Mar
Mar
This Week’s Streak: From Conflict to Communication
A customer disagrees with you, vehemently, or team member is complacent or confrontational. You immediately feel your body tense in response to their response. The hackles on the back of your neck are raised, your muscles are tight, and your hands take on a claw-like state.
No one likes conflict and your response to it can increase it or diffuse it. Our natural reaction is to either fight or flee. Since we no longer live in caves, it might behoove us to consider a third alternative – let’s call it “communication”. Interestingly enough I think we are afraid of communication because often it requires us to be the bigger of the two people for the moment (this is one aspect of Leadership, wouldn’t you say?) and that is a difficult muscle to develop.
Parable: A student asks a math teacher, “Why do we have to take Algebra (insert trigonometry, calculus…) anyway – when we’re never gonna use it in real life?” To which the math teacher replies, “Consider it weight training for your brain.”
Leadership and communication can be looked at the same way. They are skills that are developed through regular flexing of particular muscles. Whatever muscles we are flexing on a daily basis – whether they be the muscles of overwhelm, frustration, disdain, etc. are the muscles that are going to grow bigger.
As for fleeing, avoidance might be appropriate in certain situations or at the beginning of a conflict in order to let people cool off a bit first but I’m starting to liken it to aspects of bullying where the bullied are told to “walk away” and “ignore”. I’m beginning to think some standing up for oneself might be more effective in 1) taking the bully off guard and making them think twice and 2) giving the bullied a sense of confidence and self-worth that they actually can stand up for themselves and do not need anyone to rescue them. When it comes to fighting, an occasional tussle might be okay as long as it does not become the ongoing method of dealing with issues.
In our society we tend to view the “flee-ers” (as the avoiders) more positively and the “fighters” (as the bullies) more negatively. I’m going to say that we need both. Here’s why. There are pros and cons to everything and it is in the diversity that we create unity. The “flee-ers” have things to learn from the “fighters” and the “fighters” have things to learn from the “flee-ers” when it comes to personal and professional development. The “flee-ers” might help the “fighters” understand that a little cooling off might be in order and the “fighters” might help the “flee-ers” see that it is okay to take a stand.
In the end, when it comes to conflict, communication must prevail over fleeing or fighting in order for relationships to develop, deepen, grow, move forward and create win-win situations for all parties concerned.
Check-In on your last Request: What did you decide you would do and by when? How did it go?
Request (something to do): Will you identify a situation where you currently have conflict and make a decision to communicate about it rather than avoiding it or reacting to it?
Inquiry (something to ponder): How would becoming a better communicator improve my life and relationships?
Mar
Mar
A Little Extra Streak This Week: To Sponsor or Not to Sponsor… (no, it’s not about Tiger)
The sponsorship opportunity below just came across my inbox and I want to share it with locals who may benefit so I am creating a link for tweeting purposes.
For the non-locals as well, I would like to address the use of sponsorships as part of your marketing campaign. Sponsorships are a soft form of marketing that show support for your community and garner general name recognition. They are not typically thought of as a direct way to get business, but a more indirect form of marketing. If you see a sponsorship opportunity in your community that you would like to consider for your business, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Who am I sponsoring and is it an organization I would consider myself proud to be a sponsor of?
2. What event am I sponsoring and how can I directly make a connection between the event, organization, and my product or service? The Laps for Laurel example below would be great for running and wellness-related businesses that can easily associate themselves with the theme of the event.
3. Why do I want to sponsor? What is in it for me? Although it is nice to be a generous business owner you know I encourage you to be strategic! You may certainly give for the sake of giving. It is also okay to give and expect a return on investment. Regardless, your expectations should be realistic.
4. When is sponsorship a good idea? When you have budgeted for it in advance and see it as part of your overall marketing campaign. When you see a direct connection between what your business does and what the organization and or event you are sponsoring provides. When the timing of the event coincides with good timing for your business regarding exposure, availability of staff and funds, etc. Sponsorship comes with obligations – make sure you can fulfill them before you commit.
5. Where is the organization/event located? Are you a local business seeking local name recognition and a community feeling or are you a national, internet-based business that doesn’t rely on one specific area to do business?
6. How will you sponsor? You can sponsor with money or in-kind donations, typically in exchange for a certain level of marketing. These specifics should be, and usually are, listed in the sponsorship information.
7. What have you budgeted to spend? It’s not too late to adjust your budget for the year or at least put the idea of sponsorships in next year’s budget providing you have determined it is a strategic aspect of marketing for your business.
Here is an example of a sponsorship opportunity in Fort Collins, Colorado:
2nd Annual Laps for Laurel Local Business Sponsorship Opportunities
Date: April 29, 2010
Time: 9 AM – 12 Noon
Location: Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology ♦ 1000 E. Locust Court Fort Collins, CO www.psdschools.org/schools/laurel/
About Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology
Laurel is the oldest elementary school in Fort Collins, continuously operating since 1906. The school, located in Old Town, has one of the most diverse student populations in the Poudre School District. It offers an arts-focused curriculum that is rare for public schools anywhere in the country. Weekly art, music, and theater instruction bolster children’s creativity and independent minds. Laurel is the only elementary school in Fort Collins with its own in-house Suzuki violin and mandolin programs, providing twice yearly public performances to showcase the accomplishments of its young musicians.
Laurel’s Focus on Wellness
Laurel is one of the first schools in Colorado to receive a prestigious Wellness Grant from the Department of Education. With this grant, Laurel has started several initiatives for physical activity and healthy eating that are now being replicated in other schools.
Laps for Laurel is the main fundraising event for Laurel. It gives every one of its 400 students the opportunity to get outside and walk or run as many laps as they can around the school. Last year, students helped to raise more than $7,000 by collecting pledges from friends and family. All this money goes directly back into the school to benefit the children.
Unfortunately, not all of our students are able to raise pledges. Approximately 70% of Laurel students qualify for a free or reduced price lunch; of those, close to 10% are homeless. As a result, Laps for Laurel relies on Sponsorships to reach its funding goals.
Support for Laurel Elementary and Benefits for your Business
Turnout for last year’s event was nearly 500 and an even greater turnout this year is anticipated. Michelle Obama and other prominent officials have been invited. Sponsors at all levels are guaranteed exposure for their business in pre-event promotions in print, voicemail and email broadcasts, and on the school website.
While we are open to any support you might offer, here are some ways in which you can help show community support and also gain exposure for your business.
Water Station Sponsor (Only TWO Available!)
Benefits Include:
• A banner on one of the two water stations used by participants during the event.
• Your company’s logo on the Laps for Laurel t-shirt provided to every student, teacher, staff member and volunteer (over 500 in all).
• Your business will be promoted in pre-event press releases, the school newsletter and school website.
Cost: $500
T-Shirt Sponsor
Benefits Include:
• Your company’s logo on the Laps for Laurel t-shirt provided to every student, teacher, staff member and volunteer (over 500 in all).
• Your business will be promoted in pre-event press releases, the school newsletter and the school website.
Cost: $250
Child Sponsor
Your company’s sponsorship will give fundraising credit to a child unable to raise funds due to economic hardship.
Benefits Include:
• Your business will be promoted in pre-event press releases, the school newsletter and the school website.
Cost: $20-$200
Supply Sponsor
Provide supplies for the event such as healthy snacks, water bottles, hats, etc.
Benefits Include:
• Your business will be promoted in pre-event press releases, the school newsletter and the school website.
Cost: Cost of donated supply
Thank you for considering Laurel as you think about supporting your community.
2nd Annual Laps for Laurel Sponsorship Form
Please Return by March 15, 2010
Business Name:_________________________________
Business Address:_______________________________
Website:______________________________________
Contact Name:_________________________________
Contact Phone:_________________________________
Contact Email:__________________________________
Our company would like to sponsor the following for the 2nd Annual Laps for Laurel:
Check your sponsorship choice:
• Water Station Sponsor $500
• T-Shirt Sponsor $250
• Child Sponsor – Our company will sponsor a child in the amount of $_________ ($20-$200)
• Supply Sponsor – Our company will donate: Item_____________ Quantity__________
Signature_______________________________________ Date___________
Please include a check made out to Laurel Elementary. You can mail your sponsorship to: Laurel Elementary, c/o PTO 1000 E. Locust Ct., Fort Collins, CO 80524. If you have questions or you need someone to pick up your sponsorship, please contact the school at 970-488-5925.