Kindness and Cruelty
The picture above has been hanging on my office wall for over twenty years. Some people I have engaged with online have commented on the image and enquired about how it came to be hanging there. My father brought this print home from some school he was renovating when I was just a child. Perhaps […]
Customer Facing Employees Cost MORE
It’s a costly business to employ customer-facing personnel. (This article will improve their effectiveness) Nobody cares about what you do until you tell them why they should care and how you can benefit them. Can you do this quickly? This is what good movies and TV shows do. If the director does not engage you in […]
A Summer Holiday Story
I’m sitting in my office listening to my clock ticking, and suddenly, I am back in my Aunt Kitty and Uncle Mick’s house in Bloomfield, Red Pat’s Cross, Tomnalossett (what a lovely address), my mother’s family home, and I am filled with good memories of sunny summer days. This is where I went for my […]
Can everyone sing?
Who told Ronnie Drew, Shane McGowan, Tom Waits or Lisa O’Neill they could sing? They are not singers in the classical sense, but they can hold a tune and, more importantly, tell a story that engages an audience. Good communicators have all types of voices, accents and varying levels of education, yet you want to […]
You never know what’s around the corner!
Last week Jean and I enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Sorrento looking out over the Bay of Naples to the island of Capri. This week, we’re struggling to fight COVID-19; this is how life throws you curveballs. Last week, France was predicted to have a right-wing government. This week, they have completely changed; now, […]
Winning is Not Everything!
Recently, I was asked to help a team of students prepare a pitch important for them and their college. The college had previously entered this competition for several years but was never shortlisted to present at the final pitch competition. Initially, I helped the team and their professor prepare a video pitch to promote their […]
How do you prepare for a talk? A good start is half the battle!
It should not be the day before, and you should not be pulling out your previous slide deck, changing the title slide, or doing what you usually do, talk about your business or product. If you wish to be a memorable and successful communicator, you must continually read and listen to radio, TV and the […]
It’s Not About Your Body
Speakers and their advisors frequently put too much emphasis on body language. It’s not about your gestures, it’s what you have to say that matters. What do I do with my hands? Michael Martin, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister), and Paschal Sheehy (Journalist) were both advised by a schoolteacher or presentation coach to continually tip the […]
Stop, Stop, Stop, Selling!
Recently, I turned up to hear how a group of customer-facing “Business Development Managers” (BDM’s) told the story of their business. What happened was as I expected. They immediately launched into what they do and the product/service they provide. Why do they do this? It’s where they’re comfortable and confident as product specialists. It’s what […]
Three Steps to Increased Sales
It requires a great deal of planning, effort, and cost to finally get the opportunity to talk to a prospective customer in person or online. In recent years, there’s been a reluctance on behalf of people to meet up. Online conversations have helped facilitate such meetings, but obviously, It’s never a replacement for face-to-face engagement. […]