‘Dan's Communication Blog’

3 Power Phrases + 1 Theory = Communication SuperHero (YOU)

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Dan's Communication TipsIn today’s professional communication skills training podcast, Dan teaches you how to implement one of the most important and powerful business principles:  You are not here (at work) to teach other people lessons; you are here to learn lessons from other people. How can you implement that? Using simple Power Phrases often, and with everyone. And if you want to be a SuperHero father or mother, and SuperHero partner–practice this principle at home, as well. Today Dan helps you practice three Power Phrases that will help you implement the principle:  You are not here to teach other people lessons; you are here to learn lessons from other people.

Get all of our communication training audio podcasts instantly–for free–on our podcast page. Could your organization use professional communication skills trainer? Check out expert communication trainer Dan O’Connor’s Keynote and course schedule. Looking for a motivational keynote speaker specializing in communication or dealing with difficult people? Contact us today to see how you can get the speaking or on-site training you need while staying within your budget.

 

NEW FREE AUDIO: Don’t be a communication weakling! These Danger Phrases and Power Phrases will help.

Monday, July 26th, 2010

Dan O'Connor, professional communication trainer, onsite communication training expert, keynote speaker, energy vampire slayerNEW FREE STREAMING AUDIO: We often hear people say (and we too sometimes make the mistake of saying) “I’m sorry if…” or “I’m sorry but…”

The worst part is, people are usually apologizing for their gifts! You’ll hear things such as, “I’m sorry for being so detail oriented.” or “Well, I’m sorry that I actually care about my job.”

In today’s professional communication training podcast, Dan helps you purge these kinds of phrases and replace them with powerful ones with the use of a Danger Phrase and Power Phrase list. Click here to listen to today’s free audio podcast. It’s the first podcast album entitled, “Professional Communication Tactics” on our podcasts page. (more…)

 

10 Common Errors “Spell Check” Won’t Catch

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

Dan O'Connor, Expert On-Site Professional Communication Trainer, Recommends ThisGreat professional writing skills training article. The following is from the Yahoo Shine article entitled 10 Common Errors “Spell Check” Won’t Catch.

While we can rely on a spell checker to catch glaring errors, a computer can’t pick up on all careless mistakes, especially if the word could be correct in a different context. Often word misuse is our mistake. The English language is full of homonyms, or words that have different meanings but sound and look similar, which makes it easy to confuse proper usage. For instance, verbally, you might not even notice the difference between “your” and “you’re.” But in print, the error can lead the reader to perceive you as less intelligent than you are. For this reason, it’s important to spell check and proofread your documents, especially for the following common misuses, which are so easy to make, you might even have to check your document a couple times to catch them. Check out this article to give your powerful writing skills a boost.

Its versus It’s (and all other apostrophes): (more…)

 

Elena Kagan and her 4-Tiered Communication Strategy That You Can Use too

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Dan O'Connor, professional communication trainer, onsite communication training expert, keynote speaker, energy vampire slayer NEW FREE STREAMING AUDIO: In our latest Professional Communication Tactics audio series, you’ll learn to use a simple but powerful professional communication strategy most recently used by Elena Kagan during her supreme court confirmation hearings.

Her strategy was a 4-pronged approach:

1-stay on message

2-use the broken record

3-don’t take the bait, and (more…)

 

Have trouble remembering people’s names?

Saturday, July 3rd, 2010

Dan O'Connor, Expert On-Site Professional Communication Trainer, Recommends ThisProfessional communication skills training always incorporates memory-enhancing tricks and techniques. This is a great short article that gives you many memory exercises, but the best one for me is the name one. I use that all the time, and it works! Check it out at here.

To find out more about techniques used by motivational keynote speaker and professional communication trainer Dan O’Connor, check out our course and keynote catalog, to find out more about our affordable on-site training, or contact us any time.

 

THE LESSON: 5 Principles that Help You Identify It

Thursday, July 1st, 2010

Dan O'Connor, professional communication trainer, onsite communication training expert, keynote speaker, energy vampire slayerAre you struggling to find meaning, or learn a lesson from some tragic event or difficult person in your life? In today’s free inspirational podcast brought to you by motivational keynote speaker and expert professional communication trainer Dan O’Connor, here’s what you’ll learn:

There is a lesson in every struggle we’ve had, or tragedy we’ve been through, but most of us struggle with identifying the real lesson. In today’s inspirational thought for the day, Dan gives you the five principles that all REAL LESSONS have in common:

1) It’s about you
2) It’s positively phrased
3) It’s true for everyone
4) It’s true all the time
5) It’s a simple truth that explains many things

Click here to listen now… (more…)

 

10 Great Ways to Ruin Your Professional Image

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Communication Keynote Speaker and On-Site Communication Training Expert, Dan O'ConnorHere’s your visual communication skills training for the day brought to you by on-site communication trainer and motivational keynote speaker Dan O’Connor:

Wouldn’t it be nice if we lived in a world where we were judged–and promoted–solely on our professional ability?

Well, we don’t, and “Professional Communication Skills” does not  refer only to words.

Everything you say and do communicates some message about who you are and how you think. That said, some of us care very much about our jobs and professional reputation, and are simply unaware when we are sending the wrong visual message. If you’re truly concerned with your professional development, never underestimate the power of image. This doesn’t mean that you have to conform to the norm; it does, however, mean that you have to pay attention to–and take pride in–your professional image if you expect to get ahead. Some people are very vocal about not caring about what they look like at work, because it’s just work, and it should be their skills that matter. These are generally the same people who complain because they are passed over for promotions, fired, or otherwise struggling in their career. The truth is–like it or not–image can make or break you.

Below you’ll find the top 10 professional image-destroyers. If you find that you have committed any of the following offenses, it’s time to take a professional image training course. Sooner rather than later.

TOP 10 PROFESSIONAL IMAGE RUINERS:

1: Flip-flops–under no circumstances–ever–not even at a company picnic. Yes, this includes things such as Birkenstocks. Crocs are still up for debate…but to be safe–No!
2: Just putting your hair up in a scrunchie/pulling it back–If you don’t have time for personal grooming, (more…)

 

Professional Communication Training Tip of the Day–DANGER PHRASE: “In my opinion…”

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Communication Keynote Speaker and On-Site Communication Training Expert, Dan O'ConnorHere’s a quick and powerful professional communication skills training lesson from communication trainer and motivational keynote speaker Dan O’Connor:

DANGER PHRASE: “In my opinion…” POWER PHRASE: “I believe…”

When it comes time to give your opinion, don’t diminish the power of your message by prefacing it with something such as, “In my opinion….” Doing so tells the listener, “Well, it’s JUST my opinion, so take it or leave it….”

Sometimes, of course, this is exactly what you mean to say. For example, if you’re the boss, and your employee asks you for feedback, and you’re really not certain that your ideas are spot-on, you might say, “In my opinion,” and the effect is what you intended. However, many up-and-coming executives are uncertain and insecure, (more…)

 

Communication Training: Danger Phrase/Power Phrase

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Communication Keynote Speaker and On-Site Communication Training Expert, Dan O'ConnorHere’s your professional communication skills training for the day delivered by motivational keynote speaker and communication trainer Dan O’Connor:

Today’s professional communication tip is simple but powerful. DANGER PHRASE: “Are you busy?” POWER PHRASE: “Do you have a moment?”

When calling a professional at work, never start the conversation with, “Are you busy?”

If someone is at work, we should assume they’re busy. To do otherwise would be insulting. Many people–whether they tell you or not–are offended when asked, “Are you busy?” Instead, try something such as, (more…)

 

The Trick to Giving Compliments–The Right Way

Sunday, June 6th, 2010

Dan O'Connor, professional communication trainer, onsite communication training expert, keynote speaker, energy vampire slayerNEW FREE COMMUNICATION TRAINING AUDIO: Here’s your professional communication skills training for the day, courtesy of communication trainer and motivational keynote speaker Dan O’Connor:

When giving compliments–whether at work or at home–the goal is to make someone feel good, or activate the right-hand side of their brain. Many times, however, when giving compliments, we make the mistake of complimenting things rather than people. A savvy, polished, powerful communicator knows how to deliver a compliment the right way–which results in activating the right-hand side of the brain of the person receiving the compliment.

In today’s professional communication skills training podcast, Dan teaches you how to compliment people, not things, thereby increasing your personal communication power. Click here to go to our audio/podcasts page and listen to the streaming audio training for free. (more…)