Communication - Personal Development - Business

I was interviewed by the New York Times this morning and the reporter reminded me that dealing with jerks can be a real downer.  I believe we have to have laser focus on how to stay UP then they are trying to pull us DOWN.

Tips for building your spirit:
- Stay hopeful.
- Take risks.
- Volunteer two hours a week.
- Celebrate with your family.
- Enjoy the outdoors.
- Share a positive thought.
- List reasons for gratitude.

“The enthusiastic, to those who are not, are always something of a trial.” - Alban Goodier

Cheers, Marsha

–
Marsha Petrie Sue, Decontaminator of Toxic People
Author of Toxic People: Decontaminate Difficult People at Work without Using Weapons or Duct Tape
#1 bestseller on the “What Corporate America is Reading” from CEO-Read.
Best seller also on www.Amazon.com and www.BarnesandNoble.com

Booking information:    MarciaSnow@MarshaPetrieSue.com
1.888.797.6700

“Silence is Golden. Duct Tape is Silver.”

Visit the website for more information www.MarshaPetrieSue.com

Tags: Be Nice, personal responsibility, self talk by admin
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Punxsutawney Phil is the world’s smallest and furriest weather forecaster and February 2 is his day. Who forecasts your weather and life?

You may have never celebrated Groundhogs Day on February 2, but there is much to learn from them. What to learn from Groundhogs? They are excellent diggers, constructing a burrow with a main entrance and an escape tunnel.

If you are ready to move to the next level, dig and ask questions so you have information to create your own opinion of how to move forward; construct a plan and be flexible; and have an escape tunnel. Establishing a “Plan B” upfront will help you feel secure in your journey.

Start planning today to get your head out of the sand and take control. You are the one that must translate energy into superior performance. Take a stand and plan for what you want.

Groundhog Day grew out of a mainly German superstition that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow February 2 — the Christian holiday of Candlemas — winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, legend says spring will be early.

Like Phil, you are a unique resource. The lesson is to departmentalize your life to create success momentum and thrive.

Now start planning! Marsha

Tags: Goal setting, focus, personal responsibility by admin
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I was recently asked by a reader how they could possibly be overlooked as an expert on the job when, in fact, they are the expert and someone else is getting the credit.  Here are the facts.  If you don’t let people know how good they are, they will never know!

You must blow your own horn without becoming arrogant or a pain in the rear.  It is just that simple.  In the fast paced word of business today, leaders just don’t have time to seek you out.  You must take the lead.

Keep a success journal so when it’s time for your review and appraisal you have a tool that will recap all the great things you have done. Uncover problems and issues before anyone else does and take a couple of solutions to the team or your leader.  This is where stars are born.

In addition, do not take it personally when they don’t recognize your contributions. Do take control so that your lack of speaking up doesn’t hold you back in your job success! Learn to promote yourself!

The only two helping hands you will ever have are at the end of your elbows.

Marsha

****************
Refer Marsha for your next meeting, workshop or keynote.
“Our meeting was a tremendous success because of your keynote and concurrent workshop.
Your evaluations were ‘off the charts!’” Jan Waugh, Association of Legal Administrators.
Marsha’s latest book, Toxic People, is in bookstores everywhere
#1 bestseller on the “What Corporate America is Reading” from CEO-Read plus Barnes and Noble and Amazon!
Visit the website for more information www.MarshaPetrieSue.com or call Marcia at 1.888.797.6700

Tags: communicate, communications, hiring, job success, promote yourself, success by admin
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The last few days I’ve been in San Antonio speaking to the Harley-Davidson Dealer Operations Training.  When I mentioned this to several of my friends, their immediate response was negative.  Why?  Their perception of “HOGS” was totally incorrect!

They were without a doubt one of the most gracious and kind groups I have ever spoken to. With their global success and excellent brand recognition, the exposure to negative comment and perception is great.

So my idea of the day is DON’T GO THERE!  Keep an open mind and form your OWN opinion.

Marsha

Tags: awareness, opinion, perception by admin
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I’m always looking for like minded people when it comes to taking personal development for managing changes in the approach of dealing with difficult people. Check out Angela’s blog for managing toxic neighbors.

It is your responsibility to use behavior modification and self awareness to help with more flexible choices when dealing with the clams, back stabbers, the bully, steamrollers and others.

I was speaking this weekend for Sensaria Natural Bodycare and was thrilled to be surrounded by people so concerned with their personal development. This is what managing improving interpersonal communications and improving the customer relationship is all about!

So extend your changed behavior so it permeates your 24/7 behavior! Amazing how this works!! Marsha

Carl Sell, Sensaria CEO and Marsha

Tags: Uncategorized by admin
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One of our readers asked a great questions on how to better manage Toxic Meetings. Use these Quick and Easy steps to STOP THEM and the difficult people in meetings!

My suggestion is to ask the group if they would like to spend less time in meetings and get a raise of hands. On a flip chart or white board, ask them what rules they would like to implement. You can start with a suggestion.

I’ve included some considerations below. Ask for an “OK” that these are acceptable ground rules. Type them out and begin every meeting with these rules to reduce the time spent in meetings.

1. Stick to the agenda
2. One person speaks at a time
3. Begin and end on time
4. Say it once and concisely
5. No interrupting

Put everyone in charges of keeping on target with the rules. Need more? Check out Charlie Hawkins article - good stuff.

Be sure to use these for every meeting to save time and improve productivity!

Need more time savings tips? Need to reduce difficult behavior of co-workers? Click on the links!!

Cheers, Marsha

****************
Refer Marsha for your next meeting, workshop or keynote.
“Our meeting was a tremendous success because of your keynote and concurrent workshop.
Your evaluations were ‘off the charts!’” Jan Waugh, Association of Legal Administrators.
Marsha’s latest book, Toxic People, is in bookstores everywhere
#1 bestseller on the “What Corporate America is Reading” from CEO-Read plus Barnes and Noble and Amazon!
Visit the website for more information www.MarshaPetrieSue.com or call Marcia Snow at 1.888.797.6700

Tags: communicate, dealing with difficult people, meetings, sanity by admin
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When I boot up my computer in the morning, the first page is always my personalized page from the Wall Street Journal. I used to have it on Fox News but couldn’t stand having the first information in my brain tragic deaths, murders and general world chaos.

I am convinced that you do become what you think about so I make a choice not to start a great day with ugly information. It can make you a Toxic Person! What the WSJ does for me is condenses important factoids into two or three sentences. IF I choose to read more, then I can.

What do you fill your head with? Uglyness immediately in the morning by popping on the TV? Watching Headline News, CNBC or Fox. Here is my challenge to you - stop doing it! Music is good but it is chewing gum for your brain. How about downloading a book or some positive, forward thinking information to give you survival tools. Life is hard, life is unfair … so get over it.

I made that choice a VERY long time ago and am glad I did! Happy listening.

Marsha

Tags: Blogroll, Media, awareness, difficult people, perception by admin
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Britney Spears just can’t get out of the news because of her toxic behavior. She lost visitation rights for her kids, her fans are dropping like flies, but there is still a loyal group clinging on her every toxic action and word. She even kicked Dr. Phil out of her hospital room!
She is like some of the people you work with – they are talented but have become difficult people. They infect others and create havoc.
Do you have a Britney in your office? It’s not just the damage they do to themselves – they set the tone for the office productivity, morale, and temperament. The top producers that make a mess of their paperwork, the team leaders that can rally the troops but miss the deadlines, the assistants that provide excellent work but are always late to work, and more.
Here is an 6-step conflict resolution plan:
1. Identify the Toxic Person’s behavior.
• Review the six types of Toxic People from the book determine with whom you are dealing.
2. Understand the outcome needed with the relationship.
• Fix it or sever the relationship?
3. Decide how you want to be perceived by the Toxic Person.
• Do you even care what difficult people think of you? (Don’t be cavalier; think about the importance of this question!)
4. Plan your response to Toxic People.
• Be accountable for what you are going to say.
5. Practice your approach.
• How will you check your own anger or anxiety during the approach?
Continue to refer to this list every time you have to manage a toxic situation or a difficult person, and do this until all the habits become second nature. Let’s send this info to Britney Spears! Hopefully she will have time to read it between cocktails and hospital visits.

More good information here - check out this blog on Toxic Friendships!

Cheers, Marsha

Tags: Toxic, bad behavior, difficult people by admin
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