Give Others Permission To Try

Every one of us has more power than we realise. With just a few words, you can build or destroy someone else’s dream.

Most people tend to pull the brakes on another person’s lofty ambitions. Almost without thinking, we warn that “it won’t work” or “are you sure you want to do this?” and sow seeds of doubt. It takes a conscious effort to be a cheerleader instead, urging the other person forward and allowing him to stand or fall on his own talent and effort.

When someone has chosen a direction and is willing to embark on the long journey to success, the best thing we can do is get out of the way and give them permission to try. Read more…

Praise, Not Perfect

When I first got my dog, I read a lot of books on effective dog training. They all said the same thing: Praise the behaviour you want, and pay no attention to the behaviour you don’t want. It’s interesting that when it comes to how we treat other people, we often do the exact opposite. We criticise behaviour that we dislike in an attempt to perfect the other person, and forget to praise the things they are already doing well.

Write It Down Before You Blurt It Out

How many times have you said something that you later wish you hadn’t? I often have. The spoken word has power to heal or to hurt, and we so often use it for the latter. Words once spoken can live in the hearer’s memory forever. What we say plants seeds that determine the course of [...]

Make A New Friend Today

“A stranger’s just a friend you do not know” sang Jim Reeves. You pass by dozens of strangers a day. If you could convert just one into an acquaintance or friend, you would have a network of thousands of people all over the world. Do this for the sheer joy of connecting with other people, [...]

Speak Gently

Do you actually hear how you talk to yourself and others? Most of us would cringe if we recorded and listened to our conversations. Apart from the obvious embarrassment, the most common reaction is “Oh my goodness, do I really sound like that?” Speaking gently involves using gentle words and a gentle tone. It means [...]

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