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This & That

Modern Mythology

Mr. Peanut. Amadeo Obici founded the Planters Nut & Chocolate Company in 1906, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Roasted and salted peanuts were still new to most Americans, and the company was an immediate success. As it got bigger, Obici decided he need a logo. In 1916, he sponsored a contest to find one. The winner: 13-year-old Antonio Gentile, from Suffolk, Virginia, who submitted a drawing of "a little peanut person" and get $5 for it. A commercial artist took Gentile's sketch, added a hat, cane, and monocle (to lend a touch of class to the lowly legume), and Mr. Peanut was born. The elegant gentle-nut made his debut in 1918, in The Saturday Evening Post.

Source: The B.R. Institute Reader,The B.R. Institute, PO Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520

"Quotables"

On Being There:

Well, sir, I met you this morning, but you did not come; however, I'm determined to meet you tomorrow morning, whether you come or not.

A challenger to a man who didn't show up for a scheduled duel, reported by nineteenth-century British writer J.C. Percy

Source: The 176 Stupidest Things Ever Said, by Ross and Kathryn Petras, Doubleday Publishing, 1996.

Dealing With Worker Plateaus

What can you do when excellent workers get restless because they're ready to advance and you have no openings? Suggestions:

• Treat them as experts by seeking their opinions as often as you can on plans and processes. It's vital that they feel they're contributing to the organization's future.
• Let them "own" tasks. Give them the freedom to handle a job from beginning to end - with no instructions from you. You might even label the tasks with their names. If possible, put them in charge of an out-of-the-ordinary assignment.
• Make them trainers. They surely know many jobs inside and out. That makes them the perfect choice for teaching new hires. And they'll feel a sense of accomplishment when they do so.
• Ask them to serve in special ways. Examples: Assign them to an organization-wide committee, such as safety. Have them plan an annual event or other activity.
• Offer them supplemental training. Examples: CPR, fire safety, first aid, computer repair.

Source: Human Side, a supplement to Leadership for the Front Lines, Bureau of Business Practice, 24 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford, CT 06386.

Entice Audiences to Listen

Consider these techniques for adding power to your next presentation:

• Shorten it. You'll improve your chances of getting a good rating from audience members if you spend less time in front of them.
• Speak in threes. Have three main points. Use sentences that contain threes -verbs, nouns or pronouns, for example. Reason: Trios provide a natural rhythm, harmony and balance to what you say.
• Ask rhetorical questions. The pause for a few seconds to let audience members ponder what you've said. Reason: Allowing them to mentally answer focuses them on your message, increases eye contact and builds rapport.
• Avoid overusing visual aids. Slides or overheads that fail to add something new, ask a relevant question or clarify a point are bound to bore.
• Steer clear of saying "In conclusion…" Reason: The words signal that you're about to end, and if you don't your audience will stop listening. Instead, use your voice tone and content to let them know you're nearly finished.

Source: Joan Detz, writing in Communication World, International Association of Business Communicators, 1 Hallidie Plaza, Ste. 600, San Francisco, CA 94102.