Have you ever noticed how we buy from people we know, like and trust? I notice this in myself when I am at the doctor’s office, when I shop for clothes in a store or food at a restaurant or when someone tries to convince me to buy into his/her idea. It has been proven that we are more likely to “buy” (material goods or ideas) from someone we like than someone we don’t. Think about your own shopping experience or even when someone is making a case for something they believe in. Have you ever felt like walking out of a store when you didn’t feel comfortable with whomever was helping you? Did you ever stop listening when someone you didn’t trust tried to sell you his/her idea? Admittedly, I have.
What’s the most important skill to develop when constructing an intelligent argument or convincing someone of your point of view? Know your audience. Because if you don’t make your argument about them, you’ll struggle to even get their attention. How do you accomplish this?
Mary was a young emerging leader full of promise at the large company where she worked. Her skill set was exceptional… She was extremely bright and very creative. She exceeded expectations in most all of her work responsibilities and she was identified as a high potential. One area of concern, however, was around her communication style. I was asked to do an assessment. When she and I got together, she told me that she wanted to be perceived as self-confident, competent and credible. Mary looked the part…she dressed nicely, she stood tall and she made eye-contact when she spoke. Her voice however, did not align with the visual image or the way in which she wanted to be perceived.
Recently, the 31st anniversary of the famous TV series, Seinfeld, was celebrated. I still watch reruns and still laugh at all of the jokes. There are many memorable episodes that involve speech and voice. Here are just a few of the most memorable episodes that involve communication and what we can learn from them.
Spring is here which means the trees and flowers will start to grow again. For many allergy sufferers it also means vocal issues, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, and dealing with a drippy nose. To combat and overcome these annoying issues, allergy suffers usually turn to nasal sprays, antihistamines, neti pots and
Avoid wasting your money until you are ready. Let me explain…
You’ve decided that you have some communication issues that you would like to improve upon and a coach is the solution to help you achieve your goals. Resolving to make change is a wonderful goal but too often, people with best intentions are unable to achieve their goals. Too often, we have unrealistic goals and don’t realize how difficult change can be.
Ever heard the phrase “It’s not you, it’s me?” Frequently, it is an excuse that is used by someone in a relationship who is breaking up with the other person.
But the same can be said for the listener who is struggling to understand people speaking with foreign accent…”It’s not you, it’s me!” The listener has ownership in the problem, too.
Are you trying to persuade someone (or a group) to see your point of view but your
message seems to allude them? Working with many clients over the year, there are speaking habits that are detractors and ultimately (but unintentionally) affect the speaker’s credibility. The speaker may be totally oblivious to the distraction, too, unless they have sought out the feedback or someone has boldly spoken up. Most people don’t give their opinion though as they feel unqualified to do so or they are afraid of offending the person needing the feedback. Since a lot of distractions occur without knowledge that they exist in the first place, here’s a crash course to help you identify potential issues. This checklist of common distractions are easy to fix with self-awareness and self-monitoring. Remember that any behavior that causes your audience to think about something else (and not you, the speaker) will take away from your message. As soon as that happens, your credibility suffers.
Diane, a new executive director, was given new responsibilities at her organization that included standing before the board to talk about current company projects. Her presentation skills, however, were not at that level. She knew she was in trouble because she feared public speaking so much that it nearly immobilized her. Not being able to speak in front of groups is real career stopper and nearly became a career stopper for Diane. As much as Diane wanted to be a credible, and an influential authority on her topic…
Have you seen this video that depicts the elevation and demotion of popular brands over 7 years? It’s a fascinating visual of brand changes for familiar large organizations. Take a look at this video:
Have you ever noticed how we buy from people we know, like and trust? I notice this in myself when I am at the doctor’s office, when I shop for clothes in a store or food at a restaurant or when someone tries to convince me to buy into his/her idea. It has been proven that we are more likely to “buy” (material goods or ideas) from someone we like than someone we don’t. Think about your own shopping experience or even when someone is making a case for something they believe in. Have you ever felt like walking out of a store when you didn’t feel comfortable with whomever was helping you? Did you ever stop listening when someone you didn’t trust tried to sell you his/her idea? Admittedly, I have. 
Recently, the 31st anniversary of the famous TV series, Seinfeld, was celebrated. I still watch reruns and still laugh at all of the jokes. There are many memorable episodes that involve speech and voice. Here are just a few of the most memorable episodes that involve communication and what we can learn from them.
Ever heard the phrase “It’s not you, it’s me?” Frequently, it is an excuse that is used by someone in a relationship who is breaking up with the other person.
