Archive for the ‘Presentation skills’ Category

Be a kid – the value of playfulness in science and technology

Posted by Liz McKechnie

When we get grown up it’s easy to forget what fun we had and how we learned new things and and came up with new ideas when we were kids.

We learn to put away childish things and accept that they are not appropriate for the workplace.

When we get grown up we learn we have to speak in particular ways, wear particular clothes, control our emotions including enthusiasm, excitement, and joy, etc.

When we communicate at work we are taught to abstain from using adjectives and metaphors in order to stick to the facts, in the name of clarity.

We are even told to curb our gestures in case we undermine the seriousness of our intended message.

Whatever happened to nurturing our creativity?

Take a look at this great video of AnnMarie Thomas giving a TED talk on the playful side of engineering, science and technology – using play dough.

See if you can find your inner kid again. How could you bring him/her into work more often? Read more

Guinea pig personal impact

Are you predator or prey? How to raise your personal impact when facing senior colleagues or the board

Posted by Liz McKechnie

What happens when you are in the hotspot and facing senior colleagues or the Board?

Do you quail and tremble before the eagle eyed stare of your superiors or do you hold your own and inspire respect and admiration?

If you’re not having the personal impact you want how can you raise your game?

Remember, there’s always another point of view and it’s worth asking yourself what’s going on for those eagles…

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Making your PowerPoint slides come to life in presentation – Auntie Enid and the camel…

Posted by Liz McKechnie

How do you use PowerPoint effectively in a presentation?

Liz McKechnie looks at how you can make your PowerPoint slides interesting for yourself and other people.

What’s the story? And how do you keep people awake, engaged, and remembering the info?

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