Book Report: How to Wow by Frances Cole Jones
I grabbed this on the grand opening day at the Newburg branch of the Louisville Free Public Library specifically to pass on a few of the tips on to the presenters of Ignite502. The book had a lot of common sense tips, as to be expected, and a lot of tips.
/ Your communication style
/ Introduce yourself with panache, so the other person remembers it, don’t I know him, I have to get to know him.
/ Instead of using useless modifiers, tell people why. How do you feel, what was it, where was it. Don’t simply tell people working with them is great. Tell them why it’s great. Don’t tell people cliff diving is fun, tell them why it’s fun. Tell them where it is. All the details of how it makes you feel will craft a better story. Strengthen the story with the right words..
/ Use persuasive words: you/money/save/new/results/health/easy/safety/love/discovery/proven/guarantee.
/ More isn’t better, better is better.
/ Speaking in stories will help your listener retain what you said.
/ Your impact is 7% your words, 38% tonal quality, 55% body language
/ People are either Visual,Aural or Kinesthetic
/ Visual people relate when you use phrases like: see what I’m talking about… or looking from this angle…
/ Aural people relate when you use phrases like: can you hear the difference… or listen to the description again…
/ Kinesthetic people relate when you use phrases like: throw your hat into this discussion…
/ Listening to someone to hear cues on the type of language that relates to them, and adjusting your language can go a long way to help the communication process
/ Turn mistakes into service opportunities: SMEAC
Situation - The happening of the mistake
Mission – Includes the Commander’s intent / this lets everyone know the intent
Execution – The plan of attack
Administration & Logistics – what resources will be needed
Communication - communication between the resources
/ Professional Relationships
/ Whenever talking to someone, ask yourself ‘Why is this person’s unique contribution valuable to me & the project? ‘
/ When you are talking to someone, you can look at their right eye if you want to issue a command to them, and their left eye if you want to gain their trust
/ Make sure you record a good voice mail, it is often the first contact people have with you. You want it to be authoritative, and record it while standing, smiling, calm and on the exhale.
/ Agree and Add to what is being said, do not disagree with a ‘but …’
/ Stress free interviewing
/Say what you believe, not what you think is the right answer.
/ Know your softball swing, the easy question: tell me about XXX, and then tell a story
/ Be prepared for the three worst questions
/ You are being hired to fit into the culture / what is their mission statement / best products / what is their strategy /
/ Be aware of your body language
/ If you can’t fix it, feature it – job hopping, then bring it up in the interview as an asset
/ know why the job is right for you, and why you are right for the job