Chester Elton

I was recently interviewed by The Popped Kernel, founded by Mr. David Klein. When David wrote to ask for the interview, he told me, “You were one of the best speakers we’ve ever brought in… with your passion and enthusiasm and humor-cloaked insight.“ How could I say no to that!

David talks with industry luminaries, as he calls them, to make accessible their success secrets by revealing their human side. I was excited to take part in one of the inaugural interviews in his new venture. Currently in New York, David is known as an innovator, focusing on consumer marketing and business development, at a well-established and respected Fortune 100 company. Check out the interview and subscribe to this great new resource!

Ever said that? Ever forgotten the name of an old friend and filled in his name with “Sport” or “Champ!”? You feel stupid and your dear old friend feels forgotten. I think American Salesman magazine said it best when it was written, “… nothing is comparable to or more appreciated than remembering and saying someone’s name.” (There is that word APPRECIATE again.) When you remember and use a person’s name, they feel valued, important and appreciated. It is a skill we should all learn if we really want to be good business people and good friends.

Last week I met an amazing man named Benjamin Levy. Benjamin has developed an incredible skill; he can remember everyone’s name he meets every time. He can introduce himself to a room full of 250 people and at the end of his act thank every one of them… by name! It is very impressive. Benjamin is a magician by trade and a corporate coach to some of the top business leaders in the world. He doesn’t teach these leaders magic tricks—he teaches them to remember names. Why?

I know what you are thinking. You are saying to yourself, “I have a terrible memory for names.” Guess what? You are WRONG! You just haven’t learned HOW to remember names. It is a skill you can learn and Benjamin Levy can help. In his book, Remember Every Name Every Time, he takes you through the steps that will make you not only remember names of the people you work with and sell to, but he will help you care for and appreciate those same people. It is a skill everyone should hone and use every day.

Now, I am one of those guys that has convinced himself that it is in my DNA that I will never remember anyone’s name. I can’t always remember my kid’s names and there are only four of them and I have known them their entire lives! But I was wrong. Just like selling, speaking or any other skill it takes practice and work. You have to learn HOW to remember names. It can be done, and by the way, it is really fun to see how people react.

Here is how you can start. Buy the book! It is an excellent and easy read. Here is the link to Benjamin’s website where you can see him work his magic and buy his book. Do it NOW!

We all feel more important when we are remembered. Even more valued when we are called by name. It is a simple and powerful way to appreciate and engage those we work with and those we serve. It makes a difference and isn’t that really what we do? We make a difference in the lives of people who work hard every day. We make them feel appreciated… by name. Go out and learn a name and make someone feel valued this week!

It seems like everywhere you turn people are angry! Athletes scream at each other and the other team’s players and coaches. The sports guys yell, the political pundits yell. Talk radio is full of yelling and politicians have perfected the art of yelling at each other.

Unfortunately, it has worked its way into our everyday jobs as well. The New York Times conducted a survey in which 50% of employees responded that their boss regularly YELLED at them—and not in the good and happy way of yelling! 50% is way too high to be acceptable in any business. (Unless, of course, if you are working in a wind tunnel or where airplane engines are being tested, or maybe a pit crew at the Indy 500, but you have to admit most of us don’t work those kinds of jobs.)

So what is making us so angry at work? Why are we yelling more and talking and thanking less?

I came across this quote this weekend. It is about anger but to me yelling is just an extension of anger. It goes like this: Anger doesn’t solve anything. It doesn’t build anything. But it can destroy EVERYTHING.

Our studies of thousands of employees have shown that when you increase effective communication, you decrease stress. Stress is a huge contributor to anger in the workplace. Yelling is certainly communicating but how effective is it really?

There are several very good ways to communicate at work other than yelling. Emails are common, but walking over and talking face to face is incredibly effective. A short, handwritten note is one of my favorites and just picking up the phone is a nice way to keep remote employees connected. Find the ways that work for you and your team and see what works best for the different people with whom you work. (While you are there you might even want to drop in a compliment or two? Even a few words of encouragement and appreciation? Just a thought.)

So let’s lighten up a bit at work. Let’s start talking more saying thank you every now and then and yelling less. I am willing to bet we will all get more done and feel a lot better about the work we do. Maybe if we set a good example the TV hosts and Cable talking heads and even the politicians will follow suit? Na, that’s just crazy talk!

The thinker has always stood as a testament to thoughtful…well, thought! It occurred to me that we don’t take much time to think these days or to really ponder what it is we want from our teams and businesses. I love the word PONDER. It is more than just thinking, it is a kind of meditation that, when used often, can help us focus on what is really important in setting goals and moving our people forward in a positive and thoughtful way. It helps to clarify the vision of where we are going and how to get there.

Too often we are in a rush to send out the emails and finish reports that we don’t take enough time to ponder where we are going or how to get there.

From The Carrot Principle, The Basic 4 of Leadership are Goal-Setting, Communication, Trust and Accountability. I think a great leader would be hard pressed to excel in any of these areas if he or she is not willing to regularly take the time to ponder and think about where the organization has been and where it needs to go.

So take time out of the busy day, turn off the computer and phone and ponder and think today. Better yet—make it a habit and see if your vision of where you want to go gets any clearer.