Your Presence is The Sum Total of You
Posted On September 19, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
There is a mindset I hear people articulate from time to time… and that mindset is that your presence is primarily created by the way you look and carry yourself. I heard this again recently in a workshop I was teaching, and the participant said that they did not have the wardrobe to create a […]
The Most Valuable Person in the Room
Posted On August 31, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Details matter in business, and in some industries, the details are everything. But the amount of detail we discuss in meetings and presentations, and the way in which we communicate it, is a daily source of frustration in most companies. I hear this every single day… I am drowning in detail… I didn’t need to […]
Four Long-Term Benefits of Great Communication
Posted On August 3, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Being a great communicator is about so much more than the sales call you’re about to make, the meeting you’re about to join, or the conversation you’re about to have… Beyond the immediate benefits of closing a sale, or contributing to a meeting, great communication skills create several significant realities that will benefit you in […]
How to Give a Great Toast (And Avoid the Train Wreck)
Posted On July 17, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
(Author’s Note: This is a topic I have written on many times in the past. But I recently had an acquaintance come to me and ask me for help with an upcoming wedding toast. This made me realize, once again, that there is value in not only using this blog to help you prep for your […]
There is Always an “Ask”… Always
Posted On June 27, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
I have a wide range of conversations with the people I coach. Coaching discussions on communication and leadership skills can cover a lot of territory. But there is a short list of things that seem to come up over and over and over. And at the top of the list is this seemingly simple idea. […]
First the Story, Then the Slides
Posted On May 30, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Here is a conversation we regularly have with new clients… New Client: “I have a big presentation coming. Will you take a look at my slides?” Me: “Well, before we get to the slides, what is the point of the presentation?” New Client: “Here, it is on the slides.” Me: “I don’t care about the […]
Make Great Communication Part of Your Brand
Posted On May 4, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
In all of our workshops, we always ask participants about their goals for the session. And we get lots of great answers to that query, often with some ambitious and lofty goals like “I need to win this big piece of business“… and just as often, we hear seemingly more modest goals like “I just […]
Speaking Tips: Open with the Summary
Posted On May 2, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Have you ever led a meeting, handed out the slide deck, began discussing the topic and while still on slide 1 or 2, most of your audience has already flipped to the last slide? I’m sure you’ve seen this before… Perhaps you’ve been the one flipping to the last slide, or perhaps you were the […]
Have You Earned The Right To Be Heard?
Posted On April 25, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
The people we speak with, or to, are under no obligation to actually listen to what we are saying. With so many choices available for information and content, it’s very easy for people to “change the channel” away from you and your message, and divert their attention to a message more relevant to them. As […]
Mapping Your Progress As a Communicator
Posted On April 21, 2023 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 […]