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Communication Matters Newsletter

Ah, Vacation!

 

Like millions of families this summer, we will soon pack up and go on a summer vacation.  Unlike Clark Griswold, we won't load up the station wagon and go to Walley World (and I likely won't see it, but sequels are rarely as good as the original).

 

 

We will spend a considerable amount of time and money to "get away from it all."  However, in today's world, that is more of a dream than a reality.  While on "vacation," I'll answer emails and phone calls, prospect for clients, probably write a newsletter article, work on the book, and do some long range thinking and planning.  About the only thing I won't be doing that is part of my normal schedule are day-to-day family responsibilities and in-person training and coaching.  Otherwise, the show must go on, vacation or not.  I may not see myself as a businessman (hey, I'm a Public Speaking Coach!), but I can't take a break from running the business.


And though we'll plan some big chunks of our week away, much of it will "just happen."  Those impromptu car games, family card nights, new parks and restaurants and experiences and views, and memories with old and new friends are what turn out to be the highlights. 

 

As I ponder and plan this pipe dream of "getting away from it all," it hit me that most people view speaking that way.  They don't see themselves as speakers, primarily, so any activity that isn't formal speaking must be "getting away from it."

 

Probably the Number One answer students give to the question "What makes a great speaker?" is "Preparation."  Preparation IS important.  Vitally important (we are creating an online video course on presentation creation that should be available to the public this quarter!).  Don't omit preparation.  But what about those other engagements?  Those off-the-cuff and unplanned speaking engagements?

 

There are two types of speaking we do:

  1. planned
  2. impromptu

The planned speaking includes meetings, updates, presentations, training classes, and sales calls.  We know what we're going to say.  We are practiced and polished.  We know when it will start and when it will end (hopefully).  But most of us spend more time in unplanned communication: the cold call, the water cooler meeting, the off-road topics during a one-on-one, the Q&A session of the conference breakout, or the car ride to Walley World.  It's in these moments that two indicators come to light: your delivery skills and your ability to effectively get a message across.  The principles of great communication don't apply only to planned engagements. 

 

Just like the unplanned times of vacation turn out to be some of the best memories, your ability to use spontaneous communication to work on your skills is vitally important to your long-term success on the big stage.

 

Don't take time off from communicating.  Your business, and life, can't take the break.  Always on.

  

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Speaking Tip of the Month
     

Be intentional and know your objectives


Take 60 seconds to plan your next "semi-planned" engagement (you know it's going to happen, but you don't know what the content will be.  It could be a phone call, meeting, or email.)  Write down what you'd like to accomplish in that communication, and remind yourself before the meeting what you want to do.  Being intentional is a key element of great communicators, whether it's a rehearsed speech or off-the-cuff comment.  Knowing your objective is a vital part in having both parties fulfilled in a verbal exchange.


  

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Reaching kids before they develop bad habits and fears of public speaking     

We are pleased to be getting traction in several school systems, both public secondary and graduate schools.  Communication skills are a perfect complement to technical skills, business leadership programs, sales techniques, entrepreneurs, marketing initiatives, and personal growth.  My vision would be to eventually reach children before they develop bad habits and fears of public speaking.  Many adults have carried these burdens for decades, and it's harder to break later in life.  

 

If you have inroads to an educational institution, please do us the favor of an introduction.

 


The Importance of Telling Your Story
     

The Creator's Journey is a free podcast from Charles Gupton Productions.  Each week, Charles interviews creative leaders who consistently push through the fears and obstacles that every creator faces to produce their work.

 

Recently, Alan Hoffler sat down with Charles to talk about the Importance of Telling Your Story.  Alan talks of how he has transformed his thinking to see himself not as a presentation coach but instead as someone who empowers other people to speak their stories into the world.  He also addresses one of the biggest misconceptions -- that public speaking is a natural talent that not everyone possesses. Instead, Alan maintains that powerful, effective speakers who can present their stories and ideas well have mastered a set of skills that any of us can learn with practice and determination.


Listen to the free podcast.
 

The Ultimate Conference for Speakers of all Levels

The Presentation Summit
Sep 27-30, 2015   *   New Orleans

Join Alan in New Orleans as he presents his Keynote presentation, "What Not to Say:  The 10 dumbest things speakers say" and his breakout session for speakers on "When Everything Goes Wrong: How can you still succeed?"     

The Presentation Summit is a user conference, featuring live presentations, workshops, and a hands-on support center. People attend in order to learn how to become better content creators, better presentation designers, better storytellers, better presenters, and better users of PowerPoint and other software. They leave with a much broader and deeper understanding of the principles and best practices for presentation design, creation, and delivery. 


Because Alan will be one of the keynote speakers, we are able to offer our clients 
an instant discount of $75 when they use "client code" NOLA75.


 
See you in "The Big Easy!"

July 2015
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July 27-28 Early Bird rate ends July 2nd!
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Two days that will change your life!  This highly interactive, hands-on workshop gives you the skills to face an audience and deliver content in a clear, concise, and compelling manner. Close that deal, give that career-changing presentation, or motivate your audience to action. Speak with confidence, power, and ease. Limited seating.

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Presenter's School

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Alan will be presenting communications topics at a week-long certification program of national trainers for coaches. Consider inluding communications training as part of your next leadership program.

 

Presentation Summit

September 27-30
New Orleans
Join Alan as he presents at the National Presentation Summit on two topics: "How Speakers do right when everything goes wrong!" and "What NOT to Say."  Join him in the French Quarter!


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If you need a speaker for your next corporate meeting or professional organization, contact us at [email protected]. Check out our keynotes or have us customize a presentation or workshop for your group.

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Find out more about our public workshops, corporate training, private coaching, and keynote speaking at www.millswyck.com. 
MillsWyck Communications
Communication  matters.  What  are  YOU saying?
  
Alan Hoffler, Philorator (Teacher & Lover of Speaking)
(919) 386-9238 

Alan Hoffler is the Executive Director and Principal Trainer at MillsWyck Communications.  He is a Trainer, Speaker, Author, and Coach who passionately moves others to effective and engaging communication.Follow me on Twitter