If you watch nature, there are many events that take place that involve a high degree of power such as storms, earthquakes, tornados, floods, and all of them cause dramatic changes to whatever they come in contact with at the moment. And all of this happens without the storm, tornado, or flood caring about the results.
Many times we try to force a result, when if we just did our job to the best of our ability then the results would take care of themselves.
How we can use this to our advantage?
It starts with faith, and it is the faith that you will be taken care of no matter what the results. Faith that you are going to be OK and that everything happens for a reason, and even if pain is the result that Read More...
In this video, stand-up comedian Don McMillan, demonstrates how NOT to use PowerPoint to effectively communicate your message. From words on the screens, bullets and graphs, he gives new meaning to “Death by PowerPoint.”
Being a good listener is one of the most important communication skills you can develop. Here are 10 easy tips, which if practiced regularly, will make you a better communicator.
Be Free! ************************ 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...
Do you find yourself writing a lot but getting little results?
To write effective business communication, there are 2 things that should be an overriding theme: 1) grab the reader’s attention and 2) layout your document, so visually, your reader wants to continue reading.
Grabbing the Reader’s Attention
To connect with the reader, do not open with something that is stuffy, formal or includes, “Please find the blah, blah, blah.” Talk to the reader. Write to them the way that you would talk.
Ask a question. Open with a quote or a joke or a reminder of a recent time together – something that connects you to them. What you are aiming for is the reader Read More...
As business becomes more complex, people have more distractions and less time to thoroughly read documents. Therefore, the ability to communicate effectively in writing, especially email and on the web, becomes more critical than ever.
Write with a clear purpose in mind, and state that purpose at the very beginning of your written communication. Readers should know at a glance what your email, report, or letter is about, why you are sending it, and what action you want them to take.
Here are 10 tips to help you write more effectively:
Keep it simple.
You may think complex sentences make you sound impressive, but they can prevent your Read More...
Whenever you write a document, it is always good to let sit for a little while before you push the send or print button.
For a rule of thumb is, the longer you can wait between finishing writing and the editing, the better. It gives your mind time to digest and rest so when you come back to edit, you are looking at the document with fresh eyes.
Here are five easy to follow steps to help you in the editing process:
Read the document through from top to bottom and just get an overall big picture. If it is fairly clear what the message you are trying to convey is? Does this concept pop out? A good check is to take another person read the document and as them to tell you in Read More...
I would like to explore how your results can be improved by correctly using positive and negative words in your written communication.
People tend to remember the first and last words you say. Therefore, the two most impactful sentences of your writing should have positive connotations, and those sentences are the ones you use to open and close.
This may be harder than you think if you are not conscious of what you are writing. ABC News recently reported that negative words dominate our language. In fact, “Half of all the words that people produce from their working vocabulary to express emotion are negative. And 30 percent are positive and 20 percent are neutral.”
When it comes to communication, the most powerful word is “you.” It doesn’t matter what language, the power of the word “you” is universal. When this word is used, you put the focus on the other person, not on yourself, and the results can be magical.
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...
Today I’m going to give you some very practical tips on how to actually deliver a presentation.
1. I strongly suggest that you commit your presentation to memory. This frees up your hands, your eyes, and your whole body to send out your message to your audience. I don’t mean this to be a shameless plug for our memory training workshop, but if you have taken the workshop, you know how easy memorizing a presentation can be if you just know how. It’s well worth the effort in terms of the increased credibility and communicative power.
2. I also suggest that you practice your presentation – a Read More...
How would your world change if you truly focused on listening instead of talking?
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!
If you watch nature, there are many events that take place that involve a high degree of power such as storms, earthquakes, tornados, floods, and all of them cause dramatic changes to whatever they come in contact with at the moment. And all of this happens without the storm, tornado, or flood caring about the results.
As business becomes more complex, people have more distractions and less time to thoroughly read documents. Therefore, the ability to communicate effectively in writing, especially email and on the web, becomes more critical than ever.
