| To order a FREE COPY of any of the published articles below, click on the
title of the article. You will immediately link to the Performance Store
where you will see your article order. You do NOT need to provide credit
card information at checkout. THANK YOU for visiting Maxey Creative Inc.!
Hosts, Toasts, and Roasts - how to speak spontaneously at business and
social events. Published in Forum Magazine, May 2007.
Break the Rules - how to to get attention at the most mundane board meetings
and teambuilding meetings. Published in Forum Magazine, June 2007.
How to Avoid Meeting Muck - escape getting trapped by typical people and
comments that muck up your meetings. Published in CCASTD's Journal, Training
Today, May 2005.
"Recognizing & Reflecting: How to Build in the Touchy-Feely Stuff." NSA Sales Experts PEG Newsletter, June 2007. Break All the Rules. This articles shows you how to surprise your audience
at the most mundane of meetings - weekly, team, project and reports. Use
simple techniques to engage them.
"Afterthoughts on the After Dinner Speech." Professional Speaker Magazine,
April 1999.
The after dinner speech is a classic format for professional speakers. But how many of
us really understand the challenges it presents? This article illuminates nine steps for
planning and performing an after dinner speech which include defining terms, determining
the tone of the evening, re-thinking a handout, and being prepared for reactions in
unexpected places. The steps are supported throughout with advice from several experienced
NSA after-dinner speakers.
"Are
your Patients Patiently Waiting?" The Journal of Medical
Practice Management, September/October 2000.
This article shows healthcare organizations how to manage patients' expectations
regarding wait times while also providing helpful tips to lessen wait times upfront.
Includes success stories from major hospitals.
"As
the Cookie Crumbles, So Can Your Warm-up," "SemiNews
and Views", National Speakers Association, April, 1997.
This brief article offers a note of caution to trainers and speakers who might suffer
from either lack of warm-up or warm-up overkill. It shows how to manage "the Oreo
Approach" - the three essentials to successful openings, and gives specific
"how-to's."
"Big
Cities Could Learn from Peorians," Journal Star,
Peoria, Illinois, June 29, 1998.
As a Peoria native who is now a speaker, seminar leader, and author living in Chicago,
I began talking about Peoria in my keynote speeches to illustrate certain life
philosophies. This article summarizes the lessons I learned growing up in Peoria - from
giving a friendly "Hello," to appreciating the lessons in nature. The surprise
ending adds an interesting twist.
"Color
the Shades of Gray: A Look at Consultant/Client Ethics,"
co-authored by Debbie Ahlers. Training Today, March/April
1998.
This article outlines the ethics of the consultant - client relationship and the
shades of gray therein. Based in the authors' experiences and interviews with
consultants and their clients, the reader learns guidelines for ethical relationships and
specific tips with respect to maintaining appropriate confidentiality, saying
"no" to inappropriate requests, showing respect for copyrights, sources, and
intellectual property, ensuring truth in claims, data, and recommendations and
balancing organizational and individual needs and interests.
"How
Technology Affects Even The Great Networkers." NAWBO Bulletin,
May 1999.
Even the best networkers need to approach meeting others and following up differently
with the increased use of email, voice mail and internet communication tools.
"How
to Turn Your Expertise as a Contractor into a Speech,"
Contractor, September 2001.
Learn to use your professional experience to gain visibility with your community and
your customers in the contracting field.
"How to Turn Your Expertise into a Talk."
Learn how to develop your market by sharing simple truths that you already
know about the work you do or the life you live every day. In this article
you will learn to find content, explore title options, and position your
idea to a marketable audience.
"It's your party: Create a most memorable meeting experience" by Cyndi Maxey and Kevin E. O'Connor - As seen in Pharmaceutical Rep Magazine
Tips on how to plan a successful meeting when you're not a professional
meeting planner. This article covers set up, a-v, food choices, room size
and all the essentials you'd put off to the last minute but shouldn't be.
"Networking at Work: a Ho-Hum Meeting is Never Really Ho-Hum"
As Seen in CISPI Journal, Chicago Illinois
by Cyndi Maxey and Kevin E. O'Connor
You've been there many times - the mundane meeting you are obligated to lead
or attend. But you, the astute networker and aging services professional,
know that no meeting is really casual or unimportant. Why? At every meeting,
your business communication profile is out in front of everyone.
talked about had no idea of the message he or she was sending.
Convey the profile you want at your next meeting with staff, family,
residents, or colleagues at a conference. You could be building your network
at every moment. Here are five easy ways to be the person they're talking
about...in the right way!
1. Prepare for who will be there.
2. Break the ice and become curious about everything.
3. Plan your contribution through collaboration.
4. Don't break at the coffee break.
5. Follow up and deliver.
(c)2006 By Cyndi Maxey and Kevin E. O'Connor
Adapted from Present Like a Pro: The Field Guide to Mastering the Art of
Business, Professional, and Public Speaking (St. Martin's Press June 2006).
All Rights Reserved.
"No
More Mr. Nice Guy," Training & Development Magazine, ASTD, June 1999.
Self management is essential as today's employees encounter continued change.
Taking responsibility and initiative can be reinforced in the learning environment.
Inspired by the author's encounter with a particularly self managed group of
learners, this article provides trainers a list of don'ts that shows them how not to
be nice.
People Performance Lessons from a Night at the Improv.
Improvisation as an art form has long been known for its ability to make
people laugh at humanity. This article takes laughter and learning to a
new step - to management development. Inspired by a night at the Chicago
improv, performed by different levels of experience, this article outlines
twenty tips managers can learn from the art form to apply to their day to
day management decisions and style.
"Ten
Things Bad Managers Do," The Chicago Purchasor.
Learn ten ways to demotivate your staff and how to correct them in this
quick overview of real life stories and lessons learned by employees and
managers.
"Ten
Ways to De-Motivate Your Staff," Forum Newsletter,
November 2000.
For those who lead or manage others, this article takes a look at what NOT to do to
keep employees happy. With actual employee horror stories and documented web
research, you will discover ten ways to demotivate what could be a very good group of
people who work for you. Followed by ten tips that you SHOULD follow to create a
motivating climate.
"The Microphone
is Your Friend ... and Other Essentials for the Professional and
Occasional Presenter," Pharmaceutical Magazine, March, 2005.
"The Microphone is Your Friend"¬Ý Pharmaceutical Rep Magazine March 2005
While distance learning grows daily, it's still a fact that at least 65% of
all seminars and meetings feature a live person in the front of the room.
Those rooms may range from hospital basements to four-star hotel ballrooms,
but no matter the venue, room and audiovisual management is extremely
important for setting the tone of the event and encouraging effective
learning. People are brought together to learn and share ideas, and you as
the presenter are doing them a disservice if you're not aware of how to set
up the best environment for this to happen and what to do when things go
wrong.
http://pharmrep.adv100.com/pharmrep/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=152802
"Training
from the Heart: Finding a Natural Learning Partnership,"
Training & Development Magazine, ASTD, May 2001. Barry Lyerly, co-author
"Your
Telecommunications Image." The Business 2 Business
Marketer, BMA, April 1999.
How you use your telecommunications tools says
a lot about you, and if you're a marketer, your telecommunications should
say "excellence"! Today's business marketing professionals must
know not only how to use technology with excellence but also how to select
the appropriate telecommunications tool. |