Marketing and selling are on the same continuum. Marketing leads to selling which leads to the sale. And no business survives without the sale.
How to Build Rapport and Connect with Your Audience
Do you want your message to resonate with your audience? The message is more likely to land well, be received and trusted if you have connected with your audience. They must know, like and trust you. How can you accomplish that? By building rapport rapidly near the beginning of your presentation.
Tell Me About Yourself
This was a question that was often asked in job interviews. I used to think that it was a lazy question from the interviewer. No imagination in posing that question. It was non- specific and vague. Then I realized that it might be a brilliant question because of the vagueness. The vagueness of the question would probably disrupt the comfort of the candidate. Let’s see how they handle this challenge.
What are the Three Communication Channels you Must Use?
The three main communication channels are processed by distinct areas within the brain. By using these channels correctly you leverage the different strengths of each channel. These channels are: Words, Voice and Visual.
How to Introduce your Guest Speaker – live or virtual
Introduce Your Guest Speaker with Bravado
When you are asked to introduce a guest speaker, grab the opportunity because it’s a chance to practice your speaking skills and connect with the speaker.
An introduction is a mini speech. Remember you are not the star so don’t try to steal the stage from the guest speaker. The audience didn’t show up to listen to your introduction so don’t try to be the entertainment. The speaker will appreciate a warm and inviting introduction.
If you want to be a guest on a podcast…
If you want to be a guest on my podcast the most important question you need to answer is, “What will you do for me?” It’s not about you. When I receive a pitch in which every sentence starts with “I, me or my” you’re not talking about me and my interests. You didn’t grab my attention. What would grab my attention?
A Successful Presentation Starts and Succeeds with a Clear Purpose
I asked him to clarify the purpose of this presentation. That’s the first place for you to start when designing, reviewing and adapting your presentation. That’s also how you should measure the success of your presentation. He paused briefly to think about that, then started to ramble. I smiled and cut him off. “What do you want people to think, feel or do after your presentation?” I could see the light bulb go on in his mind.
Think, feel or do?
Do Not Sabotage Your Message with Filler Words
Reread that and see if you can pick out the filler words that steal energy from this speech. Imagine if you used these words in your presentation. What might that do to poison your intended message? Picking out the filler words is the first step to eliminate them. It starts with you becoming aware. Start listening to what you say when you speak…. ah, umm, like so, okay, right, you know…
Grab Attention when You Open Your Presentation with Contrast
Open Your Presentation with Contrast to grab Attention. Why open you presentation with contrast? To grab attention, to engage, to trigger thinking. To highlight the difference between two opposite choices and the resulting outcomes. To create curiosity, stimulate interest and insight intrigue.
CEO Speaks Nonsense? What did she really mean?
What happens when your words sabotage your message instead of conveying it? As CEO of your company your words are important. The messages that you deliver in public are evaluated by your investors, staff, suppliers, customers, competitors, marketplace and media. People will judge you and your company by your words. They might misjudge your message. That’s why it’s important to thoughtfully choose your words to convey your intended message.