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This Week in the World
A great day for new beginnings, Brand Aid article, and invitations for reader discussions and contests
New beginnings: There is a sense of new beginnings in the air. I'm jumping on that sentiment and planting many new seeds that have me very excited. I'll start with a big what if...?
What if...? I once heard Jeffrey Armstrong ask: “What if the biggest problem of the world is we’re talking when we should be singing and we’re walking when we should be dancing?”
And I thought: what if...he’s right? I resolved to get more song and dance into my life. Stay tuned - next week I'll tell you more about how I did that. But for now, let's play some more "what if?"
What if you’re...
consuming when you could be creating?
...judging when you could be understanding?
...seeing problems when you could be seeing opportunities?
...thinking when you could be feeling?
...writing reports and newsletters when you could be writing poetry?
What if you're...presenting generic ideas when you are a unique brand unto yourself?
On the last point, I posted a new article called Brand Aid. How to Go from Generic Speaker and Trainer to a Thought Leader with Your Own Unique Message. You don’t have to be a speaker to benefit from the branding tips. It's a great day for new beginnings, and this article could jumpstart one for you.
Win a copy of my new Speak Strong book by contributing to my Reader Discussions:
I invite you to post ideas in two new Reader Discussions. You just might with a copy of my new Speak Strong book. Here are the topics.
1) The last sentence-stem in the Brand Aid Article differentiates you from others. It says, “I am the only one who…” I was refining my own answers to that question and thought - I should ask you.
Please join my discussion and share your input on my SpeakStrong Brand.
In your mind, what differentiates what I do from what others do? There are thousands of communication and life skill newsletters out there. Why are you reading this one? If someone asked you why you read this and you answered, "Meryl is the only one who..." how would you finish the sentence? Please post your answer by clicking here. Thanks.
2) Please share your "what ifs." What if you're ___ when you could (should) be ___ ? Post those answers here.
I'll share my favorite responses next week and invite you to vote the winner for each discussion.
Hear me speak about political communication at the Colorado Business and Professional Women's Conference
I’ll be speaking about how to handle contentious conversations and political dialogue at the Colorado Business and Professional Women’s Conference in Colorado Springs on January 31st. The talk will be based on my book Unite and Concur. The BPW mission is: “BPW/Colorado builds powerful women through personal and professional development and increased political and social awareness.” This event is open to non-members. Learn more here: http://www.bpwcolorado.org/about.cfm
"We'll extend our hand if you un-clench your fist."
~
President Barack Obama, 1/20/09
PowerPhrase of the Week
My pleasure
A reader contributed this PowerPhrase.
“When thanked, say,
- My pleasure
instead of saying 'you’re welcome' or 'no problem'.
I noticed this staff response at Bally’s in Las Vegas when I stayed there as a guest. When I thought about it, the common 'no problem' would have demeaned both of us and perhaps 'you’re welcome' is perceived as pompous.
- My pleasure
made me feel as if they were glad to have the opportunity to help a guest and to shine. I adopted it as my own and the more I said it, the more I felt it. I love vicious circles like that.”
Thanks, Susan. I remembered your point when someone thanked me for responding to their email. I was ready to say "you're welcome" but said "my pleasure" instead. It was, and I wanted them to know that.
Speak Strong is now available for shipping
Poison Phrase(s) of the Week
Money-back guarantee
I was interested in an online product but couldn’t figure out what I would get for my $29. The site is very clear about the benefits, but had little to say about the features. Would I get access to videos that non-members can’t watch? Is there software to apply the principles the site teaches? I couldn’t tell, so I asked and got the response,
- We provide a 2 weeks Money Back Guarantee. Hence, I would like to suggest that you register to the product and explore its features and benefits.
I didn’t know anything more about the product after he “answered" my question” than I did before. (Further probing got me a more concrete answer.)
Bonus Poison Phrase: high-energy hysterical presentation
Perhaps you don't interpret this as I did, but it struck me as a poor word choice. The description of a training program referred to it as:
- a high-energy hysterical presentation.
I laughed. Check your thesaurus and you’ll see synonyms like crazed, berserk, and histrionic. Yes, hysterical also means very funny, but there are too many other common definitions of this word that the author certainly does not intend. I’d use hilarious.
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Read about my new book release: It's the next step. |
Hi Meryl
I see that you have a new book out; let me ask what may be a silly question: how is this book different from your excellent others?
I also see that you have a package deal for all your books, which is really attractive, but I already have the SpeakStrong for Managers and PowerPhrases! books. Is there any was to create a package deal and not include those--just thought I'd ask.
Meryl Responds:
The new book is very different from its predecessors. It’s teaches the skills and principles behind the phrases. PowerPhrases! is the tricycle. Speak Strong is the bike. It tells you how to know what to say.
Here's what my assistant said about it.
"My thoughts on the book (granted from my male perspective) is that while PowerPhrases! gives me a litany of line responses, SpeakStrong gives me more about the why's (I need to use such and such PowerPhrase) and more insight into my communication opponent, if you will. Speak Strong is more personal so if I can understand more about how I communicate and respond/react in those personal relations/communications...then I can see more of how I do so, and can do so, in a more professional environ. That can only lead to more controlled and measured communication skills in any situation....I think you would call that assertion..."
Also the structure is quite different. You can see a sample chapter here: http://www.speakstrong.com/pdfs/SpeakSTRONG-sample-chapter.pdf
As far as the SpeakStrong Library goes, I’d be happy to work out substitutes for you.
Do you have a communication question? You can Ask Meryl.
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There's lots of information about how to communicate |
Meryl,
One PoisonPhrase I dislike is "I have no idea" in response to a question or when I am asking why something s/he was responsible for has not been done.
It sounds honest and simplistic at first, but I often find people use it when they don't want to deal with something or they want to play dumb. My business partner uses it all the time, when in fact I know he does know the answer to the question, or at least part of the answer, and that he is just trying to get out of doing something. I have not known how to deal with it in the past, but after reading your PowerPhrases! book, I do now:
- (Name), we agreed you would be responsible for phoning the client to tell them to expect delays. I would like this done by the end of today and I will check in with you later to confirm it has been done.
Issue
333 Jan 21, 2009 |
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SpeakStrong Definition
To express yourself both powerfully &
effectively;
to say what you mean,
mean what you say,
without being mean
when you say it.