Defining Pilates…and Its Benefits to You

By Michaela Sirbu

The Pilates Method of body conditioning has become one of the most talked about methods of fitness in recent years. Its popularity has spread from New York City, where the originator of the method opened his Pilates Studio in 1926 to Hollywood movie stars, and on to people from all walks of life. Featured on countless magazines, TV shows, and currently on the shopping network, Pilates is becoming a household name.

WHAT IS PILATES?

The Pilates Method is a complete philosophy of training the body and mind to achieve balance and control in the most efficient and healthful way possible. It is a dynamic, progressive system of stretching and strengthening exercises, which employs mat routines and specially designed equipment.

Joseph H. Pilates (1880 – 1967) developed this system in the early 1900’s to improve his health and to support the health of fellow World War I internees. Inspired by both Eastern and Western philosophies of training, Pilates combines the mental focus, stretching, and specific breathing of Yoga with the use of energy in Martial Arts and the physicality of gymnastics, swimming, bicycling, mountain climbing, diving, and other sports. Specific routines have been developed for all levels, from beginners to advanced, and most movements can be modified by a knowledgeable instructor to suit individual needs.

THE BENEFITS OF PILATES

Under the watchful eye of an instructor, you will experience a workout that progresses from the inside out and touches every muscle in your body. Low repetitions of controlled movements are performed with precision, concentration, and control, targeting specific muscle groups without reaching exhaustion. Breathing accompanies the movements and promotes circulation of freshly oxygenated blood, which contributes to the healing of muscle, tissue, and joints. When practised regularly, Pilates helps develop lean, toned and balanced muscles, incredible abdominal strength, improved posture, reduced stress, and a feeling of rejuvenation and vitality.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PILATES METHOD?

Any one who wishes to improve his or her overall health and well-being can benefit from Pilates. Those in need of rehabilitation as a result of chronic pain or motor vehicle accidents are noticing tremendous improvement in their physical ability and general state of health.

At the other end of the spectrum, Pilates provides an effective training system for conditioning and performance for dancers and athletes from a wide range of disciplines. For example, members of the National Rowing team have attributed their improved performance to incorporating Pilates in their training regimen.

While gaining incredible popularity with adults, the Pilates Method is of equal benefit to children.

Michaela Sirbu is a certified Pilates instructor and the owner of Symmetria, 150 Kent Street, London, Ontario. Phone: (519) 642-2162 or email: info@symmetria.com

Published in Networking Today, August, 2003.

In the Groove for Better Productivity

By Barbara Bartlein

The happiest and most productive employees are those that can get into a “flow” with their work, according to studies featured in the new book, Authentic Happiness. After years of surveying folks who were sad, researchers are focusing more attention on what makes people happy. What they are finding has interesting implications for the workplace.

Life satisfaction and increased productivity occurs most often when people are engaged in absorbing activities that allow them to forget themselves, lose track of time, experience intense focus, and stop worrying. Termed “flow,” by the researchers, this phenomenon is the same that musicians, authors, and artists experience when they state; they are “in the groove.” They no longer think about each note, word, or brush stroke, it happens automatically as they focus on the task at hand. The actual production becomes effortlessness; they flow to make it happen.

Ironically, many worksites in corporate America are designed with interruptions, unclear priorities, and meaningless meetings that do little but stop the flow from ever starting, frustrating employees that are attempting to get into a groove.

Some things you can do for better productivity:

• Close your door. Arrange your workday so that you have several hours of uninterrupted time to focus. Impossible? Then you need to restructure your work time differently. Have one day per week that is available to meet with your direct reports, instead of people just doing the pop-in. If you want an “open door” policy, make it at designated times. This makes everyone more efficient.
  
  
• Cancel meetings. Or at least evaluate their worth. Lack of a clear objective is the leading complaint of 1000 business people surveyed about meetings with over 40% saying that the purpose wasn’t clear. Another 22% complained the meetings did not start on time. If you must have a meeting, outline the goals before the agenda and keep everyone focused. Begin and end on time with decisions and outcomes clearly identified.
  
  
• Avoid the tyranny of the urgent. Too often the “emergencies” in corporate America are simply a lack of planning by customers, both internal and external. Be careful not to bail out colleagues simply because they did not prepare properly. And always make sure to charge a premium amount for “urgent” client work to: (a) make it worth the trouble and (b) train the customer that they have to pay extra for this level of service.
  
  
• Control electronics. You don’t need to answer the phone whenever it rings. Let calls go to voicemail and answer them at a designated time. You can even let colleagues know that you are best accessed at a certain hour, e.g., “For your convenience, I am most readily available at 3:00 p.m.” Resist checking email every hour or so. Once or twice a day is usually sufficient and don’t forget to block out the spam to save time.
  
  
• Schedule large projects. Do you have something big on the horizon that really needs the “flow?” Arrange special time to do it. Let everyone know that you are unavailable and out of commission. See if you can arrange to work at home to minimize interruptions.
  

Promote the “flow” with your work. Remember, efficiency is intelligent laziness.

Sign up for Barbara's FREE email newsletter at www.barbbartlein.com.

Barbara Bartlein is the PeoplePro™. She helps businesses sell more goods and services by developing people. She can be reached at 888-747-9953, by email at: barb@barbbartlein.com or visit her Web site at www.ThePeoplePro.com.

Published in Networking Today, August 2003.

Stop Telling Customers How Great You Are and Start Showing Them!

By David Friedman

If you're in the business of satisfying customers, the only thing that matters is what you DO!

It's almost a cliché to see and hear organizations advertise to prospective customers about how great their service is. As if somehow, great customer service were just that...bragging about how much you care. You see it all the time, no matter if you're at the car dealer, the bank, or the grocery store.

We've all heard the sage advice that "It's what you do, not what you say." "Actions speak louder than words." "Deed, not creed." "Talk is cheap."

If you're in the business of providing positive customer experiences for your firm's clients, this concept is critical to understand. So why do so many businesses continue to make the same mistake?

What these businesses don't realize is that today's consumers are pretty sophisticated operators and they see through such marketing noise for what it is. In fact, if your business is bragging to customers about how great your service is, but your staff doesn't deliver to those promised expectation levels, one could argue that such puffery actually does more harm to your brand than never having promised anything at all! I can think of plenty of times I've been frustrated at a service experience only to notice some cheesy service promise on their literature or receipt about (insert high pitched, whiny voice) "how valued I am." It's the definition of irony. I assume some clever ad agency or marketing genius wrote the copy without giving any thought at all about how an unhappy customer would actually be insulted by it down the road.

The things which matter most in the customer satisfaction business are the specific actions and techniques your organization employs to demonstrate your commitment to your customer. Think about your situation for a moment. How well do your daily actions demonstrate your commitment to your customer's happiness? Do you spend more time telling customers how much you care? Or actually working to solve their problems?

For an excellent real-world example of this phenomenon, examine Nordstrom. The Seattle-based retailer is on many people's short list of impressive service providers. Yet, when was the last time you saw or heard an ad from Nordstrom gloating about how high their level of care is? They don't need to because they let their actions do all the talking.

Nordstrom has figured out one of the bedrock principles of winning the customer satisfaction game: Invest very little in bragging about how good you are and put lots of resources into demonstrating how much you care. Because demonstrating how much you care is the only thing that matters to your customers.

Sure, Nordstrom likely spends more than the industry average by taking back merchandise that wasn't bought from them or sending handwritten thank you cards or tracking down far-flung merchandise requests that other retailers might only laugh about. But in the long haul, they've obviously found it very worthwhile. There are tremendous economic payoffs with these acts. People are astounded by the service and they like to tell other people.

Customers doing your bragging for you? Now we're on to something meaningful! As you interact with customers, give some thought to how your organization can be the subject of a positive service story in the future.

David Friedman is Vice President of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training, a twenty year old provider of products and services which improve the way organizations communicate with their customers. Visit our website at www.telephonedoctor.com for more information.

Published in Networking Today, August 2003.

How to Stand Out When Sitting On a Panel: Twenty-five Tips for Power Panel Participation©

By Karen Susman

You've been invited to speak on a panel with other leaders in your field. You plan to just show up, sit behind a table and fill your allotted five minutes with off the cuff remarks. What a painless way to look like a big Kahuna.

Panel participation takes unique preparation. Otherwise, you won't shine. Either your light will be snuffed out by high wattage leaders, or you'll blaze so brightly, the audience will wonder why you think you're so hot.

First ask:

1. What's the theme and purpose of the meeting and the specific topic of the panel?
   
   
2. Who else will be on the panel? Contact the other panelists. Discuss their appearance goals and individual viewpoints.
   
   
3. Who's the audience? Why are they attending and what do they want to hear?
   

Define ground rules such as:

1. What are the format, time frame, seating, room arrangement, and order of panelists? Are you first to speak, last, or middle?
   
   
2. Will there be opening remarks? If so, how long will they last? Who will introduce you? Be sure to send your introducer a brief introduction. Bring a copy with you. Ask the introducer to read your introduction exactly as you wrote it.
   
   
3. How will the question and answer period proceed? Will questions come from the audience members or from written questions? What determines which panelist answers a question?
   

Prepare your message:

1. Since each panelist has a message, make yours powerful and to the point.
   
   
2. Discover in what order you speak. If you're first, you don't know what the others will say. You can't react to what they've said because they haven't said it yet. On the other hand, going first lets you set the tone. You make a strong first impression. If you go last, you can comment on the others' remarks and have the last word.
   
   
3. Direct your remarks to audience needs and wants. Work the room first to learn what attendees want from the panel.
   

Be memorable:

1. Listen intently to the other panelists. Refer to their remarks (As Bob said earlier...).
   
   
2. If another panelist states a good idea, expand on that idea.
   
   
3. When you speak, maintain eye contact with the audience instead of with the other panelists.
   
   
4. Look at the other panelists when they speak.
   
   
5. Don't speak every time an issue or question is raised. But, do speak up. Be aware of how much time you're speaking.
   
   
6. Don't get into a debate with other panelists. Keep audience needs in mind at all times.
   

Answer questions effectively:

1. Restate questions.
   
   
2. Break questions into parts. Answer the easiest part first.
   
   
3. Ask questioner to clarify questions.
   
   
4. If you don't know, say so. Be brief. Don't give another speech.
   
   
5. Expand on someone else's answer. For instance, "Before we move on, I'd like to add something to what Joe just said."
   

Leave a lasting impression.

1. Develop quotable sound bites.
   
   
2. Provide a simple handout on your letterhead.
   
3. Offer to hang around for questions.
   
4. Offer more information in trade for a business card.
   

Now, you're ready to take full advantage of this opportunity to showcase your expertise. Welcome to big Kahunaville.

Karen Susman coaches individuals and groups on presentation skills. She speaks on Humor, Life Balance, Networking and Building Community Involvement. Her guidebooks on these topics are $5 and can be ordered at www.karensusman.com. Her free e-zine offers monthly tips on presentation and other success skills. Sign up at www.karensusman.com or at karen@karensusman.com.

Published in Networking Today, August, 2003.