Posted: September 1, 2017 | Categories: Presentation skills, Sales, Self-Improvement

How long do first impressions last? I get a variety of answers when I ask that question. I have heard some say that first impressions last forever. Let’s see if we can improve on that:

Experts tell us that when we meet someone for the first time, we form a first impression in 4 seconds. The good news is that this first impression, like quick-drying cement, is not solidified until 30 seconds have passed. That means we have 26 seconds to recover. Once that 30 seconds is up, the impression is locked in, and we now look for things to validate the impression.Read More…

Posted: July 17, 2017 | Categories: Leadership, Presentation skills, Time management

“You’ve got to ride the horse in the direction it is going” -Old Texas saying

One of my clients is in a key position with a start-up company.  He is an exceptional leader with boundless energy and focus.  As you can imagine, it is important for Ray to continuously sell ideas to his very busy boss.

At first it was frustrating trying to corner his boss for a quality conversation.  It seemed like the boss was always distracted.  Then Ray got wise: Read More…

Posted: May 23, 2016 | Categories: Leadership, Presentation skills

When we ask a question, we are in control.  Have you ever been in a conversation where you sensed the other person was distracted, not listening, or only thinking of how they were going to respond?  Would you like to know a sure way to re-engage people when you have lost their attention?  Here it is: Read More…

Posted: November 27, 2015 | Categories: Presentation skills, Self-Improvement

Now that we are approaching the end of the year, you are probably looking ahead to your professional development plans for 2016.  As you work on your plan, you note that it includes attending a seminar or training program to sharpen your skill or knowledge in a particular area.  Let’s say this program costs $650 to register and you would like your company to sponsor you.  How would you approach your boss?  Here’s one way:

“Mrs. Stanton, I need you to write a check for $650.   Why?  Because I need to attend a class”

I would not recommend this approach.  I have found it has a low batting average.  Let’s try another one:Read More…

Posted: February 26, 2015 | Categories: Presentation skills

Last week I received a call from a client who does many presentations.  His question was, “What do you do when you have someone in the group who is disruptive and keeps throwing you off track?”  If any of you have ever experienced this, you know how frustrating this can be.Read More…