June 2015

Getting the story out

Why do writers write? This month's post discusses the human compulsion to share stories. Don't ignore that power, even in unlikely situations.

If you can take a professional development day this summer, think about   tuning up your communication skill set in my Executive Communications Skills: One-Day Blitz? Check my workshop schedule for upcoming workshop dates.

 Tips you can use!

Simplify, simplify, simplify

Your clarity of expression mirrors your clarity of thought. If listeners gets lost in your dependent clauses or confusing vocabulary they'll stop listening. Use simple sentences and active verbs. It's easier to keep an audience with you than to get them back! 

 

Be bold this summer!
Now is a good time to clean out and polish up your communication toolkit. Try a new approach! Fewer folks around can mean more in-depth feedback, and a slightly slower pace gives you more opportunity to tweak, refine and try again. Look at the tools you are using and see how you can creatively maximize their potential. Come fall and you'll be ready to hit the ground running. 

 

You may be hot but are you warm?
You may think you don't need that vocal warm-up because you aren't feeling the back and neck tension that comes from a winter's worth of shoulder-hunching. But remember, runners warm up before a race, even when it's hot out. You should, too.

 

May 2015

Conversation stoppers

Are you constantly being- - -where did you put my . . . oh, sorry . . . you were saying? In my lastest blog post I write about different views on interruptions.

And if you haven't done your professional skills spring tune-up, may I suggest my Executive Communications Skills: One-Day Blitz? Check my workshop schedule for upcoming workshop dates.

 

Tips you can use!

Look into the lens

When you're taping and the interviewer or producer tells you to look into the camera, make sure you do it. Though we naturally disengage from our speaking partner occasionally in "real life"—to avoid the awkward stare—doing so on camera makes you look shifty. So keep your eyes glued to the lens.

 

Keep your chin down
Be sure to keep the top of your head parallel to the ceiling when you are speaking. Short people in particular have a tendency to tip the chin up, which is unattractive (especially on video) and puts unnecessary strain on your voice. If you are speaking to someone much taller, take a step back to increase your viewing angle.

 

It's OK to say "I don't know"
In the information age you can't be expected to know everything at any given second. If you make something up, chances are someone else in the room will have Googled the real answer by the time you've finished.

April 2015

Digging out from winter

This month's blog post features news about a project I have been working on this winter, and a reminder to schedule all of your spring tune-ups.

More details available on the schedule for my Executive Communications Skills: One-Day Blitz!

Tips you can use!

Don't bury your lead
If you're doing any kind of Q & A,  it's best to get to the point right away. Don't embellish or feel you need to give lots of context. Answer the question as clearly and succinctly as possible. At worst, over-explaining can land you in hot water. At best, you'll bore the audience. Not much of a choice, is it?

Practice your zen face
If you've been told your face in repose makes you looks mean or unhappy, you're not alone! Lots of us look a little "frowny" when we're thinking. Get comfortable wearing a "zen face"—relaxed, not super-smiley or overly (falsely) enthusiastic—and those comments will disappear.

A word about PowerPoint
Don't! . . . unless you need those charts, graphs or mapsand then make sure they are big enough to be seen at the back of the room. Don't be lazy and just put your outline up. Find a thematic visual that reinforces your theme. Or just tell the story. Revisit my blog post to find out why.