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Colette Carlson        

Human Behavior Expert; Hall of Fame Motivational Speaker

Colette Carlson is a human behavior expert and CPAE Hall of Fame motivational keynote speaker who inspires organizations and individuals to connect and communicate in real and relevant ways. With wit, humor and sincerity, each of Carlson’s presentations weaves together real-life lessons on genuine connection and the tools to leverage those connections for personal and professional success.

With a Master’s Degree in Human Behavior, a fascination with communication trends, and over 20 years of experience in the personal development industry, Carlson guides audiences and clients along the fine line between the trendy topics that keep us relevant and the timeless truths that lead to meaningful achievements and relationships.

A Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation held by fewer than 10% of the members belonging to the International Federation for Professional Speakers, Carlson has shared her insights, observations and research with thousands of people throughout the world. In 2017, Carlson was inducted into the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, a recognition that honors professional speakers who have reached the top echelon of career excellence.

Her articles on connection, stress management, sales and leadership have been featured in Success, Business Management Daily, and Working Mother magazines. Clients include Boeing, Microsoft, Cisco, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, Shell, Great Clips, Domino's Pizza, FedEx, Davidson Hotels, the and United States Government.

Speech Topics


3 Truths Female Leaders Need to Know

The world seeks more women leaders.

Colette delivers the latest research and strategies specific to women in leadership, so they can be recognized, respected, and rewarded in their career. Participants will gain a bigger self-awareness and learn the skills necessary to being a credible and confident leader.

Deliver positive results for your company or organization by learning how to:

• Identify and change communication patterns that limit your influence • Employ the art of self-promotion to express your success in a manner that gains supporters and censors critics • Build a persuasive case to back up your ASK for maximum impact • Cultivate connections that count: identify, access, and develop strategic relationships • Give and receive feedback so it lands as a gift • Increase risk taking and choose to fail forward • Strategically say no to grow to the next level • Stay resilient through constant change and challenges

Stress Less: YOU Management vs Time Management

The truth is whether you are in leadership, in sales, or on the front line, you are expected to produce more in less time with fewer resources, while staying positive and connected with colleagues, customers and clients. The reality is we are all stressed out, tightly wound, and exhausted trying to meet and exceed expectations. People have the best intentions that seem to go out the window before lunch as they are constantly changing schedules, demands, and priorities. Enough already! Create the focus, energy, and mindset necessary to make healthy choices and stay connected to those who count.

It’s no longer about time management, it’s about YOU management. Get ready to laugh-out loud and walk away ready to make positive, long-lasting change the next day. Customized for every audience and their unique challenges, some of Colette’s most-requested lessons include:

• Differentiate between time management and YOU management • Know when to let go or take control • Eliminate unrealistic expectations and energy zappers • Beat the stress and temptation of everyday life in healthy ways • Build a positive mindset to increase mental toughness

Many Communicate, Few Connect

The common denominators of the most successful people are the ability to effectively communicate and connect, regardless of the situation or audience. In a competitive world filled with a global workforce, numerous communication challenges, and daily digital distractions, getting your message heard has never been more challenging. Clear, concise communication is no longer enough to get results: connection must be part of the equation. Productivity decreases, collaboration stalls, accountability suffers, and conflict and stress escalate when even the simplest of miscommunication occurs. Without connection, these outcomes are only heightened. Connect and communicate on a deeper level to form crucial relationships that drive productivity, engagement, and collaboration by learning how to: • Awaken your personal awareness to foster healthy communication • Align your thoughts, words, and actions to build trust and increase influence • Overcome conflict while maintaining a respectful, human connection • Become a human highlighter who champions the accomplishments and strengths of every individual on your team • Increase rapport and leave a positive, lasting impression with everyone.

The Connected Leader

Successful leaders understand the nuances in communication that make a big difference when inspiring action and cooperation. Leaders know the power of their words and understand that words alone do not generate trust, allegiance, and loyalty. Connection is the glue that keeps relationships, projects, and organizations together.

A leader must be authentic and exhibit the behaviors conveyed in their message to maintain respect for their authority. Advance your communication style, increase your credibility, earn respect, and gain support by learning how to:

• Communicate with candor and clarity to guide your team to achieve remarkable results • Effectively receive feedback from your team • Develop phrases that dissolve conflict and inspire cooperation • Engage, persuade, and influence others through strategic storytelling • Exhibit integrity and build trust when you walk your talk (especially under pressure!) • Become a human highlighter who champions the accomplishments and strengths of every individual on your team

Up Your Connection Quotient

In order to make a sale and earn a customer, you must first make a connection. Wider and deeper relationships lead to increased sales, repeat business, and powerful referrals.

As a former national sales trainer, who cut her teeth in straight commission sales, Colette will show you how to up your personal connection quotient to maximize relationships, revenue, and results.

Every program is customized for each audience. Some of Colette’s most-requested lessons include:

• Recognize that connection begins within • Focus on opening the dialogue, rather than closing the sale • Create a sincere selling mindset • Align you thoughts, words, and actions to build trust and confidence • Boost your sales team's productivity, enthusiasm, and bottom line • Embrace change in your ever-changing marketplace • The power of ASK

Sincere Selling: ASK and You Shall Succeed

The truth is too many sales people sell themselves short. Even seasoned professionals leave business on the table because they hesitate to consistently ASK for referrals, testimonials, additional business or the sale. Still others feel uncomfortable ASKing the powerful questions necessary to identify clients’ true needs, pains, wants and desires. Yet, without the ability to open that dialogue, you’ll rarely close the sale. Perhaps it’s time to turn the tables and ASK yourself what’s getting in your way of attracting the business required to survive and thrive. Join Colette as she delivers sales strategies to engage, persuade and influence others while still promoting you and your services honestly, assertively and authentically.

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What Does Sex Have To Do With It? The Truth about Gender Selling

The truth is there are small, subtle behavioral differences between the way men and women communicate that create misunderstandings, frustrations and judgments that can cost you the sale. Using humorous examples, research and real case studies, Carlson unlocks the secrets of gender selling to help you present, persuade, and communicate more effectively with the opposite sex. Increase your revenues and customer loyalty by attending this relevant program where you will learn how to:

• Leverage gender selling for maximum understanding and impact

• Build appropriate rapport that creates incredible credibility

• Influence and engage the opposite sex without offending anyone

• Implement specific strategies when selling to couples for an immediate buying

• Stop the simple mistakes each gender makes and win the sale

3 Truths Female Leaders Need to Know

Want to be recognized, respected and rewarded in your career? Want to be tapped for your leadership potential? The world seeks more women leaders. Why not enjoy the perks and adventure of being one? Now is the time to take an honest look, access and advance your leadership skills. Join Colette as she delivers the latest research and strategies specific to women in leadership. You will gain the self-awareness and success-skills necessary to become an authentic, credible and confident leader -- and laugh out loud along the way. Deliver positive results for your company or organization by learning how to:

• Identify and change communication patterns that limit your influence

• Employ the art of self-promotion to express your success in a manner that gains supporters and censors critics

• Build a persuasive case to back up your ASK for maximum impact

The Language of Leadership

Successful leaders understand the nuances in communication that make a big difference when inspiring action and cooperation. Leaders know the power of their words and understand that words alone do not generate trust, allegiance and loyalty. A leader must be authentic and exhibit the behaviors conveyed in their message to maintain respect for their authority. Advance your communication style, increase your credibility, earn respect, and gain support by learning how to:

• Communicate with candor and clarity to guide your team to achieve remarkable results • Develop phrases that dissolve conflict and inspire cooperation

• Engage, persuade and influence others through strategic storytelling

• Exhibit integrity and build trust when you walk your talk (especially under pressure!)

• Become a human highlighter who champions the accomplishments and strengths of every individual on your team

Stress Less: YOU Management vs. Time Management!

The truth is whether you are in leadership, sales, or the front line you are expected to produce more in less time with fewer resources, while staying positive and engaged. The reality is we are stressed out, tightly wound, and exhausted trying to meet and exceed expectations. We have the best intentions that seem to go out the window before lunch as we are constantly changing schedules, demands and priorities. Too often lunch gets skipped or inhaled while hunched over our desk. Enough already! Create the focus, energy and mindset necessary to make healthy choices in our 24/7 world. It’s no longer about time management, it’s about YOU management. Get ready to laugh-out-loud and walk away ready to make positive, long-lasting change the next day. Learn how to:

• Know when to let go or take control • Train your brain to stay cool, calm and collected in stressful situations

• Eliminate unrealistic expectations and energy vampires

• Beat the stress and temptation of everyday life in healthy ways

• Build a positive mindset to increase mental toughness

The bottom line: Stress kills. Work-life balance is dead. It’s time to face the truth and employ do-able strategies to take back control of your life to gain focus and energy!

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