appreciative, Author at Dennis E. Gilbert

09
Jun 15
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High Road

What to wear, what to eat, or what will be first on our to-do list? We make choices and decisions every day that impact our lives and in many cases the lives of those around us. Most choices seem like just everyday life, and as a result are commonly taken for granted, ignored, or labeled as uninteresting to others.

It isn’t those choices that we make every day that are so visible, apparent, or perhaps interesting to others. It is the choices we make during times of chaos, unexpected setbacks, or failures that are so visible and have everyone watching. You may not be remembered for your choice of shoes, what you ordered at the restaurant, or how you prioritize your to-do list. It is when the chips are down, when the dark cloud is looming, or when suddenly you face a life changing event that all eyes will be on you.

Friends, co-workers, or interactions with other people may not always seem right, fair, or appropriate. They may not be choices you would make or how you would treat someone else, but the choice you make during a difficult time will define who you are. Revenge, strike-outs, or strike-backs in the pursuit of justice may feel like the right road, but with all eyes on you, you want to be sure you choose only one road, the high road.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

02
Jun 15
-

Right or Convenient?

Tags : convenience customer service what is right

Convenience is sometimes taken for granted. We flick a switch and we have light, we adjust the thermostat and we have climate control, and when we want to talk to someone across town or across the country we simply use a little device that is probably already in our hand.

It may be convenient to hire the first job applicant, to pick the lowest priced proposal, or do something for someone who (you expect) can do something for you. It may be convenient to label the email as urgent, become unavailable when a decision is needed, or simply slow down to prolong the length of the job if you’re being paid by the hour. None of that makes it right.

What is right may not always be the most convenient, it may not always garnish the most support, or it may not always seem like the most attractive.

Doing what is right (or convenient) shows everyone who you are.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

26
May 15
-

Creating Buy-In

Tags : buy-in change shared experiences

So often we hear the words, “create buy-in” and we recognize that it means that we have to get everyone on the same page, the same sheet of music, or at the least, inspired to move towards a prescribed direction. From my experiences true buy-in is an elusive concept, a concept that everyone knows the desired outcome, but one that very few people know or understand how to create.

Many of us have heard that creating buy-in is accomplished by including everyone in the change, allowing for questions, discussions, and for the change resistors to have a say. Of course all of those help, but they are not the complete solution. As part of the lunch and learn programs I offer to the business community I put together this short video which digs a little deeper into some factors critical for creating buy-in. Those factors may include:

Creating Shared Experiences
Trusted Communication
Practicing Patience

When change leaders and teams are able to obtain reasonable levels of success in those three areas, there is a much greater likelihood that the change at hand will also succeed.

Do you have buy-in for your change?

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

19
May 15
-

Small Failures

Tags : costs failure inaction think big

What costs more, failure or inaction? Too often risk is measured by the calculated cost of failure, a mind-set that inevitably causes people, employees, and businesses to freeze up, hold, or at the bare minimum hesitate.

The objective shouldn’t be about measuring the cost of failure. The cost of failure is most likely small, that is, when it is compared with the cost of inaction. Listen carefully in your next meeting or in a one-on-one with your frustrated friend. Someone will offer the risks, the costs of failure, and make the case for why taking no action at all will cost the least.

You can change this mind-set, but you have to think small to create big. The cost of failure is small, the reward for being first, unique, or innovative is big. Most people or businesses can’t do this, which is why the percentage of change, success, and growth stays small.

Small. Failures.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Creative Tools, on Flickr, Miniature Queen Anne Chair

12
May 15
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Change Anything

Tags : change good pivot

Nearly everyone likes something a little bit extra. We like more fun, maybe a few more sweet treats, or even a little more time off from a busy schedule. Most people, who find something they like, want more.

The secret to a little bit extra isn’t always more. Sometimes it is about the value we place on it. We like it when the wait staff at our favorite restaurant call us by name, give us our favorite table, and have our favorite beverage on the way before we are seated. It makes us feel good, extra good. It changes things.

Extra good is something we value, something we cherish, or sometimes something that we shouldn’t have, but we want it anyway. It makes me wonder, what else can hard working, high energy, forward thinking people create that is extra good? Something that says here it is, and it is made special, just for you.

Would that change anything?

I think so.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Jessica Diamond (on Flickr)

05
May 15
-

Push or Shove

Tags : accomplish goals coasting push stuck

Easy feels safe, comfortable, and desirable, but most people who have it easy aren’t accomplishing much. It is easy to grab an ice cream cone, zip through a drive through restaurant, or simply hang out at a job that doesn’t challenge you.

People who push for nothing typically stand for little, because that would be too hard. When you are at a job that feels easy, you’ve peaked. You may ride that peaked position for a while, or a career. You may slip back, slip up, or slip away, but you’ll never beat that peak unless you push for more.

Moving forward isn’t always easy, coasting seems more logical, but you’ll only coast one way, downhill. At the bottom your momentum will stop. No more coasting and nowhere to go. It’s harder going uphill, you have to push a little more, care a little more, and desire a little more.

If you are coasting, stopped, or stuck, and no one is pushing you, give yourself a hard shove.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Horia Varlan (Flickr)

28
Apr 15
-

Make a Promise

Tags : brand promise reputation

Marketing materials, a website, or resume, your brand is not what you say that it is, it is what other people feel that it is. Many believe their brand promise is a statement, or their reputation is their resume, they attempt to illustrate who they are through references, customer testimonials, or achievement awards. All of those help, but ultimately what people feel and experience for themselves, will solidify their opinion.

Your brand promise or reputation is what other people think will happen next. Consciously or subconsciously, for them, your past performance will represent the single best predictor of future performance. It’s more about what they know and less about what they’re told.

The best part of all is that we control our promise. Even when we sometimes feel that we have no control at all, and especially when we think no one is watching, we make a promise. The actions of you, your work group, or entire organization, over time, will become that brand promise, it will be your reputation.

I promise.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Flickr, Flazingo Photos

21
Apr 15
-

Take Giant Leaps

Tags : growing talent self-confidence self-esteem

Someone will ask, “How do I build more confidence?”

Popular wisdom suggests that self-confidence consists of two factors, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Self-efficacy is the idea that you can produce or create a desired outcome. For example, you believe you have the tenacity to achieve a college degree. Self-esteem is your impression of yourself. Typically you are said to have high self-esteem if you have a very favorable impression. The combination of these two factors represents self-confidence.

Apollo 11 from Wikipedia

I encourage people to take small risks (and bigger ones too) because every time we take a risk or take a chance to try something new, different, or challenging we have the opportunity to learn from a failure or success. Small steps, typically regarded as somewhat easier (because they are small), help us build more confidence.

So, taking small steps builds confidence.

When we have built some confidence we have to push for more if we want to continue to grow. So we have to consider bigger steps. We can challenge the smaller steps by taking bigger ones and it may be said that bigger steps require more courage.

So, the confidence to take big steps builds courage.

When we have built our confidence and our courage, we can consider taking not only small steps or big steps, but we may want to pursue giant leaps. Giant leaps have the most risk, the risk of costly mistakes, failure, or even ridicule.

So, the confidence and courage to take giant leaps builds character.

Some people will only remember your mistakes; others will only remember your accomplishments. All of them will remember your character.

Take giant leaps.

– DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Apollo 11 on Wikipedia

14
Apr 15
-

Start the Conversation

Tags : be discovered getting noticed recommendation

You know a product is good when you recommend it to others, especially when those others are coworkers, friends, or family. The assumption is not that they will tell everyone; the assumption is that they will like it, enjoy using it, or find it extremely helpful.

Something strange happens though when someone likes it, talks about it, and shares it. More people will likely do the same, after all, now it is recommended.

Getting a promotion, a raise, or even just getting noticed will require visibility. If no one “shares you” how will you be discovered? Good products sell themselves, but they first have to be discovered. Don’t be afraid to stand up, stand out, and stand tall. If you want to be discovered you have to be visible.

Maybe it’s time to start the conversation.

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

07
Apr 15
-

Greater Than Zero

Tags : chances odds for success risk

Why did she get a raise? Why did he get promoted to department manager? People aren’t selected just because they are present, they are selected when they jump-up, jump-in, or jump-at the opportunity.

Someone in a sales position thinks about asking for the deal, but the client may say no, so it’s better not to ask. Someone attends a marketing meeting, has an idea for something new, but never mentions it because if it was a good idea they would probably already be doing it. Someone else notices an internal job posting, but decides they’ll never get hired, if the hiring manager was interested she would have already asked for their resume.

What are their odds for success, fifty-fifty, maybe more or maybe less?

Sometimes the odds are what you decide they are. If you’ve decided you’ll never take a chance, you’ve decided your odds for success are zero.

– DEG

Dennis Gilbert is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, and consultant that specializes in helping businesses accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. Reach him through his website at http://DennisEGilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Dennis Gilbert on Google+

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson (Flickr)

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