When I begin a communication workshop the topic of first impressions always comes up. We start by defining the three areas of impression your audience will have of you. One student will usually say, “So I just need to make sure that when I start speaking I’m demonstrating all three of these, right?” Well, the answer […]
My son had his eyes set on the biggest stuffed animal, but throwing the balls into the basket was not going to be as easy as it appeared. After three failed attempts at tossing the balls he looked up at me and said, “I want to try again.” I could see where this was going. […]
I’ve noticed a trend in our customers’ professional development requests. This trend began about 4 years ago. What I found interesting was that each customer was working on the same specific need. This specific need was actually created by an entire generation. That generation is the Baby Boomer Generation. The Coming Storm Baby Boomers are retiring […]
I coach my students to remove “hedging” phrases when speaking, and I get asked, “Why is that so important?” Hedging phrases are non-committal to the audience. These phrases show hesitancy in your thoughts and actions. Your audience will subconsciously interpret these phrases as a lack of confidence on your part. Your audience may even see you […]
“No, seriously… what am I supposed to do with my hands?” My student asked this cliche question I’ve heard numerous times. Each time I hear it I can’t help but think of Will Ferrell in the Talladega Nights Movie. I had only one answer for my student. “Move them with purpose.” Then he said, “How […]
My friend Jenny lowered her voice and leaned in to deliver the line of dialogue Bill had spoken to her just an hour earlier, “Get your feet off of MY DESK!” Bill was our new Regional VP and in just a few short weeks, he’d already gained a reputation of ruling with an iron fist. […]
We were presenting our quarterly sales updates to our executives and most of us were not looking forward to it. No matter how well your quarterly numbers were, it always seemed like an interrogation. Afterwards I felt like one salesperson got off easy because he didn’t get any tough questions. Later I found out from […]
Last week we looked at the 7 Deadly Sins in Conversations. Rather than just avoiding those 7 to be a better conversationalist, we’ll look at the 5 virtues of outstanding conversationalists. If we can all focus on these 5 when we’re blessed by someone else’s company, the relationship will prosper because of it. Just as […]
First of all, please hear me, I’m no saint and I know it. What you’re about to read in this article, I’m guilty of them all and I know it. But one thing I also know about me… I’m an observer. It’s what I do. It’s what I get paid to do! I’m a professional […]
The three of us sat there in anxious silence as we considered the two options. We either file for bankruptcy or we double-down on our investment. Our 5-year old company was out of money. Every business I’ve started has a moment. It’s that punch-in-the-gut moment when you’ve got to make a big decision. There will […]
