6 Simple Rules for Speaking Well
Posted On July 7, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
Speaking well can be pretty hard. Speaking in a way that captures attention, and helps you achieve your business goals can be intimidating for lots of people. It is hard, in many ways. But the keys to success can also be pretty simple, if you think about it the correct way. So let me make […]
Getting to the Point Quickly is Really About Respect
Posted On June 29, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
In our communication skills workshops, there is a theme that always comes up that seems to surprise first-time participants. We talk about many of the most important aspects of great business communication: clarity, brevity, being memorable, setting context, communicating value, staying “on message”… all of the things that are required in the 21st century business […]
The New Communication Age
Posted On June 15, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
The “Information Age” unofficially began in the early 70’s, and with the growth of the internet, the amount of information we gather, process, and share continues to grow exponentially. Until recently, competitive advantage in the workplace has been determined by how well we use and manage all that information. However, at The Latimer Group, we […]
Storytelling Techniques: Problem → Solution
Posted On June 9, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
We’ve been writing a lot lately about “the new communication age” and life in a “post-PowerPoint world.” Communication skills have never been more important than they are right now. And one of the best ways to communicate in a powerful way is through the use of story. Story can be used in lots of ways. […]
The Total Audience Experience
Posted On June 8, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
When you stand up to speak in a professional setting, there are three primary ways you are interacting with your audience: the message you have developed, the slides you have created, and the delivery skills you exhibit. All three matter, because all three impact your audience’s experience. Many people think about their work presentations this […]
Expand Your Leadership Vocabulary
Posted On June 4, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
(Originally posted on April 9, 2012) I came across something worth sharing with you, that I think will help you refine your leadership vocabulary. If you want to be a good leader and set a good example for your team, the most important six words you can utter are “I admit I made a mistake.” […]
5 Speaking Tips to Help Calm Your Nerves
Posted On June 3, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
Originally posted on Sept 3, 2013 Asking people if they “get nervous” when they have to stand up and speak is almost not worth asking. For most of us, the answer is a resounding “yes.” As we all come back from summer holidays and get straight back into the post-Labor Day sprint, many of you […]
6 of the Most Common Interview Mistakes
Posted On May 20, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
In our coaching and training, we end up discussing the interview process all the time. Many of our clients interview regularly for promotions within their company. And almost all of our clients have to conduct interviews with others, for positions they are trying to fill on their own teams. Part of our coaching process is […]
Your Powerpoint Slide Deck is Nothing But Risk
Posted On May 19, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
According to some sources, more than 30 million business presentations are created each day. And you know what? Most of them are terrible. We’ve all sat through the proverbial terrible presentation with no purpose, nothing memorable, no clear action items, too many slides, the monotonous drone of the boring presenter. There is a reason business […]
When You Speak Well
Posted On May 18, 2015 BY Dean Brenner
Have you ever listened to someone who speaks really well? Who gets to the point? Who makes the point clearly? Who doesn’t waste your time and makes the message valuable? It is SO nice when that happens, right? It is so refreshing when a presentation or a conference call or an important conversation is efficient […]