5 Keys to Building Support for Your Next Idea
Posted On November 22, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
We spend a lot of time here coaching people on how to communicate in order to get the outcomes they want. And in some cases, the outcome is a sale of a product or a service. But in many cases, the outcome is the “sale” of an idea or a plan. The vast majority of persuasion […]
The Art of Negotiation (as taught by a four-year old…)
Posted On October 31, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
(Author’s Note: I was recently scrolling through our archive of old blog posts. And I came across this one, which I wrote in 2014. It is a simple story about an interaction with my then-four-year-old son, where he outmaneuvered me at the frozen yogurt shop. But as is often the case, the simple story illustrates […]
Selling Yourself? Then Sell The Person, Not The Resume
Posted On September 21, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Everyone needs to know how to sell themselves. Sometimes we are in the midst of a formal job search. Sometimes we are building out our network, and are thinking about the next job. Sometimes we are auditioning for a promotion. Sometimes we are building the necessary relationships to sell more of our products and services. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
3 Keys to Stronger Audience Retention
Posted On April 11, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Your audience will only remember a small percentage of what you say. Some studies suggest it will be less than 20%. Fact. Other studies suggest that the average adult attention span is now about 8 seconds. Bummer. So what do you do about it? We could simply surrender, and assume that this is the new […]
5 Keys to Executing On Your Next Idea
Posted On March 14, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
We spend a lot of time here coaching people on how to communicate in order to get the outcomes they want. And in some cases, the outcome is a sale of a product or a service. But in many cases, the outcome is the “sale” of an idea or a plan. The vast majority of persuasion […]
How to Choose the Appropriate Tone When Speaking
Posted On February 16, 2023 BY Dean Brenner
Sometimes it is hard to know the right way to say or write something. Sometimes it is hard to know the correct tone to take. How should I speak to these people? How formal or informal should it be? The answers depend on lots of things: the nature and seriousness of the topic; the level of […]