professional communications Archives | Page 4 of 7

Toasts To Remember

Wedding season is upon us. The summer air is perfect for weddings and that means toasts to the happy couple! Are you a best man, maid of honor, or a parent that raised the bride or groom? Then get ready to brush up on your public speaking skills because you will be writing your toast before you know it! Speaking in front of a whole banquet hall full of people may seem overwhelming, but a few helpful tips might go a long way:

Start with a story – something you remember and would be fun for all guests to hear.
- Keep the story short – no more than 1 minute (about 225 words)
- Try humor if you are funny. If you’re not, don’t try to be (it usually doesn’t work well). If you do use humor, keep it clean!

2022-04-22T08:32:58-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, how to give a great toasts, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm, tips for giving great toasts, toasts to remember|Comments Off

The Power of One Great Question

One great question can elicit useful answers, move a relationship to a higher plane, or propel a business solution. The following tips can make you a more strategic communicator and get you noticed for your thought leadership.

Ask open-ended questions that stimulate thinking. Typically, these types of questions begin with “How” or “What do you think about…” Note: too many “why” questions can make one sound confrontational.
Ask for the individual’s own ideas. This empowers the person and makes him/her feel valued
Ask Interpretive Questions; “ what do you think about…?”
Dig Deeper. Instead of asking a leading question (“You think that was the best decision, don’t you?”), ask a deeper question, “Why do you think that?”
Start with what you understand, followed by what remains unclear. “I understand that we’re in a risky economy, but I think I […]

2022-04-22T08:32:58-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Professional Communication|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off

Power Pose

Body language affects how others see us, and it may also affect how we see ourselves. Social psyhcologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power pose” — standing in a posture of confidence for 2 minutes — can raise testosterone levels (your hormone that generates confidence), and lower cortisol levels (your stress hormone), and positively impact our performance and success.

2022-04-22T08:32:58-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Professional Communication, Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off

What is Accent Reduction?

Accent reduction, or accent modification, is the systematic approach for neutralizing a foreign accent to adapt to the majority accent. The process includes identifying the variations in the individual’s current speech, and comparing them to the constants in the target dialect. These variations include not only sound distinctions, but also the differences in grammar styles, idioms, stress patterns, and rhythm of the new language.

A foreign accent is an important personal characteristic to one’s identity. Accents make individuals unique, and they are often viewed as attractive for this reason. Heavy accents can impede communication in the workplace. Accent reduction, not elimination, might be a valuable communication and professional development endeavor. Accent modification aids in better understanding in the workplace and social settings.

2022-04-22T08:32:58-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Accent Modification|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off

The 7 Elements of Quality Content

When it comes to presentations, content is king. If you don’t have meaningful, interesting content, you might as well shut off your PowerPoint and read directly from historiography textbook. When developing and creating your content, there are 7 key features should guide your language and information.

2022-04-22T08:32:59-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off

Voice Conservation – Fighting the Winter Chill

Coughing from a cold can be very harmful to the voice. A "silent cough" technique can be easily taught to prevent the trauma from coughing.

2022-04-22T08:32:59-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Professional Communication, Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|1 Comment

Memorable or Forgettable: Which will you be?

What We Forget: Personal names, business names, job titles, job descriptions

What We Remember: Pain! Vivid images of pain! Feelings of discomfort!

So if you want your self-introduction to be memorable to get a qualified lead, you need to show people in 60 seconds or less what sort of pain your typical clients experience and how your business offerings ease that pain.

Give people names, titles, markets and job descriptions and they’ll forget you. But paint a picture of how you alleviate your clients discomfort and they’ll remember you!

2022-04-22T08:32:59-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off

Lizards Can’t Be Leaders

Have you noticed that lizards are never leaders? Other reptiles or animals do not follow the lizard. Lizards don’t even follow other lizards. Instead, lizards seem to dart around following only their own genetic instincts for survival. It’s impossible to be a lizard and a leader at the same time.

Each of us has a lizard brain. A fight-or-flight, instinctual part of our brain called the amygdala. It is part of the limbic system, a system known for being all about emotion, instinct, and decision-making, based on our feelings. The amygdala portion of our limbic system kicks into high gear when we are stressed, overloaded, angry, and fearful. An activated amygdala shuts down our brain’s center for higher thinking, the neocortex. The amygdala hijacks our abilities to be rational, to think strategically, to see and hear all arguments about […]

2022-04-22T08:32:59-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Professional Communication|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off

Confidence: “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect”

Imagine yourself standing in front of a room full of people. You’ve been asked to speak on something you know very well. You’ve got this…but maybe you are little nervous. Here are some ways to turn those nerves into confidence as you prepare for this moment.

1. Know the Room

In preparing for your presentation, if you aren’t bringing your own audio visual equipment, be sure to confirm and reconfirm that you will have everything you need. Access to the internet? Sound? A hand held clicker? Arrive early to confirm you have everything you need and that everything works. What is your backup plan if for some reason you do not have everything you need? Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the room. Where will the audience be seated? Find the best lighting when looking up at the stage […]

2022-04-22T08:32:59-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Leadership Presence, Public Speaking|Tags: audience preparation, confidence, executive presence, executive presence advisors, Nerves, Practice, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm, Public Speaking Preparation, speech preparation|1 Comment

What our clients are saying about us

Occasionally, I have a client ask for the chance to write about how we’ve helped him or her with their business communication skills. This week, Curt Gosman from Now Courier shares his thoughts…

“I had been working with a client for about a month, providing nearly daily cost analysis of their in-house delivery vs contracting with us, when suddenly communication from them stopped and I became concerned. After a couple of long weeks, I inquired and found there had been a personnel change, which of course would mean starting over from scratch. Not sure what to do, I consulted with Ellen Dunnigan, my business communication advisor, who gave me the confidence and advice to contact the CFO. Reluctantly, I called and was directed to a decision maker who was only slightly aware of their total company logistics need — yet at that very moment, was having a specific and pressing need […]

2022-04-22T08:32:59-04:00By Ellen Dunnigan|Categories: Accent Modification, Leadership Presence, Professional Communication, Public Speaking|Tags: executive presence, executive presence advisors, Professional Communication, professional communication advisors, professional communication advisory firm, professional communications, Public Speaking, public speaking firm|Comments Off