Blog Entries

Pauses? Yes, please!

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We all know these moments of uncomfortable silence. And yes, we don't like them. Some of us even feel the urge to break the silence, start a new topic to talk about or just comment on the silence and voila - it's gone. What a relief!

However, there are moments of comfortable silence, too. Yes, comfortable silence. Moments of silence that give you time to adjust to a new situation for example. Or moments of silence that allow time for you to contemplate or even just take a breath. We liv [...]

Networking - you can't avoid it!

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Even if you have an aversion to networking – as many people do – it’s imperative to form connections with other people in particular if you want to increase the number of your clients or customers, if you had just start a new job or had a promotion.

Research shows that the first 30 to 60 days after a promotion for example, ist the time when people in a new department or even new company make t [...]

Are you a good listener?

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Would you like us to reveal a secret? Here we go: It's a myth that having excellent communication skills only implies being able to speak brilliantly in public. Having excellent listening skills is equally important.

Here are some tips to devolop better and effective listening skills:

Ask questions and repeat what has just been told to you. If someone tells you a story or provides you with important information repeat what they have said to be absolutely sure you understood their me [...]

How good is your email etiquette?

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Emails are great and have triggered one of the biggest changes in business communication in the past two decades! Many business people ‘speak' to their clients, colleagues and suppliers mostly via email. They are fast, you can write and send them any time of the day without fearing they'll disturb the person adressed. Plus they are quick to write since they are much more informal than a proper paper letter!

Or are they not? Well, yes and no! [...]

Increasing your General Knowledge makes you a better Speaker

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

If you want to become a better speaker you certainly need to concentrate on improving your communication skill. However, increasing your general knowledge will help you to achieve your goal too.

A great way to do that is to find out more about the history and origin of words you use. Not only could that become an interesting anchor point for one of your speeches, it certainly gives you a cutting edge in any private or professional conversation when you can occassionally let your knowle [...]

Having brillant ideas, but can't get them across won't get you anywhere

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

"You can have brillant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere."

Lee Iacocca

As the former CEO of Chrysler, Lee Iacocca knows exactly what he is talking about. Having to lead and manage an entire emporium you not only carry the responsibility for thousands of people and their families, you need to motivate and activate them to persue and achieve a common goal while being permanently pressured by time and money. That's wh [...]

Getting your wording right will take you to the top!

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Alfa Romeo - isn't that the incarnation of speed, elegance, power and perfection?

We all know that a great name can make all the difference. Alfa Romeo is a perfect example for it. Although 'alpha' is the first letter of the alphabet in Italian, the famous Italian carmaker didn't name his company after it. The name is actually the acronym for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili, meaning "an unnamed automobile factory in Lombardy". Can there be anyting more boring? Hardly!

I [...]

Authority and Competence - why you like to convey it when you speak

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Each year the "Harvard Business Review" publishes a list of Breakthrough Ideas, ideas - or "cool new thinking" as HBR calls it, that are most useful for business, companies or individuals for achieve new succes in the year to come.

This year's list, that has just been made available in the magazine's February edition, features a couple of ideas that are of strong interest and benefit for you if you thought about acquiring new communication and public speaking skills. [...]

Become a better Speech Writer by increasing your General Knowledge

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I'm an avid advocator for increasing your General Knowledge. Keep up with the news - whether you listen to the radio while driving in the car, watch television or read the newspapers.

Sometimes little funny facts will come in handy when you have to write a speech and are desperately trying to find a great beginning for a talk. Take this for example: Have you ever wondered why a technical defect on a computer is called a "bug in a computer"?

Here's why: The word 'bug' in a [...]

Body Language: Keep your palms up!

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

A quick tip for the beginning of the week: In any conversation you might have during this week, make sure your palms are clearly visible. Since centuries this is a sign for your conversation partner that you are non-threatening and open to him or her. They'll immediately respond to you in an open, positve way too.

Body Language is a powerful tool to control not only your own nerves and appearance. It is also very powerful when positively influencing others. Give it a go today: Be aware [...]

Audience attention: Easy Ways to get your audience to participate

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

It's Friday and for those of you who have to give a presentation today - in particular in the afternoon - it might not be easy to get the full attention of your audience: It's the end of the week, people are tired, exhausted, mentally already in a "weekend mode" or effected by another day [...]

Public Speaking and the "Seventh Heaven"

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

In yesterday's blog entry we mentioned the expression "I'm in seventh heaven". Curious why it had to be the seventh heaven we tried to trace the word's origin and found the following explanation that could well and truely be a wonderful inspiration if your looking for a creative way to start your presentation:

Some of the Middle East's ancient religion believed the afterlife consisted of seen celestial layers, each more prosperous and beautiful than the one before. The first heaven [...]

How Fear of Public Speaking can turn into Enjoyment of Public Speaking

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

"I'm in seventh heaven. I did it and it feels just great!" - One of my coachees gave a huge presentation last night and I'm proud to say that she did it brilliantly: Full of confide [...]

Pauses - every successful Presentation needs them

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

"The most precious things in speech are pauses."

Sir Ralph Richardson

Imagine trying to have a conversation with someone who would not pause. It's not a very pleasant thought, is it? Instead of a dialogue your conversation would rather be a monolog resulting in you loosing interest in it rather quickly. Why? Normally you would expect to be included in a conversation and contribute to it.

Every form of communication needs to include pauses. Present [...]

Powerful Phrases will get you new Results - Eliminate powerless ones

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Do you want new, better results in your career? Do you want to improve your professional image? Do you want to make a stronger impact when talking and presenting to your colleagues, clients or boss?

If your answer to any [...]

Public Speaking Skills: Don't underestimate the Importance of Public Speaking Skills

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Some people still underestimate the importance of having excellent public speaking and communication skills. They don't see any value in possessing them and consequently never invest in any training, coaching oder education in the area of public speaking. "Why should I? [...]

Clear Message + Clear Presentation = Success

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

"If you can't write your message in a sentence, you can't say it in an hour."

Dianna Booher

Business writing expert Dianna Booher couldn't have worded it better: Only a clear message guarantees a clear presentation that - in return - gurantees your success. Make finding and formulating your message the starting point for your presentation preparation.

Nothing is worse for the audience than a "muddled up" speech where the presenter leaves [...]

Listening Effectively: It's your Secret to Success

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Being a great Public Speaker is not only about speaking. Every great presenter and skilfull communicator is also a great and skilfull listener. They clearly understand their audience and have an exact idea what they are interested in, how they communicate and tailor their presentation accordingly.

Reasearch shows: Most of us aren't good listeners. For example, when we are in our office or on the phone with a client, we usually listen at roughly 25 % of our listening capacity. We interru [...]

Body Language: First Impressions are influenced by your Posture

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

For many of us "Australia Day" marks the end of the holiday period. It's back to work and serious business. Make a new start and monitor your Body Lanuage carefully and constantly.

As [...]

Take "Australia Day" as an attention getter for your opening

claudia.raab@raabconsulting.com — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Happy Australia Day to all our clients and readers! While preparing to celebrate Australia Day the Raab & Raab team was wondering where the word "Australia" comes from. Thanks to Celine's fabulous research skills we now know:

The name Australia derives from the Latin "Australis", meaning "Southern". Since Roman times people were telling stories about an unknown land of the South "terra australis incognita".

However, it wasn't [...]