The Training Clipboard is the bi-monthly ezine by Morris Taylor

The language of business

In today's business environment, there are certain terms we

should understand and know how to use. Over the next several

issues of The Clipboard, I will share some of the ones I think

are not only worth mastering personally, but also worth ensuring

that they become part of your subordinates' working vocabularies.

1. Long Term Capital: Funding invested in fixed assets that

determine the future direction of the company.

2. Marketing Mix: The combination of product or service, price,

distribution, and promotion used to reach a given market segment.

3. Net Income: The difference between the inflow of revenue and

the outflow of expenses.

4. Overhead: The costs of running a business that go on

regardless of level of activity and that do not contribute

directly to productivity (e.g., rent, property taxes, insurance,

utilities, salaries of those in staff positions).

5. Product Life Cycle: The theory that all products and services

pass through four stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and

decline.

6. Pygmalion Effect: The idea that high expectations for

another's performance tend to result in high performance and

low expectations encourage low performance.

=================================================

Boot Camp, November 9-10

The details for my next public speaking workshop have been

finalized. The 2009 Public Speaking Boot Camp will be held at

the Aramark Conference Center in Downers Grove, Illinois on

November 9-10.

I know that people sometimes see the dates for events such as

this and, upon realizing that they already have plans for those

days, don't investigate any further. Before you make that

decision, take a moment to visit the Boot Camp website and

read the details about the workshop. Then you'll be able to make

an informed decision about whether you want to miss this

fantastic training opportunity.

Here are just a few of the comments taken from past course

evaluations:

"The one day Public Speaking Boot Camp was definitely time well

spent. It was a very empowering experience. I would highly

recommend it to anyone and everyone who has the slightest degree

of hesitancy to speak in front of a small group or large

audience."

- S. White-Vicks (participant in Boot Camp conducted in-house for

TTX Co.)

"At first I was nervous, because I was scared to speak in large

groups. The group was perfect in size and that made it easier

to feel more comfortable."

- E. Vasquez, Allstate Insurance

"The individual critiques were invaluable! Doing two

presentations in one day is a great opportunity to focus on

specific improvements."

- S. Kennedy, Moraine Valley Community College

"This is one of the most beneficial. classes I have ever

attended. I will use what I learned today for the next 30

years."

- B. Corcoran (participant in Boot Camp conducted in-house for

TTX Co.)

"I really enjoyed the workshop. Talking about how to be a

better speaker is one thing, but by incorporating the audience

to participate really shows an improvement in everyone."

- J. Hooper, ITW

"It's worth every penny and minute."

- S. Quadri, URS Corp

The Public Speaking Boot Camp is an extensive, hands-on

learning experience. The full workshop consists of two intense

but energizing days packed with information, interactive

activities, and skill-building exercises designed to provide

participants with everything they need to become confident and

effective speakers and presenters.

November's Boot Camp will cover critical topics such as how to

create a persuasive presentation, the effective use of visual

aids (including a new module on PowerPoint presentations), ways

to gain and maintain the attention of your audience,

how to conduct a powerful question and answer session, the

effective use of humor, and much more! As in the past,

participants in the upcoming session have the option of

enrolling for one or both days. For those who opt for both

days, the second day includes at least two video tapings

and individual critiques for every participant! Lunch is

provided on both days, and all workshop materials are included

in the registration fee.

The deadline for early registration, which entitles you to

receive a 20% discount on the enrollment fee, is Monday, October

26. Also be aware that enrollment for the Boot Camp is limited;

in fact, two of the five available slots on Day Two (the

videotaping day) are already taken! So if you're thinking about

enrolling for this fantastic workshop, do it now while you're

thinking about it and take advantage of the savings!

Want to save even more? Here's how. If you are a subscriber

to this newsletter, you're eligible for a special offer. Any

newsletter subscriber who registers for the Boot Camp and gets

three non-subscribers to also register can attend Day One of

the boot camp absolutely free! That's a great deal as you'll

see when you read the full description of the Boot Camp at the

website. Don't look for this special offer on the web page;

it isn't there because it's only for newsletter subscribers.

Of course, if you register early and later get three non-

subscriber friends or coworkers to register, day one of your

enrollment fee will be refunded.

To read a full description of the Public Speaking Boot Camp

including a detailed agenda for both days, visit

www.talismantraining.com/psbootcamp.html

I look forward to seeing many of you at this tremendous event!

========PLEASE FORWARD THIS ISSUE========

If you enjoy reading The Training Clipboard, please forward

this issue to coworkers, vendors, friends -- anyone you think

could benefit.

Better yet, tell them they can sign up for their own

subscription. Simply have them send their name and place

of employment to our email address –

theclipboard@talismantraining.com - with the word "Subscribe"

in the subject line, and they will be added to the mailing list. And

they don't have to worry. All e-mail addresses are kept strictly

confidential; they will never be given to a third party.

Thanks for sharing the news about The Training Clipboard

with others!

=================================================

About Morris Taylor

Keynote speaker and training consultant Morris Taylor has

been involved in education and training for over 25 years.

He has presented more than 1,300 lectures, seminars and

workshops in a variety of civic and corporate environments

including Fortune 100 companies, customer service centers,

amusement parks, and martial arts schools. He has lectured in

various countries in Europe, South America, Africa, the

Caribbean, and the Pacific as well as throughout the U.S. The

development of critical leadership and communication skills

is at the core of his presentations and skill building workshops

on public speaking, customer service, diversity, and time

management. In 2002, Crestcom International, Ltd., rated the

#1 management/sales training franchise by "Entrepreneur

International," "Income Opportunities," and "Success" magazines,

hired him to develop and videotape 12 train-the-trainer sessions

that are currently in use by its distributors in 49 countries

around the world. Several of his recorded lectures on the

topics of education, spirituality, and community building are

in international distribution, and he is the author of six

books, including one to help children cope with death.

Mr. Taylor is owner and President of Talisman

* * *
To schedule a keynote presentation or skill-building

workshop, call toll-free 1-888-235- 8681

or E-mail Mtaylor@talismantraining.com

To subscribe to The Training Clipboard, click here!

=================================================




			The Training Clipboard A newsletter of skill-building tools and ideas from Keynote Speaker and Training Consultant, Morris Taylor September - October 2009 In this issue: * The three most Important characteristics of great communicators * The language of business * Register now for the upcoming Public Speaking Boot Camp ================================================= Public Speaking The three most Important characteristics of great communicators What makes a good communicator "great"? Why do some speakers stand out as charismatic, charming, approachable or likeable, while others are easily overlooked or forgotten? Think about individuals that you've enjoyed as communicators or professional speakers. Talk show phenomenon Oprah Winfrey is not known as a great orator, but she is certainly a highly regarded speaker and communicator. As a communicator, Oprah shares three specific characteristics with a number of other well-known personalities such as motivational speakers Tony Robbins and Zig Ziglar, and American politicians Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama: As popular speakers and communicators, they are all perceived as sincere, knowledgeable, and humorous. An examination of these three characteristics not only reveals why they are so important when attempting to reach a wide and diverse audience, but also shows how anyone can practice and acquire these important traits. Sincerity The first and foremost item on the list is sincerity. People want and appreciate a speaker they feel is authentic. Nothing turns people off more quickly than someone pretending to be someone they aren't. There are at least four elements that contribute to what we perceive as sincerity. First, people who are perceived as sincere speak in a conversational tone. This means you must speak in a tone of voice that people will feel is how you normally talk in your everyday life, such as when you're with friends in your living room or gathered around the kitchen table. In such informal situations you share your ideas naturally and without pretense. This may be one of the reasons why Oprah is so successful; when you listen to her, you get the feeling she is really the person you hear and see on TV. Roger Ailes, who served as a speech coach for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, said: "The best communicators I've ever known never changed their style of delivery from one situation to another." Ailes said these individuals are the same whether they are "delivering a speech, having an intimate conversation, or being interviewed on a TV talk show." This quality of consistency in communication style contributes to the perception of authenticity. In fact, it's even been said that honest arrogance is preferred over false humility. Why? Because we all want to know people are showing their true selves and that what we see is what we get. This quality of consistency significantly contributes to the characteristic of sincerity. Second, to be perceived as sincere, speak only about things you truly believe in and feel passionate about. An audience can sense when a speaker is truly passionate about his or her message. That passion makes others want to listen more closely. The truth is that most audiences are eager to find something they can get excited about and they are happy to follow you if you inspire them with your own enthusiasm. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins is a textbook example of this. Third, to be sincere in your presentation you need a high degree of comfort and interest in your material. Whatever your topic, you need to personally be an enthusiastic student. Finally, let people know something about how you are as a person. This is where you let your humanity come through. Let them know some of your "personal secrets" that are relevant to the topic. For example, let them know where you've made mistakes along the way before learning a valuable lesson that can also help them. If you explain how you fell and skinned your knee before getting up and achieving your eventual victory, they will want to know how you did it and how they can do the same. Sharing your human side makes you more approachable and easier for an audience to relate to. Knowledgeable To be perceived as knowledgeable, it's important to deliver solid content. Even a speaker who lacks charisma and polish will always find an eager audience if he or she becomes known for delivering information that people find valuable to their lives. This is most readily accomplished by: - Delivering information that is practical and easily applied. - Laying out the steps to follow to implement your practical advice. - Hanging each of your major points on a "hook" that will enable listeners to recall them quickly. Stories and examples are the best and most memorable hooks. - As a teacher or trainer, using a variety of teaching methods so your content will have retention value. To connect with those who are visual learners, use a prop or visual aid. For those who are more auditory, use stories or specific examples. For those who learn best by experiencing concepts firsthand, create an exercise where they have to do something. To reach the widest possible audience, mix all of these techniques in your skill-building presentations. Humorous The ability to laugh or find humor in a situation is one of the characteristics that distinguish human beings from animals. Humor, well done, opens hearts and makes audiences receptive. The best and safest humor is always self-deprecating; when we are not afraid to laugh at ourselves, we are perceived as mature, emotionally well-balanced, and trustworthy. If you want to be funny, tell stories, not jokes. Why? Because jokes can backfire. For example, if you tell a joke and no one else thinks it's funny, the audience is left thinking, "She thought that was funny but it's not. I wonder if I can trust her judgment on other issues…" On the other hand, if you tell a story with a relevant point that you happen to think is funny but no one laughs, everyone will just think it was a story. Because a story lacks the joke set-up, there's no built-in expectation that it's supposed to be funny. If it is funny, people will laugh. If it isn't, it will just seem like another story and there's no harm done to your credibility. And remember, when it comes to humor it's only funny if they laugh. Choose your stories carefully and make note of which ones are effective laugh getters and which ones aren't. After a while you'll develop a kind of sixth sense about what works for you and what doesn't. ================================================= Quotes of the month "You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile." - Brian Tracy "If you want the things most people don't have, you have to do the things most people won't do." - Unknown ================================================= The language of business In today's business environment, there are certain terms we should understand and know how to use. Over the next several issues of The Clipboard, I will share some of the ones I think are not only worth mastering personally, but also worth ensuring that they become part of your subordinates' working vocabularies. 1. Long Term Capital: Funding invested in fixed assets that determine the future direction of the company. 2. Marketing Mix: The combination of product or service, price, distribution, and promotion used to reach a given market segment. 3. Net Income: The difference between the inflow of revenue and the outflow of expenses. 4. Overhead: The costs of running a business that go on regardless of level of activity and that do not contribute directly to productivity (e.g., rent, property taxes, insurance, utilities, salaries of those in staff positions). 5. Product Life Cycle: The theory that all products and services pass through four stages: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. 6. Pygmalion Effect: The idea that high expectations for another's performance tend to result in high performance and low expectations encourage low performance. ================================================= Register now for the upcoming Public Speaking Boot Camp, November 9-10 The details for my next public speaking workshop have been finalized. The 2009 Public Speaking Boot Camp will be held at the Aramark Conference Center in Downers Grove, Illinois on November 9-10. I know that people sometimes see the dates for events such as this and, upon realizing that they already have plans for those days, don't investigate any further. Before you make that decision, take a moment to visit the Boot Camp website and read the details about the workshop. Then you'll be able to make an informed decision about whether you want to miss this fantastic training opportunity. Here are just a few of the comments taken from past course evaluations: "The one day Public Speaking Boot Camp was definitely time well spent. It was a very empowering experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who has the slightest degree of hesitancy to speak in front of a small group or large audience." - S. White-Vicks (participant in Boot Camp conducted in-house for TTX Co.) "At first I was nervous, because I was scared to speak in large groups. The group was perfect in size and that made it easier to feel more comfortable." - E. Vasquez, Allstate Insurance "The individual critiques were invaluable! Doing two presentations in one day is a great opportunity to focus on specific improvements." - S. Kennedy, Moraine Valley Community College "This is one of the most beneficial. classes I have ever attended. I will use what I learned today for the next 30 years." - B. Corcoran (participant in Boot Camp conducted in-house for TTX Co.) "I really enjoyed the workshop. Talking about how to be a better speaker is one thing, but by incorporating the audience to participate really shows an improvement in everyone." - J. Hooper, ITW "It's worth every penny and minute." - S. Quadri, URS Corp The Public Speaking Boot Camp is an extensive, hands-on learning experience. The full workshop consists of two intense but energizing days packed with information, interactive activities, and skill-building exercises designed to provide participants with everything they need to become confident and effective speakers and presenters. November's Boot Camp will cover critical topics such as how to create a persuasive presentation, the effective use of visual aids (including a new module on PowerPoint presentations), ways to gain and maintain the attention of your audience, how to conduct a powerful question and answer session, the effective use of humor, and much more! As in the past, participants in the upcoming session have the option of enrolling for one or both days. For those who opt for both days, the second day includes at least two video tapings and individual critiques for every participant! Lunch is provided on both days, and all workshop materials are included in the registration fee. The deadline for early registration, which entitles you to receive a 20% discount on the enrollment fee, is Monday, October 26. Also be aware that enrollment for the Boot Camp is limited; in fact, two of the five available slots on Day Two (the videotaping day) are already taken! So if you're thinking about enrolling for this fantastic workshop, do it now while you're thinking about it and take advantage of the savings! Want to save even more? Here's how. If you are a subscriber to this newsletter, you're eligible for a special offer. Any newsletter subscriber who registers for the Boot Camp and gets three non-subscribers to also register can attend Day One of the boot camp absolutely free! That's a great deal as you'll see when you read the full description of the Boot Camp at the website. Don't look for this special offer on the web page; it isn't there because it's only for newsletter subscribers. Of course, if you register early and later get three non- subscriber friends or coworkers to register, day one of your enrollment fee will be refunded. To read a full description of the Public Speaking Boot Camp including a detailed agenda for both days, visit www.talismantraining.com/psbootcamp.html I look forward to seeing many of you at this tremendous event! ========PLEASE FORWARD THIS ISSUE======== If you enjoy reading The Training Clipboard, please forward this issue to coworkers, vendors, friends -- anyone you think could benefit. Better yet, tell them they can sign up for their own subscription. Simply have them send their name and place of employment to our email address – theclipboard@talismantraining.com - with the word "Subscribe" in the subject line, and they will be added to the mailing list. And they don't have to worry. All e-mail addresses are kept strictly confidential; they will never be given to a third party. Thanks for sharing the news about The Training Clipboard with others! ================================================= About Morris Taylor Keynote speaker and training consultant Morris Taylor has been involved in education and training for over 25 years. He has presented more than 1,300 lectures, seminars and workshops in a variety of civic and corporate environments including Fortune 100 companies, customer service centers, amusement parks, and martial arts schools. He has lectured in various countries in Europe, South America, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific as well as throughout the U.S. The development of critical leadership and communication skills is at the core of his presentations and skill building workshops on public speaking, customer service, diversity, and time management. In 2002, Crestcom International, Ltd., rated the #1 management/sales training franchise by "Entrepreneur International," "Income Opportunities," and "Success" magazines, hired him to develop and videotape 12 train-the-trainer sessions that are currently in use by its distributors in 49 countries around the world. Several of his recorded lectures on the topics of education, spirituality, and community building are in international distribution, and he is the author of six books, including one to help children cope with death. Mr. Taylor is owner and President of Talisman * * * To schedule a keynote presentation or skill-building workshop, call toll-free 1-888-235- 8681 or E-mail Mtaylor@talismantraining.com To subscribe to The Training Clipboard, click here! ================================================= Reprint permission is granted when the following credit appears: © 2009 Morris Taylor. Reprinted with permission from Morris Taylor’s bimonthly Internet newsletter, “The Training Clipboard.” For your own personal subscription, click here www.talismantraining.com/subscribe3 , or cut and paste this address into your web browser. * * * Home \| Workshops \| Keynotes \| Self-Study Tools \| About Morris Taylor Client Comments \| Newsletter \| College Success Strategies & Techniques Related Links \| Site Map \| Contact Us \| Submit Your Site