I paced nervously behind the stage. In a few moments, I would be expected to deliver a presentation at our annual company conference. A voice in my head warned me, over and over again: Do not get on that stage. The warnings triggered physical alerts: A quickened pulse. Short, shallow breaths. Tightened muscles. Ten years
This time of year, I love to watch “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” where I affirm my admiration for Lucy van Pelt. She’s clever and direct as she operates her children’s psychiatric booth, offering psychoanalysis for a nickel to her anxious friends. This makes her the only friend in Peanuts that other kids open up to.
It’s not easy to get others to want to work with you. In fact, it’s harder than you might think. Plenty of people have to work with you for a variety of reasons — you’re on the same team, they need your support, you’re selling what they need. So they’re going to be cordial, tolerant,
Two months ago, at the beginning of our company’s calendar year, I wrote a plan to make this the most intentional work year of my life. Our team had affirmed our mission, vision, values, and strategy. And with the help of others, I identified the “work goals” that would lead me on the fastest path
My adolescence thoroughly trained me in the art of hurtful humor. The boys at my school, like everywhere, often reverted to slapstick or funny jabs at the expense of others. Most of us weren’t clever enough to do anything else. You learned to dish it and you learned to take it. Hey John! What do
Think of a recent example of interpersonal conflict in your life that did not go well. If you’re like most people, conflict can often lead to resentment and frustration. After all, it’s only natural to power up or shut down when conflict arises. We see it all the time in society. And, it’s in our
The pressure to perform is always there. Only one vendor wins the contract. Only one person gets elected. In any number of day-to-day situations, you’re competing for resources, attention, or recognition. For my son, it’s his tennis ranking. He loves tennis, and he loves to compete. The fact that the USTA publishes weekly rankings for
I have this recurring nightmare. It’s like the one where you are late for class or show up at school in your underwear. In my dream, I’m presenting to a large group of people and no one can hear me — or wants to. Everyone in the audience is either distracted, obscured behind physical barriers,
If you ever thought your job would be a whole lot easier if you didn’t have to deal with people, imagine what it’s like to be the principal of a middle school. Talk about having to deal with people: First you have the teachers — young and old, science and band, engaged and checked out.
At various times this week, I felt dismissed, ignored, unappreciated, and criticized. None were dramatic events, just hurtful. And it was like any week: the normal reality of living, working, and relating with other human beings. Get too close, and we hurt each other. This week, though, something was different: I was more aware of
Matt Norman is president of Norman & Associates, which offers Dale Carnegie Training in the North Central US. Dale Carnegie Training is a global organization ...READ MORE