"How do you say that word?" is a frequent comment I receive. As a communications coach, I work with non-native professionals from all over the world who are in the USA to live and work.
Three of the most common questions are about world, excellent, and schedule. To say "world", pronounce it in 2 parts: "wor" and "uld". It sounds like "WOR-uld". "Excellent" is pronounced as "EK-sel-lent", while "schedule" is
"SKED-jule". (The British pronunciation is "SHED-jule".)
A full three day seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals is offered periodically by Business Speech Improvement. For more details on this, on e-books and other seminars, click here.
Welcome to the Verbal Image blog from Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com)! NEW! To read our latest blog post, go to http://www.businessspeechimprovement.com/more/blog Bookmark that site and check back regularly! Please join the conversation about communication! What are your thoughts on the blog article you are reading? Comments in English are appreciated.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Follow-up: Tips for Success
You've jut come back from meeting someone (or a lot of people), and want to follow-up to make a sale, or respond to a current customer in hopes of getting more business or a higher satisfaction rating. How can you do this more successfully?
First, when you get the person's business card, really look at it, and comment on some aspect of it, using his or her name. Few people comment on a card, so that alone will be noticed. After yo leave the person, write a note on the back of the card about the person's specific interest in your products or services, and add the date you met him or her.
When you get back to your office or home, enter the information from the card into a database, if you have one. This keeps your information organized, and allows you to add additional details such as the dates you contact the person. If the person mentions something personal, such as the fact that he is leaving for vacation tomorrow to see his new grandchild,enter that on your database so you can ask about the child when you contact him next.
Sales experts report it takes an average of 7 contacts to make a sale, although that could vary depending on the industry. Contacting the person or company by various means (e-mail, telephone, letter, even stopping by with a food treat such as fudge, fresh cookies, etc if it is a business) are better than using just one method. If asked to stop contacting the person or organization, though, comply immediately.Also check on the specific rules for Do Not Call in your state, for individuals who have asked not to be contacted by telephone.
When you contact the person or organization for the first time, remind him how and when you met, and comment on his specific interest, such as a particular product. Try following up at different times of day, or different days of the week for better results.
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books in verbal skills. Visit Business Speech Improvement to subscribe to the free e-zine and check out the many types of training available!
First, when you get the person's business card, really look at it, and comment on some aspect of it, using his or her name. Few people comment on a card, so that alone will be noticed. After yo leave the person, write a note on the back of the card about the person's specific interest in your products or services, and add the date you met him or her.
When you get back to your office or home, enter the information from the card into a database, if you have one. This keeps your information organized, and allows you to add additional details such as the dates you contact the person. If the person mentions something personal, such as the fact that he is leaving for vacation tomorrow to see his new grandchild,enter that on your database so you can ask about the child when you contact him next.
Sales experts report it takes an average of 7 contacts to make a sale, although that could vary depending on the industry. Contacting the person or company by various means (e-mail, telephone, letter, even stopping by with a food treat such as fudge, fresh cookies, etc if it is a business) are better than using just one method. If asked to stop contacting the person or organization, though, comply immediately.Also check on the specific rules for Do Not Call in your state, for individuals who have asked not to be contacted by telephone.
When you contact the person or organization for the first time, remind him how and when you met, and comment on his specific interest, such as a particular product. Try following up at different times of day, or different days of the week for better results.
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books in verbal skills. Visit Business Speech Improvement to subscribe to the free e-zine and check out the many types of training available!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Delegating: Is It Clear?
Delegating involves a lot of clear communication. An easy way to do this is to use the 5 W's and an H, as follows.
Who - Who is to be involved in the project and working specifically on this task?
What is each person's and team's role? What are the specifications of the project?
When is each team supposed to complete its' task and when should each check in with the coordinator or project manager?
Where is the work to be done? Where are the components of the project to be found, if online? Where are any other supplies located?
Why is the project important to the client and to the organization doing it?
How will everyone involved know of the progress and any complicating or new factors? Is there a location for this information online? Will there be regular in-person meetings or teleconferences?
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills, including a one-day seminar on Executive Communication:The Power to Lead.. Open enrollment seminars, individual coaching and tip-filled e-books are available on many topics, from accent modification and pronunciation to presentation skills and leadership training.
Who - Who is to be involved in the project and working specifically on this task?
What is each person's and team's role? What are the specifications of the project?
When is each team supposed to complete its' task and when should each check in with the coordinator or project manager?
Where is the work to be done? Where are the components of the project to be found, if online? Where are any other supplies located?
Why is the project important to the client and to the organization doing it?
How will everyone involved know of the progress and any complicating or new factors? Is there a location for this information online? Will there be regular in-person meetings or teleconferences?
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills, including a one-day seminar on Executive Communication:The Power to Lead.. Open enrollment seminars, individual coaching and tip-filled e-books are available on many topics, from accent modification and pronunciation to presentation skills and leadership training.
Monday, January 2, 2012
New Year's Resolution: Speak Better!
Is one of your New Year's resolutions to improve your speech? Do you want to speak slower, use standard American pronunciation, feel more comfortable giving a presentation, be able to make
"small talk" more comfortably, be able to communicate more effectively with someone who has a hearing loss, or something else?
Business Speech Improvement offers a wide variety of economical
e-books on all of these topics! Small group open enrollment seminars and individual coaching are also available.
"small talk" more comfortably, be able to communicate more effectively with someone who has a hearing loss, or something else?
Business Speech Improvement offers a wide variety of economical
e-books on all of these topics! Small group open enrollment seminars and individual coaching are also available.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
How to remember more of what you hear or see
The next time you sit in a boring presentation, lecture or meeting, try some of these techniques to help you get more out of the experience.
1. Repeat the fact in your mind. Imagine you are saying them.
2. Visualize the facts or situation. Pretend you see them on a movie or computer screen.
3. Ask yourself questions about the information. Think of ones that begin with "wh", such as who, what, when, etc.Try to answer them by the end of the talk.
4. Write out 5 important words used in the concept. Using the first letter of each word, come up with a sentence to help you remember them all.
5. If someone is trying to persuade the group, think about why this action is being recommended. Who or what benfits from this course of action?
1. Repeat the fact in your mind. Imagine you are saying them.
2. Visualize the facts or situation. Pretend you see them on a movie or computer screen.
3. Ask yourself questions about the information. Think of ones that begin with "wh", such as who, what, when, etc.Try to answer them by the end of the talk.
4. Write out 5 important words used in the concept. Using the first letter of each word, come up with a sentence to help you remember them all.
5. If someone is trying to persuade the group, think about why this action is being recommended. Who or what benfits from this course of action?
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Unsatisfied: What to do when the customer service is unsatisfactory
What do you do when you have a problem with a device or service and want the company to correct it?
Take these four steps: Read your warranty carefully to know what it covers. Then contact the customer service department with a clear description of the problem and supporting documentation, such as the warranty and sales receipt. Explain how you would like the problem to be resolved. Get the representative's name or number. Write down this information, the date and time you spoke to her and the suggested resolution of the problem. If she promised someone would call you back by a certain time, write that down too.
If there is no customer service rep, contact the department supervisor or headquarters with the same information. Write down what they say.
If you have difficulty speaking or hearing clearly, often customer service is available online.
If you are still unhappy, go up the chain of command. Each time, write down the person's name to whom you spoke, the time and date, what the other person offered to do, and the results.
It takes less effort to appease an unhappy customer than to get a new one, and an unhappy customer lets many others know about poor service.
Provide the facts and let the company help you get the problem resolved!
Great speech makes business sense. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching in verbal skills, through e-books and in-person training.
Take these four steps: Read your warranty carefully to know what it covers. Then contact the customer service department with a clear description of the problem and supporting documentation, such as the warranty and sales receipt. Explain how you would like the problem to be resolved. Get the representative's name or number. Write down this information, the date and time you spoke to her and the suggested resolution of the problem. If she promised someone would call you back by a certain time, write that down too.
If there is no customer service rep, contact the department supervisor or headquarters with the same information. Write down what they say.
If you have difficulty speaking or hearing clearly, often customer service is available online.
If you are still unhappy, go up the chain of command. Each time, write down the person's name to whom you spoke, the time and date, what the other person offered to do, and the results.
It takes less effort to appease an unhappy customer than to get a new one, and an unhappy customer lets many others know about poor service.
Provide the facts and let the company help you get the problem resolved!
Great speech makes business sense. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching in verbal skills, through e-books and in-person training.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Speech
Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Speech
"Speech" means different things to people. So, the tips below try to cover a variety of needs.
5. When meeting strangers at a party or conference, think about what you have in common with them, and come up with a statement plus a question ahead of time. For example, "This is a great party! How do you know (the host)?" or "What do you do for the organization?"
4. If you give presentations, remember that you have just 30 seconds to capture your audience's attention. Use startling statistics, a surprising fact or a 2-3 sentence story to start your talk. Then say your name.
3. If you have a strong accent that impedes clear communication, speak slower and keep paper nearby to write any words that your listener does not understand.
2. When your speech is not understood, use a synonym, such as "excellent" for "very good".
1. To help you persuade others, remember the acronym WIIFM, "what's in it for me". Why should someone do what you want done? Will it save frustration or money, increase productivity or make it easier to meet goals?
For more great tips, check out Business Speech Improvement's economical e-books! Business Speech Improvement also provides intensive coaching.
"Speech" means different things to people. So, the tips below try to cover a variety of needs.
5. When meeting strangers at a party or conference, think about what you have in common with them, and come up with a statement plus a question ahead of time. For example, "This is a great party! How do you know (the host)?" or "What do you do for the organization?"
4. If you give presentations, remember that you have just 30 seconds to capture your audience's attention. Use startling statistics, a surprising fact or a 2-3 sentence story to start your talk. Then say your name.
3. If you have a strong accent that impedes clear communication, speak slower and keep paper nearby to write any words that your listener does not understand.
2. When your speech is not understood, use a synonym, such as "excellent" for "very good".
1. To help you persuade others, remember the acronym WIIFM, "what's in it for me". Why should someone do what you want done? Will it save frustration or money, increase productivity or make it easier to meet goals?
For more great tips, check out Business Speech Improvement's economical e-books! Business Speech Improvement also provides intensive coaching.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)