Important Safety Tip$

I was given a list of Do's and Don'ts of interacting with people who have dementia. I've modified this list only slightly to guide you in safely interacting with corporate executives. Do--Hold their hand. [Most executives want to shake your hand when you enter their office. I have found that it is best to allow them to hold your hand as long as they see fit. Extended handholding is non-verbal communication of endearment.] Do--Keep your sense of humor. [Humor is critical with high-level corporate executives. Laugh at their cue, even if you aren't quite sure what you are laughing at. Otherwise, they have a tendency of feeling alienated and can turn hostile. Likewise, if you find yourself laughing and they are not, curtail laughing or like the contrary, they have a tendency of feeling alienated and can turn hostile.] Do--Keep things simple. [High-level executives are easily overwhelmed, which can generate a feeling of alienation, which can facilitate them turning hostile.] Do--Give them simple easy tasks or have them focus on entertainment such as television. [It is best to keep high-level executives busy with unimportant activities. Lack of activities has a tendency to make them feel &quot;out-of-the-loop." This is dangerous. They will insert themselves into processes that were working fine without them. If possible, have a TV installed in their office and show them financial programs. They are easily distracted by dollar signs. Warning: dollar signs in red have been proven to generate hostility among high-level corporate executives.] Do--Remain calm. [These executives have an uncanny ability to sense nervousness, which puts them ill-at-ease, which can facilitate them turning hostile.] Don't--Give them choices. [High-level executives are easily overwhelmed, which can generate a feeling of alienation, which can facilitate them turning hostile. Instead, present evidence of a "great opportunity" and allow them come up with a grand idea for you to facilitate. Warning: this is inviting prolonged conversations with them about their grand idea.] Don'--Get irritated by them asking a question repeatedly. [Refer to keep your sense of humor above.] Don't--Tell them what they "should" do. [High-level executives are extremely sensitive to their autonomy and often automatically resist an underling or lesser "instructing" them, which can generate a feeling of alienation, which can facilitate them turning hostile to reinforce their sense of power.] Don't--Expect them to do what they say they are going to do. [Expectations are the root of disappointment. If you can curb your expectations, your frequency of disappointment will diminish.] Don't--Expect what they tell you to be accurate. [Treating what they say as accurate can only lead to actions based on fallacy and at the end of the day you will look foolish because they will "not recall&quot; telling that "fact" to you.] Don't--Expect them to do what they say they will do. [See above. If this isn't self-apparent by now, stop reading this email and get back to work.] There were more on the list, which were equally appropriate. The only one that didn't seem to fit was: Do--Hug them. My experience is that hugs can make them feel ill-at-ease. By Howard Campbell<br> <a target="_new" href="http://www.intellishit.com">http://www.intellishit.com</a>