It’s amazing to have a great idea and to see a demonstrable market need for it. It’s even more amazing when you see that your idea is unique and well-timed. Even if you are fearless, inspired and energetic in pursuing your brilliant idea, you will … [Read more...] about Insurmountable Opportunity
Two and a half hours for a two sentence e-mail
Last week one of my clients asked for help on a thorny problem that had escalated from annoying to serious since we’d last met. The inciting incident was an e-mail - the latest salvo in a long and unpleasant thread. We needed to respond. We spent … [Read more...] about Two and a half hours for a two sentence e-mail
Powerful communication propels your innovation
If you’re pursuing fundamental innovation you simply can’t do it alone. You need to enlist a team, find allies, win customers, get funding. You must capture the power of communicating well to propel your innovation to the place it deserves. If … [Read more...] about Powerful communication propels your innovation
It’s not possible to be too prepared
There are six things every great communicator does – and this last one, the sixth, may seem prosaic, but you ignore it at your peril! All of your great work comes to naught if you don’t invest seriously in preparation. So many people … [Read more...] about It’s not possible to be too prepared
Deploy your body to teach your mind!
There’s so much to say about the fifth of the six things every great communicator does: remembering to work with and be centered in your body. Speaking can be incredibly scary. You must honor your body’s fear and proactively deal with it. Wendy … [Read more...] about Deploy your body to teach your mind!
Your body is giving the presentation, not your brain!
Now you’re two-thirds of the way to being a great communicator! This next part is where it gets really mind-blowing. The fifth of the six things every great communicator does: You remember that you are in a body – your body. Your body is what’s … [Read more...] about Your body is giving the presentation, not your brain!
School yourself with the ‘who what what’ table!
Hello budding brilliant communicators! So, assuming last week’s post convinced you that you really need to understand your audiences to be a great communicator, you may be wondering ‘Now what? How do I get into my audience’s heads? How do I give them … [Read more...] about School yourself with the ‘who what what’ table!
What do people want?
What people want matters. Understanding who you’re talking to and what they care about is the fourth thing every great communicator does: A great communicator steeps herself in context when she speaks. For example, the three minute presentation … [Read more...] about What do people want?
A speech is a gift, not a performance!
So far we know that great communicators have a provocative and useful idea and tell great stories. The third of the six things every great communicator does is develop an audience mindset: it’s not about you, it’s about them! "A speech is a gift, … [Read more...] about A speech is a gift, not a performance!
Three great story formulas
Last week I told you that great communicators tell stories. How, you may ask, does one create a great story?? Thank heavens for the Internets! When I’m helping clients develop stories, we look at these three well known models. First – the classic … [Read more...] about Three great story formulas
