The Mattson Philosophy

Mattson is serious about helping others to be prepared so they can realize their goals in the community, workplace, and relationships. We do this by effectively teaching current and newly developed communication principles and assist participants in the discovery process of applying these principles in all relevant situations and relationships.

All principles we share are in the spirit of ethical application. Our goal is simple:

Improve communities by improving communication skills.

 

Training or Education?

We distinguish the difference between Training and Education because it depends on the situation and needs of the individual and/or organization to determine which approach is best.

Training is teaching specific steps in completing tasks. Things are done the right way—usually in steps—for consistency, quality, and efficiency.

Education is teaching principles and ideas to further develop vision, innovation, understanding, critical thinking, decision making, and persuasion skills with the end result being the practical application of these skills in the right way, at the right time, in the right place.

Mattson Can Help You!

Are you good with people one-on-one; but, when asked to speak in front of a group, your communication skills seem to disappear? Does your self-confidence go down and you feel people see you as incompetent?

Did you have a bad experience public speaking so now you avoid all speaking opportunities with more zeal and creativity than you use in other aspects of doing your work well? Is the anxiety you experience thinking about giving a presentation so great that you don’t believe the possible rewards to you by public speaking are worth the pain and anxiety you will suffer for weeks, days, and minutes before the presentation?

We would all like to achieve some of the following:

• Land a better job
• Make more money
• Earn a promotion
• Increase self-confidence
• Increase sales
• Develop strong leadership ability
• Work better as a team
• Lead a team
• Motivate team members
• Think on your feet in front of an audience
• Gain recognition
• Earn better grades

Strong communication skills are necessary to achieve any of these goals.

You will learn the best practices for delivering presentations right here on this site. Stop looking for secrets or magic pills to instantly become a great communicator; they don’t exist. However, over time, you can learn to use your own unique personality to develop and apply strong communication skills confidently in any situation.

Who is Rod Mattson?

I am a Businessman in Communication Training and College Professor in the field of Communication Studies with a fear of public speaking.

In 1977, I had a good career in sales. I was also selected for the official sales management training program that would start upward mobility in the organization. In presenting my first important speech, I froze and experienced a debilitating fear of public speaking. For the next 16 years, I avoided all speaking opportunities; thus, stagnating my career.

In 1993, I learned to work with my fear of public speaking. Practicing this new skill, my career suddenly started to successfully rise. I looked back at all the years and income I lost or didn’t realize because of hiding from all things that involved speaking to groups.

I believe this experience of debilitating fear and learning to manage it uncovered a calling to teach people effective communication skills so they do not have to lose 16 years of promotions, raises, and interesting work like I did.

So I did the things I had to do in becoming qualified to teach others how to improve and/or learn effective communication skills in today’s organizational world.

 

Why should you do business with us?

In addition to my network of associates, I am trained in communication theory and able to “connect the dots” between theory and practice in organizations. My philosophy on teaching and training Communication skills is grounded in sound theories and my credentials are solid in the field:

• Master of Science in Organizational Communication (Interdisciplinary: Communication, Business/Training, and Psychology) Eastern Washington University
• Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communication (Minor in Business Administration) Eastern Washington University
  
• Teacher for 10 years at the College/University level in Communication Studies: Public Speaking, Leadership, Group Dynamics, Interviewing, Interpersonal Communication, and Persuasion
• Author of the Public Speaking book: Harnessing Your Fear of Public Speaking and author of flipbooks and workbooks on Communication Skills including Countdown to Public Speaking
• Author Case Study: Training Design and Development An academic book on application of adult learning theories, training design theories, and training technology.
  
• Training Designer Sales training for Subaru of America and Customer Service Training for Kia Motors of North America
  
• Guest Columnist on Communication for the Highline Times/Des Moines News Online
• Myers and Briggs Type Indicator Qualified
• Eight years of training with business, non-profit, and academic organizations on communication skills in the workplace
• Dale Carnegie Courses Graduate Assistant and Student for 2 years
• Presenter of Community Workshops, Seminars, and Lectures on Communication skills to service and membership organizations
  
• Sales Manager 4 years plus Sales 14 years
• Keynote speaker or contributing speaker at 6 conferences
• Speech writer and speech writing teacher

I believe public speaking, as all other communication events, is about meeting the needs and expectations of the audience and doing it in such a way that the audience will remember. It is not about winning awards, personal performance, or any other personal benefit of the speaker. The speaker should honor the audience and live up to the responsibility of doing his/her best in preparation for such audience. “Know the audience, and speak from the heart about doing the right thing(s)—all good things will then follow.”

Always Prepare and Organize with the Audience in Mind—Speak From Your Heart; then, You Will Never Go Wrong. –Rod Mattson.