Currently browsing Professional Connections

These reflections and resources are for those who want to become a master at business relationship-building: with co-workers, clients, and customers or donors.

Can You Have Too Many Connections?

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I was perusing some of the questions on Quora recently, and after searching for the term “Connection,” I came across this interesting question: What would it be like to live in a world of two degrees of separation between any two people? The question references the commonly held theory that everyone in the world is [...]

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An Important Message from Wikipedia

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Even though the email below from Wikipedia is an automated one thanking me for a recent donation, I thought it was lovely. I’m sharing it for five reasons: I want you to remember, whether you’re a business owner or not, there’s always time and place for expressing old fashioned gratitude. Gratitude, when expressed simply and [...]

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Computer-generated notes lack sincerity

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Most of my business-oriented advice is shared at RiverwoodWriter’s Connection Blog, so if you have a small business and want some help navigating the ever-changing landscape of effective marketing and business etiquette, head on over and subscribe so you don’t miss anything. Earlier this week, I was honored to welcome guest blogger Peter Post, grandson [...]

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Business networking and the power of connection

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Most of my business-oriented advice is shared at RiverwoodWriter’s Connection Blog, so if you have a small business and want some help navigating the ever-changing landscape of effective marketing and business etiquette, head on over and subscribe so you don’t miss anything. The power of connection is an important concept in business as well as [...]

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When is a Gift NOT a Gift?

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This is a guest post from Connection Messenger Sarah Anma. I am grateful for her wisdom in helping her readers and clients make important life connections in a meaningful way. This is a thought-provoking piece that will help you get in touch with your own giving motives, whether your gift is a physical one or [...]

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When does Giving become Giving too Much?

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This may seem like a strange topic for someone who is passionate about learning to make and cultivate important Connections, but the cold hard truth is that all of our important connections with other people should also have boundaries. If you are someone who loves to do things for others, even when you don’t expect [...]

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Top 101 Woman Bloggers to Watch!

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What a thrill and honor to be included among the 101 Women Bloggers to Watch in 2011 in this article by Heidi Richards! It’s an example of the Power of Connection at work. I’d been learning from master blogger Denise Wakeman (The Blog Squad) for quite some time when I actually met her at a [...]

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Lessons from Professional Connectors

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I have just returned from a workshop in North Carolina attended by about 23 power connectors, and I’m brimming with lessons learned. The Influence Style Indicator™ workshop (a brand new assessment instrument from Discovery Learning) was sponsored by AvoLead, a strategic leadership consultancy in North Carolina that was co-founded by my sister, Sarah Albritton, and her associate and [...]

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The Magic Connection Tool

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I was reminded today of a powerful connection tool that’s easy to use and absolutely free: the pen and small notepad. I first was impressed by the use of this simple, low-tech tool years ago when used by Warren B. French, Jr., retired President of Shentel and an international leader in the telecommunications industry. He [...]

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Start by listening

The foundation of any business or personal relationship is LISTENING. How can you possibly respond to the needs of your constituents if you don’t know what they are? Pay attention to every conversation, whether it’s in person, on the phone, or through social media. Stop multi-tasking and focus on the other person. You’ll be amazed [...]

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Find their missing puzzle piece

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Too often I see people who are warm, caring and thoughtful in their personal lives, yet when they’re dealing with employees, co-workers, customers, and prospects, they seem much stiffer and more focused on what they need to get out of these people instead of how much they can give them. A service mentality should be [...]

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Revive the Art of Personal Note-Writing!

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NOTE 8/17/11: This blog post has been updated to reflect the transfer of content from our old Facebook Group “Revive the Art of Personal Note Writing!” to this Heartspoken blog. I now have a “Notewriting” category that will include content, encouragement, and resources to Revive the Art of Personal Notewriting! The personal note or letter [...]

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The First First Impression: a business connection tip

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We entrepreneurs may blithely assume that a prospect’s first impression will occur the first time they meet us in person somewhere. This is sometimes true, but often, their first impression comes long before this. Have you done everything you can to ensure that this first first impression is a positive one? ONLINE: Your website or [...]

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Speak from the Heart

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I try very hard to speak from the heart in all my deliberations, both personal and professional. I disagree that you have to be somehow different when you’re at work than when you’re at home, though admittedly there are perhaps different filters through which to process your words. But the source of your words — [...]

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