Thought for the Day

Friendship and learning enriches our lives and make us better human beings. So make sure that you learn the right things and make friends with the right kind of people.

Kelly Sagar.

How to Create an Impromptu Presentation

According to Mark Twain it usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. Most of us however when called on at short notice to give a brief presentation in a meeting (for example) probably don’t even have the luxury of 5 minutes preparation time – let alone 3 weeks! So how can you still deliver a reasonably successful presentation if you’ve got about ZERO Preparation time?

Presentation Structure is the Key

In a situation like this, you need to have some form of standard structures in your head that you can call upon at very short notice.

One example structure that you can use quickly (if it’s relevant) is:-

1. What’s the issue
2. How is it affecting things?
3. And what is being done about it?

Using the Power of Three – so 3 main points and then if needed break down each of the points into 3.

Chronological Structures

Another structure you can use for impromptu presentations is:-

1. Past
2. Present
3. Future

 Another similar structure is based on:-

1. What was it like before?
2. What was the event?
3. What’s the result now?

 The Three 'W's Structure

1. What?
2. Which?
3. Who?

e.g.  Buying a car: What sort should I buy? Which brand should I purchase? From Whom should I buy it?

More Conventional Structure 

• Introduction
• Main Body
• Point 1 – with 3 sub points in support
• Point 2 –  with 3 sub points in support
• Point 3 – with 3 sub points in support
• Conclusion and call to action if relevant

Conclusions
As with most things the more you practise something the better you can become at it. And impromptu speaking is no exception!

Give yourself some topics to speak on and then allow 2-3 minutes of preparation for each one. Then try presenting on each of about 5 minutes. Learn as you go get someone to watch you and give you feedback on how it went. Try it in your POWERtalk club!

Not a member yet?  See the links to clubs in the right-hand panel or ask about starting a club in your area.

Stella Sneddon

Communication and Success

The quality of your life is the quality of your communication.

This means the way you communicate with others and, more importantly, the way you communicate with yourself.

What you focus on is what you get. If you look for the positive this is what you get.

This is a fundamental law of Nature.

The Top 200 Secrets of Success and the Pillars of Self-Mastery

Robin S. Sharma

D, E and F

Focus on learning by doing.Debates and panel discussions.
Division VPs - great champions.









Effective evaluations - a fantastic encouragement.POWERtalking e-magazine - very professional.Extension manual & starter kit - great help in starting a new club.









Lifelong friendships made - "need I say more"
Fellows of ITC - la creme de la creme

Top 20 Figures of Speech

Alliteration Repetition of an initial consonant sound

Anaphora Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verse.

Antithesis The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.

Assonance Identity or similarity in sound between internal vowels in neighbouring words.

Chiasmus A verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed.

Euphemism The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit.

Hyperbole An extravagant statement, the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened effect.

Irony The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement of situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance of presentation of the idea.

Litotes A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is
expressed by negating its opposite.

Metaphor. An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually have something important in common.

Metonyomy. A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated; also the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly by referring to things around it.

Onomatopoeia. The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects of actions they refer to.

Oxymoron. A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side by side.

Paradox. A statement that appears to contradict itself.

Personification A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction is endowed with human qualities or abilities.

Pun. A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar senses or sound of different words.

Simile A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.

Synecdoche. A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole .

Understatement. A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

INTRODUCING AND THANKING A SPEAKER

1. Check that

• The microphone and other electrical equipment is working
• water is available for the speaker
• the lectern is the right height for the speaker
• You have enough background information.

2. Make the Speaker Welcome

• Meet the Speaker at the entrance.
• Ask if there is anything he/he requires.
• Show the speaker to his/her seat.

3. Preparation.

• Prepare your introduction and thanks beforehand.
• Write key words on a cue card.

4. Avoid.

• Cliches
• Repeating yourself - remember to use your notes.

5. Use this Formula.

• Why this subject?
• Why this subject subject for this audience?
• Why this subject for this audience at this time?

6. Don't

• Exaggerate the speaker's qualifications
• Read a lengthy curriculum vitae or biography
• Say how wonderful the speech will be
• Steal the spotlight

7. Do

• Speak to the audience not the speaker
• Be brief - never longer than two minutes
• Be genuine and sincere
• Smile and relax

8. Facilitating questions

• listen carefully to the question
• Repeat it clearly for the benefit of both speaker and the audience
• Unobtrusively guide speaker to audience members signalling to ask a question.

9. Thanking the Speaker

• Say what you enjoyed about the presentation
• Don't simply repeat the main points of the presentation
• Speak to the speaker and the audience.

10. Most Importantly

• Be sincere
• Be brief
• Be seated!

POWER

“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things – but look what they can do when they stick together”

Anon

Ten Tips on Mentoring

1. Mentoring is a relationship that enhances the development of individuals by the passing on of knowledge, skills and values.
2. This relationship is a creative bond between a mentor (teacher) and a mentee (learner) which is to the benefit of both.
3. From a mentor, a mentee receives input about organisational culture, coaching and counselling, skills development, motivation and continuous feedback, thus becoming a useful member of an organisation much more quickly.
4. The mentor benefits by the development of interpersonal and leadership skills, and accomplishments in his/her mentee's success.
5. A mentoring programme should have the visible support of those at the head of an organisation, and it should form part of the culture of that organisation.
6. The ideal ratio is one mentor to one mentee.
7. Mentors should volunteer their services. The relationship should be one of choice, and should be committed to in writing.
8. The best mentors are experienced empathetic persons with a willingness to share, the capability of building trust, and with good listening skills.
9. Specific time periods should be set aside for mentoring. Opportunity should be given to the mentee for questions and feedback.
10. It is recommended that the mentee maintains a close relationship with the mentor, takes ownership of his/her own development and actively seeks new challenges.

Ten Top Tips Effective Delegation.

1. Choose the Right Person.

You should consider the needs of the assignment and your knowledge of the person's skills, abilities, interests and motivations i.e. you need to be confident that the person to whom you are delegating will be able to achieve the required results.

2. Give Compliments.

Say why you feel they are the right person for the job.

3. Define the Results You Expect.

The focus needs to be on the GOAL rather than on the tasks performed in order to achieve the required results.

4. Emphasize the Purpose of Achieving the Objectives.

The importance to the organisation and personal benefit of achieving the objective or failing to do so, needs to be emphasized.

5. Ensure There are Adequate Resources

for the devised plan of action which ensures adherence to specified times.

6. Introduce Control Systems.

These need to be developed and introduced so that deviation from progress can be monitored and corrected.

7. Establish a Measurement of Success.

This is necessary to determine whether a satisfactory or outstanding result has been achieved. You want the best.

8. Offer Support

Get agreement and ensure that rules, regulations, limitations and policies regarding the area in which they are to work are understood. Back them all the way.

9. Delegate the Responsibility.

But allow a margin for minor mistakes in judgement.

10. Empower with Sufficient Authority.

For achieving results and reduce your authority. Then you will get the best performance.

Your Daily Survival Kit

1. Toothpick - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others
2. Rubber band - to remind you to be flexible: things might not always work out the way you want, but it will work out.
3. Band aid - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours and someone else's
4. Pencil - to remind you to list your blessings everyday
5. Eraser - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's OK
6. Chewing gum - to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything
7. Mint - to remind you that you are worth a mint!
8. Candy kiss - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug every day
9. Tea bag - to remind you to relax daily and go over your list of blessings

Author Unknown(from www.wow4u.com)

Thought for the day

Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.

The art of communicating ...

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. -- Hans Hoffman