Talk Isnt Cheap

The most successful organizations have good communication skills. Survey after survey bears this out. Poor communication skills are often cited in employee surveys as a reason for poor morale and performance.

Having been in the business of building organizational communication skills for more than 25 years, I've seen firsthand the positive impact these skills can have upon a company. Speaking with respect and active listening are so important that I don't understand why more organizations don't teach these important skills. They can truly differentiate you from your competitors and give you a decided advantage in the marketplace.

In a recent article in Chief Learning Officer, our friend and client, Randy Hall from Pfizer Animal Health, had some interesting things to say about our Excellence in Speaking Institute and its impact upon his company. Here's an excerpt from that article:

"During Ty's course, you're probably on your feet 15 to 18 times in front of your peers or a group of folks that you're in the course with, presenting to them. Even if you are uncomfortable the first couple of times, by the time you've done that over and over the fear starts to fade and the confidence starts to come in," said Randy Hall, global director of learning and development, Pfizer Inc. Animal Health Group. "The other thing is the coaching (participants) get. They get one-on-one, very specific coaching during the class that allows them to address whichever areas of their communication skills need the most work." These improvement areas depend on how participants present to other people and could include lack of clarity, inability to quickly get to the point, incorrect use of body language or other habits that detract from the messenger and the message being delivered."

Hall added that Pfizer had a real business need: getting people to communicate effectively in various situations-from one-on-one conversations to group meetings. After going through a pilot of Boyd's class with his peers, Hall said the course was so impressive that Pfizer Animal Health Group now requires every new sales representative and manager to go through it. "These folks communicate for a living, and what Ty and his team enable them to do is lose or at least diminish their fear of the process," Hall explained. "They feel more comfortable and confident in front of small or large groups of people, and we believe that it helps them engage more in every area of their business. He's been a great business partner with us, and the demand for the course is what drove it. People aren't going because I say so. They're going because they're hearing word-of-mouth out there on the street that this is something that really helps them get better at their jobs. They want to be there."

Are your people communicating effectively inside and outside the organization? Shouldn't they be?

Ty Boyd, CEO of Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, is in the Broadcast Hall of Fame and the Speakers Hall of Fame. He has taught presentation skills to Fortune 1000 executives in more than 34 countries. His Excellence In Speaking Institute celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2005.

---

Google News Updated : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:34:03 GMT Hutchison takes step toward run for governor - USA Today The Associated Press Hutchison takes step toward run for governor USA Today - 1 hour ago WASHINGTON (AP) (AP) - US Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison took the first formal step Thursday toward a run for Texas governor, setting up what was already becoming a bruising Republican primary battle in 2010 between her and Gov. Hutchinson files to form exploratory comm. Bizjournals.com Kay Bailey Hutchison edges toward governor's run Dallas Morning News The Associated Press - CQPolitics.com - Abilene Reporter-News - News-Journal.com all 292 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:06:53 GMT Zimbabwe Declares Cholera Emergency - New York Times Zimbabwe Declares Cholera Emergency New York Times - 2 hours ago By BARRY BEARAK JOHANNESBURG - The Zimbabwean health minister, David Parirenyatwa, has declared the nation’s cholera outbreak a national emergency and appealed for outside help, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Thursday. WHO Says Zimbabwe Cholera Estimates May Be Too Low Voice of America Zimbabwe declares cholera national emergency CNN International BBC News - Reuters India - AFP - guardian.co.uk all 1,240 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:56:36 GMT Sports of The Times Giants Leave Door Open to a Burress Return - New York Times Washington Post Sports of The Times Giants Leave Door Open to a Burress Return New York Times - 1 hour ago By WILLIAM C. RHODEN On Tuesday, a day after Plaxico Burress was hit with two counts of illegal weapons possession, Jerry Reese, the Giants’ general manager, broke the news to Burress: He was finished for the season, suspended without pay and fined. Report: Pierce will testify before grand jury FOXSports.com Pierce Reportedly to Testify to Grand Jury Washington Post Sports Network - The Chattanoogan - New York Daily News - TurnTo23.com all 4,418 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:20:44 GMT Franken's campaign protests 133 mystery ballots from Minneapolis - Minneapolis Star Tribune guardian.co.uk Franken's campaign protests 133 mystery ballots from Minneapolis Minneapolis Star Tribune - 1 hour ago only concerned with a fair vote count when it benefits his numbers. That so many voted for this ignorant fraud in my beloved home state is … read more a source of great concern to me. Coleman campaign withdraws 650 ballot challenges The Associated Press Franken Demands 'Immediate and Intensive' Search for 133 Lost Ballots FOX 9 News TPM Election Central - Economist - Hawaii Reporter - Post-Bulletin all 872 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:11:30 GMT Rice satisfied with Pakistan's anti-terror stance - The Associated Press guardian.co.uk Rice satisfied with Pakistan's anti-terror stance The Associated Press - 31 minutes ago ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's leaders know what's at stake after the terror attack in Mumbai and have acknowledged their duty to evict terrorists and prevent future attacks, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday. Video: Rice in Pakistan to Push Terror Probe AssociatedPress Protesters in Mumbai have chanted anti-Pakistan slogans BBC News Christian Science Monitor - Wall Street Journal - International Herald Tribune - AFP all 4,568 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:02:38 GMT Report critical of NY education - Bizjournals.com ABC News Report critical of NY education Bizjournals.com - 38 minutes ago New York high schools lag behind several states when it comes to educating students who go on to college. The likelihood of a New York high school freshman enrolling in college by age 19 is 44 percent, according to a new report by the Natonal Center ... New College Cry: Affordability U.S. News & World Report Colleges say they're struggling to make ends meet College Times Charleston Regional Business - CNN - Annapolis Capital - Albany Times Union all 945 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:55:34 GMT Health Buzz: State Health Rankings and Other News - U.S. News & World Report eFluxMedia Health Buzz: State Health Rankings and Other News U.S. News & World Report - 3 hours ago Vermont is the healthiest US state, while Louisiana is the least healthy, according to the 19th annual America's Health Rankings report, issued by the United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association, and the Partnership for Prevention ... Washington Ranked Tenth Healthiest State KUOW NPR Florida slips in health survey Bizjournals.com InjuryBoard.com - Hawaii Reporter - FierceHealthcare - Minneapolis Star Tribune all 243 news articles Publ.Date : Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:59:46 GMT RSS For Web Pages Increase Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

The Answer to Your Worst Networking Nightmare

Imagine you just met your ideal client at a networking... Read More

People Know People

I recently entered the keyword "networking" into Google. In 0.13... Read More

Sticky Situations: Nametag Best Practices

Because a person's name is the single context of human... Read More

Networking to a New Life

Research shows that talking to strangers -- not people in... Read More

Unforgettable First Impressions Part 4: Become a Social Gift Giver

Do you ever wonder why single people give flowers, wine,... Read More

Lesson 15 - Meeting the Prince with More Reputation than Power

The StoryBusiness has a habit of testing us as individuals... Read More

What a Leads Exchange Group can do for You

What is the definition of a leads exchange and how... Read More

Networking: Breaking into the Buzz

Breaking into conversational groups is one of the things people... Read More

Networking in the Change Room: 5 Ways to Network Effectively While Getting Undressed

There's a time and place to network with people in... Read More

Youve Got Personality, Use It!

For the self employed professional, nothing is more important than... Read More

How Speakers, Exhibitors, Consultants, and Meeting Planners Partner-Generate More Money and Value

? "Make Every Moment Count" is the title of a... Read More

Online Business Networking: How Personal is Too Personal?

Online networking has opened up some fantastic business opportunities for... Read More

How to Gain Maximum Value from Your Networking Time

One of the best ways to get business is through... Read More

Alcohol & Events

Many people associate alcohol with relaxation and fun, so it... Read More

Franchisees Should Learn From Each Other

If you own a franchise you should be in contact... Read More

Defining a Quality Networking Group

When it comes to quality, how do you choose the... Read More

Make Money on the Internet - The Lifestyle Advantages of Professional Marketers

Some of the most successful businesses in existence today started... Read More

Successfully Meeting And Greeting - Ten Strategies For Getting Off To A Good Start

A day in the life of every businessperson is made... Read More

Value-Added Network

A value-added network can be achieved through explicit actions to... Read More

Mother Said - Wash Your Hands

Think health articles are boring? This one isn't, so read... Read More

Networking: Is Your Approach Too Self-Centered?

It's a classic mistake by networkers: their approach is focused... Read More

The 7 Habits of Highly Horrible Networkers

Networking is a term that didn't exist (academically) until almost... Read More

How to Turn Water into Lemonade by Giving a Flavored Answer to a Fruitless Question

I remember the first time I opened the fridge to... Read More

How To Make Your Next Networking Event A Success

There are people who are natural born networkers - those... Read More

Unforgettable First Impressions Part 2: Its All About Them!

Jean de la Bruyere said, "The great gift of conversation... Read More