Archive for December, 2005

Will your speaking style work internationally?

Saturday, December 31st, 2005

These days, to be in business is to be in international business. My own small company has either performed trainings or sold training products in more than two-dozen countries in the past year. And I am by no means exceptional in that regard. It has never been easier for any corporation to do international business.

But when you are selling to and speaking with people from other cultures, you face additional challenges. Yes, people may all be alike in some regards such as love of family and abhorrence for murder. But different cultures have different customs when it comes to communicating. You may be acceptable in every way when speaking to customers and clients in your own country, but are you sure you aren’t doing something that is hurting you with your international prospects?

Early Bloomers Versus Late Bloomers

Friday, December 30th, 2005

Nobody is a natural born public speaker any more than someone is born a great writer. All great writers had to spend years writing awful garbage before they became good at their craft. Regardless of when a speaker develops his or her craft, the important thing to remember is that the speaking craft is one that can be developed at nearly any age—especially if you are willing to just do it, and make a fool out of yourself for no money.

Public Speaking: One Small Step At A Time

Thursday, December 29th, 2005

“Be Direct.”

“I don’t like people who beat around the bush!”

“Get to the point!”

In theory, people put a premium on direct speakers who communicate clearly and without wasting any time. But it’s just a theory; I have my own.

If you are trying to persuade someone during a speech to do something that they don’t already want to do, then it pays NOT to be direct. You must be more subtle and gradual in your approach.

Tips for Planning Your Room for Speaking Success

Wednesday, December 28th, 2005

Have you ever noticed that when you are at a jam-packed comedy show on a Saturday night, where every seat is full, that the comedians are always really funny? But if you go on a Wednesday night and the room is two-thirds empty, the show wasn’t as funny–you weren’t laughing as much. Were you hearing different comedians? No, but the set up of a room is another factor to think about for successful public speaking.

Leaders Say Unpopular Things

Saturday, December 24th, 2005

The hallmark of being a leader is the willingness to say unpopular things to an audience, whether you are a government, corporate or organizational official. Leaders must make tough choices and what makes them hard decisions is knowing that one group of people will be very disappointed in you for having decided against them. Problems can begin for leaders once they have to tell others about their decisions.

Speechwriters… An Underappreciated Lot

Friday, December 23rd, 2005

I have a lot of sympathy for speechwriters because they have a nearly impossible job. If the boss gives a good speech, then the boss receives (and takes) all of the credit. If the boss bombs during the speech, well, then it must have been the speechwriter’s fault, or so the blame game goes.

I can vividly remember slaving away for days on a foreign policy speech for a member of congress when I was a staffer on Capitol Hill in the early 90’s. When the Congresswomen finally started to read it in front of me at 1:00 am in the morning she got through one page and then cried, “This…Is…Terrible…” and with that she tore the paper in two. This is the life of the speechwriter.

Fear Not The All-Powerful Media

Thursday, December 22nd, 2005

Many people like to obsess about the media. Is it too powerful? Too left-wing? Too right-wing? I, too, spend a lot of time talking to clients about the importance and power of the media. But every so often it’s important to take a time out. While the media are powerful, they aren’t ALL powerful. The media does not control everything.
For example:

Boring Speakers: Union Strike Creates a War of Words

Wednesday, December 21st, 2005

In the great New York Transit Worker Strike of 2005, neither side of the battle has a forceful communicator fighting for the hearts and minds of the public. Mayor Michael Bloomberg has played up his bland technocratic speaking style to his advantage in the past, but the style is not helping him as he tries to mobilize public opinion on his side to end the strike.

TJ Walker in the News: How to get quoted by the press everytime.

Tuesday, December 20th, 2005

See the power of good speaking and being ready with sound bites for the press will always get you quoted. Take a look at this recent article from Loew’s Pro where they quote me. If you always want to get top caliber quotes in the press make sure you read one of my books and I’ll explain how it’s done.

http://forpros.lowes.com/articles/1105landscape_image.cfm

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Nasty, Negative News Media: Note to Woody Allen

Monday, December 19th, 2005

It’s always fun to bash the news media for its obsession with the negative and the nasty. Indeed, I do it myself from time to time. But many CEOs and newsmakers are their own worst enemies when it comes to their public perceptions. Frequently, reporters don’t have to make up vicious or horrible things to say about newsmakers, all the reporters have to do is hit their “record” buttons.

For example, below is series of quotes all made by Woody Allen about himself to the BBC as reported on December 19, 2005.

Woody Allen said the following: