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Yes, you have been there…the presentation from hell.

You discreetly tweeted #killmenow.
You yawned and hoped no one caught you.
You took copious notes, which looked a lot like a grocery list.
You made faces, rolled your eyes and exchanged smirks with equally bored co-workers.
And the same things will happen next week when YOU are giving the presentation.

Think back to the last great presentation you attended. What captivated your attention? What was memorable about it? Why could you have sat there for another hour listening to the speaker?

It’s probably because the presenter was -- repeat after me -- ENGAGING. Audiences don’t want to be spoken to or lectured at, they want be in conversation with you. This may seem like a play on words, it isn’t.

Consider how you have a good conversation: you look the person in the eye, you tell jokes or share stories, you gesture or talk with hands, your voice fluctuates and you enjoy it. The same principles hold true for good presentations.

1. Connect with your audience. Look up from your notes and at your audience. Find a few people to connect with, eye-to-eye. They won’t bite you.
Don’t cheat and stare at the back wall. It won’t positively reinforce you.

Bonus tip: have a couple of friends in the audience to give you smiles and occasional winks of encouragement

2. Invite your audience into your world. Share a funny story. Your life consists of hundreds of funny, interesting and amazing experiences…tell them. Your audience will relate.
Don’t share anything that is overly personal; religious and political stories aren’t a good idea either.

Bonus tip: go with cute stories about your children, in-laws or pets

3. Move it, move it, move it. Let your natural rhythm flow. You naturally move when you talk, holding back makes you look stiff and nervous.
Don’t fidget. Remember your movements should flow like a river, not babble like a brook.

Bonus tip: request a lavaliere (clip-on) microphone to keep your hands free and to allow for movement around the stage

4. Modulate your voice. Speak, just open your mouth and speak as you normally do. The only way for the audience to receive the message is for you to deliver it.
Don’t use your “outside voice.” The AV techs will adjust the microphone to you.

Bonus tip: do a sound check before you get on stage

5. Have fun. Breathe…inhale…exhale. The audience is on your side; they want to hear from you.
Try not to be nervous. If you’re uncomfortable, then your audience will be uncomfortable.

Bonus tip: practice, practice, practice…it makes perfect

Speaking in front of people shouldn't be painful for you or your audience.

Additional Resources:
Toastmasters International
Speech and Public Speaking, Kennesaw State University
Public Speaking Tips (video series)

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Words have caused wars, swayed elections and destroyed families...why?
Words have brought about change, encouraged peace and lifted hearts...how?

When written, they are scribbles and doodles you put on a piece of paper and when spoken, they are modulations and intonations riding on your breath. Words are neither good or bad, right or wrong, supportive or destructive...they are simply words. According to Dictionary.com, a word is a "unit of language...that functions as the principal carrier of meaning."

And therein lies the crux of the matter, "meaning."

The meaning of a word, it's definition, along with, the context of its use and its etymology are part of what makes words so fascinating. There are some words in the American English language that can not be said on mainstream television because of their meaning and the context with which they are most often used. There are also words certain groups find offensive because the history of the word is so disturbing. There are words that fall out of use for various reasons, and there are new words that become part of the national vocabulary every year due to new technologies or the blending of cultures.

So what's the big deal with words, why are some people seemingly so obsessed with them? Why do writer's anguish for hours over just the right word in a sentence? Why do communication professionals go back-and-forth with colleagues over articles, conjunctions and prepositions in copy?

It all has to do with "meaning," not the word's definition. The word's ultimate meaning has more to do with the reader's and hearer's perceptions than you may think. Consider this example from a fundraising appeal.

We invite you to become a production underwriter...
We invite you to become a co-owner of a production...

Both sentences are clearly asking donors for money; however, the second one has a different meaning. When you own something, it is yours; you have a right to change or alter it, build it up or tear it down, keep it or sell it and so forth. For instance, stock owners have a say in how a company is run; car owners can determine its color and home owners can make decisions about the dwelling. Is this what the writer really wanted to convey? Did the writer really want contributors to have a say in the production?

Yes, words matter...choose wisely.

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The seven worst words to utter in business: this is how we've always done it...blah, blah, blah.

There are a number of plausible explanations for saying them.

• "It" worked in the past. There is a record of success by doing "it" this way. 
• People don't respond well to change. This is how the clients and the bosses like "it." 
• There aren't enough resources to come up with or implement new ways for doing "it."
• There is a lack of enthusiasm, energy and moral for doing "it" in the first place.

Those excuses may have sufficed at one time, but not anymore. Organizations and stakeholders are looking for, and have come to expect, innovative thinking, out-of-the-box ideas and no-holds-barred solutions. Doing "it" as you always have just won't work anymore. As the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained…now is the time to take a risk and push “it” to the next level.

1. Get motivated. This is an opportunity for you to learn something new, do something different and make a difference in your organization. 


2. Build a team. Take this occasion to work with different people in the organization; new people bring new energy, new perspectives and new ideas. 


3. Pace yourself. Use this moment to make one or two distinctive incremental changes, instead of rebuilding “it” from the ground up. 


4. Seek counsel. The people who’ve done “it” for the last several years have the wisdom of experience and lessons learned; they are your allies. 


5. Keep smiling. “It” has been done the same way for seemingly eons, some people may not understand, be comfortable or want “it” to change. Remember, in the end, adjusting “it” is for the betterment of the entire organization.

Take "it" on with gusto and make it yours!

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"It" is due on Friday.
You say "it" will be done by Noon on Wednesday.
You turn "it" in on COB Tuesday.
You're a superstar!

Really?

One of the dilemmas with the "under promise and over deliver" concept is in the execution. If it becomes a regular way of doing business, then stakeholders will raise their expectations, as you have surpassed every milestone by leaps and bounds. Isn't that what you wanted to avoid in the first place?

Nugget of Knowledge: You want to manage expectations to your benefit, not your detriment.

It is a good idea to prepare realistic timelines and set achievable goals. Be sure to check your calendar, check your calendar and check your calendar before agreeing to any project timeline.

It is a good idea to give yourself a little cushion to complete the project. Adding a little extra time in your project workflow allows for the unexpected, especially if you are dependant on other people for their parts of the project.

It is a good idea to strategically to beat deadlines. Demonstrating your eagerness and diligence to a new client or customer can go a long way to securing future collaborations and partnerships.

It is the best idea to be forthright and on time, not too early and never ever late.

What do you think?
How do you manage expectations?

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Microsoft’s BHAG: A computer on every desk and in every home.
Google’s BHAG: Organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

What is your Big Hairy Audacious Goal? Do you want to…

• Be the keynote speaker at an international conference? 
• Have 40-50 employees and clients from the Atlantic to the Pacific? 
• Get your doctorate and be a tenured professor? 
• Start a non-profit, foundation or be a philanthropist? 
• Own a 120-unit apartment building? 
• Be an elected official? 

So often businesses expend a lot of resources to develop their "vision.” You hire consultants and coaches and you go on retreats and attend seminars, and usually the answer is right in front of you all along … you simply forgot it.

Think back to when you first had the idea for your business, before you launched, before you registered for your L.L.C., even before you secured the domain. Go all the way back, when you dared to share the idea with a girlfriend, sister, Mother or spouse. In the midst of the excitement about your new adventure, you had the arrogance, foresight and courage to utter your BHAG. Do you remember? Are you still on track to achieve it or has the day-to-day of doing business clouded the vision for your business?

Here are some simple steps to keep your BHAG alive:

1. Write it down – it does not exist if it it is not written down. 
2. Post it – put it somewhere you can see it everyday and multiple times a day. 
3. Speak it – repeat it to yourself out loud several times a day. 
4. Track progress – acknowledge the small steps to achieving to your BHAG. 
5. Move it, move it, move it – your BHAG won’t accomplish itself. 

From the proverbial horses mouth, Jim Collins, BHAG co-creator on How can you tell if you have a good BHAG? (video)

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Necessity
Work?
I don't have to work.
I don't have to do nothing
but eat, drink, stay black, and die.
This little old furnished room's
so small I can't whip a cat
without getting fur in my mouth
and my landlady's so old
her features is all run together
and God knows she sure can overcharge-
Which is why I reckon I *does*
have to work after all.
--Langston Hughes
Montage of a Dream Deferred, 1951

As Langston wrote 60 years ago, there are very few "have to's" in life; however, in business there are a great number of "need to's."

You need to market your business.
You don't have to have a Facebook page (Gasp!).

You need to find your customers.
You don't have to have a Twitter account (Get out!).

You need to generate revenue.
You don't even have to have a website (Blasphemy!).

There are a number of "old school" marketing tactics you can employ for your business. None of them are better or worse than any other, all of them require different levels of commitment and resources and all have been successful in one form or another. It is a question of which one(s) will work for you, not which one(s) you have to do. 

Some "Old School" Marketing Tactics

• transportation advertising (signs on buses and at bus stops)
• posters, flyers and postcards
• radio, television and print advertising
• movie advertising
• newsletter and program advertising
• referral and word-of-mouth
• incentive programs
• sponsorships
• networking
• billboards
• promotional items
• tradeshow exhibitions

These are a few methods for getting your message out; however, the best marketing campaign is the one that works for you in meeting your business objective. Before you begin expending valuable marketing resources, consider the following:

What is the goal of my marketing campaign?
Do I want to generate revenue, increase brand awareness or intimidate my competitors?
What marketing tactics are my competitors using?
What are the direct (capital) and indirect (time) costs?
Who is going to manage the campaign?
How long will the campaign last or run?
How will I know if the campaign is working?
What do success and failure look like?
Is the campaign going to reach my target audience?

However you decide to market yourself, remember, the only silver bullets are time and consistency.

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You promised your spouse, children and most importantly yourself, this year would be different. You bought color-coded post-its, markers and a universal calendar; you took time between Christmas and New Year’s to plan the process out and a few unexpected “off-the-calendar” engagements have derailed your system. You have been in 2011 for less than 45 days and you’re already feeling defeated, ready to give up.

Not to fear, these are some simple, time-tested tips get you back on track.

1. Check your calendar first
Before you set the meeting, accept the invitation or volunteer to lead the committee, check your calendar first. There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying, “I have to check my calendar first.” The goal is to avoid double-booking, which costs additional time when you have to reschedule or send a regret.

2. Manage your time
You are in control of your time, do not let your time control you. It is okay to say, “no,” “not now,” or “maybe later” to some things. You do not have to do everything and be everywhere. Wonder Woman hung up her lasso in 1979.

3. Remember the necessities
Take time to breathe, eat and use the facilities. Every square on the calendar does not need to be filled. You want to avoid scheduling yourself so thin that you don’t have time to get proper rest, eat healthy meals or listen when nature calls.

4. Priorities set the agenda
Align your schedule with your professional and personal goals. Your top priorities should drive your schedule. If your goal is to blog more, then your schedule should reflect time for writing, or if your goal is to lose weight, then your schedule should show time to work out. If the activity or event doesn’t make the calendar, how important is it?

5. Go to your happy place
This will keep you sane in the midst of the storm. Make sure you have time for you, even if it is a walk to the corner where you can take a deep breath and visualize your happy place. These mini-mental vacations will reduce stress, lower blood pressure and bring a smile to your face.

6. Support local small businesses
Outsource those pesky time-consuming, tedious and non-essential jobs. You can hire people to do almost anything from dog walking and housecleaning to proofreading and design work. If hiring someone isn’t an option, consider bartering for services or sharing services with neighbor or colleague.

Remember what you told yourself, you can be organized, productive and still have a life…as long as you make time for it.

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This week's Friday Flick is in celebration of the godfather of crowdsourcing sites, Wikipedia.

This video history is narrated by none other than Jimmy Wales, one of the site's co-founders.

The State of Wikipedia from JESS3 on Vimeo.

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via techcrunch.com

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This video epitomizes what the Internet has become in the last five to seven years. Mateusz Zdziebko, the musician, has taken the ordinary and made it extraordinary by looking at it differently. Where most people see duct tape as an adhesive, he saw a musical instrument. In the same way, social media has taken the notion of community from those you can see to a global spectrum of people you may never meet and who are equally as valuable and important.

It is realm of the possible that makes the new frontier of social technology so exciting. For marketers, public relations professionals and entrepreneurs, now is the time to experiment on what can become viral, what will draw clicks to the site and how far can you push the envelope. Just as television opened up the realm of the possible in the middle of the 20th century, the social Internet has extended the reach.

Sampled Room from Mateusz Zdziebko on Vimeo.

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Events are a great way to network, learn and share information; however, they can be expensive, time consuming and unproductive if you don't plan properly. You want to make the most of your experience and get the biggest bang for your precious resources. FutureSimple has put together a great infographic on leveraging your time while there.

Provided by FutureSimple.com

xxx

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Does this conversation sound vaguely familiar?

Consultant: Your business should have a social marketing strategy.
Brand XYZ: Why?
Consultant: Because social technology will help you generate buzz, get people talking about our brand and in general help people know who you are.
Brand XYZ: Ok, but why is any of that important?
Consultant: Because you want to engage your customers and begin building relationships with them.
Brand XYZ: And why exactly do I want to build relationships with my customers?

Have you been on one or the other of this conversation?

Most communication vehicles had their turn as the shiny new marketing toy, billboards lined the horizon as cars began to venture cross country, radios gave voices to a generation and televisions brought products into homes like never imagined. By now, most businesses "get" they need some sort of social technology plan, if for no other reason than everyone else is doing it. However, remember what Mom used to say, "If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump to?"

Keeping the age old adage in mind, there should be solid business reasons for getting into the social space. Just as a business gives serious thought to choosing location, messaging and product delivery, so to should serious deliberation be given to social technology. It will take up resources, time, money, man power, etc. that could be used for other revenue generating activities. Is it going to be worth the effort?

To ensure your social technology efforts are yielding the expected results, you must first know what results you want from social technology. Right? Right. Begin by answering these basic questions: how is social media going to help your business and what are your objectives for your social media?*

Consider these sample objectives as you begin outlining your social marketing plan:

• Bring fresh ideas into the organization
• Create word of mouth
• Increase customer loyalty
• Increase product and brand awareness
• Enhance public relations efforts
• Lower customer acquisition costs
• Lower customer support costs
• Lower market research costs
• Lower product development costs

Nugget of knowledge: Your business objectives should be SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based.

*Social technology may not be the right communication or marketing vehicle for your business, and that is okay.

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The Interwebs have been abuzz lately with Quora. Quora this and Quora that...Quora, Quora, Quora. See why and imagine the possibilities.

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It's time for summer vacation:

• car ready: oil changed, gassed up and washed
• clothes packed: an outfit a day, plus a couple for dress up stuff, lingerie and sundries
• entertainment (car): bag-o-fun packed with electronics, DVDs, CDs, magazines, games and extra batteries
• mail forwarded and dog at the kennel
• picnic basket packed: snacks, water and treats
• stove off, iron unplugged and alarm set
• map in hand: route planned, rest stops and best exits for food noted
• hotel reservations: made last month and confirmed yesterday via email (copies on hand)
• entertainment: amusement park tickets reserved last month and confirmed via email (copies on hand)

You're all set to go!

Think for a second...if you put that much effort into planning a vacation, wouldn't you put in the same amount of effort to planning your organization's social technology? As in the example above, proper planning helps to ensure you'll have an enjoyable vacation, with solutions and contingencies at hand for the unexpected. You should do the same thing for your business, plan, with solutions and contingencies in mind for the unexpected.

Nugget of knowledge: successful marketing campaigns are thoughtfully planned out.

Consider these steps as you begin planning:

1. Do your homework: read blogs and white papers; attend webinars, meetups and tweetups; watch videos --> learn from other's missteps and get motivated by their accomplishments


2. Begin at the end: envision success, know what it looks like --> set your goals and objectives, make sure they are realistic and set a time to reach them


3. Control your brand: capture your name in the social media space --> get your username on as many sites as possible, you will not use them all, but no one else can be you in those spaces


4. Be self aware: know your organization's history and mission, know who your customers are and where they are --> go to where your customers are


5. Get your house in order: make sure your organization is on board with adopting social technology --> who is responsible, resources allocated, social media policies and integration plan into current marketing efforts


6. Check out your competition: do a CASE study


7. Evaluate your progress: make sure you're social media is taking you where you want to go --> set benchmarks as you would for a traditional marketing campaign


8. Go for it! You will make missteps, it is okay --> do, mess up, learn...it's the evolution of success

And yes, you are there now.

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Social media marketing is the shiny new toy. Everyone is doing it, trying it and seeing how to make it work for them. Your president wants you to bring in a social media expert to help the organization understand and utilize it to increase the bottom line. A good consultant will tell you it is important to listen to customers. A better consultant will show you tools to monitor what your customers are saying. A great consultant will work with you to take what you hear and use it to improve your organization, product and brand.

Consider some of these marketing insights for your brand and how to use them:

• Who are your best customers, biggest fans and most fervent defenders (brand advocates)?

Action: Reward their loyalty, invite them to be a Brand Ambassador or part of your Product Advisory Council*

• Are you marketing campaigns reinforcing your brand?

Action: Adjust your marketing strategy to support the brand promise

• Are your product development decisions based on what you hear your customers say they want?

Action: Give your customers what they are willing to pay for, not what you think they need

• Who are the movers and shakers (aka influencers) in your industry?

Action: Find your E.F. Hutton and put her/him to "work" for you

• What are your competitors doing and what do people have to say about them?

Action: Fill the gap of satisfaction for their customers

• What insights can you glean around product satisfaction, product management and product development?

Action: Start discussions to garner information

*If your organization doesn't have a loyalty program, consider implementing one.

Nugget of knowledge: Having conversations with your audience, getting to know your clients and ultimately building relationships with your customers is invaluable for long term success.

United should've listened:

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