Guila Muir

5 Ways to Energize Your Presentations

Guila — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:53:28 +0000

What’s the difference between presenting and training? Think about it. Presentations are usually delivered one way, from speaker to audience. Their primary role is to deliver information.

Training sessions, on the other hand, not only build skills, but are interactive. Participants do things in training. They talk to each other and to the trainer. They engage their minds and bodies. They are no longer passive recipients of information.

To spruce up your presentations, try using a hybrid model. Inject training techniques to bring your presentations alive.

5 Ways to Make Your Presentations More Interactive

Preface your presentation by briefly stating a relevant problem. Ask participants to be ready to solve the problem by the session’s end based on what they’ve learned.

Distribute a list of questions for participants to answer as you present. (By directing participants to listen and search for information covered, you actively engage their attention.)

Ask a relevant question and make it clear you expect the participants to think about it; then have them share their responses with one other person. (Optional: then elicit few of those responses.)

Interrupt yourself periodically and challenge participants to give examples of the concepts presented thus far or to answer “spot-quiz” questions.

Provide a “quickie” self-test either before, during or after the session.

These techniques shift several responsibilities onto the audience, where they belong:

–the responsibility to learn

–the responsibility to engage, and

–the responsibility to remember.

However, your responsibilities as a speaker shift a bit, too. You must move from spraying audience members down with an “information hose” to having more of a dialogue. Be sure to let your audience know what you expect of them before introducing each technique. And don’t let them slide back down into passivity—keep them awake and involved!

Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

Guila Muir is a premiere trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters. Since 1994, she has helped thousands of professionals improve their training, facilitation, and presentation skills. Find out how she can help transform you from a boring expert to a great presenter: www.guilamuir.com

Are You a Super-Trainer?

Guila — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 18:20:03 +0000

Assess Yourself and See!

What attributes do all super trainers share, no matter how different their styles? Rate yourself from 1 (I’m not so great at this) to 3 (I do this every time!) on the guidelines below. Then read the strategies, which will transform YOU into a Super Trainer.

Three Essential Attributes of Super Trainers

1. Content Knowledge
Of course, this comes first. If you don’t know your subject, you shouldn’t be training it. However, you DON’T have to know every last detail before you’re ready to train.

My self-rating on Content Knowledge

1 2 3

low high

2. Willingness To Have Fun
This one’s a potential danger zone. Some trainers have so much fun themselves that they remain oblivious to the participants’ needs, insights, and potential contributions.

Having fun doesn’t mean you are able to toss out jokes. Willingness to have fun means relaxing WHILE you exude dynamism and energy. It means connecting with the participants WHILE you focus on content and time management. It means enjoying the participants WHILE retaining your unique role as trainer.

My self-rating on Willingness to Have Fun

1 2 3

low high

3. Use of a Well-Structured Training Design
Have you ever wondered about the source of the following issues?

–Bad marks on your training evaluations (excluding comments about cold coffee or overly warm training rooms)
–Participant hostility, side conversations or passive-aggressiveness
–Lack of participation
–People sleeping

The invisible culprit is often how the session is designed, not the presentation skills of the trainer. Design affects everything related to the training.

Training design is training architecture. A badly–designed course will sag, fracture, and even crush the best trainer.

My self-rating on Use of a Well-Structured Training Design

1 2 3

low high

Strategies to Pump Up Your Training Skills

Even if you rated yourself high on the preceding attributes, these strategies will enhance your training:

1. Content Knowledge

Ensure that you have included only the absolute “MUST-KNOW” material into your training session. When you develop the session, test each part of the training by asking, “is this a ‘must-know’ piece of information, or is it merely ‘nice to know?’ Toss the ‘nice to know’ pieces. Remember-less is more.

If a participant asks you something you cannot answer, remember that it is OK to say “I don’t know. Let me find out and get back to you,” but only if you really will follow up. Meanwhile, acknowledge that a participant in your group may well have the information you lack. Don’t be afraid to ask. Doing so helps you build community with your participants.

2. Willingness To Have Fun
The more prepared you feel with your content and training structure, (attributes #1 and #3,) the more fun you’ll have.

But you must also examine your beliefs about people. Do you feel they are mainly a drag, or do you find them interesting and quirky? Do you like yourself? Are you accepting or judgmental? Your underlying beliefs about yourself and others either boost or impede your level of relaxation and ability to have fun in the training role.

It’s worth your time to examine your philosophy of teaching. Do you buy into a “boot camp” mentality? Alternatively, do you feel oversensitive to students’ needs? Heighten your awareness of your philosophy and actions, and then make changes if needed. Fun will follow!

3. Use of a Well-Structured Training Design
Here are three guidelines to ensure your training architecture is sound:

–Never organize your training session using PowerPoint.
–Carefully and thoughtfully develop learning outcomes. Organize all your content to achieve them.
–No matter how experienced a trainer you are, take a basic class in course design. It may challenge they way you think about training!

It’s always good to re-visit the essentials; all Super Trainers do. Integrate these Top Three into your training, and you’ll find yourself among the greats!

Boost your Training Skills. See free newsletters full of tips and techniques for improved training: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs071/1101469784148/archive/1101880413533.html

Guila Muir is the premiere trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters on the West Coast of the United States. Since 1994, she has helped thousands of professionals improve their training, facilitation, and presentation skills. Find out how she can help transform you from a boring expert to a great presenter: www.guilamuir.com

How to Build a Course: Instructional Design Made Easy

Guila — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:40:58 +0000

Have you been charged with developing either an on-site or online course for other employees? Do you feel like a deer in the headlights? What should you do first?

Instructional design means simply “the ability to develop a course that changes people’s behavior.” You’ll use the same basic rules to develop a course whether you are teaching in-person or online.

These three steps will help you build a strong, effective blueprint for your course.

1. Develop a purpose statement.

State in clear language who your audience is and what the topic is. The statement should be fairly broad. Here are examples:

“The purpose of this training session is to help front-line supervisors write e-mails more clearly and concisely.”

“The purpose of this training session is to teach clients how to use to use Calypso effectively.”

“The purpose of this training session is to improve the presentation skills of accounting professionals.”

2. Ask yourself, “What will the learners be able to DO by the end of this session?”

Keep in mind the length of your session. As an example, let’s say that the first example above is a two-hour course. You might say:

By the end of this session, front-line supervisors will be able to:

1. Explain at least five etiquette rules for writing clear e-mails.

2. Correct basic punctuation in several e-mails, and be able to describe the rules used.

3. Compose and send an e-mail that integrates these etiquette and punctuation rules.

These statements are called learning objectives, or learning outcomes. They act as “buckets” for your content. By figuring these out early on, it becomes very clear what your content should be.

Brainstorm as many ideas, topics, and activities as you can to fit into each bucket. Then select ONLY the two to three most important topics and/or activities within each bucket.

This is your content—nothing more. (At this point, it’s important to remember the adage: Less is more!)

Flesh out what you will say and do for each of the topics and activities you identified. Don’t stray outside the buckets you have chosen!

3. Create a test for each bucket.

Creating simple tests allows you to check how well learners are absorbing the information. It also allows you to develop interesting and relevant learning activities.

To create a test, simply take your “buckets” and turn them into questions or activities. For the example we have been using, this might mean:

(For bucket #1 above:) Ask: “What are at least five etiquette rules for writing clear e-mails?” (Learners can work together to reflect on the answers, individually write them down and discuss with a neighbor, use the chat box if online…)

(For bucket #2 above:) Provide several e-mails with incorrect punctuation and instruct the learners to correct them, then call on various learners to describe the rules used (can be done both in classroom and on-line.)

(For bucket #3 above:) Request that the learners compose and send you an e-mail that integrates these rules, then provide quick reminders and feedback.

Instructional design isn’t difficult. However, it does demand that you create a clear blueprint…and think in terms of buckets!

For more information on course design, see our blog entries at http://www.guilamuir.com/category/blog/training-development/.

For a longer version of this article, see http://www.guilamuir.com/blog/the-seven-laws-of-training-what-managers-must-know/.

Learn the secrets and skills of course design! http://www.guilamuir.com/courses/train-the-trainer/instructional-design-made-easy/

Four Gender-Specific Presentation Blunders

Guila — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 01:05:52 +0000

Is it true that men tend to make certain types of blunders while presenting, and women others? In my experience, yes. I have worked with hundreds of individuals and single-sex groups, and notice recurring, gender-specific behaviors that sabotage presentations.

In the interest of advancing further research, I submit these very common blunders, and give you the tools you need to prevent them.

Most Common Presentation Skills Blunders: MEN

1. Guys, you wander aimlessly too much. Move with purpose ONLY. Pacing or shuffling weaken your delivery and your message.

The best reasons to move are:

When you are changing a subject.
When you are changing an emotion.
When you’ve been in one place for the entire time.

Stand and deliver, then move.

2. Get those thumbs out of your pockets or your waistband. This posture is called “genital framing.” Do you really want to express “check me out, I am a virile male” during a high-stakes financial talk? (Or maybe you do…What do I know?)

Instead, use your hands and arms in a natural way to emphasize your words. You can even just let your arms hang down at your sides (now that feels weird, doesn’t it?) Just don’t tuck your hands away…anywhere.

Most Common Presentation Skills Blunders: WOMEN

1. Read the following. Is Mary credible?

“Hello. My name is Mary Smith? I am the communications director? And I’ve worked here 15 years?”

I’ll bet your answer is NO. Mary just sabotaged herself, big-time. Even if she is most credible person in the company, she now has to earn back the credibility she lost through the upward inflection at the end of her sentences.

Professor Yia Hei Kao of Claremont University is just one of many researchers and linguists who have found that when women end their sentences with an upward lilt, they project uncertainty, tentativeness, and the desire to please others.

Women, is THAT how you want to come across? We no longer need permission to speak, so why act as if we do?

Practice introducing yourself. Listen for the upward swing at the end of the sentences. Enlist someone else to help if you are not sure what you’re hearing. End your sentences with a downward inflection. This “fix” is one of the most important things you can do to increase your credibility as a speaker.

2. Stand evenly on both feet. Don’t heap your weight onto one hip. This “cheerleader” stance makes you look like you’re posing for a photo shoot. To come across as grounded and powerful, BE grounded from the floor up.

OK, men and women. I hope these tips help you. Share them with those of the same and the opposite gender. Let’s all work towards a world full of improved presentations!

Does Smiling Help or Hurt Presenters?

Guila — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:48:23 +0000

The actual answer to this question, based upon many studies and years of research, is “it depends.”

How Smiling Helps

The act of smiling changes our brain chemistry for the better. An authentic smile can:

Boost mood and confidence by increasing serotonin, norepinephrine and endorphins.
Lower heart rate, and
Reduce anxiety.

These chemical changes obviously benefit presenters.

An authentic smile also makes other people feel good. An audience that feels good makes our job as presenters easier. In fact, when people see a smile, the reward centers of their brains turns on, making them happier. Who doesn’t want a happy audience?

So what could possibly be the down side of smiling?

How Smiling Hurts

Among primates, smiling means submission, “I am not a threat.” We humans still read smiling this way. Oversmiling makes you appear less confident and more desirous of approval. (NOT how you want to be perceived as a presenter!)

Most studies find that in general, women smile more than men. In fact, research involving nearly 110,000 people found that smiling is females’ default option. Audiences may perceive a constantly smiling female presenter as less competent and knowledgeable than a less-smiling female or a male. But males can oversmile, too.

To Smile or Not to Smile?

Here’s how I would answer that question. Before presenting, prepare yourself:

1. Pump up your enjoyment level. Tell yourself, “I will enjoy this,” or “I feel great,” or “the audience is my friend.” Allow yourself to feel positive.

2. Feel an authentic smile engendered by positive thoughts. Feeling 100% present, smile as you introduce yourself and take ownership of the presentation space.

3. Gradually and naturally, let your introductory (and authentic) smile fade as you get further into the material.

4. Be willing to smile and laugh naturally throughout your presentation. Always smile when welcoming people back from a break.

The bottom line is, as usual: Be yourself, with an addendum: Watch your smiles!

Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

The 12 Most Persuasive Words in the English Language

Guila — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:28:39 +0000

All effective presentations change the ways people think or act. Think about it—even if you are “just” presenting data, you’re doing it for a reason. You want people to use the data to change something!

Every effective presentation persuades the listener. Certain words persuade people more effectively than others.

Going back to 1963, expert speakers have identified these twelve words as the most persuasive in the English language. Try using one or two in your next presentation, and watch for changes in how people react to your message.

1. You: Personalize your speech so that your listeners feel you are talking directly to them. (Example: Ask, “What does this mean to you?” and stick in a benefit.)

2. Discovery: What an exciting and enthusiastic feeling from childhood this conjures!

3. Easy: Your audience wants more ease in their busy lives. What can you offer?

4. Guarantee: Remove the feeling of risk. Make people feel safe. (Which brings us to:)

5. Safety: This word conjures comfort and eases people’s fears.

6. Save: Everyone loves to save money and time. Make the most of this word!

7. Health: Your listeners gravitate toward self-preservation. See if you can make a connection to your topic.

8. Love: Don’t overuse it. It’s one of the most powerful words when you know what your audience loves the most (Family? Security? Safety? Income?)

9. New: Freshness, innovation, change…people like new “stuff.”

10. Proven: The opposite of ‘new,’ this word ensures us that we are not taking risks. Be sure to back this one with data.

11. Results: What people will get, how they will benefit. Very powerful!

12. Free: Don’t forget the different definitions of this word: not only free of charge, but also freedom of movement and choice. This word gives the hope of liberation and expansion.

ALL these words involve emotion. Don’t be afraid to use them, as emotion is the key to persuasiveness.

Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

Stand and Deliver!

Guila — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:00:16 +0000

Are you serious about wanting to increase your dynamism, power and energy as a speaker? Then you must stand up when you present.

Andy Eklund, a presentation skills expert, tells us:

“The vast majority of people are at least 50% less dynamic when sitting down, because their body movements are halved … and perhaps as much as 75% because everything else is restricted too. It’s more difficult to breath properly, which means it’s harder to project your voice. Hand gestures diminish, if not disappear. Eye contact disappears too because the person tends to read what’s in front of them.”

I want you to stand when you present because I want you to be powerful. I’m providing my favorite mottos and metaphors to help you remember to stand tall. Note: Please stand up NOW to try them out—you’ll find a favorite to use the next time you present.

*Imagine that your vertebrae are separated by small pockets of air.*

*Roll your shoulders “into your back pockets.”* (This opens your chest.)

*Imagine a string attached to the crown of your head, gently pulling it up while your chin relaxes downwards.* (Don’t lead with your chin.)

*Lengthen your neck and all else will follow.*

*Create “cleavage” in your back, between your shoulder blades.* (woo-hoo!)

*Point your chest to the place across the room where the wall meets the ceiling.*

*Simply think “UP.”*

Remember-it’s not about rigidity, it’s about grace, strength and power as a presenter.

Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

Communication and Leadership

Guila — Sun, 08 May 2011 23:20:08 +0000

How does leadership look and sound? Adam Bryan distills thousands of years of leadership experience of successful CEOs in his new book, “The Corner Office.” Practice the following phrases in your workplace. Soon, you’ll feel comfortable practicing the underlying behavior as well.

1. Passionate Curiosity

What it looks like: Engagement with the world, relentless questioning of the status quo. What it might sound like:

“Why does it work this way?”
“What are people’s stories?”
“What’s the big picture?”
“Why?”

2. Battle-Hardened Confidence

What it looks like: A track record of overcoming adversity. What it might sound like:

“I don’t blame others.”
“I have the ability to shape events and circumstances.”
“I don’t quit.”

3. Team Smarts

What it looks like: A highly-honed understanding of people and group dynamics. What it might sound like:

“_____ has an important point. Let’s listen to him/her.”
“What do we need to change to work together better?”
“I’m sensing discomfort. Let’s talk about what’s happening here.”

4. Simple Mind-Set

What it looks like: Speaking concisely; the ability to ‘connect the dots.’ What it might sound like:

“Let’s cut to the chase.”
“Here is the core point.”

5. Fearlessness

What it looks like: Comfortable being uncomfortable. What it might sound like:

“This is an opportunity.”
“I’m willing to take a chance here.”
“I’m hungry for change and can manage it.”

All five of these characteristics can be developed through attitude, habit and discipline. If you are an emerging leader, practice the mind-set of these phrases. Soon, you’ll feel comfortable practicing the underlying behavior as well!

Read more articles about Presentation Skills. Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

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Present With Purpose

Guila — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 18:07:16 +0000

To ensure a successful presentation every time, presenters should start by developing a clear, concise purpose statement. The purpose statement serves two important roles. It helps keep you focused and on track as you develop the presentation. It also helps your audience focused on your message from the get-go.

Before you present: Clarifying the purpose helps you avoid a data-dump. You will design your presentation with a focused viewpoint and avoid excess content. Because you are designing more efficiently, you save tons of time and energy.

As you present: By stating your presentation’s purpose in the first few minutes, you shape your audience’s expectations. You also make an overt commitment to achieving that purpose. This adds to your credibility as a speaker.

Here are a couple of examples:

“The purpose of my presentation is to inform you of the new changes in our contract.”
“My purpose today is to introduce the preliminary findings of our report.”
“Today I will show you the 5 benefits of our new venture.”

Why Don’t More Presenters Do This?

I have three big guesses as to why more presenters don’t develop and use a clear, concise purpose statement.

1. The lure of PowerPoint. Even though using PowerPoint to organize a presentation almost guarantees a data dump-style presentation, many presenters have grown up thinking this is the only way.

I have nothing against using PowerPoint as a tool once you have clarified the presentation purpose. In fact, I suggest putting your purpose statement on the very first PowerPoint slide!

2. The belief that the audience already knows what you are going to say. Your audience may know the fuzzy parameters of your speech. It’s your job to shape their expectations toward what you want to say.

3. Ignorance. Many presenters simply have never considered the importance of using a presentation purpose statement to guide their process.

Where to Start

The best way to develop your purpose statement is to start with this bare-bones template:

“The purpose of my presentation is to:

(1) verb

(2) audience (you can say “you” here)

(3) topic.”

Examples #1 and #2 above follow this template. Example #3 throws in a little “what’s in it for you” statement. All are effective.

My Challenge to You

Try it out! Create a purpose statement for your very next presentation. If you already have a presentation that lacks a purpose statement, develop one NOW and use it the next time you present.

You will find yourself and your audience more focused on the message. Let me know how it goes!

Read more articles about Presentation Skills. Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

The Most Important Tool for Successful Meetings

Guila — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:34:00 +0000

Do you wish you ran better meetings? By using an outcome based agenda, you will experience an immediate, extraordinary improvement.

What is an Outcome-Based Agenda?

Put simply, an outcome-based agenda is a plan that states “what will have changed” by the end of the meeting.

You, the meeting leader, develop and execute the meeting outcomes. These serve as your job description for the meeting’s duration.

Meeting outcomes always begin with the words, “By the end of this meeting, we will have…” The verb you choose to finish this statement is of utmost importance.

Do you see the difference in the examples below? They are listed in the order of complexity:

“By the end of this meeting, we will have discussed…”
“By the end of this meeting, we will have brainstormed…”
“By the end of this meeting, we will have decided…”

The biggest mistake meeting leaders make is to promise more than the meeting can deliver, based on the time allotted. By taking the time to figure out exactly what is achievable in the time allotted, and by stating it using the future perfect form of the verb (“will have ________ed)” the meeting leader has a much better chance at success.

How to Develop an Outcome-Based Agenda

1. Get input from stakeholders. (Stakeholders may include meeting members, their bosses, or anyone with a “stake” in the ultimate meeting product.) Ask them, “What do you think should be included in our next agenda?”

Stakeholder input is essential. However, it’s YOUR job to synthesize the input you receive, and to weigh and decide what can realistically be accomplished in the time that you have for the meeting.

2. Using stakeholder input as the core, create the meeting outcome statement. Always begin with the words, “By the end of this meeting, we (or you) will have…” Choose a verb that is achievable in the time frame allotted. For example, for a 45-minute, very first meeting, one outcome might be:

“By the end of this meeting, we will have learned more about the problem and brainstormed possible solutions.”

If your meeting is ninety minutes long, you could say instead: “By the end of this meeting, we will have:

learned more about the problem,
brainstormed possible solutions, and
made preliminary choices of the best solutions.”

Can you sense the difference in time needed for these two very different sorts of meetings?

3. Put the outcome statements at the top of the agenda.

E-mail them to meeting members. Write them on the whiteboard and state them at the beginning of the meeting. Any way you can, make it very clear what “will have changed” as a result of the meeting.

Guess what? By using these guidelines to develop and use an achievable outcome statement, your meetings will become shorter, less painful, and more productive. I guarantee it!

Guila Muir is the premiere trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters on the West Coast of the United States. Since 1994, she has helped thousands of professionals improve their training, facilitation, and presentation skills. Find out how she can help you improve your meetings! http://www.guilamuir.com/courses/facilitation-skills-training/