by Avish Parashar

Is it possible to motivate someone just by being a really good listener? I think so, and I’d like to share an experience that backs this up…

I was talking to a friend yesterday who was having problems with her boss at work. Her boss happened to be one of those managers who a) thought he knew everything b) didn’t and c) refused to listen or take any advice from anyone (sadly, it probably comes as no surprise that managers like this exist in the world. Probably in much higher quantities than they should).

After a particularly annoying and frustrating interaction with him, she called me on the phone to vent about it. After listening to her vent for a bit and asking a few questions, I gave her a little advice on what she could do next.

At the end of the call she said, “Thanks, you are a very good motivational speaker. Although you didn’t say much, you mostly listened. So I guess you are a very good motivational listener!”

“Motivational Listener”? I had never heard that before, but the phrase resonated with me. Sure, there are plenty of motivational speakers in the world – the people who get up on stage and talk to you about how to make your life better (by quite a few definitions, I am one too). But motivational listening? To be able to motivate people to action by simply (or mostly) just listening to them…hmm… Read the rest of this article »

by Debra Fine

Stanford University School of Business conducted a study that monitored a group of MBAs 10 years after graduation. What did they learn? That their ability to converse had a huge impact on their success and grade point averages had no bearing whatsoever.

The ability to connect with others through small talk can lead to big things, according to Debra Fine, author of The Fine Art of Small Talk (Hyperion 2005). A former engineer, Fine recalls being so ill at ease at networking events and even the 10 minute coffee break during a meeting that she would hide in the restroom. Now a motivational speaker, Fine believes the ability to develop relationships with people through small talk is an acquired skill.

Fine offers the following tips for starting − and ending conversations:

• Come up with three things to talk when preparing for a function along with a couple generic questions that will get others talking. If you’ve met the client before, remind yourself of things about her, such as a vacation she was headed to or specifics about her family. Read the rest of this article »

by Don Cooper, The Sales Heretic™

Most of us believe we’re good listeners, when in fact, most of us are lousy. (If you don’t believe me, ask your spouse.) Yet listening is a critical skill that we all need to be better at. Listening allows you to relax, compose your thoughts and gather valuable information. And truly effective listening builds rapport, respect and trust.

Whether you’re networking, selling, negotiating or simply having a casual conversation, keep these principles in mind:

See Eye to Eye

When someone is speaking to you it is imperative that you maintain good eye contact with them. Looking at something else sends the non-verbal message that whatever you are looking at is more important than the speaker is. An additional benefit for you is that by looking at the speaker, you can pick up on their non-verbal signals, which will help you better understand what they really are (and are not) saying.
Read the rest of this article »

by D.J. Vanas

With the mountains of the Front Range watching over me like guardian soldiers, I began my journey from Colorado Springs up to Rocky Mountain National Park, about three hours away, for a speaking engagement. I put a book on CD in the stereo, the sun was shining, the weather was perfect and thankfully, the traffic was moving quickly and smoothly on the highway. All seemed right and good… and then it appeared.

Out of nowhere, a decrepit white van with mismatched hubcaps shoved its way into traffic and began a battle of epic proportions. It dodged, weaved, cut several people off and tailgated others, receiving blaring horns and a few one-finger salutes from fellow travelers. I’d watch the van accelerate to find an opening and then suddenly its tail end would lift as the driver slammed on the brakes. This impatient driver wasn’t just a pain to endure; he seemed to be an outright menace. The mysterious white van went through this agonizing routine for almost the entire hour it took to reach Denver, suffering his own obvious frustrations but also attempting to force everyone around him on the highway to suffer them as well. All this and here’s what the van accomplished – he was a mere three cars ahead of me after an hour! Read the rest of this article »

by Sarah Michel

With our economy in a recession and unemployment at the highest rate it’s been in over 16 years, there is no hiding from the fallout…we’re all feeling it.  However, there is a silver lining in this dark cloud we’re all sitting under.  There has never been a better time to invest in growing your network and social capital than now.

I have lived through several recessions in my lifetime and the one consistent observation I’ve made is how people seem to shift their priorities to focus on what really matters during lean times…relationships.  This is the time to start reaching out to people in your network and looking for ways to be a resource to others to increase your netWORTH™.

Your netWORTH™ is determined by your access and influence (which I call your “A & I factor”) that you have with your network.  Now is a great time to gain access to people you want to meet or have not seen in a while because business is slower and people are more available.  You will gain more influence when you focus on bringing value to others and commit to being a resource.  Approach your network with your arms open. Read the rest of this article »

by Don Cooper

Whether you’re planning a monthly meeting, a public seminar, or an international convention, you want to have as many attendees as possible. The more people you have at your meeting, the more exposure your sponsors receive, the more value your attendees derive from networking, and the more likely you are to fill your room block. Not to mention the more revenue you generate from registrations!

So how can you increase attendance at your next event? (Without spending a fortune on marketing?) Just follow these guidelines.

Select the Right Speakers

Most meeting planners select speakers they’ve seen before or have been referred to them by another meeting planner. Which makes sense. You want to know your speakers will perform well on stage. Read the rest of this article »

by Jeff Thredgold, CSP

The “dismal science” of economics typically focuses on “bad” news. We clearly face significant challenges…no argument here. However, there are also many favorable developments taking place within the U.S. economy. This article focuses ONLY on the “good” news…

• The middle and lower-middle class had stronger income gains in 2007 than did the top one-fifth of households.
• For every dollar of U.S. economic output generated today, we burn less than half as much oil as 30 years ago.
• The number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. declined by an estimated 1.3 million (to 11.2 million) between August 2007 and May 2008. Stronger enforcement and fewer job opportunities contributed to the decline. Read the rest of this article »