03-Planning the work of a team, 04-Managing a project team

Not So Linear Improvement

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Most of us are taking a hard look at areas that we perceive as weaknesses or need some additional improvement to round ourselves out. As we use various methodologies of pin pointing those areas for improvement we set in action a plan to learn, progress, and improve over time.

Given the 13 week semester, will we all progress the same amount if we all put in equal amounts of effort? David Brooks points out in his article, ‘Learning Is No Easy Task‘, that progress is rarely linear. Tasks yield results in different proportions, and being aware of this phenomenon is the first step to mastering the learning process.

Some learning progressions are logarithmic in shape yielding great advancements on the front end of the learning process; you make a lot of progress when you first begin the activity, but as you get better, it gets harder and harder to improve.

Conversely, some learning progressions are exponential in shape, yielding little progress on the extensive efforts put forth on the front end, but your progress multiplies quickly on the back end of the process.

Learning progress curves come in all shapes and sizes. Some are step functions and some are valleys where you have to go down before going back up to higher highs. Whatever the curve shape, the importance is to be aware of the shape so you can effectively change your mental and strategic approaches to successfully master the learning task.

03-Planning the work of a team, 04-Managing a project team

Ways for Improving Management Skills

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The attached link contains an article that not only assesses your current management skills but offers suggestions as to how to strengthen them.

I find this particularly useful as I am currently a Senior Analyst and do not have the opportunity to manage anyone. This is a challenge that I face as I attempt to gain management experience and strengthen my management skills. This article offers ways for non-managers to improve their management skills.

Some suggestions that I plan to implement are:

– taking a leadership role in facilitating meetings. This improves your  communication and plannings skills. Both of which are listed as key skills for managers to possess.

– training and/or mentoring new employees. This is something that I actually already do as the most senior analyst in my group, but I never considered it as a vehicle for gaining managerial experience. Again, this strengthens your communication skills, your ability to motivate people and your ability to understand and encourage good relationships.

Anybody who has set out to improve their management/leadership skills through MP this summer should definitely read this article and take the assessment to determine areas that they should concentrate on. I found this article especially helpful and will be implementing some of the suggestions in my every day work life.

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_28.htm

04-Managing a project team, feedback

Good Leaders Make Employees Feel Safe

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I love TED.

Sorry, but this isn’t an article, but a video of a presentation that’s 12 minutes long. At least it’s not a 3 hour Makadok video… My boss sent this to me and I’m passing it on.

The video talks about the origins of cooperation based on the first paleolithic reactions to danger. In all, it talks about cooperation in any collective, be it a tribe railing against hunger and predators, or someone in a business that’s competing against others in an industry.

In either case, in-fighting and mistrust within the company damages our ability to work together and effectively against a common external danger.

There’s a company, NextJump that has a lifetime employment policy where no one can be fired, but if there are issues, will be coached. I must admit that I kind of laughed at that concept.

I didn’t laugh about the Barry Weymiller 2008 furlough decision, however. If you watch one thing in this video, skip to 8:30.

07c-Telling stories

The Art of Storytelling

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Effective communication engages and connects with an audience.  This skill differentiates top leaders and world changers from mere managers.  It is also a pretty good indication of who commands the largest crowd at a party.  And the best communicators know that the way to reach into the hearts and the minds of their audiences is through storytelling.

Data can be compelling, but stories help give it life in the minds of its receivers.  We remember facts in context of a story. Zig Ziglar, American salesman and motivator, used stories as his sales method to create an emotion behind the facts of what he was selling.  Stories inspire people, they touch emotions and help them envision the message.

Looking to start a world-wide movement?  One of the greatest influencers of all time, Jesus Christ, told stories through parables to his followers. Mark 4:34 says, “He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.” Whether you plan to start a movement as big as the spread of Christianity or just want to convince the room to understand your pitch on a business idea, the value of a story cannot be underestimated.

There are a few characteristics of a great story to consider, making storytelling a very achievable goal for any individual aspiring to make an impact. One of the best suggestions by Seth Godin is this: “Here’s how to know if you’re on the right track: if you stop a story in the middle, the audience will insist you finish it.” Storytelling is a form of art, and just like an artist practices art, so a storyteller can practice and perfect the influence of the story.

07c-Telling stories, 07d-Delivering a presentation

Public Speaking Tips from Susan Cain

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 Susan Cain is a writer and lecturer, her most recent book is called “Quiet” from 2012. The book is about “The Power of introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking”, she describes how all introverts need to realize the power of stepping outside of their safe zone to be an extrovert every now and again.

She is a well known presenter who is currently delivering speeches on this book. Her style of presenting is intriguing in that she has strong story telling abilities, uses props, humor, strong facial expressions and hand expressions.

She has the ability to remain animated and interesting, as she takes a personal approach and shares her views and funny stories about her life as an introvert.

Several keys to her successes as a speaker that she uses to present her material are below:

1)   Preparation is key- Practicing out loud, and video taping yourself are all helpful things as most people are uncomfortable with the idea of how you come across.

2)   Feed the audience what they want to hear. Is your audience looking to solve a problem or looking for any information in particular?

3)   Watch videos taken from different speakers vantage points. While you are watching take note of all the eyes on you and get used to it.

4)   Practice standing in the place you will be speaking at while looking over the room of empty seats.

5)   Get a hold of a great speakers written version of their speech and see how the speaker engages, inspires, and educates the audience.

6)   Utilize your strengths and weaknesses as a speaker. If you are funny, be funny; if you are great at telling stories, tell one.

7)   Create a persona of sorts. You are on stage and this is a performance, you need to keep the audience entertained and engaged.

8)   Smile at the audience, it will keep you relaxed as well as keep the audience connected.

 

Are there any introverts out there that struggle presenting that have any tips for pushing through a presentation? Please share!

 

Below is a link to her original article on tips for presenting:

http://www.readitforward.com/susan-cains-public-speaking-tips-for-introverts/

 

Below is a link to her speech on the book “Quiet”

07d-Delivering a presentation, clearing slides, questions

Pre-Speech Rituals from Speaker Camp ATL

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I was asked to serve as a mentor at a workshop this weekend called Speaker Camp ATL. The workshop is designed to prepare attendees for conference submission season. Attendees came prepared with presentation ideas and with the help of mentors they worked through the bios and abstracts they’ll use when they apply at various conferences in the fall. Then, at the end of the workshop, they presented for 5 minutes in front of a video camera (sound familiar anyone?). Following each speech the mentors offered encouragement and feedback to help them continue getting ready for a conference speaking position. For me, helping other people is a really great way for me to learn things myself, so I was super excited to participate.

There was a ton of great information during the workshop including things like setting realistic expectations on prep time for presentations (they suggested that a 45 minute presentation requires around 40 hours of prep and practice), and paying attention to details like arriving early to ‘case the joint’ so you feel comfortable in the space where you’ll speak etc.  The ideas behind the workshop come from a soon-to-be-published book of the same name.

My favorite discussion from the workshop actually centered around pre-speech rituals. I loved hearing what other experienced speakers do to get ready for a keynote presentation. I’d always thought that my pre-speech rituals were signs of inexperience and I was happy to hear that in fact these rituals frequently become more developed and specific as speakers gain more experience.

One ritual that several people shared was something they call “Power Posing.” Power posing essentially involves spending several minutes in a body posture that conveys power, such as standing up straight, feet hip-width apart with shoulders back and hands on your hips. The speakers in today’s workshop assert that they always do this for 2-5 minutes before they go on stage and that the results are transformative for them. They feel calm, confident and ready to share their knowledge and information with the audience. And much to my surprise, there’s some good research that backs this up. Specifically the CNN article above includes the quote,

“[power posers]… experienced significant increases in testosterone — a hormone linked to assertiveness — and significant decreases in cortisol — a hormone linked to stress. In other words — two minutes of preparatory power posing optimizes the brain to function well in high-stakes challenges.”

I’m so interested to try this out. Have you guys every heard of this or done this? Does it work for you? What other pre-speech rituals are helpful for you guys?

My ritual involves writing down my worst fears about what might happen during my presentation until I can’t think of anything else bad that might happen and then tearing up the paper and throwing it away. It seems to help clear all those irrational fears out of my head so I can focus on the speech itself.

07c-Telling stories, 07d-Delivering a presentation, storyline structure

11 Techniques Steve Jobs’s used to Present Apple’s

Steve Jobs was known for a slick product presentation with a seemingly casual delivery. His visionary products he pitched through his keynote presentations created hype and buzz in the industry that will be timeless. He was a fantastic presenter however not a natural, which gives hope to all of us that need improvement!

He used many different techniques to perfect his art of presenting and many articles can be found that explain his effective use of these techniques.

I have attached an article which describes 11 different techniques that Steve Jobs practiced. Teaser alert; my favorite recommendation is Practice & Have Fun.

 

1) Express your passion

2) Create a Twitter-friendly headline

3) Stick to the rule of three

4) Introduce a villain

5) Sell the benefit

6) Build simple, visual slides

7) Tell stories

8) Prepare and practice excessively

9) Avoid reading from notes

10) Have fun

11) Inspire your audience

If you have any good tips on presenting you utilize, please share!

Attached below is the original article:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2012/10/04/11-presentation-lessons-you-can-still-learn-from-steve-jobs/

Continue reading 11 Techniques Steve Jobs’s used to Present Apple’s →

07b-Using good information design, charts & graphs, tables

Attention, Cleanup on Slide 6.

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Engineers like numbers. Engineers like problems that can be solved with numerical analysis. Engineers like when others agree that their numbers are correct. However, all too often Engineers fail to clearly communicate their ideas, analysis, and solutions in a manner that quickly informs, educates, and persuades their audiences. I would know; I am an Engineer.

Presenters commonly overlook good information design in their presentations. Instead, they focus on providing the maximum amount of information and data in a manner that allows the audience to fully appreciate not only the solution but also the process of the analysis. In their attempt to wow the audience with slides dominated by tables, charts, graphs, best-fit lines, major and minor grid lines and the like, they instead produce confusion and lack of interest. I will be the first to admit that I am guilty of such techniques.

In Edward Tufte’s work on information design, “Visual Display of Quantitative Information” – yes it is indeed as interesting as it sounds – Tufte discusses Data-Ink and Graphical Redesign. In order to achieve maximum impact, Tufte outlines five principles for data graphics that can lead to significant improvements in graphical design: 1) Above all else show the data, 2) Maximize the data-ink ratio, 3) Erase non-data-ink, 4) Erase redundant data-ink, and 5) Revise and edit. To help clarify, Tufte describes data-ink as “the share of the ink on a graphic that presents the data-information”; it is “the non-erasable core of the graphic.” The key and the challenge of this topic is finding simplicity.

Tufte provides a great example of how to erase redundant data-ink within reason. Consider a simple bar chart with a single bar that is shaded and displays the value of the data point at the top of the bar. The height or value of the bar chart in this simple example is identified in six separate ways. Five of those ways can be considered redundant and removed, and the important data will still be present. The six ways include, 1) the height of the left vertical of the bar chart, 2) the height of the right vertical of the bar chart, 3) the height of the shaded region of the bar chart, 4) the vertical position of the horizontal top of the bar chart, 5) the vertical position of the value on top of the bar chart, and 6) the numeric value itself. Removing redundant information creates clearer presentation and more effective communication of a presenter’s ideas.

For most, this is likely not the most exciting of topics. However, for someone who works heavily in numerical analysis and who must convey outcomes to audiences of varying backgrounds, these suggestions on good information design are priceless. Does anyone else struggle in the area of good information design? Have you ever been complimented on your information design? Any other suggestions of how someone can improve their ability to display quantitative information?

 

Tufte, Edward R. “Data-Ink and Graphical Redesign.” The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. Second ed. Cheshire, CT: Graphics LLC, 2006. N. pag. Print.

07a-Crafting an effective formal presentation, 07d-Delivering a presentation

Deliver a Presentation like Steve Jobs

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Steve Jobs was always famous for his style of presentations. His keynote presentations were a vital part of Apple’s  marketing plan to bring in sales.He informed, inspired, and always kept his audience entertained and had them at the edge of their seats with his famous one liner that he always used to conclude his presentation.”Oh and there is one more thing”.  A phrase he had famously used in making announcements of products towards the end of many of his presentations, which would amaze the audience and make them exit on a high. So what made him unique ? why was he so different ? Was it the product ? Was it his delivery style.

Carmine Gallo , communication skills coach in his recent article about steve jobs on business week talks about 10 presentation traits that steve jobs used  to inspire his audience and keep them engaged.
There are three key presentation skills that he references which stand out particularly.

Setting the theme

Jobs crafted the art of setting the theme Every presentation would start on a theme which he would reinforce several times throughout his presentation. 2008: There is something in the air today

Sell the benefit

Jobs would sell the benefits over the products; which I personally think is the reason why apple products are so successful. We all didn’t need the iPhone; before it was introduced. It was also one of the most expensive phones at that time; still many stood in line for as many as 3 days to get their hands on the phone. The benefits of listening to music, watching movies, access to multiple applications on a single device made the benefits outweigh the costs.

Trying for an unforgettable moment.

Every presentation of Steve jobs had one instance or one event which made the whole experience unique to its audience. There was always something new which was never experienced or seen to take away. In 2007, it was the iPhone. In 2009 it was the mobile me and in his last keynote address it was iCloud.

Has anyone else had any similar observations that they may have witnessed about Steve jobs or any other speakers which they admire the most. Do they all share similar presentation skills ? I invite you to share your experiences

Link to the article:  Deliver a presentation like Steve jobs

 

04-Managing a project team, feedback, team dynamics

The Communication Loop

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Throughout my professional years, I have found myself in working situations where the majority of the people that I interact with are not in the same office as me. I imagine several of you have experienced a work relationship like this as well. Satellite environments have made me a huge proponent of closed loop communication.

Steve Adubato describes the impact of this tool in an article entitled Great Communicators Close The Loop. Proactively closing the conversation eliminates confusion as to what the next steps are for each party. While I know some people hate to receive “Thank you.” emails, I am not one of those. Those simple emails say so much. I read those two words as, “I received the document that you have provided, and it fulfills my needs perfectly. I will contact you back should I need anything further.”

When I receive no communication back, I am left in a state of confusion. Did my file go through? Are they too busy to respond? Is that all they needed?

Sometimes I imagine how this interaction would play out in person:

Christine: “Hi John. Here is the file you requested. Please let me know if you need anything further.”

John: (Grabs paper and walks away without responding)

Not an entirely beneficial exchange, but I know we all witness these types of passive conversations daily via email.

Steve also describes the importance of proactive communication. Don’t always force people to remind you that they are waiting on a deliverable. Bringing the topic up, explaining your work to date, and acknowledging a completion date all provide confirmation that you are hard at work on their task. People like to feel that their work is important to you, and these simple behaviors will reinforce that feeling.

Am I the only one that saves “Thank you.” emails as a sign of confirmed receipt? Do you all find yourselves frequently in email limbo, wondering if your document was received or if anything further is required of you?

MEMBA learning community, Fall 2016- Spring 2017