Blog

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 [...]

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 [...]

There are two distinct parts in the majority of presentations; the part you can prepare for in advance, and the part that involves responding to challenges, questions and objections. In this article, Clive Lewis, Director of Illumine Training, looks at some of the pitfalls in both parts and suggests some ways of avoiding the common [...]

It is September 19th, International Talk Like a Pirate Day (honestly!) and I’m due to talk to Clive Lewis about using Mind Maps in presentations. Now Clive is one of the world’s leading authorities on using Mind Maps for business applications, but I’m worried about how I am going to take him seriously. He has [...]

Is Mind Mapping a serious business tool? Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training highlights the techniques that make Mind Mapping especially valuable for anyone who wants to prepare and deliver compelling business presentations. Just imagine… you have found a simple technique that helps you pull together and organise all your thoughts for your next [...]

Can you wing it? Spontaneity is essential for presenters who want to engage their audience and make an impact. Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training, reveals how to think on your feet. Would you dare to wing it when making your next presentation? Or are you one of those people who won’t deviate one [...]

Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a communication approach which can transform your impact and your ability to communicate. Here Anthony Landale outlines the fundamentals. If you were advised to work on your communication to others, how would you go about it? Would you try to develop your Powerpoint presentation skills? Pay more attention to the [...]

Power Mapping - Is Mind Mapping a serious tool? Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training, highlights the techniques that make Mind Mapping especially valuable for business executives and trainers alike. We all live with pressure at work but what would you give for a tool that could improve your project management, that could bring your [...]

Accelerated learning (AL) provides executives with a range of rapid response tools. Here Clive Lewis outlines what these are and why they are so important. So you are familiar with accelerated learning (AL). Good for you. But take note; if you are a trainer or a training manager the issue isn’t about how AL can [...]

Mind Mapping is increasingly used by trainers, leaders and managers to brainstorm, problem solve and manage their projects. Here Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training, looks at why it has caught on. You may have heard of Mind Mapping, you may even have some idea of how to draw them but do you use Mind [...]

Many people shy away from giving a presentation. But if you keep it simple and concentrate on the big picture, you can make your point, says Clare Gascoigne Put together all the people in Britain who suffer from agoraphobia, claustrophobia and arachnophobia and you still wouldn’t match the number of people who are scared of [...]

Clive Lewis, MD of Illumine Training, explains how to become a master of memory. Most people are hugely impressed by those who have the ability to recall events, statistics or detailed information at just the right moment. People who can accurately recite a quote or who, when asked, remember precise facts and figures. But how [...]