Are you good at thinking on your feet?

When someone springs a question on you that requires an immediate answer, use PREPO to organize your thoughts quickly and concisely.

Point: First, make your point. This is your major statement and should cover only one idea.

Reason: Next, give your reason for making the point. By answering the question, “Why do you say that?” you can expand on your first statement.

Evidence: Third, offer supporting information. You might include data, demographics, and examples that reinforce your point. Evidence should be specific – it’s where the proof lies.

Point: Now make your point again. Good evidence will lead you directly back to your main point. Use the same words, or better yet, rephrase your point – but don’t change your content or attitude.

Outcome: This is a quick, action-oriented wrap-up. Use it to state an action you’ll take, something for your audience to do or simply to balance and close your argument.

Source: Minding Your Business, by Carolyn Dickson. Published by VOICE-PRO, Inc., 216-932-8040.

How do you manage burnout?

It actually may be helpful to re-think this question. You might want to ask, "How do you manage to keep the fire burning". Then you can define what it takes to keep a real fire burning: Fuel, Oxygen, and Heat. Then if you analogize the fire to business or relationships, you can think of:

• Fuel = resource to keep yourself or your business running
• Oxygen = what it takes for you or your business to keep breathing at a good rate
• Heat = what is your personal or business passion

Since these answers differ by each person or business, each person must ask:

• "What resources do I need to keep going?"
• "What do I need so that I don't get "winded"?
• "How do I stick to my passion?"

If these questions are not answered properly, the fire may "burn out", and then you have a completely different question about "starting back up"

What are some leadership-related quotes?

Here are a couple of quotes:

“Leadership is Influence - John Maxwell

“Leaders bring in what is outside; Managers draw out what is within” - First Break All the Rules, Marcus Buckingham

Which words reveal someone willing to take risk?

You can judge co-worker risk threshold by listening carefully to their choice of words.

Low-risk-tolerance language clues:
• “I don’t like to make waves”
• “What do I do if things go wrong”
• “I don’t like to work without specific instruction”

High-risk-tolerance language clues:
• “I like the freedom to do a job the way I think it should be done”
• “Detailed instructions don’t always produce the best results”
• “We’ve got to be able to accept great change.”

Source: Paul Dunphy, Design Label, East Lyme, CT 06371.