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Friday, June 8th, 2007

Susan Headshot ASusan Berkley's
VOICE-COACH
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
 
"Your Source for Success in Public Speaking"
 
Friday, June 8th, 2007
IN THIS ISSUE
How to Deliver Bad News
Got a Pet Peeve & Food for Thought
"The Secret" to Speaking Success
Magnetic Speaking Power
How to Deliver Bad News
Top  5 Ways to Soften the Blow

"When delivering bad news, how do you soften the blow?"

This excellent question comes from VoiceCoach subscriber Mary-Grace Vendola at www.horsesmouth.com, a newsletter for stockbrokers. Unfortunately, most of us will be faced with the unpleasant task of delivering bad news at some point in our lives. Maybe a client's stock has tumbled. Maybe profits are down and layoffs are imminent. Maybe medical tests reveal a life threatening illness.

In delicate situations like these, few of us know what to say or how to say it. Here are the top 5 communication strategies used by compassionate leaders in times of crisis:

1.    TELL THE TRUTH
We tend to fear what we do not understand. Put the situation into perspective.  Give as much information as you can about who, what, when, where and why. Don't speculate. Squash rumors by addressing best case / worst case scenarios.

2.    PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SHOES
It's useless and naïve to tell the other person not to worry. They ARE worried and maybe even panic-stricken about how this crisis will affect them personally. Don't leave them guessing. Give them all the facts.

3.    ACKNOWLEGE THEIR FEELINGS   
Don't invalidate their feelings by telling them to cheer up. This is not a time for humor. Let them vent. Negative emotions must be dealt with before they can be replaced with a positive plan of action.

4.    TAKE CHARGE
Outline a specific plan of action. Keep your fears to yourself. Assume the mantle of leadership.

5.    UNIFY THE TEAM
Facing a crisis alone can be terrifying. Encourage the group to pull together and share ideas about how to find a solution. Conclude the meeting on a positive, optimistic note by reaffirming commitment to overcome the adversity.
Nervous Figure
GOT A PET PEEVE?

Thanks to our Voice Coach Subscriber, Dana Wilkes who writes:
 
"I'm annoyed with gum chewing while speaking. Yesterday I was dizzy watching this young woman talk to me. I didn't know what was more difficult for her: the topic of conversation or keeping that chiclet in her mouth rather than on my desk."
__________________
 
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
 
"Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected"
 
Mahatma Gandhi
 
-Mahatma Gandhi 
_________________
"The Secret" to Speaking Success...
Recognize this guy with Susan?Andy Rooney

It's David Schirmer, one of the success experts featured in "The Secret". They were attending the recent  "Money Making Super Conference"
in Chicago, with their marketing gurus  Bill Glazer and Dan Kennedy. Both Susan and David are members of the Glazer-Kennedy Inner Circle.

To become a member and test drive 3 months of Dan Kennedy's "No BS Newsletter"
for FREE,  go to:
www.dk3monthspecial.com/most_
incredible_gift/index.php

Magnetic Speaking Power

"Persuasive Speaking Secrets of the World's Most Confident and Successful People"

Discover how you can eliminate speech fright, improve your speaking voice and become a more confident speaker, practically overnight!

Your voice has a profound impact on how successfully you influence and persuade others. It determines how seriously you are taken, how respected you are, the results you get with clients, co-workers or vendors in business, and in your personal life.

In fact, consider that whenever you present your opportunity or make an important phone call, even though you've honed your message to perfection, the quality of your voice (pitch, tone, inflection) counts for a whopping 84% of the message. Your voice has amazing powers to attract and also to repel.

Learn the secrets to finding your million dollar voice.

Give us a call at 1-800-333-8108 for more information on products and programs right for you!

Susan Berkley
The Great Voice Company
1-800-333-8108
 
sales@greatvoice.com
Phone: 800.333.8108 or 201.541.8595
Fax: 201.541.8608
The Great Voice Company, Inc.
110 Charlotte Place
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
©2006
The Great Voice Company