Before we start a new workshop, myself and my peers at iSpeak take the time to meet each individual in the room and learn their name. Throughout the workshop, we use our students’ names when we address them. Recently I was teaching a sales class and 5 minutes after class started, I mentioned a student …
Pie and Coffee
“I tell them anything just to get them out of my office!” was his comment. He was a leader taking my communication workshop in Oklahoma. He was speaking about his direct reports. “Come in and I’ll answer all your questions.” was the comment from a different leader who said he likes to have pie and …
The Easy Way to Get Data to Tell a Story
What is the most common complaint we hear from people sitting through ineffective slide show presentations? There’s no story! It’s just a bunch of data. The speaker has given us the “show up and throw up” version of the presentation. It’s as if they opened up a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle box and dumped it …
3 Tools to Crystalize Your Message
My student gave me one final comment as she was exiting my workshop. She said, “My biggest takeaway from today? Less is more. I won’t forget that.” She smiled and shook my hand as I thanked her for her participation and insights. When you’re the speaker, you’re trying to achieve an objective when you speak. …
Leading with Fear Will Fail in the End
When I’m on long flights overseas, I end up watching at least one movie. Most recently on my trip to Korea I watched the movie King Arthur. I’m familiar with the storyline and I was curious how this adaptation would be different. In this version, the power craved uncle (played by Jude Law) thinks that …
How to Make Your Stories More Visual
Patricia Fripp once said to me, “Craig, people will not remember what you say as much as they will remember what they see when you say it.” In other words, we have to make our speeches very visual in order to have the deepest impact. Here are 3 ways to accomplish this: 1) Put your …
Training Strategies to Maximize Results
Training is about imparting knowledge, developing skills, and changing attitudes. Exercises in training programs must be designed properly to maximize the desired results. Effective training classes incorporate the appropriate level of exercises for you to achieve those results. Do you know the four levels of learning exercises? Do you know the best training method and format to achieve the desired level of learning?
What do Texas Hold ‘em and Communication Skills have in common?
According to Dr. Albert Mehrabian, when the words you speak, the tone of voice you use and your portrayal of body language are not in complete alignment, your message becomes less believable.
What do Texas Hold ‘em and Communication Skills have in common?Read More