Building Arizona

We’re packing our bags to head out to SMPS Phoenix, Arizona, and we couldn’t be more excited!

We’ve been hearing stories about RFPs where they ask for information that could fill 20 pages but only allow you to submit 12. How do you cram all that info into 12 pages and keep it from sounding like a boring laundry list?

And then there are those stressful shortlist presentations! You get a week’s notice, you have to pull together your team, and you have to create genuine trust, commitment and chemistry with the client when you walk into that interview. How in the world do you do that?

Successful proposals and presentations are the ones where you genuinely connect with the audience. That’s the whole point – to make a human connection. Based in New York City, the Graceworks team travels globally to equip folks to do just that, so we are bringing two workshops to SMPS Arizona: Fat-Free Gracewriting: It’s Time to Put Your Writing on a Diet and The Human Connection: Bring Your Presentations to Life!

What do these two workshops have in common? They are both centered on the basic truth that communication is always about the other person. No matter what you do as a writer or a presenter, if the other person doesn’t get what you’re trying to get across, communication doesn’t happen.

This concept is often tough for humans to swallow. We tend to walk through life thinking about ourselves all the time. The bottom line is we are never going to really communicate with each other if we are always focused on “me.”

Fat-Free Gracewriting is our business-writing module that concentrates on writing clearly and concisely. Why do we want to do that? The main reason is that you want your audience to know that you care enough to take the time to write clearly and concisely. Respecting others’ time only serves to strengthen your relationships, which is really about making human connections.

Plus, during this workshop, we’ll offer you nitty-gritty tools to help you trim the fat, so your 20 pages of information will squeeze into their 12, and there will still be room for a little personality to shine through! We’ll play games, and we’ll compete, but best of all, we’ll make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! What does that have to do with better writing? Everything!

Once your proposal has opened the door for the shortlist interview, we’ll help you strengthen your presentation skills in The Human Connection: Bring Your Presentations to Life. In this fun, interactive workshop, you’ll learn to engage and energize your listeners. We’ll help you relax, be yourself and communicate your message with passion, clarity and confidence. Through teaching, discussion, theater exercises and individual coaching, you will learn to:

• Connect with your audience
• Identify and drop nervous habits
• Prepare and practice your material
• Make technical material come to life
• Use graphics and props wisely

You’ll learn much more than just public speaking skills. These principles apply to all types of interpersonal communication – from one-on-one and team meetings to networking/social events and phone calls. It’s all about building trust, conveying commitment, and developing chemistry by speaking to the needs of your audience with comfort and confidence.

So, whether you’re on stage under the bright lights or behind your desk clicking away on the keyboard, make sure what you’re doing is about the other person! We’re looking forward to making that human connection with you later this month! See you soon!

Jen Hebblethwaite, Champion of All Things Grace
Graceworks

Quotes:

“Anyone who has ever written a proposal, a project description – or even an e-mail message – should take this course.  In it, Jen Hebblethwaite breaks the principles of good writing down to bare bones so anyone can learn how to write with strength, clarity and brevity. Both marketing and technical staff can benefit from her instruction.” – Sara Libby, CPSM, SMPS Arizona Publicity Director,  SWCA

“Carol Doscher literally changed my professional life. She taught me how to be big and bold and to change the energy in a room by speaking passionately, from my heart. Everyone can benefit from her approach to connecting with people.” – Kristi Bigelow, CPSM, SMPS Arizona Chapter President, David Evans and Associates