Articles & News
15 May “Making choices with language” by Debbie London
“I’m not trying to over-simplify things,” says London, “but communication is about making choices. We make choices with the language we use whether we’re being purposeful or not and those choices have effects.” 
When asked if she could elaborate, London continued; “Perception is reality. How individuals recall and interpret a moment or a memory shapes the way s/he behaves. Language is the tool we use to shape those perceptions. If we use negative or derogatory terms to reference some one or some thing, we are inevitably going to behave in like manner. If, however, we think or talk about some one or some thing in glowing and positive terms, we’ll behave accordingly.”
Taking this outside the classroom and into the boardroom is what London has been applying recently; although, she started thinking about perception and reality as a college student. As a sophomore at Syracuse University, Debbie London was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. “There was very little literature written about living with MS at that time [1980’s], especially something that wasn’t written for the medical community, “There have got to be so many people who live a successful life in spite of having MS and in spite of the dooming and limited literature that currently exists,” recalls London.
That revelation led Debbie to writing a doctoral dissertation on language shaping reality. She talked with women who live with MS and discovered that they live successfully with MS largely because of the language they use. “Rarely will you hear someone with MS say, ’oh, poor me’, but more likely you will hear her or him say, ‘Yes, I have MS, and while I’m not happy about it, lots of people have problems.’”
Now when London works with clients, she uses a similar strategy. “If you think confidently, if you use confident and assertive verbal and nonverbal communication,” London says, ”others will perceive you as competent and confident. And perception is reality.”
Dr. Debbie London is an accomplished coach and consultant who brings a combination of international experience and understanding of human interaction to her clients. This is how her biography starts out on The Speech Improvement Company’s website. A former college professor of communication studies, Dr. London has a wide array of experiences on which to draw. When she uses those experiences to make a point with students or clients, the common thread is communication.
17 Apr Sales tips from Dikram Husseindjian
Dikram Husseindjian is a former VP of Sales at Apple Inc, Canada.
Dikram is now senior partner at Embrase a consulting firm in Montreal, QC. “For the past eight years he was National Sales Manager at Apple Canada, leading the sales team to top performance in revenue and profitability growth. Prior to joining the information technology sector, he spent 5 years in marketing and product management in the manufacturing sector for companies that include Honeywell, Bristol-Meyers and Hunter Douglas.”
He was invited by iNovia Capital and gave a one-hour long presentation on sales strategies.
One of the mistakes Dikram says sales representatives make, is that they keep the CEO of the company they are trying to sell to, involved throughout the sales process.
While Dikram says that a sales representative should start to enter as high as possible, including CEO level, he recommends that after this initial step, the CEO be not involved with details in the middle parts of the sales process. Instead, he should be called again in the closing stages of the process.
The sales process itself is composed of six steps:
Discovery -> Qualifying -> Evaluating -> Decision -> Purchase-> Deploy
Throughout this process, three key variables will have varying degrees of importance.
Solution Fit: critical at first but decreases in importance.
Price: important at the beginning and end of the process.
Risk: rises for the potential purchaser as time passes.
In short, sales is about strategy and formalising procedures rather than a series of improvisations.
16 Apr Hearts, minds, wallets
During this second day of presentations, Austin Hill, suggested a way for start-up companies to think about their pitches to investors.
HEARTS –> MINDS –> WALLETS
The key he says, is to first appeal to the “hearts” of the potential investors through a narrative that will get them excited about their service of product. Then you have to back the story with data and a concrete business plan to win theirs “minds”. If these are performed convincingly, they are the way to the money; or their “wallets”.
Incidentally, Austin doesn’t think start-up companies not to mention valuation at the end of their pitch. Instead, he suggests they say that there are different ways of valuing the company and that “we will be happy to discuss these in more details in a further meeting”.
What transpired from this second day is that start-up companies need to develop a narrative around their service or product but that they shouldn’t give away all that they have. Rather they should think about their pitch as “teasing” the VC’s into wanting more.
14 Apr J’arrive a’ Montreal
Earlier this year, I had been invited by iNovia Capital to be among three panelists to assess a series of presentations by start-up companies.
iNovia Capital “has over $158M under management across two seed and early stage funds (MSBi Investment Fund, L.P. & iNovia Investment Fund II, L.P.) and MSBi Valorisation.”
My host is Joško Bobanovic, a principal in the firm. Some of the presenting companies form part of his portfolio. These are:
Metafoam
Nanoledge
Plastic Knowledge
I will be joined by Austin Hill and Bernie Li.
25 Mar A new radio show for WETIN
We are thrilled to hear that Lau Lapides and Laurie Schloff will be hosting a new radio show with Emerson’s station WETIN.
The show titled “Talk Shop” is a 1 hour radio show on Emerson’s new station WETIN Web radio streamed live from 7:00-8:00 PM the second and forth Wednesday evening every month. First program will premier March 25th and will kickoff the program with a discussion on Speech and the City coming up on April 4.
The power packed “Double L Team” will take on the world of communicating with two segments lasting roughly 15-20 minutes in length including fun, thematic music suited for the show. The first segment we will interview a “How Leaders Talk Guest” focusing on how leaders in their industries and organizations talk and communicate. The second segment we’ll invite a “Great Voices Guest” who will discuss and demonstrate how they use their voice in their given industry for profit or philanthropy.
Lau and Laurie are super, high-energy, fun and interactive hosts who will use humor, anecdotes, share expertise and invite live callers to call in and ask questions.
“Our purpose for the program is to interact, engage, educate, and provoke our audience to think, question, and take action to change, promote, and strengthen excellent communication skills in whatever industry they are in.” says Lau.
Stay tuned for more information about this program.
19 Mar Speech and the City
Announcing a unique event in Boston…
The Women’s Connecting, Learning, and Empowering Forum.
As the job market grows even more competitive, learning how to communicate effectively and present a professional image in the best way possible is crucial. Learn how to strengthen what makes you unique and market yourself and your personal image to get that dream job! The Speech Improvement Company of Boston invites you to join us in this unique “First” sponsored by Boston University to celebrate and redefine how women communicate in the new millennium. This event will be a dynamic opportunity for women to network, learn, and socialize, while strengthening their professional and interpersonal communication skills.
This amazing event will offer a consortium of speakers, interactive workshops, demonstrations, and one-on-one personal coaching experiences with leading industry professionals.
Hosted by the College of Communication Student Assembly and Women and Finance, this exciting event will take place at Boston University, The College of Communication, 640 Commonwealth Avenue, on Saturday April 4, 2009 from 11AM-4 PM. We are pleased to provide a pool of experts to help you communicate for success! Workshops and meetings will help you leverage your communication strengths in the challenging job market to enhance your personal image and style.
Here are just a few of the innovative and energizing workshops and speakers we have lined up:
“Communicating with Confidence in a Difficult Job Market”
“The Power of Your Professional & Personal Style/Image”
“Mastering the Interview”
“Finding work through Social Media & Personal Branding”
“Effective Presentation & Speaking Tools to Keep You One Step Ahead”
Please RSVP and pre-register for this event by going to our dedicated page and receive a discount ticket for $5.
Drop ins are most welcome on the day of the event and you may purchase your
tickets at the door for $10. All proceeds will go to Heading Home in Cambridge, MA. Check out our exciting spring lineup of communication programs designed specifically for women at Speech and the City Executive Women’s Certificate Program!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Please contact me directly at 617.739.3330 or email me at
Lau Lapides, Executive Speech Coach & Program Coordinator
[email protected] if you have any questions or innovative ideas!
1614 Beacon Street, Brookline (Boston), MA 02446 (617) 739-3330 1-800-LETS RAP fax (617) 232-9430
www.speechimprovement.com • email: [email protected]
20 Feb Using social media to find a job
A panel discussion hosted by: The Speech Improvement Company, Inc.
An increasing number of anecdotes are surfacing about people landing jobs using social networks, such as twitter (See “How Twitter can help at work by the New York Times http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/how-twitter-can-help-at-work/)
What are the opportunities, threats and strategies job-seekers should be aware of when using social media?
There will be three short presentations from hiring and social media specialists to spur the conversation on. The discussion will be moderated by Wahyd Vannoni, director of new media at The Speech Improvement Company, Inc..
Please join us at our offices in Brookline, MA on Thursday, March 12th, from 10 AM to 12 PM.
Seating is limited.
Please contact: The Speech Improvement Company, Inc.
1614 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446
USA
Phone: +1 617-739-3330
Fax: +1 617-232-9430
4 Feb London under the snow!
Monica Murphy is in London working with Bain Capital… right on time for the worst snowfalls in 18 years. She sent us this report.
wow, what an adventure so far! London is very crazy now. This is the most snow they have seen in 18 years! Yesterday was incredible. All of the Busses were out of service. The tube only had 1 line running, the schools were all shut and the roads……
I found the communication from the television stations very interesting. The whole day is to refered to as a “disturbance” . In fact, the local stations were not able to conduct their regular programme since guests were not able to travel in to the station. The anchor man and woman kept repackaging the same information in different ways, adding their own personal thoughts obviously, they kept interupting each other, the producer must have been trying to keep them conversational.
I was able to walk to work at the Bain Capital office in Mayfair. It is just off the main road. I am staying at Le Merridien. This is just 5-6 blocks walk. Along my walk I saw many excited people out making snowmen in Green Park. In fact, I snapped this photo of a snowman in the parking area in front of the Royal Academy, just a few doors from my hotel.
It is the chinese new year. On sunday there was a great parade. There are chinese lanterns hung in the streets, so many people you could hardly
29 Jan WBUR – Social Media Meet-up
Announcing the next WBUR Meet-up
.
WBUR Social Media Meet-Up
Thursday February 5, 2009 at 7:00pm
WBUR
890 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02215 Get Directions (more…)
27 Jan “Speech expert: Obama’s address ‘good, not great'”
Following President Obama’s inauguration, The Palm Beach Post interviewed Laurie Schloff and Monica Murphy.
The article, titled “Speech expert: Obama’s address ‘good, not great'” can be found here. (more…)
19 Jan The art of speech-writing
CNN’s Fareed Zakaria speaks to a panel of former presidential speech writers about President Obama’s upcoming first speech as President.
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/politics/2009/01/19/gps.pres.speech.cnn.html
Our team will, as in similar past events, provide objective analysis of President Obama’s first speech.
For past commentaries go to our election speaker’s homepage.
13 Jan Effective Presentations Certificate Program
Effective Presentations Certificate Program
Workshop
Jan 29 – 30, 2009, 9:30 AM
The Effective Presentations Certificate Program is designed for business professionals who need to be comfortable and effective presenters. There will be many opportunities for individualized practice and coaching in this informative and interactive small group workshop.
6 Dec Kuala Lumpur Journal – Part 5
Long day at work today, I met with 6 clients individually, doing coaching, training, video taping, 
Last night I talked to my kids at home and explained to them about the make a wish box. They each wanted to give up one of their Christmas gifts so I can full fill wishes. We choose 4 kids from the make a wish box.
Basically, I’ll donate money to the Mandarin Hotel, who hosts this event, and the Mandarin Hotel will send a shopper to the mall to full fill the wish. During our busy day to day lives, trying to provide for our own families, and make a living, enjoy life, and such…
3 Dec Kuala Lumpur Journal – Part 4
Today after work, I saw a “Make a wish” box in the lobby while waiting to attend a client dinner coaching session. It was a box with a few hundred wishes from local orphans. I picked one up, and read it. It was from a 6 year old girl. The age of my oldest Daughter. She wrote on her make a wish card. “I wish I could have a new t-shirt, and a pair of sock for Christmas” My eyes swelled up. And then my client walked in. I’ll check back tommorow, they will be there all week.
30 Nov Kuala Lumpur Journal – Part 2
I’ve finally landed in KL. My bags made it through. I flew on Singapore Airlines, which is a great airline. Now that I’m on the ground, I’m over heated. I keep my Red Sox hat on in hopes of meeting up with some familiar faces along my journey. Now that I’m in town, I’ll start tagging friends and clients with my local phone number to let people know I’ve arrived. I have another 45 minute drive to the hotel, where I’ll decompress.
Kuala Lumpur Journal – Part 1
Ethan Becker is on his way to Malaysia to work with SuriaKLCC. He will be sending regular updates on his trip in a series we titled: “Kuala Lumpur Journal”.
Four flights, 1 entire season of 24 and 36 hours later, Ethan landed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ethan is working with Executives to help them strengthen their managerial communicaiton skills. This is follow up work with the team that has shown incredible improvement over the years.
The weather is hot, and humid. Boston of course, is much colder. Back home it’s snow and shoveling while here it’s rain and warmth.
I find it amazing how similar people are around the world. When I travel, I meet and profile people along the way. I’ve met people from countries and cultures all over the world. It’s a real lesson to get to work with so many cultures and see how human beings are similar and different. (more…)