Whenever I’m speaking to a group about networking at least one person asks, “But what do you say (or talk about) when you first meet someone?” And someone else will inevitably ask, “What do you say (or do) when there’s a lull in the conversation?”

My response to both questions is the same. First decide if the person is really in the mood to talk to you. If you feel like someone doesn’t really want to talk to you, it’s no big deal. Move on to someone else.

If the person seems willing to Read More...

Be Free!
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Listening seems like a simple process and yet so many of us are more eager to talk than to listen. Someone once said we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. What better gift could you give to your family, friends, peers and bosses than to listen to them so that they feel really heard? Here are some tips:

1. Stay present – Don’t let your mind wander. Many are composing a response before the speaker has Read More...

Here are some of the key techniques Steve Jobs uses to electrify his audiences that you can incorporate into your presentations:

1. Unveil a single headline that sets the theme and direction for your presentation. This headline will give your audience a reason to listen.

2. Make your theme clear and consistent throughout your presentation.

3. Provide an outline and provide a clear transition in Read More...

These questions come from Susan Scott’s book Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Read More...

They say your eyes are windows to the soul, but they can also indicate if a person is telling you the truth. For instance, if a person you are talking to looks:

Up and to their right – they are telling a lie (if they are right Read More...

1.  Eye Contact
Eye contact is one of the most important aspects of dealing with others, especially people we’ve just met. Maintaining good eye contact shows respect and interest in what they have to say. Here in the UK we tend to keep eye contact around 60-70% of the time. (However, there are wide cultural differences, so be careful in other countries) By doing this you won’t make the other people feel self conscious, like they’ve got a bit of vegetable Read More...

This is such a powerful concept that it can literally change your business for the better. In communicating your message most effectively, whether in advertising, in person or business writing, it is really about the other person or their needs, their interest, their desires. When people read or listen to a message and it has their name or “you” or “yours” in it, it automatically becomes about them and the benefits Read More...

It is laid out extremely well in Dale Carnegie’s all time best selling book How to Read More...

Here are 10 tips to network more effectively:

1.  Attend as many conferences and seminars as you can in your field.
2.  Always carry a pocket Read More...

As a professional speaker and trainer, I was curious what would happen as I went through vocal chord surgery and was unable to speak AT ALL for one week or converse normally for a month. Yes, I realize the irony in MY not being able to speak, but the truth is-I loved it because there were so many great things to learn! Here are four of those lessons that are worthy to pass on to you!

1. 93% of Communication is Non-Verbal

Yes, Leah, we know this…you all taught us that at the Memory Read More...