Interact with the waves of change to create the outcome you desire.
The triple whammy hit me in 2008. For one thing, speaking engagements—my primary source of income—had dropped by about 20 percent. For another, my financial investments tanked. And last but certainly not least in the Sanborn Triad of Trials, doctors diagnosed me with prostate cancer.
Strike one. Strike two. Strike three. Right
Read More...Section I: See
It sounds simple, doesn’t it? From infancy we are able to see the world around us. But seeing isn’t just about looking at the world around you; it’s about attaching meaning to what you see. One person might see a daunting wave; a surfer sees an opportunity. One person might see an obstacle; a successful person sees a starting block. Are you willing to open your eyes?
“The value of experience is not in seeing much, but in seeing wisely.”
—William Osler, Canadian scientist
http://www.marksanborn.com/blog/
Read More...6 of the Biggest Mistakes Salespeople Make in Their Presentations
By Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
Salespeople are incredible. Like Hollywood actors, whenever they open their mouths, they are putting themselves and their company on the line, taking a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome. Just like actors, even the best, most experienced salesperson can use some coaching and polishing now and then.
Here are the 6 most common mistakes that my sales clients are making at the beginning of our coaching sessions. By the time we’re through, they’ve learned how to avoid them.
1. UNCLEAR THINKING. If you can’t describe the objective of your interaction in one sentence, you may be guilty of fuzzy focus, trying to say too much at once. You’ll confuse your listener, and that doesn’t make the sale. Decide exactly what you want and need to accomplish in this contact. What would be a positive outcome? For example, imagine that a busy executive says, “You have exactly ten minutes of my time to tell me what you want me to know about your company. In one sentence, tell me how I should describe your benefits when I talk to my managers tomorrow.” At any stage of the sales process, you should know in advance why you are interacting, what benefits you are offering your prospect or client, and what you’d like the next step to be.
Read More...Avoid Clichés Like the Plague
If your goal is to become more effective in your presentation skills value your own opinion. Although we are amused with expressions such as “Make my day”, “Read my lips”, “Think outside of the box”, “I’ll be back” after a while they are so overused they go from “classic” to “cliché.”
Read More...“I’m often asked the following question by executives, who understand that inclusionist leadership is more than just diversity training. “What can I do to be a more inclusive leader, so I can leverage the diversity of skills, and talents of my employees?”
Read More...Throughout the business community, ambitious individuals who work in highly competitive environments know the impression they give in their business communications often makes the difference between career failure and success.
Read More...Before you send that intelligent-sounding email, letter, or proposal, remember to check it at least once for grammar and spelling errors. My executive clients tell me they continue to be surprise by obvious mistakes in many of the corporate communications they receive.
Read More...When you make the following grammar mistakes, you will sound less intelligent than you actually are. Effective communication, both in speaking and writing, make an important and significant impression. Most likely, your English teacher gave you the following advice. In case you have forgotten, here are three business communication tips to improve the impression you make to your prospects, clients, and senior executives.
Read More...My associate is delivering a program that could be of interest to many in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Improve your Spoken English on Sunday, March 13, 2011 from 2 pm – 3 pm: Rebecca Linquist, American Accent Specialist and founder of English by the Hour presents at Next Step ToastMasters on “Communicating with Clarity & Confidence: What both native and non-native speakers of American English Need to Know.” To register call: 408 833-8945. http://nextsteptm.wufoo.com/forms/improve-your-spoken-english/ $5 is you register/ $7 for walk-ins. Location: the BIltmore Hotel, 2151 Laurelwood Rd., Santa Clara, CA 95054. http://nextsteptm.freetoasthost.com/
Read More...Focus on strategic thinking with questions like these:
“If we were able to off-load some of these routine tasks and could free
your own marketing staff to devote their creative energy on the new
product line, how do you think that could pay off for you in launching
this new product line second quarter?”
“Have you ever thought about automating your back-office processes?”
“In what ways do you see us getting a competitive advantage if we change
to a totally virtual staffing plan?”
Your questions should start the wheels spinning–big time. You just might
uncover hidden possibilities or solve problems you didn’t know existed.
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.
