Being Professional19 Tips for Credibility

Dean Russell

Objectives

• Increase awareness of image as it relates to business success

• Provide opportunities to explore and practice new protocols

• Build new image skills

Teaching Method

• Lecture following PowerPoint Slide• Individual work• Exercise review• Application

Our job

• Introduce knowledge and skills• Structure discussion and exercise review• Make material relevant and transferable to

you job• Provide resources

Your job

• Make a commitment to learn• Be curious• Be open to change• Ask questions if you have them• Apply, apply, apply

Transition Strategies

Module 1

Business Transition Protocols

Rule 1

• Don't complain • (ABOUT ANYTHING)

Example: Don’t complain about the current owner (s), advisory board, family members, jet lag, weather, health)

What happens Exercise?IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 2

• Get to places and MEETINGS on time• Punctuality and reliability, time mgtIF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 3• Never say, “I don’t have time”• It’s a given, validate, and defer• “No” is not an answer. “Let me look into that!”

• Unexpected events occur, stay flexible

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 4

• Understand informal leaders, real line, dotted lines

• Be friendly with the front receptionist.

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 5

• Follow through,… then follow up• Assess the situation, resolve the conflict• Trust is earned.

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 6• Follow the facts when problem solving• Maturity is understanding the difference

between a claim and a fact• Stay level headed, stay rational, invaluable traits

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 7

• Respect differences, but allow no excuses.• No dual standards

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 8

• Leadership through skill, competence and attitude; not (solely) on authority relationship.

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 9

• Any system can be improved, including family• Kaizen

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 10

• Knows the 'off' switch as well as the 'vibrate' switch on your phone

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 11

• Know how to pronounce the names of people you work with.

• Use phonetic spelling to help

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 12

• Do not say "Not my area," and turn away; or "That’s typical of them.”

• Look for the cause of the dissatisfaction and discovering the reality of the situation

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 13

• Keep confidential, confidential• Don’t spread gossip

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 14

• Be ethical, not everyone is• Don’t just be driven by dollar signs

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 15• Be self-confident• Your words should have weight behind them• Self-doubt, even if not in charge, can affect all

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 16• Be ambitious• Bring new ideas and energy, not just collecting

a paycheck

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 17• Work on your communication• Work on being clear and concise in emails,

social media, from meeting room to Board room

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 18• Be interested in learning• Confidence can only get you so far• Take advantage of educational opportunities

IF You Do If You Don’t

Rule 19• Address customers formally: Greet them using their title

followed by their last name. It is up to the customer to ask you to call them by their first name.

In business, the proper way to refer to a woman is "Ms.," regardless of their marital status.

IF You Do If You Don’t

Use The Rules

• Internal job assignments • Job rotations• Special Projects• Community events• Social events• Family events

More Study Topics for the Transition

• Financial Basics• Human Resource Basics• Environmental Basics• Planning Basics• Decision Making Basics• Family Conflict Basics• Marketing Basics• Working with the Advisory Board