www.NatalieManor.com                                                         Success@The-Roadmap.com   Welcome to Your Roadmap to Extraordinary Success Wednesday, April 16, 2008 – Vol. 33 Written and Published by Natalie R. Manor Visit our website at: http://www.NatalieManor.com    In this Issue: Note from Natalie: Business Communication Etiquette Natalie's New Book: "Roadmap to Success" Co-Authored with                                         Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey Feature Article: Business Communication Do's and Don'ts and                               the Next Generation (Thanks for sharing us with your colleagues and friends!) ******************************************************************************************* Note from Natalie: Business Communication Etiquette   My friend Kay said that she still has two feet of snow on her Jacuzzi cover in VT.  That is so sad!  My tulips are blooming and the dogwoods on my street are just glorious.   By request, we are repeating our article "Business Communication Dos and Don'ts for the Next Generation".  All of us benefit from a review of the etiquette around business communication.  This information has been especially helpful in the past for our new college graduates and those entering the business community on all levels.  This article was written by NMA's very own 29 year old COO, Natalie Hoffmann.  Please feel free to forward this article to all your new business leaders for their benefit.   These don's and don'ts of communication are also covered in much greater detail in the book "Communicating Clearly, Confidently and Credibly" This is a great resource!  How do I know?  Well I co-authored it with several of my contemporaries.  It gives you several different perspectives on excellent communication and how to achieve it in your professional life.  Visit the NMA Shop to get your copy today at: http://www.nataliemanor.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=14   Natalie Hoffmann and I are off to our Mastermind Meeting in Los Angeles, CA.  We have the privilege of meeting with 19 other like minded entrepreneurs, as well as, our fabulous coach.  We are excited to the the opportunity to spend 48 hours with these incredible people and work on each other's business challenges.  I'll let you know how it all goes next week!   My love and blessings, Natalie Natalie R. Manor. CEO The Roadmap Team Success@The-Roadmap.com    *******************************************************************************************   Natalie's New Book: "Roadmap to Success" Co-Authored with                                     Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey   Do you know how to create Business Success so you can gain Peace of Mind? Would you like to unlock the secrets to facing and overcoming any business challenge? In my new co-authored book “Roadmap To Success” with Ken Blanchard and Stephen Covey we will help you do just that. Click here for your copy: http://www.The-Roadmap.com/downloads/RtoSBkDis.pdf  (If you have trouble with this link copy and paste the above URL into your web browser) I am so excited to be in the same book with these giants of business success model. Our book will help you: Build confidence in all business situations and create high value relationships with clients and co-workers Eliminate your procrastination tendencies that seem to creep in so often Identify your strengths so can explode your creativity and implement your best ideas Align with proven success formulas that have worked again and again Guidance for your personal self to build confidence and create the impact and influence you deserve Learn the only communication tips, techniques and strategies you will ever need to effective Discover the methods to unlocking practically any business or personal challenge your are currently facing Reserve your copy of “Roadmap To Success” today. I have also added discounts for volume orders. This book makes a great gift so put your list together of those you care about: friends; co-workers, bosses; clients; church community; college or high school leaders teams. Everyone deserves a personal copy of great ideas, tips, strategies and techniques for creating their “Roadmap To Success”. We are only taking telephone or email orders right now. Email me at Success@The-Roadmap.com or give me a call at 800-666-2230. Don’t miss the deadline for your discount and life changing roadmap to success. ******************************************************************************************* Feature Article: Business Communication Do's and                              Don'ts and the Next Generation                             By Natalie Hoffmann, NMA COO Have you ever felt that there are unspoken rules in business, especially with regard to communication?  Everyone seems to know what these rules are but you?  I felt that way way I entered the professional business world.  In one of the very first business meetings I participated in my cell phone started to ring and I couldn't shut it off.  I felt so stupid because I got all of these dirty looks from my new colleagues sitting around the conference table.  I hadn't even thought to shut it off. Over the years I have had many other experiences, embarrassing or otherwise, that have taught me quite a bit about the unspoken rules of communication in business.  I'd like to share with you what I have learned about the do's and don'ts of communication in an attempt to demystify some of these unspoken rules.   The idea that people need to have feedback, appreciation and information is a good basis for understanding how and why excellent business communication is important and compelling for success. In your very best relationship - whether your spouse, best friend, sister, co-worker - you can easily communicate with them a high value way.  You telephone, email, write notes, make plans and generally stay in contact with them because you want the connection and the relationship.  In building very good relationships in business, it is absolutely the same.  What is different in a business relationship is that you communicate with them and you don't always know them as well as a dear friend.  However, they need the same attention that a good relationship needs.  These needs are:  Returning a phone call Following up on a request Listening intently Appreciative communication Clear communication with details and directions Doing what you say you will do Remembering what is important to them Valuing what is most important to them Our communication styles and methods are being stretched to the limit by email, technology, lack of time and demands of on our ability to do so much in our days.  There are rules of common courtesy, however, that have NOT changed since the inception of humans dealing with each other in a high value way.  If you want to be a remembered, trusted and respected leader, you will practice these courtesies with every business contact.    If you take the time to examine what is important to you, we think you will find that they are also the courtesies that you expect in all business communication – actually how you would like to be treated and communicated with. EMAIL - not only should you be returning emails in a timely way, but you need to set the context each and every time of why the email is important and what information it is that you want to deliver.  Spam filters help, but in order to more easily control your email load, you need to be in more control of what you generate yourself.  In business, be brief, be informational and be gone. CELL PHONES - the ring tones that are available now are fun outside of the office, networking situations, client lunches etc.  Put them on vibrate or shut them off.  Take and make calls when you are with people sparingly.  Most people are not interested in listening to your conversations no matter how stimulating you think they might be.  If you need to take or make a call, excuse yourself and then make it brief. RETURNING PHONE CALLS - Whether you think you have time to return the call or not, find out what people need, make sure you are clear on whether you can help them or not and then get back to your own work.  People who return phone calls are trusted and respected.  You do not need to make the calls long.  In fact, returning all calls twice a day instead of doing it piece meal all day long is a good way to manage your time more appropriately.  Here are some additional basics that will help you grow your own identity/brand and identify you as a trusted and respected “up and coming leader”:  Practice your handshake - ask a friend to shake hands with you and then give you feedback.  Firm is good. Eye contact - learn to look at a person when they are speaking Body language - 55% of our non verbal communication is our body - watch what your body is saying about you. Business card - get one and have them with you ALL of the time.  Do include an address, email, telephone number, name and what you do – a title is very good.  If your company does not provide a business card, get one for you anyway.  The fast print companies all have programs you can easily and quickly make one for you. Holding doors - opening a door for someone is not just a guy thing anymore.  Ladies, if you get to the door first, open it. Standing and greeting - if you are being introduced, stand, reach out your hand and shake their hand.  It is my sincere hope that you find these communication do's and don'ts useable and valuable in your daily business communication.  If you have any tips or techniques that you'd like to add I'd be delighted to hear from you.  Send me an email at: nataliehoffmann@The-Roadmap.com  © Copyright 2006 - 2008 Natalie Manor & Associates Want To See More Articles Like This One? Go to: http://www.NatalieManor.com/Articles   Want To Use This Article In Your Newsletter or Website? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: "Written by Natalie R. Manor, CEO, author, speaker and executive coach, creator of The Roadmap to Your Extraordinary Success series, The Roadmap, Natalie Manor & Associates is your ultimate resource for leadership and communication development success for managers, emerging leaders and executives to maximize your potential and increase your productivity.  Success@The-Roadmap.com, (800) 666-2230, http://www.NatalieManor.com” *******************************************************************************************   About The Roadmap   Could you use some support in your performance management and leadership competencies?  The-Roadmap Team and I would be delighted to be a resource for you in building and navigating your Roadmap to Extraordinary Success in your organization.  Give us a call at 800-666-2230 or email us at Success@The-Roadmap.com. We’d love to be a resource for you and your organization. NMA’s Roadmap to Extraordinary Success Email Newsletter is sent only to those who have requested it.  We value your privacy and never share our mailing list with anyone. To Subscribe, please visit our website at: http://www.NatalieManor.com/email/.  To Cancel your subscription, use the links at the bottom. Do NOT "reply" to this email! *******************************************************************************************   The-Roadmap Team NMA, Natalie Manor & Associates NMA, Natalie Manor & Associates is an organization of consultants, corporate trainers and executive coaching professionals who provide measurable results for our clients in the areas of Leadership, Communication, Strategic Planning and Cultural Development.  To inquire about NMA’s executive coaching, speaking, customized training, facilitations and seminars for your group or organization, or to schedule an initial consultation, contact us at: Success@The-Roadmap.com © Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1529-059X You may copy, forward or distribute NMA’s Roadmap to Extraordinary Success Email Newsletter if this copyright notice and full information for contacting NMA, Natalie Manor & Associates are included. Contact us at:  http://www.NatalieManor.com/contact.html  or send an email to Success@The-Roadmap.com A GIFT TO A FRIEND! Please forward this copy to your friends and colleagues!  That's how we grow! We appreciate your sharing your copy of NMA’s Roadmap to Extraordinary Success Email Newsletter with friends, family and associates. Thank you! To SUBSCRIBE please visit our website at: http://www.NatalieManor.com/email/ To update your contact information: Update   Published by: NMA, Natalie Manor & Associates