For bloggers

Dear Blogger,

Have you heard of Infolinks?

Well, if you haven't, let me tell you a bit more.

As you know, I'm a blogger and I'm aiming to buy myself that Banana Island house. Okay, I know I need to up my game. So, I did some research on the internet about how to start earning with my blogs. I came across something about Infolinks.

Something I find attractive about Infolinks versus other options is the Pay Per View (PPV) option, as well as the Pay Per Click (PPC) options.

I plan to strat sharing all I'm learning about blogging so please feel free to follow this "For Bloggers" series.


So, this chick in the picture is talking about doubling her earnings with Infolinks. Me, I don't know if she truly did or not but I'm planning to find out. What do you think? If you want to give it a try, please click the link below.

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About Volunteering

Good day. How are you doing?
I'll like to share a tip that has been helpful in my career.

While I was in University, I worked as a staff (unpaid of course) in my fellowship's secretariat. I picked up a lot of skills that I may not have been opportuned to pick up otherwise. I still use some of the skills I picked up then in my job and other areas of life today.....

In the course of my career, I've ALWAYS volunteered to do more than what I'm paid to do. I started out volunteer to work with the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) team to champion the concept of minimizing waste by reducing, re-using and recycling. It is a Sustainable Development concept that my organization believes in.
Soon, I was invited to join a team that would lead the organization that would focus on the development of young professionals (including myself) at work. That was apart from my regular job and I had to work majorly on my own time to deliver required outcomes. It was a thankless job really but I got the opportunity to try out some of my own ideas. The organization continues to date and some of my inputs are still being used. I also learnt so many things that have been instrumental in my current role. It also gave me more exposure in the organization that I mat have had if I didn't agree to join the organization (though that wasn't on my mind AT ALL when I agreed to join the team).

I've been invited to join some other non work-related teams that I've declined because they didn't seem to add value, in my opinion. So, I'm not saying that you should keep saying 'yes' to every "opportunity" that opens up. Some 'opportunities' are the reason why you don't have time to do the things that TRULY matter.

At a point, a customer insisted that I should be the one to fill a role that was outside my job description. He had observed how I handled a task that some consider mundane. I learnt the skill that the customer was willing to pay for while volunteering in my fellowship secretariat.

I can go on and on about my fantastic volunteering experiences. However, I don't want to bore my readers with too many stories. Please share your views and experiences about volunteering.

 

#Tentmakers

MICROMANAGEMENT

I work in a project based organization and as such, I work across projects with different project managers.

I've observed that with the same team (myself inclusive), the project manager that micro-manages every aspect of his project is not getting results as much as the project managers that give us the leeway to make smaller decisions and only escalate to them when required.

A colleague said (and I agree) that when you micro-manage your subordinates, you cause them to stop thinking and it is very draining.

I had a discussion with another colleague that I've had to micro-manage because he needs it, really, that I'm about to stop because it's draining ME. I detest micro-managing but after a few terrible errors, I had to switch to micro-managing mode. We've agreed to practise a semi-micromanaging system where we discuss priorities for the week on Mondays, I check with him on how things are going on Wednesday and we do a full review of the week on Friday. I pray it goes well...

I'm interested in your micro-managing stories and views...Is micro-managing EVER justified? Why? Why not? Any alternatives? Any funny stories?

‪#‎Tentmakers‬H

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Building Effective Business/Career Relationships (5)

Good day. How are you doing? Today, we'll continue with the series "Building Effective Business/Career Relationships".

We've talked about identifying and nurturing key business/career relationships. We've started talking about NURTURING WORK RELATIONSHIPS. We've talked about dealing with difficult bosses/customers. Please share how these tips have helped you thus far.

Today, we'll focus on dealing with Third Parties (Vendors, Suppliers, Contractors, Consultants etc). These tips should be helpful whether you are required to deal with third parties as part of your job or if you need their services to grow your business.

1. Ensure the selection process is transparent and within the provisions of the law.
Ensure that you research and understand what the law requires when you have to use third parties. No matter how tight your contract is, if you have run foul of the law, you expose yourself (and your organization/business) to litigation. Also, you may be unable to get relief if you have to take the other party to court if you are not in full compliance either. One of the maxims of equity says "He (or she) that comes to equity must come with clean hands".

2. Execute a valid contract that gives terms and conditions, spells out each party's liabilities and which includes consequences for default, among other things.
It's best to get a lawyer to tidy this part up. Even if you have a law degree, I don't believe it'll hurt to have another lawyer review your contract before you execute it.

3. Be courteous to them.
The fact that you (or your organization) will be paying for their services does not give you the right to disrespect vendors, suppliers, contractors, consultants etc. They are professionals in their own right and are actually part of your key stakeholders. In some cases, they may eventually become your clients/customers. Treat them right. Address them properly. Pay them as and when due. Tidy up your end of the bargain.
I've seen cases where some client representatives end up seeking employment with organizations that they've managed as third parties.

4. Take heed to their professional advice.
There is a reason why you (or your organization) is paying and going through all the hassles to engage third parties.
There is the recurrent case in many major accidents where professional advice was ignored and the organization/business eventually paid dearly for it. If your consultant/vendor/supplier/contractor gives you professional advice, don't wave their concerns aside; it may eventually hurt your organization/business.

5. When in doubt about the quality of their professional advice, seek a second opinion without violating the contract terms and conditions.
If their advice seems suspect, don't override your gut feeling. Carry out independent checks and if possible, get a second opinion. Also, you can search online before you proceed.

6. Before terminating a contract, consider other arbitration options.
Terminating a contract is usually messy and there is always the potential that the other party will seek legal redress. It can be messy. Before you hit the "terminate" button, you can organize meetings to express your displeasure. f that doesn't work, try writing formally to express your (organization's) displeasure about the quality of the good or service you're receiving. This should get the other party moving most of the time. If this doesn't work, you can then involve your legal team/lawyer formally (though you should keep them involved on a regular basis even when things are running smoothly).

I'll love to get feedback from readers.
Please share your views and experiences. Thank you.

Building Effective Business/Career Relationships (4)

Good day. How are you doing? Today, we'll continue with the series "Building Effective Business/Career Relationships".

We've talked about identifying and nurturing key business/career relationships. We've started talking about NURTURING WORK RELATIONSHIPS. We paused to address the question raised about reacting violently to external stimuli and managing the aftermath. Please share how these tips have helped you thus far.

Today, we'll focus on dealing with difficult bosses/customers. In a perfect world, all bosses and customers will be fantastic people who value your work and want to see you succeed. However, we all agree that this isn't always the case. I have shared tips below on how to manage difficult bosses/customers.

1. Try to understand WHY your boss is acting so difficult. Is he/she threatened by you? Does he/she have a hard time trusting your decisions? If so, why? Are the reasons genuine or are they taking out their past terrible experiences on you? You need to pray that God opens your eyes to what the real issue is and that He shows you how to best manage the situation.
While I was an undergraduate, it occurred to me that some of my lecturers may be acting all mean because of challenges in the home. It drove me to start praying for my lecturers and that softened my heart towards them. I'll definitely be picking that habit up again for all vital relationships.

2. Don't let your boss'/customer's attitude affect the quality of your job
I agree it's hard to work with a difficult boss but you have to realise that YOU are ultimately responsible for how you feel and how YOU react to stimuli.
I have a bucket full of tales of difficult managers and customers who have attempted to make my work life difficult. Initially, I used to lose my cool and give off negative vibes. I thought it made me look tough and be viewed as a no-nonsense person. As I'm growing older and wiser, I realise that it is more sensible to factor in other people's (mis)behaviours while delivering on your job/business than to expect everyone to conform to your expectations, even if your expectations are right.

3. Anticipate your boss/customer's needs and try to get things to them before they ask. That shows you are able to work/think independently and it helps you gain trust, particularly if your boss/customer is a micro-manager.

4. Document everything. If your boss/customer makes a request, particularly if they are asking you to do something unusual. If you can, formalize with an email or whatever is the agreed means of formal communication. This tip has helped me on countless occasions. Also, devise a means of archiving such documentation; it may be what will save your job/business.

5. If you're dealing with a boss who is uncomfortable with your achievements, you need to be careful about undermining his/her authority. When presenting your facts, be careful to give him/her an opportunity to save face. It does more harm than good to try to prove that you are more competent than your boss, even if you really are.
For example, if an email comes in that is addressed to both you and your boss and you know the answer to the questions posed, a wise way to deal with this is to send an email to your boss with your answers to the questions and ask him/her to confirm that the response is good to be sent. You can then ask him/her if you can send the response or if he/she wants to respond.
Some customers come to you because of your skill then try to prove that they know more than you do. You can adapt this tip with customers, if applicable.

6. If in spite of your best efforts at dealing with your boss/customer you are still constantly at loggerheads, prayerfully and wisely escalate to the next level of management with documented evidence. If you're a business owner and in spite of your best efforts at dealing with a customer, he/she is still proving difficult, prayerfully and wisely use all legal avenues to end the contract and recover all debts. You need to be careful while ending your contract and recovering your debt so that your reputation is not damaged. Reputational damage is hard to quantify and difficult to reverse. That's the reason why some people leave bad bosses/customers to God for judgment.

Please share your views and experiences.

Building Effective Business/Career Relationships (3)

Good day. How are you doing? Today, we'll continue with the series "Building Effective Business/Career Relationships".

We've talked about identifying and nurturing key business/career relationships. Last week, we started talking about NURTURING WORK RELATIONSHIPS. Please share how these tips have helped you thus far.
...

One of our readers asked "What do you do when you react violently in shock to a situation and your reaction is being used against you?
I've shared my response below. Please feel free to add your views and opinions.
"Ideally, you should accept that you shouldn't have reacted that way and apologise IMMEDIATELY afterwards. That strategy has worked for me every time I've had that kind of reaction. If you admit your error immediately, you have made it difficult for anyone to use it against you in a vindictive manner. If time has passed and you've attempted to justify this behaviour, you should reach out to the persons, admit your error and ask for a review of "lesson learnt" from that incident. When you're sharing the lessons you've learnt, try to avoid justifying your reaction because of the stimuli. Instead, explain how the stimuli could result in the kind of reaction you had but that you recognize that you didn't necessarily have to react that way. On a personal note, review why you had such a violent reaction to the stimuli and treat the root causes. There is NEVER a justification for violence..."
Today, we'll try to explore that question a bit more, assuming the reader is the customer/boss and the other party is a contractor/vendor/subordinate.
If in the course of transacting business with someone that is a contractor/vendor/subordinate you lose your temper and react violently, you SHOULD apologize. If you've misjudged their intent and responded harshly, you should apologize. It is the proper thing to do. As I noted in my response above, there is NEVER a justification for violence. It is NEVER okay to treat another human being with disrespect. The golden rule applies in nurturing work relationships.
"So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:12
Please share your views and experiences.

Building Effective Business/Career Relationships (2)

Good day people. How are you doing? Happy new month. 
Today, we'll continue with the series "Building Effective Business/Career Relationships".
Last week, we talked about identifying and nurturing key business/career relationships. I hope you've used some of these tips (or others)? Please share the stories, if you don't mind, to encourage others.
Let's talk a bit more about NURTURING WORK RELATIONSHIPS.
After identifying key relationships that have the greatest potential to impact your career/business, you should be deliberate about nurturing these relationships. I have a few nurturing tips to share. I hope Tentmakers will share a few more tips.
1. Pray about these work relationships. As believers, we should pray about EVERYTHING, including our business and career relationships. Ask God to open your eyes to see opportunities to build these relationships positively.
A colleague and I had a STRONG difference of opinions. I was torn between escalating the issue to management or just allowing him have his way. None of the options were acceptable to me as the consequences were equally terrible. I decided to take a break and just pray about the matter (and other issues). By the time I returned to my seat, I saw an email from my colleague. He had agreed to do what I proposed. Eventually, we reached an equitable agreement (I'll share more about that below).
2. Be willing to shift ground and find a WIN-WIN solution.
Of course, be clear about your ethics and principles. However, if you are open enough, you'll find that in many situations, you can find an arrangement that works for you and your boss/colleague/client/customer.
My colleague and I both had to shift ground to find a relationship that works. I tried to understand his perspective by LISTENING to his words and more. I have learnt to listen MORE and talk less. After he agreed to do what I proposed, I explored all available opportunities, including going back to our client, to try his own proposal. Eventually, his proposal is what we fell back on with a few edits here and there. Our team is outperforming other teams and we've all been rewarded at least twice recently.
3. Build trust in your work relationships.
I realised that my colleague's issue was that he didn't trust that I had his best interests at heart. I also realised that I just expected him to trust me without earning/proving it. So, I took advantage of every opportunity I had to prove to him that I "had his back".
4. Build mutual respect in your work relationships.
One other missing ingredient in this work relationship was respect. I deliberately started asking for his professional opinion, even on matters that I KNEW the answer.
I've deliberately focused on my relationship with a colleague. These tips work (and have worked for me) in nurturing most, if not all, business relationships (and even marriages/romantic relationships). I know there's more to share on NURTURING WORK/BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS.
Please share your views and experiences.

Building Effective Business/Career Relationships (1)

Good day people. How are you doing?
Today, we'll start off on the series "Building Effective Business/Career Relationships". I believe the issue is broad enough to justify more than one session.
...

If you plan to succeed in today's business world, you need to be able to relate well with other people. No matter how sound you are technically (or how spiritual you are), if you don't relate well with people, your career/business will be adversely impacted. Here are a few tips to help you build effective work relationships.
1. Identify key relationships that have the greatest influence on your business/career and nurture these relationships, without neglecting other relationships.
Before I made up my mind on the career path I wanted to follow, I participated in the training by one of the banks that would then determine if one would be employed by the bank. Imagine my shock when I was told I had to turn in a resignation letter when I told them I was no longer interested in participating in the training.
Anyway, one of the courses in the training was "Managing your boss". I didn't stay long enough to take the course but thankfully, I kept the course materials and reviewed it on my own. I've also been opportuned to take a similar course.
You need to realise that your boss and team members have a great influence on how your work experience will be.
As a business owner, it is important to identify the customers that bring in most of your revenue and those that don't bring in so much. Keep in mind that some do not bring in so much revenue but might have some other value they're adding. You also need to identify the members of staff that do most of the productive work (that EVENTUALLY translate to revenue) and those who are not that productive. You'll also need to do this if your job requires you to manage others.
2. Spend time to nurture these important relationships
When I started working, I used to "face my work", send emails and expect people to be professional. After a few years (and after attending a few trainings), I realised that there is this thing called "people skills" and I lacked it! I also learnt that it was possible to learn it. One size doesn't fit all. I've learnt to manage my bosses as I've been blessed to have 2 bosses that talk a lot (and are terrific) and I'm more of a "get to the point" person. I'm learning how to LISTEN patiently, even if I think I know where the conversation is headed. In case you didn't know it, cutting people off because you THINK you know where they're headed is disrespectful.

Communication – The Fuel For Business

Good day.

 

It’s been a while. I guess I’m ‘guilty’ of what I am about to write about. COMMUNICATION! Your entire business/career depends on communication.

I placed an order and I was told that the order would be delivered on a certain day. The day went past and there was no delivery. Neither was there an explanation for the non-delivery. I think the goods were delivered about a day or two late and I’m still waiting for a reason why. I know I would have heard from my supplier if my payment was delayed.

Sometimes, it’s little foxes like this that make people take their business elsewhere. I don’t know if there is an issue as this is a bit unusual for this supplier. I have given her the benefit of the doubt and checked with her. Some of our customers may not feel obligated to do what I have done.

As I noted, it is not usual for her to be silent. Unfortunately, some of us need to brush up on our communication skills. I know there are all shades of customers. However, we have to be careful with OUR own attitudes too. That may be what is triggering our clients’ offensive behaviors. Like one of my colleagues pointed out, there is no point fighting with your client (except on ethical grounds) because you’ll eventually lose. Take time to understand what the complaint is really about and address their issues as much as you can.

Meanwhile, I hope you’ve done the needful with your BVN registration. I hope the CBN realizes soon that this ought to be a continuous exercise and should be embedded in the day-to-day banking activities.

Please feel free to leave a comment here or join the conversation on Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adenikethetentmaker

#Tentmakers

Be organized

Good day . How are you doing?
Today we will be talking about Being Organized.

I know that this issue cuts across all we do but I'll try to focus on the effects of being organized as it pertains to our jobs and businesses.

There is value in spending some time before you sleep at night to mentally plan for the next day.

Think about all your planned tasks/activities and think of what is required for each task/activity. It will prompt you to pick up any required input that is at home.

A key component of being organized, in my opinion, is to plan ahead.

A second one is to not pack our schedules so tight that we can't respond to unforeseen changes in our schedule.

A third one is to remain calm even when things are not going as planned.


I have a lot more I could share on this topic. However, I think there is more value in having an interactive session where we all learn from one another.

 Please share your views and experiences.

Facing Disciplinary Action

 Good day. How are you doing?

 Today we will be discussing Facing Disciplinary Action.

If your employer has a complaint about your attitude to work or the quality of your work, they could choose to take disciplinary actions against you. No one prays for such but unfortunately, even believers also face disciplinary action.

So, how does one respond when facing disciplinary action?

1. Try to have an informal session to check out the possibility of resolving the issue.

2. Try to document every related conversations formally and not rely only on verbal evidence.

3. Your employer should have a written procedure on the steps to be taken when facing disciplinary action. Typically, they should arrange a meeting at a reasonable time and place to discuss the problem. Typically, you should have the right to ask someone (a colleague or a trade union representative) to accompany you to the meeting. You should be given the opportunity to defend yourself.

Please share your views and experiences on facing disciplinary action. Scriptural references are welcome.

LEARNING FROM PAST SUCCESSES/MISTAKES

 Good day ladies. How are you doing?

 Today's Tip is - Learn from past successes/mistakes and the successes/mistakes of others...

I had a lengthy discussion with a colleague in the course of the week on this topic. I told him that it is silly to rely solely on one's experiences when making decisions. There is great value in learning from the successes/mistakes of others.

When faced with a new task, I think there is value in checking with someone that has done the task before. Listen carefully to them. Whether you're talking with someone that successfully completed the task or one that did not, the steps they describe will guide you on how to go about YOUR task.

Some may try to discourage you from the task but try to get them to tell you why they think the task is so difficult. Listen to the real obstacles they're talking about and ask the Lord to show you how to deal with that obstacle (once you're sure you're on the path God wants you to go).

Please share your views and experiences

Dealing with difficult clients

Good day. How are you doing?

 I'll like to talk about dealing with difficult customers/clients today.
 

If you own a business, you NEED a steady flow of customers/clients for the business to survive. (Un)fortunately, difficult people are very likely to be part of the mix. As your career progresses, you are also most likely to interact with client representatives, some of whom may prove difficult at some point.

I'll share some tips I picked from an article I found on the Business Know-How website.

 1. Listen, without interrupting, to their concern. When they are done speaking, recap and if necessary, ask questions to help you clarify the real issue.
2. If you are communicating with the difficult customer/client using electronic media, don't respond immediately. Give yourself some time to analyze and understand what is really going on so that you don't send a hasty response that you'll ultimately regret.
3. Instead of reacting emotionally when your work is criticised harshly, use the opportunity to learn areas where you could improve. As I was dealing with a difficult client representative, I realised that a major issue was that I wasn't communicating the way he preferred. I have changed my mode of communication to suit his style and we're having less conflicts.
4. Whenever there are cost implications involved, I think it's best to involve your manager (for those in paid employment). Don't agree to take the loss before discussing with your manager. Leave that decision to your manager, please.
5. If you are self-employed, you need to do a cost-benefit analysis before deciding whether to absorb the cost of rework/scope creep or to ask for more money to address that concern. Taking the right decision in situations like this may very well determine how long you'll stay in business.

 Please share your views and experiences

Utility - Meeting Your Customer's Needs

Good day people. I'm thinking today of the term "utility". As usual, I have a story to explain my point.

 

I got a tricycle to get me out of the estate in order to meet up with others. As I boarded the tricycle, I told the driver that I had a time contract with some people at the drop-off point. As we moved on, the driver decided to pick up some other passengers. He waited inordinately for a passenger that eventually did not board the tricycle. Due to the unnecessary delays as a result of the driver's poor decisions, I missed the people I was supposed to meet at the drop-off point.  I still paid him the complete fare. Though my preference would have been to meet up with my appointment, missing it is just an annoyance and not hyper-critical.

 

This incident got me thinking about "utility". Did the driver deserve to be paid the accurate fare? Though he provided the service (got me to the drop-off point), I did not derive utility from the service he provided.

 

A definition of utility is "the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial". If the customer does not derive utility from your goods/services, you are unlikely to get repeat business in a competitive market. It's great to manufacture 'fantastic' goods or provide 'top-notch' services. If your customer does not derive utility from what you're selling or providing, I assure you that you won't be in business for long.

 

Another interesting thing is that while I was trying to express my dissatisfaction respectfully (customer feedback), he began to give me 'counsel' on how to meet up with my appointment in future. You may find that hilarious but it's definitely not a smart move in business. Customer feedback is valuable, it gives you insight on your strengths and highlights areas where improvement is needed. Listen objectively to what your customer is saying. For as long as their requests do not negate the core values of your company/business, which hopefully includes ethics, you should explore reasonable cost-effective means to satisfy your customers. I guess you know that they are the primary channels of blessings for your company/business.

 

Have a blessed and productive day.

DISCERNING WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO PURSUE

I'll like to share a bit today about discerning when to pursue and when to relax. I have 2 stories to share and a scripture to conclude.
Story 1
I paid out of pocket for a course organised by the professional association I belong to and I needed the receipt to claim my money back from my organization. As usual (for me), I realised that I had lost the receipt.
I was going to sit in my corner and mourn my loss but my friend encouraged me to get to the association's office to ask to make a photocopy of their copy of the receipt.
It would require some effort and every lazy bone in me resisted the move, lol.
I finally overcame the inertia and went to the office. The lady I met there claimed that all the booklets had been sent to Abuja. My lazy bones were screaming "I told you so" but I couldn't imagine going back with no receipt.
I rarely beg anyone for favors (one of the issues my friends have with me, lol) but for some reason I refused to leave the office.
I remembered a post I had put up about "Lessons from Nehemiah" so while standing there, I prayed to the God of Heaven to show me what my next step ought to be.
As I stood there, a man came in to tell Madam that he couldn't help her print her son's JAMB (or whatever it's called now) score from their website. I watched them as they fiddled around trying to solve the problem. After a few minutes, I asked if I could try to help. After performing some 'magic', I printed the score for her, lol.
After that, the booklet that had been sent to Abuja mysteriously reappeared in the Lagos office. She even stamped documents that didn't need stamps and began to tell me the story of the boy whose JAMB scores I printed...how she adopted him etc.
Story 2
I applied for registration along with some of my friends. We all submitted our forms on the same day. I think I did the bulk of the work that day sef and even lost some money in the process. Part of the verification process involves checking with my university. One of my friends graduated from the same department as I did (different years).
When the list of successful applicants came out, my name was not there. Of course, my friends had to be sensitive and not be overjoyful (My friends are good people, hehehe).
I got the number of someone in Abuja to understand why my name was not on the list. The man kept telling me to call him back in 30 minutes then won't pick the calls.
After about 3 weeks of doing this dance, he finally told me that my school has not responded to their request. It's surprising that the school responded in my friend's case and not mine...Ironically, I was the one that encouraged my friend to get registered.
I could begin to chase what's causing the delay in my school or I could wait for the 1 month the man asked me to check back. I think it's wiser to wait, right?
When David and his community were attacked and their city burnt down as a result of their minding other people's business instead of theirs (See 1 Samuel 29-30), the first question David asked God was "Shall I pursue?"
I think that's a sensible question for us all to ask when we are faced with challenges. Too many of us are holding on to careers; businesses, relationships etc that we need to either let go or relax about while some other gave in prematurely.
I believe our proper response to challenging situations is to ask GOD what our next steps out to be. The best of men/women is still a human being with limited wisdom.
I pray for the discernment to know when to pursue and when to relax for each of us, in Jesus' Name. Amen
Have a blessed and productive day.

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DISCERNING WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO PURSUE

I'll like to share a bit today about discerning when to pursue and when to relax. I have 2 stories to share and a scripture to conclude.

 

Story 1

I paid out of pocket for a course organised by the professional association I belong to and I needed the receipt to claim my money back from my organization. As usual (for me), I realised that I had lost the receipt.

I was going to sit in my corner and mourn my loss but my friend encouraged me to get to the association's office to ask to make a photocopy of their copy of the receipt.

It would require some effort and every lazy bone in me resisted the move, lol.

I finally overcame the inertia and went to the office. The lady I met there claimed that all the booklets had been sent to Abuja. My lazy bones were screaming "I told you so" but I couldn't imagine going back with no receipt.

I rarely beg anyone for favors (one of the issues my friends have with me, lol) but for some reason I refused to leave the office.

I remembered a post I had put up about "Lessons from Nehemiah" so while standing there, I prayed to the God of Heaven to show me what my next step ought to be.

 

As I stood there, a man came in to tell Madam that he couldn't help her print her son's JAMB (or whatever it's called now) score from their website. I watched them as they fiddled around trying to solve the problem. After a few minutes, I asked if I could try to help. After performing some 'magic', I printed the score for her, lol.

 

After that, the booklet that had been sent to Abuja mysteriously reappeared in the Lagos office. She even stamped documents that didn't need stamps and began to tell me the story of the boy whose JAMB scores I printed...how she adopted him etc.

 

Story 2

I applied for registration along with some of my friends. We all submitted our forms on the same day. I think I did the bulk of the work that day sef and even lost some money in the process. Part of the verification process involves checking with my university. One of my friends graduated from the same department as I did (different years).

When the list of successful applicants came out, my name was not there. Of course, my friends had to be sensitive and not be overjoyful (My friends are good people, hehehe).

I got the number of someone in Abuja to understand why my name was not on the list. The man kept telling me to call him back in 30 minutes then won't pick the calls.

After about 3 weeks of doing this dance, he finally told me that my school has not responded to their request. It's surprising that the school responded in my friend's case and not mine...Ironically, I was the one that encouraged my friend to get registered.

I could begin to chase what's causing the delay in my school or I could wait for the 1 month the man asked me to check back. I think it's wiser to wait, right?

 

When David and his community were attacked and their city burnt down as a result of their minding other people's business instead of theirs (See 1 Samuel 29-30), the first question David asked God was "Shall I pursue?"

 

I think that's a sensible question for us all to ask when we are faced with challenges. Too many of us are holding on to careers; businesses, relationships etc that we need to either let go or relax about while some other gave in prematurely.

 

I believe our proper response to challenging situations is to ask GOD what our next steps out to be. The best of men/women is still a human being with limited wisdom.

 

I pray for the discernment to know when to pursue and when to relax for each of us, in Jesus' Name. Amen

 

Have a fantastic weekend.

Communications 101 - Keeping Your Audience Engaged

Imagine this: You are required to address a group that includes “Applications-first” and “Principles-first” people. Applications-first reasoning allows conclusions to be reached after reviewing empirical observations whereas principles-first reasoning requires that conclusions or facts be derived from principles and concepts.

Generally the educational background of an individual, which is determined by the kind of curriculum that is in force in one’s country of study, determines which approach such an individual favours. Schools in countries like the U.S., Canada, and the UK usually focus more on how to apply a tool and spend less time explaining principles and concepts (Applications-first). In contrast, schools in countries like Spain, Nigeria, Germany, and in Latin America tend to spend more time teaching general principles and less time on how to apply those principles (Principles-first).

Most often than not, we don’t have the liberty of choosing the preferred approach of our audience. This mix is very likely in the wake of globalization. Our audiences tend to be as diverse as possible. Leaders need to be able to engage their target audience if they hope to get anything moving.

The best approach has been determined to be alternating between principles and examples. Introduce a principle THEN give some practical examples. Then, go on to the next principle and give examples. Many people love stories because they have elements of both in

It is also important to read the mood of your audience so you don’t bore them. You need them awake to remember your key points. If you have the luxury of time, you can allow them ask questions but be careful not to go off-topic. My personal preference is to ask the participants to note down their questions. Periodically, I pause and answer questions. You can also ask them to wait till after the presentation, if it isn’t a long one.

You need to display some emotional intelligence with your audience. Once, I was training some young engineers and I observed that one of them was not smiling at any of my wisecracks. I know I sometimes crack dry jokes but I knew it wasn’t the case in this instance. I had to ask him what the matter was. It turned out that he wasn’t feeling well. I had to ask him to take care of himself and come back the next day. I also spent some time discussing “off-topic” points (which I later related to some points in the presentation) when I observed that my audience were getting tired with engineering details.

The best presentations merge facts with practical examples. Think of any sermon/presentation/articles you ever listened to or read: they have a good mix of both.

So, what are you going to do about your next presentation? Will you pack in so many facts and leave out the fun part? Will you keep the fun and leave your audience with no principles to take away? Or will you find the right balance between facts and fun?

Please feel free to share your views and comments. Have a blessed and productive day.

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As Nigeria Decides

Good morning people.
Today is another opportunity to show forth the virtues and perfection of He who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.

Today is Election Day in Nigeria. If you reside in Nigeria and have collected your Permanent Voter's Card, please go out and vote. When you are done voting, I recommend that you go home. If you choose to stay back and 'defend' your vote, please stay at least 300m away from the polling unit. Obey instructions. Do not take laws into your hands. If you must take pictures or film videos, please do so from a safe location.

As you go out to vote, let the Holy Spirit guide you. Do not be profane like Esau, who for a MORSEL OF BREAD, mortgaged his future. 

As we vote, we need to let God guide us to choose leaders that will make policies that will result in economic growth; leaders that will be discerning enough to recognize open doors and traps. I pray that we will elect leaders that will know which international treaty to ratify; which bilateral agreement to enter into etc
In other news, some have predicted that it may be a rainy day so I'm wondering if you can protect yourself with an umbrella as you vote? . Seriously, please don't use any party emblem or logo.

It just occurred to me that inspite of the 'economic shutdown', some will still get paid today...Think of building a business that can still run when there is an 'economic shutdown'.

May the Lord bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES

"From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..." 1 Chronicles 12:32a

 

I'll like to talk a bit about having an understanding of the times we live in.

 

We learn in the opening verse of the sons of Issachar who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. Thankfully, that priviledge was not reserved only for the sons of Issachar. We have the Holy Spirit who tells us what to do at each point, so we ought to have an understanding of the times too.

 

One crucial aspect of understanding the times is understanding how things work in our day.  If you will impact your world meaningfully, you need to use social media to propagate your gospel. Businesses that will survive these days have to make their presence known online somehow. If you'll make an impact in your career, you NEED to know how to use your online presence and technology to your advantage.

 

I know there are 'dangers' associated with the internet and technology in general but I also know it's not all gloom and doom. Evil prevails when good men (women) do nothing. 

 

Technology is God's gift to us in this era. It may very well be the only 'talent' we've been given. The servant that was given only one talent hid his because it was not enough (in his opinion); he was punished for it. We have the priviledge of connecting to anyone we may need using various easy to use media - emails, social media, online professional networks etc. Joining up is free for most of these media. I think it is unacceptable/unbelievable that you can sign up on Facebook/Twitter (add your own) yet you don't have an email address. I know you won't believe me but I've met at least one person who didn't have an email address till now. Someone asked how you hope to get an employment letter mailed to you without an email address.

 

Anyway, I hope with these few words of mine I have been able to convince and not confuse you on the need to brace up and get with the program, lol. We have ALL been given the 'talent' of technology. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT?

 

PS: A dear friend and I are thinking of organizing an online course that shows you how to use various electronic and social media to your advantage. Please let me know what you think about it and how much you think is fair to charge for such a course.

 

Have a blessed and productive day.

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Customer Service - The Deal Breaker?

Good day people. This is the post I promised back in January about the different types of customers. I'll also be giving customer service tips. I had a most hilarious chat with some sisters yesterday and hair salons were unanimously voted as the most customer unfriendly sectors of the economy. I'll be quoting Chioma Nnani (www.chiomannani.com) where applicable. She is many things - a blogger, a writer, a ghost writer etc. She recently released the Fearless Story Teller Online Course. Please check the blog for details of the course. There will be a discount up till March 13, 2015.

I'll start with some of the funniest customers I've encountered. There was a young man that asked me to supply 2 crates of egg. I actually placed a fresh order primarily because of his request. I didn't look closely at the supply enough to realise that the Egg Company had started including the Best Before date on the eggs (positive development, yay). As I got the eggs to the man, he went on to inspect the eggs. He said the BB date of the eggs was too close for him. I asked him if he planned to consume the 2 crates by himself and I don't think that was the case. He asked me why I didn't check the BB date before receiving the eggs. The eggs are usually supplied really fresh. I have many customers that pay more than the price because of the freshness of the eggs (no woman does that, though, lol). He went on to return one of the crates because the BB date (28 days) was too close for him. I thought it was a positive development to have the BB date but see 'wahala' o. I knew I had matured when I collected the crate back from him and I was about to leave. Someone else called me back and bought the crate from me immediately.

I have too many stories of people online that ask for more information about an advertised good or service, waste your time, are uncourteous and eventually don't buy anything or bring in other people to patronise you. I think I have learnt the signs to look out for to determine time-wasters. What I've done now is to include as much details as possible in the advert. Then I have saved on my phone the standard first response that anyone that contacts me. It is composed based on Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and updated when any new question arises. It saves me too many back and forths.

Now to the 'juicier' part of the post. I've had horrible customer service experiences but I think these ladies have seen more than I can..I have actually created scenes in banks due to poor service. The most recent poor customer service experience I had was at a salon where the stylist kept using a small-toothed comb on my natural (virgin) hair that I'm nurturing. I politely asked her to use a comb with a wider tooth and she claimed there was none in the salon. She kept torturing me with the small-toothed comb while making snide comments about my virgin hair. When the pain became unbearable, I collected the small-toothed comb and seized it from her. When she realised I wasn't going to give it back, she 'miraculously' found a wide-toothed comb in the SAME salon! Smh!

I told my sisters that inspite of the painful poor customer service experiences I've had (pun intended, lol), I'll still go back to a store that sells good cheap products except the customer service experience is dirt-low crappy. They decided to share some of their experiences. Please let me know which of them is your favorite.

 One of my sisters said she went into a shop once and something she touched fell. The shop attendant was so rude. The same shop attendant told my sister's husband that she can't open the door to him because she's scared of thieves. She says "A lot of sales girl are illiterates that don't have a clue what it takes to establish a business. They believe they are doing you (the customer) a favour. That is why we don't have service companies last."

This one had me in stitches - "You walk into a shop and the sales girl or boy is relaxed on the sofa and is waiting for you to greet first then swings his/her arm: check there." For real???
She continues "I called a bank asking why I was charged 1 naira more and I heard them giggling in the back. Troublesome customer looking for 1 naira. When they saw my email, hmmmm..."

Chioma Nnani says a market woman that sells fish and swears like a sailor is better at customer service than the person she got clothes from. Ewo! She says the clothes and shoes are very lovely but she'll rather direct anyone that asks to where her supplier bought them from than direct them to her.
Chi-Chi continues "You're spending money and they think they're doing you a favour. With your own money, oh! And when you don't return, but choose to go to their neighbour; they will start doing unnecessary binding and casting. Accusing their more business-savvy neighbour of witchcraft.
"That's how one GT Bank staff was forming and I told him plainly, 'I am your employer as long as I have an account here. Even if my account balance is one Naira. By the way, as long as you showed up for work, don't kid yourself that you've anything better to be doing than attending to me!' The guy was just looking at the 'mad customer from London' in shock. I don't mind being known as difficult as long as I get what I want. Nigerians don't like being known as troublemakers, except on social media."

She advises that one way to know if a supplier/vendor will give you headaches with their service is to check their referrals. Do they have any? Or are they just blowing their own trumpet?
"Nobody will tell you that their service is terrible but if they don't have even one customer that agrees with their "I am the best at what I do" claim; they are lying."

 Another sister says it's the big salons she detests the most. Most of the girls that work there are just so rude that she'll rather call someone and pay for home service. She says she won't pay for some rude person to insult her, no matter who else you make hair for.
Hear her "Whenever you insist on having things done well you're tagged impossible but I can't be bothered. I keep changing you till I get what I like.

 A sister notes that a lot of business owners don't take time to educate or train their staff on simple etiquettes and how to treat customers.

Business owners, it's up to you now. Let's hear from you. Is it so hard to please customers here in Nigeria? Or are there real operational challenges that make it expedient for you to subject your paying customers to such horrible experiences?

I'll like to balance this by saying that I've met wonderful suppliers and vendors. I can't say that I've met wonderful service providers, though their businesses will benefit MORE from referrals by satisfied customers.

Please feel free to leave a comment here or join the conversation on Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adenikethetentmaker
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