Greetings!
The workforce is shrinking! We hear it on the evening news. We read it in the newspaper. It is at the core of the debate on Social Security. Let's face it: retaining talented employees is fundamental to any business' success today and in the future.
The Gallup Organization surveyed over a million employees to discover that how long talented employees stay, and how productive they are, comes down to their relationship with their immediate supervisor.
At the Gabbett Group, we believe that relationship largely comes down to the savvy communication skills of the supervisor. The savviest communicators make the best managers. And the best managers retain the key employees who drive the success of the business. If you are a manager and would like to learn five ways to start retaining your key employees, click here to our latest article, "Coffee and a Conversation".
We can help you start boosting your savvy communicator quotient in a free one-hour coaching session. Email us at info@gabbettgroup.com to schedule one today. Visit our website at: www.gabbettgroup.com and read our other articles, which have already helped others become savvy communicators.
Janie Gabbett, President
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In this issue:
- FROM THE PODIUM
- BY THE BOOK
- STUMP THE COACH
- IS COACHING FOR YOU?
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FROM THE PODIUM
SAY IT TILL THEY CHANT IT
"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
Johnny Cochran was the master of what Doug Stevenson, in his book, "Never Be Boring Again" calls creating a "phrase that pays". Think about it. Cochran taught that phrase to an entire nation and planted that critical theme in the minds of a jury in just seven words.
As speakers, we can also take advantage of this powerful technique by coming up with a short, rhythmic or alliterative phrase that captures the central theme of our speech. Then repeat it. Literally, "say it till they chant it".
It's like the chorus of a song. How many times have we forgotten most of the lyrics of a song but can still sing the chorus verbatim? So, as speakers, we want our audience to remember our key message long after they forget the details of our speech. And they will do that if we "say it till they chant it".
"Birds of a feather flock together"
"Things go better with Coke"
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
In these three phrases, we see examples of using rhyme, alliteration or a simple phrase that can be said with a cadence.
When we create such a phrase that captures the main point of our speech and we repeat it (Stevenson recommends six times, including once at the beginning and once at the end), in other words, if we "say it till they chant it", often, by the end of the speech, they will!
If crafted properly and repeated successfully throughout your presentation, you might very well have your audience chanting it back to you by the end of your speech. And if you can get a group of people to speak your central theme in unison, I guarantee they will remember you and your message.
Are you working on a speech? We can help you find and hone your "phrase that pays". Email us at info@gabbettgroup.com
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BY THE BOOK
Our choice this month is: First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman.
This book is full of great insights and successful management behaviors, backed by a mountain of data. Using the polling power of the Gallup Organization, they surveyed over a million employees and 80,000 managers in over 400 companies.
Their results are humanized by scores of real-life stories from real-life great managers. It is a good read that could revolutionize the way you treat your team members and the positive results you achieve in your business as a result.
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STUMP THE COACH
Have a particularly tricky communication situation? A team that doesn't talk? An employee who doesn't listen? A client who needs to hear something they are not going to relish? Email us at info@gabbettgroup.com and we will give you our insights privately or in our next issue.
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IS COACHING FOR YOU?
Find out if coaching is for you by requesting a free one-hour session focused on a communication challenge you are facing.
CONTACT US to learn more about the Gabbett Group and to book a keynote presentation, a seminar or a coaching session at 847-679-4604 or email info@gabbettgroup.com.
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©Janie Gabbett 2005
