Are Business Cards Dead? Make What You Do Obvious

Two People Sharing Business Card
When you receive a card, honor it by looking at it and looking at the person who has given it to you.

“Hello” can lead to a conversation. A conversation can lead to a relationship. A relationship can lead to profitable business. My friend and colleague, Susan RoAne is an expert in turning small talk into big business.  Her book, How to Work a Room, is a bestseller. In a recent television interview, Susan explained that success in business comes from being able to make connections – both online and in person.  I like to remind people that even a conversation in an elevator or at the water cooler can do as much to boost your career as delivering a formal presentation. As you form new relationships at business events, use your words and your business cards to make what you do obvious.  Here are ten of Susan’s helpful tips to help you benefit from business cards:

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Story Strategy to Improve Your Sales Presentations – Part 1

Sales Presentation Expert and Executive Speech Coach - Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE
Sales Presentation Expert & Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Even the most hardened prospect can’t resist a good story – when it is well told. The reason you must tell stories is because your prospects will not remember everything you say; they will, however, remember what they see in their minds and feel in their hearts while they listen to you share a story within your sales presentation. I give you the first of three story formulas to help you improve the effectiveness of your sales presentations:

Formula 1 – Situation, Solution, Success

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Eight Great Strategies for “Working” Any Room

Handshake
The key to connection is conversation.

The key to connection is conversation, and the secret to successful conversations is asking good questions. My brother (the legendary guitarist, Robert Fripp) has often said to me, “Sister, you ask people such personal questions!” Though this is true, nobody has ever said to me, “That’s none of your damn business.” People love talking about themselves. A conversation may lead to a relationship, and a relationship may lead to new business. A business relationship when nurtured can and will lead to long term success.

If shyness prevents you from meeting and conversing with new people, you may be missing important business and career opportunities.  My friend, bestselling author and professional speaker, Susan RoAne is known as the The Mingling Maven® for her savvy socializing techniques for business growth. I share these tips from Susan:

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How to Evaluate Your Presentation Flow?

Legendary Comedienne, Phyllis Diller (Photo Courtesy of Brian Hamilton) Wikimedia Commons
Legendary Comedienne, Phyllis Diller (Photo Courtesy of Brian Hamilton)

The Wit and Wisdom of Phyllis Diller

My friend Brian Palmer is one of the most creative and ethical professionals in our speaking industry.  He is president of the National Speakers Bureau   which was founded by his father, John Palmer.  Back in the day, John was a well-known bandleader and performed with Phyllis Diller.

Brian told me this about his Dad’s work with the legendary comedienne, “Phyllis was constantly working on her craft. My father would be off on the side of the stage, and she would ask him to look at his watch and make a notation every time there was a laugh, and then measure the amount of time between laughs. My dad believed that speakers should have the same understanding of their presentation flow.”

As speakers, we can learn a lot about pacing from the world of comedy. Brian went on to say, “To this day, I look at my watch and measure the average length between emotive responses.

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Michael Hauge Remembers Legendary Hollywood Screenwriter Syd Field

Syd Field
Syd Field

Legendary screenwriter Syd Field was true Hollywood pioneer. He is regarded as the first to reveal the inside secrets of Hollywood screenwriting. His bestselling book, Screenplay is known as the “the screenwriting bible.” I feel fortunate to have attended his screenwriting seminars over the years; Hollywood knows how to emotionally connect with their audience in a way that many speakers do not. Last year, my World Champions’ Edge colleague, Darren LaCroix and I attended one of Syd’s presentations; what an honor sit at the feet of the master and take in his screenwriting genius just a short time before his passing. I share this remembrance from Syd’s fellow Hollywood screenwriter, Michael Hauge:

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Hollywood Technique: Think it. Feel it. Speak it.

Deliver the dialogue rather than report on the dialogue.
Fripp reminds speakers to “deliver the dialogue – not report on the dialogue” in her Virtual Training.

Want to make a deep, emotional impact on your audience? My friend and colleague, Bob Roitblat is a professional speaker and actor.  He lends us another Hollywood technique for better professional speaking. This one is: Think it. Feel it. Speak it.

Think it. Feel it. Speak it.
by Bob Roitblat

Whether you’re an actor, business presenter or professional speaker, you can rehearse gestures. You can rehearse movement. You can rehearse the words that come out of your mouth. But only genuine emotions drive your message. And genuine emotions only come from genuine thoughts.

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To Become a Better Speaker, Learn to Write More Effectively

Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp
Executive Speech Coach and Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp

As you strive for excellence in all areas of your business communications, remember that good speakers can benefit from learning the secrets of good writers. Developing a successful presentation begins with thoughtful structure and word choices. If you want to improve your public speaking, why not gain the advantage of improved writing skills? Make it a daily discipline. Read and write.

Become the best writer you can be. Here are 10 techniques to improve your writing skills (quickly) from Amandah Tayler Blackwell and Ragan Communications.

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Expert Feedback to Improve Your Presentation Skills

THE Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
THE Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

When you receive feedback and advice on how to improve your presentation skills you need to ask yourself:

  • Is the person giving this advice truly qualified to help me improve?
  • Does the person giving me feedback have my best interests at heart?
  • Am I seeking advice or are they motivated to give it to me?

Unsolicited feedback says more about the giver than the recipient.

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Do You Know How to Develop and Deploy Compelling Content?

Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker and Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp in Action
Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker and Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp Visiting NSA New York City Chapter

Public speaking instruction often focuses on eye contact, voice projection, and what to do with your hands while you’re talking. Equally important to mastering these physical techniques is developing and deploying good and original content. As an executive speech coach people ask me, “What do I talk about?” “How do I start my speech?”

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Be the Audience You Want to Have

Business Conference
“Every audience has a responsibility.” – Robert Fripp

What should we do if we find ourselves in an audience listening to someone who has not yet learned how to structure and deliver an engaging presentation? “Every audience has a responsibility,” says my brother, the legendary guitarist Robert Fripp. Bill Gove, the first president of the National Speakers Association taught NSA members, “You are responsible to your audience, not for your audience.” I share this advice from my Las Vegas friend and colleague Amy Ayoub, popular professional speaker and speech trainer:

Be the Audience You Want to Have
by Amy Ayoub

Imagine you are invited to speak at a luncheon to give an update on an important law (or company policy) that was recently passed. The audience is largely made up of people who will be directly affected by this law, and are extremely interested in what you have to say. You aren’t the most dynamic presenter,

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