The Compassionate Geek

Don Crawley, Author.

Two years ago, I had to deal with inappropriate behavior toward me by a colleague in my professional association. I found the experience demeaning, disrespectful, and confusing. It still weighs heavily on my mind. I did nothing to encourage the bad behavior by the other person, but it left me wanting to avoid attending meetings […]

How to Deal with Inappropriate Behavior (Includes Video)

Don Crawley, Author.

Are you bombarded with promotions for webinars telling you how to deal with these crazy times? Yeah, me too. I could use some inspiration, so today, I’m taking a different approach with the Compassionate Geek blog and podcast. I’m offering uplifting stories about people, both ordinary and extraordinary, and their resilience in the face of […]

Inspiration and Perseverance in a Time of COVID

Don Crawley, Author.

UPDATE ON RELATIONSHIPS: I just learned that my friend Reggie Watkins died of COVID-19 and that my friend Ray Benson is terribly sick with this awful virus. That news makes this week’s blog post more timely than ever. Please, read on… My friend Roger is 87. He’s in great shape, both mentally and physically. Before […]

Your Life Matters and Relationships Matter

Don Crawley, Author.

Stress, when untreated, can kill you. That’s why it’s important to learn how to cope with the stress. Stress can cause heart attacks, strokes, a compromised immune system, diabetes, and obesity. It can cause headaches, fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, irritability, and anger. It can undermine relationships (personal and professional), and it can bring on depression. […]

How to Cope with the Stress When the Whole World is Upside Down

Don Crawley, Author.

People have strong opinions about Amazon. Regardless of how you feel about Amazon, they are focused on caring for customers. You may have heard the quote about Amazon, “We aim to be Earth’s most customer centric company.” I had an experience with Amazon that clearly demonstrated why I would choose to do business with Amazon […]

Caring for Customers Like Amazon Does

Don Crawley, Author.

What is an active listener? In short, an active listener is engaged with the speaker. They ask relevant quetions, the avoid passing judgment until the speaker is finished, the give physical cues that they’re listening, and they make the speaker feel heard and respected. Listening Well It’s 1970, I’m sixteen years old and in love […]

What is an Active Listener: The Fine Art of Listening Well

Don Crawley, Author.

Emotional Intelligence can make the difference between having a successful career in IT and struggling in your career. Successfully managing emotions can also make the difference between having successful personal relationships and struggling in relationships. One of the four domains of Emotional Intelligence is Self-Awareness. Here are keys to recognizing emotions in yourself: Check your […]

How to Manage Your Own Emotions

Don Crawley, Author.

I’d heard about Le Violon d’Ingres, a Michelin-starred restaurant near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. One of my foodie friends described his meal there as the best dining experience of his life. So my friend Shea and I agreed to meet there for lunch. We set the meeting time for noon. I planned to […]

IT Customer Experience Like a Michelin-Starred Restaurant

Don Crawley, Author.

In a recent corporate training session, I spoke with the group about compassionate customer service. Cindy sat on the front row. She was friendly and professional with me, but shortly into the session, she said, “I don’t get it. I act professionally around my users and I’m efficient. Why do I need to be “buddy-buddy” […]

What Compassionate Customer Service is NOT

Don Crawley, Author.

One of the most common reasons companies ask me to speak to their teams is to teach them how to be a better listener. In order to help team members improve their listening skills, I explain that there are three different types of listening, each of which requires different techniques to be effective. The three […]

How to Be a Better Listener Video (Three Types of Listening)