Oop’s we are…
I am sorry to say it, but we have been having some difficulties making the changes to our video format, website and email delivery systems as we innovate and bring more engagement to your experience.
Technology is wonderful when it works and ghastly when it does not, no near misses ~ so while we adjust and upgrade our website hosting, and our email delivery system, the website might be off line for a short period during the week of June 2nd.
I will be back very soon, I was going to say “back to normal soon” but I don’t really know what that is.
Always show up, Geoffrey
Start A Discussion - No Comments so farSpeaking Tip: When you get up to speak or while you are being introduced, take two or three deep breaths, flooding you system with oxygen so that you open at full blast not gasping for air…
Why Don’t Leaders Risk?
Presentation Power: Executive Level
Many of you sent me emails concerning the last blog article I wrote, expressing astonishment that going out of the office to give a presentation was not always supported or in fact encouraged. It is sad but true; many organizations have not caught on that we live in the information age, the age of personal communication.
So why are they afraid?
- The first fear has to do with their own comfort level about public speaking.
- They fear that the company representative will be as bad as other presenters they suffer through, and want to avoid the company being associated with that kind of experience.
- They fear that a poor presentation will cause a share price drop and create a public relations nightmare.
Often PowerPoint has been made a scapegoat and has gotten an undeservedly bad reputation. To be honest, I myself have knocked this tool (and I’ve sat through quite a few presentations), when my scorn should have been directed at really bad writing/scripts or very poor delivery. A successful presentation is not just dependent on software, it also the writer and the delivery…
And it’s an important distinction; we can’t alter PowerPoint or other presentation software, but we can do much to improve the quality of projects using these tools. For your next presentation, consider taking a whole new approach.
CLICK HERE to Read More…
Presentation Power™ v6
I led my first Presentation Power™ workshop in 1995 ~ wow, almost 18 years ago ~ and I have gone through many ideas, techniques and processes to help people express themselves authentically. Then last week, May 9th & 10th, I led the latest version based upon my new book (of the same name) and got to work with some really great people. As I write this I am tired but very happy with the result. See the comments from the participants in the video feedback below.
What was different this time? Was it the workshop, was it the people or was it me that was different?
I believe it was because I was willing to reinvent, and rewrite based upon my research and writing of the last six months. I put the needs of the people attending first and I was willing to take the risk of letting go of what I already knew ~ so I could create something more powerful.
CLICK HERE to Read More…
How To Lose in 30 Seconds
How to lose an election in less than 3o seconds and wipe out a 20% lead…
The pollsters and pundits missed the obvious in the recent BC Election!
Was the information in the polls, no it was the performance of Adrian Dix during the leaders debate.
My mother used to remind me “you never get a second chance at a first impression” ~ we saw the same thing happen to Barack Obama in the US Presidential campaign when he appeared tired and uninterested in the first debate. His opponent, now what was his name ~ oh yes, Mitt Romney had to keep it up for two other leadership debates and he could not. He managed to put his foot in his mouth so often I thought he liked the taste of shoe leather!
CLICK HERE to Read More…
Do You Show Up?
As a “Presentation Director” I am often called to show up and lead a team: in which many of who do not really know each other. And then lead this team to win the bid. Often it means the continued growth of a business, or in some cases mere survival.
How do you show up in stressful situations? are you cautious, concerned about how you will be perceived and what effect that will have on whatever it is that you are showing up for? Or do you dive right in, excited and passionate, just contributing all that you can offer?
I often experience these contrasting styles in my role as bid director, and also in life. Perhaps there is the nature/nurture influence, some people seem to be naturally more cautious and than others, some are more naturally exuberant. There are many whom have been so “criticized” for their behavior while at school, work or at home that they are nervous and wary of every interaction. Most of us are somewhere between these extremes, neither naturally exuberant nor psychologically damaged.
As leaders and communicators we have a choice. To show up as an authentic person, being honest, letting people know where we stand. Demonstrating our enthusiasm, acknowledging it, and saying so. And if we are uncertain or feel negative about something, saying so out loud.
CLICK HERE to Read More…