Your biggest sale, next career move and the company’s reputation is on the line every time you make a presentation. Here are common mistakes most presenters make:

• Thinking it’s not what you say, but how you say it: This is an old adage that has been corrected over time. Content and Style are of equal importance in any presentation. Aim to support your content with a strong delivery style.

• Ignoring your audience: Although you practiced in front of nobody but the mirror before the big speech, remember during the speech that there are real live people out there too, so make eye contact and interact with your audience.

• Messing up on Q & A: Remember, questions will be asked at the end of your presentation so be prepared and do not let your audience catch you off guard with a hard question.

• Giving only facts and figures: If you think that choosing logic over emotion is a better way to offer information, remember this equation: Stories + Experience = Passion and Memorability

• Death by PowerPoint: The most powerful and preferable visual aid is you, the presenter. Use your skills to engage your audience – use PowerPoint to support your information.

Contact The Professional Edge, Inc. today to schedule a workshop to help your people how to get past these presentation mistakes and give more powerful (and influential) messages.

With graduation just ending and interviewing just beginning it’s the Thank You note time of year. We need to slow down and make being courteous a priority again, after all you don’t know how long that graduation money will hold you over until you find a job in this economy.

Writing thank you notes can seem like a hard, daunting task to many, however it is a necessity and a very helpful skill to have in the business world.

10 Tips for Writing Thank You Notes:

1. Pick stationary that reflects your personality whether it be simplistic or elegant.

2. Write the note in blue rather than black ink for a warmer feel.

3. Never write in pencil.

4. Start with “Thank you”.

5. Follow with what you will do with the item or how it has helped you.

6. Express why it is meaningful to you.

7. Close by commenting on the nature of your relationship with whoever is receiving the note.

8. Address it by hand, only 4% of US mail is hand addressed.

9. It should be a handwritten note, email is not appropriate unless it is absolutely necessary.

10. Be genuine, people can tell when you write the same thing in every note.

For more tips on business etiquette contact the Professional Edge and we can help you by providing Image Consulting and Professional Presence programs.

Thanks for registering for our teleseminar on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. EST.  Click on the link below for the PowerPoint that accompanies this teleseminar.  “See you soon.”

Click here for the PowerPoint: “Avoid the Seven Deadly Sins of Business Presentations”:

seven-deadly-sins-april-2009-teleseminar

Welcome to all who registered for our telconference on Wednesday, March 25th at 11:00 a.m. EST.  In this free, one-hour teleconference you will learn how to use the force of persuasion in your presentations.

Click on the following link to download the PowerPoint presentation that accompanies our teleconference:

power-up-your-presentation2-march-2009-teleseminar

Lynne Breil presents her program “Dining for Dollars”  to the American Institute of Architects Central Pennsylvania Chapter at Penn State University. To illustrate a point, participants dined on difficult-to-handle cuisine including baked French onion soup and spaghetti.

Welcome to all of our registrants for the teleconference on Wednesday , February 25th at 11:00 a.m. EST. 

If you have not registered yet, click here.

“Win More Business by Creating a Better Image” will help you boost your sales as you master the nuances of how you make a first, and lasting, impression on people.

Click on the following link to download the Teleconference PDF:

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Lynne Breil is joined by Professors Janet DeAndrea (top row – left) and Brenda Lidy, CHE (top row-right), along with Hospitality Students at Keystone College’s annual business etiquette luncheon on January 27th, 2009.

 

Lynne Breil begins her annual dining etiquette program at Keystone College in La Plume, PA by asking hospitality management students what table manners rules they remember from their childhood.

Join us for “Win More Business by Creating a Better Image,” a 45 minute, free teleconference on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. EST. Lynne Breil, CSP and President and Founder of The Professional Edge, Inc. will share the expertise and experience she’s gained from working with thousands of professionals in helping them create a better image.  In addition, Lynne teaches communications at York College and is a keynote speaker and business etiquette expert.

Click here to register.

Your image can make or break a sale and keep you from reaching your full success potential in winning more business. Join our call to learn the following:

- Find out why a first impression is a lasting one – and what you should know about your own first impression
- Discover how to know the impression that you’re creating
- Develop an Image Audit
- Create an Image Checklist that will guarantee that you’re always on top of your game
- Develop your own authentic, powerful style that’s the real you

 

Click here to register.

This teleconference will give you the confidence you need to make a lasting powerful impression and give you the ability to win more business every day.

 

Click here to register today.  Space is limited.

“Win More Business by Creating a Better Image”

Wednesday, February 25^th, 2009

11:00 a.m. EST

 

Sometimes, you don’t need a fork.  Recently, I was facilitating a “hands on” etiquette dinner for a corporate client.  There was a pesky fly in the conference room where the four-course dinner, complete with wine, was being served.

The fly made himself known by flying frenetically about each china and silverware-bedecked place setting.  Everyone was annoyed at the presence of the pest, especially in the cold November of the Mid-West.

At last, the fly took a landing…right in the company president’s soup!  It was one of those kamikaze-like landings; a direct and calculated hit.  At first the group was aghast, and then everyone just roared!  Fortunately, Mr. Company President had a sense of humor and laughed himself right into the next course.

Usually I mention that if you don’t like something being served to you from a pre-ordered menu, eat around it and make as little mention of your dietary dislikes as possible.  Obviously in this case, the rules changed.

For the rest of us who can anticipate that we will not have to wrestle with “live” food, it pays to which fork, or knife, or spoon to use.  Follow the rules you learned once upon a time that dictated that you start from the outside and move inward to select the proper utensils.  And the dessert fork or spoon is at the topside of your plate.

A quick scenario would suggest that you remember food has four letters and the direction, L-E-F-T, has four letters.  Thus, your bread plate and your salad plate will be on your left.

Drink and the direction, R-I-G-H-T, have five letters.  So, you’ll find your water, wine glass, and coffee cup/saucer on your right. 

Left-handers, beware: as you enjoy your beverages, place them back to the right of your place setting so as not to confuse your neighbor.

Oscar Wilde once said, “The world was my oyster, but I used the wrong fork!” Now, you can put your best fork forward.  And also, have the ‘tines’ of your life while you’re at it.

Bon Appetit!  Lynne

I was recently in a situation where it was really difficult to have a conversation because I was constantly interrupted.  There were several people in the business scenario and one of the group was a real “interrupter.”  It seemed that no matter who was speaking, what this person had to say was more important.

In addition, she had the bad habit of finishing everyone’s sentences for them.

Not only annoying, but rude.

A key component to good Business Etiquette is the ability to listen.  It’s even better to become an extraordinary listener.  If you are always telling everyone about something important to you, then you’ve missed the point of conversation and discussion – which is that everyone gets to participate.

Listening is such a rare skill that when people encounter a true “listener” they are amazed at what it’s like to be truly heard.  I find that listening is a way to honor someone, a way to put aside the chatter in my head and be present and a way to get outside of my own view.

It’s a goal of mine to listen…and to be heard.  But more about finding your voice and being heard in another post.

In the meantime, practice listening.  My husband thinks I’m a little scary right now, because he’s not used to me listening to him so intently.  But, I think he’s learning to like it!!!

Lynne Breil, www.theprofessionaledgeinc.com

Shout Out with a Comment:  What do you think about listening skills?