Sept 7, 2009 Monday Mastermind Show

Friday, September 4th, 2009
by Joe

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Getting One-on-One

For any of you who are raising a teenager, you know it’s a whole new challenge. I recently took a family vacation and over those six days of camping with my son Alex, magic happened! He talked! No, really, he did!

Take away the cell phone, video games, and skateboard and what else is there to do but talk! We hiked three miles, drank from a pure cliff stream, and biked seven miles through the paved wilderness.

I’ve realized something through this. Even though our kids tell us “I don’t want to talk about it,” they really DO want to talk about it. I learned more during one bonfire with Alex than I learned in the entire month of June. It’s so important to create opportunities for our kids to spend one-on-one time with their parents–especially when they’re the oldest and are asked to take on adult responsibilities like babysitting and helping out with younger children.

I think even in business we need to get one-on-one with as many of our people as we can. I suggest a scheduled time. Your associates will really look forward to it and will eventually open up to you. It’s about creating an atmosphere for open communication and allowing it to happen naturally.

Put that schedule together for one-on-ones!