Bring the Curtain Down on Stage Fright

By Karen Susman

Oh m’gawd. You’re about to give a speech. Your life flashes before your eyes. You knew weeks ago you were going to make this speech. You prepared, you paced, you practiced. A loud duet of your heart beating in time with your knees knocking surely can be heard by all. The master of ceremonies is calling your name. Get a grip. Edge forward on your seat and remember these tips as you rise to the sound of thunderous applause.

1. Be prepared. Don’t wing it. Know your topic. Know your audience. Know your A/V equipment. Know the questions you're likely to be asked. Brainstorm the answers so you won't be bamboozled
   
   
2. Look your best. Have a speaking outfit that you know works. Dress one step better than your audience. Test your suit before you speak. Can you move your arms? Is your jacket straining over the holiday pounds? Is there an intricate scarf/cape wrap thingy that looks great unless you exhale? Is your tie long enough? Are those new wing tips clipping your flight and your big toe? Does your blouse reveal you shop at Victoria’s Secret? Your clothes shouldn’t speak louder than you do.
   
   
3. Pause before you begin. At the podium, face your audience and make eye contact. Command their attention and then jump right into your remarks. Spot friendly faces at quadrants around the room. Make eye contact with those people often.
   
   
4. Memorize your opening. Starting is often the scariest part of speaking. So, after your pause in tip #3, dive right into your opening. Then you’ll be in the groove.
   
   
5. Be healthy. Rest, eating light, and exercise help you be your best. Energy is a powerful speaking tool. No booze – even though Bloody Marys are loaded with Vitamin C, stick with water.
   
   
6. Mingle. Talk to the entering audience. You’ll make allies; feel more at home, and learn interesting tidbits you can use to personalize your presentation.
   
   
7. Move. Break the tension by moving on stage. You’ll be more expressive and you’ll add energy to your voice.
   
   
8. Drink. This doesn’t contradict #4. Have a glass of lukewarm water to sip before and during your speech. Stress dries out your mouth and throat. A dry mouth is stressful. Pausing to take a sip of water is always permissible. Pausing allows you to wet your whistle, inhale, and look at your notes. No one will think you’ve lost it when you take a sip of water.
   
   
9. Translate fear into energy. Anxiety and excitement muster the same physiological responses. So, label those near death feelings as excitement. Welcome those feelings and count on them to energize your remarks.
   
   
10. Speak often. It’s much easier to speak often than once in a while. When you speak often, you get more comfortable and you can see what material works and what doesn’t. When you speak often, you get a rhythm or timing going that adds the entertainment factor to your remarks. How do you speak often? Toastmasters is one way. Another way is to contact service clubs to offer your twenty-minute program on a helpful topic. You do have a twenty-minute program, don’t you? Church or the P.T.A. are good places to practice your speaking skills, too.
    

Being a confident speaker is vital for career success. “But, my stage fright,” you quake. Get over it.

Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1-888-678-8818 or e-mail Karen@KarenSusman.com.. www.KarenSusman.com.

Published in Networking Today, August, 2002.

How To Tune Up Your Attitude

By Barbara Bartlein

The e-mail has been buzzing with responses to my recent article, Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill. Many provided commentary, but most asked the question, “So, tell me, how can I change an attitude?” While the intent may be to change someone else: a co-worker, teenager, or spouse (all impossible by the way), most people were asking about themselves. Many of us know when our attitude tanks but feel helpless to change. Here are some techniques that I have found helpful:

• Have a check up. Periodically ask your spouse, best friend, or co-workers what they think of your attitude. Others often see the signs of attitude toxicity long before we can see it ourselves. Encourage people you trust to give you honest feedback. Or just ask your kids…they will tell you quite bluntly.
  
  
• Garbage in, garbage out. As any technology nerd can tell you, if you load contaminated data into a computer, the resulting reports will be garbage. Your computer (brain) works the same way. Your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs will be based on the data you enter. Do you read, watch, and listen to the best that is out there? Or waste precious hours watching mindless TV and violent media. For clear productive thinking read fine literature, spend time listening to music, and challenge yourself to learn more.
  
  
• Find at least one moment per day to enjoy. If you enjoy something everyday, at the end of the week, you will have had an enjoyable week. At the end of the month, an enjoyable month. And, if you do it consistently, you will have an enjoyable life. Yes…it IS that simple. Practice each day finding things to enjoy and laugh about. It is the enjoyment of everyday events that make a life, not the one or two big events that some of us are lucky enough to have.
  
  
• Avoid the “if only” game. You lottery players know this game. “If only” I would win the lottery. “If only” I got the promotion, the diploma, the good looking guy. The “if only” game leaves us always living in the future, believing that happiness is just around the next corner, the next big break. If you wait for the magical day to appear, you will miss the present. There is no special event that will make your life perfect – you have to do it.
  
  
• Sleep on it. Pay special attention to what you do in the evening before going to bed. This is actually a great time for learning and attitude rejuvenation. A recent study in the July 3rd issue of Neuron, showed that people who trained on a new skill or task and then slept a good night’s sleep were 20% more effective than those who trained in the morning and tested later. Positive brain action tends to continue while we sleep. Evening is a good time for reading motivational and positive thinking books and information.
  
  
• Let gratitude be your attitude. Remember to spend as much time looking at what is going right as what goes wrong. Too often we take for granted the good things in life, like health, family, and friends. Take stock of your blessings and remember to be thankful. Make tuning up your attitude a priority. Remember, if you growl all day, you will feel dog-tired all night.
  

Sign up for Barbara's FREE email newsletter at www.barbbartlein.com.

Barbara Bartlein is the PeoplePro™. She helps businesses sell more goods and services by developing people. She can be reached at 888-747-9953, by email at: barb@barbbartlein.com or visit her Web site at www.ThePeoplePro.com.

Published in Networking Today, August 2002.

You Can Speak About Anything: How to Say a Few Words on a Moment's Notice

By Karen Susman

You’re sitting at a meeting. Powdered sugar from your donut is falling on your blazer. You planned to sit back and listen. Your vocal chords and your brain have just left for the Bahamas when you’re called on to say a few words. “What?” you croak as a spray of powdered sugar mists the air. Your thoughts rat-a-tat, “I’m not prepared. I couldn’t. I have no notes. I have no knowledge. I have no opinion. I pass.”

Whoa. Don’t pass on a chance to be visible and to be an expert. Don’t pass on the recognition you’ll get from your pithy patter. Here’s proof that you can talk about anything at the drop of a donut.

For instance, say you’re asked to speak about wine. What could you say if you weren’t an expert? You could speak on the dilemma a wine dunce faces when ordering wine. You could speak on alternatives to wine, making one glass of wine last all evening, cooking with wine, how to get wine stains out of clothes, how to find cheap wine glasses, where to find a liquor store with great service; or health effects of moderate wine drinking. Even if you don’t know a Chablis from a chamois, you can say a few words about wine.

What if you were asked to speak on management trends and you’re still trying to make the golden rule work (give yourself a standing ovation.)? You could speak on how management has changed in your company. You could speak on what you think the next trend will be; what work will look like in the year 2012 (no one else knows either); what would happen if people were simply kind and respectful to each other; what works in a sandbox; the best manager you know; how management techniques work in a family; what’s bunk and what’s funk and on and on. Even if you think theories X, Y, and Z are formulas for alphabet soup, you can say a few words about management trends.

The secret is to:

• Stop. Don’t hide behind the Fifth Amendment. And, don’t leap right in with a blathering of blather. Take a breath and...
  
  
• Gather your thoughts. You have several options here.
  
  
• Choose. Pick a focus. Pick a “headline.” And, pick a position. Then, quickly think of an example to support your position.
  

Here’s how it works. The chair asks your opinion on management. You pause and consider your focus. Gather an example and open your mouth. “Management: Back to Basics” [your headline]. “I think,” you continue, “that flavour of the month management has to be grounded in the basics” [your position]. “For example [Here comes your example], in my firm, we rely on courtesy, communication, and commitment. Three management basics that never go out of style. And with that foundation, we can grow and explore new business and success.”

Take a bow. You can speak about anything. Let’s toast your success with a big glass of chamois.

Karen Susman is a Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and Author of 102 Top Dog Networking Secrets. Karen works with organizations that want to maximize performance. Programs include Humour at Work; Balance In Life; Networking Skills; Presentation Skills; and Building Community Involvement. Order new guidebooks on humour, networking, time management, and community involvement by calling 1-888-678-8818 or e-mail Karen@KarenSusman.com.. www.KarenSusman.com. Published in Networking Today, August, 2002.

Software Tips & Tricks Slide Show Pointer Options in a PowerPoint 97, 2000 or XP

By Laura Noble

During a PowerPoint slide presentation (in '97, 2000, and XP) the mouse pointer can be hidden or changed to a pen for drawing.

• Hiding the Mouse Pointer:
  
  By default, the white arrow of the mouse pointer is displayed during a slide presentation when the mouse is moved. Hide the mouse pointer by pressing Ctrl + H. Left-clicking the mouse button will still advance the slide show. Pressing Ctrl + A will restore the mouse pointer.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Changing the Mouse Pointer to a Pen:
  
  During the slide presentation press Ctrl + P and the mouse pointer will change to a pen. With the pen pointer you can draw to emphasize key points.
  
  Each click or drag of the mouse (pen) will be drawn on the slide. To advance to the next slide, press the spacebar.
  
  Draw a straight line by pressing the Shift key and left dragging.
  
  

  

  
  
  
• Hide Pen Pointer:
  
  Press Ctrl + H and restore pen pointer by pressing Ctrl + P Erase Drawings on Slide: Press E on keyboard
  
  OR
  
  Move to another slide
  
  
• Change Pen Pointer to an Arrow:
  
  Press Ctrl + A
  
  
• Changing the Colour of the Pen Pointer:
  
  Left-click on the triangle in the bottom left-corner of your presentation, select Pointer Options, Pen Color, and then click on new colour choice.
  

Stay tuned to Networking Today in the coming months for more Software Tips & Tricks from Noble Software Solutions.

Laura Noble is the owner of Noble Software Solutions. Laura can be contacted at 519-680-2689 or by e-mail at lnoble@noblesoftwaresolutions.com. www.NobleSoftwareSolutions.com

Published in Networking Today, August 2002.

Ten Secrets of Super Successful Exhibit Managers

By Susan A. Friedmann, CSP

Whoever said that being an exhibit manager was easy, lied! Rather, it should be classified under the tough and demanding job category. But, along with being tough, it’s also fun, exciting, exhilarating, stimulating, and never, never boring. You have the opportunity to go to exotic places, stay in luxurious hotels, and experience life from a totally different angle. Who could ask for anything more? For those of you ready to shoot me at this point, know that I fully understand your pain!

The purpose of this article is to look at ten skills that help make a super successful exhibit manager, and how you can take this expertise and use it to enhance the great job you’re already doing.

1. Planning and organizing
   
   The most common reason shows go wrong lies in the simple fact that not enough time is devoted to adequate planning and preparation. And, many of those shows that are believed to have been successful, are often more by chance than through actual organization. Super successful exhibit managers have both a strategic exhibit marketing and tactical plan of action. They then use the following five basic questions as their foundation before making any arrangements:
   
   
   • Where does this show fit into our corporate marketing strategy?
   • Why are we exhibiting?
   • What are we exhibiting?
   • Who is our target audience?
   • What is our budget?
     
   
   
2. Taking care of details
   
   So much of putting a tradeshow together means taking care of the details, and there are usually more of these than you care to think about. Being detail-oriented is a definite plus. The key to so much of an exhibit manager’s success is having a system that works. Creating checklists is one of the best I know. With the hundreds of pieces that make up the tradeshow puzzle, the only way to put them together and keep tabs on all the details, are with a checklist. Become a checklist fanatic and consider having a checklist for each checklist. I’m getting dizzy just thinking about it.
   
   
3. Practicing savvy marketing
   
   A significant part of a successful exhibit manager’s role involves developing a pre-show, at-show, and post-show marketing plan. Most exhibitors fail to have a plan that encompasses all three areas. Budget is naturally going to play a major role in deciding what and how much promotional activity is possible. Super successful exhibit managers know the importance of developing a meaningful theme or message that ties into their strategic marketing plans, and that will guide their promotional decisions. They know and understand their target audience and plan different promotional programs aimed at the different groups they are interested in attracting.
   
   
4. Being a team player
   
   Super successful exhibit managers know exactly how to work together as a team, helping each other out whenever and wherever necessary. They help everyone get acquainted, develop a level of trust, and familiarize and understand each other's strengths. They know what it takes to create an environment of camaraderie where the staff, as a whole pulls out all the stops to succeed and set themselves apart from the competition.
   
   
5. Knowing how to manage time
   
   Super successful exhibit managers have mastered the art of managing their time. They are well organized and have essential information at their fingertips, which means that their work environment is orderly and efficient. They know their priorities, don’t over commit themselves, and can differentiate between important and urgent tasks. They are superb delegators and are not afraid to ask for help whenever they need it. And, finally, they don’t procrastinate; on the contrary, they practice the “do it now” habit.
   
   
6. Negotiating skillfully
   
   Skillful and savvy negotiators know exactly what they want. They spend time doing their research so that they know as much as possible about their opponent. They are prepared with strategies and tactics, questions, and possible concessions. They are masters at finding alternative ways of talking about, reacting to, and solving problems. They use their talents of intuition, flexibility, and concern for others to reach an agreement where both sides win. They look to create a feeling of cooperation to build a mutually beneficial working environment.
   
   
7. Applying a positive attitude
   
   Research successful people and you’ll find that having a positive “can do” attitude ranks high on their list of characteristics. Not only are they positive and upbeat, they surround themselves with naturally positive and successful people. Give it a try and see it their attitude rubs off on you. When you focus on what you can do versus what you can’t do, expect to find solutions to your various challenges. Try changing your vocabulary to reflect your optimistic thoughts and feelings, and see what happens. People find you more attractive and want to be around you, especially when you focus and direct your conversation onto the outcomes they want.
   
   
8. Evaluating results
   
   Any master continuously looks to improve on his or her performance, and a super successful exhibit manager is no different. Create a system to evaluate your results. Ask booth visitors for their feedback. Find out what they liked about your booth and general show participation, and what would they like to see improved. In addition, ask yourself what you thought went well and what you would do differently if you had to organize this show again. Chronicle your data and keep accurate records so that you can refer to them the next time around.
   
   
9. Being a perpetual learner
   
   We live in an information age and are surrounded by more stuff than we can possibly cope with. However, successful people love it, as they are perpetual learners. They know the pitfalls of relying on what worked in the past as a guide to what will work in the future. That’s why they constantly look for new and improved ways of doing things, learning from the masters and staying open and willing to try different approaches.
   
   
10. Keeping a sense of humour
    
    If you don’t laugh you cry and in the exhibit industry there’s no lack of situations where it’s easy to shed a tear. Keeping a sense of humor will definitely help prevent you getting mad, angry, and frustrated with those incompetent and disorganized suppliers. Learn to laugh at their mistakes as well as your own to keep a saner perspective on life. If nothing else, remember that laughing is good for your health and will help reduce your stress and blood pressure levels.
    

Susan A. Friedmann, CSP, is The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, working with exhibitors and show organizers to improve their tradeshow success through coaching, consulting and training. For a free copy of ExhibitSmart Tips of the Week, e-mail: susan@thetradeshowcoach.com; or visit her Web site: www.thetradeshowcoach.com.

Published in Networking Today, August 2002.