Talk it up

There’s a certain way to say everything and when times are slow, as they are now for many businesses, you really need to pick your words carefully.

I was in a sales meeting the other day for a division of our business that isn’t performing as well as we’d like. The sales manager came in and started the meeting in a simple way.

“I know this is a tough market. We all know that. But I also know you are all working as hard as you can to make something happen. Now let’s figure out where we are at.”

It was a great start. The manager acknowledged the situation but also acknowledged how hard the team was working – and implicitly urged them to keep going.

Putting a positive spin on things is an art and I have to admit it’s one I struggle with. What can I say, I’m an old grump?

But simple things like always telling people you are “great” rather than just “okay” can help set the mood around your business.

Tell people that you have a “challenge” rather than “a big problem”.

And be careful about how much you complain about things outside your control, like your customers and the economy. Far better to focus on what you can change.

Get it done – today!