Test Your Negotiation Skills

Author: Andy Smith

Negotiation is part of every professional’s life. To negotiate, means to arrive at an understanding with another person, so that both of you are satisfied with the results. Do you know what is your skill in negotiation? If not, why not test and find out because most of our interactions demand negotiation. You are negotiating with your love partner about which place to go for dinner. You negotiate with your co-workers about how to divide the work. You negotiate with your clients about prices and you negotiate with your boss about your paycheck. Let us discuss important test factors of a negotiation.

Understanding Need - If you are a good negotiator, you would begin with understanding the need of the opposite party. Only after you get that understanding will you proceed further. The first requirement is to find out what the other person wants. If you are arguing with your spouse about which restaurant to go for dinner, find out his/her need. Do they want to have dinner outside or they are looking to get away somewhere for sometime? if later is the case, your choices increase many times.

Specifying Your Needs - Please spell out your needs clearly to the opposite party. Let them know very clearly about what you are looking for. If your boss knows that your real need is not rise in pay, but higher status, he/she can work out a solution quickly. Therefore please convey your needs clearly.

Reaching Understanding - This is the result both of you are seeking. If both the parties can modulate their needs so that they meet each other’s expectations, this can be done easily. Flexibility at this stage depends upon how much both of you are interested in negotiation. If both of you want a result without hurting the relationship, flexible approach is a primary requirement. Otherwise, one of you will walk away. Your skill as a negotiator depends upon satisfying you, the other party and getting a good result. You need to develop good thinking skills, communication ability and an understanding of the personalities and what drives them to act. Test yourself about these factors and find out how good a negotiator are you?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/negotiation-articles/test-your-negotiation-skills-411483.html

About the Author:

The author writes text messages and advises and consults for social networking content for myspace comments, myspace graphics and evalutates creative ideas for myspace layouts.

Stress Management in Simple Steps

Author: Akhil Shahani

There will be times in your life, both professional and personal, when you feel that you have no control over things that are happening around you. And you say “you are stressed out.” What is stress? Stress is the emotional, mental and physical strain in reaction to pressures from the outside world. The word is derived from the Latin word ‘stringere’ which means to ‘draw tight’. It is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand placed on it.

Some stress is good because it enables us to push ourselves harder and work better. But this lasts only for a short period, and over time, stress inhibits our ability to work properly and leads to physical symptoms like high blood pressure, allergies and depression. We need to react to and manage stress properly in our lives to ensure it works in our favor.

Stress Management the ability to maintain control when situations, people and events get out of hand. There are certain strategies that you can use to manage the level of stress you are under and minimize its effects.

1. Talk to friends and family. This gives you a chance to express your feelings and vent them out.

2. Understand what brings on your stress. Once you know the source of your stress, you can find ways to either reduce the likelihood of it occurring or create more effective strategies to deal with it.

3. Do not try to be a perfectionist at all times. Try and prioritize what is truly important and don’t overwhelm yourself by fretting about your entire workload.

4. Divide your tasks into smaller achievable ones. This way, as you complete one task, you will feel a sense of achievement and feel motivated to move on to the next one.

5. Notice if any of the muscles in your body are tense. One of the symptoms of stress is muscle tightening. Just noticing that will often relax the muscle. Stop and take a moment to breathe

6. Monitor the number of hours that you work in a week. Give yourself some time away from your business.

7. Do something you can feel good about. Wash the dishes, cook a meal for your family or read a book. Do something to help get your mind off yourself.

8. See if there really is something you can change or control in the situation. Change the way you see things and react to them.

9. Learn to relax - meditation and breathing exercises have proven to be very effective stress management techniques.

10. Remove yourself from the stressful situation. Take a break even if it is only for a few moments daily.

11. Set realistic goals for yourself. Reduce the number of things that you are involved in, take help from family or delegate responsibilities.

12. Get enough rest. A good night’s sleep will rejuvenate you and help you deal with problematic issues.

13. Work off stress with physical activity. Exercise helps to reduce it. So, when you feel tense, go for a brisk walk around the block, play a game of tennis or do some gardening. Start doing regular exercise every day.

14. Managing your time is an integral part of stress management. Create a list of to-do tasks and do the most important ones, eliminate or postpone those not so crucial to your business.

15. Above all, be positive. Constantly keep telling yourself how well you can cope rather than how horrible everything is going to be.

The best solution to stress management is to acknowledge it and deal with it. Having a proper work-life balance will go a long way in reducing stress in your life.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/stress-management-in-simple-steps-410827.html

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

When We are Under Long-term Tensions

Author: Dalip Singh Wasan

When we are under long-term tensions.

This life is full of tensions, pressures and problems and man cannot get full freedom. There are some troubles which are solved by us within a short time and there are some long-term problems which take much of our time and during all this period we remain under tension, under troubles and under pressure. Some one from our house falls ill or suffers from some long-term disease and we are not having sufficient money with us and further none is able to give us information that the doctors attending at that patient shall be able to treat that person or they could fail.

We could be involved in some court case or in some criminal case. These trials take much time and even then we do not know the actual fate of the case. We are to collect evidence and we do not know whether the witnesses could be able to face cross examination or they shall be telling something against us.

Similarly some one from our house has gone abroad and we do not know when he shall be coming back and what could happen with that fellow when he is abroad. Even the people from our house, who are out, we are thinking about them till they come back because in the present age through which we are passing, anything could happen with a person who is out. Even our life partners are not sure that we shall remain faithful to them when we are out and they shall be suffering these separations.

If we are work with some employer, we do not know what our officers shall be writing in our confidential reports and whether we shall be getting promotion on due date or some one shall supercede us. When there are disciplinary proceedings against us, we do not know the fate of the case and we do not know whether they shall be passing order of a minor punishment or we shall be given some major punishment like one of dismissal. We start feeling as to what shall be our fat e when we shall not be having pension in old age.

There are so many other long-term tensions which come to our mind and these tensions occupy our brain for a longer period and actually during all this period we have to accept the verdict of God and we are no body to shorten this period. Only God can bring us out from these long-term tensions, pressures and problems and therefore, if we are believing in God, we should seek His help through prayer and then we should believe that God has listened to us and shall be giving us some relief.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/when-we-are-under-longterm-tensions-410961.html

About the Author:

Transformational Leadership: Inspiring to Change

Author: Akhil Shahani

Say the word “leader” and most of us envision a knight-like figure charging headlong, inspiring his troops and generally leading from the front. That’s the dramatized version of a special type of leadership called “Transformational Leadership”. Transformational leadership is probably the ideal interpretation of leadership, and the most romanticized. Leaders of this kind are visionaries, full of enthusiasm and boundless energy and seek to transform their subordinates in the process of achieving organizational goals. How do you recognize or become one? Find out, right here, right now.

What does he believe in?

A transformational leader believes that passion and vision are prerequisites for a leader trying to inspire others. Not only that, a leader can get his followers to buy into his vision, only if he generates sufficient enthusiasm in them by displaying the same energy and enthusiasm himself.

How does he translate his beliefs into action?

The first and most important component of transformational leadership is a clearly defined vision, which the leader or senior management team is totally committed to. Mouthing mere platitudes will not work, and will fool no one. Belief has to start right at the top for it to go all the way down.

Then there’s the all important process of actually securing buy-in from all the participants. That’s easier said than done. Since transformational leadership by definition seeks to change, it’s never easy to implement. Some leaders might have radical views which will not go down well, especially if there’s an “old guard” in place. The only way to succeed is to persist till the idea is finally sold. Again, it rarely ends with a single idea, so transformational leadership is essentially a continuous process.

If you think this is pretty much a one-man show, nothing could be further from the truth. Transformational leadership certainly starts with the leader’s vision, but delivering it is very much a team activity. In fact, transformational leaders tend to empower others rather than overpower them. This implies that they repose a great deal of trust and confidence in their team members. Quite often, the leader will not have chalked out a detailed strategy for implementation, and that’s where he will rely on his support staff. Indeed, some transformational leaders focus so much on the larger picture that they forget that the devil lies in the details!

Practitioners of transformational leadership will always lead from the front, and enjoy being in the thick of battle. They come into their own in such situations, always inspiring and never letting group morale flag.

What are his tools of trade?

There’s always a method to everything and transformational leadership is no exception.

Since change is of essence, and also includes the transformation of followers, the transformational leader uses certain “tricks” to achieve his goals. The leader will seek to change attitudes or behavior by creating a strong sense of ownership among employees for the change and its results. By getting the team to identify with the goals, he makes it easier to secure buy-in. A transformational leader will therefore appeal to the emotional side of his staff and play on their values, strengths and attributes.

He also makes a big deal of seemingly small successes – whether it’s a letter of approbation or public praise, the transformational leader will not skimp on giving appreciation where it’s due. Resources provide greater insight on this subject.

Where’s the catch?

Yes, of course there are some. Since transformational leadership feeds on change, it may not work in a situation where things are pretty much in order. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – and this can be quite frustrating from the leader’s point of view. Also, not everyone can sustain the high energy levels expected, and may give up or worse, opt out. And most important, just because the leader believes passionately in something doesn’t necessarily mean that it is right for the organization. While transformational leadership can help create a trailblazing path, it could also plunge a business headlong into disaster.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/transformational-leadership-inspiring-to-change-410938.html

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Ten Commandments for Time Management

Author: Akhil Shahani

“Time is the scarcest resource of the manager; if it is not managed, nothing else can be managed.” – Peter F. Drucker

One of the major causes of stress is work overload and not having enough time to accomplish your tasks. The easy way to get out of this predicament is to get organized and managing your time effectively. The goal of time management should not be to find more time. The goal is to prioritize what is important and use the time available wisely.

We’ve put together 10 tips to help you take charge of your life and enjoy what you do:

1. Make a list and prioritize: Time management starts here. Write down a list of tasks to be done, rank them on a scale of importance and plan when you will complete them. Writing down objectives, duties and activities helps to make them more manageable and do-able. Prioritizing tasks will help you minimize stressful situations.

2. Get into a routine: Select a time of the day or week to get certain routine tasks accomplished such as answering email, replying to calls, completing paper work; then stick to it.

3. Learn to say “No”: There are times when you have to learn to draw the line. Poor time management is often the result of our tendency to say “yes” to too many things. Every time you agree to do something out of schedule, another task that was scheduled will not get done. Learn how to say no. Sometimes the “no” has to be said to yourself – do not take on more than you are capable of.

4. Do not commit to activities in the future: Even if a commitment is a year ahead, it is still a commitment. You have no idea what your situation will be then and no matter how far ahead it is, it will still take the same amount of your time.

5. Break up large tasks: If possible, large tasks should be broken up into a series of small, manageable tasks. This will make it easier for you to deal with them. Also, by using a piecemeal approach, you will be able to fit a lot more into your hectic schedule.

6. Conserve your efforts: Look at the way you do things. Are you a perfectionist? If so, try to decide which tasks truly require meticulous attention to detail and which can be done casually. There is a place for perfectionism, but for most activities, there comes a stage when there is not much to be gained from putting extra effort.

7. Choose your course of action: Often, we start a task, think about it, and then lay it aside. This gets repeated over and over again. This way, you have not completed the task and you have also lost valuable time. When you are confronted with a task, decide what you are going to do - deal with it right away or attend to it at a later time.

8. Set time limits: We’re talking time management, so naturally, along with setting up start times for activities we also need to set up stop times. This will call for some estimating, but your guesswork will improve with practice. This will allow you and others to better schedule activities.

9. Pad your schedule: Allot yourself enough time to accomplish a task and cut back on anxiety. If you have trouble meeting deadlines, always give yourself 20 percent more time than you think you need to do the job.

10. Plan your activities - To get all this done, you have to set aside time to plan and schedule your activities. Ironically, if time management is important to you, you need to allow yourself enough time to plan the way you will use it.

By taking the time and effort to plan and prioritize your activities, you will be able to achieve much more than you ever thought was possible in a 24-hour day. So go ahead and incorporate the above tips into your work habits and see where it takes you.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/ten-commandments-for-time-management-410907.html

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Team Leadership Training: Recipe for Leadership

Author: Akhil Shahani

Whoever believes that leaders are born and not made, never heard of team leadership training. Companies spend millions of dollars each year coaching managers to become better leaders of people. Why is team leadership training so important, and what can one hope to gain by participating in such a program?

Who needs someone breathing down one’s neck at the workplace? Employees of all organizations need their bosses to be more than mere supervisors. An effective boss is one who plays the role of mentor when required; he must “know the way, go the way and show the way”. Leaders must therefore be sensitive to the developmental needs of their subordinates and committed to mentoring them to achieve success.

A wise man once said, “A leader’s role is to raise people’s aspirations for what they can become and to release their energies so they will try to get there.” This is at the heart of team leadership training. Such programs use a variety of techniques to impart better personnel management skills to managers and leaders at all levels. Would-be leaders are taught the importance of understanding subordinates’ needs; they are guided on the different approaches that are appropriate in diverse people-related situations, so that they do not employ a “one size fits all” tactic. Team leadership training programs are tailored to the specific requirements of the audience – thus, a new supervisor might be introduced to the dynamics of leadership, whereas an experienced manager will be guided on how to hone his or her leadership skills.

The broad objectives of team leadership training can be set out as follows:

• To help leaders understand each employee’s distinctive personality and their need for supervision

• To train leaders to develop their subordinates into competent and committed professionals

• To equip leaders better so that they can easily take on challenges

• To align the leadership style of participants with that of the rest of the organization

This is achieved by following a scientific process along the following lines:

• Helping participants assess their leadership strengths and identify areas of improvement. Generally this involves a written self assessment exercise, discussions, and group activity.

• Guiding participants to identify the skills and attributes of an effective team leader. Participants also learn why different skills are needed to manage different employee interactions, and the appropriate style of leadership to be employed in each situation. Once the participants are able to identify their individual leadership styles, they are guided on how to make certain adjustments depending on the circumstances.

• Teaching participants best practices in managing relationships with their teams. Useful practical tips such as how and when to schedule group meetings and how to review the team’s progress are also shared.

• Helping participants identify their comfort zones, and potential sources of team conflict. The training imparts insight into how different group members make decisions, communicate with each other and process information. Leaders are taught to manage interpersonal differences for the overall benefit of the organization.

While we have generally talked about what goes on in a team leadership training seminar, such training need not necessarily be on-site – one can also access a wealth of resources in terms of books and videos at sites .

Whatever be the format, ultimately, all team leadership training aspires to create leaders who are “ … close enough to relate to others, but far enough ahead to motivate them.”

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/team-leadership-training-recipe-for-leadership-410892.html

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Team Building – What and How

Author: Akhil Shahani

“Coming together is a beginning.

Keeping together is progress.

Working together is success.”

- Henry Ford

You got it! Team building is the art of building a team with a can-do attitude to achieve targets or business goals. And keeping the team intact is an essential part of the process.

Do I really need this?

In an increasingly shrinking world, people move across the planet chasing their dreams. As a result, you need to work with different groups of people at different times. It’s not always easy for everyone to get along. Have we touched a raw nerve…?

The good news is that there are ways to bind your team together into one tight workforce.

Do I need to hypnotize team members?

Hell, no! It’s much tougher than that… just kidding.

The goal of team building is to help create better focussed and effective teams that are result oriented. Successful managers will probably give you the following mantra.

? Leave no room for doubt – Communicate to the team your expectations on performance. Tell them why the team has been formed and how important they are to the organization.

? Assess their comfort level – You need to understand the mood of the team - what do they feel about its composition? Do they feel that they have the knowledge, skill and capability to accomplish a mission? Are they in need of resources?

? Empower – Make the team feel an integral part of your success. Allow them not only to take some decisions but also assume the responsibility necessary to achieve targets. This will bring in a sense of ownership.

? Review progress – Periodically make sure to talk through the team’s progress, so everyone knows where they’re headed.

? Be generous with praise – Anticipate & recognize their achievements. Reward an extra special performance. This will motivate them to take on further challenges.

? Make room for innovation – Tell them you’re open to creative thinking, unique solutions and new ideas, as long as they’re not too wacky. Allow for a measure of risk taking.

? Let them in on the decision making process – Change is particularly hard to swallow. If you involve the team in the decision making process, chances are, you’ll improve the odds of a successful implementation.

? Enjoy the experience – Last, but not the least, make it fun for the members to work with each other. People rarely remember what you say, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. And that’s the crux of team building.

Team building is a strategic tool that helps you harness the potential of your employees and makes for a strong and vibrant organization. On the other hand, a poorly planned and disorganized team might fail to deliver and result in disillusionment, low self esteem and demotivation.

Ben Franklin knew what he was talking about when he said

”We must all hang together, or assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

If you want to learn more about successful team building strategies,

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/team-building-what-and-how-410890.html

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html

Prioritize Your Affirmations!

Author: Ronnie Nijmeh

In this world of fast food, fast transportation, and instant communication, you’d think that we’d have more time to do what we want. But we are more stressed out than ever, and somehow lack the time for ourselves. Why?

The main reason for lack of time is that we have forgotten how to prioritize our lives. One of the first steps in prioritizing is to understand the importance of what we incorporate into our lives. We often overload our lives with more and more demands and then expect that it will all run smoothly. That is not prioritizing, that is called “piling one thing on top of another until we can’t juggle anymore.” Do you suffer from this ailment?

The Difference Between Organizing and Prioritizing

Organizing and prioritizing are two very different concepts. While organizing is taking an already existing schedule and making it work, prioritizing is making decisions about what should or should not be part of that schedule. It is also about what order of importance different aspects should hold. So when you are assembling your positive prioritization affirmations you need to remember that they will include affirmations for your personal and professional life under the same heading.

Positive prioritization affirmations can bring calm into an otherwise hectic life of what needs to be done in both areas of your life. Make sure that you prioritize learning your positive prioritization affirmations into your schedule. The one thing that is of the utmost importance is to make sure that you remain focused on the reason for positive affirmations in the first place. They are tools to re-wire your mind in how you view the different aspects of your life, or how you react to the unexpected situations that arise in your life. So, make sure to prioritize with your new outlook in mind. Your priorities must be congruent with your overall goals, beliefs, and talents.

Free Positive Prioritization Affirmations

Some free prioritization affirmations to help you achieve your goal for prioritizing you personal and professional life are as follows:

· I am entitled to live a calm life, full of joy and order.
· I set realistic goals, remembering that my first priority is myself.
· I schedule tasks at the right pace for me.
· I proactively decide what tasks I should do first and which are more important.
· I take something off my schedule before I add one on.
· I make time for anything new that I bring into my life.
· I find no need to hoard my time on one specific thing.
· I am able to delegate the tasks that I cannot - or should not - be doing.
· I make time for play and rest and don’t allow myself to work non-stop.
· I accept my progress because it is at my own pace.
· I know that my patience, tolerance, and efforts help me learn and grow to be a stronger version of me.
· I am gentle with my efforts, knowing that my new way of living requires much practice and patience.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/prioritize-your-affirmations-410832.html

About the Author:
Ronnie Nijmeh is the president and founder of ACQYR.com - a resource that provides free wallpaper downloads, motivational articles, and inspirational affirmations. You can read more positive affirmations at ACQYR.com.

Where Is The Power In Positive?

Author: Ronnie Nijmeh

Having a positive mindset is one of the most amazing life-changing processes that you can experience. Using powerful positive affirmations through visualizations and audible speech can lead you to a life of possibilities that you thought could only be in your wishes or dreams. Professionals and business people use these techniques to tap into their personal power in order to enhance their selling capabilities, explore their marketing abilities or to gain a competitive edge, thereby creating a work environment for success. As an individual it can transform your life into a healthier more fulfilling experience full of joy, energy, excitement, passion and rocket you to life’s Fortune 500 status.

Our lives are often a reflection of our past successes and failures. Our responses are automatic, having been formed during those earlier times in our lives that we encountered these circumstances. Positive affirmations can help develop a transformed attitude toward the unexpected ups and downs of life. Positive affirmations can enhance the “ups” to newer heights and refocus your energy when it comes to the “downs.” The more determined you are to make the changes by using your positive affirmations, the more prepared you will be to accept the changes and let go of the past circumstances that disrupt your positive focus.

Ingrain Positive Thoughts and Actions with Affirmations

Your positive affirmations are the fuel for your success in your career, your ability to form healthy relationships and even the potential for new attitudes in how you view yourself. When you repeat your positive affirmations daily for an extended period of time they will become ingrained in your mind and attitude. Therefore, when a circumstance comes your way and your mind instinctively responds with a positive thought you are seeing the fruit of your endeavors. When your mind instinctively recognizes those positive affirmations as solid truths and facts about your life, then you will be witnessing the peacefulness and joy that the power of positive affirmations can bring into your life.

It all boils down to a choice that you have to make. Do you want to allow positive affirmations to boost your confidence, peace, health and happiness? Are you willing to let go of negative thoughts and emotions, and replace them with positive, self-caring thoughts and actions?

Whether you are searching for a career, trying to lose weight or overcome shyness; whether you are dealing with singleness or wanting to improve your marriage, the power of positive affirmations are available to help you through each and every one of these situations and more.

Here are some free positive affirmations to get you started on your goal:

· I am willing to take risks in search for the perfect career for me.
· I let go of my past so I can move forward in my life.
· I take control of what I put into my body and my mind.
· I am a parent that makes a difference in my children’s lives.
· I deserve a relationship with an individual who loves me for me.
· I am responsible for my own thoughts and feelings, and not those of others.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/where-is-the-power-in-positive-410842.html

About the Author:
Ronnie Nijmeh is the president and founder of ACQYR.com - a resource that provides free desktop wallpapers, motivational articles, and inspirational affirmations. Read more free positive affirmations.

Public Speaking: Speak Easy

Author: Akhil Shahani

If you’re one of those who would rather have the flu than go on stage, we’re glad you’re reading this. You might have got away with remaining in the background in the good old days, but today, unless you’re out there, talking, you won’t bring much value to the business. Yes, we mean it. Being able to speak convincingly in public is as important as being able to think clearly or work diligently.

Now, it’s a no-brainer that most human beings are born without great public speaking skills. Some of the most talented and the most brilliant people get all tongue tied when it comes to addressing a gathering. So, how do you go about the business of public speaking sounding like it’s the most natural thing in the world?

Here’s how.

• Prepare. It takes careful preparation to make an effective impromptu (sounding) speech. Make sure you know the content of your speech inside out. Take care that the facts are well researched and substantiated, and the flow of ideas is smooth and logical. If you’re confident about what you’re saying, more than half the battle is won.

• Rehearse. You must know how you appear to the audience. Rehearse in front of the mirror, speaking like you would at the actual event. Once you gain some confidence, try it out in front of a small supportive audience, who will give you constructive criticism instead of harsh judgement.

Take care not only with your words and tone of voice, but also think of when

you will pause, what you will emphasize and so on. Then there are your

hands… if you’re a naturally exuberant person, be sure you’re not going over

the top with your facial expression or physical gestures.

• Dress right. No one wants to look at a poorly groomed speaker. Take care that your clothing is appropriate to the occasion. As a rule, it is better to overdress than otherwise. If you know you’re looking good, that confidence will project itself positively.

• Seek a friend. Sure you’re nervous, and some people know it. However, in every audience there is always a sympathetic member or two present. Try to identify where your support base lies, and make eye contact with those people in the beginning. You can move on to the hardliners once you’ve got your teeth into your presentation.

• Well begun is half done. And that’s never truer than with public speaking. Don’t pull any stunts as an attention grabbing ploy. Start normally and confidently, with an appropriate greeting. Set the tone of your presentation by outlining the major objectives at the outset. That way, everyone knows what to expect.

• Seem nice. You are much more likely to be heard patiently if you come across as an intelligent, mature, confident and nice person. The likeability factor is supremely important. A display of arrogance is only an invitation for trouble during the question hour!

• Talk, don’t read. Power Point presentations are great to look at, which is why most people look at the slides rather than the speaker. If you want to recite what’s on your file, email the presentation instead, and cancel the speech. Remember, the presentation is meant to serve you, not take over your role! Use it only to guide the speech.

No one said public speaking was easy, but there’s no getting around it. With practice and application, you can certainly improve your skills. Once you get through your first public speech unscathed, the rest will follow!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/public-speaking-speak-easy-410856.html

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It’s full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special “Freebie of The Month” at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html