Messaging Skills Archives

Better Decisions Faster: 3 Keys to Making It Happen

by Naomi Price

Today, decision quality alone is no longer enough to gain and keep a competitive edge: good decisions also need to be made quickly. Too often, the structure and flow of information presented in meetings add complexity and slow down the decision-making process. Busy, distracted decision-makers and team members need more help to make better decisions faster. Here's what you can do to address this challenge.

by Naomi Price

Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Just Say Less!

by Kathleen Redd

Years ago, I had the chance to be coached by a well-respected professional in my field. At the end of the day, I sat poised with pen in hand to capture his wise counsel. Then, he simply said: “Just say less!” In the years since, I've come to fully realize the value of this advice. But, good advice that's simply stated isn't always simple to implement. Which is why I want to offer three suggestions to help you, as you strive to just say less.

by Kathleen Redd

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

How to Better Communicate with Executives

by Steve Mandel

In his 30-plus years as a communications coach and trainer, Steve Mandel says there are two concerns Fortune 500 executives raise again and again about how people communicate with them. He shares what those concerns are and how they directly correlate to steps you can take to become a more skilled, confident, and highly competent executive communicator.

Note to our readers: This is an edited version of a blog post originally published on April 3, 2014.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives

Please, Bow Your Heads…And Multitask

by Brad Holst

At the front of the room, the session leaders spoke what must have been profound words for the 200 people gathered that day, as nearly every person sat silently, head bowed. No, this wasn't a religious service — it was a global sales meeting. Professionals had gathered from around the world to learn how to execute their company's new go-to-market strategy. And, no one was paying attention. Sadly, this scene is not uncommon in business today. Fortunately, the root causes that drain the ROI out of meetings and training events like these are not only identifiable, they’re preventable. Here are the top 3 reasons audiences are likely to pay more attention to their smartphones than your content — and what you can do about it.

by Brad Holst

Event Preparation, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Sales Training

What Does Your Word Cloud Look Like?

by Kathleen Redd

When you’re talking to colleagues and customers, what does YOUR word cloud look like? Too often, clouds are filled with crutch words like, “ums” and “ahs” and “you knows.” The good news? People can change the shape of their word clouds using an underrated, yet powerful, communication skill: the ability to say nothing at all. Using the “power of the pause” will make you a more effective communicator. Read on to learn more.

by Kathleen Redd

Conversation Skills, Executive Presence, In-Person Presentations, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives

Mismanaged Meetings: Lessons from the Parole Board

by David Mears

What do business meeting attendees have in common with parole board officers? Both suffer from decision fatigue. The consequences? Productivity plummets. Decisions get delayed. Bad choices get made. Outcomes can be disastrous. How can you improve decision quality and productivity? Help your meeting leaders and attendees overcome decision fatigue with these three proven approaches.

by David Mears

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Mismanaged Meetings: A Costlier Problem Than You Think

by David Mears

Is your organization stuck running mediocre meetings that fail to move the needle on important projects and business goals? You're not alone. Distraction and disengagement have reached epidemic proportions and it's killing the "Return on Meeting Time" of companies everywhere. What's the antidote? A common meeting communications framework. Here's why...

by David Mears

Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Project Management

Presenting Numbers to People Who Hate Numbers

by Bob Sherwin

Did you know that nearly a third of Americans surveyed said they'd rather clean the bathroom than try to solve a math problem? It’s no wonder presenting technical data can be a huge challenge. Next time you have to present numbers to a number-phobic audience, don't panic. Here are three tips to help you keep listeners engaged in what you have to say…instead of daydreaming about cleaning the bathroom.

by Bob Sherwin

Briefing Center, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Technical Professionals

3 Killer Fails of User Conference Speakers

by Brad Holst

Over many years of attending, speaking at, and preparing speakers for user conferences, I've learned there are three all-too-common deadly failures that conference speakers make. Learn what those 3 killer fails are, so you can avoid them.

by Brad Holst

Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Are You Paying the Hidden Price of Workplace Distraction?

by David Mears

The decision makers whose attention you're trying to get are too distracted to hear a word you're saying. The implication: having a great business idea is no longer enough. You’ve got to be able to present it in a way that GRABS attention and KEEPS it. Your ability to do that boils down to whether you can accomplish these 3 things quickly…

by David Mears

Conversation Skills, Executive Presence, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Can Great Presentations Help Save the Polar Bears?

by Steve Mandel

The scientists and staff at Polar Bears International are dedicated to polar bear conservation. And, they face many of the same challenges business presenters do: they need to present complex data in ways anyone can understand and they need to suggest solutions that others will buy into and adopt. They asked Mandel for advice on how to do that. Here are three tips we shared with them...

by Steve Mandel

In-Person Presentations, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Unlocking the Secret to Great Storytelling

by Diane Burgess-Faber

I had the pleasure of having Thanksgiving dinner with Steve Faber, the writer of two highly regarded films, Wedding Crashers and We’re the Millers, along with a number of other popular screen and literary works. Over turkey and stuffing, we talked about the SECRET to GREAT storytelling. Today, I'm sharing it with you.

by Diane Burgess-Faber

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Storytelling

Throwback Thursday (#tbt): Making a Thank You More Meaningful

by Steve Mandel

Expressing thanks not only makes you feel good, it makes the recipient of your thanks feel seen, heard, and valued. Saying "Thank you" is a small act with a potentially big impact. It can help you build rapport and make your future interactions with people, both, more memorable and rewarding. In business, this can be especially helpful. Today, I thought it fitting to share a few tips for making a “thank you” as meaningful as possible.

by Steve Mandel

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills

Do You Demonstrate the Most Desired Interpersonal Character Trait?

by David Mears

What characteristic do we prize most in the people with whom we interact? Learn how our perception of this trait is influenced by communication skills.

by David Mears

Conversation Skills, In-Person Presentations, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives, Selling Skills

When Tough Questions Attack, Here’s How to Respond

by Steve Mandel

Everyone has had to answer tough questions in their careers. Questions that challenge your ideas and opinions – perhaps even your credibility. How you respond to tough questions can make or break your relationship with listeners. Here's how to handle tough questions, while staying calm, cool, and collected.

by Steve Mandel

Briefing Center, Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Millennials Want Feedback: What Will You Tell Them?

by David Mears

Millennials have surpassed Gen X to become the largest segment of the American workforce. Every company seeking to accelerate its performance needs to figure out how to engage and motivate this critical pool of talent. So, what is it Millennials want? And, how will you give it to them?

by David Mears

In-Person Presentations, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Is Your Organization Lacking the Key Catalyst to Successful Innovation?

by David Mears

If you think about it, your organization’s performance depends on its best ideas being turned into profitable innovations. Yet, 87% of executives believe major unexploited opportunities, ones that could make their companies market leaders, are overlooked. Why are so many companies struggling to innovate? (Hint: It's not a creativity problem!)

by David Mears

Conversation Skills, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Selling Skills

The Credible Presenter

by Brad Holst

You may not need to be a presentation rock star. But, in order to be successful in your career, you do need to be credible. Here are three things that every credible presenter does well.

by Brad Holst

Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills

Sell the Problem…And, They Just Might Adopt Your Idea

by Brad Holst

Innovation can be challenging, because organizations — and the people in them — are almost hard-wired to resist change. If you want your ideas to get adopted, here are three things you should know before presenting them.

by Brad Holst

Briefing Center, Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presenting to Executives, Selling Skills

Throwback Thursday (#tbt): A Better Way to Plan Your Presentation

by Steve Mandel

Want better presentation results? Plan strategically, not tactically. Instead of recycling slides from older decks and making them fit your presentation, start with who your audience is and what you want to accomplish. Here's how.

by Steve Mandel

Messaging Skills, Presentation Skills, Presentation Slides, Slide deck, Virtual Presentations

8 Ways to Take the Pain Out of Virtual Meetings

by Heather Muir

Web meetings and conference calls can be boring. Disruptive. Irritating, even. They can make you feel like you’re being deprived of time that you could be spending doing “real" work. Do they have to be unproductive and awkward? Definitely not! Here are 8 things you can do to take the pain out of your virtual meetings.

by Heather Muir

Messaging Skills, Virtual Presentations, Webcasts

INSIGHTS

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