Speaking to Win: The Blog

Archive for August, 2008

Great Communication Skills Are The Keys To A Happy, Fulfilling and Profitable Life

When you better your communication skills, you better yourself, your work and your life. It really is that simple.  Every communication you have with people all day long, whether you are at home or at work, provides you with an opportunity. With better communication skills, you “seal the deal” in a thousand little positive ways

How To: Speaking and The Power Of Silence

Do you notice how few people are truly comfortable with silence? This silence I’m talking about is the flip side of the compulsion to interrupt that I wrote about last week.  SILENCE IS ONE OF YOUR MOST POWERFUL SPEAKING TOOLS The very idea that silence has value or is powerful may sound strange coming from a “speaking coach,” but

BOTBP: Robert Schenkkan, Award Winning Writer: “What’s The Successful Working Writers Life Really Like?

Today on my radio show, Business Off The Beaten Path, I had a nice conversation with award winning writer, Robert Schenkkan. Robert also had some great advice for aspiring writers that makes this interview well worth the listen. For the complete interview, please click here. Robert Schenkkan is a Pulitzer-prize winning playwright, author of THE KENTUCKY

Tip of The Day: Chair Tension Release

Here is a tension release exercise you can practice just before going up to give your speech. First, grab hold of each side of your chair with both hands. All at once, holding your breath, squeeze every part of your body into a ball of tension. Contract your face, shoulders, arms, hands,  belly, buttocks,  thighs, 

Tip Of The Day: Jaw Tension Release

One of the major places we hold tension is in our face and particularly our jaw. Here is a tension release exercise for your jaw: First, find the little bump of bone at the outside heel of your hands. If you were to draw a line from the tip of your little finger to your wrist,

11 Traits of People with Vision

OK so while we’re on the subject of great leaders, I want to talk about people with “Vision.” The people I meet who have vision are the most exciting,interesting and compelling to me. They are also the ones I really want to work with and be around. In case you missed it, here is the original definition

11 Traits of Great Leaders

I’ve come to a conclusion: I want to work with great leaders. A great leader might be a dad, a mom, a President, a CEO, a teacher, a kid, a homeless person or a trash handler. But the definition of ‘great’ differs from person to person. Here’s mine: Someone who treats people with respect. They have a sense of

The Power Of Words~Part 2

Here is another excerpt from another of David Whyte’s poems, “Coleman’s Bed:”     “Refuse to talk, even to yourself, and stay in this place until the current of the story is         strong enough to float you out.” How many presentations have you heard or given like that recently? Presentations so compelling the “current

The Power Of Words

There is a great quote by Mark Twain that I absolutely love. “The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter–it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the Lightning.” The words we choose every day in our professional speaking and presentations are crucial not only to our business success,

BOTBP: Hugh Blane, CIO, The Effectiveness Institute “What Are The Three Most Important Questions In Life and Business?

Today on “Business Off The Beaten Path,” I spoke with Hugh Blane, the CIO or Chief Inspiration Officer of The Effectiveness Institute. To listen to the full interview, please click here. Hugh Blane is an expert in the areas of communication, influence and team performance. Hugh discussed how to create breakthroughs in the way individuals, teams