Life is Healthy

Some additional information on Public Speaking and tips to help you improve... ...or not!

Fear of speaking


Enunciation


Pronunciation


Know your facts


Body Language


Eye Contact


Spell Checking

Yesterday I stumbled across this wonderful, very clever and thought provoking presentation.
Of course I shall no doubt incorporate this into my work.
If you know of any other such works or things that made you sit up and take notice please forward them to my email address ;)




In the meantime, enjoy

You may recall my post about 'The best job in the world', well since then I have come up with MANY ideas about possible video applications and their presentation style.
This led onto an idea on presentations, using this as subject matter for my work at Vaughan Town (which I will soon be implementing to the Master students).

The site itself (CLICK HERE), seems to have made a huge under estimation of how interested people would be. Within 3 days they had received over 1 million hits on their website!
Wow, for marketing and publicity: 5 star's!
A step too far?? It was also revealed that one applicant that got a 'tattoo' was fake and also was one of the companies employees!!!!
Having had several tattoo's I could tell from the video it was fake, but to be an employee as well?
Why taint what was already a good idea?

They also have been inundated with applications - so it seems my estimate was way off too. However, to be honest I'm not sure that I agree with the company posting the video applications on their site.
To me it would be like showing someone's application form, you just don't do it!

The flipside of this of course, is you can clearly see that at least half of the applicants stand no chance, simply because they don't meet any of the requirements, too long, too short, no subject matter and are simply begging videos.

This job, in fact any job, is about wants and needs: what do you want and what do they need and then meeting both sides.
60 seconds to sell yourself is no time at all. So do yourself a favour and think before you press record; what is important to them and for you to let them know about you.
Then consider how you can make this information interesting - sitting at your computer and talking into your webcam is BORING!!!

As the videos are there, look at them, see what you like and what you don't like.
That should give you a better idea about how yours should look.

Good luck - you're gonna need it.

Read the small print

9. Your involvement in the selection process and your employment is entirely at your own risk. You agree to release Tourism Queensland and its nominees, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, and all others connected with the selection process and your employment, from any and all claims, actions, damages, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses, in any way arising out of or resulting from your involvement in the selection process and your employment, including, without limitation, any and all claims, actions, and liabilities for injury, loss or damage to you, to anyone else or to any property, regardless of whether or not such injury, loss or damage was caused by the negligence or misconduct of Tourism Queensland, its nominees or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives or employees, or anyone else connected with the selection process and your employment. You agree to indemnify Tourism Queensland and its nominees and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, and all others connected with the project and hold them harmless from any and all liabilities, claims, actions, damages, expenses and losses (including, without limitation, legal fees) of any kind or nature whatsoever in any way caused by or arising out of your involvement in the selection process and your employment. - I don't like the sound of that

4. Act responsibly and demonstrate good moral character. - Well I think THEY blew that one!

As the New Year arrives I wanted to share simple but effective messages, that are delivered in a more unusual fashion, which in itself gets your attention.
Perhaps the next time you are giving a presentation you should think how to get that message across; afterall its not JUST facts and figures is it...



another thought provoking video



This is a presentation of sorts which may just change your view on life, forever!!

@ Yahoo! Video

Benjamin Zander is the conductor of The Boston Philharmonic and is well known for his orchestra's passionate performances. Rosamund Stone Zander is an executive coach, family therapist, and private practitioner who brings enormous psychological experience to enhancing human behaviour. They have written a fascinating book in which they alternate as storytellers in sharing principles and examples in the form of compelling stories in their lives.

Each of the 12 chapters in the book THE ART OF POSSIBILITY communicates an idea - a new way of opening up possibility within your life, providing an evolving and additive view as the reader progresses through the book.

First, the Zanders talk about “It’s all invented” where humans tend to focus on very few things, missing most of what is going on around them. By shifting focus, you will see many opportunities for the first time.

Second, measurements can cause us to focus too narrowly on where we are today and encourage “scarcity thinking” - the glass is half empty. The Zanders encourage thinking about the glass as half full, citing the well-known perspective of optimism as being empowering.

Third, if you assume that people will do well and help them to see how they can, they will. Mr. Zander gives every student an “A” in his class, and simply requests that the student write a paper to tell what they will do to deserve that A. This gets the students focused on excellence, and takes away the tension that gets in the way of real results.

Fourth, as a mindset, think of your role as “being a contribution - you are a gift to others”. How could that change what you do – to focus on the external perspective?

Fifth, lead from any chair. This is a reference to involving everyone. Benjamin Zander asks his players to write down how he could improve practices and performances, and pays attention to the suggestions genuinely viewing leadership from all levels

Sixth, follow rule number six - “don’t take yourself so seriously – to lighten up”. Examples show, how in taking this on in organisational settings, a new culture can emerge, enabling fabulous creativity and new ideas.

Seventh, be present to the ways things are. Many of us are disconnected from reality. By getting back to it, we can see more possibilities.

Eighth, give way to passion. Going with your strong feelings allows you to be more authentic, and to go to new heights of accomplishment. Allow yourself to let go.

Ninth, light a spark. See you role as creating a spark of possibility to be lit that others can see. Act as a catalyst for yourself and others.

Tenth, be the board of the game you are playing. Instead of defining yourself as a playing piece or even a strategist in the game you are playing, see yourself as the framework for the entire game.

Eleventh, create a vision that generates “frameworks of possibility” for others and work on enrolling them into what is right for them.

Twelfth, tell the WE story. Focus on being inclusive and considering what is best for all. Move from I to We, from independence to interdependence.

There MUST be something amongst those possibilities you could utilize or work on - personally I like No. 3 & 6.

WORD OF WARNING:-

Every week I have to listen to presentations, around 15 a week - some good some not so good and some awful. But is it their fault??

No one wants their time wasted and I'm sure you want people to go away with what ever message you thought you were delivering, but after watching and training many people how to present they still make the same repetitive mistakes!

In order to try to help you to deliver better presentations I'm going to offer a quick guide - however it is by no way definitive.

First, K.I.S.S. = K = Keep, I = It, S = Short & S = Simple

Eye contact is key - avoid reading notes, friendly faces, the floor/ceiling - look at the audience.
Never imagine them naked!!!

Use pauses, allow the audience time to develop images in their minds.

Avoid PowerPoint where possible. If you have to use it, use it effectively. How?
Clear slides, clear pictures, clear fonts, clear messages!

Engage the senses, use emotion, build rapport, provoke thought, encourage action.

Offer facts rather than opinions.

Have a strong beginning, middle and end.

Know your topic, backwards if possible, encourage questions if only rhetorical ones.

At the very least smile whilst presenting, if you choose to use humour, use it sparingly and appropriately.

Never have a pen in your hand unless you are using it!

Use a story to make your point and ensure you have a point!
Your story is the path, your point is the goal!

Have a conclusion - tell them what you told them.

Above all you should should be able to















By that I don't mean literally, I mean NO notes, NO slides, NO projectors, NO sweat!

Thank you for your attention, now does anybody have any questions?

Extracts taken from an up and coming booklet I'm currently producing what this space for details