Hello what’s your name? How to remember names @ networking events

We all know that networking events are all about building relationships, so there is nothing worse than having a great conversation that could turn into a successful business venture but you can’t remember the person’s name!

ALPHA will help you to do just that!

A – ASK: Don’t be bashful, if you didn’t hear it when you were first introduced don’t be afraid to ask again at the end of the conversation. Who do you think that person is going to feel drawn to; the person who made an effort to remember and get their name right or the person who just didn’t bother?

L – LISTEN: This is what Rob Brown; World Leading Networking Authority calls ‘Job One’. Your main aim at any networking event is to LISTEN and by doing so, it is much more likely you will hear and remember someone’s name.

P – PARROT/PLAYBACK: We all remember better by doing as well as listening so if you make a point of repeating the person’s name you are more likely to remember it later.

H – HOOK: Get a hook. Grab onto something; it might be something the person tells you in the conversation that reminds you later of their name, or it could just be what they are wearing or look  like i.e glasses, no glasses, red hair, moustache or whatever. If you can remember something about them you will remember them later.

A – ATTITUDE: Yours that is! Always be enthusiastic and positive, be known for remembering names.  The next time you are at a networking event try this acronym and see the results. Also remember to practice, practice, practice, after a while you will get better at it. If you THINK/ACT/SAY/DO you can, then you can!

Giving effective feedback in coaching situations; “Linda, I saw the way you handled Mrs. Dawson during this crisis. It really stinks.”

If, like me, you have ever said something without thinking first you will understand how important the thinking time and having a script can be.

Effective coaching feedback can be learned and taught. Here are some ways to approach effective feedback in a coaching or  in any business situation that I have found very helpful.

This list is care of the University of Texas, Health Centre which once again proves that positive feedback and talk is good for your health.

1. Make your feedback specific as related to behavior.

Good:

“Henry, you have been 15 minutes late for the last three mornings. Please explain why.”

Bad:

“Henry, you are lazy and have a poor attitude towards your job.”

2. Consider your timing, either before the event in the form of advice, or immediately after it as positive feedback.

Good:

(advice) “Sally, I’d like to review the content of your presentation with you before your speech next week so you can really do a good job in front of the group.”

Bad:

(criticism) “Sally, because you’ve done such a poor job in the past, I need to preview the speech you plan on giving next week.”

Good:

(positive) “Sally, you did an outstanding job in organizing your presentation for the meeting. The speech was well-researched and logical.”

Bad:

(positive but not specific) “Sally, good speech last week. Keep up the good work!”

3. Give the feedback in calm and unemotional language.

Good:

“Joe, I’m sure your progress will be much faster now that you are clear on how to use this new machinery.”

Bad:

“Joe, isn’t it about time you improved your production with this machine?”

4. Check to be sure clear communication has occurred.

Good:

“Mary, do you know the importance of recording all my phone messages? Can you explain it to me so I know you understand?”

Bad:

“Mary, I’m sure you got it all, huh?”

5. Focus on behavior the receiver can do something about.

Good:

“Sam, we would appreciate you keeping the team informed about the status of the project.”

Bad:

“Sam, why don’t you like to talk to other people?”

6. Use “I” statements as opposed to “you” statements to reduce defensiveness.

Good:

“Tim, when you play your radio in the work area, I lose my concentration. Would you mind turning it off during regular work hours?”

Bad:

“Tim, you are so inconsiderate of other people when you leave your radio on.”

7. Define the impact on you, the unit, the team and the company.

Good:

“Sarah, when you don’t get your report to me on time, I can’t get my report to my boss on time. This slows up decisions about resources needed for next month.”

Bad:

“Sarah, can’t you ever get your reports to me on time?”

8. Solicit feedback rather than impose it.

Good:

“Linda, did you say you would like to learn how to handle your most difficult customers more effectively? Here are some things that have worked for me…”

Bad:

“Linda, I saw the way you handled Mrs. Dawson during this crisis. It really stinks.”

Thanks to:

http://www.uth.tmc.edu/

National Alliance of Business Owners – June Conference 2011

Well I was right getting up very early to get to Euston via Clapham Junction from the South Coast was not ideal. Neither was getting home until very late because June Wimbledon weather decided to have a torrential thunderstorm and lightning strikes that delayed all trains back to the South Coast!

However the NABO conference in the middle of all that difficult travelling was awesome; professional and well organised, rich in content and absolutely FREE! I have already started recommending the July conference to everyone with a small business that I know.
Topics covered over two days were:

• How to set your marketing on autopilot and create a marketing system that produces better results than you’re getting right now – with less effort and less stress.
• How to get lots more visitors to your website – the right kind – not tyre-kickers. It’s priceless information, yet so simple to apply.
• The website mistakes most business owners make – and how to fix them. If you are making even one of them, you are losing big money every day.
• How to instantly, dramatically improve the number of online sign-ups on your website. (You can sort this out in under a day. Honestly).
• How to sell at prices higher than your competition. No matter how competitive your industry, these proven strategies give you higher margins so you NEVER have to cut your prices again. (A weight loss firm increased prices by 153% – yet their website sales increased)
• The shocking truth about social media – and how to know if it will work for you.
• How to get far more enquiries – and convert a far higher percentage into sales.
• How to generate a constant flow of new customers who already want what you have to sell.
• How to automate your sales process so it makes you profit 365 days a year whether you’re there or not.
• Why your advertising doesn’t work as well as it used to – and a few simple things that will fix it overnight.
• Why your brochure almost certainly doesn’t sell – and what to do about it.
• Why nearly all marketing literature under-sells what you do and costs you money, when it should bring in profit without you lifting a finger.
• How to ‘climb’ into your customers’ minds so you know exactly what they want to buy from you and how they prefer you to sell it.

At the end of the two days there was a highly entertaining address by Doug Richard well know from Dragon’s Den and not at all as scary!

Presented by Jonathon Jay Chairman of NABO and well supported by Paul Green Lead Generation Expert, Lee Gilbert Internet Marketing Expert and Daniel Preistley, Social Media Expert, there was so much information and expertise available it was difficult to know what to leave behind.

The follow up for us at Accrete Training is that we are now taking marketing our business much more seriously, turning our venture into a ‘Business’ and leaving the ‘Hobby’ mentality behind

National Alliance of Business Owners: Ultimate Marketing Conference June 2011

Getting up early isn’t one of my favourite pastimes so making sure we catch the 06.00 from sleepy Seaford East Sussex next Monday must be because we think we are prepared to put energy and time into our marketing strategy in order to develop our business to the next level.

Accrete Training Associates is off to Central London next week 27-28 June to visit a completely free Two-day Ultimate Marketing System on Monday and Tuesday the 27th & 28th June 2011.
Organised by www.nabo.biz there is no hard sell with this conference. If we don’t want to sign up for anything, or part with any money, we don’t have to. We know of course that this company wants our business lead but in return we should be able to pick up several very useful marketing tools that will enable us to develop our Accrete Training Associates business.
Hopefully we’ll be able to share what we learn on this blog!

For further information or to register free go to http://nabo.biz and we’ll see you there

Hearing an inspirational message

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.” Henry Ford

Training and Development is more than hearing an inspirational message.

With Accrete programs, you don’t just learn, you learn how to effectively solve daily problems and achieve results. Our programs can enhance existing skills, increase innovation, reduce staff turnover, improve staff and student satisfaction and satisfy required curriculum criteria.

Accrete programs involve the participants by incorporating related interactive practice exercises and setting goals for applying concepts after the training.

Organised within distinct categories, our experts can develop exact program content to meet your school’s needs.

Contact us:

courses@accrete-training.co.uk