Tag Archives: making others feel important

Hanging Mistletoe in Your Office

Leave a reply

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to help you more fully appreciate your staff. Reading time 3:55

Carefully positioned for optimum view, the plaque beamed a critical message for all leaders: “MAKE SOMEONE FEEL IMPORTANT TODAY.”

Hung strategically in a far corner of the office, the motivational plaque served as a visual reminder to the leader: pay attention to the feelings as much as to the facts in coaching and in reprimanding.

Hanging “mistletoe” in the office seemed to be just as effective in influencing behavior as in hanging mistletoe at home at Christmas time, albeit prompting only verbal “kissing” of course.

But at least the office version of mistletoe helped the leader slow down to focus as much on the person as on the problem.

After all, it’s too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the office -just like it’s too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas time at home. Until you step under mistletoe hung strategically over a doorway.

Then you pause, look into your partner’s eyes, kiss and make each other feel important. No matter how busy you are. No matter how mad you are. No matter how exhausted you are. Continue reading →

Listening: Making LOVE To Your Audience

Leave a reply

By Peter Jeff
The Leadership Mints Guy

Here’s an idea to get the most challenging audiences to listen and respond to you. Reading time: 1:58.

Listening with your eyes in particular and — with your entire face in general — is a keen leadership skill that very few leaders in my experience have mastered. We can all learn the art of listening with your eyes from Art Linkletter -my all time “eye” deal leader extraordinaire — and host of a network television talk show in the 1960s.

Art Linkletter interviewing youngster on network television.

For 17 years on network television- as the then longest running daytime program- Art Linkletter made an art of conversing with people known more for their lack of attentiveness and their inclination to fidget and even cry. But Linkletter calmed those 5-10 year old youngsters. With his eyes.

Linkletter would kneel and bring his face up close to the face of a youngster. He would ask questions but the kids only saw his wide eyes like huge lollipops. Inviting. Sweet. Juicy.

Continue reading →