Step Up And Create Your High Payoff Meetings

There are times in business when it gets complicated sorting out why a team gets stalled. I've had clients who were facing so many competing issues they couldn't figure out where to start: their strategy, their capabilities, their products or services, and so on.

With those companies, we often have to feel our way through as I sort the issues and help them prioritize where to start the Change process.

And there are other times when there is a clear starting point.

I'm working with an organization that knows exactly the challenge they're facing and the impact it's having on their business.

They've been sitting for hours in management meetings with very little managing or problem solving taking place. Can you imagine what it was like for them to see my slide with a calculation about the cost being over $1,800,000 in lost productivity?

Their breakdowns are a result of inexperience with practices that make individuals and teams effective. While several of them have been entrepreneurs, they now need to work at problem solving with peers. Many of them are used to being responsible for getting things done during business turnarounds and are unfamiliar with delivering on both the competing priorities of 'normal' work and client emergencies.

Most of them are in their role as division heads for the first time in their careers. They're grappling with the endless stream of challenges and paradoxical conflicts faced at that level in businesses. They know they've been less productive and much less effective than they ought to be as a team and as leaders of their employees.

A month ago I observed two days of management meetings - nearly twenty hours in which perhaps 4 hours of actual work got accomplished.

I pointed out to them that since the root of their breakdowns is not personality differences but "know how," the work I'm doing with them is to give them new tools and techniques, sort of like new hand rails, shoes and stair treads, they'll use every day.

They love the fact that what I'm teaching them is immediately valuable to them in their management meetings. AND it's also immediately useful in other settings, including their work with their own direct reports.

Because their behavior is so easy to spot when they're in their management meeting, that's where we started this week. I spent 16 hours with them 'first describing the techniques of running high payoff meetings, then doing some role playing, and then taking it straight into the rest of the meetings they had planned.

Here are 3 quick tips they learned to make your own meetings more effective and productive, immediately:

Tip #1 Have a purpose for the meeting before it begins

While these folks started their meeting with a schedule that showed a list of topics, they usually launched straight into discussions without any stated goal for any of the conversations.

Now they're stating clearly at the beginning of each conversation whether the purpose is to clarify an issue that has come up, to identify potential solutions for it, evaluate efforts underway, or come to agreement about specific actions and accountabilities.

Stating the purpose at the beginning is helping with the next tip...

Tip #2 Have the right people at the meeting

Usually, five or six members of the management team sat through hours of discussions that had no relevance for their own work in the company. Everyone was at the table "just in case" it might be useful. So they were spectators rather than contributing to the work.

Now they're planning each agenda item ahead of time, including inviting those who belong at the table and excluding people who have nothing to add.

Having the proper group to work on the matter means they can absolutely achieve the next tip...

Tip #3 Stick to the topic

When half the people in the room sat observing, they often tried to contribute ideas so the time didn't appear to be wasted. Yet their 'helpful' comments derailed conversations into explaining details already known, or addressing tactical ideas when the discussion was strategic, and so on.

Now they're holding their conversation among subject matter experts and people responsible and accountable for the results. Their conversations go deeper yet take one quarter as long as before. They're stepping up to a new level as issues that had languished without progress for months are being worked on in the next 30 days.

The entire team is very clear about the high payoff return they'll be getting using those new practices.

Management expert, consultant, and coach Linda Feinholz is "Your High payoff Catalyst." Linda publishes the free weekly newsletter The Spark! to subscribers world-wide and delivers targeted solutions, practical skills and simple ways to build your business. If you're ready to focus on your High Payoff activities, accelerate your results and have more fun at it, get your FR'EE tips like these visit her site at www.YourHighPayoffCatalyst.com

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Interior Stair Parts Moulding, Staircase parts

Staircase is a great housing decoration. While placing an order for your staircase parts it is important for you to know the names and roles of every stair part, so as to avoid confusion and regrets. However, a stairway may appear to be a simple construct but when looked closure it is divided into various parts to attain its actual shape.
A stairway can be constructed from many types of material such as granite, marble, concrete, plywood, combination of metals and wood. Nowadays, a great variety of wood is used for the construction of wooden staircase parts like oak, pinewood, ashwood, maple, teak, etc.

A stairway is divided into two main parts:

First, from which the staircase is made up like
stringers: an inclined part that supports the stairway,
treads: horizontal part of the stairway that is stepped on,
risers: vertical parts of staircase, and starting step: first step above the floor.

Second, forms the balustrade – a complete system of blusters and railings, which constitutes the
balusters/ guards/ spindles: a staircase parts that provide protection on the open sides of a stair,
newel posts: a large baluster or posts used to anchor the handrail,
the handrail: an angled stair part for handholding,
the easements: pass the handrail between different pitch angles, and
the goosenecks: are vertical handrails that joins a sloped handrail to a higher handrail.

With more knowledge about the types of stairs, its parts and material trends, it gets easier for you to decide on the stairway design you want according to your taste and possibilities. For your benefit today, many online stair supplies are also available for your quality stair parts purchase. The best place to get the knowledge about the latest trends in staircase parts is internet and without wasting your time you can even order for your wished products.

A wide range of high quality, sophisticated and ornamented interior staircase parts are available on these online stores to give you best services for every purchase with a click.

Staircase is a long term investment like a house and should be constructed very satisfactorily. You can beautify your stairway by using latest designs of interior stair parts from beautiful shoe molding to decorative railings.

Call a stair parts specialist today for help with stair designing and developing the list of Stair Parts and stair hardware needed to make your home a beautiful stair creation. For further information on Staircase Parts visit at www.stairsupplies.com.

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A Handicap Stair Lift - Is it Right For You?

The handicap stair lift brings real domestic independence for those who are disabled or handicapped in such a way that they find it difficult to walk up or down the stairs. But before you buy one, for you or someone else, you should spend sometime in evaluating the exact requirements of the handicapped user of the stair lift and whether it is the right solution for their disability.

The design of stair lifts is improving all the time and many manufacturers pay special attention to the needs of the handicapped. However, they aren't always going to be suitable for every disabled person; using one might be too uncomfortable or even dangerous depending on the nature of the handicap. Here are some considerations when purchasing a handicap stair lift.

Can they lift themselves on to the stair chair lift?

If the person uses a wheelchair can they independently transfer themselves from the wheelchair to the chair? If they can't then it might be more appropriate to consider a wheelchair chair lift, although these types of device are rarely suitable in domestic homes as the width of most staircases is too narrow for the ramp. Even if they don't use a wheelchair they should still be able to lift themselves on and off the chair.

Can they hold down a pressure switch?

Just about all stair lifts for the handicapped come with buttons or levers that must be kept pushed down while the chair is in motion. It is a safety feature; as soon as the pressure is released the machine will automatically stop. But if the person who is going to use the machine can't hold down the lever then they won't be able to use it.

Make sure it comes with a safety belt.

The price of stair lifts is high. When looking for a cheaper model you may find that you get very little in the way of extras. Many cheap units don't come with safety belts as standard. Before you buy ask whether or not a belt comes as standard. There are also different types of belts available; the most commonly used is a belt that fastens over the lap. If you require a belt that fits over the shoulder you should specify this requirement before you purchase the machine. Finally, the person using it should be able to fasten and unfasten the belt by themselves - again different manufacturers have different locking mechanisms.

Does the person have control of their upper body?

It is vital that the person is properly secured when using a handicap stair lift. The design of the seat and the belt will help, but make sure that the person is in no danger of sliding off the chair.

There's no doubt of the benefits that a stair lift can bring to the disabled or handicapped. Installing one often restores a person's independence. Just make sure that, before you buy, it will be appropriate for the person with the disability.

Follow the links for handicap stair lifts, wheelchair chair lifts and stair lift reviews.

Stair Lifts Feel the Freedom of Your Home

Whether you or your loved one is encountering the natural decrease in mobility that occurs with the passing of time, or deals with an illness-related lack of physical agility, a stair lift can be the ideal way to put you in charge of your home again. Regardless of the shape or make of your living accommodation, this is your special place in the world, representing a personal space in which you can feel safe and nurtured. If negotiating this space has become more fearful than friendly, then the installation of a stair lift might just help you feel at home once more.

Those of us without mobility issues can easily take the ease with which we can ascend our stairs for granted. A two or three storey house is the ideal way to maximise the piece of earth on which our home sits, but for older or infirm people, this layout is far from practical. As people age, many will choose to move to a single storey home, but for many more, financial or other issues render this choice impracticable. Whether it is money or perhaps the reluctance to leave a cherished family home that holds you back, with the installation of stair lift you can stay put without losing the freedom of your home.

If money is a concern, it is wise to shop around before committing to any particular stair lift provider. Because of the nature of the product, the lift will be bespoke to your situation, so fitters will have to visit your home in order to give you an accurate quote. Many companies offer a free estimate without any further obligation, so locate a number of these and compare the prices you are offered.

Though your choice of stair lift will partly be dictated by the size and type of staircase in your home, there are many other features that you can select or decline according to your personal taste. To allow you secure a more accurate picture of what is appropriate for you, many companies offer a trial service, which allows you to test a unit that has been installed near your home. Ask whether this service is provided before committing to any particular stair lift vendor.

Mobility issues can exert many unwanted effects, but they don't have to limit your access to your own home. The installation of a stair lift will allow you navigate your home with ease. Don't let mobility issues confine you � regain your freedom with a stair lift.

Dave is the owner of http://handicap-stair-lift.info and http://home-stair-lift.info websites providing information on stair lifts.

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A Review Of The Bruno Stair Lift

Bruno is America's most popular home stair lift. There's no denying the quality of its products but how does it compare to other top rated stair lifts like the Stannah? What follows is a quick review.

Bruno Stairlifts was founded over 20 years ago by Michael R. Bruno and his wife Beverly and has grown to become one of America’s leading manufacturers of mobility aids. The company is proud to be ISO-9001 Certified, which is one of the most stringent and widely recognized quality standards in the world.

There are many manufacturers but most only make straight stair lifts. This is because the technology used is simpler and installation is straight forward, which keeps costs down. Bruno makes both straight and curved models for both home and outdoor use. Also, all its units are installed by its factory trained network of dealers. Bruno, like Stannah and others, does not recommend self installation even for straight models.

But how does a Bruno product rate against others on the market? In order to review against others in the industry we will review the Bruno Electra-Ride Elite stair lift. This unit is the company's premier, and most expensive straight model.

The Seat

The Seat of the Electra-Ride Elite can be adjusted from 19" to 24 1/2" as can the height of the footrest. This makes this seat one of the most flexible on the market. The cushions are also deep and comfortable. The armrests can be independently lifted up to allow easy access and the armrests, seat and footrest can be folded up to free up room when not in use. A retractable inertia lap belt is fitted as standard. This seat is very good and is one of the best on the market. If there is one complaint it's about folding up the armrests, seat and footrest; these have to be done separately requiring, not only 3 operations, but reaching down and folding the footrest can be difficult for someone with mobility problems. The seat offered as standard with the Stannah stair lift (both the Solus and Sofia models) allows the user to fold up all three parts by just moving the armrests; a thoughtful feature that should be implemented by all stair lift manufacturers, including Bruno.

The Electra-Ride Elite can operate at a maximum inclination of 45 degrees, which is the industry norm; Again Stannah out does the Bruno as it can handle an inclination of up to 52 degrees. However, the Electra-Ride wins hands down when it comes to carrying weight: it can handle up to 400 lbs; just about everyone else can handle at most 300 lbs.

The Rail

The rail of the Bruno Electra-Ride Elite fits to a nice snug 5" from the skirting on the stair case. This is far less than most other brands that typically require about 8-9". But the Stannah beats the Bruno again, requiring only 95mm (3.7") clearance.

The rail is made from steel and extruded aluminum and uses a rack and pinion drive system. Rack and pinion is now the industry norm; before cables where used to pull the chair but these gave a less comfortable ride and had the problem of a trailing cable - incidentally, Summit stair lifts still use this system.

Not only does the Bruno give the user a smooth ride, it is also quiet and is as quiet as any other models on the market.

The company offers 3 standard lengths of the rail; 16', 20' and 24'. The industry norm is a maximum of 20', so they are ideal for staircases that are that little bit longer. Buying a long straight rail that is standard will be cheaper than having to have a longer specially made.

The Carriage

This is the part of the stair lift that attaches the seat to the rail. What's a really nice feature of the Bruno stair lift is that you can adjust the speed of the carriage. This comes as standard and I don't know of any other manufacturer that gives you this option.

The carriage also comes with all the safety features you need. There are footrest safety switches as well as final end stop bumper at each end of the rail. As an optional extra you can have an overspeed safety brake to prevent the chair from uncontrolled descents. It's a shame that the brake governor is not fitted as standard as it is with the Stannah.

The Controls

It comes with rocker controls fitted in the armrest, which must be kept, pressed down to operate. There are also two wireless call/send controls. These controls are pretty much the industry norm.

Installation

Installation of the Electra-Ride Elite is very straight forward as it is a DC battery powered appliance. No special wiring is required. Note: many companies promote self-installation of straight models; Bruno doesn't. You should always have one installed by a qualified technician.

In conclusion, the Bruno stair lift compares favorably with other top rated appliances. In fact, the Stannah stair lift is the only one that can really offer a better appliance, but a Stannah is more expensive than a Bruno. Many consumer reviews are favorable, which is what you'd expect from this quality manufacturer.

Follow the links for the Bruno stair lift and the Stannah stair lift as well as the best stair lift price of leading brands.

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Mystery of the Spiral Staircase

The Chapel of Our Lady of Light in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the home of a wooden spiral staircase steeped in mystery. Actually, it is not the staircase that is the mystery, it is the lone carpenter who built it...

In 1852, seven nuns left Kentucky travelling in covered wagons to Santa Fe to bring education and religion to the growing city. Five nuns arrived in Santa Fe, one nun died of Cholera, one turned back too sick to continue. Once in Santa Fe, the Sisters of Loretto set up camp and began their work.

In 1873, construction began on the Chapel of Our Lady of Light, the chapel commissioned along with Our Lady of Light Academy. The architect of the beautiful gothic chapel was the charming and talented Projectus Mouly,18 year old son of master architect Antoine Mouly. Sadly, in 1878, just before it's completion, the charismatic French architect was shot and killed by John Lamy, the nephew of the archbishop, because John believed his wife received too much of the young architect's attention.

The Loretto nuns were left with a beautiful chapel and no stairway to the choir loft. It was determined that the staircase in Mouly's plans wouldn't fit. Many architects and carpenters visited the chapel, but none could come up with a staircase to fit inside the chapel without remodelling the inside of the chapel itself, and taking up valuable space. So the nuns prayed for an answer to their staircase dilemma.

Here begins the mystery... after eight days of prayer, an elderly carpenter with a mule and simple tools arrived and said he could build the staircase. He alone built the wooden staircase without the use of nails, screws, or central support. After some time, the staircase was complete and the carpenter left, without payment. The nuns planned a great feast, but no one knew where the carpenter stayed or where he may have gone, even the local lumberyard had no record of the purchase of wood. The nuns began to believe it was St. Joseph himself, the father of Jesus, who built the awe-inspiring staircase. Especially since there were exactly 33 stairs, the number of years Jesus was on Earth before ascending to heaven.

There have been a few who claim to know who may have built the staircase. Some say Johann Hadwiger, a master carpenter, built the spiral staircase. He spent 2 years traveling and working in the west, and after his death, his grandson found a sketch of a spiral staircase with 33 steps in his old toolbox. Perhaps it was Francois-Jean Rochas, whose death notice written in The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper read "an expert worker in wood who built the staircase in the Loretto chapel".

So who built the mysterious spiral staircase? Man or Saint? Perhaps the better question is, if it were a mere mortal man, does it really matter? Five nuns, in 1878 Santa Fe, prayed for someone to do what no other architect, engineer, craftsman, or carpenter who visited the chapel before-hand could do, and many visiting master carpenters and architects to this day stand in awe of. They prayed for a miracle, a master carpenter, and he came. An elderly man with his mule, his simple tools, and his humility.

Looking for more interesting history?

Check out my squidoo site for more historical mysteries and our amazing Earth.
http://www.squidoo.com/weirdhistory/

Information About An Inclined Wheelchair Stair Lift

A stair lift can be the solution to getting up and down stairs and there are many on the market. However, nearly all require that the person using one lift be able to lift themselves on and off it. For the wheelchair bound this is not always viable. An inclined wheelchair stair lift might be the answer.

A chair stair lift operates by means of pulling a chair along a rack - usually by a rack and pinion system. They are two types; straight and curved. The price of a curved stair lift is much more expensive than a straight model as it is custom made for a particular staircase. The rack on which it moves is not mounted on the wall, rather it is fixed to the stair treads. This makes installation somewhat straight forward.

However, for someone who is wheelchair bound and cannot lift themselves on to a chair these types of chair lifts are inappropriate. A wheelchair lift is required. There are two types available; vertical wheelchair lifts and inclined wheelchair stair lifts.

Vertical models are really elevators to give the user access to floors. For many domestic homes this is simply not an option, due to cost and space requirements.

Inclined wheelchair stair lifts look more like conventional units, inasmuch as one travels up and down a flight of stairs. However, inclined units are much more problematic to install than a regular one.

Space is always an issue with inclined units. The width of the stairs have to be wide enough to accommodate the platform, which will be a little large than the 'footprint' of the wheelchair. Also, the landing area at both the top and bottom of the stairs has to be sufficient to allow the user to get on and off the ramp. Another installation issue is that the rack is wall mounted, therefore the stairs must be hard against a load bearing wall. Both of these limitations make the installation of this type of lift impossible in most domestic homes.

However, if your stairs are wide enough and are against a load bearing wall a wheelchair stair lift might be the answer to your mobility problems.

There are a number of suppliers of wheelchair stair lifts. National Wheel-O-Vator and Stannah Stairiser Wheelchair Stair Lift both make excellent versions for wheelchairs. Both companies products come with the following features: bi-directional safety platform sensors not only provide protection for the user but for others who might be using the stairs; safety barrier arms and access ramps are mechanically locked during travel; the platform can be accessed from both front and side - the side ramps rise to secure the wheelchair when the platform is in motion.

Also both companies' units can be mounted on straight and curved stairways with both inside (positive) and outside (negative) turns. The platform of the National Wheel-O-Vator is custom made whereas the platform of the Stairiser CR wheelchair stair lift from Stannah comes in a number of sizes that the buyer can choose. Finally, the platform folds up leaving a protrusion of only about 12 inches.
The cost of these specialized lifts is expensive and the price can only be determined after a site inspection. But, if you can afford one and the structure of your stairs can accommodate a wheelchair stair lift, the degree of independence such a stair lift gives you can't be underestimated.

Follow the links for wheelchair stair lifts and Stannah stair lifts as well as stair lift reviews.

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Different Types of Stair parts

The glossary of stair parts

Let us start with the Newel Post. The newel post is the support system of the section that holds baluster. It can be carved or designed elegantly as per one’s liking. The function of placing the balusters in a staircase is to prevent the hand rail and spindle assembly from wobbling. People who love to place a classy staircase at their homes can crave their newer post in any intricate pattern they like. It is the most decorated part of any classy staircase. In modern staircases, such as pre-assembled spiral cases, newel posts may be reduced to a central non-ornate pole.

Every staircase comprises of a rise and a tread. These two parts are placed on every step of the complete staircase. The rise is the wood that is used to crave the vertical length of every stair, and the tread is the part on which we walk on. Usually, the length of the tread is popularizes as the "going," which is technically the distance between the noses of two adjacent risers. The nose is a nub of approximately 20 mm that overhangs every riser.

The Important Stair Parts

A person can find bullnose step at the bottom of the staircase, usually seen in a semi circle or quarter circle step. The purpose of designing the bullnose step is to create a more aesthetically pleasant staircase by setting back the newel posts. Some people prefer to use a curtailed step in their staircase, which is the bottom component of the balustrade hand rail.

The last stair part is hand rail, usually a long piece of wood which many people employ for seeking the balance. Hanging down from the hand rail are the spindles or the balusters as they are more popular. The basic function of the spindles is to protect stair users from falling off the side. Often, they are also regarded as a decorative piece to the staircases. They can be hand hewn or beveled, and they can also be sawn.

Call a stair parts specialist today for help with stair designing and developing the list of Staircase Parts and stair hardware needed to make your home a beautiful stair creation. For further information on Stair Parts visit at www.stairsupplies.com


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Home Stairlifts - Thing to Consider When Buying a Domestic Lift

Is it difficult for you to climb up the stairs? And every time you have to go
down you are afraid to fall? Then you have to choices - to move downstairs or
to install a home stairlift. Domestic stair lifts has their own advantages and
disadvantages - find out if a stairlift will be right for your home.

Moving to the ground floor might be the first thing that comes to mind, but
it is not as simple as it sounds. You will have to do major renovations in the
house, modifying one of the existing rooms as a bedroom or adding an additional
room. Also you will have to create a bathroom. All of this involves an awful
lot of work and expenses.


Home stairlifts are not cheap, but comparable to all the costs involved in
moving downstairs, they are a more economical solution. Also installing a stairlift
is not as much of a hassle as you may think. Companies that sell stairlifts
usually take care of all the installation; all you need to do is to measure
your stairs. And for an additional fee, most stairlift retailers can do the
measurements as well.


Types of home lifts


You can get a suitable stairlift regardless of what type of stairs you have.
If you've got an ordinary straight staircase, then you are in luck because straight
stairlifts are the most common and the least expensive. If you have curved stairs,
than you will need a curved stairlift. Stairlifts can be electric or battery
powered.


Modern stair lift companies offer a variety of stair elevators, you can get:



  • Standard straight lifts

  • Curved lifts

  • Through-floor lifts (also good for wheelchairs)

  • Lifts designed with shafts


Home stairlifts are produced by companies who make other mobility equipment.
Most reliable and durable lifts are by Stannah, Acorn, Ameriglide and Bruno.


Selecting a stairlift that is right for your home


There are two main types of elevators - lifts with a sit and wheelchair lifts.
Sitting elevators are cheaper, and they are generally a good choice for elderly
people. However, if you are disabled and you think that your condition can progress
to the point that you will need a wheelchair, it is better to install a wheelchair
lift, like a through-floor elevator, from the start.


Lifts mode of operation is also important. Most machines are operated by the
person who is lifted; however some lifts can be operated by another person,
such as your nurse. If you think you might need this option, than installing
it from the start will save you a lot.


Check if the sit if comfortable for you, most companies let you personalize
the sit of your home elevator. It can be adjusted so you are sitting tight,
while lifted. Also a variety of sits is available - you can get a standard,
removable or folding sit. For your safety a sit belt can be also included.


What direction do you prefer to face while the lift is in operation? Popular
models of home elevators usually face sideways. However, if you would rather
face forward, you can find models that suit you. Facing forward is a good option
for people with stiff knees - it allows you more room.


Used domestic stairlift is an option if you want to save


Home elevators are expensive. Even the simplest model will cost you at least
$2000. However, you can find many pre-owned home lifts. It often happens that
person's disability is temporary, and after they recover, there is no need for
an elevator anymore. Most companies that sell brand new lifts also assist people
in selling their used stairlifts.


A home stairlift can be a great addition to your house, providing safety and
comfort for elderly and disabled people. With so many options, you can surely
find an elevator that will suit your purpose.



Tanya Turner is a publisher of StairLifts Central where you can find information about home stairlifts and wheelchair lift. Compare lifts by different brands and styles.
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