Now it is also Harvard Business Review that is saying what we are saying and doing- "From Story to Success"! The new wave for business presentation….
Management Tip of the Day
Harvard Business Review
JUNE 17, 2013
Use Personal Stories in Your Next Presentation
Messages matter more to people when they're relatable on a human level. Typically, only stories elicit that kind of response.
You can repeat stories you've heard, but audiences feel more affection for presenters who reveal their own challenges and vulnerability by giving personal anecdotes.
Choose ones that are appropriate for the occasion — they're relevant and have the right level of drama.
Think of stories in advance so that you have an arsenal you can draw on again and again.
Brainstorm past events, such as important times in your life — childhood, adolescence, young adulthood — what you learned, and who you learned it from — teachers, bosses, mentors.
Jot down any stories you remember and the emotions they might elicit.
Keep a catalogue of these stories to help you prepare future presentations
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
And What Else?
I love this- from one of my favorite people in the global coaching world, Michael Bungay Stanier:
"The most powerful coaching question in the world: "And what else?"
It not only teases out more from the person you're coaching (the first thing they have to say is never the only thing), but it stops you from jumping in and offering solutions or advice before it's welcome."
And I would add- keeping asking "and what else" and you will always find another way to move and develop in your life.
It is the basis of creativity, it is the basis of innovation, it is the basis of keeping yourself on your feet, active and alive!
"The most powerful coaching question in the world: "And what else?"
It not only teases out more from the person you're coaching (the first thing they have to say is never the only thing), but it stops you from jumping in and offering solutions or advice before it's welcome."
And I would add- keeping asking "and what else" and you will always find another way to move and develop in your life.
It is the basis of creativity, it is the basis of innovation, it is the basis of keeping yourself on your feet, active and alive!
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Getting out of the box for my birthday
I wrote this in Hebrew but would also like to share it with my English- speaking friends so I will write it in English as well, why not…
It was my birthday on June 3 and I really was quite excited- yes, I know we are not supposed to get excited about such trivial things at age 54, but I know that still now whenever I see the words "supposed to" I find myself doing the exact opposite…so I took the day off to do things just a tad different, no big revolutions or projects, just a tad different… and I set off to do it with a person I have a very intimate relationship with- myself, as he ain't going away.
The day started with a short meditation in the garden, as I parted from my dear family members who were going about their normal routine just like any other day. I decided to take a yoga class in the neighborhood…only to find that by the time I got their (on foot mind you, not by car as I do every do to everything)- I had arrived at the wrong place. So I canned that idea, took my yoga mat and did yoga for an hour under the tree in the public park…enjoyed it so much that I thought, "why don't I do this more often?".
And then it was back home… but before anything it was time to thank my mother, yes my mother, because she is the one who brought me here, so I called to thank her for giving me my life…she laughed and liked the idea….after all what did I do to get here?Nothing, she did all the work to shlep me around for 9 months- and yes, I thanked my father for his cooperation as well, without him the project would not have succeeded, but let's face it, mom is the main character not dad…
Time for a shower…no, this time it's going to be a bath and we will turn on that Jacuzzi button that we paid for with the house, got all excited about it back then, something that we hardly ever use, let's get our money's worth, so I bubbled myself while reading a article, quite cool actually….
A big salad and then, finally, got to see some of those youtube videos that I have been dying to see of the Dalai Lama and some other Buddhist teachers- Jack Kornfeld, Tara Brach, Joseph Goldstein- finally, I could just sit and watch, nibble and soak it in…nice…
And today, I was finally going to do something I almost never do- see a film off the VOD…I zapped around and decided to go for The Dead Poets Society, a Robbin Williams' film about an idealistic English teacher who goes back to his prep school and tries to get the boys all excited about poetry and thinking for themselves….I saw it years ago….and guess what…by chance, fate or pure coincidence, the plot takes place in 1959….wouldn't you know it…that's my birth year…wow…and by the end of the film I was there with all these tears and emotions- not unusual for me, but something about this Americanized tear-jerker that really hit home…or is it because of my birthday?...After a short afternoon snooze- at our age we can do it, no, 17 hours straight from morning till night is a bit much I think, nothing like those 10 minutes of snoring- it was over for the finale'- a drive up to a small beach north of here to meet 2 great friends, with bottle of wine and a bag full of sushi…the beach was nearly empty, great sun, sky, air, waves, sand…and friendship…what more can one ask for than a beautiful sunset to end a beautiful day…and you know what? If we take away the frills of wine and sushi, this whole day was as simple as it gets, no need to spend money, make big plans, go out and party it up, because actually it was a very simple day, it is so comforting to know that what really makes it tick for me is the simplicity of it all, the small pleasures of life that usually go unnoticed in daily life.
I like this idea, will do it again…you know what, who needs to wait another year for this?...
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Harvard Business Review Blog- "Take a Weekly Technology Break"
Do you know what they call this?
It has been around for a few thousand years….they call it "Sabbath", in Hebrew it is "Shabbat", and even if you are an atheist, as far as can be from anything to do with God, religion or whatever….
I challenge us all to take up this offer!
We need it- technology has taken over and we need to put it in its place- to help our lives and not rule them.
Long live the Sabbath!!
MAY 28, 2013
Take a Weekly Technology Break
There are serious personal benefits of taking time away from the constant hum of technology.
So why wait for your next vacation?
Take a device hiatus every week.
On Friday night, turn off everything with a screen — your computer, tablet, and phone.
Put them in a drawer to keep them out of sight.
And don't turn them on again until Saturday night.
Knowing you won't be able to connect for 24 hours can be unnerving, so prepare in advance.
Print out your schedule, along with any maps or phone numbers you need.
Let people know that they won't be able to text, tweet, email, use Facebook, or web chat during that time.
Then enjoy — be present and focused on whatever you do — spend time with your kids, go for a hike, read a book.
You'll likely find the day is longer and when you power back on, you'll feel recharged.
It has been around for a few thousand years….they call it "Sabbath", in Hebrew it is "Shabbat", and even if you are an atheist, as far as can be from anything to do with God, religion or whatever….
I challenge us all to take up this offer!
We need it- technology has taken over and we need to put it in its place- to help our lives and not rule them.
Long live the Sabbath!!
MAY 28, 2013
Take a Weekly Technology Break
There are serious personal benefits of taking time away from the constant hum of technology.
So why wait for your next vacation?
Take a device hiatus every week.
On Friday night, turn off everything with a screen — your computer, tablet, and phone.
Put them in a drawer to keep them out of sight.
And don't turn them on again until Saturday night.
Knowing you won't be able to connect for 24 hours can be unnerving, so prepare in advance.
Print out your schedule, along with any maps or phone numbers you need.
Let people know that they won't be able to text, tweet, email, use Facebook, or web chat during that time.
Then enjoy — be present and focused on whatever you do — spend time with your kids, go for a hike, read a book.
You'll likely find the day is longer and when you power back on, you'll feel recharged.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Your Story and your Interview
People
who go for interviews seem to often overlook a most important hidden
point in ever interview: the listener is searching for "the story".
THE
story is, of course, a compilation of many smaller stories, and each
smaller story describes an impression, a thought and a hook in the eyes
and ears of the listener.
Make sure that story is what you want to tell-
your career is dependent upon it!
See Harvard Business Review Blog post:
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Four Traits of Great Employees
The American Management Association recently cites 4 skills that research have found to be most important in great employees: The association’s survey of about 800 managers and executives found that senior leaders value what the group calls the “Four Cs”: Critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity.
Those are also the kinds of skills that are critical for startups, where your survival can depend on how quickly you can adapt and innovate.
And how best to achieve these skills? Coaching and mentoring were seen as the best approaches.
Thank-you American Management Association, for saying what we coaches have been saying and doing for years! See article:
http://business.time.com/2013/04/09/four-traits-of-great-employees/?iid=obinsite
Those are also the kinds of skills that are critical for startups, where your survival can depend on how quickly you can adapt and innovate.
And how best to achieve these skills? Coaching and mentoring were seen as the best approaches.
Thank-you American Management Association, for saying what we coaches have been saying and doing for years! See article:
http://business.time.com/2013/04/09/four-traits-of-great-employees/?iid=obinsite
Monday, April 22, 2013
Is this the Best you can do? (from Seth Godin)
Is this the best you can do?
If the answer to this is "yes," and you think you're done, you might be settling too soon.
The right question is, "Is this the best your team can do?" And if you need a better team, it's never been easier to get one. Especially if you're a soloist, a freelancer or a small company--if your upside is limited by the people you're working with, get new people.
Any time you do work yourself, you've chosen not to use the services of someone who's probably better at it than you are. There might be really good reasons for that choice, but inertia isn't one of them.
If the answer to this is "yes," and you think you're done, you might be settling too soon.
The right question is, "Is this the best your team can do?" And if you need a better team, it's never been easier to get one. Especially if you're a soloist, a freelancer or a small company--if your upside is limited by the people you're working with, get new people.
Any time you do work yourself, you've chosen not to use the services of someone who's probably better at it than you are. There might be really good reasons for that choice, but inertia isn't one of them.
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