Fix the Conversation

Have you ever worked with a client or colleague who absolutely cannot take feedback well?

You know the type…. 

You’re working on a project together and when you give recommendations or thoughts to help improve things…you either hear crickets or see a defensive posture from the other person.

It’s SO HARD to work with people who have a hard time receiving feedback, especially when the feedback is necessary to move things forward, sell the thing, seal a deal, etc.

When you find you’re working with tough personalities, my advice is to pause and identify the TYPE of communication style of your colleague or client. It’s highly likely there’s a gap in your communication styles.

(D)Dominant types are extroverted yet task-focused, results-oriented and to-the-point.

(i)Influencer types are extroverted yet people-focused, positive, energetic and to-the-point.

(S)Steady-Relator types are introverted yet people-focused, collaborative, indecisive at times and need time to make decisions.

(C)Conscientious types are introverted yet task-focused, non-emotional, data driven and need lots of information to make decisions.

Now that you know who you’re talking to…consider trying one of these two approaches….

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

Believe me, I’ve talked to MANY professional services providers over the years…accountants, lawyers, commercial mortgage brokers…you name it.

One thing that comes up over and over again is this:

I work in a highly regulated business…how do I market myself without getting in trouble?

There’s a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to marketing yourself as a professional services provider…let’s break this down and make it easy.

✅Understand your industry’s regulations.

The first step in managing your marketing message is to understand the regulations that apply to your industry. This includes rules around advertising, marketing, and promoting your services.

Find someone who knows these rules inside and out and leverage their help so you stay out of trouble.

✅Drop the industry jargon & acronyms in your marketing and messaging.

C’mon now. Let’s be honest. Your clients likely don’t know the specific jargon and acronyms you use. Even if they have heard these words and terms…spelling things out and being clear with the language you use makes it EASIER for your client.

When you confuse your clients - guess what? You lose ‘em. 

BONUS TIPS:

💫✨ Avoid making claims you can't support.  It's important to avoid making claims you can't back up with evidence. Make sure that any claims you make about your service are supported by facts/data or other credible sources.

💫✨ Maintain records of your marketing materials. It's important to keep detailed records of all your marketing materials to show compliance with regulations if needed. In other words, this is the CYA bonus tip.

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

Have you ever had a closet edit?

If you would’ve asked me a few months ago…I wouldn’t have even known what a closet edit is until a new friend, Elisa Ellis with Turnkey Style, attended one of my Chicks in Charge lunch meetings…we became fast friends, and I hired her to help me with my closet.

I had clothes from my past life in public affairs…and frankly, these clothes hadn’t been worn for three years. I had a closet full of nice clothes that I never really wore…primarily because I’m terrible at putting outfits together.

Elisa spent FOUR HOURS in my closet, and I tried on every, single piece of clothing I own. We donated about 6 large trash sacks of clothing after it was all said and done.

It was fabulous having someone teach me how to assemble items. I learned so much, and she elevated my style exponentially.

Four hours together in a closet - you learn a LOT about someone!

We got to talking about the clients she’s helped and her mission to help women build their confidence by dressing the part.

That really resonated with me. She said, “If you’re the CEO of your business…you’ve got to show up as one.”

Truth, right?

I recently read the book CUES by Vanessa Van Edwards. In the book she had a chapter on attire. What you wear — or how you dress — sends nonverbal cues to other people. Our clothing shows:

✅ How much power you wield.

✅ How much influence you have.

✅ How smart you are.

✅ How much you earn.

Your choice of clothing can heavily influence the impression you give and is a powerful communication tool.

When it comes to communicating confidence and ability, what you wear plays an important role in creating positive first impressions. Whether you agree with the statement or not, clothes make the woman or man…or at least others’ perception of you, science shows.

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

If there’s one thing I’ve heard a LOT over my years working as a professional in the communications and marketing space, it’s this:

Of course you’re successful - you have “that” kind of personality.

I’m the INFLUENCER type on the DiSC profile…positive, energetic, extrovert, people-focused.

And truth be told…sure, it helps being an extrovert when you’re in communications. BUT…that doesn’t automatically mean people will listen to you much less buy from you because you have a good personality.

In fact, quite the contrary. 

"A good personality may get your foot in the door, but if you don’t have the ability to identify the type of person you need to sell to or have the competence to back it up…you’re dead in the water, my friend."

I recently read the book, CUES by Vanessa Van Edwards. It’s probably one of the best books I’ve read in a few years. 

Van Edwards talks about the formula for charismatic communication. It’s a combination of both warmth (friendliness) and competence (intelligence). You must have a mix of both and know when to dial in more warmth or competence, depending on your situation.

Make sure your energy matches the energy in the room. If you walk into a meeting with everyone talking about their weekend, sharing stories and smiling…dial up those warmth cues (smile, nod, lean in).

When it’s time for you to present, dial up the competence cues. Speak with confidence, stand straight and face/front the person you’re speaking to. Use your hands with palms up to signal openness. Take up physical presence if you’re standing in front of a group. Don’t stand behind a podium. Smile.

PRO TIP: If you can’t showcase your warmth, people won’t believe in your competence.

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

I’m gonna bet that if you’re anything like me, you’ve likely had a people-pleasing phase of your life…or are still in it…or recovering from it.

I call myself a recovering people-pleaser because…from time to time, I absolutely fall victim to making sure everyone around me is happy and thriving, despite my own well-being. 

Have you ever felt this way?

When I find that my energy is drained and positivity is waning, that’s my signal to step up and reset those boundaries.

Self awareness is key, right? 

“Self-awareness is probably the most important thing towards being a champion.” – Billie Jean King

If you’re an INFLUENCER (i) or STEADY-RELATOR (S) type of communicator (or you have colleagues on your team who are these types) on the DiSC profile, you likely can fall into the people-pleasing arena from time to time.

The INFLUENCER type is people-focused, extrovert, energetic and positive communicator. The STEADY-RELATOR type is people-focused, introvert, calm, collaborative, peaceful communicator.

Both of these types are people-focused and want everyone on the team to be happy, having a good time and working well together…and sometimes can do this to the detriment of themselves, especially if they’re working with different  types.

Be aware of the more dominant, task-focused and non-emotional types in the room…because these types can either take over or tune out of the conversation in a New York minute.

So, what do you do if this happens to you?

If you’re communicating with the DOMINANT (extrovert, task-focused, results oriented, demanding) or CONSCIENTIOUS (introvert, task-focused, analytical, non-emotion) types, you’ll want to dial up competence with these types in your non-verbal communication.

Be assertive with your physical presence. Sit up straight, shoulders back and face or front the person (don’t face away from them). Use a louder tone of voice. Use words, such as: brainstorm, effective, expert in your written or verbal communication.

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

Have you ever been in a meeting with someone who was loud-mouthed, obnoxious and completely unaware of any and all non-verbal signals coming from absolutely everyone in the room?

You sit there…almost feeling embarrassed for that person…but, yet, you don’t say anything because you can’t get a word in edgewise?

I’m gonna bet this has happened to you at some point in time.

It happened to me a week or so ago. I was in a meeting with volunteers at the state capitol advocating for increasing access to mental health resources for children. 

One of the guys in my group - a litigation attorney - could not read the signals from the other members in our group.

He was dominant, demanding, obnoxious, intolerant…

…and we were lobbying legislators (both Republican and Democrat) to vote in favor of the bills we were discussing with them.

After the first 10 minutes in the first meeting, I knew our meetings were not going to go well.

Why?

This guy had ZERO self-awareness of how he came across in our conversation. 

The legislators and staff in the room were sitting back in their chairs physically positioning themselves away from him. They were positioning laptops and journals across their chest to block themselves from him.

After our meeting, we walked into the hallway and he said, “Well…that went well!”

I can be very direct (depending on the situation) and said, “Really? You thought so? Because no one could get a word in besides you. You need to soften your tone and let others speak.”

What do you do in a situation like this?

Do you…

Try to break the streak and interrupt?

Sit quietly and let them dig their own hole?

Keep smiling…and maybe (just maybe) they’ll take the cue and shut up?

This type of situation could be a real bear,  depending on your personality and communication style…

…which is why having an understanding and awareness of your communication style is critical, especially if you’re an executive or business owner who is responsible for selling ideas (or business).

If you’re the DOMINANT (extrovert, task-focused, results oriented, intense) or INFLUENCER (extrovert, positive, energetic) type, be aware of your dominance and energy and let others in the room have an opportunity to speak up and participate. In other words, be sure to shut up and listen on occasion. 

Soften your tone and use non-verbal cues such as head nods, smile and lean in to show interest and respect. Prompt questions with others in the group so every voice is heard.

If you’re the STEADY-RELATOR (introvert, people-focused, calm, steady) or CONSCIENTIOUS (introvert, task-focused, non-emotional, analytical) type, you’ll need to come prepared to the meeting with your talking points and ready to discuss when prompted…or better yet - get out of your comfort zone and take the initiative to speak up. 

Sit up in your seat - shoulders back - to signal non-verbal cues of confidence. Gaze with purpose to whomever is facilitating the meeting. This signals your interest and willingness to participate

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

If you classify yourself as an introvert, you'll want to listen in this episode! 

Today I will be talking all about communication strategies, and more specifically the verbal and non verbal cues to effectively identify and communicate with your peers. 

The DiSC assessment is incredibly valuable for this as S & C types are more introverted, and those in the D & I are more extroverts. Most of the time you are communicating with others unlike you, so how do you identify what type of communicator someone is? 

Introverts on the DiSC:
S (Steady)- calm, steady, laid back, emotional and will smile, giving more non verbal cues
C (Conscientious)- analytical, precise, formal, logical, not much emotion, little non verbal cues

Listen in to see how you can clearly identify how others communicate, and how you can use your strengths to communicate effectively as an introvert!

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

If I could give a dollar for every time someone has said that LinkedIn is only for job seekers, I’d be a rich woman…AND all those “someone’s” are wrong.

LinkedIn is for job seekers…AND it’s for professionals who truly are looking to connect with other professionals who can help them in their business.

LinkedIn is a social media platform, and even though it’s intended for professional purposes, you should use it in a way that has potential clients interested in learning more about you.

Because one thing is 100% true: people buy from people…and they buy from people they know, like and trust.

When you share stories - not just the “corporate-y” posts…those stories connect people.

How do you know what stories to share?

Think about a client you’d love to work with. What would they want to know about you that would set you apart from your competition? What stories can you share that shine a light on your unique qualities?

Before posting content on any social media platform, consider WHO will be consuming that content and WHAT do they need to hear from you?

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.

How many of you detest sales people? You know, the types that just want to “sell you” on something without first finding out if the thing they’re selling is actually something you need or want… UGH.

I used to hate car shopping because I always felt like the salesman was too…well…salesy. It felt gross. Have you ever felt this way?

We cannot use the same selling style for every customer and be successful every time. It doesn’t work this way.

We all communicate and receive communication differently, whether that’s managing your team (or clients) at the office or as a business owner marketing your business.

The key is this:

In order to get buy-in from your team or sell to a customer, you MUST build trust and rapport…and do it sooner rather than later.

So, how do you do it?

You’ve got to understand the type of person you’re communicating with or messaging to and SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE.

In other words, you’ve got to learn what stresses and motivates them so you can meaningfully connect with them. 

When you learn to do this, that’s when your team or clients feel connected to you in a genuine and authentic way. 

I teach my clients how to do this by using the DiSC profile. The DiSC is an easy 4-prong approach to help you understand how to communicate effectively with various types so you have a winning conversation.

Here’s the breakdown….

DOMINANT TYPE:

These people are RESULTS-ORIENTED and they move quickly. Be sure to keep the small talk minimal because they’re not interested. Stick to the task at hand and keep out the emotions.

INFLUENCER TYPE:

These people are POSITIVE and don’t like to be bogged down with details. The more fun and energy you can incorporate into the conversation, the better.

STEADY-RELATOR TYPE:

These people are LAID-BACK and INDECISIVE. You’ve got to draw out their thoughts and opinions and make sure to clearly define all areas of your product or service. Don’t pressure them to make decisions quickly…they won’t do it.

CONSCIENTIOUS TYPE:

These people are only interested in DATA and FACTS. They examine things very closely, will have questions for clarification and want lots of details. Keep the personal/family talk out of the conversation, and be sure to give them plenty of time to make a decision.

> If you’re an up and comer or manage up and comers at your firm, be sure to register for Partner Power Lunch Hour mini-trainings (only 30 minutes!) designed to teach you how to create, connect and cash in on your network. Click HERE to register!

> To learn more about how to communicate with others based on personality type, click HERE to grab my FREE cheatsheet.

>Connect with me on Instagram @heather_lisle or on LinkedIn @heatherlisleco 

>Visit my website at www.heatherlisle.com to learn more about the trainings I offer and how to work with me.