Heroic Voice - Blog , Archive

The key to Successful Communication is listening.

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:40:54 -0700

The key to Successful Communication is listening.

One of the most important things we need to learn when working on our communication skills is that effective communication is not just about how well we say what we want to say, but it is even more important for us to focus on how well we are connecting with our audience and our needs.

Too often when working on one's communication skills people focus on the message and how well they can deliver it. Although this is important it is also only 1/3 of effective communication. The other 2/3 of effective communication has to do with your audience.

We train our clients here at Heroic Voice Academy we teach everyone a simple concept called the Connection Triangle™. By helping our clients understand that communication only truly happens when you have a complete Connection Triangle they learn that they need to focus on their audience more than just on their message.

And how does one go about learning to focus on their audience? By learning to listen; listen to what they audience wants to know, listen for what questions the audience wants to have answered, listen to what concerns the audience has that brought them to that meeting or event, and listen to what the audience thinks in in it for them, their WIFM.

Delivering your message well is important, but delivering your message in a way that connects with the audience and connects the audience to the message means you truly have achieved communication.

And how does one go about learning to focus on their audience? By learning to listen: listen to what they audience wants to know, listen for what questions the audience wants to have answered, listen to what concerns the audience has that brought them to that meeting or event, and listen to what the audience thinks in in it for them, their WIFM.

Delivering your message well is important, but delivering your message in a way that connects with the audience and connects the audience to the message means you truly have achieved communication.

The Importance of Personal Growth

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:04:55 -0800

Personal Growth: The important "WHY" in my life

To me, personal growth is the choice we make to improve self-awareness, our unique identity, talent, money and finances, and skills to be ready for opportunities that allow us to establish, enhance, and live the quality of life we choose!

Blog author: Mamie Lamley

I was at an Anthony Robbins event when I first heard, “If you aren’t growing, you’re dying!” That one remark, set me on fire, and sent me on a personal development path that I continue to be on even at age 57.

Growing up, I knew I always wanted to be a teacher. As I completed my college degree, what I came to realize was that my true passion was really taking part in impacting and changing peoples’ lives so that they could see the potential and power within themselves.

Today, I’ve learned that opportunity lies in being a life-long learner, influencer and an empowered leader! Though my ongoing education, I have learned that the following are what helped me to truly understand that if “I AM not growing, then I AM dying!”

1. Awareness & Understanding

When I am training, the area I begin with is self-awareness and self-understanding. It’s doing everything I can to realize my full potential and it includes knowing M.Y.S.E.L.F.

M Me & Mine. Know when I am contributing, it benefits both Me and Others!
Y: Yearn. Knowing that what I yearn for, is the purpose in which I live and act!
S: Simple and Share. Keep it simple, and share it so others can thrive and prosper!
E: Energy. Everything is energy, and where focus goes, Energy Flows, and results show!
L: Love. Love it or leave it!
F: Follow your heart.

2. SMART Goal Setting

Goals help to enhance the quality of our lives and keeps us on track to achieving the lifestyle style we desire and deserve. Throughout my life, I have lived life intentionally by keeping my goals specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-bound. When I am about to accomplish a goal, I set a new one. I know I drive people crazy with my time-management skills, but it is the one thing that I know has kept me on track to where I am, and where I am going in my life! Although I sometimes get side-tracked, I know that everything I have set my heart and mind on, I have achieved ten-fold. I could not have done it without goal setting!

3. Commitment to Action

There are over one million results when you type in the keywords “Ready, Fire, Aim” and it is these words that spur me to just “Take ACTION!” Not just any action, but action that aligns with my personal and business goals!

A commitment to take full responsibility for my vision, mission, and goals! In my personal and personal development path, I choose to change something in my life every day. I’ve learned to extend myself into new areas that challenge me and add to my growth personally and professionally.

In fact, at 4:00am this morning I awoke and had this urge to learn something new, so I went on-line and took a class in Google Keyword Planner and started this blog!

Taking ACTION is important for our growth. As a Karma Krew Member for Success Resources Global, I have learned not to ask, “Can I” but to ask, “How can I?” Followed by “What else is awesomely possible” or “How does it get any better than this!”

In my business, I have I don’t just have a “things to do list” I have a “Wealth Generating Commitments List.” When I am in this mode, my specific actions are to prioritize and generate revenue for my business. If not, the activity goes to my “wish list” to do later.

4. FOCUS-Consistency

As you can see “commitment to action” is important, yet FOCUS(Following One Course Until Successful) with Consistency is the “game changer.” How many of you are guilty of the “shiny objects syndrome?” I have been guilty of it. Had I just focused on my course as a trainer and speaker, I know I would have been well into my “personal power” a long time ago.

CONSISTENCY is the true action of FOCUS. To be consistent is to have the simple patience to stick with what we are doing so we can move in the direction we want to achieve. It requires the belief in ourselves, that we can and will go THROUGH the finish-line instead of going TO the finish-line. And lastly, that we believe what we bring to the table is valuable and beneficial for all!

Since I’ve chosen to consistently focus on my training and speaking business, many opportunities are presenting itself, and champion my cause in “making a difference in the world” and getting paid to do it!

5. Dedication

I believe in dedication through experience, exposure, and education. Success comes through our individual personal growth plans that align with a powerful TEAM. Our contribution focuses on our collaborative mission, vision, coaching, and mentoring. Our personal truths, reflection, and our ability to act, encourages us to have a positive mindset and the courage to be authentic, so we all can accelerate our awareness and momentum into self-actualization!

When we “do” we “become” the Warriors of Change that we desire!

Heroic Mindset

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 20:19:49 -0800

The 8 principles you need to follow to become a World Class Presenter and Communicator.

World class presenters are very intentional with what and how they communicate. They create an atmosphere of trust and are able to unite perspectives. Here are 8 principles that will help guide what you say and how to say it.

The 8 Principles

Feedback

There is no failure, only feedback. Incorporating feedback from mentors, peers, and your audience are the keys to the consistent generation of presentation ROI. Our feedback framework allows you to lock in best practices, eliminate inefficiencies, and access creative expression.

Rapport

Resistance from an audience is a sign of lack of rapport. There are no resistant audiences, only inflexible communicators. Whenever audience interest and attention dissipates, the presenter’s first priority is to reestablish rapport.

Response

The meaning of communication is the response you get. Choosing the right words and sentences is only the first step. Delivering them well is the second step. The final step is ensuring that your audience receives them positively.

Ecology

Great presentations are written to ignite a change that produces a change that is ecological. The change must be good for all the parties involved, producing a world that works for everyone. This includes the speaker, the audience, and the global community. Quite often, these changes represent a return to the core values of society.

Worldview

Respect the other person’s model of the world. Meet the audience where they are. One of Stephen Covey’s 7 habits is “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” A professional presenter invests significant time to understand the audience. Their information comes from audience research, and audience interaction during presentations.

Map

The map is not the territory. The words we use are not the event or item they represent. One word can mean something completely different for each member of your audience. When bringing your audience into new territories of knowledge, teach to all learning styles, establish common vocabulary, and verify comprehension regularly.

Flexibility

The person with the most behavioral flexibility will control the presentation room. Great presenters can deliver flawlessly during rehearsals, but no amount of rehearsals can completely prepare for an interaction with a live audience. Behavioral flexibility includes humor, improv, confidence, and composure.

Choice

All presentations are designed to increase choice. When designing a presentation to spark change, be sure to leave the audience with the choice to change. Resistance comes when the audience is left with no choice. Agreement comes when the audience resonates with the values and vision being presented and chooses to change.

Presentation ROI: How to Generate Money, Support and Positive Reputation

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 20:12:13 -0800

Are you generating ROI from every external conversation and presentation?

Conversations can usually be divided into two categories, internal or external. Internal conversations are conversation you have within your company or team. These we will discuss later. External conversations occur between you and people outside of your company or team.

A major mistake people make is thinking of external conversations as "presentations" only, and do not focus on all of the other possible conversations that occur. It is our view that even presentations should be viewed as conversations.

External audiences vary significantly; for example an external audience can be an audience at a conference, an interview with a reporter or blogger, or a customer you are trying to get interested in your product or service. External conversations are happening all of the time, but they all have one thing in common. All external conversations occur with the goal of having a return on investment (ROI) from those conversations.

The ROI from an external conversation will fall into one of three categories. This is true no matter what kind of external conversation you are having. The key is to be clear on what ROI you want from every conversation, and to be flexible during the conversation to shift your ROI when appropriate. When entering a conversation you must choose which ROI you want.

Money: For example, money can come from many sources including a client buying a product or service or an investor giving money for your idea. This is the ROI that most people think about, but it is not the only the of ROI that you should desire from conversations.
Support: Support is getting someone to support what you are attempting to do and help you achieve your global impact goals. Examples of possible support can include a new employee you are looking to hire or a potential partner who can give you the right support through connections. Support often can be more important and powerful than money because often support leads to larger quantities of money over time.
Positive Reputation: Sometimes what is most important is getting someone to speak well of you and your company. This positive reputation can go a long way to help establish your credibility and increase the "know/ like/trust" factor of your company. Positive reputation can come from journalists, audience members in a conference keynote, or just the person you met at the local coffee shop. You never know the connections of the person you are talking with, so you should always want to leave every conversation with the person thinking positively of you at the very least.

No matter who you are in conversation with, you should always be thinking about and aware of the your desired ROI from that conversation. Not everyone will be a customer, but when they are potential customer or clients think about money ROI.

Sometimes the person you are in conversation with may have the right connection for you so be sure to be ready to ask for support ROI when relevant. And it is important to never forget the influence someone you are in conversation with may have, so be sure to leave them with positive reputation ROI.

The key is to be aware, be present and be prepared to ask for the right ROI when the time is right based on the conversation and the way the person you are in conversation with can help.