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Effective communication in business

Effective communication in business is not about creating the
perfect PowerPoint presentation. It’s not about writing the
perfectly-pitched report. It’s not even about assiduously
alliterating .

Sometimes effectively communicating in business can hinge on
something really simplethe habits you bring to your
interactions with others.

As we all know, we all have habitual behaviours that we carry
around with us and use unconsciously. It could be the “um” you
sandwich between every fourth word of your presentation. It
could be the nervous ‘fig-leaf’ gestures of your hands. It could
be your constant swaying and looking away from your audience, as
if you should be somewhere else far more important right at that
moment.

Whoever you are, whilst you may know your facts inside-out,
whilst your work ethic is the standard by which others are
measured, if you don’t recognise and work on your personal
presentation habits you might eventually destroy all that you
have strived so hard to achieve.

Whatever your particular habit is, you can best find out what it
is by two great methods:

* Ask your colleagues what you do in face-to-face encounters
that annoys them

* Have someone video a presentation to a group that you give

We all have a communication habit that works against us in some
small way. But the challenge we face is that, left unattended,
they start adding up. The more you have, the more unprofessional
you look.

Here’s eight interpersonal communication blunders that can wreck
your career over time:

* Owning a weak handshake: A weak handshake signals
uncertainty, hesitation, a lack of integrity, a lack of
confidence and a lack of courage. It quite possibly also
triggers subconscious responses in the recipient that cause them
to focus more and for longer on your handshake than on your
message. To butcher Nike’s slogan, “Just don’t do it!”

* Displaying a nervous giggle: Just like a weak handshake, the
nervous giggle, in the eyes and mind of your audience, turns you
into a child. No one seriously does business with a child.

* Over-using “I’m sorry”: A ‘killer’ for undermining your
authority, a phrase like, “I need your report on my desk by 5
o’clock, sorry” just knocks your professionalism, your
communication and your career for six. You have no need to
apologise if you are the boss or the client. There is a place
for politeness in business, as there are for courtesy and
humility. But in the shark-eat-shark world of nature and
business, there is no room for the weak and mousy. Sorry to have
to break that to you…

* Standing passively: Crossed arms, crossed legs… they
signal just one thingudetachment, as if you really don’t want
to be there, listening to the other person, but you have to.
Passively standing kicks down the building bricks of trust, over
time reducing your career reputation to rubble.

* Avoiding eye contact: Whilst too much staring at someone can
cause discomfort, so can too little. By not looking at your
audience (of one of one thousand) in the eye, you come across as
nervous and insincere. A reasonable period of eye contact is
between 4 and 7 seconds at a time, per person, especially when
you are talking to them.

* Playing with your hands: Wringing your hands, or playing
‘fig leaf’ is a sure way of conveying insecurity about yourself
or your message. And recently I was reminded by my Toastmasters
club colleagues of a habit of mine that I need to
breaktwisting my wedding ring around my finger when I present.
My colleagues found themselves focusing more on my
ring-twiddling than my message.

* Speaking too softly: A habit that is a sure sign in the eyes
of others, that you are not confident about yourself, your
message or your authority to deliver it. You come across as
near-invisible, weak and insubstantial, as well as make yourself
difficult to be heard by those who are hard of hearing. And as I
get older, my hearing is definately getting worseua legacy of
spending years in front of PA stacks as a lighting manager for
rock bands.

* Using qualifying words: This is quite possibly one of the
worst habits anyone could have. Absolutely nearly everyone
qualifies their words, and most often the effect is to dilute
the power and impact of your message. Seriously, using words
such as “kind of”, “sort of” and “maybe” make even the smartest
of us appear unsure.

About the Author

When you match consumer psychology with effective communication
styles you get a powerful combination. At Hopkins-Business-
Communication-Training.com you can find the secrets to
communication success. At Hopkins we show you how to communicate
better for better business results.

www.hopkins-business-communication-training.com

If you’ve been building an opt-in list, you are on the right track to making a living online. If you have yet to start building your list, you need to get started right away! A quality list is worth a lot of money, if you know how to use it. Notice the word ‘quality’….not ‘quantity!’ A list does not have to be huge to turn a profit. Again, if you have a quality list, you can turn out a quality newsletter, and then you can learn how to use your newsletter to promote your affiliate programs.

First you should note that the newsletter must be of high quality. Just sending your list advertisements will not cut it in today’s competitive online market place. Your subscribers do not want advertisements - they can find those anywhere. What they want is quality up-to-date information. As a marketer, you produce that information, and build the information around one of your affiliate programs.

Start by choosing a product that you feel your highly qualified list will be interested in. Really think about this long and hard, and make sure that you pick a quality product or service. If you’ve used your newsletter in the right way up to this point, your subscribers will put a lot of faith in your recommendations - and you are about to make a recommendation.

With that product, write an article. The article should not be about the product - unless it is a review of the product. Instead, it should pertain to something that relates to the use of that product. For instance, if you are advertising a shampoo, you would probably want to write an article about hair care - not about the shampoo.

You can work the product into the article in various ways. For instance, if you are just promoting one product with your article, at the end of the article, you might suggest to your readers that using brand x - with your affiliate link - will help them achieve better results or that you’ve found that this brand is better than that brand, or something along those lines.

If you are promoting several products within one article, spread them about throughout the text, but make sure that your article doesn’t become one big advertisement - and avoid promoting too many products within one article. Also avoid including more than one article in each issue of your newsletter. You want your visitors attention to remain focused - and if you give them information overload in one issue, your chances of making any sales at all diminish!

It is vital that you use a professional link cloaker. You do not want your affiliate link to look like an affiliate link! A link cloaker will change the text of your link, but when clicked, the linked cloak will take your reader to the site with the product that you are promoting - and you will get credit for the sale. Using a link cloaker also prevents link hijacking - where someone exchanges your affiliate ID with their own affiliate ID in the link.

Be personable with your readers. Become their friend. Let them know that you are looking out for them, and that you are interested in helping them achieve something. Developing a relationship with your readers is the key to getting them to trust your recommendations.

ReveNow! is an Affiliate marketing resource covering affiliate marketing, AdSense, AdWords, and SEO. Discuss this article in the Affiliate Marketing Forums.

Is there anything more refreshing on a hot summer day than a tall glass of iced tea with a sprig of fresh mint? Or a more calming end to a long day than a steaming infusion with chamomile or mint? A tea garden can ensure that you have a steady supply of your favorite herbs - and it’s surprisingly easy to grow.

Most tea herbs grow quite happily in moderate sun, so choose a spot that gets about 6 hours of full sun a day. If you choose to grow your tea herbs directly in the ground, be aware that many of them will spread voraciously, choking out any other plants nearby. To prevent that, sink bottomless buckets or baskets into the ground and plant the herb plant inside it to help control the roots. Of course, if you choose to garden in containers, that won’t be a problem at all.

Chamomile

Chamomile is a very pretty, lacy annual (though there is one variety that is a perennial) that grows about 2 feet high. It likes partial shade to full sun, and sandy, dry soil. The tea is made from chamomile flowers rather than leaves. Harvest regularly once the plants start to flower. To dry chamomile, cut stems back to new leaf growth and tie in loose bunches. Hang upside down in a dry, dark place till the leaves are crumbly. Or: dry just the flower heads on drying screens in the oven or in the sun.

Catnip

Catnip has been used for medicinal teas for colds and stomach upsets since ancient times. Its most often combined with other herbs - lemon balm and lemon grass are particular favorites. The plant is a perennial that grows readily in dry, sandy conditions, but can be coaxed along in nearly any sort of soil or light conditions. Added bonus: catnip is a natural pest repellant, both in the garden and dried. To take advantage of its pest repellant properties, dry and place in cloth pouches and tuck under baseboards or closets. Tea is made from dry or fresh leaves, combined with chamomile, comfrey or lemon balm.

Lemon Balm

A hardy, drought-resistant perennial, lemon balm grows so readily that it is actually considered a pest plant in some parts of the United States. The plant looks a lot like mint - to which it’s related - and has a hint of minty flavor to it. Like most other tea herbs, it can be used either dried or fresh, though the dried leaves have a more intense flavor. The plant grows about 24 inches tall, and must be pinched back and pruned often to keep it under control.

Mint

Ah, mint! There are so many varieties of mint that you could easily plant a mint garden with no other plants at all. At last count, there were an estimated 6,000 varieties - and growing, since the plant cross-pollinates so easily. It’s also the most pernicious spreader of all the herbs. One plant will take over an entire garden within two seasons if it’s not contained. Mint likes rich soil and light shade, but will grow in almost any conditions. It also makes a great, easy to maintain house plant.

Some favorite mint varieties for tea are:

Peppermint - of course! Peppermint is the most popular of all the mints, with its sharp, spicy, cooling tastes.

Spearmint - the mint of mint juleps. Spearmint grows readily in any climate.

Apple mint - a hint of fruity flavor underlying the cool, fresh taste of mint

Chocolate mint - yes, chocolate! This one is far better with dessert than as a tea. Crush the leaves and whirl in a blender with vanilla ice cream for an incredible treat.

About the Author

This article courtesy of http://www.florists-guide.org

Ford vehicles are among the best in the industry and this Ford
has proven countless times through the years. Various Ford
vehicles have left an indelible mark in the history of
automobilesFord Model T, the first automobile created using
the moving assembly line; Ford F150, the world’s best-selling
truck for 23 years; Ford Explorer, the best-selling SUV; Ford
Falcon, a top-selling sports car; Ford Mustang, the first
“pony” car; Ford GT, a highly powerful sports car among
others. Other vehicles produced by Ford have in one way or
another contributed to the auto industry’s growth and
development.

Great technology, solid engineering, tough and durable auto
parts and sincere commitment to customer satisfaction are the
things that underpin the success of every Ford compact,
mid-size and full-size cars, trucks, sports cars, sport
utilities and other type of vehicles. However, despite the fact
that this is clearly manifested by the looks and performance of
a Ford vehicle, they are subject to continuous maintenance and
care, too. How a Ford owner takes care of his vehicle
determines how long his vehicle could last to give him high
quality of performance.

With Ford’s popularity and wide range of vehicles, finding the
best replacement parts is not a difficult thing to do.
Thousands of auto parts stores even online offer tough and
durable Ford aftermarket and OEM-quality auto parts and
accessories floor mats to carpets, hubcaps, auto lights,
fenders, door, tailgate, wheels, engine parts, grille, fuel
tank, radiator, starter, exhaust manifold, bumper, a/c
condenser and alternator. Any car part imaginable can be easily
found in just a few clicks on your mouse.

There may be a lot of sources for “Ford tough” replacement and
aftermarket Ford parts used and new alike, you still have to be
wise in choosing the best Ford parts for your vehicle. Parts
such as engine parts, starter, catalytic converter, radiator
and wheels perform important tasks crucial to your car or
truck’s over-all performance as well as driving satisfaction;
thus, you must be particular about their quality and toughness.

Getting them from a trusted source is a good way to ensure your
Ford’s performance. Ford
Parts Online is one of the most trusted and experienced
Ford parts supplier in the country offering you wide array of
top quality Ford parts for almost all Ford models. Ford Parts
Discount deals are available here so you don’t have to go
anywhere else to find the most affordable parts for your
replacement needs.

Replacement parts from Ford
Parts Online are made by top Ford parts manufacturers and
are designed to match and even exceed Ford OEM parts’
standards. They perfect ways to upgrade your Ford car or truck
and extend their life and service. For more efficient
combustion, high quality engine parts are provided and for a
powerful start, premium class Ford starters are offered to you
here in this store. Excellently designed and highly functional
accessories like Ford floor mats, Ford carpets, Ford hubcaps
and Ford mirrors are also found at Ford Ford
Parts Online. Check out this store the next time you are
going to work on a car repair, upgrading or car part
replacement. Nothing beats the most trusted, experienced and
complete auto parts store for Ford.

Chuck, a 38 year old freelance writer from Charleston, South
Carolina, has been specializing on automotive-related articles
and news. He has a degree in Automotive Techonology.

Nowadays, more and more people are getting inclined towards secured loans. But before applying for the loan, one has to have complete knowledge of it, especially its features, pros and cons, loan procedure etc. Having a clear idea of secured loans will protect you against any treachery at the hands of the lenders.

Secured loans are the loans that are given against a collateral. A fixed asset such as an automobile, equity in home or any other property can be placed as collateral.

Usually, the interest rate charged on secured loans is comparatively lower than unsecured loans because of the presence of collateral. Therefore, the borrower is advised to place a high value collateral. The higher the value of collateral, the lower will be the interest rate.

With secured loans, the borrower can draw an amount ranging from 25,000 to £100,000 and repay between 5-25 years.

Secured Loans come with the fear of property repossession. The lender has the authority to seize your property, if you decline to repay the loan. One should apply for secured loans, only if he is sure that he will be able to repay on time. He can get the monthly installments arranged to his financial status and repayment capacity.

Lenders of secured loan do not restrict the borrower on the usage of the loan. One can use the loan for a variety of purposes like debt consolidation, making home improvements, buying a car or holiday package, meeting wedding expenses, funding your education and much more. The choice is yours.

Unsecured loans serve a diverse group of people irrespective of the credit history. If you have faced the problem of arrears, defaults, County Court Judgments or bankruptcy, you can still avail the loan. Take certain measures to improve your credit score. Check your credit report for accuracy. If it contains any unsolicited debt, get it updated from a credit rating agency. Eliminate the debts which you can easily pay. This will help you to improve your credit score and get the loan at favorable rates.

A little search will help you choose a pocket soothing loan deal. Shop around for the best lender. The borrower should not confine his approach to the conventional banks and financial institutions. He is advised to surf the internet and look for the most appropriate online loan providing organization. Online lenders have an edge over the conventional lenders. They prevent you against all hurdles that you are likely to face while dealing with physical lenders. Not much of documentation work is there while opting for secured loans online. A simple hassle-free online loan application form needs to be filled up. The moment the lender finds a deal matching with your requirements, he will contact you immediately. Using the online loan calculator for the estimation of interest rate and monthly installments is advisable.

Hence, don’t be in haste. Sit down and think carefully before applying for secured loans. Seeking the advice of a loan expert will be beneficial.

Peter Taylor is a senior financial analyst at Find Secured Loan with an acumen for finance and insurance. In recent years he has taken up to provide independant financial advice through his informative articles.His articles are widely read because of the lucid manner of wriiting and thoroughly researched datas.To find Secured loans,secured personal loans,secured debt consolidation loans in uk that best suits your need visit http://www.findsecuredloan.co.uk

German Shepherds were among the first dogs trained for police work- beginning around 1900 in Ghent, Belgium.

Dog’s body cells contain the most pairs of chromosomes (heredity- carrying
structures) of any mammal- 39 pairs.

There is an old Chinese belief that if a person owns a good and faithful dog that the dog will sacrifice itself to Death when Death demands a member of its’ immediate family.

The most decorated U.S. dog during World War II was a German Shepherd/Husky/
Collie mix named Chips. He also served as a guard dog in North America and later
earned a Silver Star for capturing a machine gun nest during the invasion of Sicily.

Dogs have been used to determine whether twins are identical or fraternal because
identicals have the same scent, but fraternals do not, no matter how much they may
look alike.

The Latin word for faithful is “Fido?” Could this possibly have any connection with
the fact that so many dogs are named this?

If an old or sick dog does not shake itself after getting up that this is a sign of bad
overall health? Each dog shakes itself to get every muscle and tendon back into
perfect place after waking up.

A dog can survey an area between 200 to 270 degrees, depending on the shape of
its skull and the positioning of its eyes, compared to the average of 100 degrees for
a human being.

Due to the popularity of lap dogs in ancient Rome, Julius Caesar once mused if
Roman women had ceased to have children in lieu of their new four-legged
companions.

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/
Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - “Your New Best Friend”

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Debbie Ray, owner of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com is a lifetime dog lover and
owner and breeder of german shepherd dogs for over 15 years.

It seems as though so many people are seeking more, wanting more, and expecting more in their lives, yet when pressed about what “more” would look like, rarely can they give a definitive answer.

They say things like, “I want to be happy,” or “I want to be rich,” or “I want the perfect mate.” To be honest, as wonderful as those statements are, they’re far too vague to ever be reached.

What does happiness look and feel like? What’s your definition of rich? How would you describe that perfect mate? Each of us has a different interpretation of what those things mean.

For example, I define happiness as having the freedom to do what I please, when I please to do it. Being rich means having tens of millions of dollars in the bank, and that perfect mate has movie actress charm and the heart of Mother Teresa.

To you, however, these descriptions could be way off course. For you, happiness could mean taking a long-needed vacation. Being rich could mean not having to struggle to make ends meet. Your perfect mate might be the one beside you all along.

The point is, we all need to define our goals, and most important, what they would look like if we saw them. Once we do that, the rest becomes easy. Once we know what we’re seeking, it’s simple to devise a plan to make it happen.

By saying, “I want to be happy, and that means taking that trip,” all you now have to do is get out your calendar, circle the date you want to go, get some brochures on the desired destination, and then plan a course of ACTION to make your dream come true. You might do it by asking your boss to take $50 a week out of your paycheck and save it toward the vacation. Or you might want to work an extra job to gain some additional cash.

You see, once you have your vision, you can create ways to make it happen because . . .

The easiest way to hit a goal is to give yourself one to hit.

Gregory Scott Reid, The Millionaire Mentor,Inc.
#1 best-seling author, speaker and radio personality.
Please visit my website at http://www.AlwaysGood.com and sign up for my free monthly newsletters.