In today’s economy, most professionals are aware of the need to perform well on the job. It’s a tough market and in times of trouble you want to be noticed for your ability, not only to do your job, but to shine in all situations. What can you do to improve your retainability?  How about setting a bold new direction?

Participating in Presentation Skills Training is a surefire strategy to improve your impact at work. Here are three reasons why it pays to invest in your ability to present to groups – both large and small:

1. Increase Your Confidence
Presentation Skills Training takes you through a learning process which includes videotaping your performance and reviewing specific feedback on how to improve. Look for a program that allows you to get taped several times so that you can see your progress over time. By giving presentations to a small audience and being taped, you gain the experience of “just doing it” which automatically increases your confidence. And we all know that a confident presenter speaks volumes over someone who is tentative or uncomfortable at the podium.

2. Increase Your Impact
Once you’re comfortable in front of a group you can work on your impact by playing with several dynamics including vocals, visuals, and verbal content. A polished presenter knows the importance of using their voice to engage the audience. They do this by varying their pitch, their volume and even their pace. Moreover, a seasoned presenter knows how to use visual aids and structure their remarks in a way that maximizes audience involvement. Ultimately, these skills show up in formal presentations as well as day to day discussions and meetings. Making the investment in presentations skills training enhances your ability to make an impact in the boardroom, the client meeting, and in everyday discussions. 

3. Stand Out from the Pack
When it comes right down to it, management notices those who stand out from the pack. In today’s hectic environment, the professional who is comfortable giving an impromtpu presentation distinguishes him or herself from others. Increased comfort and confidence in presentation skills allows one to display leadership in meetings….without worrying about words, gestures, or nervousness.  Stand out from your peers by demonstrating that you are an accomplished presenter who is comfortable in front of a crowd. You’ll be glad you did when you get that next promotion!

There are a variety of presentations skills training programs to choose from.  At Bold New Directions, a transformational learning organization, we have seen huge success with the Skilled Presenter™, Powerful Presentation Coaching, and Think On Your Feet® workshops.  Suzanne Guthrie, co-founder of Bold New Directions, points out that “even the shyest and most timid person came make an impact with targeted presentations skills training and coaching”.  For more information about our presentation skills training, business communications workshops, and coaching programs check out our website at www.BoldNewDirections.com

Bold New Directions is a Transformational Learning Organization co-founded by Suzanne Guthrie and Jim Hornickel. Between them they have 50 years of experience in facilitating group training in Communications Skills, Leadership Skills, and Resilience in the Workplace. You can learn more about them and their training, coaching, keynotes and retreats by going to www.BoldNewDirections.com

All of us have to communicate in our offices, our schools and our homes.  Why then do we have so much trouble?  Surprisingly, few of us have learned how to organize our thoughts for maximum effectiveness.  However, we can learn alot about communications by listening to media experts. 

Think On Your Feet® is a communications skills training program for business professionals.  It takes communication techniques, honed by media professionals, and tailors them to situations faced by business people the world over.  Who hasn’t been put on the spot in a business meeting, or asked to give an impromptu report on a project with little or no preparation?  Who wouldn’t want a sure fire way to lessen the pressure & improve impact? 

Broadly speaking, the Think On Your Feet® program recognizes that effective communication requires us to organize our thoughts.  More specifically, we must organize our thoughts into simple word patterns that our listeners can easily follow. And even more to the point, we must ensure we speak with Clarity, Brevity and Impact™ – the hallmarks of great communication. 

Picture taking a long driving holiday with no clear destination or roadmap.  Imagine the confusion and queries from your traveling companions about where you’re going and when you’ll get there.  Well, communicating without clarity is alot like taking a long car ride without proper navigation.  It’s long, tiring and rambling.

On the other hand, picture a well planned driving trip.  One where the destination is clearly stated and the map is well marked with rest stops along the way.  This scenario makes for a better trip for both the driver and the passenger.  Communicating with Think On Your Feet® is like letting your listeners (passengers) know where you’re going, and what they’re going to see (hear) along the route.  It helps both you and your listeners focus on the message (trip) and get to your destination directly.

 Fortune 1000 firms, mid-sized businesses, and corporate universities are learning how to enhance their business communications through Think On Your Feet® training programs.  They are ensuring that their front-line staff, business professionals, and managers develop this new competency in business communication. 

Suzanne Guthrie, of Bold New Directions, is an accredited facilitator and affiliate of Think On Your Feet® International.  She leads Think On Your Feet® workshops across North America from her base in New England.  When your organization is looking to improve communication skills, consider Think On Your Feet®. Or if you have an interest in presentation skills look at the sister program called The Skilled Presenter™.   For more information about our training programs please go to the Bold New Directions website at www.BoldNewDirections.com 

Are your managers stretched to the limit?  Do they face situations which tax their current supervisory and leadership skills?  Most organizations are growing at such a speed that the basic management skills can be overlooked. 

Situational Frontline Leadership is a program that is designed to support managers in developing the day to day tools that are needed in the current business environment.  See our website at www.boldnewdirections.com and click on Inspirational Leadership to learn more about this program and others.

Bold New Directions is a Transformational Learning Organization co-founded by Suzanne Guthrie and Jim Hornickel. Between them they have 50 years of experience in facilitating group training in Communications Skills, Leadership Skills, and Resilience in the Workplace. You can learn more about them and their training, coaching, keynotes and retreats by going to www.BoldNewDirections.com

Communicating in the workplace is challenging at the best of times.  What about those situations when you are put on the spot and asked to give an impromptu report in an important business meeting.  Are you up to the challenge or, like many, do you feel daunted and panicked?  Most business professionals confess to the latter and struggle to share their thoughts in a clear and concise manner. 

Bold New Directions is pleased to announce a new course offering called Think On Your Feet®.  It is a contemporary business communication skills workshop that helps people organize their thoughts quickly & on the spot.  Working closely with global headquarters in Canada, we have now delivered the program to dozens of Fortune 500 companies in Canada, and more recently, in USA.  The two-day program appeals to financial service firms, IT companies, manufacturing facilities …. anywhere that business people have the need to communicate with Clarity, Brevity and Impact.

We are pleased to be offering this particular course to our clients in the US given its global success. Think On Your Feet® is currently offered in 27 countries and the course content has been translated into 10 different languages.  For more information on how to Think On Your Feet®, visit our our Dynamic Communications page at www.BoldNewDirections.com.

Bold New Directions is a Transformational Learning Organization co-founded by Suzanne Guthrie and Jim Hornickel. Between them they have 50 years of experience in facilitating group training in Communications Skills, Leadership Skills, and Resilience in the Workplace. You can learn more about them and their training, coaching, keynotes and retreats by going to www.BoldNewDirections.com

Looking back over my career, it is clear that the attitudes and beliefs that I brought to my situation impacted my resilience at work.  Becoming more conscious of personal approaches to challenging situations expands our ability to be resilient.

In my twenties, as a young manager I often felt overwhelmed by my workload.  Unfortunately, I brought that view with me each day.  Frequently, I barely struggled through one set of problems only to find another set of problems waiting for me.  This pattern led to the creation of a negative attitude about what each day would bring.  I awoke each morning feeling a sense of doom about the day, which led to a perception that the day would not go well.  And, of course starting with that negative outlook, most often the day did not go well.

By the time I hit my thirties, I began to see the light.  A wise and gentle colleague asked one day if I had ever thought to consider situations in terms of Solutions rather than Problems.  It took only a moment for her to ask the question, and only a moment for me to realize the full significance of what she was asking.  I was clearly looking at much of my life in a problem-oriented manner.  It was as if I was attracting problems just by anticipating them.  I started that day to shift my thinking from problems to solutions, from a “too hard!” perspective to a “too easy!” point of view.

Today in my 40’s, I see the benefit of starting each day with a positive sense of expectancy.  A sense that there will be many opportunities unfolding each day;  a sense that there is no problem so big that does not have a bigger solution.  And wonderfully, this positive sense of expectancy works!  Most days are now filled with good experiences, good outcomes, and perhaps most importantly, good feelings about life.

Nurturing a positive sense of expectancy is one of the many tools you can use to enhance your resiliency at home and in the workplace.   There are many other tools that will help you thrive!  Take a look at  www.boldnewdirections.com to learn about programs to improve Workplace Resilience.

Bold New Directions is a transformational learning organization based in Massachusetts, USA.  Co-founded by Jim Hornickel and Suzanne Guthrie, both experienced trainers and coaches, Bold New Directions offers transformational learning via Leadership Training, Communications Training, and Resiliency Programs.  Fortune 500 companies are amongst our many clients who have loved our landmark programs including Think On Your Feet®, Transformational Leadership™, Situational Frontline Leadership and Resilience At Work™.