Sounding Board LLC

What Color Are You?

Linda Harris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:25:00 GMT

At least 15 years ago, a good friend introduced me to The Color Code. I learned how to build stronger and more meaningful relationships by understanding what drives people and their behavior. I learned I am Red (Motive - Power). I learned my husband is Blue (Motive - Intimacy) and my daughter is Yellow (Motive - Fun). I learned about Whites (Motive - Peace). I learned the Core Motives, strengths and limitations of the four colors. This 'tool' has helped me understand and improve my relationships - personally, professionally and socially.

Our entire staff attended workshops to learn and grow using this great tool. It became a great Team Builder when we all better understood ourselves and others to better communicate and talk the same language.

I wanted to arrange for the Sounding Board Round Table members to experience and learn The Color Code to improve their management and leadership skills. When I couldn't arrange for a Certified trainer to present a workshop, I arranged to become a Master Trainer myself. Now I am one.

It is really cool to learn WHO you are and why you think and behave the way you do. To learn how to live in your Strengths and not your Limitations. It is easy to learn and it is a lot of fun. Let me know if you are interested.

Referrals - The Inexpensive Salesmen

Linda Harris — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:02:00 GMT

You never know where the next client will come from. Tanya told Fafie about Will www.wsinetspecialists.com; Fafie www.realtyexecutives.com told Joanne about Will; Joanne www.speakersbusinessservices.com told Frank about Will; Frank www.lfharrisandcompany.com told Linda www.soundingboardlv.com about Will. Will developed my website and I love the results and the experience.

Then, Will spoke at our Leadership Round Table and he met Robin www.constructionnotebook.com who arranged for him to speak at the International Builders Exchange Executives (IBEE) convention in Las Vegas. Two people he met at this convention now want him to speak in California and in Canada. It doesn't stop there.

Will introduced me to Gina www.madsenlawoffice.com who was a speaker at our Round Table. Gina referred me to Eric www.rjs/swenson.com who is a Human Relations Consultant and will be speaking to our group this month. Gina had some specialized construction questions so I referred her to my construction attorney who helped her out. It won't stop here. People want to work with people they know or with someone they have been referred to by people they know. Two very important points need to be remembered.

First, everyone you meet and build a good relationship with becomes your salesman as long as you do what you say you will do and do it well. Secondly, be careful who you refer. You need to feel confident and comfortable with your referrals. These referrals have to carry their own reputations and they have to carry your reputation too. Be stingy with your referrals - they are very valuable.

Send Yourself An E-Mail

Linda Harris — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:17:00 GMT

How many times do you meet with a staff member about performance issues and several weeks later the unacceptable practices are continuing. Perhaps they are always 10 to 15 minutes late for work. Perhaps they are not following your procedures. Perhaps they are creating a personality disturbance within the office. Now what do you do.

If you had recorded the original discussions with an e-mail to yourself, copied the staff member and copied their H.R. file, you would be able to 'take the next step' . Without documenting the first discussion, you really don't have a leg to stand on.

Also, always set a follow-up timeline (30 days, 60 days or..) and document it in your e-mail. If the performance is not improving, make sure you do something about it in that timeline and 'send yourself an e-mail' .

Staff performance issues are not the only time when these e-mails are helpful and sometimes even critical. Maybe you have just got off the telephone with a vendor who has promised to improve the delivery date of an important order. Send yourself an e-mail and copy the vendor. Written promises and instructions have a way of being followed much better than verbal.

E-mails to yourself are time dated and only take a couple minutes but have to be done shortly after the discussion to have the right affect. This is an easy way to CYA.

Role Model - J. A. Tiberti

Linda Harris — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:22:00 GMT

I have been pretty lucky to receive several great awards and honors over the years but the J. A. Tiberti Pioneer Spirit Award received at the Associated General Contractors SIR Awards luncheon a couple weeks ago is extremely special. My thanks to the Tiberti family, the AGC and In Business for sponsoring the SIR Awards. My best wishes to all of the nominees and honorees recognized at this great event. SIR represents Skill, Integrity and Responsibility - the code of standards for AGC members.

Sitting beside J. A. Tiberti at the AGC conference table was a wonderful learning experience. I don't think he ever realized how much he taught to so many within the business community throughout Southern Nevada and elsewhere. I listened intently when he asked questions and voiced his opinion. Although I didn't always agree with what he said or how he voted, I strongly respected his thought process, his passion, his values, his integrity and his responsibility. I am thrilled to have my name and his name on the same award.

J. A. represented a generation when a hand shake was stronger than a written contract, when the business relationship was stronger than the bottom line, when good workmanship out distanced codes and standards, when doing it right was the standard, when contractors didn't have to be experts in the law. I wonder what it was like to build a project back then.

Be safe

My First Blog

Linda Harris — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:23:00 GMT

Well, this is my first blog. Will, the best web guy I have ever met, tells me to type it as I want you to read it – use contractions, slang, etc. This isn’t how I have typed letters for years and as soon as I convince myself that this is not a letter, it is a conversation otherwise known as a ‘blog’, the sooner I will feel more comfortable and get much better at it.

I have always urged staff and associates to write letters and reports using only the facts and do their best not to show their emotions; no anger, no negative words, don’t be accusing. The facts ma’am – just the facts. I plan on giving you ‘the facts’ in all future blogs, round tables, conferences and coaching sessions.

And, if Will has his way, I will soften the words and content and present it like a conversation; not a legal written document. Please bear with me while I learn and I will do everything to make sure you learn along the way.

Speaking of legal written documents. What if you have to go on record by composing a letter to someone you do not agree with, it is critical to only include the facts – no emotions. Perhaps a vendor has sent you an invoice for more than you agreed to originally. “Your invoice referenced above in the amount of $100.00 is not in accordance with our agreement and I attach the proposal for your review. We would appreciate receiving your corrected invoice.” Short and sweet and to the point.

If I was writing a blog with the same issue, I think it would read something like this. “The mail came today including many bills needing to be paid. Yours was just one of them. But, your invoice was the only one I am not going to pay. I checked our agreement and was surprised to see if was for over twice as much. I am not going to pay it.” Maybe a little exaggerated. You now have ticked off the vendor and will probably get a nasty phone call or a collection notice.

Bottom line – just the facts ma’am, just the facts.