Persuasive Speaking Webinar: Notch Up Your Presentation Skills

I’m back from the National Speakers Association (NSA) conference in Arizona, and also from a biotech client program in California; the latter of which saw me delivering a custom session on effective communication.

As I watched the NSA members present their keynotes and workshops, and during my facilitated group discussion at the client program, I was again struck by the power of effective presentation skills and the power of persuasive speaking.

Yes, I’ve been teaching this topic for more than 25 years now, but the basic principle is still the same: Professionals who master the art of persuasive speaking will get others to take action, change direction, commit and buy.

If you don’t speak like a pro, and convince your audience members of your message, they will consider your session a colossal waste of time.

Are you one of the thousands of people who’d rather die than deliver a speech? Do you need help to improve your persuasive speaking skills?

You’re in luck. In addition to face-to-face presentation skills training and coaching, BRODY now offers webinars.

I’m kicking off the whole series with “How to Present Your Ideas Persuasively to Better Influence Others at Work,” on September
14, from 12:30-1:30 pm EST.

If you attend this webinar, you’ll discover strategies for working with different audience reactions. It’s great for anyone in a relationship management role – whether speaking to clients, colleagues, direct reports – or a combination of all three!

Visit here, for more details on this webinar, and to sign up.

Or, if you share your worst presentation skills nightmare on my blog, and provide a valid e-mail address – or call me at 215-886-1688, I will take 10% off your webinar registration price. This offer expires August 3rd.

New BRODY Professional Site Up and Running, Check It Out!

Good things are worth waiting for!

Those of you who have worked with web designers know how frustrating the process can be. Granted, we live in an environment of instant gratification, and I wanted it done at least three months ago!

But, at last, it is “finished” – the new and improved home for my company, BRODY Professional Development -- www.BrodyPro.com.

I say “finished,” because there are still some modifications being made, including shopping cart “tweaks” -- and then working specifically on updating the Marjorie Brody part of the site, so it coordinates with the new design of the BRODY Professional Development pages.

That being said, for those of you who want to download some “free information” – invaluable tips and articles – please check out the new site. Again, www.BrodyPro.com.

On an unrelated note, this week, I head to Scottsdale, Arizona -- you may be asking, “Why on Earth would anyone go to Scottsdale in the middle of July?” My answer: To attend the board meeting and annual conference of National Speakers Association.

I always learn something by attending this annual event – and next week, I’ll blog about some of these learnings, so you, too, can benefit!

The World Isn't Fair

Granted, things are shaky with the economy and businesses everywhere.

So, what are your choices?

Give up or step up?

I am speaking about this very topic on November 6th in Chicago -- delivering a workshop presentation twice at the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) Leadership Conference. The title is “Step Up! for Success.”

Here is one of the key points that I’ll be making:

The world isn’t fair – it’s your attitude that counts.

People walk around lately as though they are victims. We aren’t.

We have choices – not always good ones, but choices all the same. No one wants to hear your whining. If you are lucky enough to still have a job, look for ways to make it more interesting. Make the changes that are necessary, or accept what you can’t change. Leaving is always an option.

Another thing you can do is hang around with winners, not whiners.

Negativity is toxic, and it spreads quickly. Every day, think about -- or better yet, write somewhere -- things that you are grateful for.

That attitude of gratitude -- which some of you may see as cheesy -- really does go a long way.

I’ll be sharing more of this message regarding stepping it up, and thriving in your career, despite economic factors, in my open-enrollment BRODY BOOST Camp career development workshop on November 13 in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

There are still some seats open for BOOST Camp; visit http://www.brodypro.com/site/boost_camp/Boost_camp.html to register, or call 800-726-7936.

My Latest Risks Taken ... Waiting for Results

Well, the marketing flash e-mailers went out, and the PR machine has cranked into high gear, notifying professionals and the media about my new BRODY BOOST Camp -- http://www.brodypro.com/site/boost_camp/Boost_camp.html

There is lots of great feedback about having this event, but, so far, no one has signed up. Remember the risks I spoke about last week?

It’s early yet, and I have found that being an optimist is a good thing. You do your best, and assume that things will work out – most of the time, they do!

So, what else is new?

On Friday, I recorded some audio files for a new venture with SoundWise. Their slogan is “Concise advice to improve your life 24/7.” My material was on networking, presentation skills and women in business.

Check it out – www.SoundWiseonline.com. It’s a real mix of subject matter experts and topics.

And, tomorrow, September 16th, I make my "debut" in Second Life -- the virtual world that has increasing real world applications for leadership and professional development companies like BRODY, and executive coaches like myself.

I will be the guest speaker based on one of my books -- participating in a roundtable discussion titled "Career MAGIC: A Woman's Guide to Reward & Recognition." The event will take place on Athena Isle in Second Life at 3 pm ET -- 12pm PST/SLT.

Second Life residents can attend my book chat by going to: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Athena%20Isle/44/43/23

Here’s my challenge for you all:

What are you doing this week that assumes some risk?

What are you doing that is new and interesting?

A Business Risk I’m About to Take …

For those of you who know me, you know I am a big promoter of risk taking -- In fact, I’ve blogged about it before.

Without risk, you’ve already decided that you will fail. With risk, the chances of success are good.

I have decided to take a big risk, and offer a public seminar – not the typical boot camp stuff – a Boost Camp.

Why is this a risk? Maybe no one will come!

Or, worse yet, only two or three people will be in the large hotel conference room we’ve booked, with breakfast ordered!

Since I am doing this Boost Camp once in October, and once in November, in the Philadelphia area (then will take this on the road), I figure my next five or six blogs will be about this new journey -- and how it's all working out.

That way, you may decide to take a risk yourself – or join me on mine!