Business Coaching: Dealing with Negative People

We’ve all been there before… The day is moving along just like we hoped and then “WHAM” we run right into the negative wall, or in this case person. All the momentum we’ve been building is suddenly stopped dead in its tracks. Furthermore, the current moment has left the future direction and speed uncertain. So what do you do when you encounter negative people? The following seven tips should help you get back on track faster and move forward again.

• Negative People Tip #1 – Get Back to Basics – What were you working on and why were you working on it? Identifying what the current project at hand is as well as why it’s important will get you refocused on what you were doing. Moving forward again will re-engage you!
• Negative People Tip #2 – Forget About ‘Em – Perhaps the hardest aspect of dealing with negative people is putting their “negativity” behind you. However, you’ve got no control over them (even if they work for you), so move on. Consider your encounter with them to be just a speed-bump in the big road of life!
• Negative People Tip #3 – Update Your Radar System – You are going to encounter negative people, even if you’re at Disney World (aka, the “happiest place on Earth”). If you know that you are going to encounter them, why not plan your “escape” before you get into the situation? Doing so will allow you to enter the situation with confidence and exit with panache!
• Negative People Tip #4 – Be More Selective – You have a choice every hour of every day regarding what you will do and who you will do it with. Make better choices regarding what that is and who it is with!
• Negative People Tip #5 – Dr. Phil Them – I don’t want you to break out your best Dr. Phil impression and ask negative people to lie down on your couch and say “tell me your problems?” However people are often negative because they are currently occupying a “negative” space in their lives. Asking why they are there and how you can help them get from there to a “positive” place just may be a difference maker!
• Negative People Tip #6 – Go To Your Happy Place – Being negative is easy when it comes right down to it. It takes a lot of effort to stay positive when you encounter these types of individuals. When you do, remove yourself from the situation and go to a place where you can refocus, recharge and re-energize yourself!
• Negative People Tip #7 – Stay Positive – Negative people want you to come over to their side if you’re positive. Just because they want you to join their “Pity Parade” doesn’t mean that you should. Avoid doing so at all costs!

Following these seven Negative People Tips will make you more productive and positive. One of my coaching clients told me “Life’s short, play positively and you’ll succeed!” I like that…

Take a moment to complete the “Dealing with Negative People Poll” and tell me how you deal with those negative people in your world. If I can further assist, reach out to me at sp@pathosleadershipgroup.com.

How Good is Your Sales Follow-up?

I got a postcard in the mail today... Not that big of a deal, right? If you're like me, you get (and probably send) hundreds of postcards each month. But this one was different... It was for my daughter and it said "Happy Birthday from your orthodontist". Now I know what you're thinking, she's a kid that has braces, right? Wrong! This is from an orthodontist that we visited for an initial visit last year, but never "got around" to getting them on (Moment of Truth - My daughter realized there would be pain involved in wearing them, so no braces for her for the time being!).

So she gets a postcard for her birthday from someone that we don't even do business with. It made me wonder... Do you send out "Happy Birthday" postcards to your clients on their birthday? Do you stay in touch with the clients that currently do business with you, as well as those that have in the past? More importantly, do you send anything to prospective clients that decided for some reason or another (pain versus pleasure/devil I know versus the one I don't...) NOT to do business with you?

I am guessing that you don't. Make that, I am pretty confident that you don't! If you'd like information on how you can follow-up/follow-through like an "Influential Salesperson" then send me an email to info@pathosleadershipgroup.com and I'll be in touch!

Sam Palazzolo

Pathos Leadership Group

http://www.pathosleadershipgroup.com/

PS - The orthodontist was Terry Moore, DDS in Colleyville, TX. For less than $1 he might earn our business after all!

Who the Hell is James Strock and Can He Save Leadership? 12 Tips on Becoming a More Effective Leader

I had the opportunity to spend time with James Strock, author, speaker, and executive educator on 21st Century Leadership. If the saying “If you don’t know your history, you’re bound to repeat it!” is true, then you must get to know James and his work. He has the unique ability in possessing dual vision, with one eye on the past and the other towards the future.

His next book, “Serve to Lead: 21st Century Leadership System” discusses how leadership today is different. Here are twelve of his thoughts regarding just how different things are for leaders and the serious issues to be challenged with:

1. Technology – Is the vision of Hanna-Barbera and George Jetson very far off?
2. Ethics – We operate in a “transparent” society… Kiss privacy good-bye!
3. Service – Everyone can lead because it’s so easy to serve at the current time.
4. Empowering – Becoming “empowered” is easier today than it ever has been.
5. Consensual – There exists a consensual relationship between the leader/non-leader.
6. Love – The Beatles sang “all you need is love” and so does James!
7. Relationship Transition – There is today a transition from transaction to relationships.
8. Dynamic – Kick “static” relationships to the curb.
9. Custom – There is no universal or “one size fits all” leadership methodology.
10. Convergence – Leadership styles are converging (Think Mr. Cosmo Spacely meets John Maxwell)
11. Imagine – Another Beetle sighting… Think “strawberry fields forever!”
12. Public – There is no leadership in private?

If you don’t know James work, get to! He was motivational, inspirational and at times controversial. When was the last time you met someone that told you that Tom Peters and Jim Collins are wrong?

You can find out more about James at his website… http://www.jamesstrock.com/

If you’d like to see where you “rank” versus the 3,000+ business leaders that we surveyed for our book, “The Influential Leader” please visit http://www.gotinfluence.com/ and take the 2 minute survey. You’ll receive a report that shows where you compare versus them on the 10 critical skills that made them successful!

Sam Palazzolo, MBA, CPLP, RODP
Pathos Leadership Group
www.pathosleadershipgroup.com