John Ploetz Bloggin

John Ploetz

John Ploetz Bloggin

You can expand the world around you by becoming “people centric” instead of “me centric”; and you can learn a thing or two about human nature in the process. Most people consistently focus on what is going on in their own lives. They just think about everything from their perspective. They become oblivious to what’s going on in the lives of the people around them. Take time to get to know the people around you. Taking time to understand what is going on with the people you come in contact with everyday, can improve your ability to understand the people around you and in the end better understand yourself.

1. Don’t deal with people generically, deal with them individually. Think about it, no two people are alike. Why are you interacting with the people you do? You choose to interact with one another because of each other’s unique qualities. So treat each person as an individual and deal with each person on an individual specific basis.

2. Take time to read people. Take a moment to assess people. What is their current attitude? What is their emotional state? Think about what might be on their mind. Meet them in their state of mind rather than in yours.

3. Take the time to get to know people. It all starts by listening; and also asking some specific questions about them.

4. If you meet in their office or their house take the time to get to know their surroundings. Get a feel for what they are all about; what are their interests; and what are their tastes. You aren’t snooping you’re showing an interest in what they are putting on public display.

5. Assess what is important to them. Think about what things they want to talk about. Sometimes letting the conversation drift allows the other person to direct the conversation. See where the conversation goes and what topics they choose to discuss.

6. How do they interact with you and others? Take notice of how people interact with others, from clerks to other acquaintances, to coworkers. How people interact with different types of people will tell you a lot about their character.

7. Follow up with the next meeting by showing interest in something you learned about the person from the first meeting. Ask about a vacation they just got back from, an event they attended, or a mutual acquaintance.

8. Don’t be superficial. Your interest in others has to be real. If you don’t interact with others on a real, energetic in depth basis, they will likely stop taking the time and energy to do the same with you.

Moving outside your “me centric” world requires a little time and energy. In the end though, you get to know more about the people around you and yourself as well. Try out some “people centric” behavior, you might learn something new.

John Ploetz

John Ploetz Bloggin

It only seems we think outside the box when we are faced with a unique problem; one that needs to be solved using tools we normally don’t rely on. Take, for example, the philosophical question, “Did dinosaurs have souls?” Forget about the historical or religious implications of this question. I’m sure few of us have had any experience on this topic.

In our lives, from time to time we come across unique problems that need to be solved. We need to be prepared to look at things differently to analyze these issues. It’s something outside of the ordinary sphere of most people’s expertise. But, why should we limit thinking outside the box to only those out of the ordinary situations?

Thinking outside the box can be a good exercise in developing problem solving skills. We can consistently use it as a tool to come up with better solutions. Too often we get entrenched in doing things the same way and don’t challenge ourselves to look at things from a unique perspective. A change in perspective can lead us to solve problems in a new way, leading us to better outcomes. How can we strive to think outside the box?

1. The initial discussion phase. Open dialogue should initially allow for a free flow of ideas. Put together a brainstorming group and hash over the issue. It is sometimes only when we begin the dialogue that we realize the different perspectives from which a problem can be analyzed.

2. Think about where you start your problem solving analysis. Are you truly starting at the beginning or are you taking for granted that certain procedures must occur. Make sure you are truly looking at things from the starting point.

3. The thinking process is key. Not everything that you think about is worth pursuing, but by verbalizing thoughts you put the thought process in motion. One random idea can lead to another idea and so on until you reach something more concrete. Don’t be afraid to verbalize an idea, even one that is strange; it may be useful in your quest to a solution to your problem.

4. Limit the randomness. Focus on your ultimate purpose of reaching a solution to your problem. You need to set a time limit and choose a group moderator who is skilled at bringing discussion back to the matter at hand. But the moderator should give the group some latitude in the discussions, time permitting.

5. Exercise your own abilities to think outside your thought box. Exercises you can do.

a. Go somewhere you’ve never gone before and think about your experience.
b. Talk to five new people you’ve never talked to before and take time to listen to their viewpoints on a specific topic.
c. Write down randomly your most strange solutions to something that you come across daily. Review it a week later.

We may not have to solve the age old question of whether dinosaurs had souls, but we will encounter difficult problems in our personal or business lives, that will need to be solved. When we work to develop our skill to “think outside the box” we make ourselves better problem solvers for those difficult problems we do encounter. Are you prepared to think outside the box?

John Ploetz

John Ploetz Bloggin

No one likes a bull in their china shop. But, everyone likes a person that makes them feel at peace, at ease with themselves. This is true even when you know that person is working to get what they want. People are more receptive to work with you, if you develop your own style of finesse when dealing with people and situations. Finesse will take you to a higher level of success. What is the art of finesse all about?

1. It’s about thinking before acting. Don’t act impulsively. Weigh out your thoughts before you turn them into actions.

2. Being subtle yet focused. You don’t need to be pushy to get your point across.

3. Being artful in the way you handle people and situations. Craft the way you approach people and situations. Think about unique ways to approach people and situations. Keep in mind one approach doesn’t work for everyone or for every situation.

4. Being self assured, but with a sense of purpose. Be confident in how you approach things. But always make sure that confidence is moving you in a positive well thought out direction.

5. Being patient. Know that some things take longer than others to be successfully completed. Don’t force things to occur when the time isn’t right.

6. Being strategic in how you handle situations. Lay out the steps to handle a situation in your mind ahead of time.

7. Being methodical. It’s OK to move slowly. Be measured in your thought process and in how you talk about your ideas. Speaking about or moving your agenda too quickly can cause people to react negatively.

8. Creating a buffer in dealing with people. Don’t let people get to you mentally. Responses from others shouldn’t be taken personally. Most often, their responses are for their benefit not yours. Always keep that in mind.

9. Getting what you want out of a situation, but not at the expense of the other person. Always be mindful of the big picture. It isn’t about a successful outcome to one situation, it’s about a successful outcome that builds a long term relationship.

10. Being prepared in your mind for situations before they occur. Think about a plan of action in advance. Don’t assume things will always occur in a specific manner.

Create your own unique art form, a more defined personality. You can’t be perfect, but you can improve by crafting the life you live with finesse. Be a person with added substance, add finesse to improve your success.