're too long, have too many slides, and the type on those slides is so tiny that the people on the front row struggle to read it.

So try following Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint. Guy's a brilliant thinker and a venture capitalist, who has had to listen to far too many bad presentations.

The rule: A PowerPoint presentation should have no more than 10 slides, last no more than 20 minutes and contain no type font smaller than 30 point.

Only 10 slides? If it takes more than 10 slides to make your point, then you probably don't have a point to make.

20 minutes? Keep the presentation tight. You'll keep the audience's attention. And if you have an hour for your presentation, that leaves 40 minutes for questions and answers - which is where the real work gets done.

30-point type? Most folks cram too many words on a slide. Besides being too small to read, it also tells the listener that you really don't know the subject. Plus, older readers can't read small type. If 30-point doesn't work for you, then use this rule of thumb: Find out the age of the oldest person in  your audience and divide the age by two. That's your optimal font size.

Read Guy's blog to find out more.