Choices and Accountability

No matter what happens, we always have a choice in what we do about it. Even when it seems that there is no option, there is always something else that can be done. At the end of the day, what happens in our lives is the result of decisions that we make.

Contributor:
Irene P. Zucker
VerbaCom® Executive Development
http://www.verbacom.com/

©2011 VerbaCom®

Eliminate Your Negative Thoughts to Alleviate Stress

A friend sent me via email, a cartoon by Randy Glasbergen depicting a doctor advising his overweight patient "What fits your busy schedule better, one hour a day of (stress relieving) exercise or being dead 24 hours a day?" While this was humorous and brought a chuckle, the implication is very serious. With all the negative news in these uncertain times, it's difficult to forget deadlines, small budgets and projects where your career hangs in the balance, much less stay positive. If you're a Manager or group leader, it becomes a challenge to motivate a staff that is overworked and is having to do more with less. If you're a team player reporting to a Lead, with the threat of possible cutbacks looming, tempers can flair and morale often takes a dive. Eventually, negative thoughts leading to stress, take hold of even the most positive worker. Stress affects different people in different ways but, if not dealt with, the end result is always the same: one's health suffers. Rather than taking stress pills or downing a couple of shots of tequila to "calm down," try simple mind techniques to eliminate the very negative thoughts causing your stress, as suggested by Dr. Benson of Harvard Medical School:

How to Eliminate Negative Thoughts And Ease Stress Video

Ok, so this is too "out there" for you - something the New Earthers are involved with (not you). The idea here is to TRY SOMETHING that works for you. Another technique you may want to try is to become aware of your body's negative reaction to outside events as they are happening and train yourself to immediately relax using a technique that works for you. Here's another suggestion:

How to Relax Your Body to Reduce Your Stress Levels Video

Again, whatever works for YOU and eases your stress, whether it's music, exercise, meditation or sitting quietly while breathing slowly, you can't afford to risk your health. Just DO something about it. Your health depends on it.

Contributor:
Irene P. Zucker
VerbaCom® Executive Development
http://www.verbacom.com/

©2010-11 VerbaCom®

Is Twitter Ruining Public Speaking?

I "attended" a real time webinar the other day and as the presenter showed his PowerPoint slides, he deviated from his presentation every 3-4 minutes to answer a question posed from the moving stream of webinar attendees displayed to the left of the screen. I couldn't help reading the conversations going on during the presentation between the attendees, many of which had NOTHING to do with the topic at hand! I am easily distracted naturally and soon found myself more interested in what the participants were discussing amongst themselves than what the presenter was saying. I liken it to a crowd of people in a room having conversations while a presenter is trying to make a presentation in front of the room where no one is really paying attention.

Many attendees use their laptops during someone's presentation. My question is WHY? One could say it is for note-taking purposes (did you forget to write?) or emailing important information that simply can't wait until the talk is over (why don't you just exit the room and give up your seat to someone who indeed wants to be there and listen?) Some would even argue that it is now acceptable to use the laptop to Tweet or text to friends who are not able to attend the talk, and give them your opinion of the presentation being presented in real time. Am I missing something here? Can't you guys wait until you see each other in a few minutes out in the hall during a break or during lunch? Maybe I just don't get it. One thing I DO know: Good presenters spend many hours preparing a presentation for the benefit of the audience so that attendees walk away with the "nugget" of knowledge they came for. To be less than attentative by using electronic devices to Tweet or text is rude and disrespectful to the presenter.

Frankly, I wouldn't recommend having an app where the screen displays the discussions during live webinars. Way too distracting. It is also rude and undermines the value of the presenter and his/her information being presented. Presenters should either ask all electronic devices be turned off or for the diehards, periodically make a slide in the presentation with a Tweet set in quotes summarizing a key point(s) and give Tweeters a few moments to copy it into their Tweet or text messages. Other options are to open it up for questions at the end of the talk or use an app that has the "raise hand" option.

Contributor:
Irene P. Zucker
VerbaCom® Executive Development
http://www.verbacom.com/

©2010-11 VerbaCom®

Using Props to Transform Your Presentation into Gold

I once opened a presentation in the usual fashion, thanking my introducer and enthusiastically welcoming the audience. Only this time, I placed a large chunk of pyrite, or Fool's Gold, on the table in front of me during my greeting. I soon engaged the audience, never alluding to the chunk of rock next to me but the audience's body language revealed that they expected some sort of explanation as to why it was there. I then began using phrases like "nuggets of information" and "nuggets of wisdom" when referring to key concepts and soon it became apparent that the chunk of "gold" symbolized the invaluable information I was sharing. The use of the pyrite proudly took center stage, and made my talk a memorable experience because of its relevance and tugs on the imagination as I spurted out words and phrases that made it real. Props are an excellent way to subliminally get the message across and can be very effective as long as they don't overpower the presentation, and don't take the attention off the speaker or the underlying message. The prop should support the verbal message by painting a picture the audience can visualize and relate to.


Long after the presentation has ended, the audience will recall the prop, the presentation and (hopefully), the presenter. A good visual aid that the audience can relate to, can be just as effective as a unique background on overheads or a strategically inserted media frame.

How effective? Although the following example wouldn't be appropriate during these times, it certainly made a lasting impression on me. I once attended a speech contest several years ago where the contestant was introduced and was asked to approach the lectern. He walked on stage as the audience applauded, and without saying a word, pulled a gun from his jacket and walked, gun pointed, to a nearby audience member. The audience member had been warned ahead of time, but to everyone else it was a heart-stopping moment of panic. As the audience gasped and recoiled in alarm, the speaker said, “No, no! It's a toy gun!”. He then slowly stepped back toward a nearby table, laid the toy gun down in full view, proceeded toward the lectern and began his speech.

“Ladies and gentlemen (pause)…at any time (pause)…in any place (pause)...any person can walk in and start shooting.”

His topic was on gun control and, as a result of that stunning introduction, he had the audience's full attention throughout the speech as he adamantly made his case for stricter gun regulation. He won the contest hands down.

While this degree of alarm to grab audience attention may not be appropriate in these times, a presentation can still be opened with (figuratively) guns blazing by using a well-placed prop that helps the audience visualize the message and paints a mental picture of key points. It can be as simple as a representative sample of the product being sold or it can be more abstract. The key is to give the listeners something visual that grabs and holds their attention so that it creates a lasting impression about the message long after the speaker has left the building. The opening portion of any talk is a critical part of the presentation. It determines whether or not the speaker is going to grab the audience's attention at the outset, as all great presentations should, and it sets the tone for the balance of the presentation. Props are a golden opportunity to transform a dull presentation into a memorable experience.

Contributor:
Irene P. Zucker
VerbaCom® Executive Development
http://www.verbacom.com/

©2010-11 VerbaCom®