I often ask myself, what about the etiquette for speech and language? Is it long gone or just forgotten? Am I out of step with the culture of today’s youth, the way they speak, their communication innuendos or their idiosyncratic verbal style?
Why does speech etiquette matter to me? It grates against my ear to hear speech that is littered with filler words that have no meaning and clutter the message. I hear questions when none are intended. I identify muffled speech and words that say one thing and mean something else. I call them SLEFs – Speech & Language Etiquette Faux Pas.
I know I’m not the only one who notices them. The boss, the client, the customer, the friend or family member is aware of them too. What effect do they have on the listener? I believe the listener responds negatively to these mannerisms, whether consciously or unconsciously.
Posted on August 1st, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Presentation Skills | No Comments »
YES!!! I did it, a two “weekend intensive” course at the world-renowned SecondCity. And, no I don’t aspire to become a stand-up comic. My friend and colleague, Deborah Nixon, suggested we did this together. I thought it was a great idea and that it would be helpful for us as presenters and co-facilitators. In the spirit to continue learning and improving, I registered. I cannot speak for Deborah, but I certainly got a lot of out of this, in fact, much more than I anticipated.
I was going to write a blog about it, but one of our classmates, Marguerite Orane beat me to it. I can only echo what she has written.
Posted on June 27th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Presentation Skills | 2 Comments »
As a person who talks for a living, I love precise language; I admire people who can say volumes in a few words. It’s an art to be able to laser in on the meat of an issue, cast aside the fluff and lay bare the essence of your thoughts, in brief. It’s especially wonderful to have a conversation with someone with those skills. An artful communicator is easy to trust.
Posted on May 15th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Presentation Skills | No Comments »
Today’s highly skilled professionals often know more than you do about their jobs. So, how do you manage people who know more about what they do than you do?
You have to look at leadership through the wants and needs of the worker as opposed to the skills of the leader. Here are some quick tips for effectively managing knowledge workers.
Posted on April 27th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication | No Comments »
Almost four million viewers tuned into the English leadership debate Tuesday night, myself included. My mission was more than personal interest. I needed to take copious notes on the demeanor and dress of the four leaders.
Although typically media will call me for commentary following the debates, this time I’d been given a heads up, by the producers at CBC Radio’s The Current, and was scheduled for an early morning discussion with two other women keeping close tabs on the evening: Kady O’Malley, political correspondent with the CBC and Globe and Mail columnist, Tabatha Southey.
My mandate, clearly, was not to comment on content but to interpret the body language of four seasoned politicians, all determined to make their points under crossfire — and the hot lights of a TV studio.
Posted on April 18th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Body Language, Celebrities, Dress, Hair, Image, Presentation Skills, Special Events | No Comments »
Being able to lead others – to motivate them to commit their energies and expertise to achieving the shared mission and goals of the organization – is a necessary and vital part of the job for every manager. Influence and leadership are connected in many ways:
Both come from within
Both facilitate change
Both require relationship building
Both can foster an environment of trust
Posted on April 7th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Workplace Etiquette | No Comments »
There are several non-negotiable rules for presenters. Probably the most important two are:
1. Have something of value to say. If not, say nothing.
2. Be prepared.
The presenter last night broke both of those rules and a multitude of others that we won’t get into at this time.
Posted on March 16th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Presentation Skills | No Comments »
Executive presence. It’s hard to define it but you know it when you see it in someone. Their eye contact is strong but not over-bearing. They are confident but not arrogant. They are focused on you, undistracted by the melee around them. They listen extraordinarily well and are in no hurry to speak out their own agenda. They are calm, even under pressure. Indeed, Ernest Hemmingway said it best: “The definition of guts is grace under pressure.”
Posted on March 14th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Image | No Comments »
I continue to be amazed at the way sales professionals limit themselves by perceiving networking as a tactic to generate “leads” or to “prospect” for new business.
When will they learn? The purpose of networking is NOT to tell others about your products, NOT to identify qualified prospects, NOT to share the benefits of your services. Its purpose is to act as the catalyst for your most powerful sales resource: relationships.
Posted on March 11th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication | No Comments »
Children in grade school are giving presentations. High school students are doing them with PowerPoint. In every company, organization, social gathering, and team meeting, there are more opportunities and expectations to speak in front of a group. Some fear presentations. Others just need help in how to give a presentation that engages the audience and achieves its goal.
It’s not that hard, but there are many steps. Write a clear key message. Develop the outline. Generate the content of your presentation, create your visuals, carefully consider your conclusion, rehearse your opening, then edit and practice.
Posted on March 4th, 2011 by Diane
Filed under: Communication, Conferences, Presentation Skills | 1 Comment »
