Problem-Solving: Different Strategies for Solving It

Think of the biggest, most frustrating problem you have. You've thought about it endlessly, and can't come up with a workable solution. Now think about a "kitchen cabinet", a term invented by the opponents of President Jackson. The "kitchen cabinet" is a group of people as diverse as you can think of, who can consider your problem from different angles. They may be diverse in their ages, genders, race, ethnicity, professions or trades, where they were raised, or any other way. Ideally they all meet together once or twice, but if not, maybe they can meet online.

The Ideo company in "The Art of Innovation" uses diverse groups when starting a project, putting together a multi-disciplinary team from many fields. Some other companies do this as well. Why can't you do it as well?

Many business leaders participate in "mastermind" groups, carefully selected from non-competitors, who can advise each other over a year or longer. Often only 1 person per industry is allowed in a group.

Another strategy to improve idea generation is to encourage employees to choose the problem they would like to help solve. Increased motivation can lead to better results; people work harder to resolve a problem that is important to them.

A third strategy is to run a silent brainstorming session. This research-based method, done using a specific format, neatly sidesteps many of the problems with the traditional brainstorming technique.

These strategies and more are part of the Executive Communication seminar offered by Business Speech Improvement. It is available on request to individuals and small groups.

5 ways to lose a customer

Have you listened to your business's outgoing message lately? It can easily turn off a prospective customer.

Here are 5 business message mistakes.
1. Jargon The voice uses industry jargon or worse, acronyms, to tell prospective customers what button to push. A customer who is not familiar with the jargon has no idea what to push. At the least, everyone's time is wasted. At most, you lose a prospective customer.

2. Giving a wrong number The voice prompts people interested in an option to call another phone number - which has been disconnected. Is this company going out of business?

3. Long wait for an online or telephone customer service rep  One company informed me that there were 68 people in line ahead of me to talk to the online reps. Did they really think I was going to wait, too?
In fact, I wondered what the problem was with the company's management that they were so short-sighted about staffing needs.

4.  Departments of a company that refer customers back to each other  One department refers a customer to another department for a quote, while the second department refers the same customer back to the first one for a quote. Clearly, this company has communication issues - and the customer goes elsewhere.

5. The fast talker  The receptionist is so used to answering the incoming calls that she speaks too fast for the name of the company to be understood. The prospective client wonders if he reached the right company.

Any of these can negatively affect your bottom line. For an analysis of the communication from a prospective customer's point of view,  and other services, visit www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com    
We can pose as a customer and analyze what we observe!

To read the latest blog post from Business Speech Improvement.com, and find out how else we can help you,  go to www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/more/blog.
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How's your small business outgoing voice-mail message?

Have you listened to your outgoing telephone message lately?
Was it very easy to understand, even for someone who is calling you for the first time?

I recently called a small business, and was appalled at the gruff, very deep tone of the message. It was almost impossible to understand, for a person who has normal hearing. For many customers who have hearing losses,it would not have been understandable. Prospective customers may easily have hung up. The culprit could well have been the recording equipment, or the person who recorded the message.

If you are recording an outgoing voice-mail message, say it slowly. This subconsciously cues those leaving a message to speak slowly themselves, which means you may understand them better. Speak enthusiastically, though, so people hear your enthusiasm!


Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training and e-books on many aspects of verbal communication, including diction and sales.