executive presence Archives | Page 7 of 8

The Bottom Line: Re-stating Your Value

Here’s food for thought: when you meet with senior management in your organization, do you know what to say? More importantly, do you know how to say it and when to say it? If not, then you may be selling yourself short when it comes to stating your value to the organization. Sure it’s great to get a company to help take care of the HR, workplace injury and other sections of the company but this won’t help increase the value of yourself if you keep selling yourself short.

For junior executives in particular, learning how to speak to and with upper management is an invaluable skill. In fact, communication skills coaching in this precise area is one of the most frequent requests from Accent On Business clients.

Getting the results you want in the boardroom and similar settings can mean the difference between being […]

2022-04-22T08:33:23-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Professional Communication, Public Speaking|Tags: articulate clearly, business, conversation, delivering a speech, executive communication, executive presence, interview, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking advisors, speaking to your boss, vocal quality, voice help, voice problem|Comments Off

Before You Speak – Get It In Writing

contract-408216_1280 Picture this:

There you are…taking the stage with authority and confidence, about to deliver the speech you’ve spent months honing. You made the investment in professional coaching, you discovered your authentic voice, and you rehearsed your presentation from one end to the other and back again. You’ve finally arrived at this auspicious day. As you look out on your audience and prepare to utter the first words of your speech, it hits you….you are officially a professional speaker! But wait…..are you really, or are you just “a speaker?”

“What’s the difference,” you may ask.

That’s easy! A professional speaker uses a contract – always!

Now, it may seem obvious to state such a thing. But frankly, many speakers forget to include this essential communication tool in their speaker’s kit. This is particularly true for individuals who are just getting started in the business of giving public […]

2022-04-22T08:33:23-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Professional Communication, Public Speaking|Tags: delivering a speech, executive presence, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking advisors, speaking, speech, speech coaching|Comments Off

“Becoming the Best at What You Do”

award_2743486b Here at Accent On Business, we work with clients from many different professional and personal backgrounds. Whether they are doctors, salespeople, junior executives or administrators, our clients come to us with needs as diverse as they are. Some seek to improve their presentation skills, others are looking to overcome a fear of public speaking, and still others simply want to improve their overall communication skills or create a memorable “elevator speech.” In the end, however, all share a common bond – to be the best they can be at what they do. Recently, one of our regular clients did just that and he wrote us to share news of his achievement.

Tom Barrett, owner of Green Water Infrastructure and an Accent On Business client in 2009, was honored with his industry’s highest recognition. The Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association (INLA) bestowed its prestigious Award […]

2022-04-22T08:33:24-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Professional Communication|Tags: business, communication, executive presence, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking advisors, speech, talking, vocal quality|Comments Off

Six Steps to Becoming a Successful Professional Speaker

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Want more speaking gigs? There are three reasons for not getting enough offers:

No one knows you’re out there.
Your topics or services are not needed.
Buyers don’t believe you’re good enough.

Here’s a great Six Step Strategy for increasing your opportunities to speak:

Tell everyone you meet and every person you know that you are a highly and continuously trained speaker on the subject(s) of “x”, and that you are seeking opportunities to speak.
Seek out and meet event and meeting planners, large company VPs of HR and Sales, and non-profit organization directors.
Speak for free anywhere locally, especially to churches, networking organizations, Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, and other associations. Use this as time to hone your message and your delivery skills.
Share your information in articles and blogs on your own website and on the sites of others as a guest writer.

[…]

2022-04-22T08:33:24-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, how to book more speaking engagements, how to get more speaking engagements, how to get more speaking gigs, professional communications, Public Speaking, speaker services, speaking coach, speaking gigs|Comments Off

Tips to prepare yourself for selling by phone

smartphone-431230_1280 Prepare for your call by making sure your style of communication (the HOW) matches your message. To start off with a warm, friendly message:

Think of a key word which represents the tone of voice you wish to create (warm, friendly), such as “tender”, “calm”, “sunshine”, “cozy”. Repeat that one key word to yourself several times with emphasis until you feel it.
Picture the mental image. Visualize hugging a child or your spouse, wrapping up in a blanket by the fireplace, walking along the beach in the bright sun. Make the picture clear and vivid.
Change the sound of your voice by changing your body tone and placement.

For a warm, friendly voice you must first relax. Inhale, then exhale slowly.
Look into the mirror and smile.
Talk expressively with energy.
Move. Make your movements BIG and FLUID.

2022-04-22T08:33:40-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Professional Communication|Tags: articulate clearly, business, communication, executive presence, how to sell over the phone, interview, interviews, messages, phone sales, Professional Communication, Public Speaking, speech, talking, technique|Comments Off

Good Business Cent$

TOP 10 BENEFITS TO A COMPANY ENSURING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION:

10. Attracting and hiring qualified and desirable employees.
9. Employees are managed effectively and motivated which increases productivity.
8. Job tasks are readily understood and properly executed reducing the margin of error.
7. Information is well organized and disseminated correctly, facilitating meeting deadlines.
6. Interactions with vendors are consistent, which enhances purchasing power.
5. Staff longevity is increased due to greater loyalty to the employer.
4. Perception of the company is strengthened which helps to promote future growth and development, leading to increased revenue.
3. Internal customer satisfaction is enhanced which increases quality assurance.
2. External customer satisfaction is increased helping to retain existing customer base.
1. Satisfied external customers readily support your company which encourages new customers and leads to increased […]

2022-04-22T08:33:40-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Professional Communication|Tags: business, communication, executive presence, habit, image, interviews, Make Over Your Voice, messages, Professional Communication, professional communication advisory firm, Public Speaking, public speaking firm, technique|Comments Off

How Much Do Poor Communication Skills Really Cost?

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TOP TEN RISKS TO A COMPANY WITH INEFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION:

Inability to attract qualified job applicants.
Poor hiring decisions.
Miscommunication of key information resulting in either rework or errors.
Staff burnout due to low morale and lack of motivation.
Reduced staff retention and subsequent increased staff turnover.
Inability to meet critical deadlines.
Costly purchasing errors with vendors.
Damage to company image and loss of revenue.
Frustration among internal customers which leads to downtime.
Misperceptions and frustrations among external customers which equates to dissatisfied customers.

As you can deduce from the preceding top ten risks, ineffective communication is generally not limited to one or two situations or a few employees. Rather it can start out on a small scale and if left unattended, can have a spiraling effect across departments. This can manifest itself in a pervasive company problem, which often leads to finger pointing […]

2022-04-22T08:33:40-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Professional Communication|Tags: business, communication, communication skills, executive presence, image, interviews, maximizing potential, quality, technique, why you need communication skills|Comments Off

Capitalize on Social Opportunities

In a crowded room you should see a bubble over each person’s head that reads “OPPORTUNITY!” in big bold letters.

2022-04-22T08:33:41-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Professional Communication|Tags: business, communication, conversation, executive presence, exercise, habit, how to be a better networker, how to be memorable, how to meet more people at social events, how to network, how to network better, Public Speaking, social events, talking, technique|Comments Off

Say It Like You Mean It – And Be Remembered!

How is your 60 second introduction? Are you using words and phrases that will connect you with the people you are meeting with everyday?

For example if you are an IT professional, what are you saying that will help the people you are networking with and meeting with understand exactly who you are and what you do?

Does your introduction sound like this?
“Hello, my name is David, and I work for XYZ IT Solutions, and I am a developer.”

That introduction is not very memorable, is it? Why don’t you try something like this:
“Hello my name is David, and I take the headache out of managing companies websites, so they can focus what they do best!”

Or what if you are a financial planner? What is it that you say that will help the people you are meeting understand your business? How about:
“Hello, I am work with […]

2022-04-22T08:33:42-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Public Speaking|Tags: 60 Second Introduction, body language, communication, elevator pitch, elicit emotion, executive presence, how to be memorable, influence, Make Your Mark, Professional Communication, Public Speaking|Comments Off

Sharpen Your Skills Before Your Next Interview!

If you’ve been considering a career change, or know someone interviewing, take time to consider a few additional items critical to the success of your interview, namely your style of presentation and your communication skills. Being mentally prepared for the interview is very important. Presenting yourself as an effective communicator qualification in great demand by employers.

Here are a few tips for before and during the interview process:

Exercise. A short workout the morning of your interview will get your blood and breathing going and will help you present yourself with energy and vitality.
Breathe. Take slow, deep diaphramatic breaths before the interview. This will help you center yourself, reduce stress, and keep your voice steady and confident. Your abdomen should extend outward upon inhalation and deflate upon exhalation. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Be positive and enthusiastic. Speak with a positive […]

2022-04-22T08:33:42-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Public Speaking|Tags: articulate clearly, breathe, communication, conversation, executive presence, exercise, how to interview well, interview, interview tips, interviews, professional communications, Public Speaking, qualifications, speaking, speech, talking, tips for interviewing, video, voice problem|1 Comment