I reviewed the material from Strengths Finder 2.0 last night with a class in Chattanooga, TN. Specifically we looked at the results of the profile from the web evaluation tool that goes along with it and some action plans which those present might use to capitalize on their strength areas. In a conversation I had this morning with a colleague I was reminded of how much of what we call success really boils down to specific individuals who have done just that: capitalized on their strengths to achieve remarkable results.
It is truly amazing to think about any human accomplishment throughout history without also recognizing the individual's personality, drive, and ability which led to that achievement. Yes, there is almost always a team which made it possible to achieve the final result, but equally so there is that one individual who was able to draw the team together in such a way that something was accomplished which others did not, could not, nor possibly even imagine.
Individual strengths multiply talent to great effect. There is no doubt that talent contributes to the potential of success, however, when talent is combined with an awareness of personal strengths and both applied to the task, that is where the magic begins.
There is also something quite fulfilling to realize that as adults we have developed strengths, even if we are not always aware of what those might be. That's where the Strengths Finder 2.0 evaluation tool comes in helps uncover the top 5 strengths, and even lists ways to take that strength to a new level.
Those who will get the most out of this will be the ones who take the information and really begin to focus on using those strengths to combine with talent, in areas about which they are passionate. Passion is the fire which melds strength and talent into achievement.
I hope this has made you think about your own life and what amazing thing God has prepared for you if you were only willing to reach out to grasp it.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Thursday, June 04, 2015
Public Speaking 101
You've been asked to make a presentation before a group. If this is you first time, or if you haven't made many presentations you automatically feel the grip of fear that almost everyone feels. Depending on the subject, or the audience, you may have that same grip, regardless of your experience.
Fear of public speaking is one of the most universal fears that we have. There are a few things you can do to make your presentation a success, regardless of your experience.
1. Almost everyone feels nervous just before starting - this is normal, you won't die and the nervous feeling usually fades within 60 seconds of starting. Don't let the butterflies get the better of you.
2. Take some deep breaths just before starting your presentation, this oxygenates your blood and helps your brain, which hopefully will help you get focused and get through those first 60 seconds.
3. Know your material. This can't be emphasized enough. Winging it will almost always allow for distractions and usually it is obvious to your audience that you aren't prepared. You can only blow smoke for so long before it becomes apparent that you don't know what you are talking about. Know your material THOROUGHLY. Go over it repeatedly until you can deliver the information from a knowledge base, then if you get distracted it will be easier to get back on track.
4. Rotate your eye contact every 2-7 seconds and look people directly in the eyes. You will find this is a powerful method to build audience engagement. It also lowers your own anxiety as you will be directing your comments at one person instead of thinking about the larger audience. Pay special attention to your supervisor if there is one present. Don't forget the back of the room or the wings.
5. If you are using technology have a plan B in mind if it were to fail. I have seen this happen all too often and when it does it often throws the speaker completely off track. Think about it ahead of time and be able to move forward in spite of these difficulties. This builds your credibility and enhances your image in the eyes of your supervisors, which is a nice benefit of something that could be a disaster.
6. "Leave them longing rather than loathing." This was often quoted to me by a former parishioner and she was right. Keep track of your time and make sure you stay within the allotted time frame for your presentation. Going over your time is one of the most frustrating things you can do both for audiences and event organizers. You may feel like your content is worth it, but likely there are many others who won't agree. Leave them longing rather than loathing.
7. Be organized. Make sure your material is presented in a sequence which is easy for an audience to grasp. This is why so many people use points, e.g. point 1, point 2, etc. People like to see patterns and understand sequence at an emotional level. Your organization can contribute to their understanding your material or being so confused that they go away empty.
8. If you are presenting a lot of material, especially to a large group, consider using a teleprompter application for your tablet (e.g. PrompSmart for iPad). I've done this and find it can be extremely useful, especially if it has voice recognition and moves the text forward as you speak.
9. Jokes are good, especially at the start, to ease everyone into the presentation. However, if the joke is off color or offensive in any way it will overshadow anything else you say and damage your credibility. Make sure you look at the joke from the receiving end and consider whether it could be offensive. Better no joke than an offensive joke, this goes double for off-color jokes.
10. Examples and illustrations spread through out the presentation help communicate with the audience and lets them identify with you or the material. It helps make sense of large amounts of data. You can overdo this, refer to point 6 above.
Fear of public speaking is one of the most universal fears that we have. There are a few things you can do to make your presentation a success, regardless of your experience.
1. Almost everyone feels nervous just before starting - this is normal, you won't die and the nervous feeling usually fades within 60 seconds of starting. Don't let the butterflies get the better of you.
2. Take some deep breaths just before starting your presentation, this oxygenates your blood and helps your brain, which hopefully will help you get focused and get through those first 60 seconds.
3. Know your material. This can't be emphasized enough. Winging it will almost always allow for distractions and usually it is obvious to your audience that you aren't prepared. You can only blow smoke for so long before it becomes apparent that you don't know what you are talking about. Know your material THOROUGHLY. Go over it repeatedly until you can deliver the information from a knowledge base, then if you get distracted it will be easier to get back on track.
4. Rotate your eye contact every 2-7 seconds and look people directly in the eyes. You will find this is a powerful method to build audience engagement. It also lowers your own anxiety as you will be directing your comments at one person instead of thinking about the larger audience. Pay special attention to your supervisor if there is one present. Don't forget the back of the room or the wings.
5. If you are using technology have a plan B in mind if it were to fail. I have seen this happen all too often and when it does it often throws the speaker completely off track. Think about it ahead of time and be able to move forward in spite of these difficulties. This builds your credibility and enhances your image in the eyes of your supervisors, which is a nice benefit of something that could be a disaster.
6. "Leave them longing rather than loathing." This was often quoted to me by a former parishioner and she was right. Keep track of your time and make sure you stay within the allotted time frame for your presentation. Going over your time is one of the most frustrating things you can do both for audiences and event organizers. You may feel like your content is worth it, but likely there are many others who won't agree. Leave them longing rather than loathing.
7. Be organized. Make sure your material is presented in a sequence which is easy for an audience to grasp. This is why so many people use points, e.g. point 1, point 2, etc. People like to see patterns and understand sequence at an emotional level. Your organization can contribute to their understanding your material or being so confused that they go away empty.
8. If you are presenting a lot of material, especially to a large group, consider using a teleprompter application for your tablet (e.g. PrompSmart for iPad). I've done this and find it can be extremely useful, especially if it has voice recognition and moves the text forward as you speak.
9. Jokes are good, especially at the start, to ease everyone into the presentation. However, if the joke is off color or offensive in any way it will overshadow anything else you say and damage your credibility. Make sure you look at the joke from the receiving end and consider whether it could be offensive. Better no joke than an offensive joke, this goes double for off-color jokes.
10. Examples and illustrations spread through out the presentation help communicate with the audience and lets them identify with you or the material. It helps make sense of large amounts of data. You can overdo this, refer to point 6 above.
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