communications
Keep Your Presentation from Being Forgettable
Advice on giving good presentations tends to focus on structure and style, but there’s something even more important to consider: getting your audience to remember your talk. Here’s how to make sure they remember what you say: Follow the right sequence…
Pump Yourself Up Before A Presentation
Giving a talk in front of an audience can be stressful, and our bodies react to that stress in different ways. If you’re someone who gets jittery and anxious, or whose energy levels flatline, try an exertion ritual before your next presentation. The ri…
Tell Your Customer’s Story
One of the most important elements to attracting potential clients is that they understand what you are offering. If they don’t have a clear idea of what you can do for them they won’t know why they should use your service or product. For complicated s…
Don’t Base Your Image On Clip Art And Templates
Your logo and your business card provide an image for you and your business. So what kind of impression do you think you give when you meet people at a business conference and hand them a business card with a design that multiple other people have used…
When You Can’t Hit Unsend
Most people have made the mistake of hitting “reply all” on a private email or sending an insensitive message to the wrong person. After the panic sets in, you need to own the mistake. Approach the offended colleague quickly and apologize: “I’m sorry I…
Avoid Filler Language in Presentations
Presenters often use the phrase “Does that make sense?” to gauge audience understanding. But this can convey a speaker’s uncertainty and signals that the audience might not comprehend or appreciate the content. To be an effective spea…
Good Listeners Ask Good Questions
Some people equate good listening with sitting silently, nodding, making eye contact, and, when the speaker is done, paraphrasing what you heard. But these things are only part of what makes someone feel that you heard them. The best listeners go deepe…