We’re On Your Side!

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May 172011
 

In The New Industrial Revolution post I suggested that sharing ideas was a good idea. In other words, assume that the other person is more likely to want to help rather than pinch your idea or your customers. Continuing on the positive theme, when you stand up to speak at a networking meeting, or during a sales presentation or wherever it may be, the audience will want you to succeed. They will be your friends. They may not want to buy what you have to sell but they will not want you to to mess up your presentation or speech. Don’t believe me? Watch Dragons’ Den when an entrepreneur has a fit of the vapours and cannot get his or her words out. You feel for them don’t you? You are willing them to succeed. Even the steely Dragons are uncomfortable.

So next time you stand up to speak, do so confident in the knowledge that the audience is on your side, silently cheering you on from the sidelines.

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Team Sheep

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Aug 112010
 

Yesterday I reported on how not to build team spirit. Today we look at a very different manager.

Chris was an enthusiastic driver. One day he came round a bend in a country lane rather too briskly and found his way baa-d (oh dear) by sheep. Somehow they managed to jump out of his way and he came to a halt completely surrounded by these woolly creatures.

Unfortunately Chris was not alone and his adventure was reported back to the office. Soon afterwards I was on holiday and spotted a postcard featuring a sheep. This was sent to the office. Other sheep products followed as others took up the challenge. Soon Chris’ office looked like he was in the farming industry rather than the car industry. Or that he had unnatural preferences. It certainly unnerved visitors! But we had the strongest team baa none!

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Jelly, Sheep & Beckham

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Jul 292010
 

Commenting on yesterday’s post about the importance of timing, Judy Heminsley explained how Jelly has suddenly taken off, whereas it’s been around for a couple of years with little previous interest. There are a number of factors at play I believe. Think about a street performer. Most people walk by, either because they aren’t interested or because they are in a hurry or because, to use modern parlance, it isn’t cool to stand and watch. But once one person stops they are likely to be joined by a second. Then a third. Soon there is a snowball effect and the high street is blocked by the crowd. Sorry folks but most of us are sheep-like in our behaviour.

Social media has really taken off in the last couple of years and I’m sure that it has had a significant role in communicating the Jelly message. Judy’s own Jelly crusade shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Of course, if the media had spotted David Beckham working away at a laptop in the country’s first Jelly event, there would now be one in every town in the country. I wonder if Becks realises he could get a job as a shepherd?

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Banana Business

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Jul 232010
 

An experiment was conducted. A number of gorillas were put in a cage. Bananas were lowered in. But as the gorillas went for the bananas they were doused with a high pressure hose. Most soon got the message and ignored the bananas. But one or two persisted in going for the bananas. They got hosed, as did all of the others gorillas. The majority soon brought the minority into line.

Then one gorilla was replaced by a new one. The pack jumped on it when the bananas arrived to avoid any risk of a soaking. Gradually all of the gorillas were replaced so that none had experienced the hose treatment. But they still steered clear of the bananas.

Are you doing something but are not sure why any more? Maybe you are doing something because that’s the way it’s always done?

Banana anyone?

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Oh Dear!

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May 082010
 

I’m glad to report that the restaurants featured in The Watercooler review on the Food & Drink page are not frequented by deer as far as I know. Apparently a couple of them burst through the glass doors of a restaurant in America and gave the staff and customers a bit of a surprise. When I say burst through the door, I don’t mean that they stopped to open it. Amazingly it didn’t seem to do them much harm.

The bloke next door was slightly surprised when a sheep wandered into the lounge, but probably not as surprised as his wife a year or two back when a cow got out of the field opposite and charged up their drive just as she came round the corner in the opposite direction. The nearest I’ve come to such excitement  is a sheep wandering in the garden. Have any Watercooler readers had unusual wildlife encounters in the home or office?

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