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Susan Fee

Susan Fee: Communication Tip Sheet
September 2008 Edition

In This Issue

News & Notes: Different Perspective

Manager's Tip Sheet: The Power of Suggestion

Personal Tip Sheet: Death by PowerPoint

Difficult Conversations: Homesick College Student

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News & Notes: Different Pespective

There is an intersection that I pass through daily to and from work. From one angle, you can see all the approaching traffic, but on the opposite side trees block the view. In order to see well enough to safely cross over, one must slowly inch forward until the front end of the car is practically in the middle of the road. Depending on what side of the intersection you’re on, you either appear to be a cautious driver, or a poor one.

The other night, I was halfway into the intersection when I spotted an approaching car. I waited for him to pass and he made it very clear to me what he thought of my poor driving skills. If he just could have seen it from my angle, I thought, he’d understand. Isn’t that always the case with misunderstandings? It’s so difficult to see another viewpoint.

Empathy, flexibility, and a willingness to see the other side are muscles that must be exercised. One way to do that is to read and travel widely. I’m going to exercise a different set of muscles this month when I travel to Vermont for a weeklong bike tour. I’m betting that seeing the world while pedaling will give me a whole new perspective!

Until next month,

Susan Fee

Manager's Tip Sheet: The Power of Suggestion

There’s a time to lead and a time to yawn. Yes, you read the right, yawn. As Malcom Gladwell writes in The Tipping Point (Little Brown and Company, 2000) “Yawning is a surprisingly powerful act. Just because you read the word ‘yawning’ … a good number of you will probably yawn within the next few minutes.” Gladwell’s example points to the power of suggestion and how little things can quickly have enormous impact.

As a manager, it would be easy to give directives all day long, but is it effective? Certain situations call for telling people exactly what to do: crisis, deadlines, or when rules or procedures need to be followed explicitly. There are other times when making a suggestion might be more beneficial. It’s the difference between me ordering you to yawn or merely suggesting that you think about it.

Suggesting an idea plants a seed and invites others to participate. People are more likely to listen versus rebel. Consider these friendly phrases:

“May I suggest an idea?”

“Based on your situation, I can suggest three solutions.”

“I have a suggestion that may be helpful.”

I have one last suggestion: Avoid using the word “should” in your suggestions. It connotes your opinion of the right thing to do and leaves others feeling judged if they don’t follow your advice.

Personal Tip Sheet: Death by PowerPoint

If you’ve sat through one too many PowerPoint presentations, watch comedian Don Mc Millan’s YouTube video, “How Not To Use PowerPoint.” It’s hysterical, mainly because it’s so true! If you’re in danger of making the same mistakes, here’s a quick review about the proper use of PowerPoint.

Be sure you need it. Before you spend time making fancy slides, ask yourself if using PowerPoint is really necessary. Is it the best visual aid to help your audience understand, or are you using it out of pure habit? Due to its overuse, the absence of PowerPoint can be refreshing.

Supplement content. You are the main program, not your slide show. Use PowerPoint to support your main ideas and talk around them. Avoid relying on slides as your entire presentation.

Keep it simple: Use no more than six points per slide and six words per line. Cramming too much information on a slide makes it cluttered and difficult for the audience to read. Font size should be between 24-30.

Think pictures. Search for pictures to tell your story versus words. The right picture will prompt your memory and help the audience remember the point.

Display as needed: Reveal bullet points and slides as you are talking about them rather than showing the entire slide at once. Doing so keeps the audience focused on what you’re saying rather than reading ahead.

Tips for making an outstanding presentation

Difficult Conversations: Homesick College Student

Q: My son is a college freshman and he’s having trouble adjusting. What do I say when calls home saying he hates college and wants to drop out?

A: Making the transition into college can be difficult, and it’s even harder for a parent to stand by and watch! I’m glad he’s sharing his feelings with you. One of the most important things you can offer is to listen to him. But, not for too long!

Once he has a chance to vent, it’s important to shift the conversation to encouragement and action steps. Otherwise, you’ll both leave the conversation feeling discouraged. You might say, “I know it’s uncomfortable for you right now, but I believe in you. What’s one thing you can do today that would help you adjust? Let’s set a time tomorrow to talk so that you can tell me what happened.” Set an expectation that you expect to hear the results of the action. Doing so sets a positive tone for the next conversation instead of complaining.

Also, let your son know I’ve created an entire web site to help college students adjust. Here’s an article on getting over homesickness that may help.

Submit your difficult questions to Susan_Fee@msn.com. If your question is chosen for publication, you’ll receive a complimentary copy of Dealing With Difficult People.

Interested in booking training or coaching? Let me know how I can help, Susan_Fee@msn.com.

Susan Fee is a licensed counselor, personal coach, and national speaker. She is the author of Positive First Impressions, Dealing with Difficult People, Building Resiliency, Secrets of Successful Presentations, and the college survival guide, My Roommate Is Driving Me Crazy! She can be reached through her Web site at www.susanfee.com or by email at Susan_Fee@msn.com.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, 2008