Trimount Communications Blog

Posted By Trimount on December 21, 2008

Let 2009 be the year you conquer your fear of public speaking!

With proper training, you really can become a good speaker. It doesn’t matter whether you train with Trimount or take an adult education class at the local high school. The important thing is that you take action. You can overcome your fear, master the mechanics of good public speaking and show everyone just how successful you can be.

Let the world see a new, more confident you in the new year.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/speech_training.htm to learn more about the SpeakOut Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Speech Training | No Comments »
Tags: coaching, communications skills, confidence, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops

Posted By Trimount on December 7, 2008

Some business letters are short and to the point. Some are long and complex. Whatever their length, almost all business letters share one thing in common: a request that the reader take action. It may be something as simple as acknowledging receipt of the correspondence or it may be as complex as requesting the reader buy millions of dollars worth of products. No matter. Business letters, including e-mails, should conclude by asking for the sale.

A former client thought she had written a good letter explaining her organization’s needs. When we discussed it she realized that without a very specific request in the closing, she had written a weak letter which left the reader unsure of what it was she wanted. That’s why the best correspondence always closes by asking for the sale.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/writing_training.htm to learn more about the WriteNow Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Writing Training | No Comments »
Tags: business writing, communications, confidence, course, direct mail, e-mails, letters, newsletters, overcoming fear, presentations, proposals, reports, seminar, speeches, training, websites, workshops, writing

Posted By Trimount on November 22, 2008

In these difficult times, a little humor can go a long way to dispel some of the gloomy economic news. And that’s exactly what comedian Andy Borowitz did in characterizing President-elect Barack Obama’s recent interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes.

Obama’s Use of Complete Sentences Stirs Controversy
Stunning Break with Last Eight Years

In the first two weeks since the election, President-elect Barack Obama has broken with a tradition established over the past eight years through his controversial use of complete sentences, political observers say.

Millions of Americans who watched Mr. Obama’s appearance . . . witnessed the president-elect’s unorthodox verbal tic, which had Mr. Obama employing grammatically correct sentences virtually every time he opened his mouth.

While gently lampooning both the current and future presidents, Borowitz reinforces the importance of using “grammatically correct sentences” in speaking and writing, which is what we help all our clients to do. If only a certain politician had taken advantage of Trimount’s training. . . .

Enjoy Andy’s full article http://www.borowitzreport.com. And don’t forget to visit http://trimountcommunications.com to learn about our SpeakOut, WriteNow and MediaSmart Training Programs.

Chris Dingman

Category: Media Training, Speech Training, Writing Training, XYZ (miscellaneous posts) | No Comments »
Tags: business writing, coaching, communications skills, confidence, corporate image, course, crisis management, direct mail, e-mails, facing the press, handling questions, interview, IPO, journalist, letters, media, media relations, newsletters, overcoming fear, presentations, press, press conference, press releases, product launch, proposals, public relations, public speaking tips, reporter, reports, seminar, speech, speeches, statement, staying on message, training, websites, workshops, writing

Posted By Trimount on November 8, 2008

This excerpt from a British blogger demonstrates why a speaker should never rely on PowerPoint as a crutch when giving a presentation. PowerPoint cannot match the power and passion a really good speaker brings to the podium:

“I once gave a presentation which told, in fine detail, the life and works of Jane Austen.
I was extremely prepared with my computerised slides, my hard copies to hand out
at the end, and my little word cards to help me along.

“Afterwards I was told that I might as well have sat down with everyone else.

“My presence at the front of the room was not essential to the presentation itself.
I merely insulted my audience by undermining their intelligence; everything I had
said could have been read from the slides.

“A bit harsh, perhaps, but quite true.”

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/speech_training.htm to learn more about the SpeakOut Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Speech Training | 1 Comment »
Tags: coaching, communications skills, confidence, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops

Posted By Trimount on October 31, 2008

The presidential election is only a few days away. Spinmeisters from both camps are working overtime to present their candidates in the best possible light. Unfortunately, both camps have reportedly spun stories which distorted the facts. Such distortions may be common, but they weaken the credibility of the candidates. Of course, spinning stories isn’t limited to political candidates. Corporations do the same thing, often with disastrous results, either to themselves or to the public. Think tobacco industry.

The best way to “spin” a story is to tell the truth. It may not be easy to do, but the resulting damage will be far less than spinning a story and having it unmasked in the press as a lie.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/media_training.htm to learn more about the MediaSmart Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Media Training | No Comments »
Tags: corporate image, crisis management, facing the press, handling questions, interview, IPO, journalist, media, media relations, press, press conference, press releases, product launch, public relations, reporter, statement, staying on message

Posted By Trimount on October 22, 2008

Besides teaching you the mechanics of public speaking, a good coach can help you overcome the nagging self-doubts that bedevil so many promising speakers. I show my clients how to increase their confidence and let go of the negative thinking which has dragged them down in the past.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/speech_training.htm to learn more about the SpeakOut Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Speech Training | No Comments »
Tags: coaching, communications skills, confidence, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops

Posted By Trimount on October 15, 2008

Did you ever wonder if your writing is helping or hurting your chances for success? Ask a friend or co-worker to read your next letter or report and critique it. You may be surprised at how someone else interprets what you’ve written. No matter what the person’s reaction may be, use the experience to strengthen your writing to advance your career.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/writing_training.htm to learn more about the WriteNow Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Writing Training | No Comments »
Tags: business writing, communications, confidence, course, direct mail, e-mails, letters, newsletters, overcoming fear, presentations, proposals, reports, seminar, speeches, training, websites, workshops, writing

Posted By Trimount on October 9, 2008

When giving a speech, you have to watch for people’s reactions: Are they paying attention? Do they seem restless? Are they shuffling in their seats? These are sure signs that something is wrong. The remedy may be as simple as cutting short a presentation and taking questions from the audience, allowing them to participate actively rather than listening passively.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/speech_training.htm to learn more about the SpeakOut Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Speech Training | No Comments »
Tags: coaching, communications skills, confidence, overcoming fear, presentations, public speaking tips, speech, speeches, training, workshops

Posted By Trimount on October 2, 2008

A pronoun should be close enough to the word it replaces that readers aren’t confused. For example, “The ship sailed in the morning after a long night of loading manufactured goods destined for a port some 12,000 miles away. Loading took so long, it nearly missed the tide.”

“It” is so remote from the noun it replaces, the writer’s meaning is unclear. Rewritten, these sentences become much easier to understand: “After a long night of loading manufactured goods, the ship sailed to a port some 12,000 miles away. It nearly missed the morning tide because loading took so long.”

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/writing_training.htm to learn more about the WriteNow Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Writing Training | No Comments »
Tags: business writing, communications, confidence, course, direct mail, e-mails, letters, newsletters, overcoming fear, presentations, proposals, reports, seminar, speeches, training, websites, workshops, writing

Posted By Trimount on September 24, 2008

Being questioned by the press can be a little scary, especially if you haven’t been interviewed before. Find someone who has experience in dealing with reporters to guide you through mock interviews so that you know what to expect.

Good preparation helps you stay on message whether you’re being interviewed one on one or holding a press conference with a number of reporters.

Please visit http://trimountcommunications.com/media_training.htm to learn more about the MediaSmart Training Program.

Chris Dingman

Category: Media Training | No Comments »
Tags: corporate image, crisis management, facing the press, handling questions, interview, IPO, journalist, media, media relations, press, press conference, press releases, product launch, public relations, reporter, statement, staying on message