When you’re in dialogue with another person, you’ve got to “go with the flow”. These dialogues can be electronic or live. 

If the person you’re interacting with is slammed and needs a piece of information fast, don’t launch into your life story.  Cut to the chase and give them the information.  If they want to shoot the breeze and your schedule allows it, relax and engage in some of that, too, as appropriate.

When a person adjusts to another’s style and situational needs, it can lower tension and increase productivity.

This adaptive behavior requires intentionality until it becomes natural.  Like so many other things in life the return is there as long as one is willing to make the adjustments.

Next week:  I goof off.

Your boss can have a major impact on your success.  Explore with them how they can help you.

Treat him or her like royalty.  Always make your word “concrete” with this person.

How can you make their life easier?  How can you make them look good to their superiors?

Present this person with issues and answers.  Learn from them.

Bundle your questions for them.  (You don’t have to call this person five times per day.)

Keep your personal issues to yourself. Err on the side of non-disclosure.

Find out your boss’s priorities and align yours with them as best you can.  (Remember: these change.)

Earn their respect and then treasure it.

Next week:  Secret Number Ten.

Time on this planet is too precious to spend gobs of it in ways that don’t make your heart sing.

Happiness in work affects all other areas of your life, including health.

So, does your work matter to you? Are you challenged? Is it satisfying?

Importantly, are you appreciated?  Are you proud?

Don’t blink because years will fly by that you will regret.

Happiness leads to excellence.  And dollars follow excellence.  Not the other way around.

Also, if you are interested in what you do, that in turn will make you more interesting! True story.

Next week:  Secret Number Nine.

“Be a Great Listener”. This one sounds kind of easy doesn’t it? Here’s one of those areas that people often give themselves a higher grade than they deserve when they do self-assessment.

Great listening is not just being silent when the other person is talking.  It’s being engaged with what they are saying. It’s giving them 100% of your energy at that moment.  It’s making them the center of your universe. Now, given those standards:  Do you still rate yourself currently as a “Great” Listener?

We have a lot of noise in our heads, don’t we?  Our “to do” lists, “Oops I forgot to pay that bill”, or “I’m hungry”, or even our anxiety that this person is taking too long to get to the point, etc. A million things.

Becoming a better listener starts with intent. It will not be achieved accidentally. And it does take discipline.

The payoff is there, though. This skill definitely improves dialogues and enhances relationships. Ponder the rewards and then consider working to improve this skill. It’s actually rather calming and fun.

Next week:  Secret Number Eight.