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also means that the longer we spend in our fields, the more likely we are to fall prey to the mistakes of complacency: Basically, we stop questioning ourselves because we feel that we are our jobs. We begin to see our roles merge with our identities and devote more effort to the “why” of our actions and less to the “what.” Often, we don’t do this because we find meaning in our work; we do it because we’re comfortable. So, back to that stubborn problem that has gotten out of control. Here’s the truth: The majority of challenges you face are challenges you’ve created. You’ve programmed yourself to respond and take specific actions that may not always be in your best interest. Often, it takes an outside influence or a coach to look objectively at the patterns in your behavior and help determine where issues are coming from — which is where Sandler Training comes in. If you’re having issues but can’t determine the source, log your behavior and try to go beyond the symptoms to the root of what’s causing complications in your world. The nice part about being the source of your challenges is that you can also be the solution. So, be the change you need to achieve the success you want. And, if you need help, don’t hesitate to give Sandler Training a call.
–Jim Stephens
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD SLUICE? HOW TO MINE FOR THE GOLD IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
If you’ve been digging into your relationships for value and coming up empty, there’s a good chance you’re mining for gold without a sluice. In literal terms, a sluice is a water channel controlled by a gate, which regulates water flow and directs it into a receptacle, or sluice box. In mining, sluices are used to separate solids from liquids, making it easier for miners to isolate valuable gold from useless water and dirt. The word “sluice” has also become common in certain business circles where it’s used to represent two pieces of fundamental business knowledge: 1. YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW. If you’ve created a system that’s supposed to lead you to success but which 1) doesn’t acknowledge an avenue with potential, or 2) is actively preventing you from reaching your goals, then it’s a broken system. Your sluice isn’t directing the water into the sluice box, and that’s keeping you from finding the gold. It’s possible that your plan is missing one of the routes to success because you don’t realize it exists: in other words, because you don’t know what you don’t know. While it can be disheartening to realize that your probability for success can be reduced without your
knowledge, an evaluation of your system and team can often resolve a fair number of unknowns. While you’re an expert at what you do, people like us are experts at figuring out how you do it. 2. JARGON IS A BARRIER, NOT A DISPLAY OF KNOWLEDGE. Businesses are getting more and more comfortable with using jargon and hyper-specific acronyms to display their expertise, but rather than revealing the gold, these attempts to demonstrate prowess can actually muddy the waters. Jargon can obscure how familiar someone really is with your products and services, making them seem “in the know” when all they’ve grasped is the vernacular. To get at the heart of a relationship, you need to cut through the junk and uncover the knowledge beneath. Learning what someone else knows by discussing it openly is the true measure of expertise. A good sluice can dissect the potential in a relationship through a conversation while an unedited flow of buzzwords leaves everything muddy.
If you’re looking for a good team who can offer that evaluation, reach out to Sandler Training. We’re ready to have a conversation.
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Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.TheNewsletterPro.com
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