Determination of customer/patient/employee needs before they enter your office

Many professionals today, especially doctors, lawyers, accountants, managers and consultants, need to keep careful track  of their time for billing purposes.  If a client, employee or patient has his concerns  organized in writing before walking into your office, the visit is likely to be much shorter.

One smart doctor developed a form, listing the basic categories for which people came into his office. In his case, it listed symptoms, follow-up issues, prescription refills and tests. Everyone entering his waiting room was handed a clip-board to which a pen was attached, and asked to complete this form.

They handed it to him when they entered his exam room. It saved him and his staff a lot of time, and kept his office remarkably on schedule!

What are the main reasons people come into your office? Would a form like that, or simply giving a space to list problems, solutions already tried  and suggested solutions be helpful to you?

Business Speech Improvement provides communication coaching. Our helpful e-book, Executive Communication Strategies, offers valuable tips in 18 areas of communication for leadership. Learn more about it here!

                                 

Are you ready for your PR opportunity?

A businessman sponsored a formal professional seminar. He provided refreshments and a room. He was invited to talk about his business before the audience, some of whom were in a position to hire his company. Although very friendly, he was dressed quite informally and rambled considerably during his presentation. He had not thought to bring any business cards, either. The overall result was that his verbal and visual image wasted his public relations investment in this opportunity.

Are you prepared for your next PR opportunity, even when you don't expect it? Are you dressed appropriately enough for your work? If a TV camera captured film of you representing your company or at work, would you cringe? If there is the possibility that you will be asked to "say a few words", would you sound poised and professional, with a concise and relevant speech? Be prepared!

If public speaking is not your specialty, the e-book Public Speaking: You Can Do It!
gives easy ways to start, continue and gracefully end a presentation.

Business Speech Improvement also provides intensive coaching in public speaking, accent modification, reducing speech rate, executive/managerial communication for leadership and more!

Persuasion and Your Voice

Do you want to become a more competent persuader? Your voice can help you do it.

Several techniques can help you. First, speak at a normal volume, but at the crucial point, speak slightly softer.
(This only helps if your listener has normal hearing or you are using a microphone!) It sounds to your listener like you are conveying a secret, and he will pay more attention.

Second, pause briefly right before the crucial point. This also helps focus the listener's attention.

Third, change your rate of speech at that point. Speak slower if the information is complicated for the listener to understand. Speak slightly faster if this is urgent, such as pleading with people to stay away from the area of an accident.

If your voice is normally mono-tonal, and lulls people to sleep, speak with more energy and enthusiasm. Be excited about what you are saying!

Business Speech Improvement provides coaching for better communication. Check out our e-books, open enrollment seminars and individual coaching options!

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!

Need to be more persuasive? Try this surprising technique.

Researchers at Yale University have found a link between holding a warm object
(such as a cup of a hot beverage) and increased friendliness, which could result in increased persuasiveness. If you are an attorney, salesperson, recruiter, manager, negotiator, or other person who needs to be persuasive, offer a hot beverage of choice.
(Keep a supply of both caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages on hand.)
Read more about these fascinating studies at http://www.romow.com/health-blog/new-research-says-warm-drinks-make-us-warmer-emotionally/ .

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive, targeted training in verbal communication skills through group seminars, individual coaching and concise e-books.
Training options include presentation skills (with specific options for litigators and for salespeople), accent modification, rate of speech and much more.