Two Magical Words for Best 21st Century People-Skills
by Kate Nasser | 18 Comments »
Two recent experiences gave me insight to update this post (original was June 2010) to include even more value of the two magical words. Enjoy this post and the updates shown below in green.
As you read the title of this post, two magical words for the best people-skills (also known as soft skills or interpersonal skills), you might immediately think of please and thank you. While these classics are still very valuable people-skills words, they are superseded by two words that are magical even when you just think them.
Could the two words be:
Trust & respect? Admittedly crucial yet just thinking them doesn’t necessarily produce great interactions.
Intuition & connection? Some people have little intuition yet they learn great people-skills.
What are the two magical words for the best 21st century people-skills?
Magical Words for Best People-Skills Source:Istock.com
“What If”
What if … helps you consider other people’s views.
What if … bonds with diverse customers.
What if … delivers unique customer care.
What if … engages and empowers employees.
What if … builds bonds on teams.
What if … leads people out of the fear of the unknown.
What if … frees you of the limits of your own perspective.
What if … encourages people to think outside-the-box.
What if … allows a fresh start after poor performance.
What if … opens people’s minds to constructive criticism.
What else does this magical two word phrase do? Or do you have another favorite two word phrase for the best 21st century people-skills?
Kate Nasser, The People-Skills Coach, brings her insights to your organization in workshops, webinars, and dvds on profitable people-skills for teamwork and customer care. See her in action Kate Nasser video footage.
Kate,
Awesome post. What if? The possibilities are endless. Very inspiring.
Brock
Hi Brock,
Those two words “what if” have gotten me through very tough times and also inspired me when the good times returned. They have given me a new way to live. So glad that you found it inspiring as well. If you are on Twitter, please let me know. Would love to “follow” your posts there as well.
Thanks and best regards,
Kate
Another great post Kate!
I’m not sold on “what if” being magical BUT these two words are diffently engaging and imaginative. People like Walt Disney often said “what if” and his Disney parks are still considered the bench mark of both customer service & empowering their employees
I just hope “what if” doesn’t get lumped into workplace expressions to bury
keep up the good work
Skip
I hope the same Skip. It won’t if the workplace doesn’t try to package it and feed it to everybody in signs, presentations, etc… It’s something leaders can model for their teams and each person comes to see the value in a real way — not a “new them” way.
Kate
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joan Koerber-Walker, Metro Studios, Lisa J. Ellis and others. Lisa J. Ellis said: RT @CorePurpose: Two Magical Words for Best 21st Century People-Skills – http://bit.ly/bO3Fjo Great post by @KateNasser [...]
“What if” is a great lead in for achieving buyin also… rather than stating an idea as a done-deal, must do, approaching it with a “What if” lead in allows stakeholders to process it as a possibility, a suggestion, and come up with images and thoughts and possibility thinking.
So very true Shannon. Another magical result.
Kate
I love What If, Kate, and I agree 100% that they are magic. Gosh, think of what’s been done because someone said:
What if we could fly?
What if we could eliminate Polio?
What if we could make a computer smaller?
Of course the downside is when someone says two very scary words in response: “Who Cares?” or “No Way.” I still weep for the effect of these two words on a potential boon to those who are without sight.
Years ago my brother, who is, for lack of a better term, a Mad Inventor, said to himself “What if there was a device that could enable people who are blind to better use their ears to ‘see’?” The inspiration was, of all things, an old Star Trek episode in which a non-sighted character wore a net of sensors like a piece of clothing, which enabled her to move about freely without a cane or a guide. He thought it was neat, and he wondered why no one looked into it. On his own, he developed a prototype mechanism that used ultrasound to bounce back signals from both stationary and moving objects – like sonar, only portable. He built his prototype in his own lab, and came up with a clunky but functional hand-held thing that I actually tried out, and it worked. The user would have to learn to distinguish among the various sounds, sort of like what the Navy trains its sonar operators to do. Even a “civilian” can learn the basics with practice – back in my college days I worked summers as a telephone operator (clearly this was before direct dial and cell phones), and I had to learn to identify the sounds of different coins being dropped into a pay phone.
He approached associations focused on the blind with the prototype, and got the dreaded “Who Cares?”, for the astonishing reason that “Those who are without sight would be offended by the concept that they needed this machine.” Eventually he had to abandon it as he had used his own funds to develop the concept and model, and he needed to focus more on supporting his family. There may very well be similar devices now, but this was at least 20 years ago, and I think about how many people might have had easier lives had someone said “Why Not” in response to “What if?”
Oh the limitations that humans create which make life difficult! Thanks for the contribution and the story Pattie.
Kate
what if ….. the world comes to an end tomorrow
what if …….. you have not done anythng to be proud of
then what if the questions are endless and answer few, however if each one of us use this phrase once a day the world would become a better place
It is so very true. It puts us all in positive thinking mode with an openness to create for the better. Many thanks Bharathi.
Kate
The vision for a better future always begins with this question: What if? In fact, it drives my entire workday. What if we could know what our customers REALLY wanted? What if we could deliver the answers where they are? Great post, Kate! Thank you.
Tristan I admire that you start your day with this thought. A learning culture in every org. can be driven by these two words. I even look at most difficult moments and say “What If” I look at this differently or do something different to change this. Phenomenal.
Many thanks for your contribution.
Kate
I started my career by doubting and underestimating myself initially but then soon started asking What if? I asked ‘What if I fail at it?’. And the worst answer I could give myself was ‘Who cares?’
So I went ahead into technical writing and the rest is history
Ashish,
What a great story. You inspire others with this experience and are living proof that “What If” leads to many great things. Thank you — very much — for sharing this here on “Smart SenseAbilities” blog. I hope you will visit again and tell of your experience on any post of interest.
Warmest wishes and have a great weekend.
Kate
Kate,
“What If” must be what they say everyday at Microsoft…and thank God they do…What If we didn’t have the internet! Here’s to all that say “What If..” The possibilities (or probability) are endless!
Great post…re-posting today! Thanks…Teri
Many thanks Teri for your contribution here and the re-post.
Kate
HELLO ,
What if we did not have high morals and principles we believe in and work with it? Must conform with the principles work! I mean it has to match what is in us with our behavior shown to others!
What if we Incenttia really .. that good opinion of others and wish them such as what we wish for ourselves?
With the acceleration time and the convergence of distance and time and concern for rights has become difficult to apply these assumptions simply because it is all around you busy!!!
Sorry for the length of the reply ..
NASSER ALNOISER
SAUDI ARABIA
Specializes in Psychiatry