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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #789

by Rick Baker
On Jul 25, 2013

Thought Tweet #789 When it comes to people, each of us has some home-made putty to deal with: we can start with self.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Business is about people, process, and situations. People create the process and people create most of the situations.

So, when you boil it down business is about people.

We all know that.

And, we all forget it…at least from time to time each of us forgets it.

When it comes to people, each of us has some home-made putty to deal with: we can start with self. How can we expect to have any success leading other people if we cannot develop skill at leading self?

 

Napoleon Bonaparte had it right when he said, “If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self”. When we understand self we have a chance to guide self to better places. When we understand self we have a chance to increase our good habits and reduce our bad habits. When we understand self we have confidence and we are better-able to tackle new things. This is what Napoleon taught when he said, “conquer self”.

Tags:

Business Contains Only 3 Things | Habits: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things | Hero Worship | Influencing | Leaders' Thoughts | Thought Tweets

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About prospecting for Clients

by Rick Baker
On Dec 21, 2012

When you finally present stuff to a prospective client, the goal is:

To help the probable client want to hear more from you and see more of you...and only you.

Some tips on how to get that done: 

  • Get to the point - when it comes to words that influence, less is better
  • Touch the emotions - don't let 10  minutes pass without at least one touch
  • Hasten the pace - use simple, ear-friendly words and speak a little faster than average
  • Enjoy the flow - of more importance, help the Prospect enjoy an easy-to-follow flow of information
  • Be [your unique] yourself - let your talents & strengths shine through
  • Offer insight - be clear as you convey the unique value you deliver to your Ideal Clients 
 
The bottom line...

When you finally present stuff to a prospective client, the goal is to help the probable client want to hear more from you and see more of you...and only you.

Tags:

Goals - SMARTACRE Goals | Influencing | Sales

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Thought Tweet #454

by Rick Baker
On Apr 12, 2012

Thought Tweet #454 Loyalty is the better half of trust...and a wonderful aspect of relationships.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

We should cut loyal people some slack. They should not be taken for granted. They deserve much-better-than-average treatment. They deserve the best treatment we can deliver.

Tags:

Beyond Business | Influencing | Thought Tweets | Values: Personal Values

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Crank Up Your Leadership Strengths

by Rick Baker
On Aug 2, 2011
Here’s a picture to help you crank up your Leadership Strengths.
 
 
 
 
Specifically, if you want to expand your skill at inspiring followers or influencing the outcome of actions or persuading people to join your way of thinking – here is a picture and a checklist:
 
a How To Inspire checklist:
  1. Do You Want It…enough to do some serious work to get it?
  2. Are You Clear & Specific About It…the more-clear and more-specific the better?
  3. Do You Really, Really, Really* Want it…Do You Have A Burning Desire For It?
  4. Can you Communicate a Vivid Picture Of It...a ‘sticky’ Mind-Picture?
  5. Are you Leading The ‘Good Habits’* For It…showing by example how to bring it about?
Footnotes:
  1. Remember when you were a kid…often kids got what they really, really, really wanted
  2. A link to Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things…[this Thought Post is a New Thing, a 1-Page Tool you can think about as you plan how to achieve your goals]

Tags:

Entrepreneur Thinking | Habits: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things | Influencing | STRENGTHS: People-Focused for Success

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More Suggestions for Compelling Presentations

by Rick Baker
On Oct 14, 2010
From ‘How To Talk So People Listen’, by Sonya Hamlin
 
The number-one guidelines for planning and presenting Business Communications:
  • Audiences need to visualize your ideas to bring clarity, interest, and credibility to them.
  • You must be challenging, interesting, surprising, alive, energized, and original to get and hold the audience’s attention today.
  • You need to involve your audience and interact with them to keep them with you.
Sonya Hamlin’s advice meshes well with that of Philip Theibert and the advice of the Heath brothers, Chip & Dan.
 
So, from now on, every time I create a new presentation I will refer to the following 3 Thought Posts:
And, at least once a quarter, I will revisit the compilation of advice from Dale Carnegie, Peter Urs Bender, and Stephanie Palmer contained in Compelling Presentations.
 
Footnote:
 
Why improve your public speaking skills?
 
Brian Tracy provides lots of good reasons…
  • You will attract the attention of people who can help you
  • New doors will open for you
  • You will feel more confident
  • You will increase your self-esteem
  • You will be given opportunities to use your developing skills at higher and higher levels

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Influencing

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How to Give a Damn Good Speech

by Rick Baker
On Aug 5, 2010
‘How to Give a Damn Good Speech’…that’s the name of a book written by Philip R. Theibert.
 
When I find books like this, I like to create summaries so I can look at them when I am preparing a presentation. I find it helpful to look at different perspectives.
 
Here is a summary of some of the points made by the author
 
The Basics of a Good Speech
  1. Identify your topic and goal
  2. Write your opening line
  3. Identify a few key points
  4. Support your key thoughts
  5. Wrap it up with a summarizing conclusion
Beyond Basic – To a Damn Good Speech!
  1. Acknowledge your audience
  2. Take a moment to define your terms!
  3. Clarify your qualifications
  4. Address audience biases
  5. Tell them what you are going to talk about!
  6. Tell the audience why they should care
  7. Back up your points with stories
  8. Back up your points with facts
  9. Back up your points with history
  10. Build strong transitions
  11. Wrap it up
  12. Include a call to action
  13. Conclude with the beginning
A couple of thoughts..
 
Take a moment to define your terms! and Address audience biases: these are interesting facets. Under Take a moment to define your terms! we need to avoid industry jargon and keep our words simpler/straightforward. We can not assume others understand ‘our world’ or our train of thought. On the other hand we can excel if we are able to accurately discover and understand then Address audience biases.
 
We need to understand the audience…that takes preparation.
 
We need to do what we can to make sure the audience understands us…that takes preparation.
 
More on speeches and presentations in future blogs…

Tags:

Communication: Improving Communication | Influencing | Leaders' Thoughts

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