Sewn Products Diva: April 2009

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Week Before the Open House Fashion Show

Blog #3 April 26, 2006

Hello A-Team !!!!

Check out this week’s picture. There are 6 designers there. Left to Right. Upper to Lower, I can only name 3. Can you name the rest???? Let me know. Send me an email.

#1. Donatella Versace. #5. Madeleine Vionnet. #6: Coco Chanel.

Check out the best link ever!!! I put a new link up under Fashion News. Check out the site: Fashion Windows. It is a wealth of information concerning fashion designers (past and presnent) + fashion news + more !!!!!

I also put up more info under Jobs and Career. Things to know when you are laid off.

What an exciting week we have coming up!!

Embroidery:

We have some students who are finished with their fashion show feather shirts. We have some that are not. For those who are ahead, let’s bring some cutaway and solvy and do a stitchout on stretch velvet. I gave the green velvet to you a while ago. Check your stash….. This will be fun to do. I now have 4 repaired embroidery machines + the Viking Rose. Come to class and let’s practice !!!! If you still need a shirt to embroider feathers on, let me know. I have two donated shirts that are just waiting to be used.

This is the week we need to make our model list for the fashion show. For the Thursday night class….this is the last class before the show. Our feather shirt fashion show will be at 12:15 PM on May 6th, in room 211 of West City Center. For those of you who can not attend, don’t worry: You can give me your shirt. We have plenty of dress forms that will display with HONOR !!!

Basic Sewing:

We need to discuss our Sample Portfolio presentation this week. Next Monday night…they are due. I know…we are NOT finished, yet. BUT….the Portfolios will look excellent just the way they are!!!! Everyone will be able to see just how much you have learned !!!!!

Patternmaking:

We are in the middle of patterning our first dress. This week we will finish it up by completing the sleeves, facings, interfacings, and adding seam allowances. Then we can cut and sew our toile/sample to check the fit. WHAT FUN !!!! Remember to bring ALL your pattern making tools. It is time to buy the notions for our dress: The notions are listed in the specifications chart on page 131 of our text book. You will need 7 or 9 half-inch buttons, ONE 9 to 12 inch polyester side zipper, and rat/mouse tail (About 1/2 yard). Check your stash !!! If you have not bought your toile/sample supplies, do NOT buy the rat/mouse tail. I bought the class something better to use. Come to class and find out what it is !!!!

This week’s class is the last class before the fashion show. You will need to dress a half-scale dress form for the show with your muslin sloper. I promise to take pictures so that you can see how they were displayed. So don’t forget to bring your dress with your “arm.” I can’t wait to see this all displayed !!!!!!!!

Be persistent in your studies !!!!! Come to class prepared to LEARN !!!!

Make it a GREAT week !!! See you all in class !!!!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Blog #2 April 19, 2009

................ Favorite Picture of Edith Head...........

Hello A-Team !

There is only 2 ½ weeks before the West City Center Open House. It’s getting down to the wire !!!!

Here’s what’s happening in the classes………………

EMBROIDERY:

We are putting feathers on our shirts for the fashion show. The Monday Morning class gets an extra day to embroider feathers. The Thursday Night class gets only 2 more class sessions. NOTE…by Thursday night and the Dean’s approval, we will have 6 more embroidery machines that have been repaired back at the school.

I went to a Fashion Show meeting last week. We are on scheduled to show our shirts at 12:15 PM in room 211. I am scheduled to do patternmaking demos in the doorway of room 216 starting at 10:30 PM.

We also need to decide which Embroidery.com E-class we would like to see in the classroom. This will be a LIVE class over the internet. To communicate with the internet instructor, we will have an 800 phone number.

I have 2 fabulous tips for embroiderers.

Beth tells me that if you do NOT thread the two last loops of your embroidery machine with metallic thread, this will help keep your needle from breaking. Terrific !!!!

Faye figured out how to return to that perfect spot if your embroidery machine can not go BACK easily…if you broke your needle, etc. She hooped a second hoop and restitched out the design until she came to the place where she needed to go. Then she put back her original hoop and finished her design on her sweat shirt !!!! Very Sensible. Very Easy !!!!!

BASIC SEWING:

For the past 2 class sessions, we have been practicing our hand sewing. We did 3 hand hemming stitches on bias, straight grain, and knit. We sewed on snaps, buttons with and without shanks, sequins, appliqués, hooks and eyes. We even practiced thread tacking.

I have an interesting job possibility for someone in this class who is terrific at sewing on snaps. We will talk about this in class.

This week, we will be going back to our sewing machines and samples. We will be practicing seams, darts, rounded corners, pockets, and necklines. The faster we go, the more pages we will have for our Sewing Portfolios. The Portfolios will be put on a table in room 209 for the guests of West City Center’s Open House. I hope those of you, who wanted to, signed up for Sew Pro’s May 9th trip to the LA garment district. I will be on the bus. Call any Sew Pro’s to make your reservation. The bus costs $40. AND we get to stop at L & M fabrics. This store has fabric Floor to Ceiling !!!!!

PATTERNMAKING:

Last week we finished our Master Sloper Patterns consisting of the bodice, skirt and sleeve. This week, we will flat pattern style number 508 from our text books. Now you will see how everything fits together. In the industry, designers are required to pattern 2 approved designs a day. We will pattern it this week. Next week, we will sew it up. Eight students get to display their patternmaking skills on the ½-scale dress forms for the guests of West City Center’s Open House. How Exciting !!!!!

FOR ALL THOSE QUILTERS OUT THERE:

I got a postcard for a new quilting store opening up in Escondido. There website address is: http://www.quiltersparadiseesc.com/.

There is a Long Beach Summer Quilt Festival on Saturday, July 25, 2009. There will be a bus to go up there. See http://www.travelingquilters.com/ for more information. (I will NOT be able to make this trip.)

I have added to the links on the blog. I have added specifically to the Career Resources Link and to the Sewn Product Link. I do hope these links help you with your personal goals.

Make it a GREAT week !!! Come to CLASS !!!!!

Joan McKenna

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Blog 4-12-09

Blog #1 April 12, 2009

Hello A-Team !!!

I do hope you like the new A-Team format. I don’t have to worry any more about the size of what I write. I can add pictures. I can put links in the links place on the blog and/or in the blog itself. Everyone who has a computer can read this. I won’t get any returns from the Mail Administrator any more. (I was beginning to see him way too often.)

The blog needs followers. Please sign in below. It is okay if you do not want to add your picture. The more followers, the more I will be aware of how big my audience is…on a continual basis.

So Enjoy !!!!! As always, my classes are open entry/open exit so if you decide you want to join….come on down to West City Center on (3249) Fordham Street in Pt. Loma. I have NOT figured out how to remember how to use the Yahoo Account, (yet), for email. I am sure, I will understand more as time goes on. For now…if you need to contact me, use my home email address: mckenna@gothere.com.

Embroidery:

Last Week: We embroidered on Coffee Filters. This was very fun to do. We practiced our feather stitchouts. Next week we will be working on our “feather” shirts. So I hope you used Spring Break to get a shirt and take out the underarm seam. All week long, I have been working on my butterfly suit. I have ½ of a huge (8 ½ inch square) butterfly done on the back. When I finish it, I will bring it into class one last time…to show you what it looks like before I sew back the under arm seams.

This week, I will bring in my stitchouts. One stitch out took me 8 hours !!! (Yes, I slowed down the machine to do this.) You may want to learn this technique during the summer. It is called reverse appliqué. I bought the design from http://www.designbydawn.com/ This is also where I get hot-fix crystals. You can take a look at the Ulysees butterfly at http://www.designbydawn.com/1CrystalEmbDesigns.htm . Scroll down to the bottom of the page. The design is $27.00. Well worth it. You learn SO much when you do it !!!!!

Over Spring Break we held our NO HOST dinner at Chevy’s in Del Mar. It was terrific!!!! Darin Anderson of http://www.embroidery.com/ is SO knowledgable !!! I just can’t thank him enough for coming and speaking to all 16 of us !!!!! What a treat !!!! It was most exciting to learn how he started in this business. Life takes so many different twists and turns!!!!

Basic Sewing:

Last Week: We learned how to do some special hand stitches. We practiced hemming with the slip stitch, blind stitch and my personal favorite: the catch stitch. You will find that this is the most versatile of the three. If you missed this class, you will find these 3 hemming stitches in most sewing books. Practice them in woven straight grain fabric, woven bias grain fabric and in your knit. There are tricks to be learned, so coming to class is a good thing.

This Week: we are going to learn how to sew on closures: Snaps, hooks and a variety of eyes, holed buttons, and shank buttons. There are a variety of ways to do this. AND they all work. No one way is the proper correct way. Come to class and learn ONE way. I MAY have a guest who will show you another way. Bring your hooks, eyes, buttons, snaps, needles and thread.

Patternmaking:

Last Week: Slopers and Muslin Toiles were due. Everyone had their turn putting their muslin toile sample on the half-size dress form and critiquing it.

This week, we will be correcting our master sloper patterns in preparation for learning how to flat pattern your first dress. (Note: As soon as I figure out HOW…I will be starting a glossary of industrial sewing, fashion, and marketing terms in one of the links on the blog. Keep an eye out for it. (You will find that wherever you learned your skills; that is the terminology that you gravitate to. As an example: I went to fashion school in upstate New York. I now in San Diego. Hence my language is East Coast….)

I need to give a giant thank you to Gitta. She cemented the final details for the summer patternmaking course, during the break. What fun we had !!!! We went to Parkway Plaza afterwards. What an experience !!!! Retail sizing is ALL over the board !!!! Unbelievable !!!

Inspiration!!!!

On Sunday, April 26, from 10-3 PM. 1274 Chestnut Avenue. Carlsbad, CA 92008. There is a Spring Show and Sale of ArtWear !!!! These are true San Diego artists. This is the group where I bought my fabulous holiday sweater. (Picture above)

There is a special San Diego Event that you all need to see. This was and is very inspiring. I went to see the cows !!!! Go !!!! See what it is like to walk the streets of LA Jolla (Girard and Prospect). Check out all the sales !!! Here is a link so that you can see what I am talking about. Then you will udderstand the above picture. http://www.cowparadesandiego.com/.

Quote of the Week:

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller

With the final quote, I want to leave you with one last picture. The lights were going in the new WCC parking lot the week before Spring Break !!!! Remember the parking lot is supposed to be ready to use on April 20, 2009. (1 week !) Can’t wait to see what they accomplished during Spring Break !!!!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

April 10, 2009 NO HOST Dinner

Remember to RSVP by Monday, April 6th, 2009 to come and hear Darin Anderson of Embroidery.com speak about: How We Can Be Successful and Help the Industry. Be there at 4 PM for the chat and NO HOST Dinner. Chevy's on Via Del Valle in Del Mar, California. Check out Chevy's Website: http://www.chevys.com/. Remember: No Classes next week. Spring Break. Come back to class week starting Monday April 13th, 2009.

Class Etiquette Guidelines

Read & Observe

1. The instructor truly does have a hearing loss. Some names will never be pronounced correctly no matter how hard I try. Ambient noise causes me to disconnect when I answer questions. (As a flower child of the '60's I did really stupid things that caused this to happen.)

2. Unless stated otherwise in class: Student attendance and completed project(s) are required for a Certificate of Participation/Completion in each course AND for the Sewn Product Business Program. You may attend the classes and NOT receive a certificate or be involved in any program.

3. The ADMINISTRATION requires a minimum of 26 registered students PER CLASS. If the numbers drop, I can’t guarantee the class will remain open. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO COME TO EVERY CLASS, EVERY WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE CLASS PERIOD, or you may cause the class to close for yourself and the rest of the students who want to attend.

Following is the new Continuing Education Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance is expected in all classes in accordance with the approved class schedule. Any student absent for three consecutive class meetings may, at the discretion of the instructor, be dropped from the class. Those students receiving financial aid or Veteran’s benefits must comply with the attendance requirements specific to those programs. Some instructors may have attendance requirements that are specific to the class or program. These requirements will be found in the class syllabus. Students should direct questions regarding class attendance to the instructor at the time they enroll in the class. Non-fee classes may be closed when student attendance falls below a required level. Students are urged to be in regular attendance and to assume, through regular attendance, the responsibility for keeping the class in session.

4. There will be time, AFTER every class, for individual help. To ensure these needs are addressed, please put your name on the whiteboard, in descending order.

5. It is prohibited to use cell phones, beepers, cassette players, radios, a Walkman, etc., while in class.

6. The WCC room 209 computer is NOT for personal use. In case of personal emergency, please ask permission to use the computer.

7. The WCC computer lab computers (room 203) are NOT for personal use. If there is a waiting list to get into any of my courses, and you just want to come and use the computers to surf, view your email, or chat on line, you will NOT be welcomed back into class.

8. Be prepared to be an active participant in class discussions and lectures. Take notes! Jot down your strategy concerning your trials, experiments, stitchouts, and outcomes. This will provide guides to fall back on for years to come, and prove that learning is accumulative.

9. Respect the rights of other students, faculty, staff, tutors and their positions. During lectures and discussions DO NOT ask for or OFFER personal assistance. There will be NO SEWING MACHINE USAGE during lectures, demos, and discussions except for “Sew-Alongs.” Individuals that want to hold private conversations with other students need to take the conversation outside the classroom so that it will not disrupt the learning of other students. The instructor may STOP class and ask you to hold your conversation outside.

10. Civilized, pleasant, and cooperative behavior is expected during class. Any disruptive or hazardous behavior will NOT be tolerated. Notification will be made through a personal conference or official notification from the school.

11. Faculty members will assign seats when deemed necessary.

12. Due to the size of Room 209, layouts cannot be done here. You will need to find space for the cutting of your sewn product. You may choose to cut on the floor in the hallway. You will know that your layout is correct because the instructor will check it. Then the cutting may be completed at home.

13. There is a wide assortment of home sewing machines, tucked away in Room 216. Straight stitch: Bernina, Pfaff & Janome. Sergers: Imagine & Bernina, plus one Evolve set to a 3 thread cover stitch. Dedicated Embroidery machines: Decos and one Accent. These machines will be signed out to each student, each class period, along with their respective BOBBIN CASES. Ask the instructor where the “Sign Out” book is kept, if it is NOT next to the Class Attendance Verification Form (CAV). The faculty and other sewing students expect the school's machines to be returned to room 216 in good working order when you are finished.

14. Bobbins are considered a supply. You need to purchase these specifically for the sewing machine you intend on using. Example: Pfaff bobbins for Pfaff machines. Bernina bobbins for Bernina machines. Janome bobbins for Janome machines. You can NOT use a Pfaff bobbin in a Janome, etc.

15. If a machine has an equipment repair order (ERO) taped to it &/or a red dot, DO NOT USE THAT MACHINE. ……….. If you suspect that there is something wrong with the sewing machine you signed out, the first thing to do is rethread the machine. 99% of the time, threading is the problem. If that still does not fix the problem, there are Equipment Repair Orders (EROs) in a pocket in the sign out book. You will need to fill one out. The machines are all numbered. The forms are easy and fast to use. Give the completed form to the instructor.

16. ALWAYS carry your machine in its carrying case from room 216 to where you are going to set up, if there is one assigned to the machine. If you are going to be brining in your own machine from home, buy a carrying case!!!! This will save you money in future repair bills. It is nice to get sewing machine luggage on wheels. Check with your sewing machine dealer- FIRST. Check Joanne's with a 40% off coupon. Check http://www.bluefig.net/ or call them: 1-800-688-8442.

17. There are 12 industrial sewing machines in room 209. You may ONLY use them, if you have a Certificate of Training on file in the classroom. If not, and you want to learn HOW to use these machines, I will be teaching how to do this when I teach the Sewn Product Business Program. (Course Title: Sewn Product Business II: Sewn Product Production.)

18. Joan's PERSONAL loaned books and videos are due back the following week during class. No Exceptions! Please ask and sign out any of these before taking them home. Example: If you borrow a book on a Tuesday, the book is due back on Tuesday the next week.

19. You MUST clean up your workstation and the floor before leaving the classroom. Leaving early is no excuse for not doing this.

20. It is a very good idea to label all your personal tools and supplies. Colored ribbon is a good visual queue but a name permanently inscribed is strongly advised. This insures that if something is left behind, it can be returned to the proper owner. This should be done before the item is brought to class.
21. Be PREPARED to work in class. Bring your projects, sewing supplies, Schmetz/Klasse universal size 14/90 needles, notions, notes, pens, text, 2 Gig USB, etc., to each class. The instructor can NOT be relied upon to supply you with anything.

22. If you miss a class or a handout, you need to obtain "hard" copies from a classmate. Many times, the instructor gives handouts electronically. ALWAYS carry your 2 Gig USB with you.

23. If you cannot come on a FANDANGO FIELD TRIP, it is okay. Fandangos are not part of the class. They are thrown in “extras” that the instructor feels you would benefit from. Don’t worry if you can’t make the fandango.

24. I have attached additional Commandments to the original 10 Commandments, which will help you start, and accomplish a safe and honorable sewing experience. #11 – 20:

The Ten Commandments of Sewing
(The first Ten are Too Good to Mess With)
© 2011 Joan McKenna

XI Safety First*
XII Respect Thy Grainlines
XIII Seam Lines are Second Chances for Perfect Fit
XIV Thine Iron is Thy Friend
XV Listen to Critiques & Opinions, Then Choose Thine Own Path
XVI Mastery Cometh through Experience
XVII Mistakes Present Opportunities for Creativity
XVIII Expose Thyself to Historical & Technical Sewn Product Inspiration
XIX Size all Patterns with Thy Client's Name
XX First Sewn Product Collections Should be Kept Small & Manageable

SAFETY FIRST*: This instructor would rather yell and have you quickly stop what you are doing, than see you get physically hurt. I do not want ANYONE to suffer bodily harm in this classroom.

San Diego Community College District: Continuing Education

VISION STATEMENT

San Diego Continuing Education strives to be the Nation’s leading career development, college preparation, and life-long learning provider.

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide the highest quality learning opportunities, preparing diverse individuals for a prosperous career, a successful college experience, and a life of great achievement.

PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

San Diego Continuing Education is a multicultural institution dedicated to providing educational access and lifelong learning opportunities. Our commitment is to all students who come through our doors, without regard to their academic skill or life’s challenges, offering innovative, high quality instruction and student support services. We believe that people have the capacity to change and that education can positively transform individuals, enriching their lives and contributing to our community.

CORE VALUES

We, the Continuing Education faculty, staff, and administration of San Diego Community College District, acknowledge our responsibility to society and believe that access to lifelong learning is a cornerstone of a democratic society. We consider it our duty to anticipate changing demands in education and welcome the opportunity to shape the future. We place students at the center of all that we do, supporting and promoting excellence in their endeavors. We affirm and embody pluralism; we value collaboration and shared decision-making; and we honor creativity and innovation.

CORE STRENGTHS

• A commitment to student success.
• A dedication to educational access through an affordable education.
• A professional faculty, staff, and administration.
• A diverse and motivated student body.
• A promise to facilitate student success from any starting point.

Business Relationships

Eight Essential People Skills By Lee Hopkins

PlatinumManagement psychologist and skilled communicator,

Lee helps both businesses and individuals communicate better for better business results. Recognised as one of Australia's leading business communicators, ... ...

Being able to communicate effectively with others requires people skills, and here's eight essential ones:

1. Understanding people People not only come in all shapes and sizes, but they come with different personality types as well. You may want to brush up on how to communicate with the four main personality types by reading this article. Indeed, dedicated students of communication could do little better than purchase Bem Allen's excellent introduction to personality types, 'Personality Theories'.
People are individuals, with as many similarities from one person to the next as differences. To communicate most effectively, each will require you to communicate with them in their own individual preference style, using their language, their body gestures, and their pace and intonation.
So how do you find out how best to communicate with someone? Spend time with them! Don't expect to meet someone off the street and talk intimately with them within a minute. Understanding a subject takes time -- whether that subject is an academic one or another human being.

2. Expressing your thoughts and feelings clearlyOur brains can only take so much information in at any one time. We are bombarded with messages every second of the day, so to compete with the barrage of 'noise' a person faces, your message needs to be clear, succinct and to the point.
It is very worthwhile taking time to plan your communication -- no matter by what method it is delivered -- to ensure that you are taking the least amount of time to express the right level of thought in the most receptively simple manner.

3. Speaking up when your needs are not being metJust as important in business relationships as in domestic ones, speaking up to ensure that your needs are met is a fundamental part of any relationship.
You may wish to read this article on assertive, not aggressive, communication, but in a nutshell there are six different ways you can be assertive and not aggressive in your communication: by rehearsing your behavior prior to the communication; by repeating your communication (the 'broken record' technique); fogging; asking for negative feedback; tentative agreement with negative feedback; and creating a workable compromise. Assertiveness is a useful communication tool. It's application is contextual and it's not appropriate to be assertive in all situations. Remember, your sudden use of assertiveness may be perceived as an act of aggression by others.

4. Asking for feedback from others and giving quality feedback in returnAlongside assertiveness techniques, the giving and receiving of feedback is a key communication skill that must be learnt if you want to have any hope of developing long-term business relationships. Toastmasters International teach a useful feedback and critical review technique -- first give a sincere compliment, follow this with any practical suggestions for improvement, then wrap up with further sincere praise. It is known as 'CRC', or 'Commend, Recommend, Commend', a three-step model for excellence in giving quality feedback.
Remember, too, that truthfulness is a subjective view. What you may find distasteful in someone may be equally desirable from another's point of view. As I learnt, by living through a series of IRA atrocities in England and watching the US political and media reactions, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

5. Influencing how others think and actWe all have the opportunity to influence how others think and act. All the way from Cialdini's Persuasion principles down to simple violence (of a verbal or physical nature), we are daily able to shape the thoughts and actions of those around us.
From something as simple as smiling and saying, "Hello!" as a way of influencing someone's mood, to leading by example during an intense period of change, there are many ways of either leading to or drawing out of others required behaviors and attitudes.
Remember that an attitude leads to an emotion, which in turn leads to an action. Shape the attitudes and you have a more reliable way of predicting actions.

6. Bringing conflicts to the surface and getting them resolvedI confess: I'm not a 'natural' at handling conflict. It's taken marrying into an existing family of three children to help this only child come to terms with conflict.
It's taken me three years of living in my family to realize it's possible to co-exist in conflict and not get personally involved. But it wasn't an easy lesson to learn, I can tell you!
But being a step-father to teenage children has helped me learn the importance of bringing conflicts and resentments to the surface where they can be more easily managed.
Your employees might be harboring secret resentments of you, and unless you find out what they are, bring these 'dark secrets' out into the light of day, you are never going to be able to successfully deal with them. It's embarrassing, potentially humiliating and requires a strong level of patience not to launch straight into a defensive mode, but giving people the opportunity to express their concerns, disappointments and anger, face-to-face, gives you tremendous opportunity to put things right, or help them see where their thoughts and feelings are misplaced.

7. Collaborating with others instead of doing things by yourselfI'm a shocker at this, but learning to delegate and share has been instrumental in growing my own business.
The quickest way of burying yourself in excess detail and workload is to try and do everything yourself. Yet sharing the workload can be the smartest thing you will ever do. Here's why: 'Leverage'. Leverage is taking your skills and abilities and allowing others to magnify your work capacity. You train them to do what you do and you do something else.
One bricklayer can only lay a certain number of bricks in an hour, but that same bricklayer can train 15 mates to lay bricks and suddenly those 15 bricklayers are building monuments while the first bricklayer is out securing more work for them.
While the 15 are laying bricks, the original bricklayer can be learning how to perform advanced bricklaying, or learn sales strategies, or learn supervision skills. The lesson is simple: try and do it all yourself and the 'all' will bury you; teach others to do what you do and you build a monument. Jesus taught 11 men how to do what he did. Then he left them to carry on while he moved on to other things. From the simple act of one man teaching 11 others, a church and the largest, most influential religious movement the world has ever known was born.

8. Shifting gears when relationships are unproductiveSometimes you need to walk away. Sometimes you need to jettison unhealthy cargo. And sometimes you need to take drastic steps to regain balance and momentum.
'Shfting gears' can be as simple as changing the venue of your supervision meeting from a dark office to a nearby cafe. Sometimes it can be moving the meeting from straight after lunch to first thing next morning, when clearer heads might prevail. Sometimes it can mean increasing the level of assertiveness in order to ensure the point you are making is being received. Sometimes it might mean bringing others into the meeting so that the other person understands the implications of their attitudes or actions.
And sometimes it can mean helping them find a more meaningful and satisfying role outside of your sphere of influence. As a management psychologist I clearly remember one organisation I consulted to: the only way out of a staff impasse was to remove the impediments to progress. Which meant helping key protagonists find new work outside of the organisation. Sometimes culture change can only be effected in a quick way by bringing in an entire new team and throwing away the dead wood. But only as a last resort.

Conclusion: The whole idea of being people skilled is knowing or finding how to bring out the best in others in any situation, rather than their worst. By mastering these eight essential people skills you dramatically increase your chances of achieving the best outcomes out of your interactions and business challenges. When you match consumer psychology with effective communication styles you get a powerful combination. Lee Hopkins can show you how to communicate better for better business results. At Hopkins-Business-Communication-Training.com you can find the secrets to communication success.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Week Before the Open House Fashion Show