The Pedestal Group

Putting our clients where they belong

You Are Traffic

Leave a Comment

I saw a picture awhile ago of a bike rack and the caption read, “You aren’t stuck in traffic. You are traffic.” How awesome is that? And that’s something I think we all fall into. Things happen and we take no responsibility for them even though our actions help to cause them. What do you mean, Kath? Well, let’s say you are frustrated that your employees don’t innovate enough. Rather than look at it for the seven hundredth time as how to “fix” the employees, take a look at yourself. Do you always come up with a bunch of ideas? Is it possible your employees feel like they don’t have to because you will? Or, if they do come up with ideas, do you always have a better one? (I worked for her – it wasn’t her fault, she really did have better ideas. But […] Continue reading

Read Like You Listen

Leave a Comment

Last week I had a major revelation at lunch with Maia Beatty.  We say all the time to “write like you talk” but we never deal with the other side. Which is Read Like You Listen.  Think about that for a moment. That is seriously powerful stuff!  Instead of reading an email in your own “voice” if you will, you need to read it in theirs.  Still not sure what I mean?  Let’s use an example. A friend of mine sent an email to someone and said something sarcastic. It is difficult to be sarcastic in email but in her head, it was hilarious.  When it was received, the person took it at face value – in their head they weren’t being sarcastic. And the ensuing conversation was all kinds of trouble for no reason.  In fact, when I was shown the email I immediately […] Continue reading

Ask the Questions – PLEASE

Leave a Comment

I attended a meeting today that was a real surprise.  It was a room full of very serious business men all in ties and power suits, a couple of women in their power suits with skirts, and me in my flashy, brightly-colored tunic top and jeans. And yes of course, I had something on that sparkled. So right from the get go I’m the odd one out. Whatever. I’m good with it. So the meeting starts and the facilitator says, “since everyone knows everyone else” and then pauses and looks around the room.  So I said no, I didn’t know anyone in the room. Turns out, NO ONE knew anyone in the room! But not one of those very professional people who were dressed so powerfully said anything. In fact, after the meeting, they THANKED me for being the one to say something.  Are you […] Continue reading