Blog

Dec 12, 2024

The Calm Facilitator

by Corey Hansen
“You are so calm in the briefing.”
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The comment from a major account executive following a high stakes briefing I facilitated belied the tempest I was feeling inside. Twists and turns of last-minute agenda adjustments, discussion leader changes and the super-hot pressure of executives’ wishes from inside and outside our company around a multi-million-dollar deal might have you a bit shaken too?
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May 17, 2024

From Small Stage to BIG Stage

by Corey Hansen
Attending a concert when I was twenty was a huge deal. Northern Iowa didn’t have many venues that attracted talent, but nearby Minneapolis did. On the University of Minnesota campus, a thousand-seat concert hall was suitable for jazz vocal legend Al Jarreau. I’d listened to his recordings so much that my needle drops were visible on the one Jarreau vinyl I had, and with a friend we saved money and got a seat in the last row of the balcony to hear this amazing vocalist in person.

What happened at that concert changed my perspective on how a performer connects with everyone in the audience.
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Jan 31, 2024

Who Are Briefing Programs Reporting to These Days?

by Candie Hurley
Traditionally, briefing programs lived in either the Sales or Marketing organization, with few exceptions. And often they’d move back and forth between the two. A briefing program might find itself as part of...
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Jan 23, 2024

The Return to Office (RTO) Dilemma for Executive Briefings

by Pamela Evans
A recent Silicon Valley Business Journal Article revealed some statistics worth noting from several research studies. Both sides of the coin “to return or not to return to the office” were examined. Subjects such as...
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Six business people walking up the steps of their office buildings entrance as they return to workSix business people walking up the steps of their office buildings entrance as they return to work

Aug 09, 2023

Key Techniques for Dynamic Discussion Leaders

by Corey Hansen
Having facilitated hundreds of briefings and leading discussions from company overviews to detailed solution demonstrations, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with some excellent Discussion Leaders. They may be called “presenters” or “speakers” but ultimately, they serve to...
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Jul 12, 2023

Why Attending In-Person Industry Conferences Can Be Game Changers for Your Business!

by Pamela Evans
With so many virtual engagement offerings these days, one must ask, “Are physical conferences still relevant”? From my perspective, I would answer a resounding “Yes”...
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May 05, 2023

What is Briefing Facilitation?

by Ann Benett and Candie Hurley
What would happen in a football huddle if no one called the play? Or if all the players tried to call the play?! We spend weeks planning the perfect briefing agenda. But if no one is identified and accountable for orchestrating the day​​​​​​​...
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Business person facilitating an executive briefingBusiness person facilitating an executive briefing

Apr 26, 2023

How to Craft Compelling Messages using the 4-A Way™ of Dynamic Delivery™

by Corey Hansen
After watching hundreds of “actors” on theatrical and corporate stages and performing myself, I realized that some of these performers could use a dose of structure. Why? Because something was...
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Business person giving a presentation at the front of a conference roomBusiness person giving a presentation at the front of a conference room

Mar 27, 2023

Investing in Your Next Executive Briefing Center

by Electrosonic
An executive briefing center or customer experience space is essential for building and strengthening relationships with your customers or prospects. So, how important is a customer experience space to your business — and should you be investing to drive better results?
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Feb 17, 2023

Convincing Executives to Invest in the “Customer Experience”

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Smart companies invest in organizations and programs regardless of an uncertain business environment to be ready for the future and stay ahead of the competition. Wise and astute Briefing Professionals know...
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Jan 13, 2023

Tips for Getting Customers to Turn On their Cameras....and Keep Them On!


It's been two years since we pivoted to virtual briefings. Here are some tips to help you diplomatically encourage customers to turn their cameras on in briefings.
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Nov 04, 2022

Briefing Professionals – How to Prepare for an Executive-Style Interview


In a market where Briefing Professionals are highly regarded corporate assets, they sometimes seem to end up on the “defensive end of the stick” when it comes to the job interview process...

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Man interviewing for a briefing professionals jobMan interviewing for a briefing professionals job

Sep 30, 2022

Briefing Professionals Can’t Afford to be Quiet Quitters


The phrase “quiet quitting” is one we have seen throughout social media since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Many individuals joined the workforce during this uncertain and challenging time and have not had the luxury...

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Woman running an executive briefingWoman running an executive briefing

Sep 09, 2022

Executive Briefing vs. Customer Meeting – What’s the difference?


Briefing professionals have often asked me, “How do I explain the difference between an executive briefing and a customer meeting?”. This question highlights a common situation where key internal stakeholders may not...

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Executive briefing meeting at a small conference tableExecutive briefing meeting at a small conference table

Aug 19, 2022

The Best Time to Start an Executive Briefing Program is NOW!


​​​​​​​As briefing industry experts, we have been asked by executives on several occasions, “When is the best time for a company to launch its first executive briefing program?”  Our response is...

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Executive briefing in a conference roomExecutive briefing in a conference room

May 16, 2022

Briefing Teams and Executive Management in Collaboration


Before you launch into yet another sales or marketing-related activity to boost your briefing program’s visibility and its results, why not ask for your Executive Leadership’s perspective? I always recommend...

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Briefing team and executive management holding a meeting at a conference tableBriefing team and executive management holding a meeting at a conference table

Apr 04, 2022

Five Tips for Facilitating World Class Briefings


A skilled facilitator makes a difference in the outcome of a briefing.  Here’s a reminder of your top tips for facilitating:


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    Colleagues having meeting in executive briefing centerColleagues having meeting in executive briefing center

    Mar 28, 2022

    Four Tips for Promoting Customer Engagement in Virtual Briefings


    It has always been a challenge to get customers to actively participate in briefings. Our pivot to virtual briefings made it even more difficult. We are getting more acclimated to virtual meetings...

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    Employees asking questions at an executive briefing training sessionEmployees asking questions at an executive briefing training session

    Mar 21, 2022

    What’s the Difference Between Personalization and Customization?


    One of the most fun parts of a Briefing Manager’s role is the opportunity to be creative in designing memorable moments that surprise and delight the customer. Creating their company logo in the...

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    Company representative meeting with clients in an executive briefing centerCompany representative meeting with clients in an executive briefing center

    Mar 14, 2022

    Building Trust with your Sellers - Don't Apologize!


    When you reach out to a new seller to help them plan their customer briefing you often have a short time to win their trust. They’re probably rushing between meetings and want to get the planning process started and leave it with you. Or they’ve got it all figured out and...

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    Business people shaking hands after a meetingBusiness people shaking hands after a meeting

    Mar 07, 2022

    Look Who’s Facilitating Briefings!


    Over the last decade, many Briefing Programs have been excited to roll out the benefits of facilitation, but they have struggled to find the bandwidth to support it. Purposeful facilitation requires being fully present in the briefing and intentionally intervening to pose questions and make...

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    Businesswoman making presentation to colleagues in a conference roomBusinesswoman making presentation to colleagues in a conference room

    Feb 28, 2022

    Getting Executive Buy-In!  Don’t Launch Your Program Without It!


    The Number One priority when launching a new program should be obtaining Executive Management support. Too often though, briefing professionals launch into operational planning without taking the time to educate...

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    Client and representative shaking hands at a conference tableClient and representative shaking hands at a conference table

    Feb 07, 2022

    A Case for More Breaks in Virtual Briefings


    We’ve all noticed how exhausting virtual meetings can be. Why is that? When we communicate face-to-face we have the opportunity to notice body language in addition to the words that people are saying. Studies over the years indicate that more than 50% of our...

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    Woman sitting at her desk on the computer in a virtual executive briefing Woman sitting at her desk on the computer in a virtual executive briefing

    Jan 31, 2022

    Three Tips for Staying on Time in a Virtual Briefing


    Virtual briefings are sometimes just a few hours and it seems we’re always running behind. Discussion Leaders are passionate about their topic and now we’ve only given them 30 minutes to get their...

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    Hourglass sitting on a laptop counting down the timeHourglass sitting on a laptop counting down the time

    Jan 24, 2022

    Leading the VoC “Customer Confessions” Session


    We know the benefits of including a Voice of the Customer session in our briefings. It provides firsthand insights into the customer’s business to help Discussion Leaders tailor their remarks, brings forth anchoring comments to link to throughout the day to drive a more customer-centric conversation, and sometimes even...

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    Group of business people sitting around conference table talkingGroup of business people sitting around conference table talking