Powerful Partnerships

As the nation moves away from the election and looks toward the future, we thought that it may be a good time to talk about the power of partnerships. Assuredly many are relieved that elections are in the past. After the barrage of political mailers, signs, phone calls, commercials, and frustrating statements on social media sites, we are all ready to move on to a friendlier status quo. The relentless bickering of election season almost makes holiday shopping sound desirable (perhaps I'm just telling myself that to get motivated).

Now that the elections are over, our political leaders can return their focus to the issues that are important to our culture and community. The ability to pass measures and make change hinges on whether or not our community leaders can work together and agree on certain terms. The ultimate goal of any representative with an agenda is to strive for bipartisan support. Bipartisanship is a desirable (yet hard to come by) situation in which differing political parties come to an agreement on several aspects of an issue. Even politicians know the power of partnerships. 

In the corporate world, partnerships are the pulse of innovation and growth. Start-ups as well as established companies that have stood the test of time put time and resources into cultivating strong relationships with all of their stakeholders (i.e. Investors, strategic partners, employees, and customers). 

Here are 3 reasons why we operate with a partnership based business model:

1. "If you build it, they will come." When Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) began hearing voices in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams even his loved ones began to question his sanity. It seemed illogical and irresponsible for a farmer to sacrifice potentially profitable fields for an unreliable dream. But don't all innovative ideas involve some sort of risk? History has shown that in order to achieve greatness, people must be willing to dream and make bold choices. A partnership that is built on a shared vision and mutual goals has the power to make dreams become a reality. Apple founders Steve Wozniak and the late Steve Jobs would probably attest that common strength, motivation, values, and objectives can quickly turn a garage office into a multi-billion dollar business. 
2. "Two heads are better than one." Any project will have its challenges, so why not approach those challenges with a diverse pool of knowledge and expertise. A partner's strengths and unique background can complement ours, fill in for our own weaknesses, and result in a stronger product or service. The key to balancing the contributions of two or more people is making sure you are maintaining open communication. Problems can erupt when passionate opinions conflict, but a successful partnership will understand the value of different perspectives and strive to reach a healthy agreement.
3. "It takes a village..." The premise of this statement is that a child is raised both in the home as well as in the community. Couldn't the same be said for the growth of a business. Success is not solely determined by internal actions. In fact, in the competitive market, success is ultimately determined by external support, reactions, and popularity of a product or service. Once an organization has lined up effective internal practices, it then becomes important to have a strong external network. An external network can help build brand awareness and can serve as a targeted audience for product demonstrations. The more you partner the wider your network will be, which means you're setting yourself up for an enthusiastic reception and access to resources that may provide some additional constructive feedback. 

At Escoe Bliss, building partnerships is a critical element of our business. We strive for meaningful connections with all of our consultants and strategic partners. Our team of experts is not merely a database of resumes; they are individuals with whom we share project experiences, association connections, and a common network. We qualify each individual in our network as a business partner. Do we have similar strategic goals? Do our communication styles align? Is this someone who operates by the same basic values and ethics that we do? What do clients and colleagues have to say about them?

Similarly, we approach client relationships with the same mindset. In order to provide successful training and communications solutions to meet client deliverables, our team prides itself on understanding client needs, objectives, desired results and team dynamics. Escoe Bliss talent and resources combined with those of our clients serve as the foundation for successful projects and positive outcomes.

The well known historical icon and successful businessman, Henry Ford, once said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Throughout history, partnerships have been the fuel that continues to propel our industries, societies, and bureaucracies forward. We learn, grow, and profit both personally and professionally from cultivated partnerships. Partnerships truly are one of the most powerful forces in the quest for progress. Making room in your professional and personal objectives to care for these relationships will be time and resources well spent. 

We want to hear from you! Share your internal and external experiences and thoughts on the value of powerful partnerships.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this discussion.  All comments will be entered into a drawing for Starbucks gift cards ($20 value). The winner will be announced on the blog as well as our Facebook page at 12 noon (PST) on Wednesday, 11/21/2012.

What better way to say thank you to a partner than sharing a collaborative conversation over a steaming hot latte, tea, or cup of joe?

Connecting the Dots Between "Talented People...Exceptional Service"

If you've seen the home page of our website, our email signature or brand documents, two of the first things you will notice are our company name and motto. Our motto, "Talented People...Exceptional Service," does a great job of summing up who we are and what we do. What about the three dots in between? Those three dots are a quiet yet integral part of the Escoe Bliss brand and motto. They represent the communication and development that take a group of talented people and pull them together into a team that believes in and applies exceptional service every day to everyone the members interact with. Escoe Bliss doesn't have a patent on talented people. Talent is all around us. Talented people are reading this blog, sitting in your offices and conference rooms, and buying your products or services. 

The Escoe Bliss consulting team effectively connects the dots between your people and your service, whether internal or external. Our experts know the importance of each of those three dots, what they mean for your company, and how to transform a pool of talented people into an exceptional and engaged team.

This year the core team at Escoe Bliss headquarters is connecting our dots by utilizing an external, trusted strategic partner to facilitate continued team development and growth. Go Team consists of distinct training modules that can be employed precisely when they're needed -- a just-in-time program. The team can choose which modules will be most beneficial at any given time. We might start with a Setup for Success module (operational guidelines, purpose, goals, or roles), or push the team in areas of opportunity using a See You at the Top module (building trust, sharing leadership, managing change). There are modules that deal with ongoing challenges (communication, decision making, conflict resolution, and more). The program consists of eighteen modules in all, and you can repeat whenever and wherever needed.

To date, we have completed Getting Grounded in Team Basics, Establishing Team Purpose and Goals, and Building Team Trust modules. Each one has done an extraordinary job at leading our team toward thoughtful discussion and has helped create some very relevant outcomes for our current and future business needs and goals. Dedicating just a small amount of our time to the modules has yielded an enormous benefit. For detailed descriptions of the modules and helpful ideas for where your team can start, visit the Go Team website. If you'd like to hear more about our Go Team successes, why we can't wait for our next session, or to learn how to incorporate this custom training solution into your team building call or email us.

Blogging with Bliss contributor Regina Gormanly is Brand Ambassador & Project Coordinator at Escoe Bliss. She finds her bliss by writing and managing content for Escoe Bliss' social media. Regina's love of learning and communication are the driving forces behind her blogs.

Meeting ROI: Seven Steps to Productive Meetings

What time is it? Time for your next meeting? Maybe you just came out of one. Or maybe you’re in one right now and you have no idea what’s being discussed. If so, now would be a good time to look up and nod. OK—continue reading.

Chances are you spend a good deal of your day in meetings. Yes, they cost time. But have you ever stopped to figure out how much money they cost? Think of one of your recent meetings. Jot down the 

• Number of participants 
• Hours spent preparing for, attending, and then reporting on the meeting 
• Average hourly salary for participants plus 50% for labor burden. 

Multiply the three numbers above to find out the approximate cost of the meeting. It’s not cheap. 

Good meetings identify challenges, speed communication, and spawn solutions. Bad meetings waste time and discourage—even alienate— participants. That’s why it’s a good idea to follow these simple guidelines for conducting a good, productive meeting.

1. Decide if the potential results are worth the cost. Do this before you schedule the meeting. 
2. Identify the fewest participants needed to accomplish the goal. 
3. Draft an agenda. Include the goal of the meeting, items (with start/stop times for each), and presenters. Distribute the agenda (use e-mail) before a scheduled meeting to allow participants to prepare for it. Even if it's an impromptu meeting for only a few people, take a few moments to establish an agenda, then stick to it.
4. State the nature of the meeting. Clearly communicate whether the meeting is scheduled to (a) convey information, (b) generate ideas, or (c) make decisions. Few work events are more discouraging than meetings where you expect to make a decision, only to find out you are on the receiving end of a data dump. 
5. Encourage participation. Call out participants individually if they haven’t contributed and ask for opinions. Be prepared for disagreement. If the meeting’s goal were easy to achieve, you probably wouldn't need the meeting. Listen. 
6. Summarize. Clearly define decisions and action items. Be sure that all attendees understand their action items. 
7. Draft minutes. If a meeting is worth holding, it is worth recording. Minutes prevent misunderstandings. Include action items, due dates, and the individuals responsible for them. Spell out a reason for attendees to review the minutes.

Escoe Bliss Professional Resources has an expert team of consultants that can help your company improve processes and operational efficiency. Please contact us if we can partner with you on your organizational needs.

Blogging with Bliss blogger, Dr. Adrienne Escoe, is the president and owner of Escoe Bliss Professional Resources.

Using Your Words: 5 Lessons Your Mom Would Like You to Remember

At a recent Working Wardrobes Leadership Institute event, presenter Vu Pham, Ph.D., CEO of Spectrum Knowledge, gave an interactive and enlightening presentation on Impactful Verbal Communication. Dr. Pham educated the group about why words are so important and discussed the influence that they have in our professional and personal relationships.

This got us thinking, words really are a super power. And with great power comes great responsibility. In 2012, we have many nations in the midst of trying to revive their struggling economies, media is buzzing about the U.S. presidential election, and the world will spend two weeks of the summer watching the London 2012 Olympic Games. Each of these current events is a delicate topic that requires careful and calculated communication choices. 

The way in which leaders, athletes, candidates, and correspondents share information affects our global society. Their words illicit feelings, motivate action (or reaction), and influence ideas and opinions on a large scale. So it only makes sense that their prepared and unprepared statements are scrutinized and debated heavily. It is common practice to analyze the words of those in the media spotlight, because of their public influence. 

Famous or not, every individual has a sphere of influence and though it may be comparatively small, it is certainly not less powerful. Shouldn't we be just as careful and concerned about the messages we are sending to our families, coworkers, and the community? After all, we are defined by our thoughts, beliefs, and feelings and our words are the expression of those things. The power our words have to define us is a very good reason why we should choose them so carefully; we are our words.

Think about your own business or office team. How seriously do you and your coworkers take your word choices when communicating both internally and externally? If your corporate communications came under media scrutiny, would your organization emerge as the inspirational figure with the admiration of millions or as the candidate who let an entire campaign slip through his or her fingers?

Corporate communications can be complicated. There are multiple audiences, with broad differences and interests to consider. Messages are communicated and discussions generated through many different avenues (i.e. meetings, water-cooler discussions, emails, social media, marketing, memos, etc.).

Sometimes the path to success can be found within the simple rules and lessons of life. From the very beginning of development, parents begin teaching children about appropriate and inappropriate communication. In honor of Mother's Day this past Sunday, here are 5 basic rules of communication that would be helpful in any workplace, inspired by the expert on all things good: Mom! 

• Be nice. How many times did our mothers tell us to "be nice"? Moms have a long list of people you should be nice to: your brother or sister, elders, teachers, and your classmates or teammates. If only we could have a Mom recording with us throughout the day at work, imagine how harmoniously teams would work together. Everyone would be listening, sharing, helping, and taking turns. Perhaps it sounds silly, but consider a current challenge your team is experiencing and then break that challenge down to root of the issue. Is the situation stemming from a lack of attention, some selfish behavior, lack of collaboration, or a need to rush things through? Factor "being nice" into the problem and it might not look so bad anymore.
• Be mindful of your "tone" of voice. 
Everyone has those "Na, na, na-na-na," moments, but there's good reason why Moms make a point to discourage this behavior. Author Ira Gassen advises, “Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment.” Furthermore, those thoughts are also very likely to become actions. A recent Forbes article on the effects of social media on communication made an important point that, "...only 7% of communication is based on the written or verbal word. A whopping 93% is based on nonverbal body language." People often say far more with tone and body language than they often do with words. Perception is a complex blend of visual and auditory cues, that may include facial expression, stance or movements, and vocal inflection (just to name a few).
• Don't talk to strangers. Moms employ this rule to keep their children safe and protected from others with bad intentions. In a work environment, this rule applies to gossip and respecting the confidentiality of our projects, internal and external clients, and coworkers. We all need to voice opinions from time to time, but it is important to consider who you're sharing with and what information should or should not be discussed with that person. Food for thought from an American journalist, gossip columnist, and author: "If you wouldn't write and sign it, don't say it." ~Earl Wilson
• Speak up. If you have something to say, say it. Moms are not fans of muttering under your breath and certainly would not want us to stand by idly if we could be a part of the solution in any way. Speaking up doesn't mean speaking over, speaking out of line, or speaking to cause a distraction. At work, we need to speak up to support the team, to encourage innovation, and protect company values and ethics. Your constructive thoughts have tremendous value to the success of your organization; don't stifle them.
• Look at me when I'm talking to you. Not only is this one of Mom's favorite lessons, but it is necessary at work too (It is important to note when doing business, that not all societies perceive eye contact as the sign of respect that we do in the U.S.). If you're hoping to effectively and respectfully convey your message, then you must engage your audience. Give your message and your audience the respect they deserve. Look at them and set aside time for the discussion. The attention you give to your message will have a direct correlation to the response you receive.

Ask any Mom what her paramount wish is for her children and she will undoubtedly tell you that it is for their happiness and success. The lessons our mothers taught us as children about respecting the power of our words are lessons that we need to carry with us into all areas of our lives. By using these basic lessons in the office, with clients, and in the community we will build strong, productive business relationships that will result in success. 

Escoe Bliss Professional Resources can provide expert consulting teams for your organization's communication improvement needs, including change management, leadership development, and training & facilitation. Contact us for more information on how we can help at 949.336.6444.

Blogging with Bliss contributor Regina Gormanly is Brand Ambassador & Project Coordinator at Escoe Bliss. She finds her bliss by writing and managing content for Escoe Bliss' social media. Regina's love of learning and communication are the driving forces behind her blogs.

Faces of Escoe Bliss: Adrienne Escoe, PhD

Who are we, and what makes us tick? Get to know our team and why each member is such a vital part of it.


We are pleased to introduce Dr. Adrienne Escoe.

Escoe Bliss Role/Title: President/Owner
Tenure with Escoe Bliss: Founded Escoe Bliss in 1994
Experience: Human resources, personnel training, documentation, quality assurance, plant services, and administration management at one of the world’s largest companies; senior editor at a national education research and development laboratory; and university teaching
Education: Doctoral degree from the University of Maryland, master’s degree at Loyola College in Baltimore, and bachelor’s degree cum lauda at the City College of New York


Q: You founded Escoe Bliss because you believe following your bliss means doing work you love and creating happiness around you. Which aspect of your life currently brings you the most bliss?
A: Watching and cuddling my pups


Q: What favorite dish do you like to make for guests in your home?
A: Homemade pesto on pasta


Q: How many pets do you have? Tell us about them.
A: Three. Elizabeth Joy (Lizzie) is my first doggie. Like the other two, she is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She is enthusiastic about everything, especially people. Lizzie is 9½ and sleeps more lately, but still runs fast and loves to play. Tinkerbelle is my second and is 8. She was born the runt of the litter (now is the biggest of my three) with health issues. She is somewhat shy, very obedient, and extremely close to people. However, she is a bit of a diva and rules the other two. The baby is Honey Bun and is 5½. She is the funniest pup. She shows up in unexpected places, like on the bottom shelf of the kitchen island or under the cover of the outside grill

Q: What is your favorite holiday? Why?
A: I love them all. Any chance to celebrate joy is my favorite holiday


Q: What activity exhilarates your spirit?
A: Oh, so many! Gardening, especially digging in the dirt and pruning. Cooking. Doing NY Times Sunday crossword puzzles with minimal cheating. Reading non-fiction about lots of different topics, such as the origins of the great department stores, palm trees, Italian cheeses, hatmaking, poison bottles, ancestry, and lots more. And traveling to places that have a rich history


Q: What super-power would you most like to have, and why?
A: The ability to fly. I am impatient by nature and would love to avoid traffic congestion, lines, and wait times at airports and other places, and being confined to other people’s schedules


Q: If you were given the opportunity to travel the world and didn’t have to worry about cost, which countries would you travel to first?
A: Italy, Moldova (where my father was born), and England (to visit the area where Beatrix Potter lived)


Q: You've suddenly been given access to a time-machine. Where and when would you travel to?
A: I’d like to travel to my first five years of life, including my birth (with the consciousness of an adult). I’d also like to peek at the earth in about 500 years to see how technology has developed and to find out if by then people have figured out how to be peaceful

Harnessing the Power of Self-Directed Teams (continued)

Installment 2: Customer Focus

For all winning suppliers, but especially for self-directed teams, customers come first. Every process, every decision, every brick on the road to success is paved with team members’ understanding of the needs and wants of their external and internal customers. Without direct feedback from customers, team members often struggle with decisions based on wobbly foundations, or waste time pondering customer satisfaction based merely on assumptions.

You say, “Of course I know what my customer needs and wants!” But when was the last time you asked your customer? Direct data can be powerful.

Survey your customers’ needs and wants (they are not necessarily the same) regularly and help your team define its goals accurately and deliver relevant solutions—or decide not to waste time courting a customer if the couple is a mismatch.

Surveys can be as elaborate as multiple-call-back phone interviews with open-ended questions or as simple as one-item feedback cards. (Close-ended questions can be answered yes or no.) Or surveys can be as varied as in-person focus groups and individualized web-based instruments or as uniform as paper-and-pencil scan forms.

• Telephone surveys with many call-backs often yield the most useful information because of the lowest likelihood of skewed data. Other survey methods, such as web-based or paper-and-pencil, typically under-represent some groups―such as very busy people―or over represent others, such as folks with time on their hands. Many telephone surveys also allow, or even encourage, participants to explain their responses or ask for clarification.

• Focus groups help draw information from participants, but the data they generate may suffer from contagious viewpoints. Focus group surveys often are impractical to administer to large groups of customers within a limited timeframe.

• Electronic surveys typically require a smaller budget to administer, and large quantities of data can be processed with greater accuracy. However, electronic survey results often are skewed according to the computer literacy of the participants completing the survey.

• Paper-and-pencil instruments may be the better choice for customers who have limited access to technology.

Self-directed teams use the results generated by customer satisfaction surveys to reinforce current processes, or to realign or heal those that ail.

For best results, before you administer your next customer survey, conduct a pilot with just a few participants. Uncover and fix or replace any confusing, biased, or non-value-added instructions or questions.

Tune in next time to see how self-directed teams use goals and performance metrics to deliver superior results.

Featured Blogger Dr. Adrienne Escoe is President and Senior Consultant at Escoe Bliss Professional Resources whose varied background ranges from classroom teacher at all levels, including kindergarten through graduate school, to corporate multi-department manager, R&D laboratory senior editor, widely published author.