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 Hi All,

I manage an inside sales team.  Some individuals are plagued with nasty linguistic habits that seem to be a sign of the times.  I'm referring to the constant upspeaking (ie. high rising terminals) and incessant, unnecessary use of the word "like" to string together simple sentences.

Does anyone know of an audio course designed to develop assertive, confident speech?  I've done quite a few searches on Amazon but really couldn't find anything valuable.

Thanks!

-Max

bug_girl's picture
Submitted by bug_girl on Thursday May 5th, 2011 10:39 am

Record them. Make them listen/watch themselves.

This is the fastest way to make them want to change--and they have to want to change for it to happen.

MPower's picture
Submitted by MPower on Thursday May 5th, 2011 10:59 am

 Thanks for the reply.  I do this already.  I'm not a trainer so I'm looking for quality materials to help them be more effective.  Something self-guided.. audio tapes, for example.  Short of setting up a formal in-class training and spending a whack of money (that I have no budget for) I want them to be thinking of how they speak.  

GlennR's picture
Submitted by GlennR on Thursday May 5th, 2011 10:59 am

You could also suggest they join Toastmasters. They'll help you with verbal graffiti. http://www.toastmasters.org

 

svibanez's picture
Submitted by svibanez on Saturday May 7th, 2011 7:04 am

I found The Dale Carnegie course to be very helpful.

Steve Ibanez

DiSC 7114

timrutter's picture
Submitted by timrutter on Monday May 9th, 2011 10:31 pm

I can add weight to Bugs' suggestion. I was 'made' to do it as a subaltern and I could have crawled in a hole. I thought I knew what I was doing and suddenly I'm faced with a whole raft of bad habits that I was never aware of.

As for the AQI, I'm afraid that it is a function of modern English. Having emigrated to Australia it still confuses the heck out of me. Are they asking a question or don't they have the confidence to tell me?

Tim

mbaker's picture
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Submitted by mbaker on Saturday May 14th, 2011 6:49 am

Toastmasters would be my suggestion as well.  If there isn't the time or inclination to join a local club, you can borrow an effective toastmasters technique.  At meetings, there is a person designated to count the number of "ah's", "um's", "likes", and "you knows" that each speaker uses and then report out at the end of the meeting the frequency of use.   If you or someone else is observing this salesperson, you could do the same thing and set a goal of reducing the number/minute over a period of time.   

Mike