Quote of the Week

“The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.”
– Tony Blair

Giving Effective Performance Feedback
by Steve Straus

One day a vendor in a personal services business was being interviewed by a potential client. The prospect seemed ready to sign up but had several things he wanted to change in the way the program worked and wanted to negotiate the fee. The vendor listened and then explained that he had been developing, refining, and delivering the program for many years with a wide range of clients and felt/knew that the changes the prospect wanted would weaken the program.

The prospect became increasingly insistent about how he wanted to do things. The vendor calmly declined to modify the program. Finally, in a loud voice the prospect said, “You’re not going to meet my demands, are you?

Why not?!”

“Because I don’t have to” was the reply.

Now this is not a case of stubbornness on the part of the vendor. It is not a case of the vendor playing the role of a petulant child.

It is a case of a professional knowing what works best.

It is a case of the vendor suspecting that the prospect was going to be a difficult, demanding client and not a good fit for his practice.

But mainly it is a case of having enough reserve so that he didn’t need the business.

Copyright 2008 Steve Straus. All rights reserved. Steve Straus can be contacted at http://www.StrausUSA.com.

Coaching Call to Action

Do you know the profile of your ideal client? Do you have enough reserve to be able to say “No” to business which does not fit you well?

Community Involvement

Pounce on a Project III – 2008
March 27, 2008

Last month we worked through our “procrastination list”. You know those things that have to be done but you just don’t make the time to do. We not only got through our lists, we also did other work. What project would you like to get on top of and accomplish this month? Come to Pounce on a Project III – - 2008. Join Coach Andrea on Thursday, March 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Eastern. We will join as a group by phone and declare what you want to accomplish: finishing your taxes, completing a presentation, finding the top of your desk or reaching out to clients.

During the morning, the group will gather by phone a few times to check progress and get any support needed to finish with a bang. At noon, the group will celebrate their accomplishments. Who says projects have to be boring and tedious? Bring your lightness and fun and join us for the energization.

To sign up or learn more, call or e-mail Andrea by noon on Wednesday, March 26th. Feel free to share this with friends and co- workers, the more the merrier. (Cost of the program is only the cost of long distance phone calls.)

Other articles you might be interested in:

  1. GREAT QUESTIONS: Who Are You?
  2. How to Be, Do, or Have
  3. Medicating with the Mundane
  4. PRINCIPLE: Receive
  5. Be At The Table

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