Key Communication Skills to Grow Your Business – JANUARY 24th 2025
Have you noticed that the great managers, leaders and entrepreneurs rise to the top by using excellent communication skills? They create and lead effective teams, handle people easily, and get promoted faster. No one is born that way. It takes study and practice.
NCCA Canada, together with their skilled Communication Coaches and Trainers, will provide an event on January 24th, 2025, 1-5 pm EST, where leaders, SME owners, entrepreneurs and even coaches can join, benefit and grow their business through networking and professional development. The focus is on understanding and using truly key communication skills to grow your business.
Agenda: Welcome and Fireside Chat on Persuasion, Body Language in Business with Communication Coach/Trainer Ric Phillips and Body Language Guru Mark Bowden
The Art of Emotional Magnetism in Marketing and Sales with Sandy Gerber
Developing Your Powerful Voice for Impact with Thomas Bradshaw
Panel: Women’s Voices in Business with Elisa Proulx, Evelyn Chau, Heather Chetwynd, and moderated by Ric Phillips
Our virtual networking lounge, powered by YEDI (York Entrepreneurship Development Institute), will be open in between speakers and for an additional 30 minutes at the end, so you can meet others and share contacts and ideas.
If you are looking to improve key business communications for you or your staff, then this event is for you. Please join our expert speakers and panelists and be prepared to meet lots of people virtually. Let’s start 2025 off right at this unique and success-focused event. Registration is open!
I finished reading this new book that I am a co-author of called Pinnacle of Influence, How the World’s Greatest Thought Leaders Became Global Gurus, and wanted to give both a shout-out to the authors and add a few of my favourite snippets of their inspirational words. Here are some short phrases or quotes from each chapter (in order) that stuck out as inspirational for me:
Chapter 1 – Mastering the Art of Leadership by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
“Leadership is not an inborn trait, but a skill set that can be cultivated and refined.”
“Traditionally, feedback…focuses on what went wrong, not what can lead to future success.”
“The true art of leadership lies in the ability to turn vision into a reality, challenges into opportunities, and individuals into high-performing teams.”
Chapter 2 – How a Thought Leader Thinks by Ron Kaufman
“How can I respect the past, work in the present, and contribute to a better future?”
“…encouraging others is a powerful form of service.”
“Becoming a thought leader requires a combination of expertise and vision.”
“Thought leaders cannot be leaders if they only think in isolation.”
Chapter 3 – A Rhapsody in Failure by Arthur Carmazzi
“The power of our Life Symphony is affected by the type of music we hear. We live up to the expectations of our environment.”
“…credibility is the currency for earning listener’s trust.”
“If a problem can be solved with money, it’s not a problem, it’s an expense.”
“Failure is not the opposite of success, mediocrity is.”
Chapter 4 – Transforming From an Expert to a Thought Leader by John Mattone
“…our lives are not about us.”
“Great leadership is about having a passionate drive to change the world for the better…”
“If you want others to be happy, be courteous, compassionate, and altruistic.”
Chapter 5 – Positioning in Negotiations – What Matters by Greg Williams
“Timing can be a blessing and curse in a negotiation.”
“…he added, “Don’t you want to look good to the other people in the bar?” …and magically, he got to shine more shoes.”
“In a negotiation, the way you position yourself and your offer will determine how you and it are perceived.”
Chapter 6 – Rising to Distinction by Jonathan Low
“(quoting Simon Sinek:) “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”
“Communication is the heartbeat of connection.”
“Community isn’t just about the people we meet; it’s a rich soil where growth, learning, and inspiration can thrive.”
“…the pinnacle of influence is not a summit conquered alone; it’s a horizon that expands as we grow together.”
Chapter 7 – Triple Win Leadership Coaching by Will Linssen
“…as human beings, we have more in common than our personalities, principles, or passports would indicate.”
“The future here is the past somewhere else.”
“It is the client who determines the coaching engagement’s success at the outset.”
“…organizational success and social impact can go hand-in-hand.”
Chapter 8 – The Key to Extraordinary by me, Ric Phillips, MBA
I think it would be odd if I wrote my favourite inspirational quotes from my own chapter! If you have any, feel free to add them in the comments. I’ll simply give another thank you to my mentors that are mentioned in my chapter, Dr. Marat Ressin, Mark Bowden, Tony Robbins and also mention my company 3V Communications and the non-profit organization that I helped start, NCCA Canada.
Chapter 9 – Breaking the Chains by David Snyder
“Everything human beings do is in response to a feeling.”
“All leaders walk the hero’s journey in one form or another.”
“Just because you can do something does not mean you should…”
“This world…is engineered to make you grow through trial and effort.”
“When people do not want change, they have to create an enemy.”
Chapter 10 – World Influence Mastery by Dr. Peter Chee
“(quoting Aristotle): Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there your calling can be found.”
“Having an unblemished reputation goes a long way to establishing yourself as someone with integrity who not only gets things done, but also gets things done the right way.”
“You should discard the innate fear you have when approaching someone great to support you on your journey.”
Chapter 11 – Five Fundamental Lessons on my Journey by Dr. Giti Caravan
“My family was the harbor, my mentors were lighthouses, and my peers were fellow sailors braving the stormy seas with me.”
“…the importance of leaving our comfort zone, not as a betrayal of our initial calling but as an expansion of our identify and purpose.”
“Growth has pain, but the pain is rewarding.”
“I learned to balance work and life by saying ‘no’ when necessary and setting boundaries to protect my time and energy.”
Chapter 12 – How Grace Builds Community by John Baldoni
“Within the community, there is the freedom to belong as well as the responsibility of belonging.”
“Grace enables leaders to navigate adversity and confrontation with dignity, creating an environment for open dialogue rather than argumentation.”
“Community arises from people of shared interest coming together for the greater good.”
This book is available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback. 😊
I have created some new videos that explain my work, the reasons behind it, and how it can enhance your communication skills. Discover practical tips and techniques personalized for your growth. Don’t miss out—watch the intro video now and get ready to elevate your communication skills!
Are you one of the people concerned that if you say the traditional holiday greeting “Merry Christmas” that people might feel you are not being inclusive or being politically correct? But don’t you have the right to practice your own beliefs and follow your own traditions?
Stop fretting over this seasonal silly discussion. Ignore what your parents taught you and actually have your cake and eat it too. Say “Merry Christmas” if that ‘s your tradition or religion, and ALSO say “Happy Holidays” at the same time, to be inclusive with strangers and people you meet while out and about, especially in large, multicultural cities. It’s not too difficult to add that phrase. I personally grew up saying “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” so I’m just replacing the last phrase ‘New Year’ with ‘Holidays’, and then next week I’ll just tell everyone “Happy New Year” or “Happy 2024!” I love simplicity. 🙂
Remembrance Day has always been important to my family. My grandfather Harold Phillips fought the Nazis in Normandy on D-Day. He survived WW2, but sadly his brother George did not. The name George has now carried on for 3 generations, as my dad’s name, my brother’s middle name and my son’s middle name. I do what I can to honour their legacy, including being a member of the local legion, and I always wear a poppy. My company 3V Communications is also helping fund a National Wall of Remembrance in Kingston, ON (Worassociation.ca). If you buy and wear a poppy, you honour the lives lost fighting for peace, and are supporting our current vets. From me and my family, thank you.
Yay! I made the list! Thank you, and congrats to the other speech coaches in Canada. Together we are growing the market and helping lots of people and companies.
This list was compiled by a writer at Yoodli, a new AI-driven technology that gives real time feedback to people practicing public speaking, interviews, speeches and more. Check them out!
I spent most of January 2023 in Japan. It was a business trip, but there was opportunity to travel as well, so I wasn’t stuck in Tokyo the whole time. I also visited Hakone, Nara, Kyoto and Yokohama. This was my fifth time being in Japan, and I got to see some new places (like the deer-filled streets of Nara), ate some different food (like the black eggs in Hakone), and met some new people. Do you know what DIDN’T change? What has never changed since I first started travelling to Japan in 2008? The super-high level of customer service and client care. It’s so consistent and it’s so refreshing. As a traveller, a visitor, it’s the best experience. People are so polite not just with their words, but with their non-verbal communication as well. Soft voice, respectful eye contact, small arm gestures, calm voice. Definitely a few things the West could learn from.
However even a rose has thorns. I’ll leave you with this counter-thought from a Tokyo guy: “yes the customer service in Japan is high level, but it’s scripted, it’s mandatory and therefore fake. The customer service you receive in Canada (or elsewhere) may not always be top-notch, but at least it’s genuine. When you receive great care in Canada, you know it’s 100% real, and it leaves a special feeling.”
Interesting point. So is the key to great customer service the overall experience, and ease, or is it the genuine heart of the experience? Maybe it’s simply how the experience and people involved made you feel.
I’m ecstatic to announce my new Subscription Plans. I had you in mind when we designed our ongoing memberships, specifically for Group Coaching (for the Public). This group coaching is currently accepting a waitlist. If you join the waitlist, please do the survey questions and you’ll be the first to know when it launches!
Like many of you, I am in disbelief of what is going on right now in Ukraine, and hoping for a quick, peaceful withdrawal, though that seems unlikely. I have been to Ukraine. In 2019 I spent the day in Kyiv on a stop-over. What a beautiful city full of proud people. I have also been to Moscow, Russia, twice for extended periods for business. I love that city, especially in January! The decorations are amazing! I have met many wonderful Ukrainians and Russians both here in Canada and abroad. People are people – governments are governments, and dictators are dictators. I hope for peace, and donated to help. You can too.
Here is a copied blog from NCCA Canada today. It sums up the message for me. Peace.
We are shocked and saddened by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and inspired by the incredible leadership and resilience of the Ukrainian people. We are also seeing and hearing of many Russians who are against this war, and protest at the risk of their freedom. The Russian people should not be wholly judged based on their current President and government. Allies are everywhere. We #StandWithUkraine – and we can donate to the Canadian Red Cross to help, with this link:
“How To Speak Bad English Perfectly” Interesting commentary on the business of ESL (English as a Second Language) including fixing ‘bad English’ grammar and pronunciation mistakes. Native English speakers are greatly outnumbered in the world, yet many non-natives are striving for ‘perfect’ English skills. I’ve always believed we can help ESL speakers speak ‘through’ or ‘with’ their accent, not reduce it completely. I also believe learning business focused idioms and slang will help speed up a learners’ comfort at the office (in addition to learning industry-specific vocabulary of course). Heather does not really agree with that last idea.
What do you think of her assumptions and suggestions?
