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Salespeople need to constantly adapt their techniques and methods.  Failing to do this can quickly leave them lagging behind their competitors and missing out on important sales and opportunities when they come around.  Keeping on the cutting edge of new techniques and constantly developing skills is the only way to remain effective and cope with [...]

The importance of verbal communication skills is nothing new: the renowned Greek philosopher, Aristotle was already writing about the ‘language of persuasion’ over 2,000 years ago.  In some ways, little has changed from that era to this one.  People who want to get ahead in the world still need the ability to convince others to [...]

Succeeding in the business world often means being able to present one’s point of view in a persuasive and accessible manner.  What comes as a shock to some young executives, however, is that sometimes even the most thorough preparation is insufficient when it comes to making a formal presentation.  A skilled executive will obviously do [...]

Workers in all industries need to have the ability to make the best out of situations when things go wrong.  These skills are especially important in PR and communication roles, but almost every worker will have been in a situation where they have needed to defuse tension. Whether it is a client angered by a [...]

Those who take the time to plan and prepare effectively for challenges are often the most successful individuals in business. The people who work hardest tend to get the results they deserve. Despite this, there are some occasions when good planning alone simply is not enough. An ability to make accurate snap decisions is crucial [...]

You are on the red carpet, you have submitted a report to your company’s managing director, who has called you in to explain some points that he or she finds unclear. “So, John, your report states that you support moving forward with the planned expansion.  Have you taken into account the impact this is likely [...]

Learn to relax Although relaxing might be the last thing on your mind when faced with a stressful situation that forces you to think on your feet, it is vital if you want to appear calm and unflustered to your audience. Start by taking a couple of deep breaths; next, clench the muscles in your [...]

Although some people might naturally be better leaders and managers than others, the good news is that even a very ordinary manager or leader can acquire the necessary skills to become a great manager or leader.  Below we will discuss a few steps that can be taken to sharpen ones leadership qualities. Go on a [...]

The leader of an organisation represents everything it stands for. Clients, customers and employees will often judge the entire company on their actions, meaning that leadership can be incredibly stressful. Leaders are often required to make the crucial decisions that others rely on for their livelihoods, and choosing the wrong options can affect the lives [...]

  The growth of personal skills development as a business and as a branch of academia, both with the potential to effect change and growth in business, brings with it pressure to consider the range and depth of a company’s training programmes and processes. In this case we are considering whether there is value in [...]

Telling most people that delivering a good presentation is a skill-set that can be mastered with practice, rather than being a sophisticated form of torture, is likely to surprise them. Underlying their fear is not the mere fact of standing up in front of strangers, peers or employers, but the exposure to the unexpected and [...]

  What makes verbal or written communication memorable and effective? There are three impressive ways to transform your communication skills, focusing on the dynamics of business writing, preparation and intent in verbal situations and harnessing the power of NLP. Written skills are a real measure of precise thinking and mental dexterity, because in one way [...]

Employee development is important for the growth of any business. If you care about the performance of your staff and you want to see them excel and grow, then it may be time to look into soft skills and employee development training. These training sessions will not only help your employees develop their technical skills, [...]

Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP is an approach to inter-personal interaction which encourages people to actively use the mind, body and emotions to run their life more successfully, and communicate with others in an enhanced and effective manner. It is said that becoming skilled in NLP will allow you to: – Achieve better success at things [...]

Many of us in the business world are required to make presentations, whether we are delivering to a customer or colleagues. We may also feel that verbal communication skills are not one of our best attributes, it is something that you will be required to think quickly about and use on-the-spot. It is easy for [...]

Spontaneous speaking is an essential skill for leaders, managers and front line staff who want to engage their audiences. Say the right thing at the right time… speak off the cuff… improvise… we can’t help but admire those who have the ability to be spontaneous – and rightly so. If you want to become an [...]

Talking to your boss, a colleague or customer… Creating a podcast… Being interviewed… Good verbal communication skills are important in business, so that you can communicate effectively with people in a wide variety of situations. In some cases you may be dealing with people in other countries, people with different cultures, varying ages and with [...]

Can you imagine yourself standing in front of an audience without PowerPoint, without notes, without a script? Just think back to the last time it was vital to get your message across. Did you fully succeed? The problem is that many people have a small but insistent voice in their heads at such time telling [...]

How to respond quickly and build (rather than damage) your credibility when you are asked an unexpected question You are a young/not so young/mature (delete as appropriate) executive, professional/manager/director (again, delete as appropriate) grabbing a coffee first thing on a Monday morning. Your boss (or boss’s boss or head of another department) spots you, ‘Ah, [...]

Who wouldn’t want to have the ability to say the right thing at the right time… to speak off the cuff, to improvise, even to wing it? Have you ever admired someone who is spontaneous?  Someone who always seems to have the ‘right’ answer and is always cool, calm and collected? Could that be you? Is this the [...]