With the mental dexterity of a schizophrenic snail

You know that time when you were talking to that person and you were thinking one thing, but saying something completely different? What does this have to do with developing skills... tact.

Being tactful is important in our world. Can you imagine what things would be like if people said what is on their mind without that mental editing process? Well, maybe you can. Ricky Gervais is coming out with that movie of the first person that tells a lie. Which brings up the point that some people think the filtering process is lying.

Is it lying? YES! I just don't see a lie as a problem unless you are harming someone. People who are very good at filtering are also the kind of people who seem to be really on their game. And why? Well, it could be a number of reasons. I like to think it is a combination of experience and that they are good at multi-tasking. When you think about the process of being tactful, you realize that you are noticing your reactions, reading the situation and responding in the best way possible.

As an example, I've been getting contacted by insurance sales people recently. I'm a nice guy, but not so nice that I won't blow-off sales people. (Sorry guys!) I'm not the kind of person who will yell on the phone or just hang up. I'll say "I'm not interested" or something similar. I may want to talk to these people in the next few years, but I'm not about to stand there and listen to the full pitch. But mostly... I just don't like being sold to. Yet I still take the time because I don't want to burn that bridge... yet.

I'm interesting in what you think about your mental filter. Add a story or two if you like.

Networking at Wine Styles

Otavala Consulting Networking Event

July 29th
6pm- 9pm
$20 cover (Includes the first glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres)

Wine Styles
1240 S. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

Please RSVP by July 24th by
Calling 312.753.5727 or
E-mailing katrina@otavala.com

Fear to Fail

To use someone else's catch phrase... "I don't want to get on a rant here, but" what is it about business people that makes them so scared of the word "fail". Yes, I understand that failing in some instances is devastating. When you get a start-up going and your about to make that first profit about the time the economy goes down the drain; that is the kind of failure that would get the biggest optimist in the room to go into the fetal position. Failure is NOT ALWAYS a bad thing. Failure to be heard in the British courts lead to a rebellion from the monarchy, which in turn begot the United States of America. So, failure can be a good thing.

In my line of work, failure can be the most basic building block of growth. Of course I do not want anyone to fail. If failure occurs we can examine what has occurred and devise a plan so that when the situation arises again failure will not occur. "If you do not succeed, try, try again." As children learn to ride bicycles only after falling again and again. We learn to live our lives from that same model.

Maybe it was my education that taught me I should not worry about not being able to achieve every goal the first time. It could be attributed to our society that we are so competitive to achieve everything we can the first time, every time. I'm not saying we should celebrate mediocrity. I'm saying that we should not give up until we can celebrate success. Embrace failure as a means to an end. Don't fear what can be the key to your development as professionals and people.

Politics, Politics, Politics!

I received some feedback on the Manager Workshop I developed. One of the comments had to do with teaching politics. I didn't really include politics... well, not directly. The focus of the Workshop is for first-line managers/supervisors. Although I feel politics are important, I don't feel like you can teach politics in a class-like setting. Politics are something you learn much better from experience. Since I cannot put people in every experience, I can only give a few questions for people to answer when they get into a political situation. (That includes spotting those moments)

Politics is the highest level of business. It starts with functional workers, the people that are the "hands-on" workers. The next level is interpersonal, those people that work with people that are more "hands-on". (This is where most managers/supervisors start) The highest level is political level. When you start learning about politics it is important to spot the situations; increase awareness. If you increase your awareness, you'll learn that everything that is said and done in a political relationship may have multiple levels to the meaning. But, you know, not everything means something.

In fact, that is why you can only really experience politics, not just learn it from some lecture. The importance to know what to do is experience as much as possible. Another good way to learn politics is to learn from someone else's experience. Talk to people that have been in business for a while. It's much easier on your ego to hear how to not act from someone else, than experience it. I can suggest a few ways to become a little more aware. At the risk of sounding too touchy-feely... Try meditating.

Crossing the "T's" and dotting the... lower-cased "j's"

My sister and I were having a conversation not too long ago. We noticed how the people we knew that were the most successful were also the most responsible. The more we talked about taking responsibility, the more we realized that taking responsibility really gets you noticed by all the right people. That being said... it can also make you more noticeable to people in all the wrong ways.

So what's the difference? It has something to do with follow-through and not taking on too much responsibility. In this case, as with many other topics that will be covered in this blog, it is important to know your limits. Know how much responsibility you can take on before you get overloaded. Naturally, to find your limits, you may exceed them occasionally. You can do this every once in a while, but if you do go over your limits often it can have a negative affect.

Following through with projects and assignments may not get you noticed all the time. If you consistently DON'T follow through, people tend to notice. The less you follow through the less responsibility people will offer you. In the worst case scenario... you get fired. (Sorry, did I say "fired"... I mean "let go") Sugar-coat it all you want, but if you don't get the job done, you cannot enjoy the benefits. Well, unless nepotism is a common practice in your family.

Even though responsibility is a double-edged sword, I do suggest you check it out for yourself. Responsibility is a game of risk vs. reward. If you risk and succeed, you can reap the rewards. Who knows, you might just like it.