The beginning of the presentation is your prime real estate. It’s when your audience decides if you are worth paying attention to or not. In my workshops, I call this the HOOK. You can do this by either asking a question, making a bold statement or telling a story that relates to your topic.
In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Steven Covey proposes a quite unusual thought experiment that he terms “beginning with the end in mind.” What he actually suggests is that you write your own obituary! While this may seem to be somewhat macabre, it is actually a brilliant exercise, in that in forces you to think about your legacy and how you would want to be remembered.
Give it a try: as you embark on a new year and new decade,
I recently spoke to the finance group at one of the biggest global brands in the world. The topic was Unleashing your Financial Superhero, which started me thinking more broadly about how one goes about identifying his or her superpowers. And, for that matter, what exactly are “superpowers?”
Your “superpowers” are the strengths and unique abilities you possess that set you apart. And the reality is you can’t ask others to identify your superpowers until you have identified them for yourself.
We all live in dread of “dead air” – those awkward moments when you find yourself face-to-face with the need to have a conversation with someone you have just met. What follows are some tried and true conversation tips to keep in mind:
“Everyone you meet knows something you don’t”
Approach every conversation with the wonderful sense of having something to learn. As Bill Nye, the science guy says,
Nadia recently spoke at a luncheon for the Buckhead Business Association, covered in this article in the Marietta Daily Journal.
It’s often said that, in the absence of proper information, people come to their own conclusions.
Have you ever made an assumption about a situation that simply wasn’t true?
For example, when someone doesn’t call or text back immediately, do you assume they are being dismissive, or do you think they may not be in a position to get back to you immediately?
Beatriz Rodriguez, the Chief Diversity Officer at the Home Depot, says that the ability to accept feedback in a calm, gracious, and accepting way is essential if you are going to get ahead professionally.
She goes on to say that women can be particularly sensitive when it comes to receiving feedback. She suggests that women should not only say “Thank you” when someone takes the time to volunteer feedback, but that everyone should actively seek it.
When you mention meetings, most employees roll their eyes at the sheer waste of time of these far-too-often scheduled get-togethers.
So why do organizations continue this ritual and what can we do differently?
Here are three keys to making the most of your meetings in person and virtually.
Maintain Momentum
No meeting should ever go over the allotted time.
