Category Archives: Speaker/Training

Do you head a corporation that’s struggling with its brand image? Do you need a sure-fire solution to increase sales now?

Here’s a story about how one company invested in a professional leadership motivational speaker and increased sales by 10 percent in just six months.

Ginny Benson was the HR manager of a software company that employed around 200 people. Software sales were below expectations for the first and second quarter and the company was looking to downsize.

Ginny knew that the first job cuts would be in the sales department, which employed smart, young, dynamic individuals with never-ending enthusiasm but not much experience. The company had invested a lot in building their brand identity, and Ginny, with over 15 years experience, felt that many of the new sales team members didn’t have a solid understanding of the corporate vision and brand to reflect in their … Continue reading Professional Motivational Speaker Helped Increase Sales by 10% →

Larry felt he was out of ideas.  He put in his time at work, but he found so much to frustrate him he got to the point where he almost didn’t care anymore.  He knew he needed an attitude adjustment. He wanted a way to get enthusiastic and happy with his job.

But he wasn’t getting any help from work or family, or anyone. Finally Larry decided to take action on his own. He signed up to hear a motivational speaker. Larry wasn’t sure what to expect.  What he got was beyond anything he imagined.

The motivational speaker helped both his professional and personal growth.  He learned things he could use at work and in all the other areas of his life.

Real, actionable information.

Larry learned things about thought patterns and road blocks he’d been putting in front of himself. This information freed him … Continue reading Motivational Speaker to Enhance Personal Growth & Communication →

Josh is a sales executive at a medium-size software company. He’s always made his numbers and hit his quotas. As he advanced in the organization, his responsibility and the number of people he manages have increased. Josh’s career goal is to become VP of sales within the next year.

He’s always known how to get results, but his fatal flaw is that he has no idea how to manage his people. The bigger his team grew, the more his abrasive and combative style got in his way. Word got back to HR that he was a bully, a hard-ass, blunt, and intimidating. Ultimately, this information was documented, and he was laid off.

However, his boss’s boss saw potential in Josh. He liked the work he did and could see he really wanted to learn and grow, to get past his weakness in managing people. The … Continue reading How Better Employee Training Can Help You Reach Your Career Goals →

Client Jamie Asks: There are many people in my organization that could benefit from increased executive presence. What should I look for in a business leadership training program? What skills can I expect my people to gain from such a program?

Coach Joel Answers: This is an important step. Your executives and those you are grooming for leadership need to have a whole company perspective. To be successful they must move from a tactical day-to-day approach to a more strategic overview. Here are six skill sets you’ll want your business leaders to develop.

1. Step away from the day-to-day.

There’s a saying: When you’re up to your ankles in alligators, it’s hard to remember you’re here to drain the swamp. Executives face many compelling day-to-day problems that can eat up all their time. Help your executives learn how to set aside a … Continue reading Business Leadership Program: 6 Skills You Must Teach →

Guest Post by Deborah Shames

I confess. To this day, I experience anxiety before delivering a keynote or leading my business group. I have trouble quieting my mind and sleeping the night before. I imagine everything that could go wrong, and question whether I’ve prepared enough.

This may not sound like a surprising admission, since 74 percent of the US population surveyed in 2013 shares a fear of public speaking. What’s unusual is that I speak regularly to large audiences around the country—despite having this fear. I even formed a company called Eloqui, with my partner, David Booth, to train and coach professionals to be effective presenters and communicators.

Over time, I’ve learned to manage my anxiety and turn it into an engine that propels me forward. As I tell my clients, some anxiety is a good thing. It says your presentation is important. Your brain is firing on … Continue reading Overcome Speaker Anxiety to Become a Fearless and Engaging Speaker →

Patrice knew she needed to get serious about succession planning. As the Chief Human Resources Officer at a multi-billion dollar company, she had hundreds of aspiring leaders not prepared for the next level.

As part of this plan, she wanted to hire a corporate trainer to help the aspiring leaders by giving them the tools they needed for the next level. She knew her employees deserved a top-tier speaker, and she wanted someone who would provide the follow-up needed to ensure their success.

Hiring a top-notch speaker with the right expertise can change the game by shifting workplace culture. A skilled trainer can help employees break free of any undesirable patterns and fully leverage their company’s collective talent, guiding them to become great leaders.

Since she wanted to get a great return for her investment, Patrice carefully outlined a strategy for planning the … Continue reading Want Corporate Training for Your Company? Use This 3-Step Plan →

Easton Asks: I want to hire a great professional keynote speaker for an event I’m helping to plan. However, I don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a feel-good speech that doesn’t deliver results. How can I find the speaker who will provide the best value?

Joel Answers: The cost of a hiring a professional speaker for your keynote address can vary significantly, but it’s important not to cut costs by choosing the cheapest speaker rather than the one who is best for the job. You want your event to shine, and that won’t happen unless you choose the best professional speaker you can afford. Having said this, no matter the cost, make sure the speaker’s service provides solid value.

What qualities should you require a keynote speaker to have?

Most importantly, the ability to not only fire up … Continue reading 3 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Keynote Speaker →

Joyce, a manager at a fast-growing IT firm, had been tasked with finding the perfect motivational speaker for her company’s training seminar. She needed someone truly capable of nurturing her high-performing employees’ growth. As she surfed the web, she saw many slick websites but wondered how she could truly evaluate the quality of their work.

Booking the right motivational speaker can mean the difference between a successful corporate conference and a colossal waste of time and money. If, like Joyce, you’re wondering how to book the right motivational speaker, you’re not alone.

Locating and booking a speaker can be overwhelming. Many speakers claim to provide keynote speeches that inspire and teach, but if you are committed to excellence, you’ll need to choose carefully. The best speakers instill not only enthusiasm, but also guidance and practical advice.

First you must determine your goal for the … Continue reading How to Book the Right Motivational Speaker →

Randall, an HR executive, felt that he and many other company managers possessed excellent leadership skills. However, he wanted to bring in someone who not only modeled leadership skills but could articulate exactly how to develop them—all within a captivating presentation. That was a tall order, and it called for a skilled outside speaker.

He was well-networked with senior executive’s at the most prestigious companies in the world. He learned how they would invest in training courses on business leadership for their top-performing employees. They hired the best speakers on corporate leadership to elevate their star employees to the next level. He wanted to take his employees’ success just as seriously by hiring the best speaker he could afford.

Top organizations hire top-tier speakers because they choose wisely. They know the most important criteria to look for in a corporate trainer. They choose someone who’s not just charismatic, but who … Continue reading Choosing the Best Motivational Leadership Speakers →