In this issue: Welcome to the Tero International Monthly eZine Ask Tero - Questions and Answers from the Training Professionals at Tero Feature Article - What's the Word on the Street? A Visit to the TEROTORY Professional Development Activity - Increase Your Word Power Resources What's New at Tero? Public Workshops - Opportunities for Continued Learning and Development Online Resources - Providing Feedback Inspiration - Things to Think About

If the security and firewall settings on your computer are making it difficult to view this eZine:
1. Click here to view Tero's February 2009 eZine.
2. Click here for links to pdf's of the February 2009 eZine and previous eZines.

Welcome to the Tero International Monthly eZine

Have you ever been guilty of narcissurfing? Do you defrag occasionally after work? Have you ever been pinged, dined el desko or come up with an initiative that was bleeding edge?

If reading the above is as clear to you as reading a foreign language you're not alone. The words (definitions listed below) are from the top ten business buzzword list. Maybe you use them and maybe you don't, but their existence reveals that words evolve, changing with the times as rapidly and subtly as food, fashion and design trends.

In our Speak Your Way to Success class, people learn in the first hour that the words they choose for a presentation are only as effective as the speaker's ability to deliver them with credible body language and vocal quality. However, once the skills to deliver physically are in place, the words do matter, for they are heard more clearly and have more power.

This February edition is dedicated to words, those you say, those that buzz, those that matter and those you choose not to say!

Have you ever found it difficult to choose the wording for a tag line, company or business card? The sidebar tells the story of the origination and history of the business card - how it has evolved from simply a name card useful for contact information to a tool to visually communicate your business concept and credibility.

For the article, Audrey Mooney, freelance writer, traveled around the Terotory and mined the minds of staff to find out what the current "buzz words or concepts" are in five areas of Interpersonal Skills: Image, Presentation Skills, Negotiation, Business Etiquette and Intercultural Competence. These may surprise you.

In our development activity you have the chance to do two things, one with your voice and the other with word selection to practice communicating with power. And lastly our inspiration will leave you anything but speechless with some thoughts on the true purpose of words. Tucked in amongst all of this is What's New At Tero. Speaking of which, we always wonder what's new with you. If you have time, follow the link to our site and give us the word on YOU. Your successes, opportunities, challenges, and experiences are always of interest to us, and we appreciate hearing from you.

Back to top

Ask Tero

This section contains questions asked of the training professionals at Tero. Do you have a question for Tero? Let us know! If there is a topic or question you would like to see addressed in a future eZine, please make suggestions so we can give you the resources you need. Thank you for the continued responses we receive each month.

Question: I tend to be thinking of what I want to say when someone is talking, instead of listening to them completely. How can I improve my listening skills?

Tero says: Since we think faster than we speak, we often have formulated our own response before hearing another person out. Becoming aware you are doing this is a great first step. Listening is an active sport - not the passive activity we have come to think of it as. Great listeners listen, not only with their ears but also with their eyes, body, mind and full attention. The next time you are listening, remove other distractions (email, blackberry, cell phone) and focus on the activity of listening. Make eye contact, maintain open body posture, smile and nod when appropriate, paraphrase what you hear and check for understanding before you respond. For many of us, taking notes helps us resist the temptation to interrupt the other speaker and ensures we focus on the message and not our own next great statement. Remind yourself that a pause in a conversation to collect and formulate a response is desirable and preferable to competing for air time.

Question: I'm planning a conference for our sales organization and making decisions about the schedule and agenda. Any tips?

Tero says: The laws of primacy and recency remind us that people remember best what they hear/see/experience first and what they hear/see/experience last. Arrange the schedule so that these two times in the day are reserved for memorable topics and speakers. Additionally, we're freshest in the morning and experience an energy drop mid-afternoon. Schedule topics that require analytical or deep thought in the morning and put a lighter topic on the agenda in the middle of the afternoon. Remember to provide frequent breaks (every 60 to 90 minutes) and look for opportunities to incorporate learning-friendly foods into the day (protein, fruits, vegetables). Trail mix in the afternoon is a great snack to provide. In your attempt to pack a lot of topics into the agenda, remember that one of the greatest benefits of conference time is networking among the attendees. Build shared meals, discussion groups, and social events into your agenda.