Gabrielle Parkinson – Career Life Institute

The Art of Presentation

We all know the basic requirements of giving an effective presentation, and most of us have given presentations at one time or another. Yes, it is important to know our subject and present it in an organized way, have good eye contact, be enthusiastic, have audio visuals, speak with confidence, clarity, and sincerity, remember to smile and use humor, interact with our audience, etc. However, it takes more than just knowing the basics to be an excellent speaker. It requires practice, but practice alone isn't enough either.

There is definitely an "art" to giving presentations. The Webster dictionary defines art as a "skill acquired by experience, study or observation," or "the conscious use of skill and creative imagination." Constructive feedback rouses this awareness and "consciousness" and can make all the difference when we are ready to refine and improve our speaking skills. So developing the "art" of presentation requires consciously and creatively applying and practicing our knowledge and skills, based on constructive feedback.

"Every time you give a presentation you are drawing upon your past experiences and you are sharing part of yourself," according to Lesley Craig, who described her first debut in front of a large group in South Africa at the age of 5 years old! Lesley encourages us to remember three main points in developing our "art"—:

Know what is required;
Practice, practice, practice;
Invite constructive feedback from others so that we can consciously make improvements.

"When you are ready to face your fears about public speaking, the professional speaking club, Toastmasters' International, is the club to join," says Lesley. "Toastmasters provides a structured program where you can consciously work on developing your presentation and leadership skills. You learn by trial and error in afriendly, supportive environment with other aspiring and empathizing speakers.

"Toastmasters offers you an enjoyable, self-paced, ongoing, experiential learning environment where you can hone and tune your presentations to fine are. Toastmasters will help you become better communicators and leaders and will help you 'master those wobbly knees."

You have an opportunity to overcome your fear of speaking every time you come to Business Connections or any other networking event and give your "30-Second Spot"—letting people know who you are, what you do, and giving them reasons why they should come see you. The challenge is saying something concise and coherent in 30-seconds that successfully promotes you and your business. Writing out your personal marketing statement ahead of time and practicing can make a real difference, as well as asking for feedback from other BC members.

Developing your "art of presentation" is a choice and a commitment and can only enhance your success as a business owner and build your self-confidence.

Committing To Your Business Success

Looking at yourself and your business is part of the New Year process. An honest assessment each year is essential—looking at what worked and was profitable and what didn't work, and getting clear about where you want to take your business during the next year.

Making a conscious commitment of time and energy to your business will determine your success in the new year. And having an updated goal plan for your business as well as a personal goal plan for yourself will enable you to focus your time and energy, allowing you to take action and to maximize all your resources.

Get "Savvy" with Technology

Acquire or upgrade whatever computer equipment and software you need to do your business more efficiently. Get e-mail and explore the Internet.

Improve Your Skills

Take a look at what strengths you have and what areas you are weak in, and take specific classes and workshops that will improve your skills and enhance your business.

Stay Focused on Your Business

Figure out what your core business is—your services and/or products—and put most of your time and energy on this.

Tap into All Your Resources

Seek out help when you need it. Look to all your community resources (SBDC, RREDC, AEDC, WEI, BC, etc.) and use outside consultants when appropriate.

Streamline Your Office

Eliminate the Clutter. Clean out old files and get better organized. Look into a 'contact database' that might help you with efficiency and follow-up.

Give More Attention to Current Customers

Give better service to your existing customers with timely follow-up contacts and offering services and products they may need.

Do More of What Worked Well

Do more of the marketing that brought you tangible business and positive exposure. Provide the services and products that got a great response.

Expect to Do Well

Set yourself up to succeed by having realistic, achievable goals that challenge and excite you, and expect to do well with your business. What you expect is usually what you get!

Creatively Closing the Sale

"It's important to realize that even when someone is demanding and rude or distracted and hard to read, you can work creatively to close the sale, and still enjoy at least something about meeting that person," emphasizes Jeanne Winkle, a national sales trainer who is enthusiastically launching her new training company, Tough 'n Tender Training and Development.

Jeanne has developed a unique, professional and successful approach to closing a sale that she is presenting across the country. Many people only see the "tough side of a sale," and see "sales" as a scary word. "It conjures up the image of the fast-talking, arm-twisting salesman for some. For others, 'sales' symbolizes a life of cold calls constant rejection, and the fear of not being able to 'make it'," according to Jeanne. Some people think they could never sell for a living—much less enjoy it.

Jeanne has been involved in selling at some level all of her professional life. She recognizes that selling is at the heart of every business—selling ideas, selling one's abilities and selling products or services.

There are five "E's" for Excellence recommended for a successful sales person, Jeanne says.

Enjoy Yourself

Enjoy Your prospect

Educate. Be sensitive

Educate. Really listen

Educate. Close

To successfully close a sale, it is important for you to look beyond the "obvious," look underneath for a prospect's real needs. Get to know your customers and clients in the process of making a sale, and be flexible in your approach.

Every person you work with is different and might require a different approach. Some of your customers want to be in complete control, others just want to have all the information in the most precise way so they can make up their own minds. You always want to emphasize the benefits to prospective customer/client and be sure you know more than they do about your product.

These are just a few of the tips Jeanne shares in her sales presentation, "Sell 'em Tough 'n Tender." She has just released a new 108-minute educational video and audio tape workshop on Closing a Sale using her humorous, soft sell approach.

For more information on training sessions and the video and audio tape materials, call Jeanne at (707) 442-4649.

Career Strategies – 10 Keys for Getting the Job You Want

1. START WITH YOURSELF. . .Not with the Jobs Out There

Take time to honestly look at yourself and your life. Are you moving forward in the career direction you want to go? Is your life working? Are you still challenged and growing professionally and personally? Are you doing something you love doing?

2. ASSESS YOUR "EQUITY" IN THE WORKPLACE

What are your assets and strengths? Take stock of your current credentials, your job skills and expertise, your relationships, your network, your reputation, your track record, and your overall life balance.

3. DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER/LIFE PLAN®

Are you clear about what you want in your life? What are some of your lifelong dreams? What are your life values? What do you want to create in the next 5-10 years? Take a holistic approach and look at all areas of your life-career, finances, body/health, spiritual growth, leisure/play, relationships, home environment, & personal & professional growth. Getting clear about what you want and what you value will help you make a smart career move.

4. KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SUCCESSES & YOUR CHALLENGES

Stay open to new challenges and look for new opportunities for you to increase your knowledge and skills. Take responsibility for keeping track of all your successes and achievements-performance appraisals, workshops, presentations, special honors and events, etc. Keep your VITA sheet and resume current.

5. PUT THINGS IN ORDER AND CLEAR YOUR PATH

Do a "clean sweep" in all areas of your life on both an emotional level and a physical level. Become "fully present" and live your life from the present, releasing the past with love and gratitude and honoring the lessons you have learned. Clean out all the clutter and release things you no longer love or need. Simplify, simplify, simplify– in every area of your life.

6. ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE YOU RESPECT AND ADMIRE

Find people who are successful in both their careers and their lives who can be models for you. Associate with them and learn from them. You have a choice in who you associate with-professionally and socially. Actively seek role models and mentors who you have a special connection with.

7. BE OPEN TO NEW OPTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES

Always stay open to new possibilities. Remember your Career/Life Plan™ will evolve and change as your life unfolds and you progress forward. Take advantage of new information, new resources, new experiences. Keep current in your professional field and stay open.

8. BE PROACTIVE . . . TAKE ACTION

Once you are clear about what you want to create in your career . . . life, start taking some action. And realize what is naturally flowing to you easily and effortlessly; pay attention to the synchronicity happening in your life. Explore all your options, spend time networking, meeting with people, exploring new resources, and fully utilizing all the support systems readily available to you.

9. CONSCIOUSLY EXPAND YOUR NETWORK

This is the time to reconnect with existing networks of people in your life and a time to reach out to new networks of people you would like to establish relationships with. Look at your areas of interests and areas of intentional growth, and look at ways you can expand your contacts-in your local areas, statewide, nationally and internationally.

10. BELIEVE AND TRUST YOUR INNER KNOWING

Listen to your Intuition and trust your gut level feelings. Have faith in yourself and trust yourself, even when you know deep within what you have to do, and think perhaps that you don't quite know what you are doing. You just know you are in transition and the time is right.

10 Key Strategies for Successful Career Transition These 10 Key Strategies are the basis of our popular and acclaimed eBook Program of the same name. The program includes articles, exercises, RealAudio clips and several unique bonuses, all for the incredibly inexpensive price of $14.95. To find out more about the eBook, or to Order Your Own Copy Today, click here .