Whether you own a business, report to a boss, or are searching for a job, it is important to sound intelligent in all your business communications. Never underestimate the power of your words. I share this article from Ragan Communications by Shanna Mallon describing seven errors you should avoid in your writing; many of these […]
Read More...Communication Skills: Can You Do Better?
Even as an expert in business communications I constantly learn from my friends and mentors in the National Speakers Association. Don and Kathleen Thoren write, speak and coaching on Life Enriching Tips. Enjoy…. WHAT DO I SAY NOW?! Has someone said something and you weren’t sure what to say back??? Seconds tick by and your mind […]
Read More...Want to Improve Your Public Speaking? How about Awesome?
As an executive speech coach and frequent presenter on “How to Go From Good to Great to Awesome” I was interested and amused by this article from Ragan.com. Ragan first came to my attention when they booked me to speak at the Ragan Speechwriters Conference. Their newsletters are always amazing.
Read More...12 Myths about Blogging & The Truth from An Expert
Blogging is a great way to serve your professional community and expand your marketing reach. Thank you for reading mine! For the years, I’ve had the honor of keynoting the Ragan Speechwriters Conference several times. I met amazing people who write for history – presidents and corporate leaders. Since then, when a Ragan Communications notice appears […]
Read More...The Best Way to Open a Panel Discussion – Expert Advice
If you are a leader, manager, executive, professional speaker, Toastmaster, or ambitious professional, most likely you will have the opportunity to moderate a panel. If you believe there is nothing duller than a bad speech, may I suggest a dull panel is even worst? As with any great presentation, when opening a panel discussion, the […]
Read More...Do You Want Your Presentations to be Funnier?
Are your presentations lacking humor? The late John Kinde is remembered as a comedy mentor for many. Know for his skill with observational humor claimed his most frequently-asked question was, “How do I get to be funny?” After delivering a fun-filled, brilliantly-crafted presentation, an audience member referred to his Observational Humor monologue. “You certainly have […]
Read More...How to Professionally Deliver an Acceptance Speech
7 Questions to Ask Yourself
Who nominated you?
Who invited you to join this group or encouraged you to get involved in this project or event?
What is your connection to this group?
How do you feel about the people and the organization’s goals?
Why are they giving you this award?
When was the first time you attended a meeting and what were your experiences?
Have you seen someone else accept this same award?
The audience will not remember all the details of what you say, but they will remember the stories you tell. Include a memorable vignette or incident, something entertaining or touching about your connection.
Honor the Audience
Read More...Public Speaking: How to Bring Your Characters to Life
5. We bring our characters to life through some of the verbs we use.
Fred casually sauntered into the boss’s office VS Fred rushed breathless into the boss’s office. Please note I am taking a lesson from the brilliant Mark Brown who taught us in a recent EDGE lesson about the importance of adjectives and adverbs.
Fat and Skinny Words a Great Technique to be Understood
This is a great technique to be understood. If your goal is to sound clear, concise, and credible this advice is invaluable. Nothing can turn your audience or prospect off faster… … than using fat words when they’re hungry for skinny ones. Or vice versa. I learned this exciting concept… … from Dr. David Palmer, […]
Read More...What You Are is As Important As What You Do
A short simple story heard while jogging with my friend Bobby Lewis decades ago influences my actions every day. Ralph Waldo Emerson is well known for a phrase very similar to this “What you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say.” Great advice for leaders and parents. Honesty, Ethics, Parenting If you […]
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