2008 by admin.

Just how well are you communicating with your employees and customers? Not as clearly as you should, if you have no agreement on message.

Here’s a test: look at the communications coming out of the different departments in your company. Really look at the materials and read the message. Look at e-mail signatures, department intranet landing pages, the corporate website home page, the newsletter, your print ads, your sales kits? If the sales department communicates about value-added service, HR communicates about a caring environment, and marketing communicates about pricing, you have multiple messages and little clarity.

Pick a message, any message. Agree on it. Use that message in all your communications. You’ll achieve clarity, and a solid brand standard.

Posted in Customer Communications, LightStream Group | No Comments »

2008 by admin.

Professional speakers know the one trick to getting an audience to be receptive to their message: have a practiced, interesting opening. The practicing part is your own responsibility, and you are sure to understand the value of preparation. But how do you come up with an interesting opening?

Next time you need to address a group, choose one of these six sure-to-draw-attention openers:

1. Present a fact

2. Ask a question

3. Open with a challenge

4. Recite a quote

5. Tell a story

6. Introduce a displayed object

 –Amy Biemiller

Posted in Public speaking | No Comments »

2008 by admin.

Research shows a listener will decide how or if they will respond to voicemail within 10 seconds of hearing the message. Rushing through those 10 seconds does not serve you well. If voicemail had a warning label, it would read: “For best results, speak your name and return phone number slowly and clearly.”

Take the time to practice your voicemail message. Learn how to slowly say your name (especially if the message recipient has not met you before), by pausing between your first and last name. Provide your phone number with care, enunciating each number, not spewing all 10 digits in one syllable. And for best results, repeat it at the end of your message.

–Amy Biemiller

Posted in Customer Communications, Employee Communications | No Comments »