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?

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.

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.

What are some easy ways to overcome a fear of public speaking?

Among American adults, at least one study reported that a fear of public speaking was greater than a fear of death. Public speaking is a skill that can be learned or improved with practice and coaching.

Think of yourself as a teacher, not an orator. You are sharing knowledge you have that your audience does not have, but needs.
What matters is not so much what you say, but what knowledge sticks between your listeners' ears; in other words, your information must be presented memorably, in a way that will make sense and be retrievable.

To overcome a fear of public speaking, realize that the information counts a lot more than the speaker. This can take the pressure off the speaker and put it on the information and presentation.

Techniques that can be helpful are the 3 P's: passion for your subject, excellent preparation and knowledge of both the material and your audience's level of understanding of the topic, and extensive practice of the speech. Passion, preparation and practice really count! Yes, visual aids and handouts are important as many people learn and remember better visually. However, an enthusiastic, prepared and practiced speaker can make a vital difference in how the material is received.

Other techniques include slow, deep breathing, exercise earlier in the day, having a friend in the audience who smiles and nods occasionally, and more.


Public Speaking: You Can Do It! is an economical, tip-filled e-book that can be accessed 24/7 and is filled with strategies for speaking more effectively. It is published by Business Speech Improvement, which also provides seminars and individual coaching on communication skills.

Speech and language disorders in adults

Adults can have a variety of speech and language disorders. Many develop after a sudden or chronic illness, such as a stroke or multiple sclerosis. Others may be the first sign of a serious illness, such as Parkinson's Disease.

There are three major types of speech disorders. Speech refers to pronunciation. One type is dysarthria, which involves a weakness of the muscles. There are several types of dysarthrias. For example, speech might sound "slushy", or the rate could be involuntarily increased at times.

A second disorder is verbal apraxia, which involves poor coordination of the muscles due to poor sequencing of the impulses from the brain. A person with this disorder might have trouble saying longer words, but not shorter ones. Others with severe verbal apraxia might not be able to say anything at all.

There are other types of speech disorders as well, involving unknown causes, poor habits, or more.

In addition, language disorders might involve difficulty with understanding, expressing oneself or both.

Stuttering, voice disorders, feeding disorders and related diagnostic and therapeutic services can all be provided by a certified speech-language pathologist.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal communication to employees of business and industry.

Public Speaking and the Scary "Um"

As a speech coach, one of the most common questions I hear is
"How can I stop saying "um" when I speak?"

People say "um" for three main reasons. They are a lack of sufficient preparation, a lack of self-confidence, and a poor level of skill in public speaking in general.

To decrease the "um" factor, be very well-prepared. Know your topic thoroughly, learn your speech through key words (not memorization of the entire speech), and use a moment of silence in place of an "um". For more valuable tips on giving a presentation, get Public Speaking:You Can Do It!, an e-book. Individual coaching on public speaking in general or to prepare for a specific presentation is also available through Business Speech Improvement.

Challenging questions to answer

Someone recently asked, "What about exercise makes you feel so good afterwards, so you want to do it again?" New to exercising, she did not get that feeling of euphoria so many people seem to get. How would you have answered her?

What other common questions, at work, home or elsewhere are hard for you to answer?

What makes some topics easy to answer, while others are challenges?

Please do share your answers and insights, so we all can learn from each other!

SLP, Ready for a different career choice?

Are you a speech-language pathologist who is burned out, ready to retire or wanting a second job (full-time or part-time)? How does your experience and degree translate into something else? You want to do something different, but you don't want to go back to school. What other choices do you have?

Author Katie Schwartz, CCC-SLP, reports there are a surprising number of career possibilities, from publishing to government. Her book, Alternative Career Options for SLPs (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/ebooks), offers detailed descriptions of 18 choices, how people started in them, and their advantages and disadvantages. It includes a self-assessment questionnaire to help readers consider possible paths they may take.

Physical and occupational therapists and special education teachers, may also be interested in some of the choices presented, which would apply to those fields as well.

The customer experience: the crucial first impression

When a prospective customer or client contacts your company for the first time, does she or he get a positive impression, of a knowledgeable staff member or a voice mail system that is truly easy to navigate? Try calling yourself and having others call, and see how your system rates.

Today I contacted a company, and got a temporary receptionist. Everything I said had to be repeated several times so she could write it down. She could not give me any information I needed, and could not transfer me to someone else who was more knowledgeable. When I asked, she admitted she was a "fill-in".
If only the company knew what she was costing them in lost business and a terrible first impression!

How does your company rate in its' first impression to prospective customers?


Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills, including sales communication and executive communication skills.

What is your body language saying in your photograph?

Do you have professional or personal photos posted online in networking sites or in paid advertisements? What is your body language conveying to viewers?

A remarkable number of photos show people with their arms crossed. This indicated a closed, or defensive, attitude. People looking at them often perceive this as someone who is not open to
others, which is exactly the opposite of what you should be conveying. Get your arms down!

Other photos show people frowning or looking very serious. While a serious expression may work in some professional settings, in a social networking site that indicates someone may not be friendly. The frowning expression is bad for all photos for publicity.

A third issue is whether a person appears relaxed in the photograph. People want to associate with others who appears comfortable with themselves.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills (and body language). Seminars and e-books are available.

Speaking clearly - tips for success

Have you ever noticed that some people seem to speak more clearly than others? Clear speech makes communicating your message easier, and gives the speaker a more polished verbal image, causing others to notice.

Here are three simple tips to speak English more clearly. First, make sure your rate of speech is appropriate. Slow down when you are speaking to young children, seniors, people who may not understand your professional/technical terms and concepts, and people with hearing loss. Second, make sure you are saying the final sounds of words clearly, especially if they are at the ends of sentences or phrases.
Third, if English is not your native language, or if you have a strong regional accent, find out what sounds, if any, you are mispronouncing in standard English.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive, customized training in accent modification, diction, grammar, communication for leaders and more. E-books are also offered onsite on those topics.

How to lose a customer without even trying

I walked into a service business to possibly buy something. The sales rep referred me to his colleague, who specializes in that service. The colleague was not available today, so the sales rep gave me her contact information so I could call her later.

His poor customer service skills most likely cost a sale for the business. The customer service rep should have taken my contact information and passed it on to the proper specialist, himself. In doing so, he would have shown more professionalism, the company would have had a better impression in my mind, and the right specialist would have had a chance at a sale.

As some sage said, take care of the (potential) customer, and the customer takes care of you!

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive training in verbal communication skills, including small talk skills and also sales communication. Great speech makes business sense!

Foreign accent modification training: what do people learn?

A professional from another country reported, "I've wanted to speak English better, but I didn't know what to do. Now, after this seminar, I do."

In (American English) Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals, each attendee gets an individual speech assessment. Even two people from the same native language, such as Spanish, may pronounce English differently. Each person then receives a customized program so he learns what he specifically needs. Learners study the silent letters in English, such as the three words in which "th" is not pronounced.

Materials and activities are geared to professionals. For example, at the end of the session, a professor may give a short lecture using his new speech skills.
A physician may practice giving a case history. Someone else may interview a vendor. Attendees enjoy these activities! After the seminar, there is a detailed follow-up plan to help skills be maintained.

Past learners report they feel more confident speaking English, and know what to do to make their pronunciation better.

For those who cannot attend, e-books of exercises are onsite.

Isn't this what you are searching for, for yourself or an
employee?

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in may aspects of verbal communication.

Struggle with saying big words?

Many smart adults have difficulty saying long words. Every time they say the word, it comes out differently. Maybe they omit certain sounds, such as a "t" in an "str" word such as strong. Maybe the vowel comes out differently as they practice.

Sometimes they have had this problem all their lives, or it may suddenly appear after a stroke or head injury.However it appears, it can be so frustrating!

Here are three things people can try. First, listen carefully for the correct pronunciation. Use the pronunciation button on online dictionaries if needed. Second, try to read the word (or visualize it in your mind) to get in all the sounds. Third,
use another word with the same meaning, such as pretend for act, to get the message across.

If none of these help, look for a certified speech pathologist who has experience in diagnosing and treating the speech disorder of verbal apraxia in adults.

Katie Schwartz, CCC-SLP is director of Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com). She provides individual and group speech coaching on a wide variety of communication needs.

Speech pathologists: ready for your next career?

It's one of the three most popular times a year when speech-language pathologists (SLPs) wonder what else we can do with we skills. (The other two times are Dec-Jan, and August, in case you are wondering.)

Our skills are quite versatile! Many of us choose to combine our knowledge in speech with that of some other field, such as training, coaching, product development, research, or knowledge synthesization. Others prefer a new area of specialization, such as a disorder, setting or age group. If you've reached the point of saying, "If I ever have to _______ again, it'll be one time too many!", you need a change!

Alternative Career Options for SLPs by Katie Schwartz, CCC-SLP(www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) is a book detailing the choices made by 20 SLPs to combine speech plus some other field. If you need CEUs, go to www.onlineceus.com for the seminar on "New Career Options for SLPs", a later work by Katie Schwartz. This lists additional career choices.

Put some new enthusiasm and life into your career - try something different!

Critical Thinking and Advertisements

Today I received an ad about a "great" job. Last week I passed an ad about a skin care product "with no unnecessary ingredients".

You need to wonder about these creatively written ads. If you search for the "most persuasive words in ads", you can get lists of 108 - 200 words deemed most effective. A simpler way to analyze them, though, is to think "where's the evidence"? What are they not telling us? For example, no company would waste money putting in unnecessary ingredients in a product. A job that a copywriter considers "great" may be merely one that pays his agency a wonderful placement fee.

Be a critical thinker; it pays!

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides training in critical thinking skills in its' executive communication skills seminar and other courses.

Giving in Times of Disaster: What Do You Need?

When a community experiences a disaster, such as a weather-related one, it goes through specific steps. The first one is search and rescue. Outsiders should ask people if they are OK, and then be prepared to listen - often repeatedly - to what they went through. Before offering help, whether bottled water, clothes, toiletries or whatever, ask first "What do you most need?" Those asking may be surprised at the answers.

The disaster doesn't end in a few days when the news media tires of the story and goes on to something else. Take time to keep asking, "How are you doing? What do you need?"

Whether it's a listening ear, a sense of routine and calm, replacement furniture, batteries or specialized equipment, the answers keep changing. Disasters take a long time to recover from...and life will never be the same.

If you have never experienced a weather disaster, it's a great time now to get prepared. Visit www.ready.gov and follow their suggestions. Get a weather radio, and prepare for the most likely weather emergencies in your community. Make copies of the most important financial, legal and professional records you might need after a disaster, such as your homeowner's or renter's insurance documents, your car insurance papers, your licenses, diplomas and certificates - and send one set of these to a trusted family member or friend who lives in another state, to hold in case it is ever needed. Make a second set and put it where you could grab it in the event of an evacuation. Being prepared increases your feeling of control and may reduce the after-effects of a disaster.

You can't prevent disasters, but you can get prepared for them and listen carefully to those who have experienced one.

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive training in verbal communication skills, such as listening and asking critical questions.

Trained Mentors Can Motivate New Employees

Starting a new job can be confusing and overwhelming. Employees often seek out mentors who are not their direct supervisors, but may be people the employee admires.
New employees, because they need time to learn the company procedures and culture, are inherently less productive. They also have less invested in the job (and long-term benefits such as retirement plans) and may be more willing to "jump ship" and go to another employer because of this.

A well-trained mentor can make a difference in helping guide the employee, listening to his concerns and helping motivate him to stay. The mentor needs to be aware of the importance of being positive, being on time for meetings with the employee, having excellent listening skills and being alert to signs the employee is unhappy.

Business Speech Improvement
provides intensive, customized training in verbal communication skills. A seminar on Executive Communication Coaching: The Power to Lead is now enrolling learners.

Want "the gift of Blarney"?

Many people who are shy wish they could strike up conversations with strangers.
"Small Talk:Connecting with Others" is a unique e-book that explains the techniques others use naturally. Learn to decide who wants to talk, how to start, continue and end a conversation graciously.

Imagine how your life could change if you could talk to strangers whenever you chose.
What would this do to your personal and professional life?

Download Small Talk:Connecting with Others today!

Speech Secrets: Tips to Talking More Clearly

Do you struggle saying extra long words or words with a foreign pronunciation? Do people wonder what you said? Do you hate those puzzled looks others give you?

Here are some secrets that speech experts know! First, speak slower when you say tough words. If you have time, look online for a dictionary of that foreign language that has a button you can click which will say the word for you, as many times as you need.

Second, make sure you know what syllable to stress or emphasize. Stressing the wrong one might mean you said a different word. Some languages are very tonal. If the word is in English, you still need to know what syllable to stress.

Third, if the word seems like a tongue-twister to you, say it three times very sloooowly and then you will be able to say it at a regular pace. Think of it as a practice period for your mouth!

Business Speech Improvement
provides intensive training in accent modification, speech rate, pronunciation and grammar, executive communication skills, public speaking and more! Training is offered through coaching and e-books. Check out our options!

Seeking the "Gift of Blarney"?

Over 40% of Americans report that they are shy, according to one study. Many more wish they could start conversations with strangers at conventions, parties and meetings.

"Small Talk:Connecting with Others" (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) is a concise e-book that gives readers ways to do just that. It shares tips on finding someone to talk with, how to start, continue and end the conversation, body language do's and don't and more!

Develop the skill of talking with strangers if you choose...this e-book is a wonderful way to learn these new skills!

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books on verbal communication skills. Information can be found at www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com.

What we can learn from Washington's Inaugural Address

For an amazing exercise in how communication has changed over time, read George Washington's First Inaugural Address. It contains very long, complex sentences, that are hard to understand.

Today's politicians and attorneys speak in short sentences, with sound bites. What an improvement this style is for us modern listeners!

The difference in political speeches can be seen since the advent of television. As more people listened and watched, politicians had to be able to communicate with those who had less time, patience and education.

From this we can learn to use shorter sentences, with essential messages or sound bites. Your listeners will thank you!

For more practical tips, get the e-book Public Speaking:You can Do It! Public speaking is an art, and can be learned!

Business Speech Improvement
provides intensive training in verbal communication skills. Training is offered through books, e-books and coaching. Great speech makes business sense; visit us today!

A secret of employee retention - at no cost

A well-educated manager and single mother stopped before the displays of roses and other flowers right before Valentine's Day. She admired them and said sadly, "I wish someone would appreciate me!"

This woman works hard to make sure her employees and children feel appreciated. When was the last time her manager did the same for her?

Although Valentine's Day is about romance, everyone needs to be appreciated. Take time today or tomorrow to tell each employee (and colleague, if appropriate) one specific thing you appreciate about him or her. Maybe it's the fact that the employee reliably comes in early and makes coffee, or took time on her lunch hour to run an errand for the department. Maybe he corrected an overlooked error in your report, or did a rush job on that assignment. Whatever it is, make your praise specific, and frequent. Appreciated employees stay longer, and that's money in your bottom line. After all, wouldn't you like to feel appreciated by YOUR boss?

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive, targeted training in executive communication skills and other verbal communication skills. Check out the upcoming open enrollment seminars, individual coaching and e-books!

Chattanooga: The City that Can, with 4700 volunteers

Chattanooga, TN, a city chosen for an "Extreme Makeover" build, has been overwhelmed
with 4700 volunteers wanting to take part. The city, with a population of 170880, is known for its' volunteerism and work ethic, but this was even more than anticipated.

Chattanooga is a growing city, home of old and new industries (Alstom TMG, Volkswagon, and many other companies new to the area). Once one of America's dirtiest cities, it now is regarded as a terrific place to raise a family and to retire.

To follow along on the progress of the build, visit www.timesfreepress.com. To learn more about Chattanooga, visit www.ChooseChattanooga.com

Can Chattanooga build this home for a deserving family in just one week? We're betting it can!

Hearing Loss and Your Employees

"Isolated", "frustrated", and "worried" were three words used recently by a group of corporate employees to describe their feelings about their hearing loss. Hearing loss affects 10% of the population, including 33% of those age 65. Now a worrisome 20% of late teens report some of the signs of hearing loss, for the first time in history. Yet few corporations offer training in techniques to cope with hearing loss.

Employees report that they may hesitate to speak during department meetings, because they are not certain of what has already been said or, sometimes, even the topic under discussion. When a group has a meeting in a noisy room, such as a restaurant, that makes the communication worse.

"What Did You Say? Strategies for Helping a Person with a Hearing Loss", is an e-book for helping supervisors, colleagues, friends and spouses learn better ways to communicate with people with hearing loss. It provides information on simple techniques that can
be easily implemented.

Better Business Communication Day - Celebrate with Us!

Do you ever get stage fright or worry about your pronunciation in American English? Better Business Communication Day is celebrated this year on January 24, 2011. You are invited to get some f*ree gifts!

Visit Business Speech Improvement on Monday, January 24, 2011 and get a e-book on Diction Makes a Difference - no cost on this one day! Filled with practical tips and exercises, it allows readers to learn more about Business Speech Improvement's user-friendly approach. This offer is available for this one day only.

Those who register will also receive a special report on "Scared Stiff: Ten Strategies for Coping with Stage Fright". This report is available right now, so register today! Aren't you ready to feel better about public speaking?

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and helpful e-books on accent modification, diction, presentation skills, executive communication skills, and much more! Visit us and get these special offers!

Stage fright: Tips for Coping while Giving Presentations

More than 40% of Americans say their worst fear is having to do public speaking; it is the number one fear among adults according to one survey.

Here are two tips on coping with this fear. First, realize that you know (or should know) more about your subject than your listeners do. You are the expert. Second,
take some quiet deep breaths before you talk to relax yourself. You cannot be both relaxed and scared simultaneously. (Naturally, don't take deep breaths into a microphone or a telephone.)

Public Speaking:You Can Do It! (http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler3/scripts/category.pl?EBooks) is an e-book with more tips on coping with stage fright, writing and delivering presentations. Diction Makes a Difference and Learn to Pronounce American English More Clearly are other e-books on related topics.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive, targeted coaching and concise e-books on verbal communication skills. Great speech makes business sense!

The King's Speech

The King's Speech is an amazing movie about a man who becomes king after his brother abdicates the throne. The new king, George the Sixth, happens to be a stutterer. He receives "speech therapy" from a self-taught speech coach. Despite that lack of formal training, the movie very effectively shows the courage of the King whenever he had to speak, as well as the bond of trust that grows between a speech pathologist and client.
Today's well-trained speech/language pathologists use different techniques and equipment than did the speech coach in the movie. However, whether a speech/language pathologist works in educational or medical settings, private practice or the corporate world, the bond of trust remains the same. As a speech/language pathologist, it is a privilege to help clients learn to communicate more effectively.

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive, targeted speech training and speech therapy to clients in business and industry.
Training is provided in-person and via e-books. Check our website for our Open Enrollment classes, individual coaching, and e-books on many topics!

Improving Diction: Getting Your Message Across - the First Time

There are many causes for poor diction, such as speaking too fast, lack of self-confidence in certain situations, weakness or in-coordination of your mouth's muscles, to a hearing loss.
(If you don't hear clearly, you may not know you are not saying certain sounds.)

One tip you can try to improve your diction is to actually listen to yourself speak.
Record your speech when reading aloud, when talking to a friend, or even when describing your surroundings to yourself. Are there certain sounds you are not saying clearly? Do you speak too fast? Ask your friends or colleagues for advice about when you speak less clearly. If your diction has worsened significantly recently, check with your physician; it may be a sign of a neurological problem. For other speech impairments, you may want to have a speech evaluation from a speech pathologist.

General exercises to improve diction can be found in the e-book "Diction Makes A Difference". Intensive reading practice combined with audio files can be found in
"Learn to pronounce American English more clearly." Both can be gotten from http://businessspeechimprovement.com/enabler3/scripts/category.pl?EBooks.

Business Speech Improvement provides training in verbal communication skills.
Coaching and e-books from a corporate speech pathologist are available on many topics, including diction, accent modification, public speaking, executive communication, profession-specific communication and more!

What will you be doing a year from today?

A friend reported that she feels she has wasted this past year. When I asked what she would like to be doing a year from today, she didn't know. As a sage put it, if you don't know where you're going, how will you get there?

Write down your goals of what you want to happen by a year from today. Think about goals relating to your health, your family or social life, your work, your involvement in the community, financial goals, leisure goals or whatever is most important. Make the goals specific, realistic and time-bound. Then figure out a tiny step you can take towards each of them this week. For example, in the financial goals, maybe you want to compare car insurance rates to see if you can save money, or brown-bag your lunch three times this week. For the health goal, maybe you could drink an extra glass of water or eat an extra serving of steamed vegetables each day. Then take a few minutes each day and imagine yourself in a year, having met your goals! Think of the self-confidence this would give you. This goal exercise is a great exercise for work or personal use.

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive training in executive communication skills, accent modification, presentation skills and much more. Services are provided through in-person coaching and through e-books, available 24/7. Great speech makes business sense!