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Fundamental Techniques in Handling People
Chapter One: If you want to gather honey, don’t kick over the beehive
Photo Courtesy of iStock
This principle is so valid I could probably review it once a month and still not hear it enough. Fatigue has an ugly way of making one prone to complaining. When problems arise, it is easy to point the finger at someone else. Even when right, laying blame does not help fix things. In fact, when we are quick to criticize, condemn or complain about others, we often make matters worse.
Have you ever blown it and had someone forgive you graciously, outright, and forgotten the matter completely? I have. It is an amazing feeling. It allows people the room they need to think. It can be hard to solve problems when distracted with painful emotions.
Thomas Carlyle said, “A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.”
Nothing can compare with the willing hand of a friend or colleague, who picks me up, brushes me off, and gets me going on my way again. The next time you are tempted to point the finger at someone, take a breath and remember this principle.
Principle One: Don’t criticize, condemn or complain
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Photo Courtesy of Houzz
Basics That Don’t Cost Money
Kristie Barnett has an article on Houzz.
Want to make your home more saleable, look down. One of the first things you can do is remove all unnecessary things from under desks or tables. De-clutter so that your slight lines are clear. Remove skirts from sofas, beds, and table covers.
Keeping the floor color the same, room to room is another key. Removing area rugs prevents the floor space from getting broken up.
Mood Makers: Small Rooms, Spacious Feel:
Photo Courtesy of Houzz
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Melissa Tracey from REALTOR® Magazine offers some tips for getting your home sytled and staged.
Read this before painting
Photo Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens
Springtime is the best time to give a home a fresh coat of paint, according to the Paint Quality Institute. “By painting in moderate weather, you’ll likely get a longer-lasting paint job,” says Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute. Zimmer says that exterior painting is best to do when temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but not when it gets too hot. “Very hot days can cause the paint to dry too quickly and impair good paint film formation,” she notes.
Some more tips for exterior painting from Zimmer:
1. Paint in the shade and avoid painting in direct sunshine. Sunlit surfaces can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature.
2. Don’t paint when it’s too windy. Wind can cause latex paint to dry too quickly as well as cause dust and other contaminates to imbed in the paint, possibly creating a surface ripe for mildew, Zimmer says.
Courtesy of Yaros Painting
3. Avoid the rain. Wait for another day if it’s rained within the last 24 hours. If several days of rain is forecast, postpone your painting for several days until a rain-free week.
4. Prime the surface. Apply a coat of primer to any new surface that has never been painted, or spot-prime areas where paint has worn away, Zimmer suggests.
5. Don’t skimp on paint. Use top quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint. It’s durable, flexible, colorfast, and can often last 10 years or more compared to ordinary paint, Zimmer says. To make the paint last even longer, apply at least two coats–a coat of primer and coat of paint, or two coats of house paint, she adds.
6. Don’t postpone painting. Postponing painting the exterior of a home that is long overdue can actually cause damage to a home. Exposed wood can begin to rot and other types of exterior siding also can suffer when the paint starts to wear off, Zimmer says.
Photo Courtesy of Lightyears 2
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Responding when difficulties arise
iStock Photo
Life being what it is, conflict can arise at the most inopportune times and places. That is just par for the course. Thankfully, there are ways to manage the turmoil quickly and efficiently.
Dale Carnegie, a giant in the field of communication, offered this tip that has served me well – begin in a friendly way. It is good to remember that each person has his or her own unique point of view and stake in life. When we remember to state our problem in a clear and positive manner, and then ask the other person for their help, we often get unexpected benefits.
Loud noises instinctively put people on their guard. They turn off their listening function and go into the fight or flight response, due to raised adrenalin levels in their system. Remembering to keep ones voice at a soothing level can make communication a hundred times more effective because the listener will be able to process the message easier.
Here are a couple of short Youtube videos that you might find interesting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZoYgMlEMCk
The book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, is an excellent resource for business and personal development.
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From The Front Porch Journal is a bi-monthly publication that covers a wide range of topics from sports and music to anything having to do with home and real estate.
