Good Questions to Ask When Hiring Sales People

I was listening to a Voice of Experience CD from the National Speakers Association (in the USA) this week and Zemira Jones, CEO/President of All American Management Group, shared several things to keep in mind regarding hiring sales people. Let me share what impressed me from Jones’ insight – specifically one of his key points, and a few of his interview questions to ask sales person, candidates.

‘Always be hiring’: Continue reading

Julia Gillard tears and Tony Abbott’s limited speaking explained

The emotion, waver in the voice and tears of Julia Gillard this week, were real. The episode with the Australian flag given to her by the helicopter pilots and the Jordan Rice matter touched her deeply. Her performance must be viewed with the backdrop and context of one of her first Queensland floods, media performances, and with the realities of politics.

Gillard’s political minders would have seen the condolence speech as a way to repair Gillard’s woodenness and tone deafness in her first Queensland floods press conference – where she came across, through her emotional tone, more like she was giving a litany of budget cuts versus expressing unvarnished, human compassion for the monumental losses of people.Continue reading

An example of using a prop in winning a pitch

A number of years ago I suggested to a client that they buy a crystal ball (they paid $500 for one) to be used in their multi-million dollar pitch presentation to a prospective client. I’m not suggesting you do the same when you’re pitching for a significant piece of business, but do suggest you think about what prop, or other device or image you could use that would be positively memorable in the mind of the prospect – and that could give you the edge in winning the business.Continue reading