Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Public Speaking Power

Public Speaking Power
It is consistently noted that public speaking is the top fear for Americans. And yet you may want to successfully speak in public personally and/or professionally. For such formal requests for public speaking, there are four types of engagements:
Speech - written ahead of time and read/delivered at a podium or in one location.
Presentation - prepared ahead of time with some slides to support the messages for the audience's benefit.
Talk - bullet points prepared and ready to share with a lot of audience interaction and/or buy-in.
Conversation - Leading a discussion with expertise for the audience and expert to learn.

 
When you are asked to participate, ask:
  • The amount of time allowed for you
  • The likely size of the audience
  • The demographics of the audience
  • The goal of the engagement
  • The types preferred (Speech, Presentation, Talk, Conversation)
Regardless of which type you are delivering, the three things to ensure for success are:
1) Be the expert
2) Get out of your own way (it's not about you or your day, rather it is about #3)
3) Put the audience first

With these quick tips in mind, you'll have fun, and importantly, your audience will be better for learning with/from you in the way that is best for the opportunity...without fear on your part or theirs!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Change Perceptions of Change!



"The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress."
~ Charles Kettering
American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research at General Motors from 1920 to 1947.
(1876 - 1958)


The expression "the only constant is change" is known, and yet there is often a lot of resistance, fear, and/or discomfort around fear.

One letter in a word can make a big difference! People can either change by chance or by charge. Change by chance is when we are in denial, ill prepared, or unaware. Change by charge is when we are ready, willing, and focused on the success of the change!

With that "r" approach, the Change by charge allows for leading confidently with, and through, change successfully. Ten of those ways are:

10. Implement a new rule - instead of the golden rule, implement the transparency rule - treat others how THEY want to be treated (not how YOU want to be treated)

9. ASK through:
o A - Acknowledging other's perspective.
o S - Sharing your perspective.
o K - Keeping the membership perspective in mind and in the forefront.

8. Think collaborate not inundate, and listen to what & how...as well as the why.

7. Resist saying, feeling &/or believing "change is hard". Instead of letting people continue to believe/say "this is tough", remind them that THEY are tough!

6. Consider the possibilities! Be optimistically realistic rather than pessimistically realistic!

5. CHANGE expectations by:
o C - Considering the shift as far as
o H - How you will be impacted
o A - Along with how others will be impacted
o N - Now, and in the future, and
o G - Gage each in order to set
o E - Expectations with/for both

4. Talk in terms of progress, not perfection! Celebrate and appreciate movement in the desired direction.

3. Reward behaviors you want repeated! Watch allowing negative people to get your attention.

2. Use "Let's" and "We" whenever appropriate so that you can, and will be inclusive and leading rather that excluding or telling.

1. No fake it, 'til you make it. YOU are the one to embrace, support, understand & represent the change you want others to embrace, support and understand! Lead the change by making it about getting through and to the next step (no faking required!).

These ten things, these ten approaches, these ten outlooks afford that charge to make the change go well while you enjoy yourself!