Maria's Musings

Praise Where Praise is Due

Seven years ago I worked as European IT Manager with a City law firm.

As a manager, one of the things you need to do is to keep your staff motivated and a great way to do this is by providing praise where it's due.  This principle holds true outside the corporate world, too.  Many of us are quick to complain and slow to praise, but why not try a little experiment...

For example, two weeks ago when my cleaner, Caroline, came, I was out presenting for the day so I didn't see her.  I returned home that night to a lovely clean house that smelt fresh and felt great so I sent a short "thank you" text to her.

Last week, not only did she tell me how wonderful it was to receive that text from me, but I do believe she made an extra effort to get the place sparkling even more than usual.  So my praise not only benefitted her, making her feel valued and appreciated, but it came back to benefit me too.

By the same token, I received an email from one of my clients who commented on how pleased he was with the job I did at his presentation under very difficult circumstances. Now how do you think I feel about that client compared with those who take me for granted?

It's also very satisfying when I receive emails from subscribers thanking me for the free tips and advice I send them on crafting great presentations. Thank you all.

So who should you be thanking more often?
Who are you taking for granted?
Why not resolve to be a little slower to complain and faster to praise and see how it comes back to you?

Try it for a week or so. I'd love if you'd post a comment here and let me know how you got on.

DON'T MISS OUT:  The Powerful Persuasive Presentations training weekend takes place on April 22 & 23, 2006.  Learn to communicate with passion and persuade with pazzazz.

Free Presentations Training Teleseminar

On Monday, 3rd April, I'll be hosting a Free 60 minute teleseminar on the subject:

OVERCOMING THE BARRIERS TO GREAT PRESENTATIONS

This will take place on Monday, April 3 at 8pm UK time (12 Noon PST / 3pm EST).  You can register here

The teleclass is about the number one skill that’s guaranteed to position you head and shoulders above the competition, yet it’s something that so many people avoid.  We’ll examine the reasons behind public speaking fears, dispel the myths and show you how you can overcome your nerves and learn the skill that can increase the audience for your product or service by over 90%

We’ll look at the doubts and fears that plague both professional and amateur speakers. You’ll learn the techniques the professionals use to overcome these barriers.  In addition, we’ll look at what you can do before, during and after every talk to hone the skills that will make you a truly memorable presenter.  After all, if you can’t – or won’t – speak about your business, who will?

Here’s what you’ll learn at this class:

1. How to identify each barrier for what it is 
2. Putting fears into perspective 
3. Techniques to hit the ground running 
4. What to do when you lose your train of thought
5. How to make sure you’re continuously improving 

The class will be great for you if you want to learn to talk with confidence and power in or for your business or simply to increase your levels of confidence and assertiveness.

Space on the US bridge is limited so you will need to register, but do ignore any spaces for payment because the class is totally free to attend.  All you’ll pay is your telephone charges.  As it’s a US number, make sure you have a cheap provider (for anyone based in the UK who doesn’t have one, visit the Resources page on my website where you’ll find a selection).  Once again, here’s where you need to register.

Speak to you on 3 April.

Presenting on Purpose

Yesterday I went along as a favour for a friend to speak at a Rotary lunch.

I understand that the people they usually have talking to them are either charity fundraisers looking for money or local dignitaries.  Since I'm not a charity fundraiser, I guess that makes me a local dignitary.

I stepped in at short notice in place of a lady who was unable to attend.  Apparently she was talking about underprivileged children so I was at least able to point to the fact that my husband frequently complains of being underprivileged in my treatment of him compared to how I treat my lovely cats.

Anyway, I digress (again), my point is that I had no agenda for being there other than helping out a friend, but isn't it funny how sometimes we end up where we need to be without realising it?

Shortly after I'd finished speaking and the lunch meeting drew to a close, one of the Rotarians who is something of a TV celebrity, approached to ask whether I'd done any cruise ship speaking.  Strange how synchronicity works because this was the second time in a week that this topic had arisen.

It turned out that this gentleman does a fair bit of such speaking and when I expressed an interest he requested my card to pass on to his agent.

This reminded me of something I always used to do and had briefly forgotten. Whenever I find myself in a place with other people, even if I think there's no real benefit to be gained, I would set myself the task of finding the reason I was there.  Try it.  It will brighten up any dull event and make you appear more purposeful too.

Are You Writing A Book

Have you written a book?

Are you writing one?

Do you intend to write one?

If so, have you considered how you'll promote that book?

If you're with a major publisher, you may be sitting back right now thinking "oh, you don't understand, I have a major publisher so I don't have to promote the book."  Well I have a sharp jolt of reality to administer to you if that's what you think.....

Website Video Presentations

Everyone's talking about how this year will be the year that video on websites really takes off.

In some ways, this sounds great.  As a website owner we have another method of building rapport with our potential customers and another way of selling our services or products.  As a potential customer we get to look into the eyes of our possible service provider.  It's another way we can evaluate the professionalism and warmth of that person.

However, in other ways, the thought can be quite horrific!  If you've ever found yourself sitting in on a less than inspiring presentation, watching the clock and willing it to move more quickly to lunch break, you'll know exactly what I mean.  The last thing we want is for the web to become cluttered with "rabbit caught in headlights" presenters blowing their chances of making the sale through the use of the very means intended to improve their response rates.  Of course the benefit to us as web surfers is that, unlike in a live presentation, we can click away within seconds when faced with such things on the web.

So what does this mean to the website owner who wants to use every means possible to improve conversion rates and is looking at video as another means to do so?

Quite simply, it means you're going to have to learn to give a great presentation!  And you can. 

If you're able to get to Heathrow for 22 & 23 April, come on my weekend course "Powerful, Persuasive Presentations" so you can deliver fabulous presentations whenever and wherever you need to.

Presentations Tips - Your Audience Could Be S.A.D.

It's bizzarre!  Just lately, virtually everyone I've spoken to has been fed-up, down-in-the-mouth or just generally restless, lethargic and demotivated.  And I thought it was just me?

Of course, there's the argument that says you reflect what you're giving out, so maybe it IS just me, and at first I thought that was probably the case, but as the last couple of weeks have gone by and I've come across it more and more, I really don't think it is.

I'm beginning to wonder whether we're seeing the effects of S.A.D. on more people than it usually affects.  S.A.D., for those who may not know, is short for Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

The National Mental Health Association say it's a mood disorder associated with depression episodes and related to seasonal variations of light.  First noted in the early 19th Century, it wasn't officially named until the early 1980s. Apparently, as seasons change, there is a shift in our “biological internal clocks” or circadian rhythm, due partly to seasonal changes in sunlight patterns which can cause our biological clocks to be out of “step” with our daily schedules (and there was me thinking I didn't have a biological clock!). Apparently, the most difficult months for SAD sufferers are January and February, and younger persons and women are at higher risk.

There are over 212m websites on the subject of S.A.D., so it's obviously affecting an awful lot of people but I can't say I've noticed it as being a problem before - not like this year, anyway.  I wonder if it's the fact that at this time of year we're supposed to be heralding in the rebirth brought by Spring and rejoicing in the sight of bright flowers and wildlife awakening, when all we're seeing is snow, sleet and rain and we're all shivering in our boots! (No smug comments from those of you reading this on your laptop whilst laying in a hammock stretched between two palm trees on a Carribbean beach - thank you)

So what does this have to do with Presentations Tips?  Well, a lot, actually, because when you're giving a presentation you absolutely have to be able to feel the mood of your audience and you have to pitch your presentation to where they're at.  A good presenter will always be able to do this. 

Interesting, isn't it, that many people think if they just learn their talk, they can go on and perform it the same way whenever and wherever.  But that's only part of the story.  Your audience also forms part of your presentation (which is why every presentation is different, even if your words and actions haven't changed).  If you handle every presentation the same way, as novice presenters often do, sometimes you'll be good and sometimes you'll bomb.  And you're left wondering where you went wrong because, after all, you just did the same thing you always did.

What you may not have had the knowledge to do was to read your audience.  And even if you could read the audience, would you have the knowledge to know how to alter what you're giving them so you can change their mood?

That's what a good presenter can do and that's why you need to learn from the professionals if you want to be one.

P.S.  One of the symptoms of S.A.D. is listed as "a craving for sugary or starchy foods", so there's my ready-made excuse then :-)

BOOK NOW:  Two full days of extraordinary presentations training - April 22 & 23, Heathrow, London

Technorati Profile

Presentations Training - A Value Option

  This week there's been a lot of talk in the news about insufficient water supplies affecting the south of England - a country that the rest of the world jokes about as being wet & rainy!  One water supply company in Kent has just won the right to force households to have water meters fitted so they will be charged for the water they use rather than the previous flat rate all households paid.  The thinking behind this is that people will always think twice before using something for which they're being charged rather than what they think is free.

Well, this got me thinking.....

Presentations Training Workshop

I'm very excited today!!

I've just sent out details of my 2-day Powerful Presentations training event that's booked for Saturday & Sunday, April 22 & 23, 2006. There's an early-bird booking special and the seating's limited so do whizz over to my website and take a peek right now.

It's going to be held at a hotel near Heathrow airport, London, as so many of my subscribers are not based in the UK.  It will be an exciting, dynamic and fun event.  I know that when people have attended, many things will have changed for them, including how they view their own capabilities. And that will positively affect many areas their lives from that weekend on.

If you've read my previous posts, you'll know how passionate I am about helping people to improve their lives.  I did train as a coach but found that wasn't quite the right arena for me, but speaking does feel right and it allows me to reach more people than I could coaching on-on-one.

A Cat's Diary - Day ???

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded. Must try this at the top of  the stairs.

In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I  once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair. Tomorrow I will try this on their bed.