Consuming Kids pushes back against the wholesale commercialization of childhood, raising urgent questions about the ethics of children's marketing and its impact on the health and well-being of kids.
(From Videos for Families )
Natalie Rogers
The New TalkPower is a mind-body system that integrates neurobiology, behavior modification, performance techniques, speech crafting and leadership skills to help you master every aspect of public speaking — from gracious toasts to great speeches.
"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."
-- Buddha
Love this - I will file it - not sure where I can use it in my speaking, but I hope the opportunity arises. In the meantime, .... I can share it with you!!
Thieves respect property. They merely wish the property to become their property that they may more perfectly respect it.
G. K. Chesterton
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing
I know: the only ones among you who will really be
happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
Albert Schweitzer
From the Package - Inspirational quotations - http://bit.ly/ui2Qy1
Most people have had a phone call or even been in someone's office to discuss an important topic and have left the conversation feeling like they were not heard at all. What was it about that experience that didn't work? The person you were talking to was a bad listener. We've all been there - distracted, busy, uninterested... there are a million reasons that we make up for not listening to another person. It's time to ditch the excuses and become a better listener.
Why do I need to be a better listener?
1) Opportunity to hear new ideas that may spark innovation and new ways of thinking
2) Respect for the individual in front of you whether it's on the phone or in person
3) Great leaders listen to others because they know that a basic human need is to be truly heard
Ready for the good news? Effective listening does not mean long drawn out conversations! It's not about the length of the discussion (time); it's the quality of the interaction that is most important. Regardless if the conversations you participate in are scheduled or impromptu, you can be a better listener by actively applying the following seven steps.
1) Stop what you're doing - When someone asks for your time and you agree to give it to them, stop whatever tasks you were in the middle of doing and get ready to listen.
2) Resist the urge to multitask - IMs popping up on your screen? Emails flowing in like a waterfall? If you're on the phone, turn your back on your computer and turn your Smartphone upside down and ignore it. If you're in person, you can still turn away from your computer or better yet, if possible, close your laptop.
3) Don't interrupt over and over and over (WAIT) - Remember to WAIT when speaking with others (Why Am I Talking). If they can't get a word in edgewise because you're sharing your knowledge and experience, asking a ton of questions like a firing squad, or giving direction, the person you are speaking to will not feel heard because they could hardly get their thoughts out.
4) Get out of your own head (stop the internal dialog) - When you catch yourself going over your next point in your head, or going over your grocery list or anything else for that matter - STOP. Listening is about hearing the other person and you can only do that if you're really focusing on what they have to say.
5) Ask questions - Seek to understand! Confused on a point? Ask questions for greater clarity. Unsure of the objective? Ask what they want to see happen. Your questions will not only keep you actively engaged in the conversation but will also help the speaker clarify and get value from your conversation as well.
6) Playback - Summarize the feeling and content of the conversation. It will serve to ensure you're on the same page and to give you an opportunity to keep the discussion moving forward. Try phrases like: "What I hear you saying is..." "It sounds like..." "Is this a fair summary of what's you're saying?" "I can really hear your passion around this topic"
7) Confirm any action points - If there are action items for either one of you, make sure that they are explicitly restated at the end. Others will appreciate that you know where things are heading and you're on board.
The path to becoming a star listener will take some time but those that interact with you will reap the benefits and in the long run, so will you.
..........................................................................
Alli Polin is the founder and president of Break the Frame, LLC. She works with leaders to create stronger and more intentional cultures and truly great places to work through change management and organization and leadership development. Alli is driven by the knowledge that leadership confidence, competence, creativity, innovation, and inspiration can transform any individual or organization and successfully propel them into the future. For more information please visit http://www.breaktheframe.com or contact Alli at alli@breaktheframe.com.
Is it time you returned to those New Years Resolutions and recommitted? This is a free pivot box of articles, ideas and quotations for you to get you back on the path of setting your goals and implementing them
http://bit.ly/r9IP7b
What would it mean to discover that everything from the DNA of life, to the future of our world, is based upon a simple Reality Code—one that we can change and upgrade by choice? New revelations in physics and biology suggest that we're about to find out!
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that our universe works like a Consciousness Computer. Rather than the number codes of typical software, our Consciousness Computer uses a language that we all have, yet are only beginning to understand. Life's reality code is based in the language of human emotion and focused belief. Knowing that belief is our reality-maker, the way we think of ourselves and our world is now more important than ever!
For us to change the beliefs that have led to war, disease, and the failed careers and relationships of our past we need a reason to see things differently. Our ancestors used miracles to change what they believed. Today we use science. The Spontaneous Healing of Belief offers us both: the miracles that open the door to a powerful new way of seeing the world, and the science that tells us why the miracles are possible, revealing: why we are not limited by the "laws" of physics and biology as we know them today.
Once we become aware of the paradigm-shattering discoveries and true-life miracles, we must think of ourselves differently. And that difference is where the spontaneous healing of belief begins.
This website is especially for kids. Go on an interactive adventure. Take part in all the activities. Discover what copyright really means. There is a test you can take at the end to see what you really do know! There are six questions with full answers provided on the next page.
[From the package copyright for kids http://bit.ly/qxSjix]
Preparation is one of the most powerful drivers of success in public speaking.
Some people will tell you they don’t prepare. They may be lying. It was Mark Twain who said “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”. Or they may be like world champion, Craig Valentine, whose mantra is “Don't get ready to speak, stay ready to speak.” It may also be that they are preparing mostly in their heads, visualising trying out new word combinations and structures for their speeches, rather than a more formal preparation, say, sitting at a desk and writing.
So don’t leave your speeches to chance. Preparation is the key to success. Here are nine ways you can make preparation work for you.
The first step is to define what you want to achieve with the speech. What is its purpose? It is vital to be very clear on this purpose, so spend time preparing a statement of purpose that will drive everything that you do and say when you present.
The second step, then, is to thoroughly prepare your content. Research it, think about it, talk about it, play with the themes that emerge. Confidence will come when you are deeply familiar with your material. Create visuals if you are using them, to enhance your speech and build engagement with the audience.
Once you are familiar with your material and the structure of your speech, you will be far more fluent in your delivery and you will lose the need to rely on notes. Rehearse out loud to reassure yourself you will not forget the main points of your speech.
The third step is to prepare what people will see. Dress professionally and/or in a way that supports your message and image. Prepare how you will move, use the stage and gesture.
The fourth path to success is to plan how you will use this speech, especially if you are marketing yourself, your product or service. Plan the stories you will tell in your speech. Plan how you will look and speak. And plan how you will structure your speech to support your message or promote your product. Plan also the logistics of back-of-room sales, or for getting sign-ups for your emails. Make sure you have all the materials you will need for this aspect of success.
The fifth step is to prepare yourself. If you have a problem with confidence, for whatever reason, use the strategies that work for you, to translate your nerves into passion for what you are about to do. Use mental strategies like compartmentalising the nervousness and accepting it is there, reminding yourself that it is really excitement and passion for your subject and your audience that is making you feel that way. Use physical strategies like being aware of other parts of your body, breathing exercises, and a warm-up routine.
The sixth preparation tool is to practice. Your speech will improve by 80 percent just from one rehearsal – out loud. Use the rehearsal to develop confidence in your memory. Use it also to make sure you are using your voice to its best potential – supporting the meaning of your points, and creating variety in the listening experience. This time can also prepare you for your “conversation” with the audience. You can develop language that works best in spoken rather than written communication. You can visualise your audience and how they will react to what you say and how you say it, and edit your material and your presentation style accordingly.
It will be this rehearsal that allows people to think that speaking comes naturally to you, and that you did not rehearse. But the famous South African golfer Gary Player said, ‘The harder I practice, the luckier I get!’
Try, if possible to have a warm-up before your speech. This seventh activity can include vocal exercise so that your voice is prepared. It can include tongue-twisters to make sure your brain is communicating well with your mouth. And it can include some physical exercise to decrease nerves and to ensure oxygen is flowing to your brain.
And though I mentioned logistics earlier, this deserves its own preparation success category, the eighth. The more you are prepared for every aspect of your presentation the better you will be able to deal with whatever arises. So make yourself familiar with the room and its setup. Adjust it if possible and necessary. Familiarise yourself, too, with the equipment – laptop/projector, microphone, lectern, whiteboard– whatever it is you are using. Be comfortable with using them and how you will use them within the space. Make sure you have handouts ready for when you need them and any other prizes or presents you intend to give out.
And finally, be prepared to be flexible! None of what we just mentioned in the eight strategies is set in stone, particularly if you want to be credible, confident and engaging. So have a Plan B (and C and D) for if the technology fails. Be prepared to change your stage use if the stage is different from what you expected. And be constantly on the alert to changes in the audience so that you can adapt your material to suit their response to you. And in the end, be prepared to admit to a problem. Your authenticity will endear you to your audience.
You really cannot leave any of this to chance (or to luck!) Being prepared to give an excellent speech, being prepared so that it flows smoothly and being prepared for the majority of eventualities will lead you to a successful presentation – achieving the outcomes you intended and getting you repeat bookings. And as for those who say they did not prepare, and are not lying …. It shows!!
