Flying high, flying far . . .
In today’s business world, networking is an absolutely essential component of a successful marketing strategy or plan. It is especially true if your business is virtual or service-oriented. Successful networking (whether online or face-t0-face) will increase your credibility and level of trust in the community, bring referrals, increase your visibility within your target market, and build the necessary relationships you need to form alliances, partnerships and gain clients. The term networking invokes a different response or feeling in different people. Many times, those feelings are negative . . . fear, anxiety, confusion, or a lack of interest altogether; and oftentimes these feelings are a direct result of inexperience or a lack of knowlege regarding the networking process.
Julianne Kuhlmann, Principal Leadership Coach, Founder and Director of Kool Results, shares some valuable insight and tips about how to approach networking in an easy stress-free manner, from the June issue of her Kool Results Newsletter.
Flying high, flying far…
by Julianne Kuhlmann
“What me? Sell myself? You have to be joking!”
This was the response I received from one of my clients when I suggested that she needed to get out there and promote herself. She had to “network”.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines networking as “interacting with others to exchange information and develop useful contacts.”
This is how I see it. It’s not about “selling yourself” but about an exchange of information with like-minded people.
How do you know if your speech is great?
How do you know
if your speech is great?
by Jane Atkinson
Sometimes when you’ve been working the same speech
material for awhile, you slip into a nice
comfortable place. So how do you know if your
speech is really, really good?
Many speakers use evaluations, and they average
5 smiley faces out of 6, so that’s pretty
good, right? Plus, people line up at the end of
the program to say, “thanks, that was awesome!”
“Awesome” is pretty good right?
A speaker friend of mine sat at the back of a
meeting room waiting for his turn to speak. They
were taking a short break, and then the speaker
before him would wrap up. He went into the
washroom and heard two guys complaining that the
material was fairly outdated, and that they
weren’t overly impressed. The meeting resumed and
the speaker finished his talk. The two guys from
the washroom were the first two in line to say to
the speaker, “hey, great job, thanks so much.”
So what does this tell us? Use evaluations and
comments from the audience to build confidence,
but DO NOT take that to mean that you are really
great.
THE #1 WAY TO KNOW IF YOU ARE GOOD IS WHEN PEOPLE
HAND YOU THEIR BUSINESS CARD AFTER THE SPEECH AND
SAY, “I’VE GOT A GROUP THAT NEEDS TO HEAR YOUR
MESSAGE.”
If you are not getting an average of 2-3 spin offs
from each speaking engagement, then you need to go
back to work on the speech. Find yourself some
books, CD’s, coaching, training, whatever it
takes. Continually “sharpen the saw” and it will
pay off for you in the ultimate reward… spin
off.
Jane Atkinson, President of Speaker Launcher, is a former agent and business coach specializing in professional speakers. For more information, call 519-951-6934, or go to www.speakerlauncher.com
Seven Ways to Organize Your Topic
Presentation Skills
Seven Ways to Organize Your Topic
By Karen Susman
You’ve heard that you should “Tell ‘em what you are going to tell ‘em. Tell ‘em. Tell ‘em what you told ‘em.” There are a few problems with that rule. First of all, it assumes your audience members are idiots. It assumes you’re an idiot. And, if forgets to tell you how to organize those remarks when you tell them what you are going to tell them. Yes, you should introduce your topic. Yes you should sum up your remarks and conclude. But, what about that middle section where you deliver on the promise of your introduction and set the stage for your conclusion and call to action? Here are seven different ways to organize your thoughts.
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How to Differentiate Your Company
Time after time I hear the phrase, “What is your USP (unique selling position?)” What makes my company, or any other company, different from the rest. For some businesses it’s a very simple question to answer, but for others, not so easy. So just what is it that makes a business that looks like every other business on the outside, different from all of the others? Kelly J. Watkins, President of Expressive Concepts shares her point of view on the subject.
(Customer Retention in Colorado)
by Kelly J. Watkins, MBA
It was dark when the hotel shuttle bus picked me up at the airport in Denver, Colorado. We drove for miles before there was any sign of civilization. Finally, I noticed an office complex/commercial development. There were several office buildings and a few hotels sprinkled among the parking lots. At that moment, I was struck by how similar all the hotels were. There was nothing unique about any of them. They were virtually indistinguishable from each other.
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Become an Expert at Speaking
Sandra Schrift, personal success and business coach to emerging and experienced speakers shares 5 tips on how to become an expert at speaking.
Become an Expert at Speaking
by Sandra Schrift
Does anybody really have anything new to say? There is no end to the number of people who enjoy bringing their expertise to the platform. There will always be an audience who will want to hear your good ideas communicated uncommonly well in an uncommon way. Your challenge as a speaker is to figure out how to do that.
Here are some starter tips on how to become an expert at speaking:
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