The Secret To Better Meetings
Posted On August 13, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Originally published with the Forbes Coaches Council, July 2018. Meetings are a ubiquitous part of the modern office across all industries. Think of meetings as a company’s blood flow: When they are well-run, ideas and decisions flow through them like oxygen through veins, invigorating every aspect of the business, stimulating new ideas and pushing strategy […]
The Importance of Consequences
Posted On August 1, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Our three-year-old daughter challenged us a lot this weekend. But I could write that sentence almost anytime. She is strong and stubborn and delightful and hysterical, all at the same time. My wife and I adore and encourage her strength. But we also believe in strong parenting, and rules and limits. Which means we lock […]
How to Move Beyond Clarity and Brevity to True Persuasion
Posted On July 23, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
We have shared many past posts here on the need and importance of clarity and brevity in your communications. Clarity and brevity are often the price of admission to be heard in the 21st century — table stakes — the cost to simply be able to play in the big leagues and have people listen to you. But […]
Communicating Respect: Give A Little To Get A Lot
Posted On July 18, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Originally published with the Forbes Coaches Council, June 2018. As a speaker, it’s always important to project authority. Whether through a mastery of detail, a clear understanding of your audience’s needs, a strong speaking voice or a poised stance at the front of the room, showing that you have expertise and confidence can go a […]
Coaching Advice: Why You Should Never Compromise Your Communication Efforts
Posted On July 16, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
We coach people to be as persuasive and powerful in their communication as possible. But sometimes, your audience is just not open to what you have to say. Our clients often share experiences where the audience is not always open minded. Some of our clients tell us, “They don’t want to hear that from me,” […]
Dilbert Has Been Making Fun of Powerpoint for Over 20 Years
Posted On July 13, 2018 BY Brett Slater
This post was written by Brett Slater, Chief Social Media Officer at The Latimer Group. Dilbert by Scott Adams has been poking fun at corporate culture and workplace communication since its inception nearly 30 years ago. And the above comic from last Sunday is a shining example — one that hits particularly close to home […]
Meetings: Ditch the Agenda, Open with The Executive Summary
Posted On July 11, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
In nearly every workshop I teach, the topic of “the open” comes up for deep discussion. My colleagues and I focus a great deal of time and attention to teaching people how to engage their audience, right from the first moments of the presentation or discussion. And one of the biggest mistakes we see people […]
Communicating Respect: Know Your Audience
Posted On July 9, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Originally published with the Forbes Coaches Council, May 2018. Have you ever been in a meeting with someone who is clearly giving you the same presentation she’s given before to other audiences? There are some telltale signs: a generic set of benefits, little anticipation of objections, a lack of details that speak to your specific […]
The Message Makeover Podcast: How Better Listening and Awareness Will Improve Your Communication
Posted On July 2, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
This post was written by Dan Cooney, Director of Coaching and Senior Facilitator at The Latimer Group. Can you be a good communicator without being a good listener? The answer is an emphatic NO. In this episode, The Latimer Group’s Dean Brenner, Amy Fenollosa and Dan Cooney talk about why improving your listening skills and […]
Are You Sabotaging Your Own Meeting?
Posted On June 27, 2018 BY Dean Brenner
Quick, but powerful idea for you today. Let’s say you have a meeting coming up and you will be making a presentation. Your boss and some other senior managers will be in the room… or maybe a key potential client who you have been trying to sell for a year… or maybe you will be meeting with your […]