Ripple Connection Question Of The Week

Ripple Connection Questions are a unique way to engage people in conversation. Whether with a complete stranger or someone you already know, but want to know better, using Ripple Connection Questions (RCQ) accelerate the dialogue and deepen the connection. The questions are by design, fun to ask and fun to answer, and can take your connection to an entirely new level. Come on, break out of that shell of yours and start Rippling.

As I watch the events of this weekend unfold, I can't help but think of the people who are and will be inevitably be affected by Hurricane Ike. Ever since Hurricane Katrina the power and force with which Mother Nature can impose her incredible strength and determined destruction is certainly humbling and scary when you think about it.

I can't imagine what it would be like to be forced to leave my home. As I look around today I see all that I have worked for and all that I treasure. Sure you can make the argument that it's just stuff but it's my stuff and I wouldn't want to lose it under any circumstances.

But what if you were forced to leave your home and you could only take what you could pack into your car or suitcase? That question has been on my mind for obvious reasons so I figured why not use it as this week's Ripple Connection Question:

WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU
IF YOU WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE
YOUR HOME?

I look forward to hearing how you might answer this question. I know for me, as long as I have my family, my computer, my "idea journal" and my ability to live another day, the stuff that I own can always be replaced.

If you have been affect by this weekend's storm, know that you are in my family's thoughts and prayers.

Ripple On!!!

Recovering Overtalker

One of the worst things I think one can do, especially when making a connection with someone new, is to be an overtalker (yes, another Steveism). What's an overtalker? Someone that is so hell bent to say what it is they want to say that they simply fail to wait for the other person to finish speaking before blurting out whatever it is they have to say. They literally talk over the other person.

Can you say annoying party of one!

I just had this experience. I was speaking with someone that has a service that I believe could be a real fit for my business. This was the first time for us to speak via conference call and despite my own self-identified interest in this person's business, they spent more time pitching me than learning about me and my business. Not only is that critical error in the sales prospecting game (I already told them I was interested) but it's the kiss of death when the person doesn't even let me fully ask a question before jumping in and firing their verbal barage of this and thats. I liken this to verbal diarrea of the mouth and as you can imagine it isn't pretty!

Overtalking, especially when speaking to a prospective client, new connection or heck someone at the grocery store, is an instant turnoff. It shows a total lack of respect for the other person in the conversation and undermines your credibility. However I am amazed at how many people do it and think its perfectly acceptable even when clearly when it is annoying the other person.

I had a wonderful teacher in high school. Ms. Harris, that used to tell me to, "slow down and listen before opening my mouth." My excitement for a particular subject would cause me to put my two cents in at the most inappropriate time. I remember her telling me that just because I was excited or enthusiastic about something didn't mean certain rules of common courtesy didn't apply. She said what I was doing was quite simply rude. She suggested I quite literally shut up and listen. She said take a slow breath after someone has finished speaking before opening my mouth. She said that in being conscious of that breath, I would subconsciously be more in tune with what was just said and it would force me to actually listen; forcing me to have something more fruitful to say when I did open my mouth.

It was great advice and advice I have called upon many times in my career.

I guess to a degree I am a recovering overtalker. I found help by a teacher that cared enough to tell me I was being an idiot. Years later when I was in sales I got to see the cause and effect of overtalking as many a sales rep I knew (and some I hired) would make the kiss of death mistake in talking over a prospective client. Many didn't realize they were doing it but most did and shockingly didn't care. Was it any wonder why they didn't stick in sales very long?

So if you know yourself to be an overtalker know there is help. Ms. Harris' sound advice can work for you as it did me. In fact she would be so proud that I am still using her advice all these years later.

If you are an overtalker follow this simple advice.

Shut up - you will have time to talk you nucklehead!
Listen - God gave you one mouth and two ears for a reason. Conicidence? I think not!
Take a breath - yes quite literally take a breath before you say anything.
Be aware that you aren't the most important person in the room, on the phone or on the planet (Ms. Harris's words to me as a 10th grader exactly) - 'nuff said
Rinse and repeat.
Build better connections.


Ripple On!!!

Want Different Results? Try A Different Approach

We've all heard that if you do as you have always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. Albert Einstein supported this way of thinking when he said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

Sometimes in life and in business we need to do things differently. Whether it be take a different approach, plan a new strategy or break the mold and start all over. We have to be willing to step outside our comfort zone and take some chances, make some messes and see what happens. It's my long held belief that when we allow ourselves to do that that's when our creative juices and our innovation really begins to flow.

Steve McGarry is a cartoonist and illustrator that has taken his passion and skills and applied them in quite a different way. He has focused his talent to bring many of today's stars of sports, movies and music to life in biographic comic form. His unique approach to leveraging his talents has opened up a completely new genre of story telling about some of today's most prolific and recognizable stars.

Though undoubtely Steve is a talented artist it was his willingness to challenge the traditional role of the cartoonist that opened up a new genre and cult-like follow for his work. Would this have happened if he wasn't willing to look at things differently? If he wasn't willing to challenge the traditional standards and breakthrough the perceived boundaries?

We already know the answer don't we. So the question is this....what can you begin doing differently right now to begin following your true path? What is it that needs a different approach and is begging for you to be that person to create it? What is holding you back?

Be like Steve McGarry and dare to dream and be different. The Ripples will be well worth it!!!

Ripple On!!!

Internal Networks Exist

Leaders this post is for you.

Have you identified the internal network of connections that exist within your organization? No I am not referring to the org chart or the list of employees that belong to which department. No the network I speak of is the one that supersedes that which is formally designated by management and exists in the bowels of your organization. The very real network that evaluates your every move, provides a bully pulpit for those who can't or won't be heard in the boardroom and ultimately represents the true pulse of your organization.

Oh that network you say? I know about that network. I understand it. I sure hope so. Because not understanding the intricacies of the internal network that exists within your organization can be dangerous.

Last week DELL announced that they would close or sell most of their manufacturing facilities. See the news report by clicking here. The funny thing about this announcement was the buzz that permeated the local coffee shop I often stop at in the morning, weeks before the news became official. The shop is frequented by many Dell employees and for the past few weeks there have been numerous conversations about the possible changes that would be coming. The informal network was abuzz with conversations about the various rumors, the impact such moves would have and whom might be affected.

The conversations weren't necessarily positive. The attitudes expressed were certainly not happy and upbeat. From the casual and outside observer, these people looked worried and in some instances, angry. Now imagine one of those people being an active business unit leader. I have no idea if any of them are, though the frank and often unbelievable conversations that I have overheard (they are hard not to), indicate there are some leaders amongst the group. What influence might these conversations be having within their own internal network when they get back to the office?

This is a very large and overly exaggerated example and I don't wish to try and tackle the internal workings of a major company like Dell - at least not on my BLOG. However it does provide a unique and somewhat scary example of what might be disseminated amongst these peoples' internal connections when the water cooler and parking conversations inevitably happen. And trust me...they will - whether they occur before or after such an announcement.

Internal networks can be an incredibly useful tool if a leader understands them and appreciates how they can be utilized. The network can seed the grapevine of behind the scenes conversations happening right now (yes in your company as well) with the right information to alleviate stress and concern that an announcement such as Dell's could have on their employees. But in order for a leader to understand the power of such a network, they first have to understand where the network exists and identify who on the team plays an influenced role in facilitation and communication. That can be tricky but not impossible to identify.

If you are a leader of an organization and you don't understand where your internal networks are, then we should talk. Whether you run a big or little company, internal networks exist and whether you believe it or not,they are impacting your organization in a variety of ways. Just like with Dell, the conversations which are already happening can have an impact that Ripple in ways that can be either positive or negative. Which one would you prefer?

Ripple On!!!

To contact me please email me at Steve AT ripplecentral dot com

Goal Pride

It was just a few minutes into his first game and the field opened up in front of him. The ball had popped out of the swarm of little players and suddenly his little legs switched to charging pistons as he raced for it. The opponents entire half of the field was open before him. But Josh being Josh didn't take the ball all the way down and score the goal. No, he simply power kicked the ball as hard as he could and with perfect accuracy he had blasted a kick from midfield that wasn't going to stop until it was nestled in the back of the net.

Wow! What a way to start his soccer career!

There was no doubt I knew he could do it. He, like his big brother, has dribbled a soccer ball since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. But I was still unprepared for the amount of pride and joy I had swell up in my heart. I know that the big sappy smile planted on my face showed him just how proud of him I was. His sheepish little thumbs up when he got back to the middle and waited for the other team to kick off was one of those moments that will forever be with me.

I was wondering how I might react when Josh scored his first goal. In my wildest dreams I never expected he would be the first on his team to do it. Okay, well that's actually a bit of a lie. I knew how the kid can match up and playing with an unforgiving big brother gives him an edge that many kids don't have. Never-the-less I knew I would be proud when it happened but the euphoric buzz it gave me and still lingers today was not something I anticipated.

The older we get in life the more important it is to pay attention to those special moments. Sure it would be easy to say the kid scored a goal - big deal. But it really is a big deal. It was seeing a little person find his own mojo and for one of the first times in his life, play on a stage that was once and only occupied by his big brother. It was amazing to see how excited, thrilled and proud of himself that he was. Gosh isn't that what we all want for our kids whether it be in sports, at school and of course ultimately in life?

Hope everyone is having an incredible weekend!

Ripple On!!!