Just Breathe

Image courtesy of Arts and Arts.

Sometimes that’s all we need to do…just breathe!

Do You Talk Too Much When Conducting Business Meetings?

Have you ever conducted a business meeting and left the meeting feeling that you talked too much?  And you didn’t give anyone else a chance to speak?

Of course, some people are natural talkers. They will talk and talk without knowing when to stop. But monopolizing your business meetings, or any meeting at all, is not good.

Your purpose is not to give a speech at a business meeting but to encourage participation and feedback.  After all, it’s a meeting and not a ceremony.

Furthermore, people attend meetings to listen and to participate. They do not want to hear one person speaking all through the meeting because they will feel as if they are not part of the team and that their input is not valuable.

So, what will you do to make sure that you do not monopolize your meetings?

Obviously, less talking! But this is easier said than done. What happens if you talk less and no one wants to talk?

Don’t worry, these simple tips below will help you to stop monopolizing your meetings.

Know what you want to say

• Prepare notes on what you want to talk about the night before. Just as how it is important to prepare for a speech it is also important to prepare for a meeting.
• Time yourself, and make sure you stick to your time limit.
• Jot down answers to some of the comments that you think may arise based on the discussion topic. You don’t have to comment on all the issues, so resist the urge to do so.

Have a Clear Agenda

• When conducting a meeting have a clear agenda to guide you on the items that you will discuss.
• After preparing your agenda, distribute it ahead of time. You can also drop in on some of the people whose input you need; especially those who are always quiet.  Ask them what they think about the topic and let them know that you are looking forward to their input.

Encourage Participation

• Conduct a question and answer segment to help focus their thinking. But first, make your audience feel comfortable and at ease so that when the questions and answers segment comes around they will not hesitate to participate.

Use a Round Robin Format

• If you really believe that you talk too much in meetings, use a round robin format. This way each participant in the meeting will get a chance to speak or to voice their opinion.
• The round robin format is a more comfortable way to get people who are shy to speak up because some people do not like to be called out in a meeting.

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Key takeaway:

• Do not monopolize your business meetings. Give others a chance to speak. Yes, it can be a hard habit to break but with practice, you can improve.
• Prepare yourself and make sure that you encourage participation.
• Always make your meeting something that your team is happy to attend instead of dreading to attend.

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Do you monopolize your meeting? Or have you ever attend a meeting and the person in charge talks too much?

Let us talk…

Follow these 3 Simple Tips to Improve Your Self Esteem

Are you really suffering from low self-esteem? Feeling good about ourselves is something no one can give to us. They can help, but it is up to us to do the rest.

It’s really heartbreaking to know that in this time and age, people still believe that they are not good enough and still feel sorry for themselves.

Anyhow,  if you are suffering from low self-esteem, cheer up! Here are 3 simple tips to help you improve your self-esteem.

1.  Visualize Colorful Thoughts

Yep! Stop having dark and dull thoughts!

We spend a consumable amount of time having thoughts about ourselves that are not true.

Dark, dull, cloudy, and stormy thoughts.

To illustrate:

Someone like me? So what is wrong with you that makes it so unbelievable that he wants to date you?

Research reveals that the words and sentences we use when referring to ourselves are positive signs of low-self esteem.

Stop having dark thoughts about yourself.  Starting right now! Think beautiful, cheerful, and enlightening thoughts.

For example, feel the difference below using the same images above:

Visualize colorful thoughts. It’s healthier to have beautiful thoughts. You will enjoy life better!

2.  Start Saying No Without Feeling Guilty

Individuals suffering from low-self esteem tend to give away too many yeses. Learn to say no, and mean it.

Saying no does not stop people from liking you. Furthermore, people love to take advantage of “yes-persons.”

Don’t get this twisted now. Genuinely helping someone is completely different from always saying yes.  Saying yes to everything someone asks you to do means that you are not doing it to be helpful but rather to be accepted.

To build your self-esteem don’t agree to things that you do not enjoy doing. Start saying no, and when you do, don’t feel guilty!

3.  Save Your Apologies

Imagine this…

You are in the supermarket, you need to ask a question, you approach the cashier, and the first two words are:

 

Why are you apologizing to ask a question? You haven’t done anything to be sorry for.  Low self-esteem people tend to apologize for everything, wrong and right.

While apologies are important, do not use them inappropriately. To build your self-esteem, stop apologizing over excessively. Save your apologies for when you make a mistake that is deserving of an apology.

Remember to build your self-esteem, you must:

1. have colorful thoughts
2.  start saying no, without feeling guilty
3.  stop apologizing for nothing

I would love to hear your thoughts, drop me a line below!

 

 

Are Successful People Enthusiastic?

People who are successful have positive feelings and eagerly approach their tasks with excitement and passion.

No matter how difficult your job is, approach it with a high level of enthusiasm.

Remember that an enthusiastic worker produces high-quality work that increases productivity.

Don’t allow negative feelings about your job to stand in the way of your success.  Psychologists say that the best way to change our negative feelings about something that we are doing is to change the way we think about our feelings.

Try to do that – change your thinking…

Enthusiasm is also contagious.

When you are enthusiastic about your job your co-workers will feel your energy and they too will start to approach their tasks with enthusiasm.

So, be passionate about what you do.

Successful people are enthusiastic people!

Do you agree?

 

xoxo ~Dehan

15 Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman

Are You a Virtuous Woman?

Wow, I can hear your “of course” very loud and clear!  Well, if you think you are, you are indeed. However, listed below are 15 tasty statements and descriptions based on biblical teachings about the characteristics of a virtuous woman. Take careful note.

Now, your curiosity is peaked…mine too, so, let’s go!

1. A virtuous woman is priceless. She is a rare gem, like ruby,  who upholds God-centered morals and exercises sound judgment.
2. She is strong, solid, disciplined, and trustworthy.
3. She is a confident woman, ambitious, energetic, and resourceful. She is a home maker and she takes care of her family with love and understanding.
4. She finds ways to transform her home into a castle, so that it will be a delightful and pleasurable place that her husband and family are eager to run home to.
5. A virtuous woman is principled, and does not entertain gossips or non-sensical chit chats because she is a woman with purpose.
6. She is loving and compassionate. And her love and compassion are extended to others where ever she goes.
7. She does not have a back-biting and slanderous tongue.
8. Her heart is rule by kindness and only wisdom springs forth from her tongue.
9. She keeps herself well-informed about worldly matters as well as what is happening around her so that she can hold intelligent conversations.
10. A virtuous woman takes care of herself. She makes sure that she is impeccably groomed to keep the sparkles burining in her husband’s eyes.
11. Her heart races for no one else, but her husband, and she has techniques to keep him alive.
12. She is honored by her husband, friends, and families.
13. She is soft-spoken, and her face is always adorned with a smile.
14. She knows what she has – self-worth; a healthy and amazing type of self-worth.
15. A virtuous woman is precious indeed and her worth is infinite.

Are you a virtuous woman?

Men, have you seen this woman?

xoxo ~ Dehan

Today We Pray for Forgiveness

Today We Are Thankful

Sometimes we have to stop what we are doing, and give God thanks for all that he has done for us. Despite what some people might think, we cannot do nothing by ourselves unless God permits it.

So let us make it a point of duty to give him all the praises; he deserves it!

Have a Happy Weekend!

xoxo ~ Dehan

Today We Pray for The Shadow Workers

You know, sometimes we go about our businesses ignoring some people who we cannot live without. These people are the shadow workers, and they are the ones who make our daily tasks easier.

I am referring to people like the garbage collectors, the street cleaners, the man who opens the door for you as you enter the store, that stranger who greeted you with a big smile, your office cleaner, and the list could go on.

Let us not forget about them.

Remember them in your prayers, and if you cannot pray (I hope you can), you are free to repeat the prayers above, right now, right where you are.

xoxo ~ Dehan

Today We Pray For Patience

Today We Pray For Guidance And For Courage