iClarify | Simplify | Engage

Communication may eventually be your outcome, but it is not the key. It does not open the door. There is a reason Rene Descartes said: “I think, therefore, I am.” The key to good writing is thinking. Good writing often effectively delivers your message and can elicit a range of reactions and emotions, which lead to communication, but good writing does not happen without your brain kicking into action. You might coast in low gear for a while if you haven’t made up your mind yet about your focus or your topic. You might move into mid-gear if you have a sense for where you’re going and have thought about the idea in the past, you just haven’t written anything yet. You can take off into high gear if you have been musing for a while first and have a concept in mind, and you are just itching to get the beast off your chest and launch it onto the page or screen. You think, therefore, you write. When you write, and especially if you’re a beginner, if you’ve not done all your t

When employees do a good job and receive acknowledgement both from their managers and sometimes from senior leaders, it shows them that leadership is paying attention, that what they do from day-to-day is important and contributes to the company’s success. Acknowledgement from managers also shows employees they matter, no matter the size of their pay cheque. Recognition does not have to be awards, cash prizes or trips; although any of these items will always be welcome. Employees want to feel special and leaders can achieve this outcome in so many small ways. Synonyms for the word ‘recognition’ are ‘notice’ and ‘acceptance,’ according to dictionary.com.  Think of the many ways a leader can notice an employee or show them how they have been accepted into a company. Sometimes a handshake or a shared warm conversation can have more impact than an email sent to all employees sharing achievements.

Engagement is the intellectual and emotional inspiration that an employee feels in an organization, which propels them to always do their best at their job. It is also a state of mind that encourages employees to want not only to remain in the same workplace but also recommend it to their friends and family as a great place to work. When your employees are engaged, they are more productive and your business is made stronger and more profitable, as a result. Your employees also become your most important ambassadors of your company’s brand. Engage them and keep them engaged and it will be tough for you to fail. Engagem ent is not a one-time deal. “If you aren’t always moving it forward, you’ll end up slipping back,” says Peter Mayne, Director of Culture and Engagement from Farm Credit Canada. Farm Credit Canada scores more than   80% every year on their engagement survey, as established by Hewitt’s Engagement model. Treat employees the way you’d like to be treated. T he b

Your cover letter is your opening song. It can’t be your warm-up. Who wants a performer to waiver on her first song – no one. We want to be wowed from the first line of lyrics. We want to be enticed from the start. By the end of the first song, we are hooked and want more. You need the same reaction with your letter to potential employers. The most important connection you need to make to that employer is that you fit the job. Yes, you have certain bonuses to offer like leadership, positive attitude, initiative, great interpersonal skills and more; but you also must sew them to the employer’s needs and the position or they’ll just stop reading and put you in the slush pile. Your opening song is your letter and your opening is your first paragraph. This paragraph should be about three to five lines, no more and no less.  Here’s an example that got me an interview: Thank you for the opportunity to apply for Director of Communications as seen advertised on CharityVillage.com. When

Giving employees a way to voice their thoughts, opinions and suggestions about the business has multiple impacts. Offering opportunities for employees to give feedback to the organization allow them to: Become more engaged as they feel someone is listening. Come up with creative solutions to operational problems. Share intelligence to which leaders are not exposed. Inform leaders of what employees are thinking and what their needs are. Ignoring employee input makes as much sense as ignoring customer input. If you’ve ever watched the CBS reality show UNDERCOVER BOSS, you’d know that until executives get their hands dirty, it’s difficult for them to run their business well. The show follows high-level corporate executives as they slip anonymously into the lowest level jobs within their companies to find out what their employees really think about their boss and the business. It’s tough for leaders to conduct an undercover boss operation in their own orga