Marion's Communication Tips

Marion Grobb Finkelstein offers practical, proven and powerful communication tips you can put to use in the workplace. She'll help you increase morale, confidence and productivity by changing the way you communicate. You'll have communication tools to connect with colleagues, clients, employees and bosses... fast!

3 Ways to Feel More Comfortable at Workplace Social Functions

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

Apr 2013

Are you comfortable doing the "press the flesh" thing? When you attend workplace social functions, do you line up against the wall, frozen in position, not knowing where to begin or how to start a conversation?

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Are You Saying "Sorry" Too Much?

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, (Disabled) Comments

When was the last time you said "sorry" ... to a piece of furniture? You bump into some inanimate object and the first words out of your mouth are, "I'm sorry". There are other options that might serve you better. ...more

I'm Only Being Honest

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

Have you ever heard someone pass a derogatory comment then follow it up with, "I'm only being honest"? In a situation like this, I'm tempted to question if honesty is the true motivation, or is it more accurately described as rudeness, insensitivity, or carelessness? Do these type of people really want to "put it out there" or simply put down someone else so they feel superior and better about themselves? Does their need to be heard supersede the feelings of the recipient and the potentially negative impact of their words?
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WEBINAR: How to Give the "Best You" Job Interview (March 15 @ 2pm) -- Grab Your Seat NOW!

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 3 Comments

Have you ever gone to a job interview and absolutely bombed? You stumbled over questions you know you could answer and then, much to your chagrin, you thought of the perfect response a day later. Or maybe you were so nervous, your brain shut down completely and went blank. Your nervousness may have been misperceived as lack of confidence in your ability to do the job and the interview went downhill from there. ...more

Facing the Chicken Within

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

Sometimes communications can be scary. Maybe a certain person intimidates you. Or perhaps you've been asked to talk on a subject you know little about. Or you have zero time to prepare. Whatever the reason, there are moments we all experience hesitation before we speak. If there’s a call you need to make, or someone you want to connect with but feel frightened to do so, here’s a tip gleaned from a chapter, “Facing the Chicken Within” penned by me and my sister, Joan Grobb Augustino, fellow author, trainer and professional speaker (www.coreperformancegroup.com)

Push to peak performance: When we’re frightened, we get that little jolt of adrenaline. Channel that energy to your performance -- don't waste it on nerves. Let F-E-A-R stand for “face, embrace and replace” fear with action. Pick up that phone and call who you need to call. Use that adrenalin to add energy to your voice and move yourself to action.

Fear doesn’t need to hold you back. In fact, if you listen to your chicken within, it can push you ahead and point you to areas of great growth. So get out there, and start communicating with pluck!

Begin small. Think of one tiny communication challenge you are afraid of doing and what a difference it would make in your life. Imagine if you spoke with authority, communicated assertively, developed instant rapport with others. Whatever communication goal you have, take a small step in that direction. Make it tiny and not time-consuming so you will be sure to do it. Return that phone call you've been ignoring. Go for coffee and nuture informal communications. Try saying a couple words in a new language ... in front of people. Make it bite-size, make it real, make it yours. Face, embrace and replace fear, with action. Even if that action begins as a small one.

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What to Say When You Don't Know What to Say

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

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Ask for What You Need

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

Last year I was coaching a team and sharing results from a "rate our team" questionnaire I'd developed and that they had filled in. When rating their areas where they wanted to improve, the number one thing that popped up was, "learning how to ask for help". That was an eye-opener for many around the table. ...more

Public Speaking for Chickens

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

Public Speaking for Chickens ...more

Avoid the Terrible Toos

by Marion Grobb Finkelstein, 0 Comments

Avoid the Terrible Toos

How you look affects how you feel and how much confidence you have. When you look great, you feel great. When you feel great, you have more confidence in almost everything you do, including communicating. You feel better about presenting yourself and your ideas.

Remember the last time you got an outfit that fit you like a glove? Or got a new haircut that really behooved you? When you looked at yourself, you felt different, perhaps more confident. You held yourself differently, stood a little straighter, walked with a little more attitude, and felt like you could take on the world. When you looked yourself in the mirror, the person who looked back at you was self-assured and welcomed the chance to share his or her thoughts, maybe even confidently present an alternative perspective.

Getting "that look" of confidence may seem like a pipe dream. Maybe you're not sure what "look" you're after. Maybe you don't know what to look for or what style would best suit you. Or it could be that costs are getting in the way. Whatever look you decide on, for whatever reason, there's a few guidelines that will help in your choices. I call them "avoiding the terrible toos".

AVOID THE TERRIBLE "TOOS":

Too tight, too bright
Too high-hemmed, too low-cut
Too old, too young
Too extreme, too boring

Avoiding extremes in how you appear will help you feel less self-conscious. It will help you to focus your limited energies on your communication instead of being concered about your appearance. It will also help those with whom you're communicating focus on your message instead of being distracted by how you look. Consider it as one less thing to worry about and one more strategy to improve how you communicate to connect.

You might not think about how your appearance affects how and what you communicate. Think again. Because if you don't consider it, you may realize another "too" -- too late.

PS: Marion, get an hour of hands-on, practical tips on how to feel and communicate more confidently this Thursday, 1 December 2011 at 2pm (EST) at my "Appear Confident (Even When You Don't Feel It)" webinar. You're going to be delighted at the amount of useful, hands-on info you'll be able to put to use immediately!

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Until next time, here's to ...
Better communication, Better business, Better life,
Marion Grobb Finkelstein
COMMUNICATION CATALYST
Keynote Speaker / Corporate Trainer / Author
www.MarionSpeaks.com
Marion@MarionSpeaks.com
www.facebook.com/MarionSpeaks

© 2011 Marion Grobb Finkelstein
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