Susan Young's
Amplify Blog

The Communication Skill Holding Back Our Emerging Leaders

a/e/c emerging leaders a/e/c marketing aec career growth aec marketing aec sales presentations architecture industry business communication skills communication skills training communications coach confident speakers design build emerging leaders engineering industry leadership mindset limiting beliefs negative self-talk public speaking self confidence shortlisted interviews speaker training subject matter expert Nov 18, 2024

Have you ever felt your voice didn't matter in a room full of experts?

Younger architects and engineers often feel they must have all the answers in presentations and meetings.

Not true. 😮

The need for perfection is exhausting and expensive when you lose bids to more confident competitors.

• It's comforting to know that no one knows everything.

• And that's more than OK; it's liberating.

• Project managers, superintendents, and others can overcome limiting beliefs with new communication and mindset processes.

An architect in this month's Top Tier Communicator Training said:

"I keep falling into a trap, feeling I'm not good enough, and I didn't even know it. Now it's clear, and I have all the puzzle pieces to improve."

Admitting when you don't know something can be empowering.

Your firm will earn respect and trust when staff says with humility and honesty:

"I don't know, and I'll find out within the hour."

🎯The pieces and tools for building confident teams and incre...

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The Best Skill Top A/E/C Firms Use to Win Bigger Projects

a/e/c prospects a/e/c pursuits a/e/c winning bids architecture industry attention business communication skills business development client communication curiosity profit growth sales techniques selling techniques shortlist meetings shortlisted interviews Nov 07, 2024

Imagine a world where shortlisted interviews didn't open with rah-rah team slides and your firm's values.🎆

It does exist, my friends.

Here's how leading-edge marketers land new clients:

🧨They embrace curiosity and resist complacency.

The foundation of business development is hunger.

It's knowing how to whet a prospect's appetite and skillfully keep their attention.

*️⃣Is your team dropping seeds that pique interest and spark creative conversations?

*️⃣Your dream clients are starving for fresh approaches and delicious interactions.🍽️

Profitable firms with empowering staff sprinkle curiosity into everything they do.

Forget complacency and develop this one communication skill that grows people and profits. 📈

Let's do it!

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Refining Your Communication Just Got Way Easy

a/e/c bid packages a/e/c emerging leaders a/e/c presentations aec communication aec pursuits assertive communication body language communication coach communication skills training communications keynote speaker communications speaker confident communication construction project managers engineering leaders facilities management imposter syndrome leadership mindset networking events on demand learning on-demand learning online communication training project managers communication public speaking shortlisted interviews small talk speaker coach stem women in construction Oct 01, 2024

Strengthening your communication skills doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming.

In the chaotic world of A/E/C, on-demand learning helps you combat burnout and stress.

That's why we've opened our curated Communication Vault to the public!

🧨Now you can access the timeless tips, processes, and strategies I share in my Amplify programs whenever you need support and tools.

🔐 The key to the Communication Vault is here! 🔐

So if you're wanting to:

🔷Enhance your body language in shortlisted meetings

🔷Improve small talk when networking

🔷Be seen as a trusted subject matter expert...

…the Communication Vault has all the tools you need to be engaging and self-assured.

🎯We're always adding fresh content, too: short video clips, webinars, worksheets, and guides to uplevel your communication and boost your confidence.🎯

Check out the Communication Vault here!

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How to Overcome Self-Doubt When You Don't Have All the Answers

aec business development aec business growth aec communication aec presentations aec stakeholders aec teams architecture bd presentations career growth client communication communication skills confidence confident leaders construction executives construction industry credibility engineering industry shortlisted interviews Aug 28, 2024

If you''ve been in a shortlisted interview and don't have the answer to a question, don't beat yourself up.

Watch the 1-minute video above and quit the negative self-talk so you can truly shine!

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Do You Know Enough About the Prospects You're Pursuing?

aec aec business development aec communication aec communications trainer aec pursuits aec stakeholders architects and design audience business development business networking construction executives engineering interview prep proposal writing prospects pursuits shortlisted shortlisted interviews Aug 12, 2024

The phone call was from a 215-Philly area code.

Assuming it was my cousin, Marc, I picked up the phone. 📳

To my surprise, the caller was a woman who knew my first name.

She asked to speak with the director of technology for my firm.🙃

As an entrepreneur for 24 years, my firm has an agile team of freelancers and part-timers.

Interestingly, the technology department is my husband.

He's an IT project manager working in the next room in our home. 🏠

The key takeaway from this encounter is the importance of thorough research before shortlisted interviews and networking events.

🎯Look online for insights about people you'll be interacting with so you know their values, projects, and interests. 🎯

You'll gain valuable information and have more meaningful and memorable conversations.

This level of preparation not only establishes trust and respect. It also fosters genuine connections with decision-makers.

🎆Know your audience ahead of time.

This is how competitive A/E/C firms win ...

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Elevate C-Suite Communication with These 4 Quick Questions

aec communications trainer aec project managers aeco c-suite communication construction executives engineers professional development project managers shortlisted interviews Apr 10, 2024

Hats off to A/E/C execs who admit there are weak spots in how top leaders communicate.🎆

It's easy to look at younger staff and generational differences.

The C-suite litmus test for effective leadership is to assess your peers and colleagues.

The upper echelons of your org chart are no different than the rank and file.

😮You know, the person who shows 20 pictures of his kids in a meeting.

😮Or the executive who misses subtle clues that others aren't paying attention.

😮Maybe your highly proficient peers are talking over decision-makers in meetings.

Think about top managers, directors, principals, and yourself.

Do you know today's strategies around building trust, consensus, and influence?

They must have new tools for conflict resolution and concise agendas in meetings.

Can you share a mesmerizing story?

Are you overdue for a communications refresher and new skills?

👉Why?

👉Why not?

👉Why not this?

👉Why not now?

Professional development is a continuum of l

...

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Speaking These 2 Words May Be Killing Your Business

aec leadership aec marketing attention business communication business presentations construction marketing executive coaching internal communication messaging shortlisted interviews soft skills subject matter expert tone of voice Sep 26, 2023

The two most dangerous words when communicating in business and life are:

I know.

You may indeed know what the other person is saying.

Or trying to express.

Still, pay attention to how you say your "I know."

Is your tone one of arrogance or dismissal of someone else's idea?

This is about being self-aware.

And self-awareness is often a struggle in A/E/C.

You may be communicating to others subliminally that you are close-minded and closed-hearted.

A slight shift can help close a bid or form a new connection.

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Risky Communication in A/E/C is Costly

aec communication bid packages building relationships business storytelling communication coach communication gaps communication skills training communication training construction industry engineering executive training leadership communication professional development risk management sales presentations sales training seller-doers selling techniques shortlisted interviews Sep 12, 2023

Do you know this social abbreviation: IYKYK.

If you know, you know. (My adulting kids recently told me the meaning.) No judgment, please. 🙄

So, here's a loaded question for construction executives and principals...

👉Do you know when each person on your team last had sales or communication training?

This is a critical piece of risk management you probably haven't considered.

Risk management isn't limited to job sites or design reworks. 👈

A/E/C firms lose market share, talent, and trust when teams can't confidently articulate their value. And their brand values.

Forget bid packages for a minute.

They need and want the storytelling and selling techniques for today's business world.

Your reputation and bottom line are on the line when you fail to see gaps in communication.

🎆People who close contracts are exceptional communicators. 🎆

So, here's a scary fact:

Some 90% of the people in my A/E/C training programs have never attended a formal program until we met. Engineers are espe...

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How Many Questions Do You Ask in Shortlisted Meetings?

aec firms aec presentations architects and design architecture bd presentations business development confident speakers construction project bids construction projects effective communication executive sales coach leadership listening questions rapport sales presentation sales training shortlisted interviews Jul 17, 2023

You don't have to ask more questions to close more A/E/C projects.

You have to ask better questions. 🎆

How you gather information during a presentation will differentiate your firm in shortlist interviews.

😮Oh, and don't forget to listen to the responses.😮

Quality questions bring quality information.

They also result in higher-level conversations and trust.

And more clients.🎯

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Crushing Sales Presentations Requires This 1 Thing

aec architects architecture bd presentations bid packages bid proposals business communication business development business networking conference speaker construction engineering engineers leadership public speaking rfps shortlist meetings shortlisted interviews storytelling Jun 28, 2023

Forget the kitchen sink.

Prospects want essential and compelling data.

And a story to make the (dry) data come alive.

You prepare with your Business Development team DAYS ahead of your shortlisted interview. Maybe even a week (gasp!)

Scrambling to prepare hours before your meeting won't work well. 😵💫

There's too much on the line.

And you never, ever "wing" any part of your A/E/C presentation.

You and your colleagues know who will speak and what they'll say.

You have a point person who can course-correct when prospects look bored or confused. #Readtheroom

You value the preparation process so that you boldly show up and win trust and new projects.

Strong communicators give themselves the space and grace necessary to succeed.💪

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