Donkey God

Did the “Painless” part of the title get your attention?

Speaking in front of a group ranks with death of a family member and loosing a job when it comes to the emotional toll it takes on some people.

If you are one of those folks who look for any excuse not to give a presentation in a meeting, social club or your church take heart. You can learn to present with confidence and style. All it takes is following a few simple steps BEFORE you get up to speak.

The first decision you need to make is determine what kind of presentation you are giving. Generally presentations will fall into one of six different forms.

1. Providing information

2. Teaching a skill

3. Reporting specific progress

4. Selling a product, a service or an idea

5. Agreeing on a decision

6. Solving a problem

After you accurately determine the form of presentation you plan to make, the next step is building an outline. Things to consider when building you outline include an

• Incorporate a Strong Opening statement,

• What information does your audience need to hear?

• Be sure you clarify and industry jargon on acronyms.

• Clearly tell the participants exactly what’s in if for them.

• What are the benefits?

• And a strong close.

When you have developed your outline it is time to “fill in the blanks”. The detail of your notes will vary depending on factors such as your familiarity with the subject, the number of details that need to be given and the level and amount of technical information you will be sharing.

When the outline and notes are developed it’s time for Practice, Practice and then some more PRACTICE.

It takes about six times going through the presentation before a facilitator is comfortable with the material. Don’t skimp on time here, it will show up later.

During and after your presentation, be prepared for questions. A few tips to help here include planning for questions. Plan by answering as many questions as you can during your talk. If you get a question you don’t know the answer too, don’t fake it. Tell the group that you will get the information back to them as soon as you can.

Be sure to answer the question briefly, yet completely. Do not go over your entire presentation; simply answer what was ask.

Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if you don’t understand the questions.

If you wold like to learn more on Painless Presentations email info@TrainingConnections.ORG. We offer a one-day or two-day class for your organization.

(C) 2003

About The Author

John Robertson is a Professional Trainer with over 20 years experience in Mid to Sr. Level Management in several Fortune 500 companies. His real world experience will bring credibility to your meetings. TrainingConnections.ORG focuses on three major categories of Employee Performance Improvement; Leadership, Management and Sales Training. Contact us today for more information or check our web site.

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I was always nervous in the past about “taking time off”. Would it diminish the value of my work in people’s minds? Would people believe I wasn’t good at what I do? Would the time away affect my productivity results? I didn’t want any of my clients or colleagues to think I wasn’t available to them, never around.

But about four years ago (when I was still teaching high school students) something
told me to try it…just once. Nothing could go wrong; it was just an experiment. So
one day I took a “Well Day.” This was one of the best gifts I have ever given myself.

I now listen to my body and take a Well Dayor sometimes a Few Well Hours.
I have become so good at this one move it has resulted in no colds, flues, you name
it, for the last 2 years.

I still feel those “sick signs”…

But here’s the kicker…

When I feel something “coming on” I put many of the preventive tactics I’ve learned
in place (including saying no, the toughest one I am still working on). That is how I
ended up at the day spa this past Friday where I came up with a few more
techniques anyone can put in place right from home-sweet-home.

So here are three lessons I learned from this whole spa-for-a-few-hours
experience:

Don’t be afraid to take time off. I don’t just mean from being AT work, but
just from being in work mode. Take one day where you don’t answer your cell
phone, don’t check your email, don’t go on-line and don’t watch TV. You will be
giving your body and your brain such a break you’ll feel like you have been away
forever. If you get bored, stay with it; read a magazine, a book, look at art, go
outdoors and take a long, long walk. That’s what people do at spas.

Don’t be afraid to spend time by yourself. A client recently shared with me
that her children had a sleep-over with a friend of hers. My client took the first
candle lit bath she had taken in months and then crawled right into bed to read and
go to sleep before 9PM. She woke feeling refreshed and her kids had a great time
spending time with their favorite “aunty.” If you don’t have children, just put
yourself in bed before 9PM after following Tip #1. (Getting a proper night’s sleep
boosts the metabolism and assists with weight loss. THAT is worth missing a TV
show once in awhile, yes?)

Start your day with a morning massage. When you wake up in the morning
…take a moment to lie on your back and breathe. Take a deep breath in through
your nose. Feel your chest rise and fall. Then, stretch your arms over your head.
Pretend someone has grabbed your hands and feet and is pulling in opposite
directions. Stretch your hands up as far as you can and extend your torso. Feel your
body lengthening. Keep your arms over your head and sit up slowly. Bend forward at
the waist and try to grab your toes. Hold this forward bend for twenty seconds.
Slowly lift up and lie on your back again. Bring your knees to your chest and wrap
your arms around your knees, grabbing opposite forearms, or elbows if you can. Put
your chin to your chest. Hold for twenty seconds. You’ve just given yourself a
morning massagefor your muscles and your organs. NOWit is time to get up.

Many of my past “jobs” told me not to take Sick Days; if I did, I obviously wasn’t
dedicated. I guess they were right about the Sick Days, but I’ll always take Well Days
isn’t that what living is about?

Now, go plan your next Well Day!

Energy~Nutrition Specialist Heather M. Dominick, “The Energy Expert,” is author of
the information packed ‘EnergyRICH Lifestyle’ weekly ezine. If you’re ready to jump-
start your energy, make effective changes, and have more fun in your life, get your
FREE subscription and more EnergyRICH Tips at
http://www.individual-health.net

“Too often the great decisions are originated and given form in bodies made up wholly of men, or so completely dominated by them that whatever of special value women have to offer is shunted aside without expression.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

After dealing with crazy people in your organization, and the demands of customers, you may wonder if leadership is worth the trouble. Leader, leadership is a journey. Let’s explore one life-changing experience for me. As you may understand from my columns, I am a research junkie. It fires me up! Too much information is not good, however. For example, one co-worker raved about a new research tool; however, some individuals were spending several hours using it. Isn’t technology wonderful? It’s an outstanding resource, but I found it unhelpful for me at this stage. I have gotten information overload during major projects. As a result of this information saturation, I then simplified my approach in conducting my research. I now use some basic research tools. I’ve learned that having information isn’t enough to excel in my leadership journey. Albert Einstein once said, “Information is not knowledge.” From this experience, I learned that effective leaders are flexible.

Let’s explore another life-changing experience. It’s recognizing that I don’t knowabout me and my path forward. Do you know your path, Leader? Going through this leadership journey has challenged my vision. What if your abilities were designed for another purpose? Are you then making the right decisions for your life? These thoughts can generate anxiety and fear because you are now facing the unknown. Like the biblical figure Moses, you may be only sojourning in Pharaoh’s court for a short time for training; however, you won’t ever become a royal prince or princess in Pharaoh’s court. Not knowing what I am becoming is a frustration. Are you frustrated also? Nevertheless, you must run this leadership race with confidence because this is your mission. Do you know your leadership mission? I Corinthian 9:24 reads, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

Finally, leaders should not be side-tracked with minor issues in their organizations. What is the most important reason you are leading? Do you feel you are divinely called to lead or just holding a place in your organization? Those are important questions to consider if you are going to be effective. If you are divinely called to serve, you will also be equipped divinely to lead. Psalm 121:1, 2 reads, “I will lift up my eyes to the hillsFrom whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” With that said, let this growth process continue. In summary, run your own leadership race with confidence. Run this race to win because you are divinely called to lead. Are you running like a winner in front or you lagging behind? You should know this fact, Leader! Plan ahead. Prepare yourself for life’s obstacles. Run the race with a sense of urgency and purpose. Start today!

Reference:

Brain Quote (2005). Received on November 15, 2005 from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/albert_einstein.html

© 2006 by Daryl D. Green

Daryl D. Green has published over 100 articles in the field of decision-making (personal and organizational), leadership, and organizational behavior. Mr. Green is also the author of two acclaimed books, Awakening the Talents Within and My Cup Runneth Over. He is a columnist, lecturer, professor, and management consultant. Mr. Green has a BS in engineering and a MA in organizational management. Currently, he is a doctoral degree in strategic leadership. For more information,visit his website at http://www.darylgreen.org