Posted by: Claudia Raab in New Body Language on
Jul 31, 2008
Do you want people to trust you? Then keep an eye on your body language and avoid touching your face. Why? Research show that when people tell lies they touch their face , in particular their nose significantly more due to an increase of blood pressure. Even people who haven't read the research results intuitively sense that the speaker's gesture signalise they are lying.
So if you want to be taken seriously keep your hands away from your face and your palms open!
Posted by: Claudia Raab in Employment News on
Jul 29, 2008
Good news for all accountants looking for a new job: According to a new survey by Robert Half Finance & Accounting employers are desperate to find new talents in accounting and finance. In particular Australian employers are complaining about a critical shortage.
Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialised recruiting firm providing placement services for accounting, finance and office support professionals with over 360 offices worldwide, and more than 12,000 employees.
The newly released Employment Monitor for 2008-2009 shows that 62 per cent of companies in Australia fear losing their top talents while 50 per cent cannot find the right mix of skill and experience to fill new roles. The trend is expected to become stronger.
The survey included more than 4000 finance and human resources managers in 20 countries including 273 survey interviews in Australia. Australia ranked eighth with 54 per cent of companies struggling to find the right talent.
Nigel Barcham, managing director of Robert Half Australia and New Zealand, said companies were also taking a more cautious line when hiring, with many using at least three interviews when filling roles at all levels as well as taking extra care with reference checking. According to Robert Half, local organisations were taking about 5.5 weeks to hire an entry-level position and 6.5 weeks to hire a management level position.
This trend is a great chance for everyone in accountant or finance, however, also shows that your expertise in accounting and finance is not enough to earn you the job you want. You also need to have the right skills with communication and presentation skills being top on the list of employers looking for new talents.
Make the most of it! Get in contact with us today! Simply call 0425 785 143 and let's reveal to you new training option guaranteeing to prepare you for your new job.
Posted by: Claudia Raab in Good to know on
Jul 28, 2008
Did you know that of all the words Dr. Seuss made up in his storybooks, only one has stuck in the English vocabulary: "Grinch"!
By the way, when was the last time you read one of his hilarious books? Our tip: Check them out again! They great for adults, too. Good fun guaranteed!
Posted by: Claudia Raab in New Power Words on
Jul 26, 2008
Once you've decided you want to improve your professional image to show your expertise and confidence while earning new respect for what you do, make sure you watch your language and avoid powerless words and expressions!
What you say reflects what you are and vice versa: What you are reflects what you say! Check yourself! How often do you use vague phrases like: "That's kind of strange", "That sort of thing happens to me a lot!"
Expressions like "kind of ...", "sort of ..." are powerless words and demonstrate you are not sure of what you say! Does such a behaviour add to your credibility and professional image and gets you new results? Not at all! People expect clarity and precise facts from an expert!
Eliminate these powerless words from your vocabulary instantly! Be precise and clear and you'll be guaranteed your professional image improves while saving a lot of time! Start today!
Posted by: Claudia Raab in New Body Language on
Jul 25, 2008
If you want to achieve new results in your career or in your personal or professional relationships one thing is crucial: Your Body Language!
In our Raab & Raab Coaching Sessions or Seminars we often let coachees and participants guess what they think is the most important factor when it comes to a presentation's success. Most of the time we find people amazed by the fact that whether or not you make a good impression with your presentation depends largely on your body language (55 per cent!).
Given that people form up to 90 per cent of their opinion about you in only a few minutes you want to be totally in control of your body language making sure you send the right signals.
Here's today's body language tip for you that guarantees you'll establish a good relationship with some one you've just met right from the start or with some one you'd like to improve your relationship:
Make sure you keep your palms visible when you talk. Think of pictures of people meditating or Buddha sitting. They all show their palms and their body language is perceived as calm and peaceful. Showing your palm is traditionally recognised as a non-threatening, welcoming gesture and people will instantly respond positively to you.
Give it a go today!
Posted by: Claudia Raab in New Power Words on
Jul 21, 2008
Expanding your vocabulary is a great way of increasing your professional image. Eloquent people - people who can express themselves well - are almost automatically perceived as experts. Expanding your vocabulary is also a great way of conquering your fear of public speaking since the richer your vocabulary the more confident you become.
How about this: Instead of "We have to start all over again" simply use "Back to square one." Do you know where this simple but powerful phrase comes from? Easy: Many board games divide the playing field into numbered sections. Incurring a penalty in a game such as Snakes and Ladders, a player must return to the beginning, or "square one". It's a phrase that dates only to the early 1950 although most of the games that use this system are much older.
Try to use the phrase at least once today and enjoy how this will make you more confident when using the full potential of the English language and at the same time add to your professional image.
According to a recent salary survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) the top reason for staff resignations, cited by 60.9 per cent of large company employees, was to pursue career progression or promotion opportunities. The survey was based on the responses of 779 companies.
Consequently, in times of a sustained national skills shortage employers who seek to attract and retain top employees should therefore rather think about ways to provide top notch training instead of offering to improve pay or financial benefits.
How about getting in touch with us on 0425 785 143 or via email info@raabconsulting.com and finding out how we can keep your employees and your company happy and save you money with excellent training both of you benefit from? Great results and new skills for new success guaranteed!
Posted by: Claudia Raab in Raab Raab News on
Jul 19, 2008
We all know that a small word can make a big difference. As professional trainers in the area of public speaking and leadership skills we pay a lot of attention to words and think carefully about which terms to use to make a difference.
By the way, that's exactly why we have called our Principles outlined in the "About Raab & Raab" Section "Principles" instead of "Values" or "Best Practice".
Well, to be honest, at first we thought about "Raab & Raab Values" because that's what our Principles represent. However, the term "value" is very abstract and philosophical. We wanted our values to be tangible, present, practical and accessable for everyone. Present and practical? "Raab & Raab Best Practice" maybe?
Sounds great, however, we took on board what Eric Mayne, Chairman of the ASX Corporate Governance Council, told attendees of a Chartered Secretaries Association seminar last year in regard to involvement: "The ... difference will be changing the name from 'best' practice to 'good' practice because the word 'best' implies that there is only one way of doing things."
We share Mayne's approach. We appreciate as well as acknowledge the fact that there are more than one way to achieve great results. We were also impressed by the fact that according to a review by Grant Thornton, only 45 per cent of ASX listed companies are fully compliant with 'best practice', however, 90 per cent of listed companies comply with "Principles".
That's exactly where we want to belong to: To the 90 per cent of companies that comply with their "Principles". Why? Because at Raab & Raab Performance Consulting we put our Principles into practice and not only in a picture frame up on the wall to make our office look good. In the end, that's what principles are for: to be put into practice to guarantee our clients best results!
Posted by: Claudia Raab in Make Meetings Fun on
Jul 18, 2008
I was quite amused to read the following results of a Healthy Meetings Study undertaken by Hilton Sydney: According to the survey 6.3 million working Australians think people fall asleep in meetings.
97 per cent of people interviewed revealed they would start drifting off to "LaLa Land" because they were boxed inside four walls without natural light. 88 per cent blamed the fact that they were sitting in one spot for too long.
Unfortunately, you can't always choose the environment in which a meeting you are supposed to chair will take place and sometimes simply have to put up with a windowless room and artificial light.
However, you can choose the way you chair a meeting and cater for the fact that people quickly loose focus and attention because they hate to sit in one place for too long.
How? Easy!
- Schedule short 1-2 minute breaks e.g. after you ticked two items on your agenda.
- Ask people during these breaks to get up and get drinks from jugs that a placed on a trolley rather than on the table or have fruits placed on a seperate table they need to get.
- Encourage them to change seats after the breaks. Tha's also a great excersise to change literally change perspectives when dealing with a problem.
- Make sure you retain eye contact with everybody. This will people force to stay focused on you.
- Lead by example: Be energised and dynamic! From time to time stand up when you speak and move around.
Think this will cost you too much time?
On the contrary! You'll find that whenever you move it will speed up your blood flow which is responsible for the oxygen transport to your brain resulting in speeding up the creative thinking process! Problems are solved faster! New ideas generated quicker!
And of course: Make sure everyone who has to present does it skillfully in an an interesting, engaging way. That's the best way to prevent everyone form falling asleep, saving time and money!
We're happy to provide training for those who aren't naturally talented in presenting and would love to share our secrets that guarantee your meetings are highly productive and fun. Call Claudia on 0425 785 143 to find out more or send an email to info@raabconsulting.com. Make Meetings Fun!
Would you agree that nowadays you can hardly pick up a newspaper or business magazine that doesn't contain at least one article about Generation Y?
Members of Generation Y - in general young people born between 1982 and 1994 - are extremely sought after by employers since they are highly switched on, technology savy and capable of accelerating a company's performance in no time - if they are happy with it. That's the point: Gen Ys know what they want from an employer and being sometimes referred to as the "fearless generation" they don't hesitate to leave him or her whenever they are not happy with the company's values and aspirations.
What are their values and aspirations? According to a survey of employment solutions group Onetest "going green" and thinking long term about how families will fit the picture when it comes to their career are most important. At Raab & Raab Performance Consulting have also noticed that when we work and train with Gen Ys career planning, in particular career development opportunities, are extremely important to them.
Employers who appreciate their work and commitment by "rewarding" them with the opportunity to satisfy their "learning appetite" earn their respect and get their rewards: Gen Ys' commitment to stay with the company. In times of high and cost-intensive fluctuation that's a good reason to invest in a talent management policy that provides employees with attractive training opportunities to prevent that your existing talent is snapped up by other companies or overseas positions.
If you want to know how we can help you attracting and retaining Gen Ys simply send us an email to info@ raabconsulting.com or give us a call on 0425 785 143.
