Communicating with Confidence

Jumpstart Confidence in Business Presenting

2011-11-07T09:40:00.000+08:00

True confessions time.
Corporate leaders around the world confess to a singular dread of presenting in front of groups. It's shocking, really. Grown men in dark blue suits. Successful women who have smashed the glass ceiling.
They should be confident. They should feel great and ready to jump up and take center stage. But, it's not the case.
In the quiet safety of a hallway. Next to the elevator. Over a cup of coffee. These men and women tell a simple story:
"I dread presenting."
"I get nauseous just thinking about it!"
"I've had presentation skills training on my development plan for the last 15 years."
This is bad news. Smart, well-educated professionals who would rather stay under the covers than step into the spotlight. All that knowledge, insight and contribution hidden or lost. This is a sorry shame.
But good news is close behind.
Learning how to feel confident giving presentations has gotten easier than ever before. An entire new source for professional development training is now available: online presentation skills training.
Previously, busy professionals relied on expensive in-house training programs, exorbitant coaching fees and public seminars. No more. Now, the choice is clear: self-study courses are the way to go.
These leaders are men and women who know the importance of professional skills training. It's a career booster like no other. It is the critical key to unlock more job opportunity, better promotions, and greater success.
While senior leadership promotions often look for work experience, smart organizations value communication training and leadership presentation skills.
The big question every professional should ask is this: what's on your calendar for becoming a confident presenter?
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Hear What People Are Really Saying

2011-06-10T13:09:00.001+08:00

Listening is one of the most important skills you can have. How well you listen has a major impact on your job effectiveness, and on the quality of your relationships with others.

We listen to obtain information.
We listen to understand.
We listen for enjoyment.
We listen to learn.

Given all this listening we do, you would think we’d be good at it! In fact we’re not. Depending on the study being quoted, we remember a dismal 25-50% of what we hear. That means that when you talk to your boss, colleagues, customers or spouse for 10 minutes, they only really hear 2½-5 minutes of the conversation.

Turn it around and it reveals that when you are receiving directions or being presented with information, you aren’t hearing the whole message either. You hope the important parts are captured in your 25- 50%, but what if they’re not?

Clearly, listening is a skill that we can all benefit from improving. By becoming a better listener, you will improve your productivity, as well as your ability to influence, persuade negotiate. What’s more, you’ll avoid conflict and misunderstandings – all necessary for workplace success. )

Good communication skills require a high level of self-awareness. By understanding your personal style of communicating, you will go a long way towards creating good and lasting impressions with others.

Continue: Mindtools

How to Improve Communication Skills With People

2011-03-28T07:57:00.001+08:00

Effective communication skills are an asset in many life situations. They can contribute to a higher level of success in your career, open up opportunities to make new friends and give you a sense of confidence when faced with a room full of strangers. According to Don Hofstrand, Co-Director, Ag Marketing Resource Center, good communication skills can enhance relationships, while poor skills can deplete them. There are many people who may need work when it comes to communication skills, but the effort can make a positive difference in business and personal relationships.

Instructions

Make eye contact with the person to whom you are speaking. This serves to establish a sense of trust among people because it shows you have confidence in what you are saying. If you are speaking to a room full of people, you can make periodic eye contact with different people as you speak. If you are speaking one-on-one with someone, make the level of eye contact comfortable by making periodic breaks in contact. Too little eye contact will make people feel uncomfortable and make them think you have something to hide or that you are not being honest with them.

Be aware of your body language and facial expressions. A friendly, warm smile can make you seem more approachable. You don't have to constantly bare your teeth at people; a closed-mouth smile works just as well and may feel more comfortable. Make sure your body language conveys a sense of openness and interest. Crossed arms and legs convey a sense that you are closed off and not interested in communicating. Sit or stand in an easy, relaxed posture to show you are interested in the conversation.

Fearlessly Communicating and Talking with Confidence

2011-03-08T09:20:00.002+08:00

I am going to start off by telling you about the problems I had in communicating confidently. I have not seen much variation between people who lack confidence when talking with others so if you are short in the confidence department or just want to have more confidence in your conversations, you’ll definitely be able to relate and learn from my experience. You do not need to go through life lacking confidence and feeling dominated by others and situations.

From an early age, I was always the quiet boy. I’d sit in school knowing the answers to a question but would be too afraid to answer. I couldn’t talk to someone new. I wouldn’t look someone in the eyes if they looked back at me and I’d hardly argue with anyone. Yes arguing is a bad thing, but I avoided arguing not because it was the right thing to do, but because I was too afraid to speak up and voice my opinion. I was passive and unconfident in letting people verbally trample over me.

Being so passively accepting like I was is dangerous for your mental health. A fear to speak from poor confidence can manifest in huge forms of resentment, ill will, and anger which in turn destroys relationships, happiness, and success. You can probably see that talking with confidence is strongly related to assertive communication. Rarely do you see a person who lacks confidence asserting themselves. I’ll try to stick to the confidence side of things as you can read more about assertion in the assertive skills section.

How to Take Control of your Self Confidence

2011-02-22T13:32:00.002+08:00

Having confidence is all about believing in yourself and the only way you can build your belief in what you are capable of is by taking action in the world and learning through trial and error.

If you think success, happiness and love are going to happen without learning through mistakes along the way you are mistaken.

Our brains are wired to learn from our own experiences as well as those of others. Without experience how are you going to learn anything?

Let me give you an example. At my local bank a number of weeks ago I attempted to make small talk with the cashier and she completely ignored me.

Last week I was in the bank and tried my small talk routine again, and again I failed. She ignored me again!

There are a number of ways to view this situation:

1. My communication strategy is not working
2. I need to change my approach
3. I will learn from this experience and become better

A number of years ago I would have given this situation a different analysis:

1. She is rude and ignorant. She thinks I am a moron
2. I feel crushed by this blatant rejection
3. My confidence depends on this person liking me

Notice the difference. My old outlook sets me up for pain and frustration and puts the ball in the court of the other person. My confidence depends on how the other person responds.

My new outlook puts me in control. I created the results I am getting, I can choose to change my approach and I can decide to learn and grow from every experience.

Communicate With Confidence

2011-02-18T08:48:00.000+08:00

“Communicate with Confidence” is specifically about communication skills for emerging young leaders. This content-rich program gives students confident and powerful communication tips that will help them enhance their leadership influence on campus through effective communication. They will gain many useful "how-to's", take part in useful exercises specifically designed to cultivate their ability fast and learn from the experiences of others who have faced similar challenges. In this interactive workshop, I walk students through a step-by-step process that will introduce and explore the four main communication styles we utilize; assertive, passive, aggressive, and passive aggressive. They will gain helpful interpersonal skills and learn the importance of how being prepared builds a stronger self-image and self-esteem. Whether students speak to an audience of one or one hundred, they will be better at it after attending this workshop.

"How to Make Great Conversation - Copy the Easy Way Popular People Use...

2011-02-08T07:18:00.002+08:00

Popular people make it look so easy. They walk into a room and make friends with no apparent effort. How do they do it?

What are their secrets to enjoying a great conversation with anyone they meet? How can we copy them?

There are conversation secrets popular people take for granted. And if you know their mindset and conversation strategies you`ll have people eating out of your hand too. Its a question of strategy - use their strategy and you`ll get similar results even if you found it difficult or frustrating in the past to get a conversation going.

How Popular People Make Conversation Look So Easy

I first discovered this in the summer of 1989 in Hyannis, Cape Cod. It was a hot, lazy summer and I was enjoying the beach with new friends. One of my friends, Craig, happens to be one of these naturally gifted people.

You know the kind. Everywhere he goes people are happy to see him. His phone is always ringing and he is a popular guy around town. His friends and family respect him and enjoy his company. He makes it look so easy it used to make me mad!

That summer I figured out the conversation making formula my popular friend was using. And over the years when I`ve met popular people I have made a point of uncovering their secrets. What`s fascinating is that all popular people have stumbled upon the same fundamental formula.

Persona - Personality development for a whole new you!

2011-01-13T14:17:00.003+08:00

Persona - Personality development for a whole new you! By Lavanya Srinivasan Published: October 18 2010

Persona started by entrepreneur Babita Narayanan is an exclusive training company. Their residential personality development program focuses on fitness training, personal makeover, etiquette and communication skills.

Persona focuses on five aspects of personality development
A well-developed personality can be instrumental in ensuring success in any field. Personality means characteristics and appearance of a person - pattern of thought, feeling, behaviour and communication ability. Everyone is influenced by an attractive personality. And without influencing others you can’t get success in today’s competitive world. Therefore the importance of personality development has risen very much. It is an age of competition and economic revolution. Although opportunities of progress are everywhere one will have to work very hard to climb the stairs of a brilliant career. The person having a good personality can move through the difficulties with more confidence.

Persona provides a holistic and well-rounded personality enhancement programme

Persona started by entrepreneur Babita Narayanan is a high end and exclusive training company. They have specialized programs for individuals and organizations to enhance and balance the core skills of confidence, communication and presenting yourself. Their process of training is very intensive and personalized and the natural outcome is empowered individuals who can communicate extremely well and present themselves and the organization with unwavering confidence and polish.

Babita Narayanan“The transformation is not just skin deep, it creates a whole new persona for you. The mission of Persona is to provide opportunities to everyone to be the person they always wanted to be. For each one to possess their own brand identity so they can seize every opportunity life offers, personally, socially and professionally. Quality and focus are the two cornerstones Persona is built on. There are absolutely no compromises except the best of everything,” explains Babita Narayanan.

She further adds, “Whether it is guidance towards how to attend an interview, the way you communicate or even the way you dress, we equip you with all the skills. Not every one has the advantages that certain people take for granted on account of their education or privileged background. While most people are confident and competent, they do not know how to present themselves and through our various modules, we train and empower them,”

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Tips for Communicating Effectively

2011-01-05T07:31:00.002+08:00

Communication is an ongoing process and it is very essential to understand that communication is also about developing listening skills. To be heard, it is important to hear out the other person’s opinion or justification. Rationales differ and this is a part of the complex human differences. In order to develop effective communication skills, it is good if you can ask questions intelligently. It is how to phrase a question and justify the situation. In case you are overwhelmed with a particular emotion or agitated it is good to hold back and take a deep breath before you speak.

Language skills upgrade your ability to speak. The vital necessity is to overcome shyness. The English medium of education is reaching everywhere. There is always help through classes and communication workshops. If you are worried about communicating to a peer or to a boss, hesitation has to be overcome. Soft skills developments are essential. When you lack in a particular area, your confidence ebbs and you may fail to gain the other persons confidence. Telephone skills, email etiquettes and other such communication are very essential so as to gain more confidence.

Rehearsing surely works. If you are going on stage or need to give a speech, writing is the key. While you write, adhere to punctuations. Read the same with style and practice voice modulation. Though it sounds easy only practice and dedication helps you to overcome the situation. It may happen that you can falter on stage but overcoming the situation with a strong body language is the key. Listening to people talking on talk shows, conversing with colleagues and developing good reading skills is the best way you can work this out.

How To Communicate With Your Spouse

2010-12-17T13:11:00.000+08:00

Communicating with your spouse isn't always easy.

You both have your own ideas and methods for handling conflicts. But then again, there are ways in which the both of you can reach a middle ground. Here's how to communicate with your spouse.

Number one: Give your spouse your undivided attention. Put down everything you're doing that can break your concentration. Maintain eye contact. Looking up at the ceiling or off to the side may give the impression that you are uninterested in your spouse's thoughts, which can spark anger. Listen attentively without causing any interruption. Allow your spouse to complete his or her entire thought, listen with an open mind, and then respond after. Listen without judgment. Remember that a person will not share what's on his or her mind unless he or she feels accepted and safe from negative rebuffing. Be interested and sympathetic, and realize that your spouse may want you to listen to him or her without seeking a solution.

Number two: Be honest. Communication fails when spouses aren't open and honest with each other. You have to be honest with your spouse about your intentions, actions, and your daily rights and wrongs. Trying to hide something in mistruth sets you up for inevitable trouble. Rather than tell the other person what you think he or she wants to hear, candidly express your likes and dislikes, and resolve to keep the relationship strong.

Number three: Make time for each other. Go on dates regularly if you can get away, and really talk to each other. Spend quality time together. Arrange weekly or bi-weekly date nights, and schedule in at least thirty minutes of interrupted couples' time each day.

Keep in mind, though, that communicating with your spouse isn't always about talking. Besides, things are better left unsaid sometimes.

Source:How To Communicate With Your Spouse

8 steps to self-confidence

2010-12-17T09:45:00.000+08:00

Find out how confident you really are. Then take action with these eight simple strategies for enhancing yourself.

If I could give a present to every person who wrote to me, what would I choose? No contest. I’d give everyone more self-confidence because I don’t know anyone who couldn’t do with feeling a little better about who they are and what they can do.

Read the following statements to identify how self-confident you are. Answer each question honestly.

1. I’ve always lacked confidence, even when I was a little girl

2. I see myself falling flat on my face – and then I do

3. I typically feel so nervous inside that I sabotage myself

4. However good I feel, I often seem nervous to other people

5. I often feel unsure when I’m doing something new

6. I worry that other people may laugh or disapprove of me

7. I’m confident in some areas, but I feel unsure in others

8. If something feels too big for me, I just collapse under the weight

Each statement highlights a vulnerability. Read the analysis, starting on the next page, for advice on how to improve your self-confidence.

Read more: 8 easy ways to improve your confidence

Continue:Ivillage

Communication Success with Four Personalities

2010-12-17T07:27:00.001+08:00

“Know yourself, know others;

one hundred battles, one hundred victories.”

- Ancient Chinese saying

What is human behavior? In what ways are we similar and different? How can we successfully communicate with one-another?

My recently written reference guide “Communication Success with Four Personality Types” is an interpretation of some of the most popular personality tests used by many organizations in hiring, professional development, and performance evaluation. The purpose of the reference guide is to present an overview of four major personality types, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and provide information on how to communicate more effectively with each trait.

The four personality types are: Relater-Supporter, Initiator-Cheerleader, Analyzer-Investigator, and Driver-Leader. Most of us have a dominant personality type, with one or two secondary types. These traits can change and evolve over time.

It’s generally not too difficult to identity the primary personality type of an individual, based on her or his persona, communication style, and to some extent profession.

Here are some of the most dominant traits of each type:

Relater-Supporters tend to be “nice”, supportive, nurturing, and friendly.

Initiator-Cheerleaders tend to be energetic, motivating, persuasive, and fun.

Analyzer-Investigators tend to be detail oriented, task driven, analytical, and matter of fact.

Driver-Leaders tend to be powerful, achievement conscious, control oriented, and productive.

While the dominant personality type of most individuals tends to be fairly easy to observe, the secondary personality type (or types) tends to take some knowing of a person to deduce. Most people have one dominant, one or two secondary, and one weakest type. The resource guide describes each personality in detail, and recommends strategies to communicate successfully with each type as family, friends, co-workers, and customers.

More!..

How Effective Is Communication Skill Training?

2010-12-07T08:29:00.002+08:00

Communication skill training is a part of personality development. Communication skills are essential for everyone in their day-to-day life. Communication skill is not just about expressing your point effectively; it is also about understanding what the other person has said. Moreover, Communication skill training is not just meant for corporate world; it can be applied in all your personal interactions, be it with your wife, parents, kids etc.

First lesson in communication skill training discusses about the importance of proper listening. Mostly, when we observe two people talking, we can see that one person is eagerly waiting for other person to stop so that he can start talking, instead of listening to what the other person has to say. You must realize the fact that your communication would have been much better if you had listened to the other person before you start with your points.

Secondly is about body language. There are times when your words suggest something and your body language suggests something else. You need to keep a positive vibe about your presence by keeping the right body language. Make sure that your body language does not contradict what you are about to say. Also, make sure that your body language does not suggest too much negativity or too much aggression. Next, you could do better with your eye contact. Keeping the eye contact while you talk would definitely increase the chances for other person to believe what you say.

Third lesson in communication skill training would be about the language you use. At some times you may use neutral language, and at some other times you may use subtly aggressive language. You can decide on what language is most suited for the occasion. However, a positive, friendly and cordial language is generally preferred for all the occasions. The other person can easily sense the language you may use; so, be conscious before you open your mouth.

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THE THREE COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

2010-12-07T08:23:00.003+08:00

THE THREE COMPONENTS OF COMMUNICATION

On a daily basis we work with people who have different opinions, values, beliefs, and needs than our own. Our ability to exchange ideas with others, understand others' perspectives, solve problems and successfully utilize the steps and processes presented in this training will depend significantly on how effectively we are able to communicate with others.

The act of communicating involves verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal components. The verbal component refers to the content of our message‚ the choice and arrangement of our words. The nonverbal component refers to the message we send through our body language. The paraverbal component refers to how we say what we say - the tone, pacing and volume of our voices.

In order to communicate effectively, we must use all three components to do two things:

1. Send clear, concise messages.

2. Hear and correctly understand messages someone is sending to us.

Communication Involves Three Components:

1. Verbal Messages - the words we choose

2. Paraverbal Messages - how we say the words

3. Nonverbal Messages - our body language

These Three Components Are Used To:

1. Send Clear, Concise Messages

2. Receive and Correctly Understand Messages Sent to Us.

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The Importance of Effective Communication

2010-12-07T08:19:00.002+08:00

So, what exactly is the importance of effective communication? Why the hype over it?
Effective communication will strengthen your existing relationships and help you to form positive bonds in future interactions.
You probably learned this fact very early on in life. As a baby, you quickly discover that crying will bring your beloved Mommy or Daddy scurrying into your nursery to rock you, feed you or even change your diaper.
You begin to realize that the louder and more often you cry, the faster they will show up at your crib!
This trend continues on to adolescence when you notice that the more you are willing to discuss where you are going with your parents, the better chance you have of receiving a few extra bucks for that weekend movie.
This idea is reinforced throughout your teenage years; you begin to form special bonds with friends after spending countless hours gabbing on the phone with them or discussing life’s ups and downs with the guys on the football field.
Once you become an adult, you understand that communicating effectively will bring you closer to your child, colleague, friend or parent. We all appreciate the special relationships where we can discuss opinions openly without the fear of being judged. Such is the importance of effective communication.
Learning to communicate effectively can also prevent misunderstandings.
Too many people assume the other person knows exactly what they are thinking. And you know what they about this bad habit; when you assume, you make an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.
READ MORE
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Good Communication Skills

2010-11-24T13:10:00.002+08:00

Good communication skills are skills that facilitate people to communicate effectively with one another. Effectual communication engages the choice of the best communications channel, the technical know-how to use the channel, the presentation of information to the target audience, and the skill to understand responses received from others. Self development, interpersonal skills, mutual understanding, mutual cooperation and trust is also important to set a complete channel of most effective and winning communication skill

There are mainly three types of communication skills, expressive skills, listening skills and skills for managing the overall process of communication. The basic fundamental of all these types of communication is emotional skills.
Expressive skills are required to convey message to others through words, facial expressions and body language. Listening skills are skills that are used to obtain messages or information from others. These help to clearly understand what a person feels and thinks about you or understand the other person closely. Skills for managing the overall process of communication help to recognize the required information and develop a strong hold on the existing rules of communication and interaction.

Importance of communication skills can never be ignored or neglected. These skills are the key to executing good management skills. With good management skills, you can have a team of members who together create an ambience of open communication, concise messages, probe for clarifications, recognize nonverbal signals, and mutual understanding. Good communication involves a set of complex skills...Read More

Communication Skills

2010-11-08T13:32:00.001+08:00

How do you develop your communication skills? Explore the related skills and look at the examples below:

Oral communication is the ability to explain and present your ideas in clear English, to diverse audiences. This includes the ability to tailor your delivery to a given audience, using appropriate styles and approaches, and an understanding of the importance of non-verbal cues in oral communication. Oral communication requires the background skills of presenting, audience awareness, critical listening and body language

Written communication is the ability to write effectively in a range of contexts and for a variety of different audiences and purposes, with a command of the English language. This includes the ability to tailor your writing to a given audience, using appropriate styles and approaches. It also encompasses electronic communication such as SMS, email, discussion boards, chat rooms and instant messaging. Written communication requires background skills such as academic writing, revision and editing, critical reading and presentation of data.

Non-verbal communication is the ability to enhance the expression of ideas and concepts without the use of coherent labels, through the use of body language, gestures, facial expression and tone of voice, and also the use of pictures, icons and symbols. Non-verbal communication requires background skills such as
audience awareness, personal presentation and body language.

November Seminar

2010-10-27T08:59:00.001+08:00

"Tweet" your way through tough times!

what is all the buzz about Social Media and how can you profit by getting into Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube...

... this is not a regular workshop, so take advantage NOW

If you thought Social Media was just for kids - then it's time to Think Again!

If you thought that you couldn't afford to ramp up your marketing efforts in a tough economy? then it's time to Think Again!

Presidents and Prime Ministers do it. Big companies are doing it. Oprah and Ellen are doing it - even Rove is doing it. You thought it's not for you then it's time toThink Again!

Maybe your competition is already doing it... so you need to act quickly and get into the Twitter revolution... and maybe you have missed the boat? then it's time to Think Again!

It all starts with Twitter...

The missing link of social media is here. Lecture-style learning a bit too boring for you? We have that covered! We invite you to attend our Interactive Twitter & Social Media Workshop.

Fun and profitable is how we describe Twitter for Business. Enjoy networking during a hands-on workshop. Maybe even consider bringing you Netbook, iPad, iPhone, or smartphone and join in and experience beginning and advanced techniques for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube. Even a novice can leave a Twitter expert. This will be your coolest networking experience ever!

After 3 short hours you will walk away with practical tips, a game plan and a room full of "followers" to get you off to a great start!

You will learn:

Twitter language ( NO "geek" speak!)
Who to "follow" and how to find them
Twitter on the go - setting up your mobile device
Using Twitter to effectively brand and grow your business
Twitter overload - how to manage your network with 3rd party tools
The top 10 most helpful sites to leverage Twitter
Become a Twitter expert in less than 10 minutes a day
How to combine the MAGIC 4 Facebook LinkedIn Twitter & Youtube

Raving Reviews from Friday's Twitter for Business Seminar in Sydney

Excellent information
Doug McCoy AVSL

Fantastic Very comprehensive!
Lots of food for thought
Ilana Den Conference Call (Australia) Pty Ltd

Opened my eyes to the possibilities
I never know existed
Stafford Lowe Ultimate Health

This opened my eyes to using social network marketing for a corporate benefit. Absolutely fantastic!
Chris Aitken The Web Hub

Excellent introduction to all social media marketing options
Tom Anderson Votiva

Learn from the Best in the World

Personal note from Wayne Mansfield:

Many people were asking me... "Does social media marketing work..." and I really couldn't tell them from my own experience so I did something about it.

On December 3rd 2008, whilst waiting in the Qantas Club for a flight home to Perth, I added Twitter to my social media marketing effort. I was already successful with LinkedIn having built a 18 million strong network, and I was looking to leverage that group of contacts with the latest craze for grown ups - Twitter!

Well, a short few months later, with nearly 84,753 followers on Twitter, I can tell you... Twitter is themost powerful marketing tool on the Internet! (According to TwinInfluence I rank 81 and reach 7 million people for FREE!)

Join me on Twitter

http://twitter.com/waynemansfield

I have crafted what I believe is the most comprehensive Twitter and Social Media Marketing workshop, anywhere in the world, and can have you up and running within hours - and best of all... you don't need a lot of money to make it work.

Who says Wayne Mansfield is the best in the world

Want to check out my credentials for making these claims?? Check my Twitter Grader Ranking- this is an independent scoring system of the most effective people using Twitter - I am regularly ranked in the Top 100 Users of Twitter in the world out of 20 million users. In Australia, I rank higher than the Australian Prime Minister, being No. 2 on the Top 100 Australian's with influence.

Because so few people have made social media marketing work, my reputation for making Twitter and social media effective has spread worldwide. Consequently I am consulting to companies in Germany, India, USA, the UK and Asia. so, I implore you... make a decision to join me at one of my Twitter and Social Media Marketing workshops and really unlock the power of web marketing for your business.

Seminar Location and Booking Details
Twitter for Business

Monday, November 8th, 2010	Brisbane	Christies Corporate
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010	Sydney	Portside Centre
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010	Melbourne	Karstens Conference Center
Thursday, November 11th, 2010	Perth	Cambridge Convention Center

2 pm to 5 pm Workbook, Tea & Coffee provided

Seminar Price $249

Click Here to Book your Place Now!

Cancellation Policy: All sales are final. Should you be unable to attend, a substitute participant is always welcome. No refunds will be given. Speakers and dates may be subject to change.

Providing this information constitutes your permission for AEC trading as The Maverick Partnership or and any associated party to contact you regarding related information via mail, e-mail, fax or phone.

You are important to us. If you are having problems booking, please let us know by eMail or phone the booking hotline in your city

Any questions?? Feel free to contact us and we'll explain the unique advantages of this particular seminar but remember places are limited!

AEC Platinum Privileges Card: Holders of the AEC Platinum Privilege Card can attend these seminars as part of their membership benefits.

Communication Skills - Questioning Techniques

2010-10-15T09:39:00.001+08:00

Asking questions effectively

Garbage in, garbage out, is a popular truth, often said in relation to computer systems: If you put the wrong information in, you'll get the wrong information out. The same principle applies to communications in general: If you ask the wrong questions, you'll probably get the wrong answer, or at least not quite what you're hoping for.

Asking the right question is at the heart of effective communications and information exchange. By using the right questions in a particular situation, you can improve a whole range of communications skills: for example, you can gather better information and learn more; you can build stronger relationships, manage people more effectively and help others to learn too.

So here are some common questioning techniques, and when (and when not) to use them:

Open and Closed Questions

A closed question usually receives a single word or very short, factual answer. For example, "Are you thirsty?" The answer is "Yes" or "No"; "Where do you live?" The answer is generally the name of your town or your address.

Open questions elicit longer answers. They usually begin with what, why, how. An open question asks the respondent for his or her knowledge, opinion or feelings. "Tell me" and "describe" can also be used in the same way as open questions. Here are some examples:

What happened at the meeting?
Why did he react that way?
How was the party?
Tell me what happened next.
Describe the circumstances in more detail.

7 Powerful Confidence Tips

2010-10-11T13:53:00.003+08:00

Even winners need confidence tips to be at their best. And

some good confidence tips are often all you need to keep

on track when you need some inspiration.

When you find the right confidence tips for your life and

apply these simple yet profound confidence tips the quality

of you life can change in a moment.

Here are seven confidence tips for your enjoyment...

1 Spend time each day with confident people.

Their energy and inner strength is so inspiring that you will

find yourself feeling more empowered just by listening to them

talk.

And you can get confidence tips from them. All you need to do is ask!

Even one good confidence tip could point you in a whole new direction

you would not have otherwise considered.

2 Find a mentor.

Nearly all successful people have a mentor. You too need

someone who has already done what you are working to achieve

who is willing to advise you and offer confidence tips.

This person will help you to succeed even more quickly than

you can imagine. Remember, two minds are better than one.

When you have someone who believes in you and you have a plan

you believe in -- your confidence will soar. The confidence tips you

learn will make all the difference.

3 Understand that confidence is only a feeling.

This is one of those unusual confidence tips but still very useful.

Have you ever felt confident? If you have ever felt confident

in any situation then you can feel confident again in the

future.

CONFIDENCE and COMMUNICATION SUCCESS FOR WOMEN AT WORK

2010-10-11T13:47:00.002+08:00

"The CDs sound fantastic. What a great piece of work, it must have been so satisfying for you. I'm sure I'd benefit and so would many women I know, love and work with. I've had various confidence-building experiences as well as some that were devastating, and it's not often that the topic gets addressed directly. Our levels of confidence steer, contribute to and affect what happens, affect what results are produced, what is and isn't attempted, and what dreams simply remain dreams. Good on you!"
Suzanne Kronisch, "Body of Knowledge" Feldenkrais Practitioner and Assistant Trainer, San Francisco Bay Area, USA. 27th April 2008.

"I have your two CD set on confidence for women at work and its fabulous. The very first story I listened to I identified with. It was about workplace bullying and made perfect sense. I have also given another set to a friend. My friend has been in business for years and appears to be extremely confident but she said she still found them really helpful. I guess one can't judge people's confidence from the outside looking in. The CDs are fabulous.
Kerry Doughty, West Perth, 2nd July 2008.

Seven amazing women, led by award-winning communication specialist and emotional intelligence coach, Rachel Green, will help you boost your confidence, self-belief and skills at work. Hear their stories, learn from their experiences and gain their star strategies for work success.

If you want to gain more respect, to speak out and be heard, or to overcome feelings of intimidation, guilt or invisibility, these women will tell you how. The richness of their backgrounds, the perspectives of their different ages, and the variations in their work experiences all add to the value of their contributions. Let them help you become even more confident, more skilled and gain more recognition at work.

Learn how you can:

	Gain respect.
	Know enough.
	Have self-belief.
	Stand your ground.
	Manage crying easily.
	Don’t feel intimidated.
	Speak out at meetings.
	Be confident at networking.
	Say "no" nicely and stick to it.
	Talk easily to more senior people.
	Be confident, be successful and get on at work.

Who are the women you'll learn from?

The women have a variety of work backgrounds, from financial administrator, CD production manager (and ex-policewoman), team supervisor and corporate insurance underwriter, to a forester, recruitment agent, small business owner, natural healing therapist and public servant. They are aged from 20-55 years.

What do the women talk about?

There are many issues that women face in the workplace that are addressed on the "Confidence for Women at Work" CDs. Here is an inside glimpse of just some of them:

Change Your Communication, Change Your Life With These Easy Yet Effective Strategies

2010-10-11T08:41:00.002+08:00

In business we are taught how to communicate with our clients and prospective clients in order to gain rapport. This is called effective inter-personal communication. Without it you can't expect to have a positive, healthy, long-term relationship with the people that are the foundation and lifeblood of your business. There is also another form of communication; it's how we communicate with ourselves. This form of communication is called Intra-personal communication, and chances are it's something you were never taught. It has to do with our emotions as well as what we say to ourselves. It too is also very important to a positive, healthy, long-term relationship, but with yourself, and maybe even more important than Inter-personal communication. Intra-personal communication is a skill that can be learned.

Inside of each and every one of us we are carrying around a history of words from the time we were born. Now you may say, "yes Mark, I know that because I use most of those words today". Okay, I'm not being that simplistic, but then again, I guess I am. Even though you may know the same words as the next person, give or take a few, the words you know were more than likely put together in a very different way than that next person.

Words Can Really Hurt

I worked with a young man whose father called him stupid most of his childhood, among other things negative that were communicated to him. During our sessions we came to an understanding that his father meant well. Meant well, you say? How could someone being called stupid have a positive intention? I'm sure you've heard of reverse psychology? As it turned out, his father was hoping that by calling him stupid he would do the opposite. In other words, by calling him stupid he hoped his son would do the opposite and learn to be smart.

Twitter for Business Guide

2010-10-11T08:01:00.001+08:00

Wayne Mansfield here … the man behind Australia’s most successful motivational newsletter… The Maverick Spirit.

You probably have heard about the buzz for Social Media Marketing in general, and Twitter in particular to get more business. What you mightn't know is that I, Wayne Mansfield, am currently acknowledged as the 4th most effective user of Twitter in the world. (Number 1 is FoxNews Network...)

Consequently, I have quickly become recognised as THE expert on how to make Twitter work for business. I'm able to demonstrate in my Twitter for Business Seminars how to create immediate business responses from using Twitter correctly.

Paul Dunn - successful businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of the B1G1 Foundation, Singapore - recently wrote that I have been acknowledged as the 4th most connected and active user of Twitter

I have a network reaching more than 23 million people across Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn. As Paul says: "That is awesome! It’s purposeful dedication and relentless testing coupled with an intuitive grasp of great ways to do things."

Paul goes on to say that I have written what he feels is THE definitive guide for business people, A Beginners Guide to Using Twitter for Business and it is available as a digital download – instantly in your hand to get to work with

What I have done is create, based on how I did it, A Beginner's Quick Start Guide and Tutorial to Using Twitter for Business. It's an eBook that is available immediately to download and it is just $10 Aus.

Read what others say about my skills and then, I urge you, buy the book!

November Seminar

2010-10-07T09:14:00.002+08:00

The Golden Opportunity Most Sales People Dread...
Cold Calling is the key to Sales Success

Learn the secrets to making a dynamite first impression

Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats will show sales people how to build powerful techniques that will allow them to get in the door and grab the sale. Because the business environment today is very competitive, sales people need to be constantly building their skills and working at being more productive than any other sales person. Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats will help sales people continue that growth pattern by focusing on real-life issues and providing practical techniques for dealing with them. Designed to achieve instant results, Cold Calling for Scaredy Catsincorporates a planning time so the participants leave with a specific plan to use the techniques and tools they’ve explored.

Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats deals with many areas of interest and concern to sales people. It provides suggestions for overcoming Cold Calling jitters and gives strategies for getting beyond the gatekeepers. Learn the things that should never be said in a cold call and techniques to use voice mail effectively. However, it’s not only about techniques—it’s also about attitude. Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats deals with attitude and how to deal with the stress of being a sales person.

Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats will be an interactive experience for participants as they develop skills in being more effective in aspects of cold calling from making the initial contacts to closing deals. There will be other sales reps and sales managers present so participants will have an opportunity to network and learn from each other as well as in the formal workshop setting.

In a Power Packed three hour session, you will look at the FIVE most important areas of Cold Calling:

Cold calling: the golden opportunity most sales reps dread.
Preparation: the key that separates sales rookies from pros.
Getting through: how to handle screens, gatekeepers, and voice mail.
Honing your telephone skills: sharpening your most effective tool for increasing sales.
Positive attitude and persistence: key ingredients for Cold Calling success.

Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats will share with sales people a step-by-step cold calling approach that will send your hit rate soaring; powerful techniques that turn sceptics into buyers; super-effective telephone scripts you can easily adapt; creative openers that melt resistance and pique curiosity; proven tips for getting past gatekeepers and screens to the person with buying authority; Learn the secret to making a dynamite first impression and establishing your credibility in seconds; and more.

Book your place now as these seminars will Fill Fast
Australia Wide Tour

Group Rates available for 5 or more: 5 - 9 $148; 10- 19: $137; 20+ $125

How to book:

By eMail
Complete the form below & click 'submit'
By fax
Print the form below, complete & send to the fax booking line in your city
By phone
Call the Booking Hotline in your city

National wide tour... at a location near you:

	Phone	Fax
Sydney	(02) 8916 6302	(02) 8916 6166
Brisbane	(07) 3041 4028	(02) 8916 6166
Melbourne	(03) 8678 0316	(02) 8916 6166
Perth	(08) 6313 3978	(02) 8916 6166

Seminar Location and Booking Details
Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats

Monday, November 8th, 2010	Brisbane	Christie Corporate
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010	Sydney	Portside Centre
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010	Melbourne	Karstens Conference Centre
Thursday, November 11th, 2010	Perth	Cambridge Convention Centre

9 am to 12 pm Workbook & Morning Tea provided

Seminar Price $185

Click Here to Book your Place Now!

Cancellation Policy: All sales are final. Should you be unable to attend, a substitute participant is always welcome. No refunds will be given. Speakers and dates may be subject to change.

You are important to us. If you are having problems booking, please let us know by eMail or phone the booking hotline in your city

Any questions?? Feel free to contact us and we'll explain the unique advantages of this particular seminar but remember places are limited!

AEC Platinum Privileges Card: Holders of the AEC Platinum Privilege Card can attend these seminars as part of their membership benefits.

Australian Seminars: http://www.stumpjump.net/

New Zealand Seminars: http://businessseminars.co.nz/

2010-10-04T13:49:00.000+08:00

Caution: Use situational judgment. Not all things can be done in all situations.

Understanding the principles will drive these behaviors in the correct direction to improve communication skills. Else you may end up........ I cant even imagine where

Are you ready for the stuff you can do right away? Me too! Let's rock.

Get into unfamiliar circumstances.

The best mode of quick learning is the mode of Unfamiliarity. When you are in a familiar and comfortable situation, your brain tends to be lax and less attentive. That's why off-site training is more effective than on site. It is not just the cost you know? (Communication is never about the cost, it's more about the result). One of the best way to improve your skills to find people who are successful in that particular area and see how to improve communication just like them.

Decide which behavior you would like to integrate and then choose one of the exercises to improvecommunication skills. Get your feet wet in uncharted territories. Use common sense when you do it to avoid getting into trouble. If you face trouble with Self Esteem, we have solution for that too.

Overcome hesitation by asking for "Ungettable" things at shops

If you are very sensitive or just a painful perfectionist, This exercise will set you free. Because of my huge ego, I had a "need to be right all the time" syndrome. Once I started this exercise, it was so revealing and relaxing. All you have to do is approach random people and ask for an opinion or visit shops and ask for things they wont have.

Once I was feeling really stuck while solving a problem and wanted to break away from the feeling. This is what I did to feel unstuck. I went to a Food Joint and asked for a Haircut! My heart was beating fast and I was sweating.

The waiter was confused so I asked again " Can I get a haircut?"

He said "Sorry we don't do that here".

I said "ok. Thank you" and ran away. It was fun.

Now many of my colleagues and friends do it when they find themselves stuck in a situation. I don't know why itworks. But I can tell you, it does wonders in improving your communication skills.

Quotes Of The Week

2010-10-04T08:52:00.002+08:00

- The problem with communication is the illusion that is has occurred.

- If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.

- It seemed rather incongruous that in a society of supersophisticated communication, we often suffer from a shortage of listeners.

- The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.

More...

Joke Of the Week - Communication Problem

2010-09-24T08:44:00.002+08:00

About five years ago the battery in my beat-up VW Beetle had died because I left the lights on overnight. I was in a hurry to get to work on time so I ran into the house to get my wife to give me a hand to start the car. I told her to get into our second car, a prehistoric oversized gas guzzler, and use it to push my car fast enough to start it. I pointed out to her that because the VW had an automatic transmission, it needed to be pushed at least 30 mph for it to start.
She said fine, hoped into her car and drove off.

I sat there fuming wondering what she could be doing.

A minute passed by and when I saw her in the rearview mirror coming at me at about 40 mph, I realized that I should have been a bit clearer with my directions.

October Seminars!

2010-09-22T10:30:00.002+08:00

Looking for a fast-paced, dynamic sales seminar that will teach simple and effective techniques and strategies to help you achieve outstanding success? Then you should attend this seminar!

PowerSelling is about closing sales in Australia in 2010 and beyond. What separates the pros from all the rest is the ability to "Close the Sale." Without this ability to get the customer to buy, many salespeople fail, businesses don't reach their true potential and countless dollars are lost.

The Truly Australian Way to Sell
Professional selling is an art. And Australians are truly a different buying people to Americans or the English.

The PowerSelling Seminar, presented by Wayne Mansfield - author of the best sellingAustralian Sales Script Book, shows you at least 37 proven ways to close the sale. Hard times have gone on too long... make a decision to attend this seminar and start on the road to sales success

PowerSelling: 37 Secrets of Winning the Sale!

Price and the power of persuasion: Understand the importance of price and how it affects your customer and you will immediately sell more - "how much" doesn't mean "oh we have to cut the price!"
Face to face selling in the 21st Century: Cultural and generational change in the last 20 years make the old assessment of who is a "average Australian" obsolete.PowerSellinghighlights how to engage these changes and prosper.
The one simple truth about selling... Learn this and you will join the SuperStars
SuperSales people have two distinct skills: learn the art of story telling and scripting and reap rich rewards.
Selling to Couples: Learn what you must know to increase your conversion rate when joint decisions are required.
Timing, timing and timing: When is the best time to ask for the sale?? And can there be more than one best time? PowerSelling will show you that timing is flexible and you can recover from a poor first impression with the right timing.
What is Psychophysics and how can it help you sell: Knowing how the mind works WILL increase your sales ability.
People NEVER buy what they can't afford unless... learn how getting people to want what you have is always better than needing what you want - emotions are the key!
PowerSelling covers all these secrets and more... give yourself and your team a competitive edge in this competitive business environment of today and beyond.

October Seminars!

2010-09-22T10:30:00.001+08:00

Are you sick of banging your head against the brick wall? Sales results are not what they should be? Then here is the answer...

Strategies to Lead winning sales people

Sales is the heart of most organizations. The front-line contact with the customer. Seems simple enough, but today, sales management has become one of the most dynamic environments for change in business.

Sales management professionals are now constantly facing the reality of:

customers who seem less loyal, yet more demanding
increasing complex distribution channel options
sales team challenges that push "recruit, reward and retain" to new levels
the pressure not only of selling, but attaining the optimal sales mix
marketing/sales interfaces that require effective negotiation and prioritization skills

The challenges of present day business are more complex than just a few short years ago, but spoils available from the resulting opportunities are vast for those who can master the critical elements of sales force performance. By attending the How to Lead and Motivate Sales Teams Seminar you will gain what could be called an "unfair advantage" on your competitors and tip the advantage in your favour.

Stop being frustrated with the lack of direct ability and performance of your sales team... unfortunately it's probably your own fault! Like most sales managers who have never been educated on the best practices of their position, do you wondering how to more effectively lead and motivate your sales people... well wonder no longer!

Act NOW to book and attend How to Lead and Motivate Sales Teams and you will learn how to achieve outstanding results whilst juggling all these things:

Hiring new salespeople.
Coaching and counselling.
Setting goals with salespeople.
Managing the training and development of salespeople.
Focusing and directing individual salespeople
Creating a winning climate of mutual respect
Force the salespeople to think strategically
Keeping in contact with the changes in the market
Mastering communication with your sales team
Provide regular structured direction and feedback to the sales team
Keeping the sales team focused on the highest-potential activities each month
Providing the team with a sense of ownership of their performance and results

	Phone	Fax
Sydney	(02) 8916 6302	(02) 8916 6166
Brisbane	(07) 3041 4028	(07) 8916 6166
Melbourne	(03) 8678 0316	(02) 8916 6166
Perth	(08) 6313 3978	(08) 8916 6166

Seminar Location and Booking Details
How to Lead & Motivate Sales Teams

Monday, October 18th, 2010	Brisbane	Christie Corporate
Tuesday, October 19th, 2010	Sydney	Portside Centre
Wednesday, October 20th, 2010	Melbourne	Karstens Conference Center
Thursday, October 21st, 2010	Perth	Cambridge Convention Center

2 pm to 5 pm Workbook & Afternoon Tea provided

Seminar Price $297

Click Here to Book your Place Now!

Cancellation Policy: All sales are final. Should you be unable to attend, a substitute participant is always welcome. No refunds will be given. Speakers and dates may be subject to change.

You are important to us. If you are having problems booking, please let us know by eMail or phone the booking hotline in your city

Any questions?? Feel free to contact us and we'll explain the unique advantages of this particular seminar but remember places are limited!

AEC Platinum Privileges Card: Holders of the AEC Platinum Privilege Card can attend these seminars as part of their membership benefits.

Australian Seminars Visit: www.Stumpjump.net

New Zealand Seminars Visit: www.businessseminars.co.nz

Communicating, Verbally, With Confidence!

2010-09-22T09:16:00.002+08:00

Communication skills are some of the most sought after skills in business. They are equally essential in the classroom, in the pageant interview or at home.

Follow these eight tips and you'll be quick to outclass your competition!

1. Stop what you are doing and listen. Nothing says, "I care and am interested in you," more than active listening. Don't look around the room for better action, don't continue working and whatever you do, don't read or send texts when someone is trying to have a conversation with you. As a mother, I find myself picking up, cooking or otherwise flitting around the house when my daughters are trying to talk to me. It's rude and communicates to them that what I am doing is more important than what they want to tell me. I'm working on it! Stop and listen. You'll be richer for it.

2. Articulate. There is a time in young people's lives - I think middle school - when whatever is coming out of their mouths is impossible to understand. You don't want to sound like a middle-schooler, having to repeat everything you say because no one can understand you. Speak slowly and articulate your words. You'll sound intelligent, be understood and the receiver of your message will thank you.

3. Look the person in the eye. Avoid eye contact and you are communicating your insincerity, boredom or general lack of interest. Connect and good things could happen!

4. Use proper grammar. Poor grammar is a dead give away that you are not a top candidate in your class, for a job, for a pageant title or for a spokesperson's spot. Don't ask, "where's it at?" Ask, "where is it?" If you are excited, say, "I'm eager." Not, "I'm anxious." You do things well; something tastes or feels good. Use the right word the right way.

5. More on grammar. Why do some people add an "s" to names and titles? For example, you hear, "J. C. Pennys." But the store is J. C. Penny. Some will say "anyways," when they really mean, "anyway." Don't ask, "do you want to go to Barnes and Nobles?" It's Barnes and Noble. Be careful!

6. Speak actively and definitively. I don't know why, but it is easier to write passively. And it seems to be working its way into verbal communication. When working with clients on interviewing, I will ask something like, "what do you want to do in the future?" And my client will answer, "I think, I probably would like to..." How about, "I want to...I will...I plan to..." Just say what it is.

Australian Sales Script Book

2010-08-25T09:53:00.003+08:00

Australia's Own
$ales $cript Book
The Hottest Selling Tool!

There is just ONE real difference explaining why super achieving sales people sell 10 times as much as the average sale person - and extensive international research continues to confirm that when this sales secret is implemented, average sales people become super achievers.

That ONE difference is that super achievers use scripting when selling - saying the right thing at the right time, each time they are in front of a prospective purchaser. And the answer to becoming a super achieving salesperson is easily found in the leading Australian sales resource The Australian Sales Script Book developed by Australians for Australians.

For over 20 years The Australian Sales Script Book has set the careers of thousands of average sales people on the pathway to becoming super achievers.

Our client testimonials show documented increases in sales results of hundreds of millions of dollars over the last 20 years. Extensively updated for the 21st Century, your copy of The Australian Sales Script Book is waiting for you now.

What is a Sales Script Book?
The Australian Sales Script BookIt is a collection of the most powerful and useful phrases (scripts) a sales professional can use to counter any objection and close the sale. A custom tailored Sales Script Book can cost a company upwards of $2,000.... and more.

It is no coincidence that sales superstars, some of who earn in excess of $1 million a year, all use Script Books. The Australian Sales Script Book makes the job of selling easier and less stressful. While your competitors are racking their brains to think up an on-the-spot response to an objection or stall, you can simply glance down the page in the appropriate Australian Sales Script Book section and find the right response to a sure close.

The Australian Sales Script Book contains hundreds of tested sales Scripts. You can now benefit from many years worth of research and purchase your own, generic Australian Sales Script Book You know about the high cost of customised Sales Script Books. They run between $15,000 to $35,000. Now you can get our generic Australian Sales Script Book at the special introductory price of $149.

Continue: Stumpjum

How To Build Your Self-Esteem

2010-08-20T09:36:00.000+08:00

It may sound a little cheesy, but feeling good about who you are -- that is, having a healthy amount of self-esteem and self-confidence -- is one of those things that will help make your life happier and more successful. Having confidence in yourself and your abilities goes a long way whether you're facing a tough decision, adapting to a new situation or standing up against peer pressure. Here are some tips on how to build your self-esteem.

1. Take a deep breath.
Staying relaxed and being laid-back in general can help you see the bigger picture and not sweat the small stuff so much. It's also a good frame of mind to be in when you're taking a close look at the things you're not so good at.

2. Take inventory of your strengths.
Everybody's good at something, and many people are good at quite a few things. Even if you don't have a talent or strength that you're aware of, you probably have some interests you can develop into strengths.

Make a list of a few things you're good at and a few things you're interested in and would like to be better at. Share this list with your parents, an aunt or uncle, or a teacher you like and trust. They can probably help you find other things you're good at, too, and help you come up with a plan for developing other skills and interests.

3. Realize your limits.
Nobody's perfect -- not even close. It may not always seem this way, but it's true. So if you weren't born a good singer, a super athlete or an "A" student, that's OK. You have a personality and a perspective on the world that's all your own and completely valuable -- even if you suck at basketball, have a big nose or look terrible in leggings.

4. Stop putting yourself down. Now!
One of the biggest things that keeps people from achieving their goals -- and feeling good about themselves -- is negative self-talk. In other words, telling yourself that you're a loser or a failure puts a big damper on your ability to get what you want and be who you want.

If you don't do well at a particular project or task, it doesn't mean that you never will. Perhaps you weren't prepared or the time simply wasn't right. It doesn't mean that you're a lousy human being or that you'll never succeed. It's OK to be upset for a bit when things don't go your way, but after a little while, let it go and move on. You'll be that much closer to achieving what you want if you do.

Continue:How To Build Your Self-Esteem

Negotiation Power Seminars New Zealand

2010-08-16T09:48:00.004+08:00

Why is it that some people seem to be able to get whatever they want from a negotiation and others do not?

This seminar will show you just why this is – but more importantly, you will learn how to maximise your negotiation results also!

If you have ever felt like:
You were hopelessly outgunned
You were massively intimidated
Your bargaining position was weak

Then you owe it to yourself to make the time to get along to this seminar!

The secret to successful negotiations rests in your understanding of the “Negotiation Power” that you and the other side have in each negotiation. Most people are blissfully unaware of what the negotiation is really about and, as a result, end up in a far worse position than they should have.

This doesn’t have to happen to you anymore!

It doesn’t matter who you are, in business you are negotiating most of the time. Often, you don’t even realise that you were negotiating and this is where your problems start.

Whether you are a senior manager or a receptionist (or anywhere in between) you need to improve your negotiation skills in order to get better workplace outcomes and results.

By attending NegotiationPOWER you'll learn how to:

How to identify power sources in a negotiation
How to apply appropriate tactics to deal with powerplays
How to get what you want without damaging relationships
How to leverage your powerbase
NegotiationPOWER Skills

In his fast paced, engaging style, your presenter Dennis Hall will share with dozens of negotiation skills including:

How to identify power sources in a negotiation
How to apply appropriate tactics to deal with powerplays
How to get what you want without damaging relationships
How to leverage your powerbase
What is Negotiation
Negotiating to build relationships
Negotiating to deal with Change
What you need to know before negotiating
How to broaden your negotiations
Rules of engagement
Establishing credibility
Agreement signals
Confirming understanding
Checking compliance
Reviewing the outcomes

The negotiation process can become quite a challenge and you may be faced with many difficult situations that can obstruct your strategy to win the deal. NegotiationPOWER - Six Deadly Sins of Negotiation helps you develop a thorough understanding of the practical tips for recognizing the problems and turning the discussions in your favour. We share with you strategies that show you how when you are confronted with a difficult client who is not on the same wavelength as you, a new way to broaden your thinking process and find new ideas for resolving these potential negotiation problems.

Business Seminars New Zealand - Seminars and Workshop that are GREAT value

7 reasons to book now for NegotiationPOWER Seminar Workshop

Workshop Content. Fast paced session to help you manage time effectively
Practical Benefits. We deliver practical concepts and tools to use every day
Time Effective and Great Price with no padding - great value and in just 3 hours
Excellent Reference Materials. Receive a great workbook and comprehensive charts, lists and reference forms you can use later on the job
Compare our experience. Since 1987 we have delivered cost effective and practical business learning to over 50,000 companies
Professional Presenters. All our presenters are skilled in delivering our courses with poise and experience.
Contemporary material for Today's Business Conditions

Book Now Business Seminars New Zealand

How Good Are Your Communication Skills?

2010-08-09T11:48:00.000+08:00

Speaking, Listening, Writing, and Reading Effectively

Communication skills are some of the most important skills that you need to succeed in the workplace.

We talk to people face to face, and we listen when people talk to us. We write emails and reports, and we read the documents that are sent to us. Communication, therefore, is a process that involves at least two people - a sender and a receiver. For it to be successful, the receiver must understand the message in the way that the sender intended.

This sounds quite simple. But have you ever been in a situation where this hasn't happened? Misunderstanding and confusion often occur, and they can cause enormous problems.

If you want to be an expert communicator, you need to be effective at all points in the communication process - and you must be comfortable with the different channels of communication. When you communicate well, you can be very successful. On the other hand, poor communicators struggle to develop their careers beyond a certain point.

So are you communicating effectively? Take this short quiz to find out.

Continue:How Good Are Your Communication Skills?

TimeSHIFTING Seminars New Zealand

2010-08-05T10:30:00.002+08:00

Time is money, the adage goes, and lots of it gets lost in disorganisation and disruption.
It's time to learn how to Beat Work Overload.
Increase Your Effectiveness. Achieve Much More...

Because no one can control or manage time - the answer is...

You can't stop the clock, but you can invest a few hours in this course and gain time management habits that will last a lifetime

TimeSHIFTING will be your competitive edge. You will learn to:

* Increase your productivity by prioritizing your activities.
* Evaluate your current use of time, help you take control of your schedule and develop a personal time management system that works for you.
* You will learn how to: balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines with ease, make maximum use of your peak energy time, and improve efficiency in handling routine matters.
* Plan today to meet long-term goals. Have more time for fun.
* Effective Time Management will help you to become an overall better time manager so that you can eliminate stress and finally start doing the things you've wanted to do but couldn't because you were pressed for time

How to book:

1. By eMail
Complete the form below & click 'submit'
2. By fax
Print the form below, complete & send to the fax booking line in your city
3. By phone
Call the Booking Hotline in your city

Phone Fax
Auckland (09) 359 7427 (09) 359 7129

Seminar Location and Booking Details
TimeSHIFTING
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 Christchurch Crowne Plaze Hotel
Thursday, September 30th, 2010 Auckland Langham Hotel

2 pm to 5 pm Workbook & Afternoon Tea provided

Click Here to Book your Place Now!

Quote of the Week

2010-08-03T10:20:00.002+08:00

If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

Michael Jordan

Phone Sense _ Upcoming Seminars

2010-07-27T13:33:00.003+08:00

Extensively Updated for 2010 Our most popular seminar

Come and See why PhoneSense is Australia's Most Popular
Telephone Technique Seminars

Used by West Australia's major newspaper to train their 150 strong classified Ad team!

Turning Incoming Calls Into Sales

Three Hours of Ideas about Incoming Calls that will change forever how your phone is answered. 9am to 12 noon

Yellow Page Money Wasted
Our research shows that as many as 8 out of 10 calls made as a result of Yellow Pages enquiries do not result in any sales decision being made. PhoneSense shows you how to turn enquiries into sales.
700% Increase in Quotes
See how knowing what to say, and how to say it, changed the number of quotes from 1 in 10 calls... that is a massive 700% increase. With a 60% conversion rate to sales averaging $1,000 a time, sales soared.
Handling Complaints
Every company has the problem of the very angry caller. PhoneSense will show how to turn a dissatisfied complainer into a happy customer.

Effective Outgoing TeleSales Calls
Three Hours of Ideas about TeleSales that will create a fantastic profit centre for your business. 2pm to 5pm

These sessions are great for:
receptionists, service personnel, internal sales staff, accounts people, complaints departments, travel agents, hotel front office staff, banks and other service co’s... if you have a Yellow Pages Ad... you can't afford to miss

Session 1. 9 am to 12 noon Incoming Calls
Session 2. 2 pm to 5 pm Outgoing Calls

Monday, September 6th, 2010 Brisbane Christie Corporate
Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 Sydney Portside Centre
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 Melbourne Karstens Conference Centre
Thursday, September 9th, 2010 Perth Cambridge Convention Centre

Workbook, Case Studies, Tea, Coffee and Cookies Provided

Click Here to Book your Place Now!

Joke of the Week

2010-07-23T13:27:00.002+08:00

A client of a hospital where they made brain transplantations asked about the prices.The doctor said, "Well, this Ph.D. brain costs $10,000. This brain belonged to a NASA top scientist and costs $15,000. Here we have a policemans brain as well. It costs $50,000."The client asked, "What? Hows that possible?"The doctor replied, "You see, its totally unused."

The PowerSelling Seminar New Zealand

2010-07-20T11:08:00.004+08:00

PowerSelling is about closing sales in New Zealand in 2010 and beyond. What separates the pros from all the rest is the ability to "Close the Sale." Without this ability to get the customer to buy, many salespeople fail, businesses don't reach their true potential and countless dollars are lost.

The Truly Australasian Way to Sell
Professional selling is an art. And Australasians are truly a different buying people to Americans or the English.

The PowerSelling Seminar, presented by Wayne Mansfield - author of the best selling Australian Sales Script Book, shows you at least 37 proven ways to close the sale. Hard times have gone on too long... make a decision to attend this seminar and start on the road to sales success
Seminars and Workshop that are GREAT value

7 reasons to book now for the PowerSelling Seminar

1. Seminar Content. Fast paced session to help you manage time effectively
2. Practical Benefits. We deliver practical concepts and tools to use every day
3. Time Effective and Great Price with no padding - great value and in just 3 hours
4. Excellent Reference Materials. Receive a great workbook and a comprehensive list of reference material you can use later on the job
5. Compare our experience. Since 1987 we have delivered cost effective and practical business learning to over 50,000 companies
6. Professional Presenter. Wayne Mansfield is considered by many to be Australia's most talented sales presenter.
7. Australasian material for Australasian Business presented by Australasians.

Seminar Location and Booking Details

PowerSelling - 37 Secrets of Winning the Sale!

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 Auckland Langham Hotel
Thursday, August 26th, 2010 Christchurch Crowne Plaza Hotel

2 pm to 5 pm Workbook & Afternoon Tea provided

Book Now!

Quote of the Week

2010-07-13T10:54:00.000+08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~Marianne Williamson,

A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles," 1992 (commonly misattributed to Nelson Mandela, 1994 inauguration speech)

Twitter for Fun & Profit New Zealand Seminars

2010-07-12T07:28:00.005+08:00

back by popular demand...

"Tweet" your way towards "income for life"

what is all the buzz about Social Media and how can you profit by getting into Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Youtube...

... this is "all the tricks & tips" workshop, so take advantage NOW

If you thought Social Media was just for kids - then it's time to Think Again!

If you thought that you couldn't make a continuing income in this tough economy? then it's time to Think Again!

Prime Minister Rudd does it. Big companies are doing it. Oprah and Ellen are doing it - even Rove is doing it. You thought it's not for you then it's time to Think Again!

Worried about working forever? Don't be because if you act quickly and get into the Twitter revolution... you can be a year way to an "income for life" then it's time to Think Again!
Learn from the Best in the World

Personal note from Wayne Mansfield:

I have crafted what I believe is the most comprehensive Twitter and Social Media Marketing workshop, anywhere in the world, and can have you up and running within hours - and best of all... you don't need a lot of money to make it work.

Book Now! Business Seminars New Zealand

Joke of the Week

2010-07-06T07:22:00.000+08:00

Only three doors

An airline captain was breaking in a new blonde stewardess. The route they were flying had a layover in another city. Upon their arrival, the captain showed the stewardess the best place for airline personnel to eat, shop and stay overnight.

The next morning, as the pilot was preparing the crew for the day's route, he noticed the new stewardess was missing. He knew which room she was in at the hotel and called her up wondering what happened. She answered the phone, crying, and said she couldn't get out of her room. "You can't get out of your room?" the captain asked, "Why not?"

The stewardess replied: "There are only three doors in here," she sobbed, "one is the bathroom, one is the closet, and one has a sign on it that says 'Do Not Disturb'!"

Upcoming Seminars - Putting Customers First

2010-07-05T07:44:00.003+08:00

Does your customer service STINK...
68% of customers who leave do so because of the indifferent attitude of a company employee while just 9% are won by the competition... what are you doing about that? Take the lead and win more business through excellent customer service. This fabulous 3 hour seminar shows you how to win customer loyalty that will guarantee your competitive advantage.

As never before, Putting Customers First is THE critical strategy for business success in the 21st century.

Learn how to delight and astound your customers and win them for life...

Success in the long term depends upon customers continuing to receive real benefits from your products and services. Maintaining your customer focus will ensure that your customer and your business reap the rewards as you achieve your objective of Putting Customers First.

Putting Customers First is your competitive edge. You will learn:

* To gain a thorough understanding of your customers requirements, needs, and expectations.
* To evaluate trends, retain long-term customers and define best customers.
* To gather valuable feedback, establish service priorities, agree future emphasis, and document your objectives.
* To deliver service to customers that they expect, when it is expected and at a fair price using up-to-date business processes.
* That effective efficient serve and support is the key to building customer loyalty in a business that puts customers first.
* To plan and implement for the expected changes that will always invigorate and help your business grow.

Take action NOW to make your Customer Service GREAT. The Putting Customers First Seminar is FANTASTIC for people at all levels of business, whether owners or team members who want to build a customer first business. We encourage the staff of any business wanting to get more done in a friendlier positive workplace to attend. Business owners should send their receptionist, service personnel, internal sales staff, accounts people, complaints department, travel agents, hotel front office staff, bank officers and other service personnel.

From whatever business or walk of life, you can't afford to miss Putting Customers First.

Continue:Putting Customers First

Making a Great First Impression!

2010-07-02T07:38:00.000+08:00

It takes just a quick glance, maybe three seconds, for someone to evaluate you when you meet for the first time. In this short time, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed.

With every new encounter, you are evaluated and yet another person’s impression of you is formed. These first impression can be nearly impossible to reverse or undo, making these first encounters extremely important, for they set the tone for the all the relationships that follows.

So, whether they are in your career or social life, it’s important to know how to create a good first impression. This article provides some useful tips to help you do this.

Be on Time
Someone you are meeting for the first time is not interested in your “good excuse” for running late. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. And allow flexibility for possible delays in traffic or taking a wrong turn. Arriving early is much better that arriving late, hands down, and is the first step in creating a great first impression.

Be Yourself, Be at Ease

Continue: Making a Great First Impression!

UPCOMING SEMINARS

2010-06-29T10:58:00.004+08:00

Powerful Communication Skills for Women is a phenomenal communication workshop designed specifically for professionals like you. We’ve boiled down “the most important of the most important” communication skills you need to get your ideas across, resolve long-standing conflicts, shine in meetings, persuade and influence others - and that’s just for starters!
Get ready to be entertained, inspired, motivated and changed forever as you discover the communication secrets of the country’s most successful and influential women!

In 3 short hours, you’ll learn step-by-step how to be seen as a highly credible, authoritative communicator who commands attention and gets things done. You’ll leave this exhilarating event armed with the tools and techniques you need to be a more motivating, more persuasive and more effective professional.

Book Now! Australia wide! Australian Education corporation

Communication Skills - Start Here!

2010-06-18T12:47:00.000+08:00

Effective communication is all about conveying your messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. It's also about receiving information that others are sending to you, with as little distortion as possible.

Doing this involves effort from both the sender of the message and the receiver. And it's a process that can be fraught with error, with messages muddled by the sender, or misinterpreted by the recipient. When this isn't detected, it can cause tremendous confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunity.

In fact, communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication.

By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you actually send do not necessarily reflect what you think, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of your goals – both personally and professionally.

In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees, communication skills were cited as the single more important decisive factor in choosing managers. The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Business School, points out that communication skills, including written and oral presentations, as well as an ability to work with others, are the main factor contributing to job success.

In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively – whether in verbal or written format. This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to compete effectively in the workplace, and stands in the way of career progression.

Being able to communicate effectively is therefore essential if you want to build a successful career. To do this, you must understand what your message is, what audience you are sending it to, and how it will be perceived. You must also weigh-in the circumstances surrounding your communications, such as situational and cultural context.

Continue: Mindtools

Upcoming Seminar

2010-06-17T09:56:00.001+08:00

Unlock the secrets of getting your message across what you say & how you say it

How to Communicate with Confidence, Clarity & Credibility

Exciting three hour seminar unlocks the Secrets of Confidence, Clarity & Credibility in Every Situation

How to Communicate with Diplomacy and Tact in Every Situation

There is an art to getting your message across and it is vital to your personal and business success that you master the skills of communicating with confidence, clarity and credibility.

Learn all you need to know about successful communication both face to face and remote - from interpreting body language to writing letters, optimising meetings to speaking on the telephone.

How to Communicate with Confidence, Clarity & Credibility in Every Situation not only shows you how to hold an audience when making presentations and how to take notes or compile reports, but also provides practical techniques for you to try in many different situations.

Good communications is the lifeblood of an organisation and a successful business. When you master the skills of speaking, writing and listening you will pave the way to effectively sharing information and improved business and personal relationships.

The Seven Secrets of Communicating with Confidence, Clarity & Credibility in
Every Situation

Continue: AustralianEducationCorporation

Communications Skills – The Importance of Removing Barriers

2010-06-15T12:55:00.000+08:00

Problems with communication can pop-up at every stage of the communication process (which consists of the sender, encoding, the channel, decoding, the receiver, feedback and the context – see the diagram below). At each stage, there is the potential for misunderstanding and confusion.

To be an effective communicator and to get your point across without misunderstanding and confusion, your goal should be to lessen the frequency of problems at each stage of this process, with clear, concise, accurate, well-planned communications. We follow the process through below:

Source...
As the source of the message, you need to be clear about why you're communicating, and what you want to communicate. You also need to be confident that the information you're communicating is useful and accurate.

Message...
The message is the information that you want to communicate.

Encoding...
This is the process of transferring the information you want to communicate into a form that can be sent and correctly decoded at the other end. Your success in encoding depends partly on your ability to convey information clearly and simply, but also on your ability to anticipate and eliminate sources of confusion (for example, cultural issues, mistaken assumptions, and missing information.)

A key part of this is knowing your audience: Failure to understand who you are communicating with will result in delivering messages that are misunderstood.

Channel...
Messages are conveyed through channels, with verbal channels including face-to-face meetings, telephone and videoconferencing; and written channels including letters, emails, memos and reports.

Different channels have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, it's not particularly effective to give a long list of directions verbally, while you'll quickly cause problems if you give someone negative feedback using email.

Continue: Mindtools

UPCOMING SEMINARS NEW ZEALAND

2010-06-09T12:09:00.004+08:00

Learn the secrets to making a dynamite first impression
Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats will be an interactive experience for participants as they develop skills in being more effective in aspects of cold calling from making the initial contacts to closing deals. There will be other sales reps and sales managers present so participants will have an opportunity to network and learn from each other as well as in the formal workshop setting.

In a Power Packed three hour session, you will look at the FIVE most important areas of Cold Calling:

* Cold calling: the golden opportunity most sales reps dread.
* Preparation: the key that separates sales rookies from pros.
* Getting through: how to handle screens, gatekeepers, and voice mail.
* Honing your telephone skills: sharpening your most effective tool for increasing sales.
* Positive attitude and persistence: key ingredients for Cold Calling success.

If you are involved in sales you must be at Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats!
Cold Calling for Scaredy Cats addresses the skills of developing new business - the skills that, once mastered, will almost certainly guarantee your sales success.

BookNow! Australian Education corporation

Quote of the Week!

2010-06-06T12:33:00.002+08:00

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't.

Anatole France

UPCOMING SEMINAR

2010-06-05T09:47:00.000+08:00

You can become a more motivating, persuasive and effective communicator

Designed for the woman of today eager to reap
the career benefits that come to those who know how to communicate effectively and diplomatically

Powerful Communication Skills for Women is a phenomenal communication workshop designed specifically for professionals like you. We’ve boiled down “the most important of the most important” communication skills you need to get your ideas across, resolve long-standing conflicts, shine in meetings, persuade and influence others - and that’s just for starters!

Get ready to be entertained, inspired, motivated and changed forever as you discover the communication secrets of the country’s most successful and influential women!

In 3 short hours, you’ll learn step-by-step how to be seen as a highly credible, authoritative communicator who commands attention and gets things done. You’ll leave this exhilarating event armed with the tools and techniques you need to be a more motivating, more persuasive and more effective professional.

Continue: AustralianEducationCorporation

Quote of the Week

2010-04-28T12:58:00.002+08:00

Email, instant messaging, and cell phones give us fabulous communication ability, but because we live and work in our own little worlds, that communication is totally disorganized.

Marilyn vos Savant

Types of Nonverbal Communication

2010-04-21T11:11:00.006+08:00

According to experts, a substantial portion of our communication is nonverbal. Every day, we respond to thousands on nonverbal cues and behaviors including postures, facial expression, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, nonverbal details reveal who we are and impact how we relate to other people.

Facial Expression
Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar throughout the world.

Gestures
Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and using fingers to indicate number amounts. Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture.

Paralinguistics
Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch. Consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone of voice might convey disapproval and a lack of interest.

Body Language and Posture
Posture and movement can also convey a great deal on information. Research on body language has grown significantly since the 1970’s, but popular media have focused on the over-interpretation of defensive postures, arm-crossing, and leg-crossing, especially after the publication of Julius Fast’s book Body Language. While these nonverbal behaviors can indicate feelings and attitudes, research suggests that body language is far more subtle and less definitive that previously believed.

Continue:About

Joke of the Week

2010-04-20T14:07:00.002+08:00

14 Things to do While Taking a Driver's Test

1. Turn the radio on. When the tester goes to turn it off slap his/her hand.

2. Rev the car really high, turn to the tester, and say with an evil look, "buckle up!"

3. Come dressed in a suit. Before the examiner gets in the car, ask him/her to put a piece of saran wrap down so he doesn't dirty the seat.

4. When the examiner tells you to stop, pop the hood clutch and say "oops".

5. Get in the car, look down at the pedals, and say, "now which one is the gas again?"

6. After the examiner gets in the car, pop the hood, and get out and check the oil.

7. Fill your car with beer bottles.

8. The whole time driving, talk about how Aunt Gertrude smells like mothballs.

9. Tell the Registrar that you are taking the remedial test.

10. In the middle of driving, put your arm around the examiner.

11. Swear at everybody on the road.

12. When you stop at a light, start revving the engine while looking back and forth between the person next to you and the light.

13. Beep your horn at everything.

14. Break off your rear-view mirror and then ask the examiner to hold it up.

Quote of the Week

2010-03-24T09:39:00.000+08:00

Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 'Gift From the Sea'

Joke of the Week

2010-03-16T14:10:00.002+08:00

Billing
A doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party.

Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice.

After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"

"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."

The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try.

The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills.

When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.

How to Listen for Successful Communication

2010-03-09T13:44:00.003+08:00

The Role of the Receiver
The receiver's role in the communication process is a highly important role. Here are a few elements to consider to ensure proper receiving and decoding of the message
One would believe that it is rather easy and natural to have a conversation. How untrue this can be! While a conversation follows all the steps of the communication process, the receiver and the messenger must both demonstrated particular qualities.

Listening Versus Hearing

To understand how effective conversation works, it is essential to understand the difference between hearing and listening.

Hearing is primarily a physiological function that requires no conscientious involvement of the brain. It is done without any active participation. On the opposite, listening is a mental exercise requiring active and conscientious participation.

Demonstrating Empathy
To ensure effective communication, the receiver must be able to decode the intent of the messenger. In other words, it is necessary to understantd the reasons as well as the reasoning behing the message. An effective listener is not self-centred but open to others, with the capability to zero in on the messenger.

Empathy is one of the first characteristics of a good receiver. To respond appropriately, the receiver must try and read the messenger. Body language, facial expressions, voice and intonation are all clues that can be used in decoding the messenger and his true message.

Continue:How to Listen for Successful Communication

Quote of The Week

2010-02-28T14:17:00.000+08:00

All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to everything else.
Buddha

Elements of the Communication Process

2010-02-27T13:54:00.000+08:00

Everyone communicates. Some better than others. Understanding the communication process can help improve communication at home, at work and with friends
Communication seems so natural and one generally assumes that there is no need of working on it. It is so untrue. Most fights or arguments with spouses, children or friends are the result of bad communication. How much of an argument is caused by ineffective communication? How much of what is said is taken in the wrong context? How much of the meaning was changed or lost? How much was totally misunderstood or came out wrong? All of those are examples of broken communication.

Communication Process
Communication is a process and as such contains many elements susceptible of defect. Here are the elements of the communication process (see picture):
* A message: what need to be communicated
* A messenger: the person who has something to communicate
* A receiver: the person who will receive the message
* Encoding: verbal and non-verbal convention of communication
* Decoding: reading by the receiver of the encoding done by the messenger
* Channel: the means of communication

This process works as follows: The messenger has something to communicate, a message. This message has an intent. The messenger will encode his message with words, behaviour and body language that he senses will help him to best communicate this message according to his intent. The message will go through a channel, a means of communication such as e-mail, face to face or phone conversation, letter, presentation. The receiver will then decode the message using conventions, cultural or contextual background, and language skills. The message he receives might or might not meet the intent of the messenger.

Reducing Interference
It seems a straightforward process, a message goes from point A to point B, but so much can go wrong at any stage of this process. When communication is broken it happens most often because interference occurs in the communication process. Here are some examples:

Continue:Elements of the Communication Process

Joke of the Week!

2010-02-22T14:22:00.002+08:00

A hobo comes up to the front door of a neat looking farmhouse and raps gently on the door. When the farm owner answers, the hobo asks him, "Please, sir, could you give me something to eat? I haven't had a good meal in several days."

The owner says, "I have made a fortune in my lifetime by supplying goods for people. I've never given anything away for nothing. However, if you go around the back, you will see a gallon of paint and a clean paint brush. If you will paint my porch, I will give you a good meal."

So the hobo goes around back and a while later he again knocks on the door. The owner says, "Finished already? Good. Come on in. Sit down. The cook will bring your meal right in."

The hobo says, "Thank you very much, sir. But there's something that I think you should know. It's not a Porsche you got there. It's a BMW."

How to Overcome Shyness

2010-02-17T11:37:00.003+08:00

Ask yourself this: do you become nervous when you are placed in the spotlight? Do strangers make you shudder? Does the simple thought of talking in front of people make you want to run to the nearest restroom? Well guess what -- you're not alone! Many people in the world suffer from extreme to mild shyness -- and are struggling to overcome it. Remember that breaking out from that shell doesn't magically happen overnight. It takes time, effort, and of course, the desire to change. Following are some tips to assist you in overcoming shyness.

Figure out what makes you feel shy. Do you become shy in front of audiences? When learning a new skill? When venturing into a new situation? When surrounded by people you know and admire? When you don't know anyone somewhere? Try to pinpoint the thoughts that go through your head right before the shyness hits. Then come up with some "I" statements that you can repeat to yourself, like a mantra, to head off those thoughts: "I can do this", "I look good", "I have something to offer", etc.

Continue: HowToOvercomeShyness

Quote of the Week

2010-02-02T10:25:00.005+08:00

Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that's more productive.

Donald Trump

***5 Steps for Great Voicemail Messages

2010-01-27T11:31:00.002+08:00

The phone rings and suddenly you are confronted with leaving a message on someone’s voicemail. Panic ensues and you become tongue-tied or speechless. My first question would be to ask you what is your fear? Had someone indeed answered the phone, would you have been prepared to address that individual?

For some people, just the thought of making that important phone call and possibly being confronted with voicemail on the other end is frightening enough not to make the call. If such is the case, then the business you are hoping to introduce and/or sell will not happen. And, if that business does not happen, then your success is not as likely.

If you are involved in cold calling, leaving a message may not be in your best interest because of the nature of your approach. It might be wiser in this situation to hang up and try your call later. Cold calling is most successful when you can speak directly to a perspective client and take control of the conversation. Leaving a message places the control in the other person’s hands.

Continue:5 Steps for Great Voicemail Messages

What is a Communication?

2010-01-18T10:56:00.002+08:00

Communication is a message transmits from Point A to Point B in a medium (environment). The cycle is only complete when Point B responds to Point A that he/she receives the signal.

Many people nowadays are very well informed of the current affairs because of the advanced technologies. They just switch on their computer and head to the popular search engines. Click on the topic and tons of information will fly in. Thus people are knowledgeable. They are willing to voice out their opinion.

More and more people are willing to speak up. Thus if there is any information they find that is debatable. They will start to speak up. Thus one way of communication is no longer the mode. The communication cycle have not even finish, the response already kicks in.

Thus a complete communication cycle always take plenty of planning and execution.

In a classroom environment, the teacher will transmit the knowledge from his/her perspective down to the students. Teachers will ensure the students understanding the topics by asking the students to perform some exercise so as to ensure they understand. The act of exercise could be a form of responding to the communication cycle.

In an office environment, taking email for this scenario, communication cycle begins when sender mails out information to the other party. If the recipient did not respond, sender will get worried and excited. Communication cycle has suddenly paused.

Remember communication is not complete until the recipient responds.

Thus the sender will tick the delivery receipt option; read receipt option and whatever means to ensure the recipient get to open up the sender's mail. Alternatively, sender will picks up the phone and contact the recipient to reinforce the sending signal had been received.

If you are the sender, please do some actions to ensure the recipient responds to the message. If you are the message recipient, please help the other party to complete the communication cycle. In a mail, just respond to the sender that the message was received and actions will be followed shortly kind of similar message back to sender.

Source: EzineArticles

Joke of the Week

2010-01-15T10:32:00.000+08:00

A woman has twins, and gives them up for adoption. One of them goes to a family in Egypt and is named "Amal." The other goes to a family in Spain; they name him "Juan". Years later, Juan sends a picture of himself to his mum. Upon receiving the picture, she tells her husband that she wishes she also had a picture of Amal. Her husband responds, "But they are twins. If you've seen Juan, you've seen Amal."

5 Communication Tips For Couples

2010-01-11T10:26:00.003+08:00

Relationships require constant commitment from both sides in order to preserve the strength of that relationship. Communication, more importantly, how you communicate as a couple is what defines most relationships. Having mutual respect for each other's opinions and thoughts, as well as the open mindedness to listen to your partner can be the difference between a successful relationship, and one that falters after the honeymoon phase. Here are 5 communication tips that every couple should know.

1. Make sure your partner is ready to communicate and hear what you have to say.
Often times, partners come home from a long day at work and can just shut down because they are stressed out and tired. Make the time to give each other some personal space so that both of you can relax and clear your minds. Then make sure both of you are ready to talk, not over dinner or while watching TV, but really sit down and hear what you both have to say.
2. Complain nicely.
Couples get into the routine of taking each other for granted after a while, and complaining can be a major drawback to a relationship. Instead of constantly nagging, try being constructive and supportive to your partner. It makes the day that much nicer, and that much more worth it for your partner to listen to you if you do it with a smile and serious tone.
3. Ask for you what you want.
Never say that you always have to tell your partner what to do. Instead, regular dialog can help both sides understand what each person wants in a relationship. This takes away the need for one side to constantly ask for what they want. With good communication, you can always remind each other what it is your looking for in a relationship and do it on positive terms.
4. Give feedback and acknowledgment.
Take the time to show each other have you have been noticing their efforts. Whether it's working or not, any effort is good effort. Talk about it and see what is working so far and what is not.
5. Keep at it.
Keep having conversations. It's how you resolve things in a proactive manner. And it's also how you get to know each other on a deeper level. Talk face to face in private about anything: interests, your week, worries, troubles, and things you would like to work at. Ask questions like it's your first date. Communication means talking and talking and talking.

Continue:5 Communication Tips For Couples

Quote of the Week

2010-01-11T09:06:00.002+08:00

My mother said to me, "If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope." Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso.

Pablo Picasso

How Good Are Your Communication Skills?

2010-01-04T08:04:00.002+08:00

Quote of the Week

2009-12-14T13:04:00.001+08:00

Communication is a continual balancing act, juggling the conflicting needs for intimacy and independence. To survive in the world, we have to act in concert with others, but to survive as ourselves, rather than simply as cogs in a wheel, we have to act alone.

Deborah Tannen

How To Build Effective Communication Skills?

2009-12-14T12:55:00.003+08:00

It’s generally observed that people, who have good oral and written communication skills, tend to easily tackle challenges that life throws at them. Those people normally tend to do better at work, get early promotions, get along well with others and lead satisfactory lives. Hence it’s imperative to continuously learn and build up your oral and written communication skills. Consider the following five important elements that are necessary to build effective communication skills.
Improve language skills

The more knowledge you have about the language that you use for communication, the better. Improve your vocabulary and practice newly learned words by using them in your daily language. During communication, try to avoid saying long sentences. Try to make your sentences short and to the point. This may be difficult to do initially but with practice you’ll get better.

Listen with concentration

If you are having a conversation with someone, listen to the other person with concentration. This will ensure that you have a good understanding of the other person’s point of view before you speak. Generally, people tend to concentrate more on what they are going to say instead of listening to the other person with full attention. Therefore, both fail to understand each other and the conversation does not go anywhere. Effective listening will allow you to reflect back on what the other person said and your response will be more relevant and to the point. It will also make the other person feel good and s/he will be more responsive to what you say.

Learn to handle objections

Never enforce your point of view on others and never think or assume that whatever you are saying is absolutely right and unobjectionable. Always be mentally ready to face objection on whatever you say and don’t become defensive right off the bat. Open your mind to other possibilities. If an objection is thrown at you, look at it without prejudice and know that you could be wrong and always be willing to accept it.

Learn to control your emotions

You should try to be in control of your emotions when you communicate, especially negative emotions. During a conversation, if something is not said according to your liking or in line with your point of view, don’t get angry. Keep anger at a mile’s length and always keep reminding yourself that you have the right to control your reaction. In case of a conflict, try to reach a compromise by finding a solution that makes both people happy. If you get defensive and angry at any point, it is more than likely that the other person will do the same.

Learn to master your body language

People are more visual and they generally tend to make an opinion about what you say by observing how you say it. During a conversation, your tone, your volume, face expressions, hand gestures and other body movements make the most impact on the other person, even more than your words. So mastering your body language and synchronizing your gestures with your speech will help you achieve your objective to become an effective communicator.

Source: How To Build Effective Communication Skills?

Jokes of the Week

2009-12-14T12:42:00.002+08:00

Enjoying Sunday!

Husband to wife: today is Sunday, I have to Enjoy..
Wife: How?
Husband : I have got three movie tickets..
Wife: but we are two, why three tickets??
Husband : One for you, and two tickets for your parents !!!!

The Art of Communicating

2009-12-14T12:11:00.002+08:00

There are several basic skills that you need to acquire in order to improve your interpersonal communication skills. Effective communication is an essential part in our everyday lives. In this seminar you will be introduced to the basic interpersonal skills, which in turn will help you achieve more effective personal communication skills. The importance of each skill will be identified through a series of exercises that will be presented.

PROBLEM:
If you don’t present yourself with believability, you cannot achieve interpersonal success. It is an essential element of any presentation.

SOLUTION:
Learn the nine major behavioral skills:

1. eye communication
2. posture, and movement
3. gesture, facial expression
4. dress, appearance
5. 8 ways to transmit your voice
6. language, non-words
7. listener involvement
8. humor
9. learn to use your natural charisma

Continue:The Art of Communicating

Joke of the Week

2009-12-07T09:38:00.002+08:00

Flying in the plane

Two hunters got a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful in their venture and bagged six big bucks. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up. They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six elk. But the pilot objected and he said, "The plane can only take four of your elk; you will have to leave two behind." They argued with him; the year before they had shot six and the pilot had allowed them to put all aboard. The plane was the same model and capacity. Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But when the attempted to take off and leave the valley, the little plane could not make it and they crashed into the wilderness.

Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other, "Do you know where we are?"

"I think so," replied the other hunter. I think this is about the same place where we landed last year!"

How To Have Confidence In Verbal Communication

2009-12-07T09:30:00.002+08:00

Practically everything we do in life involves some form of communication, so it’s important to improve those skills as it can have a very positive impact on your day to day life. Having confidence in verbal communication is particularly important. People make judgements about each other based not only on how we behave but also on what we say. The words we use and how we say them are a vital part of communication skills. If you feel that your vocabulary is lacking, there is no better way to improve that than reading good quality books and publications. Not only will it expand your vocabulary but it will also assist you in expressing ideas and opinions, all of which will increase your verbal confidence.

Confidence in verbal communication involves expressing your thoughts and opinions and knowing you have the right to do so. Again, the needs of others are considered. In this context, assertive communication does not mean using bullying or obnoxious language to insult or belittle other people in order to get them to do what you want. It is only people without any true personal confidence or personal power who use language in this way. Truly confident people use language effectively but with an awareness of how their words can impact on others. Verbal confidence means expressing your needs, feelings and wishes in a non-judgemental and non-threatening way and it also means not de-valuing your words by linking them with hesitancy or contradiction or uncertainty. Confident people always express themselves clearly which is extremely beneficial to others as they give clear and concise information about their needs and wishes. It is often when people are confused or have misunderstood something during a discussion or conversation that frustration and anger comes to the fore. With clear communication, conflicts rarely occur.
So how do you develop confidence in verbal communication?

Continue: Articlebase

Quote of the week

2009-11-30T10:33:00.000+08:00

In describing today's accelerating changes, the media fire blips of unrelated information at us. Experts bury us under mountains of narrowly specialized monographs. Popular forecasters present lists of unrelated trends, without any model to show us their interconnections or the forces likely to reverse them. As a result, change itself comes to be seen as anarchic, even lunatic.

Communication is the Key!

2009-11-30T10:32:00.002+08:00

“Strides in communication now permit us to talk with people around the globe, but cannot bridge the ever-widening gaps within our own families.” This was pointed out by a famous actress to her manager. Indeed, her keen observation presents an apt truth today: "Even with huge advances in technology, there are still big problems in communication."

Communication comes from the Latin word cummunico. It means “to share”. Simply put, communication is a sharing experience. When people share their feelings and allow others to share their own feeling as well, many things can happen. Free flowing communication should be open and flexible. In times of crisis, good communication is important. For example, when a husband incurred bad debts and the wife lost her job, the two of them should open avenues of communication in order to come up with a good solution. One simple solution is for the husband, who still has a job, to apply for a bad credit payday loan that could tide them over to the next permanent solution to their financial problems. If both spouses refuse to communicate and deal with the problem by discussing it, then the situation might take a nasty turn.

To communicate effectively, a person should listen first. A wise leader once said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Good communication is also shown through giving and expecting respect, and being truthful, sincere, and honest to other people. However, it is important also that during the process of communicating, there should be an understanding of what is said, and not just who is speaking.

Communication is a vital key in building better relationships—whether in marriage, in business, or anywhere else. For building lifetime relationships in any area of one’s life, a person must create a positive environment, particularly during times of crisis, anxiety, or loss. Circumstances should never affect how people relate to others. With families, for example, find a chance to spend time together. Make family time a special time. What’s a hundred dollars from a person’s payday cash loan if this means taking the family out on a road trip or a nice dinner and movie night out? With friends, one should make it a point to do friends’ favors. At work, an employee could try to make a difference by speaking well of everybody and encouraging everyone’s effort. For managers and supervisors, they can promote positive conversation is the workplace.

Remember the saying, “Use two ears and one mouth.” For good communication to happen, people should open their mouth, but listen first.

Source: Communication is the Key!

Joke fo the week

2009-11-30T10:20:00.000+08:00

A blonde and a brunette are driving down the highway in a convertible. The brunette knows that she's speeding so she asks the blonde if there's a cop behind them. The blonde looks behind her and sees a cop and tells the brunette. The brunette then asks if his he's got his lights on. The blonde replies "Yes...No...Yes...No...Yes...No"

Conference Calls

2009-11-30T10:18:00.002+08:00

With the advent of modern technology and advancement in the field of telecommunication, conference calling has no longer remains a luxurious service to be enjoyed, but more of a necessity of every organization and business concern for establishing a good communication network between employees and other delegates.

Conference calling has many benefits of its own. Firstly they are cheap as considered to normal long distance phone calls. Secondly, you can communicate with people without having to go to places or travelling by car or train or air. You can fix a communication or a meeting with delegates in another city or maybe another country, while you are sitting in your own office at your desk. It thus saves more money than you can even imagine, and also saves the effort of having to move from place to place just for the sake of conducting a business meeting. You also have an option of recording the conference call you made with your delegates, rather than taking down all the minutes of the meeting.

Also, if you are taking the conference calling service from an operator, then they usually provide you discounts or additional value packs on the greater minutes you buy. They also provide you with subscription facilities at discounted rates, and often conference calls are cheaper than normal phone calls because of the bulk minutes you get at cheaper rates from the operator.

Conference calls can be of two types – the normal phone to phone conference service or the video conferencing service. While the video conferencing requires additional equipment on your side, the audio conferencing usually does not require any extra costs than that of a simple phone.

Cheap conference calling can be done from two to two hundred people at a time as per your requirements. Now cheap conference calling options are also available from the internet by service providers using the VoIP technology. The best part of such services is that you get instant activation and can switch between the conference interface and personal call interface according to your needs anytime you want.

Continue:Conference Calls

Quote of the week

2009-11-23T13:37:00.003+08:00

A world community can exist only with world communication, which means something more than extensive short-wave facilities scattered; about the globe. It means common understanding, a common tradition, common ideas, and common ideals.

Robert M. Hutchins

How Good Are Your Communication Skills?

2009-11-23T11:23:00.002+08:00

Joke Of the Week

2009-11-22T13:53:00.000+08:00

This is the true story of George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi, who was going to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the shed. George opened the door to go turn off the light but saw there were people in the shed in the process of stealing things.

He immediately phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and George said no and explained the situation. Then they explained that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available.

George said, "Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people in my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them all."

Then he hung up. Within five minutes three squad cars, an Armed Response unit, and an ambulance showed up. Of course, the police caught the burglars red-handed.

One of the policemen said to George: "I thought you said that you'd shot them!"

George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

Communicate with Confidence

2009-11-17T12:03:00.004+08:00

It is said that most business problems are people problems and most people problems are COMMUNICATION problems.

These half day and one day programs tackle the most common workplace communication issues and provide participants with highly valuable skills that can be applied for immediate positive impact.

These programs will help you to understand the different ways people communicate, provide techniques for active listening and give you effective tips to get your message across and minimise potential misunderstandings.

Mastering these important skills can assist in developing business relationships, increasing sales, managing staff, improving productivity and creating workplace harmony.

Learn how to adapt your communication style to suit the person, the circumstance and achieve the desired outcome. Develop techniques to ‘set the scene’ when communicating and how to increase your ‘positive’ language.

Communicate with Confidence has been eagerly received in a cross section of industries and across a multitude of positions. All participants who have completed this program have left with new skills, techniques and tips to immediately have a positive effect on any communications - professionally and personally.

Continue:Communicate with Confidence

The Different Ways We Communicate

2009-11-04T12:50:00.005+08:00

You may ask your self what are the different ways we communicate?

From my point of view i think taht we communicate in various ways.

We speak, we move, we touch we write...

The Different Ways We Communicate video explains i all!

Effective Communication Skills Video

2009-11-04T12:36:00.005+08:00

This video is an ideal source in regards to effective communication skills which can help others develop essential techniques and over come any obstacles within the selling industry.

Stuart Gelles explains eazy communication skills for successful life.

Making Communication in the Workplace Effective

2009-11-03T11:09:00.002+08:00

Why is it that, when so many businesses commit so many resources to internal communication, people always seem to say that communication in workplaces is a significant problem?

One reason is that too often we take “communication” for granted. After all, we know how to talk to people, don’t we?

In organisation surveys (and also in exit interviews) employees frequently say that no one ever tells them anything or listens to them – but managers say in reply that they seem never to stop communicating with employees on important matters.

Poor communication – or perceptions of poor communication - can be directly linked to increased operating costs and reduced efficiency because of:

* lower productivity of people
* employee dissatisfaction
* employee turnover
* absenteeism
* lack of understanding of business strategy
* lack of common direction

In most cases, when people criticise communication in an organisation, the concern is expressed in general terms such as “communication is bad” or “we are never given enough information”.

Such criticisms are hard to respond to and do not really identify specifically what the problem is with communication. (So the response is often to change nothing about the way communication is delivered - on the assumption either that there is nothing really wrong or that nothing can be done. The other reaction is to just to do more of what is already being done – thereby worsening the “problem”.)

So what needs to happen?
As a first step, it is important to understand that communication is more than simply talking to people or giving information. There are a number of reasons why communication may not be effective. To apply a “generic fix” or to make changes to address the wrong cause of the breakdown will, in all probability, deliver an outcome that is not greatly improved.
Consider these four areas in which communication may fail to be effective.

Style and Method

Just as people learn in different ways, people absorb communication in a variety of ways. So, it is important to ensure that the “style” of communication is varied to ensure that everyone will understand the message.

At its most basic level, consider presenting important information in pictures, spoken and written.

Make sure that, as often as possible, your communication is “two way”. There must be an opportunity for questions, discussion and clarification of the key issues. Messages, emails or notices are much more able to be misunderstood, misplaced or simply not read.

Content

Be sure that what you are communicating has the right level of detail and is expressed in a way that the audience will understand. Too much detail will cause some people to switch off but too little detail may give the impression that there is something being hidden or avoided.

Using language that people understand, for example, means that any jargon used is understood by everyone and complex language and words are kept to a minimum.

Continue:Business Performance

Better communication

2009-10-28T13:38:00.004+08:00

Saying what you mean and meaning what you say isn't second nature. But getting your point across gets easier with these tips for better communication.

Since the dawn of man we have been perfecting techniques that help us to convey our messages. From gestures to inflections to carefully thought out words we strive to be understood. These clear-cut tips on communication teach the dynamics of making a point and shed light on the nuances of a true exchange.

Think before you speak. Saying what you mean and meaning what you say is the golden rule to communication. To achieve this you must hear what you are saying before it is spoken. This requires pausing for a moment of thought. Analyze what you plan to say and evaluate whether it sounds like what you mean. When you speak to someone you don’t have a backspace key to erase what you just said.

Make eye contact. Eye contact emphasizes sincerity and without sincerity your point will not be received. All animals, including humans, use eye contact to read intentions and many have said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. A strong gaze also captivates the audience. You demand attention by giving it.

Use your body to help you get your point across. There are studies that have proven gestures are directly connected to language and affective communicators use all the tools available. Waving your hand, snapping your fingers or stomping your foot can be just the added effect you need to make your message clear.

Keep it simple. Don’t try to roll a handful of thoughts into one breath. Break up your ideas—they will be easier to comprehend. Direct statements work well, allowing your audience to digest as you speak instead of refiguring your point when you’re done. Speaking concisely also promotes interest and makes your message more listener-friendly.

Leave out hesitation. Thinking before you speak will help to curb this tiresome habit.

Imagine, the complexities of algebra formulas are no more interesting when they are spoken in monotone and punctuated with a flurry of ums and uhs. Confidence in what you’re saying brings validity to your words and ensures the listener that you mean what you say.

Watch your body language. Just as important as using gestures, it’s important not to convey messages that could foil your attempts to communicate. Leave out sarcastic eye rolling and listless sighs. This sort of behavior is like throwing up roadblocks on the roads of communication.

Lastly, it must be understood that hearing is half of being heard. Communication implies an interchange of thought. By listening to people and the world around you, you can discern what is comprehensible by what you take in. Another advantage to listening is that whom you’re listening to will be more apt to listen to you. You would be surprised to know that one of the biggest reasons people don’t communicate is that the listener isn’t listening. Often our minds race ahead by planning what we want to say next, all the while ignoring what is presently being said.
Communicating your ideas isn’t easy, but making a connection with someone is well worth the energies used. When a connection is made, the floodgates of knowledge open side.

Source: Better communication

Stand Up and Speak

2009-10-26T11:56:00.002+08:00

Over 90% of the population fear public speaking more than death, yet it is the most powerful form of communication. Public speaking Trainer Darren Fleming shares his secrets on overcoming these fears and getting your message out there.

Despite recent advances in communication technology, face-to-face communication still has the greatest influence over people. Whether it is persuading the bank manager to extend credit, business partners to adopt your idea or getting customers to buy your product, it is your skill as a presenter in selling your ideas that will largely determine your success.

Often it is necessary to present the same idea to different audience for different reasons. Take the idea of wanting to change business structure to capitalise on a new market. There are several interested parties that need to be convinced you are on the right track. These include the Bank, Staff and Board. If these parties aren’t convinced, your ideas may be doomed from the beginning.

Take the bank. The bank will want to know all the ins and outs of the new market. How big is it and who is the competition? How long will it be before a profit is returned? What will the new structure be? How much do you need to borrow? The bank will want to make a very clinical, calculated and safe decision. They will want facts that they can question and rely upon.

Your staff however, are more concerned about putting food on the table and paying the mortgage. Although they will want to know about markets and structure, they care more about the emotive issues of their job security and pay packets. Therefore, they need information that is personally reassuring. They will be more concerned about career progression and job fulfilment rather than how much is being borrowed or who the major competition will be.

Continue:ExecutiveSpeaking

How to Have Better Marriage Communication in Remarriage

2009-10-21T12:36:00.003+08:00

Remarriage seems to become more and more common with every passing decade. While remarriage brings many opportunities for divorced couples and their families, there are also many challenges to overcome in remarriage. In particular, many remarried couples face the challenge of consistently maintaining positive marital communication in their marriages. However, there are ways to combat this challenge with practice and hard work.

Spend time together. There is nothing better than spending quality time with your spouse to help your communication skills and your relationship. Plan a date, take a trip, or play a game together. Try to plan activities that require you to spend time talking with one another. If you are going to talk through the movie at the movie theater, go to the movies, if not, find another activity that will allow you to practice communicating as a couple. Practice is the only way to increase the quality your couple communication.

Outline a course of action for conflict. Disagreements are sure to happen in a remarriage or any marriage. Before a situation happens, work together to come up with ways to deal with conflict. Maybe you will agree that when things start to heat up you will take a time out or write a letter about the disagreement. The important thing is that when you feel your tempers rising, you know you can no longer communicate effectively. A routine to follow will help you get back to the point where you can talk about disagreements together.

Do what works for you. Every couple has their own unique style for effectively communicating together. Don’t try to be like anyone else or measure your success with that of other couples. Similarly, don’t measure the communication in your remarriage with the communication patterns you had in previous relationships. Time together and personalities will make every couple relationship different. Commit to making the communication that you have with your current partner the best that it can be.

Source:eHow

Speaking Up With Confidence

2009-10-12T12:14:00.002+08:00

Many women speak softly. Yet they often do not realize the power of their voices. We've learned over time that our visual image is powerful. Unfortunately, our voice often gets overlooked.

Let's look at this phenomenon with an example loosely adapted from a real situation experienced by one of my coaching clients.

Sara Lynn Smith is the assistant director for crime prevention in Mid-Town USA. She's been asked by the local Rotary Club to speak about Crime in Our City. This is a topic she feels passionate about. She prepares her talk by writing it out and developing her speech, going over it and over it in her mind. She types it on note cards, triple-spaced in a large font. Then she studies her Dress for Success books. She selects a conservative navy pants-suit and a crisp white shirt. She wears comfortable well-polished pumps. She puts on a soft shade of red lipstick-not too brassy, and a small amount of blush on her cheeks. She takes her long hair and braids it in a French knot. Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiles. She looks professional and smart.

Walking out the door, she grabs her computer case and her notes and departs for the meeting. After the introductions, she walks up to the podium, she perches her reading glasses on her nose, and looks directly at the audience.

"I'm, uh, so, glad to be here today. Thank you, for, um, inviting me to, um, speak to you. I think this is a topic of great importance to our community. (clears throat). Excuse me. . .but we can do a lot in our community that, err, well, we just haven't done. I've worked for 18 years as the assistant director in the office of crime prevention and, um, well, you see I've seen a lot of things. Without the community, I don't think we will ever, err, at least, I doubt we can ever (laughs) make crime go away."

Sara Lynn Smith took care of all the preliminaries. She carefully wrote out her speech and put it in a format which would make it easy to refer to. She selected her clothes with a lot of thought, wanting to give the impression of a smart, professional woman. On the surface she did everything right. But if you were in the audience at the Rotary Club, what would you think of Sara Lynn? Would you think she was a confident woman? Do you see a smart, professional woman before you? Are you still listening to her speech?

In all likelihood, you've stopped listening to Sara Lynn. Your mind is probably wandering. You will not remember her or her speech. She's made little impact on you. Why? She forgot to add power to her voice. She left out that one very important component of communication.

Continue:Speaking Up With Confidence

Source:Articlebase

Credibility is the Key to Success

2009-10-05T08:27:00.003+08:00

The key to a company’s credibility lies in its ability to communicate. Although media training generally focuses on speaking to the press, the same techniques can be used to increase effective communication between upper management and the rest of the company’s employees and between the company and its customers.

In times of crisis, this communication becomes more important than ever. To paraphrase a former General Electric slogan, in times of crisis, credibility is our most important product. Consistently, executive and crisis response teams that participate in media training exercises on a regular basis inform and reassure the public better than the untrained.

Maintaining Credibility

The following media training tips provide a guideline for planning for, dealing with, and coming away from a crisis with your reputation largely unscathed and perhaps even enhanced.

Plan ahead. Before a crisis occurs, know who will be in charge of what, and have a centralized headquarters established. Many organizations should have a second designated crisis headquarters location in the event the first is unusable. Update emergency contact lists frequently and make sure that whoever would need to be reached in a crisis can be reached quickly. A chaotic situation means that it will take far longer for you to gather the information you’ll need to communicate with the public.

Gather information. When crisis hits, gather as much information as possible, as quickly as possible. What happened? Where? Has anyone been injured or killed? These are the questions that you’ll be asked by reporters, family members and employees. Know what you’ll tell them.

Communicate early and often. Make a statement as soon as you can – but take the time to get organized first. Communicate frequently, even if it’s only to say “We don’t have anything further at the moment, but we will let you know as soon as we do.” Don’t treat questions as an annoyance. Convey concern and a desire to keep everyone in the loop. People are more apt to trust an “I don’t know” than they are to trust silence.

Communicate directly with those affected. While the public at large may have an interest in what’s going on, the people directly affected by the crisis need a more personalized approach. It’s not fair for employees to find out about their own lay-off on the evening news, or have to consult a web site to find out if a family member has been injured.

Remember that the show must go on. Even though you’re dealing with a huge problem now, your organization’s operations still need to be attended to. Bills need to be paid, clients need to be contacted, and employees need to be given guidance. It’s essential that you keep your day-to-day activities as close to normal as possible. The crisis will pass, but the everyday needs of your business will still be there.

Run practice drills often. Once you’ve established a plan and process for dealing with a crisis, you should put that plan into action as soon as possible. Conduct mock training drills to “shake down” the plan and see what needs to be improved. Too often crisis plans get put on a shelf and are forgotten. Keep your executives and crisis team sharp, so that if a crisis does happen, you’ll be prepared.

Source:EzineArticles

How to Communicate With Clarity and Power

2009-10-01T09:31:00.004+08:00

If you want to know how to communicate, the most important rule is to keep your message clear and positive. That makes it so much more likely that you will be understood and that people will be more likely to listen to you as you won't be perceived as criticizing.

To keep your message simple you should:
- Use short, simple sentences.

- Only make one request or ask one question at a time.
- Be specific with what you say.

- Avoid being over-emotional with negative emotions
Now that you have those basic rules of how to communicate, let us look at some examples of how to use that communication in specific circumstances:

To Give Praise:
It's nice to know what we do is appreciated, isn't it? So often we forget to offer praise where it is earned. That's sad, because if people are praised for doing something good they are more likely to repeat that behavior.

1. Look directly at the person.

2. Tell him or her exactly what they did that was good.

3. Tell the other person exactly how you felt about the good thing they did.

4. Remember to encourage people by praising even small improvements; waiting for praise for major improvements can be too demoralizing.

5. It is important to praise people immediately; that way they feel appreciated and they also know exactly what it is that they've done well.

6. Don't add a critical 'but' when you praise. Just praise someone; there is time to address less desirable behaviors elsewhere.

To Make A Request:
If you want a person to act in a particular way or thing something in particular, you need to couch your request in positive terms. Nagging will get you nowhere; neither will demanding your own way. You should instead state clearly what you want that person to do and tell them how much you appreciate what they are doing and the effort that they are making.

1. Look at the person when you talk to him or her.

2. Tell the person specifically what you want them to do.

3. Tell him or her how it would make you feel if they do as you ask.

4. Keep your tone and posture friendly and not demanding or aggressive.

These suggestions won't guarantee your requests are met; it may be that your request was unreasonable or that the other person could not comply or was unwilling to do so. But asking in such a way makes it more likely that your will get what you ask for.

To Express Negative Feelings:

I've just finished telling you how you need to be positive and here I am bringing up negative feelings but the truth is that we all have negative feelings at times; that is natural and if they are not expressed constructively they can be a strong destructive force. There are a few guidelines which should help you express negative feelings constructively so that the matters can be addressed and the problem solved.

1. Maintain eye contact when you speak to the other person.

2. Be specific about how the behavior was unwelcome.

3. Tell the person how it made you feel.

4. Be constructive and simply state how he or she can prevent this problem happening again.

5. Maintain an open, friendly posture which is not aggressive or confrontational.

This should have given you some guidance on how to communicate in certain circumstances but it will also have provided you with some basic guidelines which help in any communication.

Source: EzineArticles

How to survive watching yourself on video

2009-09-29T09:21:00.003+08:00

Do you hate the idea of watching yourself on video? Most people do. But on our courses it’s one of our most powerful tools for helping people to reduce their fear of public speaking. Watching yourself give a presentation can give you a tremendous confidence boost.

That’s because the way that you come across is often better than the way you imagine you come across. That’s because you can feel your nervousness, but the audience can only see it or hear it. Mike Bogle from the TechTicker blog writes:

In listening to the recording I was actually amazed how relaxed I sounded relative to the whirlwind of anxiety that was actually going on inside my head.

So your audience is not nearly as aware of your nervousness as you are.

There’s only one way to prove this to yourself and that’s by watching yourself present on video. But there’s a right way and a wrong way to watch yourself. So here are some tips to not only survive watching your video but to give yourself a boost of confidence:
1. Watch with an honest and compassionate friend

Choose a friend who was at the live presentation when you were videoed. This is because there are some things which stand out in a video which the audience wouldn’t have noticed during the live presentation. Your friend can guide you as to what was noticeable during your live presentation. Otherwise there’s a risk that you may get fixated on something you think you did wrong – but which the live audience didn’t notice.
2. Be aware that it can be a little weird
“Aargh! I look like my mother”

Most people find watching themselves on video to be a little weird. Watching yourself on video is very different to seeing your reflection in the mirror- you see different angles of your face, you see yourself moving. And you may sudddenly realise you look just like your mother, or your brother or whatever!
“I hate my voice!”

Your voice also sounds different. You probably already know this from hearing yourself on your answerphone. The explanation for this is that when you hear yourself normally (ie: not recorded) you’re hearing yourself through your skull bones and your chest cavity. Therefore your voice sounds deeper and more resonant to you. The way you hear yourself on the video is the way that other people normally hear you (sorry ;-) ).
3. Get over it!

Give yourself a few moments to notice these weird things – and then realize that these things are only of any interest to you. Your audience doesn’t care whether you look like your mother, and they’re used to hearing your voice. Your friend will corroborate this – ask them.
4. Don’t get concerned that you’re waving your hands about

On video your gestures look bigger than they do in real life. That’s because of the frame provided by the video. That amplifies your body language. It’s most likely that your gestures were great during the live presentation. Gestures add energy and show enthusiasm. Ask your friend how your gestures came across in the live presentation.
5. Don’t get hung up on little things

You may notice things (scratching your nose, saying the odd um and ah) that were not that noticeable in the live presentation. Again, when you notice these things, pause the video, and ask your friend whether it was distracting in the live presentation.

Continoue:Speaking about Presenting

Put the Whole World in Your Hand

2009-09-16T12:35:00.002+08:00

Thanks to a recent deluge of slick cellular handsets like the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and MyTouch 3G, you know the drill: another week, another high-end smartphone suitable for use as a portable small-business solution.

So what makes Sprint’s most recent debut, the HTC Touch Pro2 (also available on T-Mobile), stand out from the existing crop of mobile communications devices? An oversized 3.6-inch 400x800 WVGA touchscreen that makes it easier to read e-mails, skim documents and surf Web pages for one, with a spacious slide-out QWERTY keyboard and world calling capabilities equally recommendable features as well. Then again, the gizmo is also notable in that all these perks come at a strikingly high price ($349 with two-year contract), nearly twice as much as competitors like the Palm Pre or iPhone 3G S.

On the bright side, equipped with the popular and widely-supported Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, the device offers high-speed 3G internet connectivity and nearly a day’s worth of battery life. Flipping between contacts and appointments is further made painless via an intuitive, icon-driven 3-D “TouchFLO” interface that lets you browse and activate applications just by flicking and tapping them as well. Still, it’s the Touch Pro2’s generous display, Wi-Fi connectivity and comfy, responsive keys that prove its most prominent technical highlights, making it simple to perform work-related tasks while traveling, or quickly shoot important missives off to associates back home.

Source: Entrepreneur

Why Become a Speaker?

2009-09-01T09:36:00.000+08:00

By Dana Bristol-Smith

So many people want to become speakers. They think it's a great way to earn a living, be the center of attention, and live glamorously.

After being a speaker and trainer for the last 10 years, I have a different opinion.

I believe that the only reason to become a speaker is to empower and educate others. If our content isn't doing that we shouldn't be speaking in public!

Unfortunately we've all heard speakers who had style but not substance and authenticity.

Speaking is a service that we provide that needs to be delivered as such. If we are lucky enough to make our living from speaking, we should be serving others through our work.

I ask these questions of speakers and wanna be's:

1. Is what you are saying truly important to others, humankind, the planet?
2. Can people use your message to make their lives better?
3. Are you willing to look your audience members in their eyes and speak to their hearts?
4. Are you willing to be vulnerable and share your real self with your audience?

Here's to you courageous souls who dare to be real! My hat is off to you!

Source:Speak for success

Speaking and Presenting From The Heart

2009-08-15T13:04:00.000+08:00

Seminars, presentations and training classes abound these days. If you read any business calendar or newspaper you will find literally dozens each day. They cover a variety of subjects from estate planning to networking to human resources to disaster recovery. There's usually great information, PowerPoint and nifty handouts, but how is the message actually delivered? Is the "expert" in the field tossing out piles of information with poorly designed PowerPoint slides that are difficult to decipher? Or is it engaging and informative? Too many times, the presenter gets in his own way. It's a painful experience for the audience.
If you have to deliver a presentation, whether it's in your own office for a team project or it's in front of 100 strangers at a professional meeting, here are 5 tips to make it a positive experience for you and everyone in the room.

1- Prepare for your audience. Find out in advance who will be attending, why they will be listening to you and what they hope to learn. Regardless of the time limit, keep your presentation or remarks to three bullet points or main themes. Dumping too much information on people won't make you look smart; it can quickly confuse your audience. Keep it simple.

2- Write an outline. Have a logical opening, a body with the three main bullet points and a close. Your goal is to get them "hooked" from the first few seconds. Telling them about your experience, education and talking about "me, me, me" is equivalent to a sleeping pill. It must be tied to their lives. People don't care about you as much as they care about themselves and what they can learn from you. Help to solve their problem. Have a clear and definitive ending that summarizes what your audience is taking away with them. Action plans are good.

3- Get real. You will never move others, heart-to-heart, unless you speak from the heart. Your ability to combine important information with your own real-life stories woven in makes a huge difference in your speaking success. If you've opened your eyes and gotten out of bed, funny things are all around you. Start to become aware of them and how they might fit into a presentation or conversation. When I speak, I have stories about my kids and family members and even a PowerPoint slide with a picture of my son and my niece. I use cartoons in my presentation slides and include a slide with the cast of "Friends." It all connects with the content of my presentation and three main bullet points. There's plenty of content too. My presentations are packed with tactical and strategic information, regardless of the topic. The pictures of the kids and TV shows lighten things up and make it fun. The anecdotes and stories allow me to connect with the emotions of my audience and bring the message home.

4 Rehearse in front of a mirror-. Once your material is written, actually stand in front of a mirror with an index card of your outline and go through your presentation. On my communications coaching phone calls, a participant said he didn't realize that your voice and energy are different when you're seated. That's why standing is important. Speak from your stomach and not your throat. This will give you the volume and power that you need to project. Remember to use silences and pauses and not race through the presentation. Avoid reading and be aware of your vocal habits. Your ability to combine your vocal vitality and use your body (posture, hand gestures, and eye contact) without hiding behind a podium will help your presentation come alive. Again, be yourself. Don't try to sound like a game show host or someone that you're not. See # 3. Get real.

5- Visualize your success. If you're nervous, anxious or lack self-confidence, make a "mental movie" of your successful outcome. Picture yourself absolutely prepared and comfortable with your material, walking into the room with complete confidence, moving with poise, style and ease, delivering a stellar performance with an engaged and captive audience and people clapping and smiling as you finish. Play this movie in the morning when you first wake up, at night as you fall asleep and during the day when you begin to stress or doubt your abilities. If you see yourself as a success, you'll be a success. If you make a mental movie of a babbling fool who embarrasses himself, that's the result you'll get. Go for the homerun.

The best way to improve your public speaking skills is to practice. Volunteer your expertise at a local Rotary Club, religious group, or library program. In addition, start to watch other speakers and learn from their styles, strengths and weaknesses.

Source: Get in Front

Overcoming The Fear Of Public Speaking

2009-07-10T13:36:00.000+08:00

Do you suffer from a crippling fear of speaking in public? Or know someone who does?

Does that nerve wrecking feeling of being the centre of everyone’s attention leave you feeling queasy, breathless and like your head is full of cotton wool?

Not to mention highly embarrassing sweaty palms and painful blushing that leaves you feeling like an awkward teenager again?

If so you are not alone!

The fear of speaking in public touches the lives of many people and unlike a medical condition there isn’t the simple option of a pill to pop and many people do not feel comfortable, or can afford, a personal therapist to help them work through this phobia.

As the years go on the effect that this condition has on your life becomes more and more frustrating as you struggle to communicate effectively in not only social situations but in your working environment also.

You might be worried that you’ll be passed over for a promotion or not recognised for the contributions you have made to important projects due to you inability to clearly and concisely communicate with your boss.

Fortunately there is an alternative to those pricey therapy sessions that can help you re-train your fear response into a much more positive speaking experience.

Self-hypnosis is an alternative therapy that has provided outstanding results for people just like you.

continued:Public Speaking & Self Hypnosis

source:Overcoming The Fear Of Public Speaking

Fear of Public Speaking

2009-05-08T14:19:00.000+08:00

Public speaking is an example of a social phobia, and is the most commonly reported social fear.

Unfortunately, fear of public speaking can adversely impact upon one’s career, personal life and academic achievements. For example, sufferers may avoid careers which would entail public speaking or decline promotions which would involve giving lectures or presentations. Social anxiety sufferers may also experience a great deal of distress if required to give a speech at their 21st birthday, wedding etc. University students may choose their courses or subjects so as to avoid having to give presentations.

source: Fear of Public Speaking

Motivation Tips

2009-04-23T10:20:00.003+08:00

How to Start a Conversation with 3 Super Body Language Tips
Using body language to enhance how you start a conversation can lead to great conversation. You do not have to say much just a look or a movement can speak volumes for you.

This is especially useful in situations where you can not seem to get a word in or where you are unsure of how to start a conversation.

Body language is a way to communicate without putting yourself at risk of saying something wrong. You probably already use body language, but do not even notice it. The following list shows the main points of body language that you should be aware of whenever you wonder how to start a conversation.

1. Eye use:

People say that they can learn all about a person through their eyes. It is probably the most used part of the body to communicate next to the mouth.

Your eyes can say many things, from rolling them to winking, you can display many messages with just your eyes. Sometimes you may unaware of what your eyes are saying.

Be careful to not let your eyes say you are bored or not interested in a conversation. You should maintain good eye contact to let others know you are listening.

2. Body moves:

Everyone has said hello with a wave of the hand or shown a lack of patience with a tap of the foot or nodded in agreement.

Your hands, arms, feet and head can speak for in many cases. Crossing the arms, tapping the foot rapidly or putting your hands on your hips can all say things that might not be too good.

On the other hand, clapping, tapping your foot to music or extending a hand shake can say great things. Always be aware of what your body is saying.

3. Facial expressions:

Smiling can say more than words sometimes. You should be aware of your facial expressions at all times. You may frown and be unaware of it.

Facial expressions can often be misinterpreted. A serious look of concentration may be seen as disapproval. Just make sure you are using the rest of your body to speak as well and your facial expressions should come across clearly.

Your eyes, body and face can carry on a whole conversation for you. You can speak volumes with a simple movement. You can use body language to convey a message you may not otherwise want to vocalize.

Knowing how to end or start a conversation with body language can come in handy if you do not have time to carry on a conversation, but would like to acknowledge someone.

Body language can also share a feeling with someone so only the two of you know. Make sure your body language is saying what you want it to.

Source: Body Language Tips

Body Language and Communication

2009-03-23T10:02:00.001+09:00

We have all watched presenters and decided if they are good or not, but how are we judged?

Research shows that 55% of communication is conveyed by the body language we use, i.e.; Use of eye contact, gestures and facial expressions. 38% is conveyed in the voice, it's quality, use of tone and inflections. Only 7% is conveyed in the words we use.

This is actually a scary statistic as when planning a presentation all our time and effort go into planning what we are going to say.

To be a great presenter you need to start becoming aware of your body language and what it is saying. Repetitive gestures or pacing while talking could detract from your presentation. Gestures need to be expressive, emphasizing what you are saying but at the same time neutral. A high-pitched shrill voice is very difficult to listen to, as is a flat monotonous voice. We need to ensure we are producing a good resonant sound that can be heard by our audience. Our speech needs to be clear to ensure we are understood. For this we need to exercise the muscular organs of articulation. To create an interesting voice we need variation in the pitch and pace of our presentation. As well as making correct use of pause and emphasis. I have many a time seen a great presentation destroyed by a poor delivery.

Most men in general battle to modulate the voice, while the women generally need to pay special attention to resonance. A resonant voice is a deep rich, low voice produced mainly in the chest, which is pleasing to the ear. Women naturally tend to have high pitched, nasal voices. Improving resonance is not only a necessity for women it is important for all, as people listen better to a resonant voice. A Fortune 500 statistic shows that a lower voice sells better. It is unrealistic for a woman with a tiny feminine voice to expect to effectively communicate at the boardroom table, while competing with men's naturally lower and louder voices.

It is no coincidence that 90% of the world's leaders through history were good orators, or that most company directors give good presentations. They all got there largely aided by their ability to communicate.

The way we communicate also plays a large role when making a good first impression. Again body language, is the dominant factor including, posture, handshake and the way we are dressed. If you want to send out the message of professionalism ensure you have good upright posture, use good eye contact, open body language and have a firm handshake. Make sure your clothing is appropriate to the work situation, and is neat and tidy. Have clean hair, nails and shoes. The voice should be well produced amplifying confidence

Source: Body Language and Communication

Computer Communication

2009-02-25T16:11:00.004+09:00

As I have been in the past, a computer novice and anxious about computers, I have found it very difficult to motivate myself to even get to the computer. After many years of dabbling on computers, feeling extremely inadequate, scared and intimidated by these incredible machines I have emerged with a new energy towards them.
With the help from Colin Dixon colin@servicebroker.com.au I have gained a huge amount of confidence and knowledge. With his consistent and persistent communication, prodding me along, I can now get into the computer and am starting to feel in control of my computer life.