Phil Stella

Take a ‘Plus/Delta’ Approach to Feedback

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In another LinkedIn discussion group, I responded to a question regarding effective feedback. Here’s a summary of my post for your reading pleasure: Effective feedback should never hurt anyone’s feelings. Feedback is all about helping people get better at what they’re doing. Effective feedback is neither positive or negative – it’s just information. Information that … Read more

July Faves

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Looks like site visitors enjoy this ongoing list of simple main concepts they might hear often in one of my training or coaching engagements. So, here are three more you can add to your growing ‘Best of Phil’ list: 1. The only thing worse than a bad workplace meeting is a great meeting that didn’t … Read more

Challenge Your Networking Habits

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Many readers recognize the power of effective networking as a key business strategy, especially those directly involved in growing the business. But, if you fall into the trap of networking out of habit, driven by some outdated mindsets, you might be networking like an ineffective amateur. And, ‘if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got’.

Here are some simple reminders to help you challenge your networking habits … and consider changing some of them that may not work any more.

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Become a ‘Platinum Rule’ Workplace Communicator

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Many business professionals diligently attempt to practice at work the ‘Golden Rule’ we all learned as youngsters. A workplace communication version of that philosophy would be  ‘Communicate with other people the way you want them to communicate with you.’  While a nice warm and fuzzy concept, a quick reality check indicates two serious flaws in the logic: the ‘Golden Rule’ assumes everyone is alike and It also assumes everyone is just like you.

While the ‘Golden Rule’ doesn’t work at a certain level of specific application, the ‘Platinum Rule’ does. First defined by Dr. Tony Alessandra in the 90s, it is 10 times harder to do well, but 100 times better than the ‘Golden Rule’. So, you do the math and see if you find value it.

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Winning Sales Pitches

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How many of you would love to have more winning sales pitches that win more business? How many experience some pain when you pitch business face-to-face, over the phone, in writing or in presentations? Do you ever cause some pain for your prospects or customers as a result of those pitches? Looks like lots of hands going up for all three questions … great!  So, read on for 10 Best Practices for winning more business and reducing the pain you feel … and cause … when you pitch business. They’re all simple – just not easy – and they all do work.

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June Bookshelf

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Another great read/listen from one of my favorite authors and speakers … The Mackay MBA of Selling in the Real World,  Harvey Mackay, Brilliance Audio, 2011

Three mistakes speakers make

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Another Linked In discussion asked ‘what are the three biggest mistakes speakers make?’ As a veteran presentation skill consultant, trainer and coach, I see a lot of mistakes that speakers typically make. Here are three major areas: Weak Content – not delivering focused, audience-centric and results-driven messages that provide the kind of information the audience … Read more

Why are some content experts terrible speakers?

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Here’s a summary of my response to this discussion question posted in a recent Linked In group: Content experts who automatically think they’d be great presenters or trainers are like airline passengers who automatically think they’d make great pilots or gifted athletes who think they’d make great coaches. Totally different skill sets and mind sets … Read more

Painless Presentations

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Do you ever experience pain in creating and delivering important workplace presentations? Do your audiences experience pain listening to those presentations? If you answered ‘yes’, read on for a brief overview of Presentation Best Practices. They can help you present with more confidence … and less pain for you and for them.

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