Lillian Bjorseth

Check Your Ego at the Door!

If so many people agree that networking is more about the other person then why do so many people forget to check their ego at the door? It is disconcerting and sometimes downright irritating to talk with someone who uses a dozen “Is" in the first few min... Read >

Small talk is Huge!

The content can be current chitchat; the role small talk plays, however, is far from minor. It’s an enormously important conversation starter and often determines if you want to keep talking – hence the opportunity to build a relationship – or make a quic... Read >

Whatever Happened to “Thank You”?

I grew up thinking that “thank you" is an automatic response when someone does something for you. It shows appreciation, consideration and respect for the person who goes out of her/his way … whether it is a small thing, medium or huge. What’s happened... Read >

Women, It’s Not Enough to Know What You Know …

... you have to sound as if you know what you know. Ever been in a meeting and made a really good point, and people keep right on talking? Shortly thereafter, a man makes the same point and he is lauded for his great contribution. And you think to you... Read >

Good Phone Skills Still Vital for Business Success (Part II)

In addition to the professional phone image I discussed in Part I, it is also vital to be able to read people over the phone to increase your chances for personal and business success. Using the leading-edge DISC (Dominant, Influencing, Steady and Conscie... Read >

Phone Skills Still Vital for Business Success (Part I)

It's easy to tell confident business people when you meet them: Good posture, firm handshakes, direct eye contact and a powerful aura. While confidence is just as important to portray over the phone for business success, it's done differently and can be m... Read >

June is Time to Polish What You Say Before You Speak

There are 84,600 seconds in a day. Yet, it takes only 10 or fewer to make a first impression. June is National Effective Communication month and a perfect time to make sure your image is "saying" professional things about you. Image - a combination... Read >

PR Strategy Key to Integrating Face-to-Face & Online Networking

I love publicity and promotion. I must have been born with a gleam in my eye instead of a loud cry! I know I "conned" a teacher or two along the way. I continue to think "PR" everyday in my own speaking, training and coaching business. I learned well from... Read >

Face-to-face Networking Still the Number One Way to Start Relationships

"Men, you are marksmen - don't any of you fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Those oft-repeated words from Gen. Israel Putman were spoken while he was commanding the Revolutionary Army at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Every year as we cele... Read >

Ole Boy Network Still Has Teeth

I'm not a sexist, and I'm not a bra-burning feminist. I am a realist. That's why I can say that the ole boy network still unequivocally affects relationship building in the corporate hallowed halls … not so much in the entrepreneurial ranks. Building... Read >

The Art of Starting a Conversation

Almost all of us have been there. We meet a new person, we run into someone we have met once or we see someone we've spoken with numerous times. We want to start a meaningful conversation for myriad reasons; yet, we find ourselves asking those trite... Read >

The Art of Ending Conversations

Have you ever "gotten stuck" with someone? You want to move on and meet other people, and you have no idea how to do so politely. It appears that the other person would also like to network with others, and she, too, fidgets nervously rather than en... Read >

Get a Grip: Six Handshakes You Need to Know

While people may decide 10 things about you within 10 seconds of seeing you, it takes only 1-3 seconds to speak volumes through your handshake. Having a firm handshake is essential in the business world. It's a key ingredient in creating a good first impr... Read >