User:Writerms/Meryl Runion

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Meryl Runion (1953- ) is an author, communications trainer and speaker whose work focuses on communicating effectively and assertively without creating unnecessary conflict or defensiveness. Based in Colorado Springs, she is the founder of SpeakStrong, Inc., a communication company that advocates civil candor. Runion has earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), the highest international accreditation available from the National Speaker’s Association.

Runion bases her five books on the simple philosophy she states as: “Say what you mean and mean what you say without being mean when you say it.” Her “PowerPhrases” have the objective of providing words for speaking clearly, directly and kindly, and to balance thought, feelings and action.

1 Books
2 Blogs
3 Training and Presentations
4 Background
5 Quotes
6 Related Web sites
7 References

[edit] Books

Runion self-published her first book, PowerPhrases!, (Power Potentials, 2002), which sold more than a quarter million copies.

McGraw-Hill published her next two books in 2003 and 2004: How to Use Power Phrases to Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say and Get What You Want, and Perfect Phrases for Managers. In 2006, she co-wrote How to Say It: Performance Reviews (Prentice Hall Press, 2006) with Janelle Brittain .

Runion’s latest body of communications advice goes well beyond the business world to cover family and political discussions. It is a self-published e-book titled Unite and Concur: How to stop arguing and start communicating about politics. This book teaches readers to overcome difficult situations such as:

how to separate spin from substance in the political season,
how to recognize and overcome eight tactics bullies use to take control of every conversation, and
how to have a real conversation about politics with friends and family.

[edit] Blogs

The Speak Strong Web site contains a blog in which Runion answers questions from the public and posts solutions to common communication problems.

The Unite and Concur site has postings that discuss timely examples of good and bad communication, including some public communications such as television commercials.

[edit] Training and Presentations

As an independent corporate trainer for more than 30 years, Runion’s clients have included IBM, Lockheed Martin, the FBI and Honeywell. She has worked as an independent contractor for The World Plan Executive Council, presenting personal development training on their behalf. For eight years, she contracted extensively with SkillPath Seminars to teach management, communication, conflict management and personal development classes worldwide.

Runion has provided close to a thousand workshops, keynotes and other presentations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

[edit] Background

Runion is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in political science. She earned a master’s degree in the science of creative intelligence in 1974 from Maharishi European Research University. Runion began her career researching environmental protection technology for the mayor’s office in Nashville, Tenn. From there, she moved to the Department of Finance to direct a pilot project designing effectiveness measures that were to be used by police departments all across the country. For over 20 years, she has owned and operated a training and information service company.

[edit] Quotes

If you can’t say anything nice, you probably really need to have a conversation.
What do you do when something is very wrong and no one else is talking? You talk loud enough to fill the void.
Persuasion; not propaganda. Persuasion invites reason. Propaganda stirs emotion.
When you SpeakStrong when the stakes are small, it becomes simple when the stakes are high.
When people don’t have the words, they usually say nothing. Develop your word power.
The art of conversation is the art of connecting with the world.
To get good answers you need to ask good questions.
Listen to what they say, and listen to what they mean. If there seems to be a difference, invite them to clarify.
Your words attract interest when they display interest.
Are you trying to be clear, or to prove that you’re right?
Yes, you can be clear, direct and also kind. Clear and direct alone is easier, but the dash of kindness gets you heard.
Things can seem worse in the process of getting better because you’re finally talking about what’s wrong.
If you can’t communicate, you can’t change.
When people don’t have the facts, they make stuff up.
The biggest ideas expressed in the smallest number of words have the greatest impact.
When you speak at someone else’s expense, you might be surprised to learn it was really at your own.
Sarcasm is the antithesis of PowerPhrases.
Any words that do not add to the strength of your message weaken the message.
When you deflect a compliment you are refusing a gift. Accept the gift and do not play small.
Ask for what you want – not just what you think you can get.
Some say it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it. I say it’s both.