Managers: How clear are your directions?

I recently witnessed a scene where a person was trying to give directions to a supervisee. The supervisor was vague, and each time the supervisee tried to follow the instructions carefully. After the fourth revision, with increasing details, of the instructions, the supervisee became obviously frustrated.

How are your instructions to others? Do you include the who, what, when, where, why and how, as well as other relevant details (brands, sizes, times, etc)? Do you plan for a "check in time", to follow up on progress made?

Reduce employee frustration - get all the details right the first time!

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive, customized training in executive communication skills, accent modification, listening skills and much more! E-books for "help in a hurry"© are also available onsite.

Seatmate Success: Starting a Conversation While Traveling

With a record number of travelers this holiday season, many people find themselves sitting next to others on airplanes, at airports and at other functions. They want to talk with them but struggle to know what to say.

Start by making a statement about something you have in common, such as the long wait or the great view outside. Then ask a question. For example, "That's an beautiful sunset out there! Do you often fly at this time of day?" Follow it up with an open-ended question, such as "What's your favorite time to fly?"

Be sensitive to others who do not want to talk. Some people want to work or sleep, for example, or prefer not to talk to strangers. But many do, and just aren't sure how to start.

This tip and many others on starting, continuing and ending conversations can be found in an e-book, Small Talk:Connecting wth Others. This concise, practical e-book
can be ordered fr om http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?EBooks. It is published by Business Speech Improvement, which provides
intensive speech coaching and e-books on many related topics.

Event Planners: Unique Way to Get Attendees Talking

Many attendees at events watch others mingle but are shy about going up to strangers themselves. As one attendee said, "I just don't know how to do it."

A practical and concise e-book (or pamphlet, on request), Small Talk: Connecting with Others, is filled with great tips on how to start a conversation, keep it going, and graciously end one as well. (Pamphlets are available with a minimal order of 200.) This e-book, available at http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?EBooks, is perfect for your shy attendees to read, and can even be recommended to them before they come!

If your speakers may be hesitant to talk, the e-book Public Speaking: You Can Do It!, has many suggestions for powerful speech introductions, conclusions and ways to keep the attention of the audience. The e-book is also at http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?EBooks.

Great speech makes business - and event planning - success!

Coming to the USA for business or a job?

Are you planning a business trip to the USA, or planning to take a job here? Two practical e-books by Business Speech Improvement offer a lot of valuable advice.

Coming to the USA : American Cultural Differences provides practical information on everything from time, telephone manners and insurance in the USA. The e-book was written in response to questions from many newcomers here.

Small Talk: Connecting with Others gives tips on ways to start conversations, continue them and then graciously leave the other person at the end. Small talk customs may vary in different cultures, and these techniques are used in the USA.

Both of the e-books and several more can be easily found at http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?EBooks.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books in verbal communication. Great speech makes business sense!

Getting Ready for Holiday Events? Don't Forget the Conversational Skills

As the holiday party scene heats up, more people will be making small talk with strangers at social and business events. However, many find it difficult to make conversation with others.

"Small talk is important as a way to find out what you have in common with others,"
reports Katie Schwartz, CCC-SLP. director of Business Speech Improvement. "It increases the comfort level and makes conversation more targeted towards your goal. This may be asking for information, getting to know a neighbor, or making a sale."

Schwartz, author of the e-book, "Small Talk: Connecting with Others" (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) says that with preparation, making small talk can be easier. Here are three tips she recommends:

1. Think about your goal before talking to the other person.
2. Plan 3-5 questions before the event. Try a statement, followed by a question.
For example, "This is a great barbeque! What's been your favorite food here so far?"
3. Ask follow-up questions about the other person's answers.

Giving someone else your full attention and showing you want to listen to him or her is a real compliment, says Schwartz.

"Small Talk: Connecting with Others" is an economical e-book chock-full of practical tips on starting, continuing and graciously ending conversations. Want to know how to get someone talking, join a group that's already established, or politely leave a boring conversation? The answers are in this book...get it now before your next gathering, at http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler/scripts/category.pl?EBooks.

Business Speech Improvement (www.businessspeechimprovement.com provides intensive coaching and economical e-books on verbal communication.