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Gain Attention

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pb02_website_banner_bluemike-gain-attention‘I paused and thought for a moment – rather than joining the masses, what about if I did the opposite?…’

I start with a story.

When I was young and naive, I remember being coerced into going up to London for the January Sales, when the January Sales started on Boxing Day, and not in September.

That was my first mistake.

I remember queuing outside Selfridges in the freezing cold in London’s Oxford Street and then the doors burst open like an overripe haggis and we all fell into the warm and fuzzy madness that some people get rather excited about. Amongst the carnage, all sense of courtesy and patience was lost in the buying frenzy that ensued.

People were pushing and shoving at each other and at the shop assistants as they clamoured for help to make their purchase and get back to their homes for the Boxing Day snoozathon. The poor shop assistants were bewildered and buffeted by the hordes and I had no hope of gaining the attention of anyone, having miraculously found a pair of jeans that were heavily reduced. I attempted to join the scrum but there were far more determined shoppers than I.

I paused and thought for a moment – rather than joining the masses, what about if I did the opposite? What effect might this have? So I calmly and deliberately retreated to the edge of the scrum and stood, stock still, holding my jeans in one hand and fixing my gaze on one of the shop assistants.

‘Be patient’ I told myself ‘sustain your gaze’ and within a short period of time the shop assistant returned my gaze. Like a scene out of West Side Story, we walked towards each other while the mayhem continued and eventually we stood face to face. ‘Can I help you sir?’, she purred. ‘yes could I buy these jeans?’. ‘Certainly sir; that will be £5 please’.

Translating this story into the world of communication, it points at 3 elements that can help you draw the attention of your audience:

1. Do the opposite of whatever is happening around you. This immediately creates a counterpoint and will guarantee that you draw the attention of your audience.

2. Sustain the action. Hold it for as long as you dare. This will draw the flow of attention to you, minimising all that is going on around you.

3. Be at ease. Conduct the whole action with a feeling of ease, breathing in synchronisation with your actions. Good luck!

To find out more about how to be an EPiC leader, click here to arrange a conversation with one of our Consultants or call us on 00 44 1932 888 885.

8 Ways to get in the zone and find the fun in your work

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zipper for the sky

Widget [noun & verb]

  • A small mechanical device with limited functionality whose name is unknown or can’t be recalled – unnecessarily applying too much attention to detail.

Sound familiar?

Have you ever felt like a widget at work?

Does it spill into your personal life too?

That feeling of working hard, doing your best, but somehow your best is just not good enough and stress fractures are beginning to show; just like a mechanical widget that has been going at it so long that wear and tear is setting in.

Everyone wants something more from you, something different, so you bounce from professional at work; to personal relationships; to family responsibilities; to maintaining hobbies and it seems you just can’t please everyone all of the time.

This chronic struggle slowly drains your joie de vivre.

So, we’re here to give that back. Help you to get in the zone and find the fun in your work, in your life!

We started by creating a checklist of 8 things you can do daily that will create changes, we call these quick wins.They take no time, just the determination to win back your joie de vivre and, like cleaning your teeth, they need to be done daily to build a new momentum.

In a moment, you will see the daily checklist.This is followed by some ‘how to’s’.We want you to really have clarity so you can make these small changes and enjoy the results.We have also included a chart for you to print out and plot your progress over the next month.

So, if you are ready to regain your joie de vivre and find the fun in your work, here is a good place to start.

Daily checklist:

  • Be at peace and in silence for 10 minutes
  • Clarify your purpose
  • Find something or someone to inspire you
  • Do something today better than you did yesterday
  • Any time you feel tense, breathe deeply and be still – it will pass
  • Take responsibility for your wellbeing
  • Avoid blaming others
  • Write down one thing you’ve learnt about yourself today

So now you have your checklist of 8 things to do daily. Over the next 8 days, we’ll post a short blog explaining how to’s for each of the eight and why they matter, so stay tuned for more…

Lucy Windsor is the Author of People Aren’t Widgets, Communication Specialist and Executive Coach. Call us on 01932 888 885 to discuss how we can help you and your organisation.

 

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