Opportunity does not knock once, it knocks all the time. The trick is, we don’t always recognize the sound. The key to becoming more successful is to find opportunity in everyday life – not just wait for that life-altering, retire-in-the-Caribbean bolt from the blue.
Here’s how to start: Each day this month, you’re going to take a good, hard look at one aspect of your job, business, or presentation…and improve it.
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My friend and colleague, Laura Stack’s newest book, Execution IS the Strategy was released today. Laura has been working with leaders in the areas of strategy execution, employee productivity, and team performance for 22 yeas; she is a true expert in her field. In Execution IS the Strategy, Laura explains that a leader’s biggest challenge isn’t creating the strategy—it’s executing the strategy. It’s not about who has the best ideas—it’s who executes their ideas the best. Laura shows us how to quickly drive strategic initiatives and get results from our teams. She shares her L-E-A-D Formula™ with us; consider whether you have the necessary elements in place for successful strategy execution and identify the areas that need improvement:
Read More...The first and last thirty seconds of your speech have the most impact on your audience. Last words linger. Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes you can make in closing your presentation that will actually undermine your message. Learn how to craft the closing of your presentation so that it reinforces your message. In this brief video sample from FrippVT, I explain what you should not say at the close of your presentation and share some strategies to help you close your presentation with power.
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In the first part of this series of story strategies for sales presentations, we walked through the first formula for a good story well told: Situation, Solution, Success. This second formula will help you learn how to create a story your potential buyers can relate to.
Whenever you are telling a story to a prospect, make sure it is populated with flesh and blood characters, just like the people you are talking to. Craft your story so that your listeners identify with both the people and the situation you present.
Formula 2 – Character, Dialogue, Dramatic Lesson Learned
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“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:
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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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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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.
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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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.
Read More...Think it. Feel it. Speak it.
by Bob RoitblatWhether 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.
Receive free, on-going Fripp webinar invitations, sales and presentation skills information, and special discounts from Executive Speech Coach, Sales Presentation Trainer, and Professional Keynote Speaker, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE. As an added bonus, sign up now and receive a free copy of Patricia Fripp’s How to Present and Teach in the Virtual World.
