American English pronunciation difficulties from 3 other languages

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  American English Pronunciation: Difficulties from 3 other languages

China is a huge country, and Mandarin is spoken differently in various parts of China. For some people, Mandarin is actually their second language, not their first.

People in India speak somewhere between 780 and 1683 different languages, although reportedly only 21 are officially recognized.

People in so many countries speak Spanish, and there are numerous dialects of it. Again, some Hispanics speak Spanish as their second language, with another local language being their "mother tongue" or first language.

Having said that, today (with a lot of generalization), we will be comparing some difficulties each linguistic group has with speaking English. Business Speech Improvement does individual assessments of each speaker in our seminars on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals, so these are some generalities.

First, English is the only language that pronounces the "th" sound. In some countries, such as parts of China, clients have reported that it is rude to put one's tongue between one's teeth to produce this sound; instead, people use an "s" sound or omit it entirely. In India, many people trying to say "th" say a "t" or "d" sound instead. In Hispanics, often the sound is omitted, or an "s" sound is used instead.

Hispanics often have difficulty with the American sounds of  "v", our final sounds such as "t" in "sit", the

"vowel r" sounds like ar (car) and er (her). "Sh" (shoe) and "ch" (chew) may be hard for some to pronounce as well.

Mandarin (and Cantonese) speakers from China and nearby areas may have difficulty with the "l" and "r" sounds, "r blends" such as tree, and final sounds such as "z"  in "is". Other sounds may also be difficult.

Native Indians come from so many languages that it is hard to generalize. Many learn British English in school, and then want to learn American English, which is different at times in vocabulary and pronunciation. For example, the word "schedule" is pronounced in English as "shedjule", while in the USA, we say "skedjule". England uses "lorries", while in the USA, we call them "trucks".

Speech training for native speakers of all of these languages starts with an individual speech assessment, and then a custom-designed training program to focus on what each person needs to learn. The seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals is offered in only 3 days to a group of 6 learners, with a follow-up plan. These sessions are ideal for those who are visiting the USA and want help before business meetings or presentations here.  Individual 1-3 day sessions are available, although spaces for these are limited.  Online training sessions are also an option, in many cases.

For those who are unable to attend the training, e-books and a mp3 files on many aspects of communication are also an option .

                                  

                

 While you are here, check out the wide variety of archived blog posts on other topics relating to communication!

Those irritating phrases that drive you crazy

Those Irritating Words or Phrases!Do you have a colleague who uses the same word or phrase constantly, driving you crazy? For example, "you know", "so", "like" or "um"?  Often the person doesn't even realize he is saying these things.
What can you do about this? First, if it is appropriate for you to say this (obviously not to your boss!), tell the person you have noticed he says (whatever the word or phrase is) very frequently, and you wondered if he has noticed this. Tell him it is hard for you to listen to (or whatever the effect is on the customers and colleagues) and could he try to either use another phrase there or just pause and not say anything when he is about to say this.
Sometimes professional coaching by an outsider makes a difference, if the person has trouble stopping on his own. A qualified speech coach can use special techniques to help the person reduce or eliminate his use of the particular word or phrase.
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching in diction, accent modification and other verbal skills, including reducing those irritating phrases!


Older posts on many aspects of verbal communication can be found here,  at this site.

Modeling: How to Increase Positive Behaviors in Business (and Life)

To see today's blog posting, go to our new site, www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/more/blog.

Modeling: How to Increase Positive Behaviors in Business (and in Life)
What behaviors would you like to see more of in your organization? For example, when was the last time your boss sent you a written compliment or thank you note? Never? How do you think it would have made you feel if he had? When was the last time he gave you a sincere, specific compliment about your work? You can't remember that either? Ouch! It's time to change that - even if you are at the bottom of the career ladder.
Picture yourself in a large parking lot, trying to make a right turn into the flow of traffic. Finally someone nice lets you into the line. If you (very carefully) look back a minute later, you are likely to see the car behind your nice "savior" is also letting someone into the line, and the pattern will repeat a few times.
In another example, you're at the checkout line in a crowded supermarket. You enthusiastically (and slightly loudly)  thank the cashier and bagger for doing such a careful job with your groceries. The next person in line is also likely to thank them. Imagine how great they will feel after this! Think also about the impact on their work behavior, and on their desire to stay in that job.
That's the power of modeling, of one person taking the time to demonstrate the positive behavior for others. All it takes is you complimenting someone else, for example.
If you are at the bottom of the career ladder, give a specific verbal compliment. (For example,
When you clean a floor here, it really shines! Thanks for your hard work!)
 If you are a manager, take a few minutes each day to write some brief and specific thank you notes. (For example, That report you wrote on the X Project was excellent! You clearly put a lot of time and effort into it, and made some excellent points I had not considered. Thank you for being such a valued member of our team!)
People work for more than money; they want recognition of their efforts as well.
In 2014, make a resolution to give at least one enthusiastic compliment a day. It's easy, it's free - and it has tremendous benefits.
Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in executive communication skills. We also offer a valuable e-book, Executive Communication Strategies, on 18 vital verbal skills for leaders. It's the e-book you'll wish your boss had read!

Do You Hear What I Hear? Analyzing Telephone Sales Communication

Do You Hear What I Hear? Analyzing Telephone Sales Communication

When you make a telephone call to a business, are you focusing only on the message?  Try also noticing how it is said, from the emotions to the clarity, as well as the sales techniques (if any). You'll get a lot more out of the experience.For example, if you are shopping for a product or service provided by various competitors, analyze each salesperson's performance after the call. Where you able to understand the name of the company and the person to whom you were talking, or was it spoken too fast? Did the person answer your questions clearly? Did he have all the information needed to easily access your account and information about the product or service?  How well were your objections, if any,  handled? If the salesperson realized you were probably not going to buy the product or service, did he proactively let you know that you would be welcome to return in the future?One big difference between a positive and a negative experience is sales and telephone skill training. Such training pays off - handsomely!

Business Speech Improvement can help with telephone assessments, calling  companies in the USA,  posing as a customer and analyzing the results. We also provide intensive training in American English pronunciation, general diction, executive communication skills, understanding non-native callers more easily on the telephone, and more! We even offer a no-cost e-newsletter with great communication tips; to subscribe, click here.

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Dating online? 3 Communication Tips

If you are dating online, and the e-mails and texts stop flying after a few exchanges, consider these tips.

First, the communication exchange is like a (written) conversation. Go back over it, if possible, and think about what you missed. Did you, for example, comment on the other person's responses and ask frequent questions, like you would in a conversation? Or did you expect the other person to carry the weight of the conversation and "draw you out", continuing to ask you questions so you could talk about yourself? (This might feel like being interviewed, for some people.) If one person is doing all the work to continue the conversation, he or she may decide it's not worth it. On the other hand, if the other person is responding barely, maybe it is because of shyness or maybe its due to a lack of interest.

Second, did you ask the other person how he/she prefers to communicate initially, whether on the dating site, e-mail, chatting online or via telephone? People have definite preferences on this.

If the other person mentioned a situation or problem she was having, how did you react? While this is to some degree a generalization, often women who are expressing problems want a listener (of either sex) to empathize, while a male wants a listener to try to solve the problem, if he can.

If nothing else works, and you are still interested in this person, mention that the correspondence has dropped off and ask if  there is still interest on the other person's part in continuing it.

Business Speech Improvement provides training in verbal skills, including a valuable e-book called "Small Talk:Connecting with Others".  It covers starting, continuing and ending a conversation, and many of the tips in it could be used during the beginning stages of dating online.

5 Tips for Leading A Volunteer Project

Leading a volunteer-run project takes excellent leadership skills. Volunteers usually agree to participate in such a project because they want to be useful, want to connect with other volunteers on the team, or want to learn new skills. If something else takes higher priority in their lives, or they dislike the leadership of the team, they leave.

1. Plan your objective, time-frame, staffing, financial and equipment needs carefully, in advance.
If you ask team members to bring equipment or supplies, make sure what you request will be needed. They may have purchased something especially for this project. Carefully determine how many volunteers you will need, and what skills they should have, if any. For example, do you need someone with excellent skills in carpentry, baking, or writing? Announce the necessary number of volunteers and specific skills that will be needed in your request for volunteers. If your project is one that is suitable for families, are you prepared to include children of various ages in the work you are doing so they feel needed? Do not assume the parents will have brought toys for little ones to keep them busy, for example. If children under a certain age should not be there, for safety or other reasons, state that ahead of time.

2. If your team will work together only once, for a short time, how will you divide the work to keep all the volunteers busy, preferably all or most of the time? As leader of the team, use your expertise to keep others involved, in addition to doing some of the actual tasks yourself. Think of yourself as a juggler, keeping all the people busy simultaneously while also keeping everything on schedule. Look around often and see who is standing around doing nothing; find a task that person can do.  If a volunteer is bored, often he will think of other things he would rather be doing - and he will regard this time as wasted.

3. If your team will work together over a long period of time, ask each person to complete a volunteer information form beforehand. Find out if the person likes to complete short term projects which have a sense of closure, is detail-oriented, wants to learn new skills and has a special interest that might fit into the project, likes to do a small amount of volunteer work regularly, or can help but only during certain time periods, for example. Each of those types of volunteers can be invaluable - if you know their needs in advance.

4. Some volunteers get involved to seek recognition and praise. Frequent public or private praise, depending on what they prefer, is easy to offer. (If in doubt, praise them publicly.) For example, have a "volunteer of the week or month", and specify what the person did that was terrific! Possibly you can give them a small token of the group's appreciation, such as a gift card to a local coffee-shop, if that is appropriate, as well as a letter of thanks.

5.  If you are likely to need more volunteers, ask your current ones first what they most enjoy about doing this work. With their permission, use quotes from them as part of your strategy to recruit new volunteers via fliers or online. Also ask current volunteers if they know of someone they would enjoy having on the team. Either they or you can contact the person.

Business Speech Improvement offers training in executive communication skills, as well as an economical  e-book on this.  "Executive Communication Strategies" is a 21 page e-book concisely covering 18 different communication techniques for leadership. It's a book you will wish your boss had read! Click here to get it.

5 ways to lose a customer

Have you listened to your business's outgoing message lately? It can easily turn off a prospective customer.

Here are 5 business message mistakes.
1. Jargon The voice uses industry jargon or worse, acronyms, to tell prospective customers what button to push. A customer who is not familiar with the jargon has no idea what to push. At the least, everyone's time is wasted. At most, you lose a prospective customer.

2. Giving a wrong number The voice prompts people interested in an option to call another phone number - which has been disconnected. Is this company going out of business?

3. Long wait for an online or telephone customer service rep  One company informed me that there were 68 people in line ahead of me to talk to the online reps. Did they really think I was going to wait, too?
In fact, I wondered what the problem was with the company's management that they were so short-sighted about staffing needs.

4.  Departments of a company that refer customers back to each other  One department refers a customer to another department for a quote, while the second department refers the same customer back to the first one for a quote. Clearly, this company has communication issues - and the customer goes elsewhere.

5. The fast talker  The receptionist is so used to answering the incoming calls that she speaks too fast for the name of the company to be understood. The prospective client wonders if he reached the right company.

Any of these can negatively affect your bottom line. For an analysis of the communication from a prospective customer's point of view,  and other services, visit www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com    
We can pose as a customer and analyze what we observe!

To read the latest blog post from Business Speech Improvement.com, and find out how else we can help you,  go to www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com/more/blog.
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Speech training: what to ask

As a speech coach, one of the most common questions I get asked is, "Can speech training really help? When I talk to prospective clients at conferences, or on the telephone, they seem to focus on how I talk, not what I am saying."

Speech coaching with a motivated learner and an expert coach can make a real difference, based on my experience, if the learner is willing to continue practicing the newly learned skills.

When building trust with a listener, for any reason, it helps to emphasize the ways people are alike, and clear communication makes this easier. Maybe both of you like a certain sport, or a particular city or industry. Possibly the two of you are in the same company or are solving the same problem.

If your listener can understand how you are speaking, he can then focus on your message. Make this as easy as possible for your listener.

How do you determine an excellent speech coach? Look for someone who has considerable experience and qualifications in coaching corporate clients or individual adults. Ask about the class size, and how much feedback you will get from the instructor. Is the course customized for you to your specific needs, or does the entire class learn the same lesson even if some of them don't need it? Will you have time to get help saying specific words that are hard for you, such as peoples' names, processes or products you sell?

How many hours of instruction is the course? Is it done in an intensive manner, of 1 - 3 days long, or in 1-2 hourly sessions a week?  Intensive training offers faster results, less travel time, less time to forget what was learned before building on that skill, and may keep motivation higher. It should include some type of follow-up plan for skill maintenance.

 If the presenter is a speech-language pathologist, is not licensed in your state (which you should ask) and is offering speech coaching online, be cautious if she does not ask your state of residence. In at least one state, such coaching by speech-language pathologists who are not licensed there is illegal.

Speech coaches often specialize in the services they provide. Accent modification, presentation skills,
speech rate, executive communication skills, diction improvement,  sales communication skills  and more may be available.

If you need the coaching, but can't afford it, can't get to it,  or don't have time for it, are e-books with helpful tips available as an alternative? Although not as effective as regular coaching, they can offer some helpful information.

Business Speech Improvement offers intensive training in all of the skills mentioned above. It is located in Durham, NC (USA).

Baby boomers: organizing personal finances now

Are you trying to plan for your own retirement, or deal with a senior citizen's tangled finances? Are your insurance, bank and stock or IRA account numbers "somewhere" in a mound of papers - maybe?
Maybe you are wondering how to get a replacement birth certificate for your senior citiizen, or for yourself.

An easy way to get organized financially is through the Financial Overview Template. Use this easy template to write down as much information as you can find now.  Then, be sure to print a hard copy of it, which you can get to if needed, if the electricity goes out.    Later, add the rest of the data, bit by bit, as you locate it or as it arrives in the mail or online. (As your information changes over time, you can update it easily.)

Some of the information may be easy to find, such as birthdates and the name and contact information of a particular accountant, doctor or dentist. Other information such as insurance account numbers and who to call in the event of a claim may take more work; if you can't find these, contact the company or wait for an update from them.

The pages online can be password-protected, and you can keep a copy of this on a password-protected flash-drive with you, handy in case of an emergency such as an unexpected trip to the hospital, evacuation or other disaster.

If you use the services of a financial planner or financial planning software, use this information from your various accounts or those of your parent (or other senior citizen) to prepare before your next visit. By visiting the website of each company and putting in the account number, you can determine the value of each account; write it and the date when this value was announced so you can report this to the financial planner.

The pay-off for this will be a serene sense of financial organization and confidence; you will be able to find  the data you need, when you need it. Just think: your account numbers will finally be easily accessible to you. Your knowledge of your benefits and what they cover, your retirement information, and many other details will be quickly available, too. Imagine how wonderful that will feel! Get the Financial Overview Template now, and be prepared with knowledge of your finances before you need it next!

Four Ways to Help Your New International Colleague at Work

If you have an international colleague at work, you have an interesting learning opportunity, going both ways.

Americans are more individualistic, in general, while many international employees are taught to think first of their work group, not themselves. Therefore, while Americans might ask for what they need, in some countries, other employees could expect their work group to offer this help first.

For example, if you have a new international employee, slowly and clearly explain the American concept of various types of insurance. Insurance is done differently in various countries.

If the employee is new, offer to talk about the corporate culture, or the culture of your particular unit.
What is important to your boss or mission? What changes are being planned for the near future? Does the unit do any group activities, such as a day for volunteering, or cross-departmental project teams?

Some communities have an online calendar of community events. Show that to the newcomer, as well as telling about special events you like in the community that may take place yearly. Offer to take him or her to one of these. Also offer to answer questions about general life in the community, such as schools,  recycling or recreation.

If the person's pronunciation is hard to understand, this can affect his willingness to talk in some cases.  Business speech training is available in various formats for employees; talk to Training and Development or Human Resources about this to see if the company will sponsor this training.

Business Speech Improvement offers intensive training in American English pronunciation improvement for non-native professionals, as well as related e-books and mp3 files. Speech training in general diction, learning to speak slower, presentation skills, and executive communication skills are also available.

Shy? How to make conversation at a social event

You're supposed to attend an important social gathering in the next few days, and you'd rather do anything but go. Worse yet, you know you need to make a good impression on those who are there,
but you are shy.

First, think about whether you will be having to make small talk with strangers as you mingle, or whether you will be seated at a table and only having to talk to those next to you. If you make small talk as you mingle, this means you will need to choose people with whom to speak. However, if the conversation fizzles after a good try, you can move on to talk to someone else!

To start small talk while mingling, try to locate 1-2 people who are by themselves or with just one other person. Try to catch the eye of one of them, which is a way of indicating interest and non-verbally asking permission to talk with the person. If no-one looks at you, stand perpendicular and slightly away from the person to whom you want to speak. When he or she looks at you, start by saying hello, and asking him or her a question. For example, "I understand we both work for XYZ Corporation, or are in the ABC field. I'm (say your name) and I wanted to learn more about what you do for them!"

When the other person answers,  give full attention, and ask a question about his earlier response. "So you work for the LMN Division! That always sounded interesting to me. What do you like best about it?"

If you are seated at a table and need to converse with those on both sides of you, choose one of them and ask a question to get the other person talking. For example, "I understand you are Pat's uncle. He is a good friend of mine! Do you live in the same community, or are you from someplace else?"

When the other person comments, follow up with a question based on something he has said, and sound truly interested. If appropriate, put in a few small comments about yourself, but keep the main focus on the other person.

People usually enjoy talking about themselves, and when they find an interested listener, it can be a rare treat!

For more techniques on how to start, continue and gracefully end a conversation, get the tip-filled practical e-book:

"Small Talk:Connecting with Others"!

Winter Storm Electra and Your Emergency Preparations

Winter Storm Electra, a severe storm,  is predicted for 20 states  of the USA in the next few days. Those affected need to be prepared with extra water, easily prepared food (and a manual can opener), extra medicine, extra batteries for flashlights, rock salt and shovels if in the freezing rain, ice storm or snow zones,  charged up cell phones and computers, a well-stocked car emergency kit if traveling, and a full tank of gas. You need to pay close attention to the latest weather reports and warnings, whether by radio, internet or TV.

But think beyond this. If the worst should happen, would you know how to reach your homeowner's/renter's, car and health insurance companies? Would you have your account numbers and the claims departments' telephone numbers handy? Would your family know how to get these for you, in the event you couldn't make these calls?

Now is the time to think about these possibilities, not later when you may be dealing with weather problems.

An easy way to get organized financially is through the Financial Overview Template. Use this easy template to write down as much information as you can find now, before the storm gets bad in your locale.  Then, be sure to print a hard copy of it, which you can get to if needed, if the electricity goes out.    After the storm, add the rest of the data, bit by bit, as you locate it. (As your information changes over time, you can update it easily.)

The pay-off for this will be a serene sense of financial organization and confidence; you will be able to find  the data you need, when you need it. Just think: your account numbers will be easily accessible. Your knowledge of your benefits and what they cover, your retirement information, and many other details will be quickly available, too. Imagine how great that will feel! Get the Financial Overview Template now, and be prepared with knowledge of your finances before the next storm comes!

Sales communication: impressive up-selling by thinking ahead

A hotel in Chicago is using some sophisticated techniques to simultaneously show concern for their guests' welfare and "up-sell". The Majestic Hotel sends confirmation e-mails to guests after they make their reservations. At the bottom of the e-mail is a list of options guests can choose to have ready for them when they arrive. The options range from a bottle of specific wines, milk and cookies at bed-time, or a fruit basket,  to a day-long transit pass, a picnic lunch of local delicacies, a bike rental, two hours in a kayak, or other options.

The hotel has clearly thought ahead about guests' frequent requests, and now is letting guests choose them before they arrive. This allows the hotel to more easily fill the requests, and gives them some extra profit as well.

When the guests arrive, in their rooms they find a refrigerator filled with common soft drinks and water, as well as a variety of snacks and even small toys related to the local tourist attraction. These are available on the "honor bar" system; the hotel maid notices what is gone, notes it as a charge on the bill, and refills the items daily when the room is cleaned.  Guests do not need to get dressed and leave their rooms to find a vending machine.

Another need of some guests is for a place to relax, read the newspaper and drink some tea or coffee.
These are available in a home-like "living room", where guests can chat with each other.

This same idea of thinking ahead about your customers' needs and meeting them before being asked could be used by astute business owners and managers in many fields.

 A human resources manager, for example, could think ahead of time of the many questions asked by new hires,  career development options in the organization and to a page on career pathways for employees.

A medical practice could remind patients of upcoming appointments, invite them to write down their health concerns,  and need for prescription referrals before the appointment,  answer the top 5 questions patients ask the staff about the latest health issue, or give ideas about how to stay healthy this season.

What options can you offer new customers or employees to up-sell them on your organization?

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in many aspects of communication in business. They include communication techniques for leadership, accent modification, presentation skills and more. Seminars, individual coaching, and e-books are available.

Amazing customer service - restaurant style

Maggiano's Little Italy in Durham, NC is a little restaurant with a fascinating angle on customer service. They want to make their target customers (new customers and out-of-town visitors) feel very special. They do this in a way that can be (but rarely is) used by most businesses, especially those in the hospitality and other service industries.

I recently had dinner in this restaurant for the first time. The server casually asked my guest and me about ourselves, and any dietary needs. Upon learning that my guest was visiting from another state and that we had never been to the restaurant before, the server quietly swung into action. After we were served a delicious dinner, several members of the restaurant staff visited to welcome us, and we were offered a complimentary (and wonderful) mini-dessert for us to split.
The purpose of this extra attention was of course to make us feel like visiting royalty, and naturally want to return.

Basically, the approach of this restaurant boils down to three principles that can easily be used by other businesses. First, the first person who approaches the new customer is well-trained to ask a few casual questions to search for customers with specific characteristics. Second, there is a system to discretely alert other members of the staff, who also welcome the visitor. Third, the business provides complimentary samples of additional services or products to these visitors, as a tangible welcome.

Many businesses could also offer to put the visitor on their mailing lists, and send him or her coupons for special deals or freebies throughout the next year to entice him to return. Others such as hotels maintain a database of customers' preferences (whether for types of rooms, recreational activities if mentioned, or other issues), so that they can refer to it when the customer comes again.

What is a recent example of great customer service that you have experienced, and what could other businesses do to emulate it? If you own or manage a service business, what else could you do to welcome your new customers?

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in communication skills. Training is offered through seminars, individual coaching and economical, practical e-books. One such e-book is Executive Communication Strategies, including tips you might wish your supervisor knew!

9 Easy Ways to Improve Employee Retention of Your New Hires

What are you doing as an organization to actively encourage retention of your new hires for their first year? Communication here, in various forms, is crucial!

New hires are the people who have the least loyalty to your organization. They have not built up a retirement account or pension with you; they usually have no great long-term friendships among the other employees or appreciation for how the organization helped them when things were tough for them a few years ago.

New hires know how to find jobs, and have fresh contacts among recruiters and other influential people. They will have no difficulty leaving for a better job elsewhere, if they are unhappy with your company.

New hires need a lot of training, from technical skills to corporate culture. It is very expensive to train them and difficult to watch them leave if they are unhappy. New hires'  first impression of your company should be an impressive one, where  a supervisor, colleagues and trainers communicate enthusiasm about their new hire and have a coordinated plan to work with the person. If a group of people (including people currently in that job less than 2 years themselves) thinks ahead of time about what a newcomer needs to know, there will be fewer episodes of "you should know by now to _____" or "someone should have told you when you started to __________" when in fact orientation did not include that information (or maybe a formal orientation did not even happen).

Provide new hires with a dictionary of acronyms and jargon used at your company and in your industry. One new hire walked into a staff meeting her first day, and was handed an agenda filled with acronyms. In addition, the person leading the meeting used many more acronyms. The meeting leader was aware of all her new staff members sitting there confused, but did not explain what the terms meant. She was in effect providing a negative first impression of her organization and wasting the time of the new hires. If a dictionary of acronyms had been provided, or the acronyms had been explained, at least they would have understood the subjects being discussed, and felt that somebody had prepared for their arrival.

Avoid hitting new employees with a tsunami of new information the first days. Teach them the essentials then, and then bring them back for more on a frequent basis. How much can new employees be expected to understand in a day?  Clearly, all the information they are given is not equally important for their job. In many organizations, each department representative is asked to present the most important information new hires need to know about that department. This includes many forms and procedures.

Later, some of the many department heads and others who presented information to dazed and overwhelmed new employees  made comments  to the new employees similar to these:
When I talked to your group at your orientation, I told you you must never do X; don't you remember? (Clearly the department representatives had no idea of how many facts, procedures and forms the new employees heard that day from many representatives, or how many such facts a person can recall.)

When you teach new employees how to use software, be prepared to give them their user names and passwords immediately.  This is especially true when the company uses several types of software and the employee may get confused between them. As one frustrated trainer scolded a new employee, "You were taught on your first day how to use that software; even though you didn't get your password for 4 months, you should have remembered what you were taught!"Adult learning doesn't work that way; how much would you recall from a detailed-filled course that was given that long ago and not referred to since then?

Focus on your new hires! Meet with them at least quarterly, and preferably monthly, to review their progress.  Ask them simply, "How are you doing? How can I help you?" Then...simply listen to them. If they don't answer, maintain a 30 second pause until they hopefully say something.  At first they may be reticent, as you are their supervisor. Keep asking, that day and on future days, until they trust you enough to ask for your help. Frequently praise specific details of their performance, and let them know how they can climb the career ladder or otherwise achieve their career goals. If you can give them a small raise sometime during the year, it will make a big impact.

Find out as soon as employees are hired what matters most to them: career growth, continuing learning opportunities, job security, team work, travel if related to work, or something else. Use that knowledge as you work with them.

On the first day the employees are at your company, ask one of their colleagues to take them to lunch (on the company nickel) and get to know them as people. Have those colleagues mentor them for the first month or so, checking in with the person frequently to see how he is doing and if he has questions.  Help the new employees make more connections, possibly through being involved in cross-departmental  teams or working on projects with various employees. Friendships help an employee decide to stay at a company.

Make a photo gallery of all the employees in a given department or in a small organization. Underneath their photos, write their names and job titles. Post this where the new employees can see it; it will help them learn their colleagues names' faster, especially if the organization is large,  operates on 2 or 3 shifts, or has employees (such as sales or training staff) who are frequently in other locales. It will also help the other employees' learn the new ones' names.

The Gallup 12 questions, as they are known, are powerful ones. Use them when an employee is hired, and then regularly to assess progress and increase engagement.
 
It takes a lot of work for a new employee to fit into a corporate culture and learn all that is expected.
Work to retain the new employees, or you will be training their replacements soon! Show them that you value their prior experience and ideas they bring to your organization. Take time to ask them to tell you some things that other organizations do differently, and which may help your company. Their fresh observations may help you understand what potential employees (and maybe customers) may see when they look at your company. If you ask for this information on an anonymous basis (maybe through a checklist) soon after they are hired,  it is possible that they will be more willing to tell you helpful negatives as well as positives.

For many more tips on powerful communication and leadership, get the e-book Executive Communication Strategies, by Katie Schwartz of Business Speech Improvement.    

Business Speech Improvement offers seminars on communication strategies for leadership development. Check out the details (including the agenda) now!

What is your outgoing voice message saying about you?

When a prospective customer, client, friend or someone else calls your business or personal phone, he may hear your outgoing voice message. What impressions are others getting of you after hearing this?

Today I called a luxury hotel and heard the outgoing message of the director of a department. The message was very fast and I had to listen very carefully to understand the person's pronunciation.
The message included the date the person recorded it, as in "Today is ____. I am in the office today." The problem was that the this was not the date I was calling on, so the message had not been updated.

The impression I got was of someone who speaks fast and may not pay attention to details, such as the date or his speech. I wondered if he would pay attention to his department's business details.

When recording an outgoing message, say your name slowly and carefully. Your prospective customer may be in a noisy setting, or may need to remember it so he can write it down. If you leave a telephone number on any phone message, say it only as fast as you can write it (in the air, if needed). Your listener may be writing it down - and if it is clear, he may only need to do it once. 

Put only the essential information in the outgoing message, so you have time to speak clearly.  If you record a new message daily, do that first thing in the morning. If you leave an outgoing message promising to return calls quickly, keep your promise!

If you have speech difficulties, get help for them, whether they are a strong accent, a communication impairment, or something else.  Your speech gives an image of you and your organization. Speech help these days can come in the form of individual or small group coaching, online coaching, an e-book, an mp3 file, or other options.

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive coaching, small group seminars and e-books on diction, accent modification, presentation skills, communication strategies for leadership development, and more! 

Leadership: Developing and Communicating Emergency Plans

What would you do - right now - if the electricity went off in your home or business? Do you know where the closest flashlight is, and have the batteries been checked in it this month? Could you find it easily in the dark? How would you cook or get heat? Are there people who are dependent on electricity for medical reasons, such as CPAP machines? If so, do you have a back-up generator?

Now consider the common emergencies faced in your workplace or home. Besides a loss of electricity, consider weather-related ones, medical, building repair, financial, personnel and legal ones (such as someone getting arrested).

Recently, a reader with expertise in emergency management asked his supervisor about the organization's emergency management procedures. The employee was startled to hear that the supervisor didn't know these plans, but referred him to the Human Resources department.

If emergency plans are not known to everyone - and practiced regularly - there is a major problem in communication. During a disaster, it's too late.

Ready.gov is a great source in the US for information on how to prepare for common emergencies.
Check it out!

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in executive communication skills.

Getting right to the point; changing your focus

Are you ever so focused on what you want to say when you go to see someone, that you forget to say "hello" first and see how the other person is doing? That's a common experience. You know it's rude, but you don't know how to change this.

When asked about this today, I advised the person asking me to imagine himself walking into his workplace and having a periscope rising from his head. Using the imaginary periscope, he is to look around and notice others, ask how they are doing, notice what they are doing, and only then to say what is on his mind. He may discover, for example, that when he notices his boss, she is in a bad mood or too rushed to listen to him at that time. He will know then to wait until another time to discuss the topic on his mind, or to see if someone else can help him.

Business  Speech Improvement offers intensive coaching and economical e-books on many aspects of verbal communication, such as executive communication skills, presentation skills, verbal networking and more! Enroll today in our free online e-magazine, too!

The On-boarding Process and Your New Employees: 3 Questions to Ask and When

When a new employee starts, especially if there is only one starting at that time, the orientation or on-boarding process can be given little attention. The goal is to get the person to be a productive worker as fast as possible, so why worry about the "frills"?

The extra information presented, often at a slightly slower pace than warp speed, allows the newcomer to get acclimated to the company's culture and ways of doing things. On-boarding often occurs over a period of several days, weeks or even a year, depending on the complexity of the job and the amount to be learned.

After the new employee has been there a month, it's a great time to realize the employee may have ideas to share with his new employer - if the employer cares enough to ask. The employee may have worked for other companies with different ways of doing things, and may know a better way to do a process or project. He may know helpful websites, or have concerns about how things are done at your company. However, he is not likely to say these - unless a manager takes the time to ask these 3 invaluable questions.

1. You've worked at other places. Based on that (or what you've learned in school, if the employee is a new graduate), do you have some suggestions on how we might do things better? Every employee's ideas are of interest to us! We might not notice what we do, because we've done it so long or so often, but you as a new employee would notice these things right away.

2. Do you know of  non-confidential websites, great equipment or other resources that might be of special benefit to the company? If you find these, please let us know.

3. What information related to your job, the company or the industry would help you most at this time? Do you need training in a specific area? If so, do you know how to request it?

This is also a time to share some initial feedback with the employee, of positive things you have noticed. The employee then realizes that he matters to you,  that you notice what he does, and  he will usually try to please you.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books on various types of communication. If you found the above technique helpful, you'll definitely want to read Executive Communication Techniques, our e-book on many other practical strategies leaders can take to improve communication skills!

Are you prepared for this disaster?

In sections of the country, disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes occur with little warning.  Thousands of people have to make the decision to suddenly evacuate  to shelters, often with little warning.

If this happens in your community, and you have to suddenly evacuate, would you be prepared to quickly take your vital financial papers with you? Obviously, saving lives is most essential, but how would you put your financial affairs back in order after the event? Would you know the names of the car insurance and flood insurance companies to call? When the clerk asks, "What is your policy number?", would you know what to say? How about needing copies of your professional license or other credentials, if you decide later to move elsewhere, or your bank account number? If you have a pension or stocks and bonds, are you going to remember the account numbers? Your employer's computer systems may have been damaged.

Before a disaster strikes your community, prepare now! You may not have much warning.

The Financial Overview Template© is a simple form to complete online, listing all of your financial information. This includes details on your bank accounts, insurance policies, retirement accounts and much more. You can do this a little each day, if that helps.  Doing this helps you feel secure that you have all the information in one place. It also helps a spouse or other family member if something happens to you. Lastly, in the event of a disaster, with a hard copy printed out in case there is no electricity for the computer,  you are more prepared.

(Put the hard copy in plastic page protectors, in a notebook, along with hard copies of all your licenses, birth and marriage certificates, first pages of your passport,  military records, diplomas, house deed and car title. Put this all in a sealed plastic bag, and it will be easy to grab in the event of a disaster.)

The Financial Overview Template © can easily be updated online, so the information stays current. (Password protect the page for extra security, or print out the template and fill it in by hand if you prefer.) Should you or your family experience disaster, you will be so thankful you had the foresight to have this information in writing, in one place!

No-one wants a disaster to happen. However, it is always better to be prepared - and that includes getting your financial affairs organized. Do it the easy way: use the Financial Overview Template!

Six Things to Consider In a Speech Training Program.

You've decided to make some changes in your speech. You want to speak slower, modify your accent, get rid of your lisp, make better presentations, communicate more clearly with your staff, or some other difference.

What should you look for in a speech coach or trainer?

First, ask about the person's training. For example, does the person have a master's degree or doctorate in speech-language pathology? Does he have a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) after his name?  Is he state-licensed as a speech-language pathologist in your state?  Some speech-language pathologists specialize in corporate work, working with professionals in the workforce; they are called corporate speech pathologists or corporate speech trainers. Being certified as a "coach" is nice, but exactly how does this certification pertain to your communication issues?

Second, ask about his experience in working with your type of communication issues. You want someone who has experience, if possible.

Third, find out how services are provided: in-person, individually, in a small or large group, or online.
Some states have laws that limit if speech coaching can be provided to residents online, unless the corporate speech trainer is licensed in your state. If the speech coach is not licensed in your state as a speech-language pathologist, and won't take the time to find out what the laws are in your state, you should be asking him or her about this. Some reasons are legitimate, but other people are unaware of the laws.

Fourth, ask how often the services are provided. Intensive speech training often gets results faster, because less time is needed for review. It is done in full-day sessions, sometimes 3 or 4 days long, and should include a follow-up plan for skill maintenance.  Having 1 - 2  one-hour lessons a week often requires a long time to get results, and some clients may not remain motivated.

Fifth, after finding out the cost, ask your supervisor if the company will sponsor you for this training. Some companies will sponsor you if you seek out the speech program and ask for sponsorship.This usually is part of career development. The fact that you have taken the time to find the speech training program will show the company you are motivated.

Lastly, ask how many people are in the program at once. Are the lessons customized to your needs as a learner, or does everyone study all the material in the course? If everyone studies all the material, whether they need it or not, the course takes longer and motivation may decrease.
Customized lessons save your valuable time.

Great speech makes business sense! Get the speech training you need, and feel confident about it!

Business Speech Improvement, in Durham, NC, offers intensive speech training through small groups and individually. Details of upcoming seminars and types of training are at www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com.

American English Pronunciation: LIttle-Known Rules that Matter

It's 11:15 AM on the first day of a small group seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. The instructor is explaining about the 3 words in American English which have "th" in their spelling, but in which the "th" is silent: months, clothes and asthma. The learners comment, "I didn't know about this rule!"

Later, the students learn about other letters which are not pronounced, such as the "L" when written after an "a" and before another consonant, as in  walk, talk,  palms and psalms. The "a" is pronounced like "aw" in walk and talk, and like "ah" in palms and psalms.

The American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals seminar is a three-day intensive seminar. It includes individual speech assessments, targeted training, materials - and instruction on these essential rules.

Only 6 people are accepted in this exciting seminar. Get the details and enroll online by clicking here!

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive, customized training in many verbal skills, including American English pronunciation improvement. Economical e-books on verbal skills are also available.

Rate of speech: strategies to slow down

Many people are told that they speak too fast and should slow down.  Often they don't realize they are speaking so quickly, and deny it. They also don't realize they are omitting certain sounds in words, or even entire syllables, are repeating some syllables, and speak in sudden bursts of several quick words.

They may have been told to slow down, and did it - for a short time - to please someone else. Then they were back to speaking quickly again.

This type of speech pattern is called cluttering. It is a fluency disorder. It can easily affect social and career relationships.

There are a number of self-help strategies such speakers can try.  The first is having someone record the person speaking and also reading aloud. Then listen to this with someone else and notice the patterns. Awareness of the problem and being willing to work on it are crucial.

Are entire syllables or individual sounds being omitted, such as street becoming seat?  Are there short bursts of speed? Does the speaker realize he or she is going fast when speaking?

Many times people confuse the generic "mumbling" with cluttering. Cluttering has a specific set of symptoms, while mumbling can be any time a person does not speak clearly (or a person with a hearing loss does not understand easily and blames it on "mumbling").

One clutterer reported what it felt like, and how she improved her speech. To read her story, click here.

The cause of cluttering right now is under investigation. Some studies point to possible brain structure differences and also genetics as possible causes.

The speaker should also list the impact of the problem on his or her life. Who has trouble understanding the person? Is this affecting personal relationships, work, or hobbies? How?
The speaker must recognize there is a problem and be willing to work on it before any help can be effective.

Business Speech Improvement offers intensive coaching on speech rate.  An e-book, called How to Speak Slower in Six Simple Steps. is also available.

Telephone behaviors that are so irritating

On a LinkedIn group, I posed the question, "When you call a company, what does the other person or company do that is so irritating?" A remarkable number of people responded, very fast. Comments ranged from not speaking clearly enough so that the caller could understand the greeter, to sounding angry when answering the phone, to speaking too fast,  to being placed on hold for long periods of time, and a lot more.

Most of the respondents I presume were Americans.

What behaviors irritate you when you call a company? Please let us know your country. Irritants may be different in various countries.

Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in verbal skills, including telephone skills.
Click here to learn about our new pre-recorded webinar on professional strategies to understand those with strong accents, and also to discreetly help customers with hearing loss!

Accent modification - the intensive way

Accent modification for strong foreign and regional accents can be done on many schedules. The most frequent one is one lesson a week for an hour, with the hope that learners will practice between sessions.  Some learners do practice as instructed. Others are busy and don't have time for this, or fear that they are practicing incorrectly and soon stop.

Intensive accent modification is done either 8 hours a day, for several days, or at least several hours a session or several sessions a week. There are 3 advantages to this.  Learners have less time to forget, so minimal time is spent in review. Learners make faster progress, because they are getting more lessons and errors are corrected immediately by the instructor if the learner does not catch them. Third, learners are more motivated, because progress is faster.

A follow-up plan of some type needs to be in place, to help the learner maintain his or her new skills. Newly learned skills must be reinforced by the instructor or others who are native speakers until they are habitual.

Intensive accent modification especially appeals to busy professionals who may have tight schedules,
those who need to speak clearly as quickly as possible for upcoming meetings or presentations, and
managers who need their employees to speak clearly as fast as possible.


Business Speech Improvement offers open enrollment small groups for accent modification. Other options are offered as well. Click here for details!

Customer service: voice of the organization

Do your front line staff know that, to the public, they are the voice and face of the organization? Do they have the communication skills expertise to showcase your company in the most positive manner?

In an interesting interaction, a visitor to a recreation facility stopped an employee and gently and tactfully made a suggestion. "Have you ever considered having more trash cans [at a certain location in the facility]?" she asked. She explained what she had witnessed with the trash situation. The employee then stated emphatically that more trash cans would not help but that she hoped the [departing] visitor would educate the other visitors near her when they littered. The visitor, sensing the employee was very irritated, then complimented the employee on how nice the facility in general was looking, and the employee smiled slightly.

Afterwards, the visitor realized that, despite the suggestion box near (with no suggestion forms in sight), the employee did not think visitor suggestions were of value to the facility - even when the suggestions could make her job easier. The employee was basically telling the visitor that she didn't want to hear anything but praise.

A better way for the employee to have reacted would have been to write down the idea and say she would take it to her boss, sounding as if she valued the idea. The employee could then have asked which sections of the facility the visitor enjoyed most, or a similar question to keep the visitor focused on the best parts of her visit. This would not have taken long, and would have ended the visitor's stay in a very positive way.

Think about your front line staff. How do you want them to view customer suggestions - as something positive for the organization, or as a nuisance?

If you value customer suggestions, how do you let your staff and/or the customers know this?
Do you act on the suggestions and let the staff and customers know,  reward them or take other actions? Please share your ideas!

Business Speech Improvement offers intensive coaching and also an e-book on communication strategies for leadership development. Poor communication is so expensive; learn practical strategies for improving your skills!

Speech-Language Pathologist - Ready for Something Different?

It's that time of year, when many speech-language pathologists (SLP)s are so tired of massive amounts of paperwork (think: IEPs and insurance billing) and productivity standards! The question appears: what else can I do? (As more than one such burnt-out SLP told me, "If I do another ___ again, it will be too soon!")

After being asked this question by a total stranger on the telephone, I became intrigued, and spent a lot of time researching options. It turns out that there are many choices.

The first question is what intrigues a given SLP: favorite aspects of the field, preferred population and work hours, and even hobbies that could become involved.

How could these all become connected?

Eighteen SLPs who switched careers did so in a wide variety of creative ways. Details of their transition journeys are included in Alternative Career Options for SLPs, by Katie Schwartz (Business Speech Improvement, publisher).  (Many of these choices would also be applicable for burnt-out physical therapists, occupational therapists, and special educators.) Each story includes what the original career setting was, the process of change, what the person chose to do, the positives and the negatives of the choice, and how to get started in the new field, if the reader is interested.

The book also includes a self-assessment questionnaire, to help readers consider possible future options.

The book can be ordered from www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com.

Accent Modification Seminars and You: 6 Reasons People Enroll

Over the years of teaching foreign (and regional) accent modification seminars, I have heard a lot of reasons why people enroll. Here are 5 of the most common - and 1 more unique one!

 1. I can't stand the puzzled looks people give me when I speak to native speakers; they can't understand me easily. 2. I want to improve my speech - but I don't know how. 3. For my career development, I need to talk better to either keep my current job or be considered for the job I really want in the company. 4. I have to be able to be understood clearly in a hurry or when my listener is stressed or sick. I'm in the medical field. 5. I'm about to give a speech. Listeners need to understand my diction better so they can focus on my message. and finally, number 6! I use Dragon Dictation at work- and it doesn't understand me. Can you help me speak so my computer will understand me better?

Whatever your reason, know that intensive speech improvement seminars are available! Each comes with a follow-up plan of some sort, depending on where you live and the type of training you have had. Upcoming seminars in American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals, in October 2014, and Speech Rate Reduction, for speedy talkers,, are now enrolling learners! Click here for details. Other seminars, individual coaching and e-books are also offered.

What's YOUR reason for wanting to enroll in an intensive speech improvement seminar?

Accent modification training - what is it?

Are you frustrated with your pronunciation of American English and the impact it has on your communication at work and in the community? If so, accent modification training may be a great help. An experienced accent modification coach or a corporate speech pathologist first analyzes your speech, and then designs a plan to improve it. Accents involve pronunciation, speech rate and the speech intonation (how your voice goes up and down). Your plan should include all of this. It may also include help with grammar and American idiomatic expressions if time is available. Training can range from 3 (full) days plus follow-up to one hour once a week. It can be done in a small group or individually. A good quality program should not be a large class, where everyone learns all the sounds again. Many of you already know most of the sounds, and should not have to practice what you know already. In a small group, the instructor has time to listen for your errors, which is vital. Another indicator of an excellent program is the availability of time to help you practice your professional and other important words. As one of my clients reported recently, "I'd been saying those business words wrong for a long time - and I didn't know it!" Business Speech Improvement offers seminars on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals; sign up today! E-books on business communication are also available.

Job/school interviews and your communication skills

It's that time of year again, and many people are interviewing for jobs. New grads, experienced managers, and many others are hoping to find a great position - and they know their communication skills count. In fact, "excellent verbal communication skills needed" appears on many job descriptions. Most likely, you already know about having great eye contact and a firm handshake. The part that likely worries you is answering the questions. Start by searching online for lists of questions often asked of people in your industry, or going to your type of college or grad school program. Then try to answer the most common questions, and record yourself. For starters, answer these 5 questions: 1. Why do you want to work for our company/go to our school? (This is a trick question to make sure you know enough about the company or school to have an intelligent answer. Make sure that you have researched the company/program thoroughly.) 2. Why do you think you would be a great fit for this company/program? (Start by researching the program's or company's mission statement, and think of 1-2 examples of when you have done something similar.) 3. What are your strengths? (Think ahead of 3-4 specific strengths that would help this organization. Team-work and communication skills fit into any scenario.) 4. What are your weaknesses? (Choose minor weaknesses, and stress how you are working to improve them.) 5.Do you have any questions for us? (After studying the information about the company online, think of 2 intelligent questions. One quesiton might be to ask the company representative about they would describe their ideal candidate for the job or program. Do NOT ask about salary, pay grade, when you would be paid, or anything similar. Focus on how you can give to the company, not how much you will get!) At the end, if the company rep does not mention it, stress that you are very interested in the job and ask when you might expect to hear from the company. Set yourself apart from the rest and write a thank-you note! Interviewers receive these very rarely, and appreciate your effort. Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching in many aspects of verbal communication. Individual coaching on preparing for job interviews is available on request.

Top 5 Questions About Speech Training

As a speech coach, I get asked a lot of questions about the speech training I provide at Business Speech Improvement. Here are the answers. 1. How much does speech training cost? The answer depends on the speech issue (such as foreign or regional accent modification, presentation skills, learning to make small talk, learning to speak slower, communication skills for better leadership, etc). It also depends on whether you want individual or group speech coaching, and how long the training will be. For those who prefer to do the training themselves, to save money or because of distance or scheduling, e-books and other products are available on many speech-related topics. These include presentation skills, diction, American culture, coping with hearing loss, professional telephone answering skills and executive communication techniques. Click here to access them. In general, you save money by having intensive coaching, because less time needs to be spent on reviewing the information. That's why our shortest sessions are 2 hours long, and most of our work is done in full days, or half-days, when schedules permit. The feedback you get from the instructor is invaluable, so you don't practice incorrectly. 2. Can speech coaching help me? The first questions only you can answer, and they are "why is improving my speech important to me?" and "Am I willing to really practice what I am being taught?" If you are motivated and willing to practice, speech coaching can help most people. I say "most" because the rest of the answer will require an assessment or at least a telephone screening. People are not widgets, and no guarantees can be made. 3. How long does the coaching process take?" I need better speech by next week." Yes, I get this a lot! Intensive speech coaching can be done in a short period of time; the exact length depends on the problem. 4. I forget to practice; I'm so busy at work. Can you still help me? The follow-up process uses several approaches to help with this specific issue. 5. I live very far away. Can you still help me? Yes, in many cases. Speech coaching can be done online in NC (USA), in selected other states in some cases, and in other countries. E-books are also an option. Great speech makes business sense! Visit us at www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com to see how we can help you!

Entrepreneurs and public speaking: a crucial combination

If you have a business start-up, or are planning to start a business, how are your public speaking skills? If you get a chance to speak before an audience about your business, will you seize the audience's attention and do a masterful job? Is your preference to stand up in front and just "wing it", rambling away your precious 5 minutes?

 Tonight I watched a range of 7 business people talk about their businesses. Only two did a great job, leaving the audience with a powerful image of their products and their professionalism. Five could have given much stronger presentations. Here are five beginning level skills in public speaking that a new entrepreneur should master. 1.Write a "thesis statement" about the one single fact you want your audience to remember about your business. When you outline your presentation, make sure all of the points somehow relate to that fact. This eliminates rambling. 2. Practice your presentation, using key words, until you know it very well. Then practice it a little more. If you are given a time limit to talk, make sure you speak slightly less than the limit. Some groups ask you to stop at their time limit; if you are not quite finished, that might mean you wouldn't be able to give your conclusion. 3. Record your presentation, and try to keep the number of "ums" down to less than 5. More "ums" make you sound unprepared and lacking in confidence. 4. Make sure your presentation matches your audience's level of knowledge of the subject. Speaking above their level of knowledge puts your audience to sleep. 5. If you are offered a microphone, use it! A considerable number of audience members may have a hearing loss. Even if you ask if they can hear you without a microphone, the ones who cannot hear you well will not usually say anything. Speak directly into the microphone; don't turn your head to the side while holding most mikes in front. For many more tips on how to cope with stage fright, write and deliver a powerful presentation, get the e-book  Public Speaking: You Can Do It! from Business Speech Improvement.

Speech training and you!

Are you concerned about your speech or the speech of an employee? Speech training provides an assessment and a targeted program designed to make a person's speech as good as it can be, within a certain time frame of instruction. Listen as I explain what services are available from Business Speech Improvement. Business Speech Improvement also offers e-books and other products, for those who prefer them. Think about this: all of business requires some form of communication, whether it be pointing, talking or using electronics. Improve your verbal skills; visit www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com today!

Giving a speech: the most important aspects

The audience sits expectantly at the beginning of your presentation. They are interested in what you have to say. After a very short time, though, you notice they are checking their text messages, reading the program, or looking elsewhere. Soon a few of them may excuse themselves, walk outside, even doze. What happened? Giving a great presentation is an important skill to master. The first aspect of this is a powerful introduction. You have a mere 30 seconds to capture the audience's attention. Saying your name and "how are you doing?", as many beginning students do, is a major waste of time. You have to seize the audience's interest! One of many excellent techniques is to have a dramatic introduction. Tell the most compelling or exciting aspect of an adventure, for example. If you are making a more scientific-type presentation, start with a powerful statistic. For example, "Eighty-four percent of people have X." Another important part of the presentation is a very strong conclusion. "Well, I guess that's it" said in a weak voice is wimpy. The type of ending used depends on the purpose and style of your presentation. For example, an informative speech might end with your vision of a better future or a more appropriate solution for a given problem. It is said in a strong, confident voice. The e-book Public Speaking: You can Do It! offers easy-to-understand examples of many types of introductions, conclusions, organizational styles, powerful words and other techniques. You only get one chance to make a great first impression with your speech. This e-book will help you hit the target! Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books on many aspects of verbal communication. For more information on Business Speech Improvement, click here. Check us out now!

Do you struggle to understand others with strongly accented speech on the telephone?

Do you answer telephones a lot at work and have trouble understanding people who have strong regional or foreign accents? Maybe you ask them to repeat themselves several times, and still can't understand, such as this Scottish man in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My40XgYEvLM. Or maybe the person at the other end has a hearing loss, and can't understand YOU! There are more effective methods you can use to get better results in many cases. A new pre-recorded webinar, Pardon Moi:The Art of Effective Listening, explains the problem and offers concrete strategies to improve comprehension on the telephone. One strategy is to ask people to repeat themselves - ONE time. Try these other techniques and see the difference! Frustrated prospects often don't buy. You can't afford that. Get this pre-recorded webinar and see the difference that professional telephone strategies make! Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and products to help people communicate more effectively. Great speech makes business sense!

Sales Communication: Three Errors You Don't Want to Make

As a salesperson, your first job is to match up the customer with the right product, or to determine the prospect is not right for any of your products. Then you need to close the sale with the customer. Here are some major errors novice salespeople make. 1. Don't focus on the features (such as the product's size, ability to do it X times faster, or array of buttons). Instead, focus on the customer's needs, such as a need for ease of use, rapid delivery time, or ability to fit into a tiny space. You will only find out the needs if you ask well-chosen questions, such as "What type of features are you searching for?" When getting to know the customer, immediately start asking him or her questions, which gets the customer involved and focused on the conversation. This is especially crucial with telephone conversations, because the customer may be doing computer work (or other things) without you being aware of it. Asking questions lets you know whether there is a potential fit between the product and customer. 2. Don't talk too long at one time. Always keep involving the customer. In a recent sales telephone call made to me by a nervous and inexperienced salesperson, the person spoke for over 30 minutes. As I was not in a rush, was doing something else while she spoke and was curious as to how she was going to handle this sales call, I patiently listened. However, 99.9% of the time, the customer would have hung up long before that point. 3. Don't speak spontaneously and also don't read from a script. Speaking totally spontaneously may mean a poorly chosen flow of words or a bad example. It may result in making you sound incompetent. However, reading from a script may make you sound mechanical. Few people can read with such wonderful expression that you sound spontaneous. Instead, if your company allows it, memorize the talking points or other crucial items and flow, while using your own words. This is a happy medium. Business Speech Improvement provides coaching in verbal communication skills. Visit us online to see our coaching and e-book options!

Is your regional accent hurting you at work?

Some British professors are modifying their speech patterns to sound more "posh", according to a study by PhD students Victoria Mountford and Michelle Addison. The professors feel that having a higher-class speech pattern will help them when staff cut-backs are being considered. The research, entitled "Talking the Talk and Fitting In: Troubling the Practices of Speaking "what you are worth" in Igher Ed in the UK" will be presented this week at the British Sociological Association's annual conference being held this week. The effect of strong regional accents in the workplace has been studied here in the USA as well. In a study done by Patricia Cukor-Avila and Dianne Markley of the University of Northern Texas published in 2000, 56 people in a position to hire were asked to rate the 45-second recordings made by 10 white males from different parts of the country, each with a regional accent. Each read the same passage. Those with the least identifiable accent were rated most highly, and were given hypothetical jobs involving the most public contact. An exception was made by people in Texas, who preferred their own regional accent. This correlates with a study done at Texas A & M University. In business today, the impact of a strong regional accent may be even stronger. People giving speeches, participating in teleconferences or even calling clients in different parts of the country report listeners judge them first on how different they sound, and in some cases may not even consider the message they are sharing. In at least one business in the USA, where employees are on the telephone constantly with many clients for brief periods of time, employees are required to use a standard American speech pattern at work. Those who need it receive training on how to change their speech patterns. Business Speech Improvement provides both intensive speech coaching in regional accent modification. Those who prefer to try to change by themselves may be interested in our e-book on "Diction Makes a Difference!" and the mp3 file on "Pronounce American English More Clearly"

Easter and Passover, and communicative responsibility

It's almost time for Easter and Passover, two holy days for millions. If you will be gathering with family and friends for a special Easter dinner or Passover seder, are you able to start a conversation and make small talk with others there? Are you comfortable asking others questions and showing an interest in them, or do you expect them to do that so you can talk only about yourself? Communicative responsibility is taking responsibility for helping to keep the conversation going. Whether you are the host or the guest, you show an interest in others. You may start a conversation with someone who looks lost or is very shy, ask your host or hostess how you can help with the party, ask someone else a question about his family, work or hobbies, or simply ask someone else to tell you more about whatever she is discussing. Maybe starting a conversation with a stranger is hard for you. Before you go to the event, think of 5 questions you could ask him. For example, ask how he knows the host, or how long he has lived in the community. Do you need more tips? Small Talk: Connecting with Others is a concise e-book with many practical ways to start a conversation, keep it going, and end it graciously. You deserve to be more comfortable talking with others; this e-book is easy to read and gives tips that are easy to apply! Get it today! (Hurry, Passover and Easter are almost here!)

Is it Match Day for you?

Across the globe, thousands of would-be medical residents in American hospitals are eagerly awaiting the results of Match Day. This is the day when they find out if they have been accepted for a residency program and the hospital to which they have been matched. Match Day, as it is called, can occur at various times in February and March, depending on the specialty area. However, for many people, Match Day is March 15th. It is an honor to be accepted for a residency program. Once accepted, however, many new residents, and their families, want to know more about American culture. What are aspects of American life that are different from their native lands? Coming to the USA: American Cultural Differences is an e-book that answers actual questions asked by many new residents in the USA. How do Americans tell time? What is insurance and why is it important here? What are appropriate telephone manners in the USA? How do Americans use a mailbox? What are our holidays, and how is a holiday different from a vacation? Before you come to the USA, learn about our culture from Coming to the USA: American Cultural Differences. (It's at the bottom of the page.) Be prepared for this great opportunity!

Small talk: a lot of blarney?

Blarney is a word that can mean flattery or nonsense, or in other words, flattery that is nonsense. A person who does this a lot is said to be "full of blarney". Small talk, on the other hand, is talking with a stranger in the hopes of either passing time or, more likely, making a connection between the two people. Flattery or nonsense are rarely involved. However, with St. Patrick's Day coming up, here are some tips on making small talk anyway. If you are in the midst of a conversation with a stranger and want to prolong it, a way to do this is to ask him or her to tell you more about the subject under discussion. If appropriate, ask a question, to show you are interested. If you want to leave the conversation, and only two of you are talking, give a reason so you have a stronger exit line. "It's been nice talking to you, but I need to go (to meet more people, to go out with my friend, etc)." If you want to connect with the person some other time, you could give him your business card, or simply write your e-mail or telephone number on a scrap of paper. "Small Talk:Connecting with Others" is a concise e-book that offers tips on starting, continuing and ending a conversation graciously. Small talk has big value; learn how to do it today!

Leadership development and executive communication

This year, reportedly 40% of American workers are planning to leave their jobs, often because they dislike how their boss treats them. Are you one of them? Such a "brain drain" has dire effects on a company's profits, as it can be expensive to recruit, hire and train a new worker. In addition, the productivity of new workers is usually lower for a while. A smart solution would be to spend time, effort and funds on training supervisors to be more effective communicators. For many supervisors, a simple e-book just released, called "Executive Communication Strategies" would provide many strategies they could use. This concise new e-book offers many easy tips. Special ones include a list of questions smart leaders use when considering new ideas, professional listening strategies, conflict resolution suggestions, explanations of why many people do not speak at meetings (and what a wise leader could do about this), and even tips on how to let employees know you appreciate them. (After all, how did you feel the last time your manager told you what a great job you were doing? (If your manager has never told you this, do you want your employees to feel as unappreciated as you feel?) The basics of training strategies for adults, improving communication at meetings and much more are included. "Executive Communication Strategies" could be included in a leadership development seminar, an MBA course on leadership, or in private Mastermind groups to share new techniques. Great communication matters! Business Speech Improvement provides intensive coaching and e-books on many aspects of communication. Visit us today!

You're vs your: does it matter?

Homophone: Your vs You're Today I received a business e-mail from a well-educated, native English speaker. The writer is a professional with an important organization. The e-mail had the word "your" when the writer meant "you're". This has happened with e-mails from other people, as well. The impression these e-mails give is of a writer who either doesn't have a good education or is careless. Those impressions reflect on the employer, as well. Your is a plural possessive, as in "It's your coat." You're means "you are", as in "you're going there". There are many homophones which need to be learned. Homo means "same", while "phone" means "sound". Both words in a pair of homophones sound the same, but the spellings and meanings are different. To see one such list of homophones, click here or paste in http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/homophones-list.htm. Details, such as homophones, matter. So does your reputation. Learn the common homophones!

What's YOUR accent?

The USA is a land of many accents. Accents are usually fine, in my opinion, as long as people can communicate easily. When an accent is so strong that it impedes communication, people pay more attention to HOW you talk, not what you say. That's when you need help. So, what kind of American accent do YOU have? Check this fun (and surprisingly accurate)quiz! If you have a strong accent, research is showing that it can impact your career even if you are working in the same community in which you were raised. One reason is that you communicate today with people from all over the country, and often the world. Whether they moved to your community, you give a presentation in another part of the country or online, you talk on YouTube, or you speak with others on the telephone, a strong accent can be an impediment to careers in many cases. An easy way to hear how standard English is spoken is to listen to an anchor on a national television station when he gives the news. Pay special attention to how he or she says word endings and vowels. If you want to work on your diction yourself, the concise e-book Diction Makes A Difference has many exercises to try. It is designed primarily for those with strong American regional accents. If you have a strong accent from another language, try the mp3 series, Pronounce American English More Clearly! Great speech makes business sense! Listen to how you speak - others are!

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) : ready for something different?

Recently speech-language pathologists in medical and educational settings spoke about situations that provoke burn-out. As one put it, "I'm swamped with paperwork!" With fewer providers, more paperwork and more productivity expected, they feel overwhelmed. Does this describe you as well? There are other professional roles for speech-language pathologists than as direct service providers. Some SLPs become supervisors, while others serve as trainers for equipment that SLPs and their clients may use. Some SLPs train other SLPs in a variety of fields, or work with communicatively-impaired clients in non-traditional ways. Alternative Career Options for Speech-Language Pathologists by Katie Schwartz is a book which describes the choices 18 SLPs made to combine speech with some other field. (The book is also appropriate for OTs, PTs, and special educators.) Each chapter covers the choice made by one SLP or team of SLPs that chose to work together. Readers will learn the process of that change, what the person decided to do, and the positives and negatives of that choice, as well as how to get started in that field. Even if the reader is not interested in those choices, learning what others have done can help to spark new ideas in the reader's mind. There is also a chapter on a self-assessment questionnaire that the reader can use, to help him or her consider appropriate choices. Additional career options are mentioned here briefly as well. To get this book, click here (and scroll to the bottom of the page).

It's getting close to Valentine's Day, and in the US, many people go to parties then. The big question comes up: what do you say to a stranger at one of these parties, if you want to know the person better? Before you go to the party, think of 5 questions you could ask someone there. You already have something in common with each of them - you are at the same event. Maybe you work for the same company or industry, or know the same host. One example might be " Hi! I'm (your name). I work as a (job title). What do you do in the X industry?" Let's say you have just bravely walked in the door to a room full of strangers. You know no-one there. As soon as you put your coat somewhere, look around and search for someone who is standing along. (If it helps, you can pretend to be the host at the party; some people do better if they imagine themselves in a role.) Often this person will be next to one of the walls, but not always. Look at him or her, and smile. If the person smiles (even slightly) back, go over and say hello. Tell the person your name and ask for his or hers. Then make a comment about the event and ask one of your questions. For example, "This is a terrific party! How do you know (the host)?" Be sure to respond to the other person's comments, and occasionally tell something about yourself as well. For more information on how to start, continue and graciously end your conversation, click here for the e-book, "Small Talk:Connecting with Others"! Learn the secrets of body language and conversational strategies to start that conversation and keep it flowing!