Expert: Secret to Success is Listening

Group Discusses Solutions to Area Businesses

By Tony Vindell

Published in Harlingen Area Business Journal, a publication of the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce; September 14, 2004

HARLINGEN – An expert in business solutions told members of the Harlingen area Chamber of Commerce that the secret to success is listening.

“The lack of listening is the number one problem in the work place today,” said Sharon S. Golden, principal owner of Golden Performance Solutions, during a roundtable meeting Thursday.

In addition, “good customer relations, knowing how to listen and being willing to change can determine the success of any business,” she said.

“A lot of people are uptight about change, but change can be refreshing, she said.

Golden said that change is a normal part of life. “Everything in life, including plants and animals is constantly changing.” Golden said. Technology, for instance, is a force that is driving change and we must adapt ourselves to those changes.”

Knowing how to deal with people is part of the overall culture of any business or organization, she said. But to do that, employees have to develop a positive culture with their organizations, she said.

“People are what help create the dollars,” Golden said. “So we need to expand our ability to see beyond what we normally see and find new solutions.”

Golden said that customers services is not just about how to treat customers. “Customer service is both internally and externally,” she said. “Service with internal customers is about how we treat people in the work place.”

Golden, who was invited to talk to a group of businesses that belong to HACC, travels all over the Rio Grande Valley consulting with businesses and making presentations on what she calls “The Power of Presence for Leaders.”

“My work is about bringing out the potential people have, she said. It’s about helping people tap into healthy high performance.”

Golden said her areas of expertise include executive coaching, leadership development, culture change, team building, communication and custom business solutions, among others.

Crisanne Zamponi, Director of Community Affairs for the HACC, said the roundtable meeting is one of the benefits the chamber offers to its members.

“We have been doing this since 1997,” she said. “We have had bankers, mortgage people, computer suppliers and other businesses with the aim of exchanging information with our members.