This is a guest post by Tobias Rodriguez. Tobias runs seminars on Conflict Management and is a leading member of Toastmasters in Barcelona. Follow him on twitter [twitter-follow screen_name=’conflictmentor’] or check out his blog. An ancient Greek storyteller, called Aesop, said: An Eagle was soaring through the air when suddenly it heard the whizz of an … Read more
These are the top 10 TED talks of all time (by total views on TED.com). 1.- Sir Ken Robinson – Schools kill creativity – 13M views 2.- Jill Bolte Taylor – Stroke of insight – 9.6M views 3.- Steve Jobs – How to live before you die – 9.3M views 4.- Pranav Mistry – The thrilling potential of Sixth Sense technology – 9M views 5.- David Gallo – Underwater … Read more
Irrelevant “Yeah sure, I get it… that’s all interesting, but so what?” Jeff Weiner on Irrelevance Jeff Weiner, CEO of LinkedIn, blogs about a public speaking fail – and three lessons he learnt from the experience. He delivered a speech that he had delivered 15 times over the previous year. When he finished, he experienced … Read more
Networking via email 101 Once in a while I get an email from someone asking to meet me. The email subject is strong enough for me to open the email. The sender uses the 6 ways to get action from your emails. However, I get the feeling that this meeting is going to be a … Read more
I recently finished a 4 day, intense persuasive communication course with 142 Executive MBAs. We heard almost 300 speeches. I worked with the coaching team of Florian, Tobias, John and Tony. Each told a story of the person, the change they seek in the world, the reasoning. By the end of the week, these stories were … Read more
What did the participants in my last 3 day Develop Your Communication Skills program think about their time on the course? Thanks to the participants in my last 3 day short focussed program for their help in making this video. Next editions in english: May 7-9, 2013 in Barcelona Develop Your Communication Skills Information page … Read more
I spent the last 3 days with Prof Geert Hofstede in Finland. He is 82 years old and still passionate and excited about his work. He is the 4th most cited Social Scientist of all time (and the only one of the top 5 that is still alive). His major contribution has been in the … Read more
Early in my seminars I tell participants that Persuasion is not Manipulation. Manipulation is getting others to do something that is of benefit to me. Persuasion is getting others to do something that is of benefit to them and of benefit to me. Where is the line between Manipulation and Persuasion? Beware of Wolves … Read more
On September 7th, 1982, Ogilvy sent the following internal memo to all agency employees, titled “How to Write”: The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People who think well, write well. Woolly minded people write woolly memos, woolly letters and woolly speeches. Good writing is not a natural gift. You … Read more
I am sitting in an audience at a conference. This third speaker today started well. He seems interesting and speaks with passion. He is now on his seventh powerpoint slide. Each slide is interesting and well designed. He has worked hard to find good images and pithy quotes. My neighbour leans in towards me. I lean towards him. … Read more