Nancy Mueller

We all know the adage that people do business with people they know, like and trust. While most people believe that building trust takes time, here’s how you can start the process, even before meeting in person: Referral or Introduction A third party introduction from a trustworthy person gives you instant credibility. Your introducer can create a bridge between you and the person with whom you hope to establish a relationship. He or she can vouch for your character, competence, and integrity based on their own experience from knowing or working with you. Your Photo For the last several weeks, there has been a spirited exchange in one of my on-line groups, asking participants whether or not they would do business with someone who didn’t post their photo in their

Easy to say, much harder to do. “I’d be too embarrassed.” “Oh, I could never speak up to my boss.” “I’m afraid of looking foolish.” “It’s too intimidating.” “What would I say?” Sound familiar? But here’s the payoff for you when you choose to take the risk: Increased confidence Visibility Recognition Respect Rewards Trust Imagine what speaking up could mean to you and your loved ones at home, at work, or in your community: better health care a raise or promotion a new client or customer improved customer service a refund stronger relationships And what if you used your skills to speak out on behalf of people who can’t speak for themselves because they’re sick, in economic distress, or starving? Think you could have an impact? No one is saying

When I first began my speaking career, I was sure that the people sitting in the back of the room could hear my heart pounding. Nervousness can manifest itself in several ways: sweaty palms quivering voice flushed or pale face knees knocking heart beating loudly, like mine forgetting what you were going to say dry throat when it feels as if your mouth is filled with cotton Sound familiar? Most speakers – no matter how experienced or professional – experience some nervousness before making a presentation, particularly when speaking on a new topic or when anticipating a negative or hostile reaction from the listener. It’s natural. The good news is that having some nervousness means you care about giving a good presentation. It can also boost your energy level. The

Radical confidence, a belief in possibility, is a requirement for success. Unlike hubris that derives from an inflated ego and a presumption of entitlement, real confidence comes from being in the trenches and doing the work. The more often you practice and deliver a presentation, for example, the more comfortable and polished you will become. Here are my top 10 tips to maximize your practice time before your next presentation: Mental Rehearsal 1) Visualize your success. Take a few moments to close your eyes and mentally see yourself making a powerful, persuasive presentation and getting the results you want. Hear yourself saying the actual words you will use. 2) Talk positively to yourself. Give yourself a pep talk. Use affirmations, positive statements written in the present tense, and repeat them often. 3) Act

For me, good communication is about stripping away the layers of complexity that interfere with our ability to achieve mutual understanding. It’s like having an artichoke whose leaves are prickly and sharp to the touch. Once we start to peel away the thistles, we discover the heart of the plant in the center. We’ve all had relationships like that at some point in our lives: people that challenge and frustrate our ability to connect with them. But if we take the time to invest in the relationship, we can peel away the layers of fear, mistrust and anger and discover what’s inside the other person’s heart. But what if the other person doesn’t want to talk to you? A father in one of my workshops shared how painful it had

In his book Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare, author Jeremy Butterfield cites ten of our most over-used expressions: “At the end of the day” “Fairly unique” “I personally think” “At this moment in time” “With all due respect” “Absolutely” “It’s a nightmare” “Shouldn’t of” “24/7” “It’s not rocket science.”

Caroline Kennedy made headline news when she threw her hat into the ring for the New York State Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately for Ms. Kennedy, she also gained unintended notoriety for her overuse of the phrase, “You know” throughout her press interviews. Her reliance on the phrase to fill the space between her thoughts detracted from her main message and became the message itself.

Have you ever made a mistake but found it hard to apologize afterwards? You’re not alone. Elton John had it right when he sang: “Sorry seems to be the hardest word.” Ego and pride can get in the way, preventing us from using the opportunity to learn from our mistakes, make amends and restore trust with the person we’ve hurt or offended.

When working across borders, whether hosting or visiting your global clients, consider your client’s perspective. For example, rank and status are highly valued in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures which impacts everything from how you greet one another to seating arrangements.

A colleague recently had coffee with a friend whom she hadn’t seen for awhile. Afterwards, my colleague shared her feelings of disappointment with their get-together. Over the course of two and a half hours, her “friend” talked at length about herself and her family. Never once did she ask my colleague about her business or her family or her love life. “Now I remember why we drifted apart,” she told me.