How to Handle Getting Caught Off Guard – Goal-Setting
How to Handle Getting Caught Off Guard
I remember the time that I swore to myself that I'd never be caught off guard again. I was in my new job on Capital Hill and it was the first week on the job. My new mentor at the office was the daughter of the other US Senator from Nevada so she knew everyone who was anyone. I tagged along with her one day to a meeting and I found myself in a mess!She introduced me to the President of Zimbabwe! I shook his hand and all of a sudden about a thousand flashes went off! None of the photographers knew that I was just a newcomer on Capital Hill, but every single one got a picture of me ?. And I'm sure what turned out was the "deer in the headlights" look. I completely froze, and looked up completely shaken up. I had NO idea that the photographers were even THERE and then on top of that, why would they want a picture of me?I've since learned to take a great picture anywhere. You name it, the driver's license, Sam's Club to get a member card, at weddings or any function, I have trained myself that the second that I know a camera is around, I "eyeball the eye of the camera" and give my best smile; for as long as I need to!But how do we handle situations in which we get caught off guard? Like asking to speak on a moments notice? What if someone yells at you at work for something that happens? What if you are asked to deliver a toast at an event? Or how about being asked to deliver a message or read a poem at a class reunion? That happened to me at my last reunion, and I told them that as a professional speaker, I never go anywhere unprepared. Therefore, at the encouragement of my husband, I turned them down.But what if you can't turn them down? What if you HAVE to get up and give a speech? What if you are lambasted in front of people at your workplace and can barely come up for air before you are supposed to respond?I think that in any crisis situation, and these are DEFINITELY crisis situations, that it's best to always have a plan. Here is what I recommend that my clients do:1. Know that you are going to be caught off guard at some point.2. Make a plan and memorize the plan.3. When it happens, tell yourself to take several breaths and calm down.4. Next, identify WHAT it is that the person wants from you. Do they want and need a response right then? Can the response wait?5. If it can wait, then tell them thank you for expressing their views and that you'll get back to them as soon as you have had a bit to think about it. Then, go to your office or get somewhere quiet and process what you need to do and say. Call a friend or mentor that you trust to help guide you through it.6. If you have to address the situation right there, your plan is to come off as poised and confident as possible. Hold yourself together until you can respond without flying off the handle or saying anything stupid.7. Address the situation. Ask yourself: What is the bottom line? What do you need to do or to say to make the other person or people happy?8. Deliver your lines. Look the other person or people in their eyes as you deliver your lines. Do it with the most amount of sincerity as possible.9. Be available to discuss it afterwards. Remain calm. You can always freak out later.10. After the fact, reassess how you did. What would you have changed if you could go back? Store that in your memory bank and chalk one up to being ready!A great example of someone being ready when they were caught off guard was Mayor Rudy Gulianni of NYC after 9/11. He went on TV almost immediately after almost being suffocated by the towers. He remained calm and showed sympathy to others even as the news of his good friends' death was delivered to him.Mayor Gulianni had been prepared. He had been reading about leadership and Winston Churchill the night before the tragedy. He was able to recall the story of how Churchill led his people in desperate times, and Guliani was able to call to memory this story as he himself had to present himself as a strong leader.Being prepared takes time of course. But being prepared and ready for the unexpected can catapult you to the next level in your career. It can make people stand up and notice, and can teach you that anyone can survive and thrive, when they expect the unexpected!Mary Gardner , The Charisma Coach! is an Executive Communications Consultant and Trainer. She works with, coaches and trains individuals, sales teams, executives, and celebrities. She owned and operated one of the first coaching institutions on the east coast, CCI, in NYC, Philly and NJ. Mary has appeared on ABC's 20/20 and has self published a book on public speaking. Mary is married to Sway and is mommy to Jeremy 5, and lives in Orlando, FL.For more information contact: mary@marygardner.com or Web: www.marygardner.com
How To Handle Audience Questions Effectively – Public-Speaking
How To Handle Audience Questions Effectively
For some reason, the prospect of having to answer audience questions fills many presenters with dread and fear. Looking at it in a positive way however, it's an ideal opportunity for you to satisfy the audience further, and you can continue to drive your main points home adding emphasis to your talk.As with so many aspects of public speaking and presentations, the key is to be prepared. Make a list of all the logical questions that you are likely to receive, and think carefully about how you would answer each one in a satisfactory way.When it comes to the moment after the talk where questions are invited, relax and stay in control.As the question is asked, look the person in the eye and stay focused on them, nodding your head to show that you are listening. Respectfully wait until they have finished speaking, even if you know the answer mid-way through the question.After each question is asked, thank the person, and if the rest of the audience did not hear the question, it is a kindness to repeat it so that everyone else is on the same page.Take your time in answering questions. Don't feel rushed into giving an answer. If someone is trying to be awkward, continue to treat them respectfully. Never ridicule or be unkind to someone like that ? let them be the bad guy, not you.Resist the temptation to give an answer if you are not sure. It's better to admit you don't know and offer to find out the answer and get back to the person, than to guess and possibly get it wrong.Some people want to hog the question time, and will try to ask you a stream of questions. If the first few are easily answered within a reasonable time, then you might choose to go ahead and answer them, but if the person continues to ask more questions, you should tactfully invite them to speak to you afterwards, in order to give others the opportunity to ask questions.If you are unsure about a confusing question, or you don't hear the person fully, don't be afraid to ask them to repeat it or clarify what they mean. Never guess! If you are still unsure, you might rephrase what you heard and ask them to confirm if that's what they were asking.Lastly, learn from the questions you are asked. For example, if you find that you are commonly asked about something you know you covered in your presentation, you probably need to review that section to make it clearer in future presentations. Likewise, if there is a particular area of interest that consistently arises in questions, you may want to devote more time to that area in the future.Paul Daniels is often described as The Johnny Carson of England. In his home country he is a household name due to his more than 20 years of prime-time TV shows that have been broadcast to 41 countries. Paul's course: The Stress Free Guide To Public Speaking and Presentations is the International best selling speaking course - visit: http://www.stressfreepublicspeaking.com for more information.
Book Yourself Solid, 7 Keys To Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even If You Hate Marketing – Internet-Marketing
Book Yourself Solid, 7 Keys To Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even If You Hate Marketing
If you haven't already heard the buzz, Michael Port is the guy to call when you're tired of thinking small! Michael Port & Associates LLC is the premier marketing and sales strategy-consulting firm for professional service providers. He is the author of the best-selling Book Yourself Solid program and is thrilled to share 7 Keys to getting more clients than you can handle even if you hate marketing and selling. Over the next seven articles, he'll share the secrets he used to turn his own self-employed business without a pulse into a healthy $112,200 income in less than 10 months.If you're out there on your own and absolutely love your work but hate the thought of selling yourself or having to get new clients, you're not alone. If you feel uncomfortable asking a client to buy from you, he has the answers. If you dread having to bring up the subject of money, fear no more. If you've ever been hesitant to boldly declare, "the best thing for you would be me"? Look no more! Thousands of entrepreneurs share your same frustrations and simply, easily and profitably attained success using Michael's 7 Keys.Remember how excited you were when you first launched your business? You knew you had a gift to offer the world? and the universe was telling you that your message needed to be heard. Nothing has changed. If you have a message to deliver it means there are people who are meant to hear it! If you don't offer yourself with complete confidence and conviction, you minimize yourself, your services and your business. You are robbing people of creating a better life. You are limiting your potential and the experience of the services you provide and of being around you ? not a small thing.Book Yourself Solid, Key Number 1: Know Why People Buy What You're Selling
Since it's super normal to feel like marketing or "talking yourself up" cheapens the integrity of your work, I have a simple solution? stop talking about what you do. The secret is to know what your clients want. So? every second of every day focus on clear, specific, and detailed solutions, benefits and advantages that appeal to your potential clients. Because people aren't buying what you do the science, technique or technical name that you use doesn't matter in the slightest! Who cares what you call yourself?!The fancy diplomas on the wall aren't getting you more clients. Clients will come to you, however, when you speak with them about their problems and needs. Start by identifying their urgent needs and compelling desires and then offer them an invest-able opportunity and you'll be booked solid in no time.WRITTEN EXERCISE:Develop a list that starts to identify what your clients are actually buying when they are buying your services.What are your clients' urgent needs? (What problems do they need to solve?)1. __________________________________________________________2. __________________________________________________________3. __________________________________________________________What are your clients' compelling desires? (What are they working toward?)1. __________________________________________________________2. __________________________________________________________3. __________________________________________________________What invest-able opportunities do you offer your clients? (What are the specific and quantifiable benefits?)1. __________________________________________________________2. __________________________________________________________3. __________________________________________________________Now, every time you communicate in person, through writing, on the internet, in advertisements, on the phone, etc? articulate and re-articulate these urgent needs and compelling desires. Your potential clients will connect with you immediately. Most importantly, they'll feel understand and they'll be interested in learning more about the invest-able opportunities you offer.Stayed tuned for Key #2Copyright 2005 Michael Port & Associates LLCMichael Port is the President of Michael Port & Associates LLC and is known as the guy to call when you're tired of thinking small. To spend some more time with Michael and to think bigger about who you are and what you offer the world go to http://www.MichaelPort.com.