Claudia Raab's Blog

If you're invited to give a presentation where someone is introducing you, keep in mind that it's this introduction that sets the stage for your speaking success. The goal of an introduction can easily be compared with a lead of a newspaper article. It's purpose is to get the attention of the audience, to get them excited and interested in what is going to follow, in what you're going to tell them as well as in you as a person and expert. It should motivate and persuade your audience to continue reading or continue listening attentively.

For this reason, you have to carefully plan your introduction in advance! My advise: Don't leave it up to the organiser of the speaking event or the Master of Ceremony (MC) to put an introduction for you together. Get in contact with them before your presentation and provide them with an introduction in writing. Plus allow time for them to read and incorporate it in their planning.

What should a startling introduction contain?

1. Start by telling your audience about your accomplishments: Why did the organisers call you in to give your presentation? What qualified you to be on the stage? What's your expertise? What are your achievements? Where did you get them from? Are there any titles you hold, any relevant accreditations, etc.?
2. This will automatically lead to the title of your speech that you'll introduce after you've revealed your accomplishments.
3. In part three of your introduction you invite the audience to welcome you, the speaker, and state your name.

According to the length of your presentation plan the length of your introduction. A short presentation requires a short introduction. In case of a longer presentation you can include more relevant personal background details.

However, do not give away too many information and content of your presentation. An introduction is a teaser that should get your audience into the mindset "I am totally excited about what this person is going to present to me." An introduction is a perfect chance to promote yourself. Plan it carefully and dedicate enough time to writing it. Remember: We're here to help, simply give us a call on 0425 785 143 and we help you to create a great introduction to raise your professional image and impress with your expertise.

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You have to give a presentation or have a job interview and as soon as you enter the room and see where you are supposed to stand or sit you feel very uncomfortabel since may the light is blinding you?

Here's what you can - or better must do - to guarantee your performance will still be a success! Ask for the seating to be rearrange. There's nothing wrong with it and its in your best interest! You need to be comfortable - that's your priority. Only then will you achieve your best results.

Don't be afraid to ask. Most of the time people are more than willing to help you and it's quickly done. However, what you have to make sure is, that you arrive early so there's enough time left to make the changes you requested. Good luck!

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Public speaking skills are critical to the success of all leaders. The latest example: Barack Obama, who was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America only a couple of hours ago.

Like Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan Barack Obama is extremely successful in using his great and powerful rhetorical skills to influence and - what is even more important - inspire and "fire up" is audience motivating his listeners to follow him - very often by giving hope and encouraging them to work together with him to build a new and better future.

Barack Obama is an amazing orator and as research shows this skill alone will trigger other people's decision to regard him automatically as a great leader - an expert in whatever he does, someone to trust and follow.

Watching and listening to Barack Obama is a great way of improving your own public speaking skills - regardless of whether you agree with his political point of views. Simply keep in mind: The better your public speaking skills are, the better your chances of advancing in your career and taking up leading positions you're targeting at. It's not a secret anymore: Public speaking skills are essential for the success of any leader. Start improving them now and give us a call on 0425 785 143.

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"There are three things to aim at in public speaking:

First, to get into your subject,

then to get your subject into yourself,

to get your subject into the heart of your audience."

Alexander Greqq

 Yes, it's true! Research has shown that the impact and success of your presentation depends only up to eight percent on your content. The rest is all about how you say it, namely Body Language and Tone of your Voice.

However, if these eight percent content are not 100 percent, I guarantee your success is very much at risk! Don't underestimate your audience. They'll find out very quickly if you haven't really prepared your material and can deliver facts that are absolutely right. You need to be 100 percent sure of your content and also you need to understand and be passionate about what you are talking about.

So sit down, go through your notes and do your homework! It'll help you to calm down your anxiety and get the success you deserve! It's worth it!

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So the date of your presentation - locked in your diary weeks ago - is getting closer and closer and you haven't done much to prepare your talk? Don't panic! Instead of rushing into things sit down and make the following your No. 1 priority whenever it comes to speaking and presenting in public:

Always ask yourself:

What is the purpose of my speech?

Finding the anwer is not difficult at all! First of all, there are only 5 reasons why we give presentations:

1. Inform
2. Motivate/Persuade
3. Solve problems
4. Entertain
5. Inspire

Of course, you can have more than one reason for your speecch. However, there will always be a main reason and that is exactly the one you will focus on.

Are you called in purely to inform? Or are you expected to solve a problem with your presentation?

Having found your No.1 priority crafting a speech will be much easier! Give it a go. It doesn't take long and saves you a lot of time when it comes to improve your presentations skills and create a great talk!

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I received a phone call from one of my clients yesterday letting me know that she had indeed received an invitation to give a talk at a specific conference she was wanting (and preparing) to speak at for two years!

She was over the moon since speaking at that particular conference is a terrific opportunity for her to showcase her skills and expertise and, at the same time, bring her one step closer to her goal to establish herself as an expert - one reason why she took up coaching with Raab & Raab.  She knew speaking in public helps tremendously to improve your professional image. However,  being a very shy person who used to avoid giving presentations she was determined to overcome her fear of public speaking to achieve her goal.

With the conference planning being in an early stage she also got the chance to select a particular Time Slot for her presentation. Her question: When would be the best time to give her speech?

What an opportunity! Why? Your allocated Time Slot will effect the impact of your speech! If you get to choose it, you're able to improve the effect of your presentation!

In my clients case, we opted for a time slot in the mid-morning session. The reason why? Her presentation requires her to use Power Point, so she will need the room to be darkened. A darkened room is very challenging for your audience right after lunch or dinner since they are conducive to sleep and this is surely the last thing you want as a presenter!

In case you can't request your time slot, here's is some more advice to make an impact with your presentation:

1. Invited to give a breakfast talk? Be brief and succinct! Everybody got up at least two hours earlier and still have a work day ahead of them. Give them a brief, easy to follow and clear presentation and finish in time. If your audience will run late for work or you have wasted their precious morning time they'll blame you forever.
2. Are you the last one to give a presentation? Cater for it by being in particular brief - plan your speech to be shorter than the time slot you were allocated. Why? Very often presentations run behind schedule. Your audience will be most grateful if you let them leave the conference room in time and will positively remember you.

In any case, seize the chance and look for opportunities to speak at a conference! Speaking engagements are invaluable if you want to achieve your career goals!

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"When it comes to singing your own praises in the workplace, I believe the local workforce would benefit from more of it," says Marianne Mood, Chief Operating Officer of adminstrative and business support recruitment specialist Select Appointments in the latest issue of Australia's "Management Today" issue

"Making your value known within your organisation does not need to be blatant, nor communicated across your entire workplace. But will make for a positive work environment and contribute to job security, career progression and show you are willing to take responsibility and ownership for your work," Marianne Mood is quoted in the magazine.

We vehemently agree with Marianne's statement and in our coaching sessions and seminar strongly emphasise and work with our coachees on the importance of promoting yourself, your skills and expertise to relevant people to get noticed. In fact, it was one of the triggers why we created and designed our successful "Get Noticed! Get Promoted!" Coaching sessions.

These sessions have successfully helped many women and men overcoming a certain degree of shyness most of us have when it comes to talk about our virtues and communicate our success to the right people who can positively influence and accelerate our careers resulting in achieving your goals.

Once you know how to do it, promoting yourself is easy and guarantees a great impact on your career. Simply let relevant colleagues and bosses know about your achievements in a subtle but attention getting way to achieve the success you want and deserve!

Not sure how to do it? We are here to help. Simply let us show you how to find the right words, ways and attitude to promote yourself and secure your current or new job. Call 0425 785 143 or email info@raabconsulting.com now!

 

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For some incredibly valueable advice regarding successful public speaking you don't necessarily have to turn to elite educational institutions like Harvard University as we did on Monday. Some lessons are brilliantly taught by skaters - probably half your age if not less - at one of your local Skate Parks just around the corner. For free, by the way.

Never been there? Well, I strongly recommend you go there, sit down and "hang around" for a while. Not only because of the amazing stunts and loopings you can watch that inevitably will take your breath away apart from dangerously making your heart stop for a while.

There's much more to your visit: Watch and listen how these amazingly skilfull kids and teenagers actually get their skills. If you have ever tried to hop on a skateboard and skate away, you'll know how easy it looks but how hard it actually is to gain control over your board and body. Big things don't happen over night. For a stunt pictured in this blog entry weeks of practice are required. That's exactly the point. Watch the kids: What ever figure they want to learn, they pick up their board, hop on and try it again and again and again and again.

Yes, they loose their board, fall over, come down at the wrong angle, twist their feet, get hurt. However, they get back on the board and do try the same thing until it's perfect. Giving up is not an option for them. Instinctively they know:

1. Focus, practice and persistence leads to perfection combined with
2. a healthy portion of risk taking and
3. a lot of encouragement by your friends and coach.

Ingredients that are all equally important if you want to improve your public speaking skills and advance in your career: Focus, practice, persistance, taking the risk to try new techniques, use new words, new body language and a lot of encouragement along the way by your public speaking coach who supports you and keeps you on track, making sure you achieve your goal, deliver that great presentation that will make you stand out and earn your well deserved credits.

We're here to help you learn how to skate brilliantly on the public speaking arena! It's easy simply give us a call on 0425 785 143 or email celine.dubois@raabconsulting.com now!

PS: Want more info about skating? How about checking out Skating in Melbourne and Skate Australia. Have fun!

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Many of us are back at work by now with our brand new diaries filling up quickly with appointments for meetings - external ones with clients or internal ones with colleagues or the board. As we all know, some meetings can be rather difficult:  Never ending, too many contributions that aren't relevant resulting in no tangible outcome and frustrated participants. In a nutshell: a pure waste of time and money. Whether you are chairing a meeting or taking part in it, to guarantee a productive meeting and at the same time earning valuable bonus points from your boss and improve your professional image, make sure you consider before the meeting:

1. its purpose and
2. how you can make valuable contributions to it.

Organising productive meetings is easy if you follow some simple steps:

As a chairperson:

1. Work out a clear and specific purpose for your meeting and clearly expect an outcome. Set up a written agenda with time slots for each topic and have a copy sent to each participant.
2. Be in control of the meeting
3. Set up and inform participants about ground rules for the meetings.
4. Cut contributions short that aren't relevant to the meetings in an appropriate but firm way. Encourage contributions and win-win outcomes.
5. Appreciate contributions and summarise. Keep the time.

As a participant:

1. Know the specific purpose and expected outcome of meeting and contact chairperson if this is not clear enough.
2. Taylor your contributions to your audience and make them relevant for participants and meeting's purpose.
3. Keep to your allocated time slot and the agenda once it is approved.

Easy to do! Charing and participating in meetings is a great way to improve your professional image and get positive attention. Seize the chance and learn to contribute at least once in every meeting! This is most important for your personal and professional success! Call us if you need further information on how to chair or participate in a meeting. We are here to help you! Simply call 0425 785 143 or email celine.dubois@raabconsulting.com now!

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Happy New Year and welcome back to Raab & Raab Performance Consulting in 2009!  Have you made up your resolutions for the New Year? Are you ready for change? Great! We're here to help and support you!

Change is good. However, as we all know, changing is not easy. With 2009 being just 12 days old you might already notice that your New Year's Resolution and best-laid plans for change have slightly started to fall through. Why? Prof. Robert Keagan and Dr. Lisa Lahey of the elite  Harvard Graduate School of Education reveal an answer in their new book "Immunity to change".

The American psychologists and experts in adult learning, who received a significant research grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, have studied the phenomena of why people can't change although they're desperate to do so over decades. In a recent interview Prof. Keagan spoke about their findings when working with educational leaders of schools that needed change to achieve better results:

"Despite the best intentions of all parties, we have learned that organizations and individuals have powerful means of "protecting" themselves from the very changes to which they aspire. These "immunities" to change help to hold in place the status quo despite how hard leaders work to improve schools and districts."

What is relevant in the education sector is relevant for any business, government, the public sector or individuals: To address the phenomena of the "Immunities to change". Prof. Keagan's solution: “Instead of regarding these behaviors as obstacles in need of elimination, we take them as unrecognized signals of other, usually unspoken, often unacknowledged, goals or motivations.”

Here's an example: If you're goal is to delegate more and you find yourself  not doingit, the reason could be that you have an "unspoken, unacknowledged goal or motiviation" hindering you: A belief that if you don't get things done, no one else will and the project will end up in a catastrophy. To protect yourself from a bad outcome you subconsciously overthrow your decision to delegate.

Discovering underlying goals that subconsciously are more important to you than your conscious goals and consciously assessing their "real" importance helps you stay on track. Give it a go and remember: We are here to help. We'll help you to achieve your goals and make your New Year's Resolution work. Simply call 0425 785 143 now!

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