Monday, August 06, 2007
Setting the Tone
I volunteered for my friend Miriam who was the coordinator for the last Harry Potter book party at a major book seller chain.
When the cashiers finally were allowed to open up, there was a collective, “Whooop!!” among the hundreds of people in line. Many had come to the store in the afternoon to get their number of place in line.
A fellow screamed frantically into the microphone stating which numbers were next to be admitted into the store. He was a tired, burnt out employee. “NUMBERS 150 to 200!#!@!*!” He did that with the next several groups until I found Miriam.
I suggested that she let him know that he sets the tone by using that frantic, out of control, crazed tone. The people in line were already excited and tired – was he adding to the fun of the evening or setting things off in a negative direction? Although he felt the same, the next messages were delivered with strength and warmth.
ANY time you speak, you are an actor delivering your message in the best way possible for others to receive it; it doesn’t matter what is going on with you. If it is appropriate to tell what is going on with you - just deliver your message in a way that can be most easily received.
I volunteered for my friend Miriam who was the coordinator for the last Harry Potter book party at a major book seller chain.
When the cashiers finally were allowed to open up, there was a collective, “Whooop!!” among the hundreds of people in line. Many had come to the store in the afternoon to get their number of place in line.
A fellow screamed frantically into the microphone stating which numbers were next to be admitted into the store. He was a tired, burnt out employee. “NUMBERS 150 to 200!#!@!*!” He did that with the next several groups until I found Miriam.
I suggested that she let him know that he sets the tone by using that frantic, out of control, crazed tone. The people in line were already excited and tired – was he adding to the fun of the evening or setting things off in a negative direction? Although he felt the same, the next messages were delivered with strength and warmth.
ANY time you speak, you are an actor delivering your message in the best way possible for others to receive it; it doesn’t matter what is going on with you. If it is appropriate to tell what is going on with you - just deliver your message in a way that can be most easily received.
