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[D588]Dont Just Go Back

by Barbara Gabogrecan, Bar

Have a personal plan for branding yourself and keep it updated. Log your goals and put them to a time frame. Be specific. This type of action plan is very important if you really want to see results.

Promote yourself strongly. When someone asks 'what do you do' - have a verbal logo ready! This is an important part of branding yourself and your product; particularly if you are in the service industry.

Start with a negative e.g. define the problem; and conclude with a positive e.g. offer a solution; and point out your unique point of difference. An example of a good verbal logo is:- "Most Micro and HBB operators struggle with marketing tactics to help their business grow. Together, with the operators, I develop practical, simple marketing strategies that are both affordable and effective."

How do you present yourself? You do not have to be a 'glamorous chick' or a 'handsome hunk of ham' - but you do need to have a visual signature as part of your personal brand.

The way you look can be repeated and recognised. Wear a hat and have become known for that (as has Molly Meldrum); wear some outrageous jewellery or a bow tie -dare to be different!

Your brand should play on your personality characteristics. One of these characteristics should be the ability to show your passion. If you really do believe in a certain behaviour or belief - that will show in everything you do.

Have a philosophy of 'what can I do for you?' rather than 'what's in it for me' and constantly think of how to put that into action. Others notice this and comment on it. It helps set you apart from competitors.

And just how important is it to be always thinking of others? So, so, very important! Those hand-written notes, prompt email or phone follow ups, can set you aside from most, as it seems to be a forgotten art of etiquette by many. If networking is important to you (and I hope it is) these thoughtful acts will build and strengthen the relationships that you are trying to build.

Your brand needs to come to the fore when networking. Targeted networking can be much more successful than accidental networking. Make contact with those who are of interest to you and stay in touch with them.

Choose those that you can help and those that can help you. Remember the philosophy 'what can I do for you?' ...well, by helping others become successful, you will be building a network of positive, supportive people who will help you when you need and ask for it.

Strengthen your brand by recognising what you are good at, and then build on it. Don't waste time trying to improve on skills that you do not have well established...that will only hold you back from developing and growing the skills you do have. To be known as an expert in your field will strengthen your brand's position in the community.

Once you have positioned yourself as an expert the media can do much to further promote you, as you become the person they will contact for comments.

Write articles, e-books and online newsletters. You will soon become well known within your niche. Undertake speaking engagements for community groups, council networking groups and any other business groups you can find.

Keep developing and distributing interesting media releases to enhance the 'word of mouth' promotion, by making it sizzle! You need to be HOT!

To help build your brand, choose a charity or association that you feel passionate about....the more you enjoy what you are doing, the stronger your brand will become. To enable you to put more time into developing your brand, make sure you have others to do some of the more menial tasks to keep your operation going, allowing you to concentrate on what you do best.

Conflict is an ever-present reality whenever people work together. It can manifest itself in differences of view, differences of opinion, differences of personality, and differences of interest. But conflict doesn't have to be destructive. If the right options are chosen to handle conflict ? either as a strategy or as a tactical choice ? the result can be of huge benefit to both sides. These are the 7 options you have.

1. No Deal. A no-deal outcome to a conflict means that the status quo is confirmed and nothing changes. No-deal is rarely a successful end to a conflict unless during discussions it becomes clear there is no advantage for you in continuing. No-deal, in the sense of walkaway power, can also be used tactically at any stage of the proceedings. To make sure you are not disadvantaged if your bluff is called when you threaten "No deal!", make sure you have a good second-best BATNA (Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement) to fall back on.

2. I Win, You Lose. The "I win you lose" approach to conflict is also known as the World War One solution. At the end of World War One, the victorious Allies decided that, such were the horrors of the war, the defeated Germans should be humiliated and never again allowed to threaten their neighbours. The denigrating peace terms were completely one-sided but, as in all win-lose solutions, the losing side harboured deep resentment. It was only a matter of time before resentment led to a desire for revenge and the outbreak of a further war in 1939. When you use "win-lose" on others, you encourage them to find ways to use "win-lose" back on you.

3. I Lose, You Win. The "I lose, you win" approach to conflict should never be considered as a strategy. This is the route of appeasement, a quiet life and letting others have their way: sooner or later they will come back for more.

The story is told of a newcomer to an African village who became frightened by wolves at night so he threw them some antelope meat to appease them. The next morning he had the whole pack at his door.

"We've proved it again and again,That if once you have paid him the Dane-GeldYou never get rid of the Dane." (Rudyard Kipling)

4. Win At All Costs. Win-at-all-costs is a negotiating strategy that is based on the belief that you are not responsible for the conflict and therefore will not budge an inch to the other side. You must be seen to win.

A simple demonstration of win-at-all-costs thinking is the ?5 auction game. A group of people are invited to bid for a ?5 note, starting at 50p and working their way up. Naturally, the bidding is brisk up to the ?4.50 mark. But, more often than not, the bidding will pass the ?5.00 mark and go higher. Winning now matters more than the prize itself!

5. Compromise. Although the end result of many negotiations is a coming together of positions and a settlement somewhere in the middle of extremes, compromise should not be a pre-planned strategy. This is because...

-it encourages a spirit of concession

-the other side will interpret your concessions as weakness and try to push you further

-negotiation is not about trying to be nice to one another

-your case may merit better than a compromise their case may merit worse.

6. Arbitration. Going to a third party is often suggested to resolve a negotiation stalemate but it should never be considered as an alternative to negotiations in the first place. If you're tempted to resolve all your differences through a third party, first remember this Indian fable.

As two otters were standing on the banks of the river Ganges, a great fish came swimming by. The first otter dived in but, unable to overpower it, begged the second otter for help. He too dived in and together they brought the fish to shore. Then they began to quarrel as to who should have it.A jackal came up to see what all the noise was about and they asked him to decide the case. The jackal cut off the fish's head and tail and said: "I divide the spoils equally" and gave the first otter the head and the second otter the tail and ran off himself with the middle part.

"Stop," shouted the otters, "you've taken the only part worth having.""I can't help that," said the jackal. "When you call in a lawyer, you have to pay his fee. You should have settled things together."

7. Win-Win. Win-win is the only strategy worth pursuing in negotiations. Just because the other side wins as well as you does not mean that your gain is any less. Win-win encourages constructive conflict: the belief that to come out on top does not only happen by destroying the opposition.

"It is as inappropriate to ask "who's winning?" in a successful negotiation as it is to ask "who's winning?" in a successful marriage. The answer, of course, is: we both are."

Two four-year-old boys were playing soldiers together.

"I want to be leader," said one.

"But I want to be leader," said the second.

"OK. You be the leader in front and I'll be the leader behind," said the first boy.

"OK," said the second boy.

The best strategy to pursue in conflict is a win-win solution. This is the belief that, despite all the differences, a solution is possible that will benefit both sides. When you think win-win, and act win-win, out of discord comes the greatest harmony.

? 2005, Eric Garner, ManageTrainLearn.com

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Both Barbara Gabogrecan & Admin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Barbara Gabogrecan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing Tool, Science and About Branding. Barbara Gabogrecan is a renowned artist and author and spends her time supporting the Micro and Home Based Business operators. www.micronavigator.com.auA free e-book 'The Power of Targeted Networking'. Barbara Gabogrecan's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.

Admin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Infidelity, Tax and Class Action. Eric Garner. Admin's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.