10 Tips for Powerful Business Storytelling

10 Tips for Powerful Business Storytelling

You’ve probably told many stories in your life. It’s a natural part of human conversation: “The craziest thing happened to me yesterday…” Storytelling is a powerful tool for communication, especially in business. Whether you're presenting a pitch, motivating your...

You Can’t Ace the Q&A If There Aren’t Any Questions

You Can’t Ace the Q&A If There Aren’t Any Questions

Handling questions is a critical component of successful presentations. Unfortunately, you can’t ace this part of the presentation if you can hear a pin drop when you ask if there are any questions. Without questions, you have no idea how the presentation landed with...

The Power of Pausing (part 2 of 2)

The Power of Pausing (part 2 of 2)

Have you ever listened to a presenter who talked at breakneck speed without pausing for breath? Exhausting, isn’t it? Pauses give your listeners the opportunity to digest and assimilate what you said and perhaps even come up with a great question or comment. Below are...

The Power of Pausing (part 2 of 2)

The Power of Pausing (part 1 of 2)

Have you ever heard the saying, “silence is golden”? While it may be true, it can seem not to apply in the case of a business presentation. But silence, in the form of a well-timed pause, can be very effective when speaking (whether one-on-one or to larger audiences)....

Focus on Audience’s Needs, Not Your Own

Focus on Audience’s Needs, Not Your Own

Know your audience and capture their attention. It sounds simple, but how do you put it into action? Sometimes the best way to improve your skills, is to understand how NOT to do it. Here is an example: One of BRODY’s clients is a major pharmaceutical firm that throws...

You Can’t Ace the Q&A If There Aren’t Any Questions

Tips to Avoid Asking Bad Questions

"There’s no such thing as a bad question.” Many of us remember that line from our school days. I used to think it was a great way to encourage questions until I realized there actually are bad questions. Especially, if you want to use questions to engage people. If I...

Nine Steps to Owning the Deck

Nine Steps to Owning the Deck

One of the biggest challenges presenters face is using a presentation that they did not create. Physician Speakers in particular, need to learn and practice techniques to make the presentation their own, all while delivering a memorable message and remaining compliant...

Business Writing Key to Success: Tone, Topic, Transparency

Business Writing Key to Success: Tone, Topic, Transparency

Three important aspects of effective business writing are: tone, topic, and transparency. Tone is critical because it can dramatically affect how the reader perceives you and your message. You will use a different approach when writing to a potential client whom you...

Want to Develop Leadership Presence? Three Ways to Begin

Want to Develop Leadership Presence? Three Ways to Begin

A colleague’s daughter contacted me recently after being passed over twice for a choice promotion. She told me she really wanted to advance in the company, but didn’t seem to have what they were looking for. “I’m responsible, easy to work with, and really good at my...

Q&A Pointer: Handling Questions for Clinician Speakers

Q&A Pointer: Handling Questions for Clinician Speakers

Anyone that presents will benefit from improving their ability to encourage and respond to questions. As a Clinician Speaker you also have additional challenges: You are limited in how you can respond to questions while still adhering to company-approved messaging...

5 Connection-Building Strategies to Influence without Authority

5 Connection-Building Strategies to Influence without Authority

My insurance agent recently recommended that I change my policy. I asked him, “If you were me, would you switch to this new policy?” He replied, “I already switched to the same policy myself.” I gave him the go-ahead to make the change. Why? Because I trust him. In...

6-Steps to Becoming a Master Influencer

6-Steps to Becoming a Master Influencer

Our Influence blog series has covered the importance of connection and clarity to influencing those around us. These two pillars of influence help us build strong personal connections, with clarity around our objectives. The next step is communication: The way we...

4 Ways Clarity Can Help You Influence Others

4 Ways Clarity Can Help You Influence Others

Have you ever failed to influence someone? (Of course, we all have!) Maybe you tried to introduce a bold new initiative—but couldn’t get support from your manager. Or, maybe you tried to get your team to collaborate on a cross-departmental project—but it fell apart...

Culture of Accountability or Culture of Fear?

Culture of Accountability or Culture of Fear?

In 2016, regulators fined the banking giant, Wells Fargo, $185 million for an illegal cross-selling scheme. Bank employees had created millions of fraudulent accounts, at the behest of managers, to hit lofty sales goals. While over 5,000 workers were fired for...

How Does Pitch Affect Your Communication?

How Does Pitch Affect Your Communication?

Deeper Voices Are More Authoritative I recently read an intriguing article: Deeper speaking voices are more authoritative. It isn’t the first time I’ve heard this type of information about deep voices. As political campaign managers have long known, a deep voice is...

Personal Branding: Why You Need Employees Who Market Themselves

Personal Branding: Why You Need Employees Who Market Themselves

BRODY has taught thousands of people how to market themselves in our Ignite Your Personal Brand: Market Your MAGIC workshop. We tell participants: Don’t be the world’s best-kept secret. Stop waiting for others to notice your skills, and tell them what you can do. This...

How Will You Develop Leaders in 2024?

How Will You Develop Leaders in 2024?

December is often a time to look back on what was accomplished in the past year and begin planning for the next year. What worked well? What new challenges have surfaced? How can you best position your team and organization for greater success in the coming year? As...

Business Writing Key to Success: Organize Your Material

Business Writing Key to Success: Organize Your Material

Many professionals who are polished and well-spoken in-person struggle to translate their communication skills into effective written messages. How do you know whether your written communication is effective or ineffective? If you frequently experience one of the...

Facilitative Presentations Engage Audiences

Facilitative Presentations Engage Audiences

In many situations, audiences are no longer content to sit and listen to you talk—they want to be part of the discussion. Effective presenters recognize and take advantage of this by actively encouraging audience participation. By doing so you can: Achieve a richer...