Charm School for Surveyors
Presented by: Dennis J. Mouland, PLS
UCLS Conference
2014
Course Goals
• Discuss who we are vs. who others think or
perceive us to be
• List some areas of concern
• Identify other resources for improving our
“charm”
What do you mean, CHARM?
• People send their kids to a charm school to
have them “polished” or “finished”. In this
sense “charm” is defined as to influence the
senses or mind of others by some quality or
attraction.
• In a similar way, have you ever considered
the impact various aspects of your behavior
have on clients, employees, or supervisors??
Have you ever heard????
• “People judge you by the
way you speak…“
• A radio ad run throughout
the last 15 years for
“Verbal Advantage”
training programs.
• Is it true???
• Is it fair?
• Does it matter?
• “Dress for Success”
• A book and training
program for
executives on how to
influence others
simply by how you
appear.
• Is it true???
• Is it fair?
What Influences YOU?
• Look of an
advertisement
• Appearance of an
office
• Language of a person
• Habits of a person
• Vehicle appearance
• Spelling errors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Poor vocabulary
Cultural icons or habits
Flaunting exhibitions
Manners or lack thereof
Whining people
“Attitudes”
“Issues”
Hidden agendas
Oliver Herford
(American Poet 1863-1935)
• “I don’t recall your name, but your manners
are familiar”.
It does matter….
• The success of your business is very
much tied to appearances of you, crews,
office, and equipment.
• Impressions are made at every turn,
every moment, whether you like it or
not.
• If you can truly afford to lose some
business, then go ahead and “be
yourself”
Being a Phony??????
• Does this mean we should put on certain
“airs” which are not really us?
• Or is it about making small but significant
changes in our habits, operations, and
appearance that might assist us in our
business?
• People are judging you; do you really want
them to get the wrong idea?
How do you react??
• When you see the messy
office?
• When you see sloppy
dress and behavior?
• When you observe
uncouth behavior or foul
language?
• When someone lights up a
smoke in your office?
• When you see a huge
billboard advertising
lawyers for hire?
• When equipment has a
damaged and uncared for
appearance?
• When a person’s cultural
or religious actions invade
your space?
Four Areas to Discuss
•
•
•
•
Communication skills
Presentation of self
Presentation of business
Presentation of the profession
Communication Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Public speaking (more than just speeches)
Vocabulary (modern phonics taking over?)
Spelling (a test of education and IQ?)
Grammar (becoming a lost art?)
Written formats of letters and memos
Technical reports (propheshunal er knot?)
Manuals and other instructions
Parts of a Speech
• Introduction
– Use some short story, joke, lead-in to get their
ATTENTION!
• Specific Purpose Statement
– Tell them what you’re going to tell them
• Body
– An organized set of points, leading to a logical
ending
• Conclusion - Drive the nail home
Common Spelling/Grammar
Errors
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Your vs. you’re
Sight vs. cite vs. site
To, two, and too
There, their, they’re
Receipt
Dependent
Straight, strait
• Where is the rule
about ending a
sentence with a
preposition at?
• What it is?
• Orientated vs. oriented
• Scared vs. ascared
• Watch current ads…..
An example of poor review
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rarely ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
It's letter perfect in it's weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Presentation of Your Self
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Dress
Grooming
Habits
Demeanor
Reactions to adversity or surprise
Priorities expressed by time and money
Schedule
Display of Work Ethic
Presentation of Business
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Advertisements
Outside of building
Main entrance
Signs
Front office
Desk space
Conference room
Sweat shop area
Presentation of the Profession
• Do you have a responsibility?
• Who you are in your community says
much.
• Participation in civic and charitable
groups.
• Relations with other professions.
What Can We Do?
• Start Paying More Attention
• Ask a neutral party to assess your office
• Get involved in your community groups (CofC,
Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc.)
• Join Board for non-profit group
• Join TOASTMASTERS
• Identify needs and programs that will improve you
• Make a commitment
“Sharpen Your Saw”
(Stephen Covey’s 7th Habit)
• A commitment to the
process of constantly
improving yourself
• Being involved in
your community as
well as your
profession
• Being a leader in
charm, class, wisdom,
tact and attitude.
Ever Consider What Potential
You Have to….
• Add POWER to your technical
expertise?
• Be a POSITIVE influence on all those
that come in contact with you?
• Become a LEADER in your profession,
community, office, and home?
• You don’t have to be the boss to be a
leader!
It Really is Worth It!!!!
• It takes courage and maturity to admit
you have a need to improve
• Your profession, your business, and you
yourself deserve to be the best you can be
• TAKE YOURSELF TO THE SURVEY
CHARM SCHOOL
• Who are you? And who do you want to
be?
Charm is about……..
•
•
•
•
•
•
Professionalism
Intelligence
Wisdom
Class
Respect for self
But mostly……….
It is about caring
about other people!
Do you REALLY care?
?
• Thank you for your
attention and input on
this subject-
We wish you the
very best in all your
endeavors!