Your Job as a Communicator is Changing
Posted On January 18, 2017 BY Dean Brenner
Years ago, before the age of the internet, when you got sick, you went to the doctor, she told you what was wrong, and what to do about it. The doctor had all (or most of) the information, so her job was to distribute that information to you so you could decide how to proceed. […]
The Global Need for Respect
Posted On December 19, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
During the past year of client work, we’ve spent time with professionals from over 25 different countries… busy, ambitious, successful, intelligent professionals. They worked in finance, engineering, marketing, communications, procurement, and all sorts of leadership and management positions. Our client base is certainly a diverse group! And any time we have an intense period of […]
Mapping Your Communication Progress
Posted On December 12, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
Our work at The Latimer Group is all about helping our clients build strong and powerful communication skills. And to do that effectively, we have to be able to help them assess two things: current strengths and weaknesses, AND a path towards improvement. One without the other just isn’t that helpful. Skill development, in any […]
The Sad Truth of “Post-Truth”
Posted On November 21, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
Last week I had a conversation with a long-time friend and business partner, Mary Ann. And she shared with me that the Oxford Dictionaries has selected “post-truth” as 2016’s international word of the year, after the contentious Brexit referendum and an equally divisive US presidential election caused usage of the adjective to skyrocket, according to […]
The 4 C’s of Leadership Communication
Posted On October 24, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
It’s an increasingly complicated world in which to live and do business. We have more access to information, and more access to each other than ever before. As we process that information, distractions and “white noise” come at each of us every day, at an alarming rate, from seemingly every direction, which makes our jobs […]
Think of Your Message Like a Meal
Posted On October 17, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
A good meal should be enjoyed, one bite at a time. Take a bite, chew it, swallow it, enjoy it. If you eat it too quickly, it will be over and you will not have had a chance to think about it and appreciate the experience. Slow down! Don’t eat so quickly! And a good chef […]
Is Practice Part of Your Communication Routine?
Posted On October 11, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
It is early on a Tuesday morning, and I am up early preparing for a couple of weeks of Executive Communication Skills workshops with our largest client. The participants will come from all over Europe, and the Middle East. I have advocated many times in the past that we all should “know our audience.” And […]
3 Simple Tips for Speaking to a Global Audience
Posted On September 28, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
In the 21st century business world, very few things are NOT global in some way, and successful professionals and organizations have no choice but to be thinking about how to reach and connect to a global audience. There are a few things we encourage our clients to do when they are speaking/presenting/meeting with a global […]
The Most Important Word to Remember for Great Communication
Posted On September 26, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
My colleagues and I always talk about the five ingredients for great communication. And those five things are as follows: Clarity, brevity, context, impact and value. Now, as you think about the last line I just wrote above, which word do you think is most important? Clarity, brevity, context, impact and value. Which of those […]
Three Levels of Communication Success
Posted On September 14, 2016 BY Dean Brenner
Clear, persuasive communication skills are a source of competitive advantage in the workplace. The people who can get make their point clearly, get to the point quickly, and make a persuasive case will get noticed and be in demand. Period. But not everyone communicates at the same level of skill. Some have natural comfort or skill, […]