How to Raise Your Curiosity Quotient, Boost Productivity and Make Life More Interesting

Professional Marketing Associates Posted on by

more curiosityHow was your weekend? Did you celebrate Thanksgiving with family? Were you traveling, or did you host a group at your house? Were you successful at avoiding any political arguments with your brother-in-law?

And why am I asking all these questions, anyway?

Honestly, I hope your holiday was fun and fulfilling, whatever you did. But I’m asking these questions to demonstrating one of the best ways to boost your curiosity quotient.

New research published this October shows that the more curiosity you have about a topic, the better you’ll remember what you learn about it.   Continue reading →

What’s the Secret Sauce for Team Building?

Professional Marketing Associates Posted on by

team buildingHave you ever used photo-editing software? Sometimes just a slight adjustment in contrast or exposure can make dramatic improvements, simply by bringing out more of what’s there already.

In business organizations, small shifts in attitude can also bring about big changes too. Consider this amazing data from the Gallup organization: Employee engagement increases from 9% to 73% when company leaders focus on supporting employees’ strengths. Continue reading →

4 Reasons Active Listening is So Powerful

Professional Marketing Associates Posted on by

active listeningProducers spend lots of time talking with clients and prospects about all kinds of things. Every conversation is another opportunity to build a connection and have real influence. And the practice of active listening lets you make that connection stronger in multiple ways.

Active listening – rephrasing another person’s words to confirm what they’ve said – helps you to be sure you’ve got the details right. It also gives people confidence that you’ve understood what they meant, and that’s just the start. Continue reading →

Your Next Great Account Could Be Hiding In a Very Unlikely Place

Professional Marketing Associates Posted on by

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAs this year winds down, you might at some point be taking a look at the new accounts you’ve written in 2014. Where did the leads for those accounts originate? Trade shows? Association memberships? Webinars or seminars your agency presented?

Referrals from your clients are always one of the best sources for new business leads. But there’s one other, maybe surprising, place where your next great account may be just waiting for you to show up. Continue reading →