Off the cuff

Impromptu speaking can strike fear in the most polished communicator. Last night the Dale Carnegie class I'm coaching reached week 6. This is where speaking off the cuff is the main skill the students practice.

I would like to offer some suggestions for those put on the spot to say a word or two.

• You have a wide range of life experiences to draw so chances are you have some coherent thoughts on many subjects. Share them proudly!
• Use the "bridge" to take you from a subject you know little about and relate it to something you DO know. Try..."that reminds me of a time when..." Then talk about what you do know.
• Word association can help as well. What pops into your mind when a subject is mentioned? As long it is appropriate for the situation, let it lead you to your words.
• A pause before speaking helps you gather your thoughts. Take that moment!
• Be yourself. No one else in this world has the same experience to share.

Now that wasn't so bad, was it?

What skills do employers value?

I am currently doing some research for a class I am developing for a local medical center. They want to concentrate on improving skills needed to move into different positions within the hospital.

One of the modules is about employability skills--what basic skills do employers want?? My research shows some of them are:

• Basic reading, writing, and communication skills
• Thinking skills such as problem solving and decision making
• Positive attitude, enthusiasm
• Appropriate grooming and dress

According to one study, many employees fail to get promoted NOT because they are lacking in technical knowledge but because their basic work values are out of kilter with the aforementioned skills.

When I read this, I had one of those D'OH! moments! If the schools are not teaching our citizens the most basic skills, where are they to learn them? Should employers have to take on this responsibility?

You Never Know

What do you do if your business has some sort of crisis? Are you prepared?

My 7 tips for planning crisis communications can help you get the process started.

Staying on Track

Training is a continual coaching process meant to keep employees on track. After all, they are hired because they are qualified to do the job but might need some help to keep up performance.

Jason Murphy's article speaks to this issue.

Brain Drain

When a key employee leaves, a host of critical knowledge goes with them. So how does your company avoid this brain drain when someone quits or retires? It is critical to realize you need to assess what your employees know and what knowledge it takes to perform their job tasks. Most often this knowledge is rooted in years of experience and cannot be learned in general training.

This short article provides 4 questions for beginning an assessment.

They Call It Stormy Monday...

Although the terrorist attacks of 2001 are not training-related, I feel the need to add my thoughts on the day.

I remember where I was when it happened. You probably do as well, just like those who were around when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Moments like these get burned into memory.

I had the TV on in another room as I worked on my resume and did some on-line job hunting. I took a break and when I plunked down in front of the TV news, the sight of the World Trade Center building with smoke billowing out got my attention. The commentators were postulating perhaps a small plane had gone off course and caused the damage.

Then, suddenly, the second plane appeared and crashed. My chest tightened. I knew it was terrorism and I was more frightened at that moment than I have ever been in my adult life.

In Search of Knowledge

I love to read and am a staunch believer you can never have enough books. I found a website called InBubbleWrap where you can win business-related titles every weekday. I have won several books in the last few months and highly recommend you check it out.

We can all use more grey matter, can't we?

People Helping People

I had an experience last night that still has me energized this morning. I helped a gal in the Dale Carnegie class I'm coaching. We stepped in the hall because she wanted to practice her talk before going in front of the class.

She started crying, worried she didn't have any accomplishments to share--that she didn't have any fancy certificates or diplomas to use as her prop for the talk.

"All I have is a picture of me and my two daughters," she confided. I counseled her as best I could and told her being a mom is the greatest accomplishment of all and a tough one at that.

I felt like a proud parent when she won the breakthrough award for the evening. These are the moments that truly make it worthwhile.

The Road Most Taken

Research often leads me in a totally different direction than I started. For instance today I have been perusing information for a class I am developing. I found myself on the ChangeThis site which often has thoughtful commentary (called manifestos) on social and business subjects. I would classify them as white papers as I come from an academic mindset.

One of the newly posted caught my eye-- The Beginner's Guide to Business Blogging by Debbie Weil. It's worth a look.

Her paper has inspired me to add some links to articles and other odds and ends I come across while surfing.

Another Day, Another Dollar

I made it through another long week. Looking forward to a three day weekend.

Spent last night at the Dale Carnegie training again for 4 hours. The group is really starting to show their personalities and I am actually remembering some of their names. They did their first two minute talk and I was the time keeper.

The class still went long and at the debrief after the session, my recommendation was for the instructor to stop talking so much. He is a very dynamic guy and goes on and on at times. It is my duty (and privilege) as a coach to let him know when this happens.

My 2 minute talk on a business success with a prop to illustrate went well even though I was nursing a sore throat. I brought my evaluation from when I ran two community education programs. I got all perfect 5's out of a possible 5. It was an awesome experience to get that eval. I keep it in my kudos file for those darker days.

Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend...