Best Practices Tips

 

The Credibility Factor

Credibility. Our clients want it, and all successful individuals and businesses have it. If you want to capture the attention and respect of your clients and colleagues, you need to earn their trust.

How can credibility be achieved? To be credible is to consistently live up to promises and expectations:

• Follow through on commitments.
  
  
• Say what you mean, and mean what you say.
  
  
• Keep confidences.
  
  
• Be accountable for your actions.
  
  
• Exemplify professional ethics.

» View all tips in Communication       

Practice self-directed professional development.

Leadership does not always have to come from the top. Take responsibility for your own value, growth, and goals.

• Build your personal brand within your profession and company, demonstrate your commitment to excellence.
  
  
• Trust your ability to make decisions on your own, not every action requires higher level endorsement.
  
  
• Serve your clients with urgency and focus, make your communications memorable and valuable.
  
  
• Proactively share knowledge, be the innovator of new ideas.
  
  
• Listen to the needs and challenges of clients and colleagues, offer solutions.
  
  
• Keep up with current issues and events through research, reading, and listening.
  

» View all tips in Leadership       

Is your voice music to the listener's ears?

One of the most effective ways to engage your audience is through your voice. Given the amount of telephone communication in today's fast-forward world, possessing strong vocal expression is a great asset. The T.A.P.P. Factor is a simple process to remember and implement.

Tone - establishes a specific mood and intent.

Articulation - provides the clarity of speech.

Pace - allows for a better understanding.

Pitch - offers variety of sound and frames key words.

» View all tips in Communication       

How do you begin to prepare for a presentation?

The answer is, start with the 'WHO', and the 'WHAT' will follow. If you do not know and understand your audience, you risk the ability to fully engage them. Presenting is not about delivering content, but ensuring that the content is connecting. Arrange to meet, call, or e-mail a cross-section of the group.

• Investigate your audience profile: status, gender, age, values, personality types.
  
  
• Determine their expectations re: content, speaker style, and level of participation.
  
  
• Research their challenges, goals, and achievement.
  
  
• Ask for any relevant resource material, visit their website.
  
  
• Submit an outline for their review.
  

» View all tips in Presentations