March 26, 2017

Dear Grandchildren:

Last month we were working on our attitude. So how are you doing? Maybe you need to ask someone who is close to you, “How has my attitude been this month?”

So far we have talked about motivating yourself to excel, making your time count everyday, and having a positive, winning attitude. These three words can make a huge difference in your company and in your life. Like many sports and in the game of life, your decision to improve your game rests with you.

The fourth word is communication. In your company, you will be the main person selling you to others. Remember that you will never have a second chance to make a first impression.

Remember back in last month’s letter, the non-accounting students sold themselves to their employers and they received the job offers. It’s that way in almost everything we do. We are communicating who we are and what we are all about.

Realize we communicate by words (7%), and body language (38%),  and tone (55%). So it’s very wise to pay attention to your tone! By the way, your friends or your children pay attention to your tone.

In your company, take responsibility for being a good communicator. Normally, it’s easier to be a good talker, but it’s much harder to be an effective listener. (I call it being an active listener.) Seek to understand what others are saying. If you do, I guarantee others will appreciate you more. It shows that you respect them and are interested in what they have to say.

Years ago, I went to my ear doctor for my hearing problem and found out I had a listening problem. When we don’t give those who are speaking to us, our full attention, it’s not only rude, but it shows a lack of respect for them.

By the way, when divorced couples were asked, “Why did your marriage fail?” Eighty-six percent, said it was because of deficient communication. Wow–eighty-six percent! That sounds like communication is very important in your company.

Back in 1974, I was blessed to take the Dale Carnegie course. Dale Carnegie was an American writer, lecturer, and developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, public speaking, and interpersonal skills. He was the author of, How to Win Friends and Influence People, a best seller that remains popular today.

The key to all his books and seminars was how to focus on others. How do you do that? By being a good listener, by asking questions, and by being genuinely interested in others and what they have to say. His seminars taught you the importance of people’s names and taught you ways to help you remember them.

His seminars also taught that leaders will be more successful if they are good listeners. Many of his stories were about great leaders who listened and paid close attention to their employees and used their ideas to make better decisions for their company.

One last point about communication: in our spiritual life, we usually spend a lot of time praying and asking God for this and that. Maybe we would have better results if we spent as much time trying to hear his voice. Now that sounds like a good idea for all of us.

Well Grandchildren, I’m hoping you really see the importance of being a good communicator and what it will do for you in your company. If you are serious, it will help you win friends and influence people that come into your life.

Until next month,

I love you,
Grandpa