The most productive individuals are those who have mastered the art of taking care of emergency situations, unexpected and unplanned, that require immediate attention to prevent serious consequences. “Firefighting” is the usual term for handling a crisis. “Firefighting” ranges from such relatively simple problems as soothing an unhappy customer to solving a major emergency production … Read more

Anything that hampers listening sets up barriers that prevent understanding and closes the door to the goal of communication – producing constructive action. Barriers to listening are found in physical situations, in attitudes, and in behavior. Awareness of barriers allows you to take appropriate action to keep the door to communication open. Physical Barriers Environmental … Read more

Anything that shapes one’s thinking or behavior is a conditioning influence. A conditioning influence may originate either internally or externally. The three most common conditioning influences are the family, the social environment, and personal attitudes toward mistakes and failure. Family We sometimes overlook the fact that we are most often conditioned by influence rather than … Read more