Bits & Pieces

Whatever your profession, you also need to be a professional communicator. ETC is pleased to share these essential Bits & Pieces to help you polish those skills.

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

A Great Read

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A really great read … actually a great listen, as I played the audio book in the car … by the author of the bestselling ‘A Whole New Mind’.  I recommend it highly! ‘Drive – the Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us’,  by Daniel H. Pink, Penguin Group, New York, 2009

Even More Phil’s Faves

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In my workplace writing workshops, I don’t ask people to change any of their word use or writing style habits. I do ask them to challenge their habits in light of the contemporary Best Practices we discuss in class. If they decide to change any of those old habits, that’s fine. If not, that’s fine, … Read more

A Great Read

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One of the best current business books I’ve encountered, by the author of ‘Good to Great’ & ‘Built to Last’ … ‘Great By Choice’, Jim Collins & Morten T. Hansen, HarperCollins, NY, 2011.

Listen Up

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*  No man every listened himself out of a job. Calvin Coolidge  (1872 – 1933), US President *  Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening. Dorothy Sarnoff  (1914 – 2008),  American operatic soprano, actress and self-help guru *  When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen. Ernest Hemingway  (1899 … Read more

Even More Quote-ables

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Two more gems to impress your readers or listeners with how well read you are: ‘Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood.’ – Leo Rosten (1908 – 1997), Polish-born American author and social scientist. ‘The most important thing in communication is … Read more

Phil’s Faves for April

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I appreciate the positive feedback from readers indicating this list of key concepts from my training and coaching engagements is both useful and interesting. So, add these two new ones to your ‘Best of Phil’ list. 1. Avoid vague words or references. Otherwise, you leave it up to your readers to define what you mean. … Read more