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Here’s Why Successful Presentations Planning Must Begin with an Analysis of the Audience

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Have you ever listened to a presentation and thought, “What does this have to do with me?” If you have, the chances are the presenter didn’t spend enough time thinking about you, the audience member, as he created his message. It’s the responsibility of the presenter to make the message clear to the audience. Therefore, one of the very first things you should do when you’re crafting your presentation is to analyze your audience.

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About the Author

Bill Rosenthal is the Chief Executive Officer of Communispond Inc., an organization that has taught business communications skills to more than 600,000 persons. Bill is responsible all aspects of the business including sales, marketing, content development, and the delivery of Communispond courses by certified faculty. Prior to joining Communispond, Bill was CEO of Digi-Block Inc., a K-12 education publisher focusing on mathematics. He also served as President of Kaplan College, a division of Kaplan Inc., the well-known test preparation company, where he developed and launched the online college that offers Associates and Bachelors degrees and certificates in Business, Information Technology, Nursing, and Law. In a previous role as President of Ziff-Davis Education (now called Element K), Bill oversaw the leading supplier of computer training products worldwide and supervised the operations of ZD University, the leading web-based computer skills site.

Loud and Clear: Six Tips for Communicating in a Way That Truly Resonates

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In today’s information-packed business world, it is easy to communicate, but it isn’t always easy to be heard. Here’s some advice on how to create messages that people really remember.

Today we are overwhelmed with messages. Some are just 140 characters long. Others are much longer, but they are constantly bombarding us – trying to lure us to acquire and consume information (then repeat the process over and over). Technology – social media specifically – allows for constant communication, but easy communication doesn’t necessarily translate to messages that are received, understood, and capable of driving action.

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About the Author

Nancy Duarte, author of resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences, is CEO of Duarte Design in Silicon Valley, one of the few agencies in the world focused solely on presentations, whether delivered in person, online, or via mobile device. Nancy’s firm has worked with the top brands and thought leaders in the world helping them develop their presentations. She has over twenty years of experience working with global companies and thought leaders and has influenced the perception of some of the world’s most valuable brands and many of humanity’s common causes.

StrategyDriven Podcast Special Edition 31b – An Interview with Stacey Hanke, author of Yes You Can!, part 2 of 2

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StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve superior results. These podcasts elaborate on the best practice and warning flag articles on the StrategyDriven website.

Special Edition 31b – An Interview with Stacey Hanke, author of Yes You Can!, part 2 of 2 explores the internal and external communications factors that help us positively influence those around us to take the actions we desire. During our discussion, Stacey Hanke, author of Yes You Can!: Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action and President of 1st Impressions Consulting, shares with us her insights and illustrative examples regarding:

  • key actions that make meetings more effective, including:
    • the purpose for holding a meeting versus other forms of mass or group communication
    • when meetings should be scheduled and agendas provided
    • rules of thumb for determining who to invite to a meeting
  • how to overcome one’s fear and deliver great presentations
  • presentation bad habits and why they should be avoided

Additional Information

In addition to the outstanding insights Stacey shares in Yes You Can! and this special edition podcast are the resources accessible from her website, www.1stImpressionConsulting.com.   Stacey’s book, Yes You Can!, can be purchased by clicking here.

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About the Author

Stacey Hanke is founder of 1st Impression Consulting, and author of Yes You Can!: Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action. Her client list is vast; including Coca-Cola, Kohl’s, United States Army, Navy and Air Force, Leo Burnett and the FDA. She has been featured by SmartMoney magazine, Business Week, Chicago WGN and WLS-AM. To read Stacey’s complete biography, click here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:48 — 32.7MB)

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StrategyDriven Podcast Special Edition 31a – An Interview with Stacey Hanke, author of Yes You Can!, part 1 of 2

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StrategyDriven Podcasts focus on the tools and techniques executives and managers can use to improve their organization’s alignment and accountability to ultimately achieve superior results. These podcasts elaborate on the best practice and warning flag articles on the StrategyDriven website.

Special Edition 31a – An Interview with Stacey Hanke, author of Yes You Can!, part 1 of 2 explores the internal and external communications factors that help us positively influence those around us to take the actions we desire. During our discussion, Stacey Hanke, author of Yes You Can!: Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action and President of 1st Impressions Consulting, shares with us her insights and illustrative examples regarding:

  • what it means to ‘communicate with influence’
  • Attitude, Authenticity, and Audience – the three most essential skills to communicating with influence
  • why consistency in communication is important to communicating with influence and building trust

Additional Information

In addition to the outstanding insights Stacey shares in Yes You Can! and this special edition podcast are the resources accessible from her website, www.1stImpressionConsulting.com.   Stacey’s book, Yes You Can!, can be purchased by clicking here.

About the Author

Stacey Hanke is founder of 1st Impression Consulting, and author of Yes You Can!: Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action. Her client list is vast; including Coca-Cola, Kohl’s, United States Army, Navy and Air Force, Leo Burnett and the FDA. She has been featured by SmartMoney magazine, Business Week, Chicago WGN and WLS-AM. To read Stacey’s complete biography, click here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:47 — 36.8MB)

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Can You Hear Me Now? Top Tips To Make Sure Your Communication Isn’t Breaking Up

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We don’t know what we don’t know and this is why communication can be challenging. How many of us can honestly say we’re 100% sure our messages are heard and that we’re always perceived as confident, credible and trustworthy? Have you ever walked away from a meeting, media interview or face-to-face conversation with a client saying to yourself, “I shouldn’t have said what I said,” or “I can’t believe I forgot to say…?”

As a leader, you must be able to clearly communicate your purpose and value. Most of us are under the blurred assumption, “If I communicate a message it’s heard.” In reality, your message may not have been heard at all.

Lindsay Edmonds Wickman, Associate Editor for the Chief Learning Officer magazine, states: “…we are are good at analyzing business situations and making decisions, but what we aren’t as good at is communicating with others.”

How do you know if your communication is breaking up? When what you say isn’t consistent with how you say it. For example, when someone tells you “I’m so excited to have this opportunity to work with you,” and they communicate this statement in a monotone and boring voice. Their facial expressions are lifeless. They never look you in the eye and they’re fidgeting with a pen. You’d question their credibility and knowledge, and not take action on what they have to say. To guarantee your message is heard so that you’re communicating with impact and influence, make sure you’re always following these five tips.

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About the Author

Stacey Hanke is founder of 1st Impression Consulting, Inc. and co-author of Yes You Can! Everything You Need From A to Z To Influence Others To Take Action. Her client list is vast from Coca-Cola, Kohl’s, United States Army, Navy and Air Force, Leo Burnett and the FDA. She has been featured with: SmartMoney magazine, Business Week, Chicago WGN and WLS-AM.

Visit Stacey at: www.1stimpressionconsulting.com.