Post by Stacey Fraser on Nov 2, 2021 12:06:55 GMT
Worksheet #2
Telling the Story
Alfredo Salazar, the president of Fluffy Bedding, calls a special meeting to let his employees
know about the success of the company’s new website and to express his appreciation. These
are two different ways he might want to make his presentation. Answer the questions as well
as you can after both examples. Which presentation do you think works better? Why?
Example 1:
Thanks to the dedication of our marketing staff, Fluffy Bedding was able to launch its new webs
site in record time. Customer response to the site has been excellent and orders have
increased by 10% since its introduction two weeks ago. Our free pillow promotion has had
great success at encouraging our customers to order from the online catalog. Here’s a check to
show our appreciation. Thank you for your hard work!
Who are the people involved in this venture and what do you know about them?
We know that the marketing staff are involved but nothing else about them as individuals or as a group.
What problem were they trying to solve?
It appears they were trying to launch a new website, with the goal of increasing business/orders from the online catalog.
What actions did these people take to meet the challenge?
We really don’t know what actions were taken, other than offering a free pillow.
What were the results of their actions?
Online sales did increase by 10%. The employees got a “check” as a show of appreciation.
What is Alfredo Salazar’s relation to his employees?
There is no hint of the employees being anything more than those in a group.
Example 2:
I was working late one night and when I left about nine, I noticed a light on in the marketing
office. Now, normally, Christine is out of there by six because she has to make dinner for her
kids, and Frank has his Tuesday night basketball game, which he’s never missed for as long as
I’ve known him. But when I peeked in they were both in there, eating cold fast food, looking a
bit work, and cranking out one idea after another. They told me no matter late they had to stay
they were going to come up with something within the next day that would knock my socks off.
Sure enough, the next day when I got into work at 7:30, they were already here with big smiles
on their faces. They had worked the night before until they were exhausted, and Frank had
actually fallen asleep. Well, that was the spark for the idea that’s turned out to be the best
marketing campaign we’ve ever had. “Shop until you drop” and get a free pillow for late night
shopping. They had even taken photos to show us how the ads would look, with Christine in
bed, shopping the web on her laptop, soft pillows all around her. Because of their hard work
and creativity, we were able to get the website up and running one week early and customer
awareness is sky high. So, in honor of Frank and Christine, here are the socks they knocked off
me, fully laundered, and here are some unlaundered checks as tokens of our appreciation.
Who are the people involved in this venture and what do you know about them?
The people were Christine and Frank – Christine usually leaves by six for make dinner for her family and Frank has basketball on Tuesday nights. Both are usually gone but stayed late to work on the project, promising results by morning.
What problem were they trying to solve?
They were creating a marketing campaign to increase sales and launch a new online shopping opportunity.
What actions did these people take to meet the challenge?
Both Frank and Christine worked late coming up with a promotion and marketing campaign. They even took pictures to show how the ads would look.
How did they accomplish the task?
They accomplished the task by being dedicated employees, using innovation and creativity, and by being determined to not let Alfredo Salazar down.
What were the results of their actions?
The ad campaign was able to be launched a week early, awareness of the website was evident, and “they” got checks of appreciation.
What is Alfredo Salazar’s relation to his employees?
It is obvious there is a personal component to the boss and employee relationship. Mr. Salazar used personal references and genuine appreciation. They are part of a team and more to Mr. Salazar than just the folks from marketing.
Which presentation do you think works better? Why?
Telling the Story
Alfredo Salazar, the president of Fluffy Bedding, calls a special meeting to let his employees
know about the success of the company’s new website and to express his appreciation. These
are two different ways he might want to make his presentation. Answer the questions as well
as you can after both examples. Which presentation do you think works better? Why?
Example 1:
Thanks to the dedication of our marketing staff, Fluffy Bedding was able to launch its new webs
site in record time. Customer response to the site has been excellent and orders have
increased by 10% since its introduction two weeks ago. Our free pillow promotion has had
great success at encouraging our customers to order from the online catalog. Here’s a check to
show our appreciation. Thank you for your hard work!
Who are the people involved in this venture and what do you know about them?
We know that the marketing staff are involved but nothing else about them as individuals or as a group.
What problem were they trying to solve?
It appears they were trying to launch a new website, with the goal of increasing business/orders from the online catalog.
What actions did these people take to meet the challenge?
We really don’t know what actions were taken, other than offering a free pillow.
What were the results of their actions?
Online sales did increase by 10%. The employees got a “check” as a show of appreciation.
What is Alfredo Salazar’s relation to his employees?
There is no hint of the employees being anything more than those in a group.
Example 2:
I was working late one night and when I left about nine, I noticed a light on in the marketing
office. Now, normally, Christine is out of there by six because she has to make dinner for her
kids, and Frank has his Tuesday night basketball game, which he’s never missed for as long as
I’ve known him. But when I peeked in they were both in there, eating cold fast food, looking a
bit work, and cranking out one idea after another. They told me no matter late they had to stay
they were going to come up with something within the next day that would knock my socks off.
Sure enough, the next day when I got into work at 7:30, they were already here with big smiles
on their faces. They had worked the night before until they were exhausted, and Frank had
actually fallen asleep. Well, that was the spark for the idea that’s turned out to be the best
marketing campaign we’ve ever had. “Shop until you drop” and get a free pillow for late night
shopping. They had even taken photos to show us how the ads would look, with Christine in
bed, shopping the web on her laptop, soft pillows all around her. Because of their hard work
and creativity, we were able to get the website up and running one week early and customer
awareness is sky high. So, in honor of Frank and Christine, here are the socks they knocked off
me, fully laundered, and here are some unlaundered checks as tokens of our appreciation.
Who are the people involved in this venture and what do you know about them?
The people were Christine and Frank – Christine usually leaves by six for make dinner for her family and Frank has basketball on Tuesday nights. Both are usually gone but stayed late to work on the project, promising results by morning.
What problem were they trying to solve?
They were creating a marketing campaign to increase sales and launch a new online shopping opportunity.
What actions did these people take to meet the challenge?
Both Frank and Christine worked late coming up with a promotion and marketing campaign. They even took pictures to show how the ads would look.
How did they accomplish the task?
They accomplished the task by being dedicated employees, using innovation and creativity, and by being determined to not let Alfredo Salazar down.
What were the results of their actions?
The ad campaign was able to be launched a week early, awareness of the website was evident, and “they” got checks of appreciation.
What is Alfredo Salazar’s relation to his employees?
It is obvious there is a personal component to the boss and employee relationship. Mr. Salazar used personal references and genuine appreciation. They are part of a team and more to Mr. Salazar than just the folks from marketing.
Which presentation do you think works better? Why?
I think the second presentation is by far the stronger presentation, more encouraging, more personal, and more impactful. Adding the personal spin, the humor, and the honoring of the people involved in a personal and creative way really resonates with me and empowers me.
Activity #2: Encouragement or Discouragement – Post in Module #3
Scenario #1: Your assistant sent an important memo to your boss that had a number of embarrassing errors. She’s usually very efficient, but sometimes she does too much at one time and she’s made mistakes like this before.
Positive response: “I know you are so busy right now, as are all of us, and things can tend to get away from us, but I do really need us make sure we are taking the time to ensure communication is clear, effective, and correct, as it does reflect on us both. Please, in the future, I would be more than happy to read your communication to ensure all is correct before you send it.”
Scenario #2: You catch some of your team members talking about last night’s football game when they should be working on a very important project that’s due the next day. Everyone’s been working hard on it for a week.
Positive response: “Hey guys, I know it was a great game and I would love to rehash it with you later, after we have meet this really important deadline. In fact, I really look forward to astounding you with my knowledge of the game, rubbing it into your faces – but later after we have all earned it! Now, let’s go get to work!”
Scenario #3: An employee, who’s otherwise reliable has missed a deadline for the second time in a month. This happened before when her mother was sick but this time she didn’t give a hint of any problem until it was too late.
Positive response: “ I am so worried about you! You rarely ever miss a deadline. If there is something going on, please let me know how I can help. I don’t like you feeling stressed, which is obvious, so anything I can do to help, please let me know. “
Scenario #1: Your assistant sent an important memo to your boss that had a number of embarrassing errors. She’s usually very efficient, but sometimes she does too much at one time and she’s made mistakes like this before.
Positive response: “I know you are so busy right now, as are all of us, and things can tend to get away from us, but I do really need us make sure we are taking the time to ensure communication is clear, effective, and correct, as it does reflect on us both. Please, in the future, I would be more than happy to read your communication to ensure all is correct before you send it.”
Scenario #2: You catch some of your team members talking about last night’s football game when they should be working on a very important project that’s due the next day. Everyone’s been working hard on it for a week.
Positive response: “Hey guys, I know it was a great game and I would love to rehash it with you later, after we have meet this really important deadline. In fact, I really look forward to astounding you with my knowledge of the game, rubbing it into your faces – but later after we have all earned it! Now, let’s go get to work!”
Scenario #3: An employee, who’s otherwise reliable has missed a deadline for the second time in a month. This happened before when her mother was sick but this time she didn’t give a hint of any problem until it was too late.
Positive response: “ I am so worried about you! You rarely ever miss a deadline. If there is something going on, please let me know how I can help. I don’t like you feeling stressed, which is obvious, so anything I can do to help, please let me know. “