Birthday

by D.J. Barnett Dedicated to Cheyenne and Rylee Romack in Alaska

Hey my birthday’s almost here, I’ve been wanting this so bad. I can’t wait to meet my Mom, I can’t wait to meet my Dad.

I’ve spent a long time waiting, To get out into the world. I will be Mommy’s sweetie, I’ll be Daddy’s little girl.

The things we’ll do together, It will be just so much fun. Laughing, jumping and running, While I play out in the sun.

I will learn to ride my bike, I will learn to climb a tree. Mom and Dad will be close by, If I fall and scrape my knee.

But then when I get older, And it’s time to go to school. I’ll work hard at my lessons, And I’ll follow all the rules.

Then after graduation, And it’s time to leave the nest, Try to make my parents proud, I will try to do my best.

So now thank you Mom and Dad, For I know you tried so hard. It wasn’t always easy, But you always stood on guard.

And if ever comes the time, When I have kids of my own, Give them the very best life, Like the one I’ve always known.

Hey my birthday’s almost here, I’ve been wanting this so bad. I can’t wait to meet my Mom, I can’t wait to meet my Dad.

D.J. Barnett lives in Hinckley with his wife, April; his son, Robert; and daughter, Skylar. He is 1975 graduate of Highland High School and recently retired from Century Cycle’s Medina location after being there for 20 years. He enjoys cycling and other outdoor activities.

BUSINESS: THE INBOX Value of Clear Communication

by Rachel Shepard

Whether you own a business or hold a leadership position in a community, it is important to communicate effectively.

This skill can improve teamwork, solve problems, and help to build trusting and respectful relationships.

Poor communication can lead to employee turnover, lost sales, low morale, and division within a company or a community.

People often have a hard time communicating effectively when they are overwhelmed, stressed and trying to multitask.

When I worked in a corporate setting, I strove to be as efficient as possible in order to complete everything that needed to get done each day.

Since I was so “busy,” there were times when I was a poor listener and communicator.

If a coworker or a direct report walked into my office to ask a question, I often missed half of the question or answered incompletely because I attempted to multi-task during the conversation.

One day, a member of my team sat down in my office to have a conversation.

She stated that she would wait until I was ready to make eye contact and give her my full attention before starting. Ouch! That was my wake-up call.

Six of the most important leadership communication skills are verbal, non-verbal, listening, presentation, written, and cross-cultural.

Effective leaders will give the other individual or the audience their full attention. If it is not the right time for a conversation, then schedule a more appropriate time.

They also will ask open-ended questions like, “Explain what you mean” or “Tell me more.”

Great leaders show their interest in others and what is being said. They are engaged listeners who avoid interrupting others. They also respect other points of view.

Most importantly, the best communicators will hear the emotion behind the words and body language of others. They also will adapt their communication style as needed.

Leadership communication can be used to inspire a team and influence others, especially when the message is conveyed with transparency and empathy.

Communication is not just about speaking skills and exchanging information. An effective communicator is able to clearly convey the message while also understanding and acknowledging the feelings of others.

Rachel Shepard is the founder of LonaRock, LLC, and a Medina County resident. She specializes in helping businesses understand financials and access capital. Learn more about Shepard at https://bit.ly/3h0LFEY Shepard can be reached by email at rshepard@lonarock.com

BUSINESS: RISE AND SHINE