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Lillian D. Bjorseth Articles

Written by: Lillian D. Bjorseth

Now's the Time to Create Your 2012 Relationship-building Plan - Click To Read Article
Instead of making resolutions that you often break, this year create a relationship-building plan that will help you maximize networking results. Learn how to do it from master networking Lillian Bjorseth, who has built two businesses on word-of-mouth marketing.

Join Conversations Politely, Part 1 - Click To Read Article
Joining a conversation politely can mean the difference between making vital contacts at an event and being the one others long to avoid.

Join Conversations Politely, Part 2 - Click To Read Article
Part I covered how to know physically when and how to join a conversation. This article examines an equally important element: what to talk about as you join others to ensure a more pleasant experience and more business success.

Is Listening a Lost Art? - Click To Read Article
When you are engaged in a face-to-face conversation, you need to be as aware of the other person’s handshake, facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, posture and use of space as you are of her/his words.

Check Your Ego at the Door! - Click To Read Article
Why do people do one thing when they profess to believe another? Here are four reasons/solutions when it comes to checking egos.

Women, It’s Not Enough to Know What You Know … - Click To Read Article
It’s time to “stand up” and take credit for your contributions. It means being more assertive and possibly even unlearning some of the things your mother taught you in good faith.

What do the Fourth of July and In-person Networking Have in Common? - Click To Read Article
My increasing requests for speaking engagements on face-to-face techniques lead me to believe people again realize the value of this form of networking to increase sales, find a job and build solid relationships. Another trend in the Chicago area is that LinkedIn groups that appear to have been formed strictly online are now having in-person events.

Shhh! Listen, Don't Just Hear - Click To Read Article
L:istening is our most used communication skill yet the least taught from kindergarten through college. Many people think they are listening when all they are doing is hearing, the first in a six-step hierarchical listening process. Read this article carefully so you don't make the same mistake!

June is Time to Polish What You Say Before You Speak - Click To Read Article
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 of appearance and behavior - is the basis for the unconscious and conscious decisions people make about you before you ever engage in a conversation. You speak volumes before you open your mouth. It's crucial to know what you 'say' in meetings, job interviews and when you are presenting whether your audience is one or one thousand. Your image could make the difference between getting the job, the sale or the promotion ... or not.

Phone Skills Still Important for Business Success - Part I - Click To Read Article
In this email age, it's still vital to know how to communicate effectively on the telephone. Learn how to portray a professional image even when the other person can't see you.

Business Cards - Small but Mighty - Click To Read Article
They measure about 2” x 3 1/2”. They weigh less than 1/4 of an ounce. They cost about a nickel or a dime. And they pack a powerful punch! They are business cards, and they are your most effective, least expensive form of advertising. You can (and should!) carry them with you daily, on the ground and in the air. They are your omnipresent marketing tools.

Phone Skills Still Important for Business Success - Part II - Click To Read Article
Phone skills are still vital in this email age. Learn how to recognize and respond to others communication styles to achieve more effective results.

How to End a Conversation - Click To Read Article
Have you ever gotten stuck in a conversation and wondered how to extricate yourself? Then this article is a must-read for you! Learn to do with professionalism and ease since your last words are as important as your first.

Get Better Results by Networking in Other Person’s Style - Click To Read Article
People-reading skills are pervasive throughout your interpersonal relationship-building activities: when speaking with people at events, making referrals and communicating with them via email or the phone. Knowing how to adapt and flex to increase the other’s comfort level is sure to increase your success.

PR Strategy Key to Integrating Face-to-face & Online Networking - Click To Read Article
Networking is a perfect example of how a good PR strategy can keep working for you. It’s not about face-to-face or online networking; it’s about integration and how to use one to enhance the other.

"Thank You" is an Ongoing Process - Click To Read Article
It's amazing how many people don't say "thank you" for referrals or in other business-related situations. Learn why everyone likes to hear those simple two words and how to do it.

Build a New Kind of Wealth - Social Capital - Click To Read Article
To amass financial capital, you need to first build social capital. "Who" you know is far more important up front than "what" you know. Learn from a woman the Chicago Tribune calls a "networking expert" how to build your network of "knob turners", keeping in mind that you need to open doors for them as well.

Perfect the Art of Starting a Conversation - Click To Read Article
Learn how to start meaningful conversations that will make your memorable long after the interaction is over. Learn how to get off on the right foot and how to engage others to increase their comfort level. Learn, too, why "yes" or "no" questions are no-nos!

Want to Get Along Better With Others - Try the DISC Approach - Click To Read Article
Ever notice how much of your business involves people? And, sometimes, they don't follow the script you have written for them! Learn how and what to do to achieve your results by understanding why others behave the way they do ... and how to react appropriately.

Business Cards - Small but Mighty Warriors - Click To Read Article
Business cards are your corporate image and often the first impression someone has of you and your company. Use these small but mighty warriors to your advantage!

How Long Since You Cleaned Your Personal Filter? - Click To Read Article
Everyone has a giant filtering sytem made up of your needs, values, beliefs, knowledge, attitudes and experiences. Each of us also has a lot of "stuff" that clogs our filter. To communicate well, you need to periodically clean your personal filter just as you do your car and furnace filter. Learn how to do it!

Networking is a Continuous Process - Click To Read Article
Some people start to network when they lose their job. Smart people network continuously so they always have a pocketful of good contacts. Networking is build on trust, and trust takes time to build.

How Well Do You Read Body Language - Click To Read Article
About ninety percent of our face-to-face messages is communicated nonverbally. Following is an actual scenerio from a client meeting. Check your body language prowess and see how well you read the situation.

Get a Grip! - Click To Read Article
President and Michelle Obama slipped up when they gave the Queen of England the "sandwich" handshake. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to appear on Fox TV in Chicago to discuss it! 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 impression.

The Ole Boy Network Still Has Teeth - Click To Read Article
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.





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