The "Other" Skills Of A Good Ringmaster

Salary.com recently had an intriguing article about the Seven Signs You Have Terrible People Skills. The article has some fantastic and somewhat humorous points, but what caught my attention is the concepts of "hard" vs. "soft" skills and how as one grows into higher positions of leadership, the soft skills are the ones that become more critical.

Here's a circus example. The Ringmaster is doing a solid job announcing the acts and keeping things moving. They have strong "hard" skills like organizing, public speaking, etc. During intermission, however, a few small children walk up to the ringmaster and attempt to engage him in conversation. Even though he is 6 feet 3 inches tall he doesn't kneel or attempt to get down to their level. He talks about himself instead of asking the children questions and being interested in them. The result? Instead of the children skipping away with joy about meeting the ringmaster, they leave confused because they aren't seeing the same person they saw during the performance. This ringmaster is weak in "soft" or people skills.

As we say often in training programs, YOU are the ringmaster of your circus. And if your performers or audience seem less than thrilled with your efforts, maybe it's not the technical skill or knowledge that's lacking. Perhaps it's your people skills that need more work if you want to be a better ringmaster of your circus.

What Drives Your Performers To Fully Engage?

Do you know... or do you just think you know? Some interesting research compiled by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Their results found 4 key things that caused individuals to give their best effort at work. They were:

• Reviewing and guiding
• Feedback, praise and recognition
• Autonomy and empowerment
• Level of interest the manager shows in the employees as individuals

Now you know. How are you doing?

Skills Needed For The Next Circus

If you have been associated with us for very long, you know that one of the key points we focus on is continuous improvement. One of the reasons we have so many elephants to juggle now is that we did not adequately prepare physically, emotionally, mentally or financially for them before they became so heavy in our life.

That's why the NY Times article, Factories ready to hire, but employers find skills shortage, caught our attention. The writer highlights that manufacturers are beginning to look for new workers, but that that these workers need a higher level of skill than the typical assembly line worker of the past. Some of the key skills needed as highlighted in the article included:

• Operate sophisticated computerized machinery
• Follow complex blueprints
• Demonstrate higher math proficiency than workers in the past

The writer gives the example of a manufacturing facility that interviewed over 3,600 applicants and only found 47 capable of taking the $13-$15 per hour jobs they had available.

Regardless of whether you are employed or unemployed, the article asks all of us to ponder if we have (or need to develop) the skill sets to be successful in tomorrow's workforce. As we say in Juggling Elephants, your circus is only as good as your NEXT performance.

Training Tips From Clowns

Susan Landay is the President of Trainer's Warehouse and visited with us at the ASTD Exposition a few weeks ago. Part of Susan's background is that she was a real clown with Ringling Brothers! She has written a superb and practical article for all of us involved with training entitled, Training Circus. She goes indepth on the following key thoughts:

• KISS-Keep It Simple Stupid
• Make it BIG
• Get in, get the laugh, get out
• Relax and let it happen
• Laugh at yourself

Thanks, Susan!