English Speaking Skills- When You Have to Say No

English Speaking Skills- When You Have to Say No   Many of us have a hard time saying no.  However, from time to time, we all have to say it – and with practice, we can get better at it.  Oh yes, we can say no in a way that lets us feel more comfortable […]

Acknowledgments and Confirmations- Other Tips

Acknowledgments and Confirmations- Other Tips Sometimes a letter of acknowledgment also serves as a “thank you.”  Or it says you received the message or materials, but will respond later, or that you passed them on to the appropriate person. Sometimes, also, “acknowledgment” letters are really marketing letters that use the excuse of acknowledging something (an order, a payment) […]

The Power of Listening and Responding- How to Develop Lifetime Customers

The Power of Listening and Responding- How to Develop Lifetime Customers If you have a product or a service you sell, don’t think you are done when you have made the sale.  The sale is actually the beginning in building a client relationship that will lead to a lifetime of repeat business and referrals. In addition, by […]

What to do When Listening

What to do When Listening Listen to your clients, and when you hear them talk about something they need, step in and offer help.  Help could come in the form of offering information or introducing them to another person who could help them.     Rerun from June 1, 2015

How to Begin the “Developing Friendship” Call

How to Begin the “Developing Friendship” Call “Hi.  This is  Clare Lawton.  I enjoyed our brief visit last week and wanted to see about getting together for lunch.” “Hi.  This is Mike Bryant.  I enjoyed working with you at the conference last month.  Hope things are going well.  I wanted to see if you would […]

The “Thinking of You” Call

The “Thinking of You” Call It is important with friends, clients, and associates to call occasionally for no particular reason other than to say hello and let them know you are thinking of them. A “thinking of you” call is a simple way of keeping communication lines open – no sales pitch, no request, no […]

So You Never Know What to Say!

So You Never Know What to Say! One key to small talk is listening. Use what the other person is saying as the natural guide.  The person who is talking is always giving ideas and cues about what you might say or ask. Here’s a rule of thumb from Larry King, the long-standing popular talk show host.  […]

Tips for Teleconferencing

Tips for Teleconferencing Use emotion in your voice. Emphasize emotion so you don’t speak in a flat tone. Use metaphors and similes to create word pictures for others.         Rerun from 07/28/2014

Tips for Teleconferences

Tips for Teleconferences Pause so another person can speak. Save complex questions for e-mail unless you need an immediate answer.       Rerun from July 7, 2014

Practice Makes Perfect

Practice Makes Perfect Rehearse out loud. The only way you can tell how your speech will sound is to do it and listen to it. That means you have to say it out loud. Doing the speech in your head and listening to it doesn’t work – that is not the voice your audience will hear.   […]