Archive for the ‘Toolbox Talk’ Category

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Dancing With the Stars and YOU

Monday, March 19th, 2012

As any good fan of Dancing With the Stars knows, season 14 premieres on Monday, March 19. This highly-anticipated event is both fun and instructive.

I was recently asked by a client what kinds of performances I study for my own speaking as well as to better coach my clients. DWTS is at the top of my list. Key things to observe: poise under pressure, form, and that personal flair. When you watch these dancing pros and their celebrity partners dance, you are looking at style, progress, as well as their capacity to perform in front of an audience. These are all vital parts of any communication endeavor.

So study away. Whether it’s DWTS you prefer, your favorite sports events, or a musical performance. All of these scenarios provide valuable insight into dynamic presentation moments. Here’s to your WOW!

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Attorneys Speak

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

Thanks to the Minnesota State Bar Association for inviting me to give my Communicate That! with Clients talk at its annual Convention. I taught the IAP Formula to several hundred attorneys and judges and gave them specific ideas for how to use the Formula with their clients and colleagues.

A nice time to remind everyone about intentional communication. I = Intent; A = Audience Analysis; P = Powerful Performance.  Each letter in the Formula is co-equal, but the “I” drives the entire process. When you identify exactly what you intend for any communication moment, you have a better chance of success. When you thoroughly understand each audience as a specific opportunity, you will customize your performance to the needs of that specific audience.

Here’s to your WOW!

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Messages that Matter

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

I wrote on my Facebook Wall about how frustrating it can be to get a voice mail message I can’t understand. Little did I know this would set the comments flying. I started by suggesting people repeat their number twice. Here are some other valuable pieces of advice from a few of my FB Friends who also happen to be in a position to hire you or get you media attention.

Business owner Jennifer Brigham suggests you say the number at the beginning of your message, shortly describe your content, and then say the number again at the end. Christy Morrell-Stinson recommends you let your person know you’ll also text your name and number after you finish leaving them the voice message. Melissa Gilman of Savvy.mn Magazine wants you to tell her why you are calling. And if you don’t, she may never return the call. Scott Weaver just wants his callers to stop speed talking.

All great advice. Remember, your outgoing voice mail message as well as the voice messages you leave others are part of your communication arsenal. If your targets can’t understand you, they can’t call you back. And likely you won’t make that sale, get that job, land that huge account. Happy dialing.

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Sentence Wraps

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

How do you end your sentences? On an up note? A down note? Or flat?

When you listen to someone who ends a sentence with his voice going up, you question his confidence in what was just said. When you hear a woman wrap her sentence with emphasis heading down, she sounds less enthusiastic or energetic. I counsel people to think of a string coming out of their mouths. That string represents your sentence. Keep your string straight and let it end in a period. Imagine a flat line for that string.

Here’s to wrapping those sentences and clearly stating what you mean.

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Guest Blog: Wordiness Kills Clarity

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

I’m pleased to introduce Connie Anderson as our 5-year anniversary month’s Guest Blogger. Connie is an editor of books and business communications. Need I say more?

When I am working with a wordy writer, I think of the words of author Elmore Leonard: “I try to leave out the parts that people skip.” In my work, I’ve noticed we’ve become wordy, without being clear. That’s a quick way to lose your reader—whether in a book or important business document!

Laziness shows itself through simple words, which aren’t always the best.  For example, I “got” your report. GOT is such an ugly word. I share advice from the book Write in Style as I suggest you watch for certain words in ALL your writing. Do a search/find in anything you write and review/change them: was, do, place, put, would/could, did, had, got, realized, take/took, thought, felt, believed, only, just. These are acceptable words, but any word overused loses value.

When you sound fresh and remove overused words, your writing will improve.

Connect with Connie directly at www.WordsandDeedsInc.com. For Guest Blog questions/comments, e-mail roshini@roshinigroup.com. Thank you for celebrating 5 years of Roshini Performance Group.

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