Great Business Communication Is Not About You
Posted On September 16, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
The hardest thing for any subject matter expert (SME) to do is to explain his or her area of expertise in simple and clear ways. When we are “in” it, when we are living the topic every day, and when we know a lot about it, it is really hard to distance ourselves from it and […]
The Flag on my Front Porch, and the Currency of Vulnerability
Posted On September 11, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
I love the quiet of the early mornings. One of my favorite things to do is wake up early, pour a cup of hot coffee and just listen to the silence. I start my day that way as often as possible. It centers me. And it is even more powerful on important days and anniversaries […]
The Message Makeover Podcast: The Art of Connecting with Your Customer, with Phil Bonanno
Posted On September 11, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
In this episode we interview long-time friend and advisor Phil Bonanno on the art (and a little bit of the science) behind understanding your customer, and figuring out how to connect with them. Phil has a unique take on human connection, and how it plays into the ways we communicate and sell. And he is […]
It’s About the Journey AND the Destination, Part 2 of 2
Posted On September 9, 2020 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. In my last post, I presented the analogy of message as journey – a way to visualize, approach, craft, and deliver an effective presentation. The journey happens in three parts – open, content, close – and the itinerary is tailored to […]
It’s About the Journey AND the Destination, Part 1 of 2
Posted On September 7, 2020 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. Do you ever find yourself rambling in the middle of a presentation? Or do you find yourself planning to include key points… and then forgetting them in the moment? These are common problems, and there are ways to avoid them. When […]
In Praise of Teachers
Posted On September 4, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
This blog and our company are all about communication skills. And one of the most important elements of communication is gratitude. So, here we go. Time for a little gratitude. My colleagues and I know good teaching when we see it. Not only do we teach communication skills every day. But we have a lot […]
Communicating in a Masked World
Posted On August 31, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
I was at an outside social event this weekend, in a spot near a street with a lot of background noise. Everyone was behaving well and had their masks on. And as I was there, I realized that it was my first time wearing a mask for an extended period of time, where I was […]
Sharpen the Tools of Reflective Listening
Posted On August 28, 2020 BY Hannah Morris
This post was written by Hannah Morris, Director of Assessment & Advancement at The Latimer Group. I have gotten to that phase of life where people are sending me articles about how to manage teenagers. I have a 12.5-year-old and we’re doing fine, but we all know what’s coming. The most recent article was about why teenagers […]
The Fine Line Between “Persuasion” and “Consensus”
Posted On August 26, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
We were having a conversation with a good friend and client of The Latimer Group last week. During our discussion, we mentioned some ideas around the concept of “consensus” as it differs from the concept of “persuasion.” Our work has always been focused on helping our clients build the skills of persuasion, and our clients value that […]
The Fine Line Between “Persuasion” and “Consensus”
Posted On August 26, 2020 BY Dean Brenner
We were having a conversation with a good friend and client of The Latimer Group last week. During our discussion, we mentioned some ideas around the concept of “consensus” as it differs from the concept of “persuasion.” Our work has always been focused on helping our clients build the skills of persuasion, and our clients value that […]