by Alan | Jul 9, 2006 | Communication skills, Parenting, Sales
As adults, we have a way of clouding what we ask for. Comments, implications, hints, and inuendo (of all types) seems to make us feel better than asking outright. Take a lesson from my kids — they ask, and ask, and ask. There is no doubt about what they...
by Alan | Jul 7, 2006 | Communication skills, Content, Delivery, Don't!, Leadership
Heard a business leader end a a bi-weeklly charge to the troops with “I have some important news that’s related to our strategy. But I’m not ready to tell you yet, so until we talk again, enjoy your weekend and have a productive two weeks.” ...
by Alan | Jul 2, 2006 | Communication skills, Delivery
Had the interesting pleasure of experiencing a black preacher103 in a predominantly white church today. Last week I observed a white preacher make a joke that had racial undertones that I thought was completely out of place, and made me feel uncomfortable. I...
by Alan | Jun 30, 2006 | Communication skills, Delivery
Heard two speakers back-to-back tonite go through a fairly scripted (but without notes) program to an audience mixted with kids and their parents. Due to the attention span of sleep-deprived, sugar-laced kids (and adults), the individual points were necessarily short...
by Alan | Jun 29, 2006 | Communication skills, Sales, Toastmasters
Had a first-time speaker at Toastmasters104 today — that first speech is called an Icebreaker. The speaker today, as many have said before her, that “If you had told me a month ago I’d CHOOSE to stand up and talk in front of people, I’d have...
by Alan | Jun 27, 2006 | Communication skills, Delivery, Don't!, Sales
As part of some research for a professional organization I am on the Board for, I had to call a vendor for information (because it wasn’t on their web site, but that’s for another blog entry). Got droid #1, who listened for a minute before saying I needed...
