Once again we had gathered, like old friends, around the conference room table.
All of us peers sharing a great deal of respect and history with one another.
 
The concept was simple; give a brief update of your current challenges and your plan of attack.
 
After each of us spoke the moderator said:  “Thank you for sharing!”– and we moved on.
 
It was my turn.  I began as upbeat as possible.  Moments into my confessional of all my “challenges” I leaned on my well established reputation of using humor in difficult times and said, “I am so depressed!  Next?”
 
Because of my reputation; everyone laughed.
 
I had opened the door inviting my colleagues into a less serious place (the moderator had set way too tense a tone!).
 
Frank, following my lead in more ways than one said; “I’ll go.  I want to get this over with.”
 
He took a deep breath and began.
 
Moments into sharing his challenges I said; “Wow.  I feel better now.  Thank you for sharing!”
 
Frank laughed harder than anyone in the room.
 
After seeing Franks response even the moderator began to laugh (perhaps a career defining moment?).  The “beneficial twist” here is the perspective we gain from peering into and above our own situation.
 
Lou Holtz says, “you’re never as good as everyone tells you when you win, and you’re never as bad as they say when you lose.”
 
I say, “If you can’t laugh at yourself; you can’t laugh at (or with) other people.”
 
Thank You for Sharing!
 
Now for the most amazing perspective of the entire afternoon!
 
Stacey spoke next.  In contrast to my start where I attempted to be positive and spiraled downward Stacey did the opposite.  She started with an apoplectic discourse on a recruiting problem she faced.  Soon thereafter she spoke of her “challenge” in a glowingly positive and excited manner.
 
Stacey saw her biggest “challenge” as being where to apply her energies to numerous projects that required her attention.  She saw nothing but glasses that were half-full rather than half-empty.  Stacey’s excitement about her “challenges” reminded me of the old management technique and “beneficial twist” on the words we choose.
 
Instead of telling someone; “we have a problem” start applying this “beneficial twist” on the phrase by saying, “we have an opportunity!”
 
I’d like to say to Stacey, “Thank You for Sharing!”
 
Lon Kieffer, author of “Get Out of Bed and Go to Work!”, Speaker, Consultant and expert on Workplace Culture Change and Generational Conflicts, gives seminars, keynote and plenary addresses, runs annual sales meetings, and provides Common Sense Consulting at:  www.LonKieffer.com   He can be reached at               888-466-2379        or via e-mail to Lon@LonKieffer.com