Dear %%Name%%
Welcome to the first edition of the Black Isle monthly news letter. I want to make this an informative, entertaining and useful resource for all those interested in public speaking and communication.
Each month I will include two or three short news articles along with useful links to other resources. I will also do a monthly 'You Tube feature' in which I will link to a well known public speaker at work and give a brief commentary on what makes them good or bad communicators.
I have included a feedback button at the bottom of the newsletter and I would be delighted to receive any comments you may have. Please do feel free to also use the special feature button which allows you to forward the newsletter for a friend or colleague and subscribe them for future issues. You can also link directly to my blog, which takes a light hearted look at the world of public speaking.
Public speaking and effective communicating is so important in today's world. Anyone can improve their technique by following a few simple lessons, and the benefits to both speaker and audience are tremendous. But most of all it should be fun. What we do best at Black Isle is to increase confidence, improve technical skills, and ultimately make our clients better communicators.
John Miers Chairman,
Black Isle Consultants.
Keep Thinking About Public Speaking
There are two things that seem to be inevitable when times are tough. Companies freeze training and management retreats in to the boardroom and plans how to survive.
I do not think I need to convince anyone how dangerous it is to stop training your people in skills that will make them do their jobs better, when times are tough. The problem is that Profit and Loss sheets and Balance sheets are designed by accountants. There is no line that shows or measures customer satisfaction. There is no line that measures employee morale.
Perhaps if there were lines like that, the accountants in the boardroom would act differently.
When times are tough, you have got to make sure, more than ever, that your team are operating at their best and with the latest ‘good practices’. That is just one reason to be training.
But also, the leaders must get out, talk to and listen to the staff. Hear their fears, encourage and make them see that you understand and care. In good times, you get away with just ‘communicating’. But when times are tough you must communicate …. and encourage and motivate. This is where the skills of speaking are vital. Your audience will see straight through a false or unengaged delivery. In fact the effect will be the opposite of what you are hoping for.
Now is the time to get help on speaking so that you inspire your audience.
Hit Me Again, I Can Still Hear Him!
Long ago, in an old auditorium the chief executive officer had been droning on and on delivering one of the most boring speeches. The audience was trapped and could not slip out because they were frightened of the wrath of the CEO.
Suddenly at the back of the hall, a large piece of plaster from the old ceiling broke loose and fell onto the head of a man, knocking him to the floor. The speaker was too far away to notice but those close to the unfortunate man hurried to his assistance.
As they lifted him off the floor they heard him whisper “Hit me again, I can still hear him!”
This story has inspired the title for the book that John Miers has at last finished, on speaking skills. It will be launched in a few weeks and will be sold through the web at first.
Watch this space. If you want more details send us a message.
Online Presentation Skills
For years, I have argued against presentation skills online. You must have a human being there to give you valuable feedback, was my opinion.
But technology is so far advanced today that you can put almost all the teaching online. Especially the Black Isle approach. That is what we are doing. In a few months we will have the most exciting, interactive speaking skills programme available on the net.
Imagine your computer telling you how you are performing. That is what we are developing.
Watch this space.
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Each month we show a link to a good and a bad speaker, with a short commentary on each by John |
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This month: You heard it here first. Brad Wall for Prime Minister!
Watch this link of him talking to his party conference in Sakatchewan. Click Here |
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