E- Zine - April 2005

WELCOME to the PROTOCOL PLUS MONTHLY E-ZINE

IN TODAY'S ISSUE:
Tips to Outclass Your Competition – - What does the mirror say?

Over half of our communication is transmitted through body language. Be careful you are sending and/or reading the right message.
  • Good eye contact shows you are interested, connected and comfortable. Smile with your eyes. Poor eye contact, or looking at the floor shows lack of interested, discomfort or distraction.
  • Facial gestures - especially the mouth are real tellers. A tense downward mouth shows tension and an upward, relaxed mouth shows comfort and acceptance. A captivating smile is an invitation to conversation and is your messenger of good will.
  • Observe hands and fingers. Avoid pointing fingers, pounding your fist, wringing your hands, knuckle cracking, or playing with pocket change. They are perceived as aggressive.
Evaluate yourself by looking in the mirror. Pretend you are someone else looking at you and ask, "How would I view someone who looks, talks, and acts as I do?"

Make the most of your strengths so others will read your body language as friendly and inviting. To make the best impression you can, visit http://www.protocolplus.net/seminar/outclass.html

The Coach’s Corner – Bring out the best in yourself

Ancient Greek mythology has a story in which Pygmalion, the king of Cyprus, carved an irony statue of the ideal woman. His statue, Galatea, was so beautiful that Pygmalion fell in love with his own creation. He prayed to the goddess Venus to bring Galatea to life. His prayer was granted and the couple lived happily ever after.

George Bernard Shaw popularized this story with the modern update version in the American musical, My Fair Lady. Henry Higgins believes the cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, can be made into a lady. He succeeds, but the key point lies in a comment to Higgins' friend Pickering.

In Eliza Doolittle's own words:

You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up (the dressing and the proper way of speaking and so on), the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she's treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will, but I know I can be a lady to you because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.

The easiest way to bring out the best in people is to have an attitude of positive expectations. Instead of looking for what's wrong, look for what's right. Expect the best of people, communicate your beliefs, and watch people turn your beliefs into reality. This creates a circle of self-fulfilling prophecies.

Coaching questions:
  • What are your strengths?
  • How do you use your strengths?
  • What can make them stronger?
  • Who can help you bring out the best in you?
Do you need someone to hold the Pygmalion Effect to bring out your best? Call today for your no-obligation, coaching session. This 30-minute confidential session will give you the experience of coaching. To schedule your session, call 405-341-3216.

Quotes of the Month

"Through kindness, you can change your fate."
         --- Nguyen T. Nguyen

"Improve relationships with others by assuming that they can hear everything you say about them."
         --- --- Stephen R. Covey

Ask the Expert - You're not listening.

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