Coaching to Success

Our business is your success

Beliefs

Is confidence natural or developed?

Is confidence about being born with the right gene or is it cultivated?

Confidence emerges from accomplishment with a belief in one’s capabilities, so is really nurture over nature and depending on how we develop, our confidence levels will be affected. It is also related to the symptoms of feelings when dealing with challenges whether personal or work related.

It’s also about judgement of how you feel others perceive you. This is not to say that you shouldn’t give a …., but more about not allowing other’s views effecting your own judgement about yourself.

As an example, I was with a client before Christmas in a high street coffee shop. We discussed confidence levels talking with regards speaking to strangers and if in a group of unknowns, how they felt. After they expressed their thoughts, I wished to prove a point about how we shouldn’t be fearful of what others may think of us. So, to demonstrate this, I stood up in the middle of a busy shop and asked for everyone’s attention, then simply wished them a Happy Christmas and a fantastic weekend, then sat down.

I daresay this caused conversations in the shop and well beyond but it proved a point that nothing negative happened to me and that I couldn’t control others views of me of which there would be a variety of, so best to let those thoughts go.

But how do we look about boosting our own levels? There are generally 9 exercises but here are 6 to help you on your way:

  1. BREATHE: When you are nervous or preparing for a big event, breathe evenly until you calm down.
  2. GET A NOTEBOOK: Record the good things that you manage to do. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, or you feel down, open this notebook and start reading it.
  3. BODY LANGUAGE: When feeling low, look at your posture. Change it to look up and forward with your back straight, keep your head high.
  4. SET GOALS: If you do not have goals in your life then you do not know where you are going. Set goals in every area of your life. Set goals that are very clear and have a certain deadline on them.
  5. COMPLIMENT YOURSELF: Talk about the great things you did in the past, this week, today. Say things like: “I am truly amazing! Just to think of how fast I solved that problem!”, “Wow, Fred came to me to help him as he knew I could help and I did”
  6. EXERCISE AT WORK: Notice the things that you do better than others. Find these things, then, admit to yourself that you accomplish these better than others, commit to becoming even better on it. Read books, talk to people in the know, become an expert.

There are many ways we can help boost the confidence levels but these are some good starters to kick off with.

Whether they be areas of personal or work related issues around confidence, contact Neil for a coffee meet (I promise I’ll try to refrain from standing on the table!) either by mail at neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or direct via phone 07761 187238. Our business is Your success, let us help you grow in confidence to reach up to your own personal goals of achievement.

5 steps towards making that decision…

In the past, as I progressed through the ranks of corporate management there were important decisions to be made of which I really didn’t know where or how to start but, in the end, I got there.

You know what it’s like, you make correct decisions, woohoo, everything pops up with that wonderful fragrance of roses. However, when it goes wrong, all you can smell is that stuff you put around the base of them!

So surely it’s imperative that we offer some mindful consideration that isn’t blinded entirely by emotional outcome? Knowing others undergo these same pressures, I felt I’d share my learnings and the several steps I developed to aid that final decision:

  1. The Gathering – (Nothing to do with Sean Connery/Christopher Lambert in Highlander for those fans out there!) Is all about the information. What do you need? Write these down so they’re not scrambling for positioning or confusing your thought process. Look within yourself as well as factual or logical sources. Are you comfortable with the potential outcome and have you the skill-set to manage it.
  2. What else? – As you gather your data and information, be sure not to become blinded by a singular path to find the answer. By this, I mean that we often will find alternative ways of doing the thing we seek. Listen to other suggestions openly and add them as possibilities to your list.
  3. Get the scales out! – All areas of decision can be measured and these values weighed. Try creating a pros and cons list such that you rate each item by a score of up to 10.Write a split list of pros on one side and cons the other. Try not to be biased but look at each item independently. Weight it according to your chosen criteria. Now bring the emotional elements on how it will affect you with the practical, logical or financial ones. Tot up all the scores to see which comes out strongest.
  4. Bite the bullet, make the decision – How often do we jump the gun and make a rash decision that doesn’t work out as hoped? From this, we may assume other decisions will end similarly. However, using the above, your decisions will be calculated rather than random!
  5. Take action – Create a timeline, a plan with dates and order. This is your measure to insure that your decision is correct. As part of this sequence, set in review dates or times to asses and make sure that your decision is still the correct one. If it’s a purchase, allow time before making it, checking there are no other unconsidered areas. Creating a deadline adds a healthy element of pressure (but don’t allow it to seep into stress!)

These are an informal way of introducing ways to help decision making. Coaching to Success utilise these and other tools to help you with the process. Good luck and here’s to positive outcomes through processed decision making.

Along with other areas of making positive change, we invite you contact Neil Nutburn on 07761 187238 or email to info@coachingtosuccess.co.uk to arrange a free, no obligation consultation to discuss areas we can help you prosper. Coaching to Success work to a simple philosophy in as much as that, if you don’t feel the benefits match your return on investment, the coaching session will be credited in full… That’s how strong ‘we’ believe in what ‘you’ are capable of doing!

 

Let’s gain clarity over what needs to be achieved

The days are longer and the weather’s on a positive turn which is all great … then the to-do lists start: Spring cleaning, the gardening, new ideas need to be put into place for business growth and the easiest solution? Find something else to do!

It happens to the best of us. All those tasks we should focus on completing, yet, we come up with a variety of excuses for why it can’t be started. This wonderful creature called ‘Procrastination’ eats away at our levels of personal productivity. Causing us to feel guilty, reduce motivation and lead to lower levels of efficiency!

For example, how many times do you re-read emails and think “I’ll deal with that shortly”? Postpone high level tasks? Uncertain whether the output will be up to perceived expectations so put it off until in a better frame of mind or even adopt a ‘Last-minute’ approach?

I’m as guilty as the next person especially in areas I’m not initially sure about or not interested in doing but are still important (ie Accounts, shudder with the thought!). But the benefits from getting on and completing far outweigh the mental anguish received by avoiding them.

Sometimes the most obvious way is the correct way. We must make ourselves aware of what they are rather than knowing they are just around ‘that’ corner so we subconsciously travel a different route! So here are my 7 triggers that lead us to avoidance and considerations to address them:

  1. Appear pointless or boring – Look to schedule these tasks when at your LEAST creative moment in the day. Yep, that’s right. Treat these as a relief from the more demanding work. By scheduling a start and end date you know there is an end point so are likely to achieve your objective.
  2. Not sure how to proceed – Write down all the options you are aware of. Find someone to take their view on it which could offer a different perspective.
  3. Appear overwhelming – Look to break assignments down, change your self-talk, give up perfection! Remember to reward yourself.
  4. Afraid of failure – Banish negative thoughts. Embrace uncertainty, see this as an exciting challenge. Take calculated risks as without them, we cannot move forward. Confront your fears with positive actions, once that first step is taken the whole task becomes easier.

So what of the remaining 3? These are deeper to the core and along with the implications they could bring, can best be resolved by having one-to-one meetings with a professional coach as these affect the subconscious.

  1. Afraid of success
  2. Resent being given the task
  3. Possibility of confrontation

Addressing the initial four areas will help you to become more efficient and improve awareness of what causes your procrastination. Should you have already achieved your objectives in these areas and would like to explore the latter, simply contact Neil to arrange a meeting.

Coaching to Success pride themselves on successfully helping their clients to achieve their goals or targets. Our confidence is such that should our clients feel that they have not received an exceptional return on their investment, we simply credit the charge in full so no one loses!

So to move forward in the quagmire of procrastination, do a useful side track and contact Neil either by mail at neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or direct via phone at 07761 187238. Our business is Your success, let us help you reach those higher goals.

How do I create a knockout presentation? Prt 2of2…

So now it’s time to look at the remaining topics in order to create that amazing presentation.

  • Timing: Speaking too fast, rambling on
  • Neglecting to check equipment
  • Reading from notes
  • Reading from the slides/reciting bullet points
  • Failing to rehearse

Timing

Whether speaking too fast (thus finishing earlier than expected) or rambling on with too much un-necessary details (causing you to rush through parts of the presentation or having to go over time). This shows negative points about your capabilities from poor time-management, possible lack of confidence and disrespect to the organiser and/or delegates and this can be addressed by rehearsing.

Three key areas to successful are practice, Practice and PRACTICE and always do this out loud. Many years ago I rehearsed in my head and when it came to the delivery, my head and mouth didn’t seem to engage as they should have!

If you need to slow down through nerves, write ‘Slow Down’ on your note sheets or if you have too much to present in the allotted time, actually reduce the amount that goes into the presentation, honestly, it’s unlikely people will take everything in so portray the more important elements.

Equipment check

I experienced this once when at an event and the projection system didn’t immediately connect with my laptop. Fortunately it was down to some settings was resolved. Nonetheless, even though turning up 20 minutes early, it still resulted in people waiting 10 minutes before we started which kills the mood to begin with.

Make sure you put your presentation together before the event. Check all handouts are sorted and put into order. Any equipment you are using works correctly.

Arrive half an hour before the scheduled time and check it all works correctly. If all’s fine, then spend some time to relax and speak to people as they turn up. All this relays a level of confidence for the delegates.

Note reading

As mentioned before, spend time practising before the event so you are familiar with the content, its order and timing.

If needs be, use a few bullet points but the more you rehearse, the more familiar you become with the presentation and even if you do not know it verbatim, you’ll still come across more professional and knowledgeable.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that some people just have it. Everyone that comes across proficient and slick have rehearsed and practiced over and over.

Bullet Point reading

I will assume that the people you are presenting to can read. Therefore, be respectful and don’t read the bullet points aloud.

Remember, these headliners for what you wish to present. Treat them as such. Bring up the bullet point and, without reading it, go on to make your point and the observers can read it for themselves. If they are all up, go into your speech and allow them to work out what element you are talking about.

Rehearse

This has been mentioned throughout so best to understand its importance. It REALLY does make all the difference to your presentation. And do this out loud, even in front of a mirror so you can see what those in front of you see. All too often, rehearsing in your head is different from practising speaking out loud, trust me on this!

Energetic finish

All too often the energy is central to the presentation and the wrap up is just that. This is your opportunity to re-visit what you’ve already presented in a draft but uplifting format and if you have a little diamond up your sleeve, bring it out to shine here thus leaving the audience inspired and uplifted.

Oh, before I forget, one last little tip … Question Time! Decide in advance WHEN you want questions to be asked. Either set these at set intervals throughout the presentation or ask the delegates to save them until the end (not always practical as the flow has gone by then for them). If allowing questions at any time, insure you manage these as questions raised may well stimulate others to get involved which could potentially throw timing out of the window!

That’s all 9 areas covered but nonetheless, presentations are not easy, especially if relatively new to doing them or not generating the desired results. Should you be looking to put together an amazing presentation and looking for support, you would do well by contacting Neil at neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or call 07761 187238 where you are assured a warm welcome.

How do I create a knockout presentation? Prt 1of2…

Have you ever been in front of monotone, boring presentations that seem endless? Do you need to create a presentation but are unsure how to wrap it up?

This is too big a subject to do in a single post so here’s todays and the next will be in two weeks’ time. Read on to find some tips I’ve learned over the years that will help keep the interest and get the message across.

Let us start by looking at 4 of 9 bad habits:

  • Failing to excite or show enthusiasm!
  • Disqualifying yourself
  • Not connecting with the audience. Avoiding eye contact, Alienating yourself
  • Stance: Fidgeting, swaying, motionless or standing to attention

Failing to enthuse

From the start you need to engage and capture your audience’s attention. First impressions and last comments are what people remember. Deliver a message that will leave them excited about what they are about to be told and the benefits they will gain.

Disqualifying yourself

You are there because you are knowledgeable in that particular subject. The audience have come to learn something so avoid statements like “I hope this doesn’t send you asleep”, “I know something of this but I’m not an expert in”. Avoid disparaging comments. Believe in yourself.

DO NOT APOLOGIES! You may start late due to unforeseen circumstances so this may seem a bit blunt but if you start off apologising then this sets a negative tone and sets the scene of being a victim. Start off as if nothing was wrong, thus illustrating you work well under pressure.

Audience connection

Personally, I feel one of the worse things a presenter can do is to stand there avoiding eye-contact with attendees. Fumbling around, looking at projections or even the wall behind the attendees. And whatever you do, please don’t turn your back to the audience. This may make you feel better but you’ve just dismissed everyone there.

If you’re not keen on looking at people directly in the eyes, look at their foreheads or, better still, the top of their lips. Try that one out when speaking to someone relatively close. Ask them if they felt you were making direct eye-contact, it works!

Other areas to consider is to insure you don’t alienate delegates. I was at a seminar a while ago and the presenter opened by saying “This is going to be mainly about the leisure industry so if you are not in this business, you won’t understand some of the terminology…”.

Make sure you use a language that all understand. Make it generic if dealing with a varied audience or specific if an isolated audience.

Stance

There is a fine balance between no movement and too much. Areas to consider are to avoid shuffling paperwork or waving something around you wish to talk about. Everyone’s focus then moves to that and not you.

Try not to fidget or sway on the spot and definitely (gentlemen!) avoid playing with change in your pockets. These infer nervousness.

And don’t stand still like a guard, move around and use ‘controlled’ hand gestures (this is an area I have to constantly be on top of as I enthuse and speak through hand movements). It’s very boring if you just stand there motionless.

Look at for the concluding part in two weeks’ time and in the meantime, should you have a presentation that you need help with, just make a call or throw us an email.

Contact Neil at neil.nutburn@coachingtosuccess.co.uk or call 07761 187238 where you are assured a warm welcome.