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Saturday, July 08, 2006

You're Not That Funny...

My father (a retired science teacher) is alway intrigued by what I do for a living...

"Shelly, help me to understand, you get paid to tell people what to do? High-powered executives? I just can't picture you in a room of men telling them what to do. What could you possibly tell them that they don't already know?"

Now, being a coach is not that different from being a teacher in a classroom (I was a teacher for about 11 years, so I know). Coaching is more like tutoring, but the topic of public speaking (the category that a lot of my coaching with Fortune 100 companies falls into) lends itself to a lot of up front demonstration, which feels like the classroom to me as well.

Just because a student (or executive) is amazingly talented and knowledgeable in one area...does not automatically mean that they can project that knowledge out to a less familiar group. My job is to help them find the communication talents that they possess and hone them into a presentation that leverages those talents for impact.

In my office they call me the velvet-hammer...because I am always direct, but temper it with compassion. I recently had a client who was an engineer (in the purest sense of the word) and who wanted to open his meeting with a joke...I had to tell him, "you're not that funny" use your talent for story-telling and you will knock them dead! Tell a joke...and you ARE dead.

Communicating is just one area that an awareness of your talents is necessary. The ability to advance your career depends on leveraging your talents and minimizing your weaknesses.

This week...go on a treasure hunt for your talents...small and large and give yourself the tools for success!

To hear what I have to say about communication, watch these video clips here, here and here.

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For more FREE tips on advancing your career and navigating the workplace, sign up for my FREE e-zine "Lipstick Leadership" at LipstickLeadership.com today! And check out the products I've developed to guide you toward the success you deserve!

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