How to Present March 2015 Edition

MARCH 2015

www.michellebowden.com.au

IN THIS ISSUE


How to stay MOTIVATED in saleses STRONG Leaders show WEAKNESS Counter NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES at work Optimism Vs Pessimism

Conference Speaking Tips What NOT to do!

Persuasion Tips Fix JOB DISSATISFACTION BEST SELLING Presentation Skills RESOURCES Measure your presentation success

PLUS: FREE audio giveaway!

Introducing PREZI

Manage your NERVES! FASHION at work: The GREY scale Success Stories

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!1

DIARY DATES PERSUASIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS MASTERCLASS (2-day Public Program) SYDNEY 2014 March 24-25 April 28-29 May 19-20 June 9-10 July 21-22 August 18-19

To register or chat about your specific needs please email:

WHO IS MICHELLE BOWDEN? Michelle is an expert in persuasive presentation skills in business. She has run her 2-day Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass over 660 times with more than 6500 people and she’s been nominated for Educator of the Year for 7 years running.

Michelle is one of only 35 Australian females who is a Certified Speaking Professional the highest designation for speakers in the world. For a list of Michelle’s clients please go to: www.michellebowden.com.au

Michelle’s Update Welcome to the March issue of How to Present - this issue is packed with articles that will assist you to present with greater confidence and influence at work.

NEWS BREAK: my book How to Present (Wiley) is officially in the best sellers list and is now being stocked in Officeworks around Australia. Please go to your local Officeworks and thank the staff for stocking it. Turn it face out so people see it when they walk past for me and even buy one if you haven’t got your copy yet!

It’s been a massive start to 2015. A huge welcome to FoodCo, Queensland Funeral Directors Association, Astus Australia, Sign Manager, Diamonds International, and Service Now!

And welcome back Clinique, EOS Technologies, Bauer Media, Westpac, Janssen-Silag, CSR Bradford and REVLON! You’ll see some REALLY TERRIFIC photos of people having an awesome time in the back pages!

It’s my birthday and I love birthdays! That’s why I’m on the cover! And I’ve included some of my all time favourite tips for my special birthday month! We are taking registrations for my world famous Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass for April and May. If you are thinking of coming along please Register today to be sure you can attend on the date you prefer. Visit my website.

PLUS in this edition I will help you with 3 exciting new sections called: What NOT to do! plus Conference Speaking Tips and Persuasion Tips. Plus I share some of my favourite ideas on how to Manage your Nerves.

AND…Kris Flegg introduces you to Prezi, David Penglase helps us to Stay Motivated in Sales. Andrew Dent talks about how to Measure your Presentation Success. Greg Mowbray reminds us that Strong Leaders aren’t Afraid to Show Weakness. Ken Warren helps us to Counter Negative Stereotypes at Work and Jon Pratlett explains the power of Optimism versus Pessimism. Robin Powis shares her tips on power dressing with The Grey Scale and don’t forget our exciting GIVEAWAY this month too! Plus as always read some inspiring presentation Success Stories and check yourself out in our photo pages in the back. So grab yourself a ’cuppa’, put your feet up and have a read! And most importantly, make sure you put the invaluable advice into immediate action so you see some fast results. Happy Presenting!

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!2

Michelle Bowden’s Proven Presentation System The ultimate guide to presenting your ideas and influencing people using techniques that actually work Do you get nervous when presenting at work?

Do you want to showcase your knowledge, influence people and accelerate your career?

Would you like to learn the secrets of successful speaking, communicating and presenting?

How to Present reveals how you can be a confident, clear and influential presenter every time. Presentation skills expert Michelle Bowden shares her internationally proven 13-step system to exceptional presenting, starting with analysis (plan what you would like to achieve), then design (put your presentation together) and delivery (communicate your message for results).

Whether you’re presenting or speaking to one person or thousands, this is the essential guide to becoming an outstanding presenter.

How to Present will help you: • Maximise your impact in meetings, conferences and conversations • Manage your nerves so you feel calm and confident • Engage your audience and master the art of persuasion • Deliver your message clearly and with authority • Command attention and achieve your goals!

There is no other book on the market like this that will take you step-by-step through the process of successful presenting.

— Steve Weston, Managing Director of Retail Lending, UK Retail and Business Banking division, Barclays

Buyhere it now!

Purchase your copy

RRP AUD $27.95, NZD $31.99 | Available in print and ebook formats

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!3

SUCCESS STORIES! MARIE DELAITRE HR PROJECT LEAD, SUNRICE FOUNDER: WISELY SHARED & HEALTHY TABLE

learn this, and helped us all get over our own fears and judgements about a presentation skills program.

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting in business? The program has given me confidence and structure.

Having a range of practiced presentation skills feels like having a secret weapon. I know that all my colleagues who went through the program with me still refer to their notes and use the techniques. The fact that we did it as a team amplified the results.

In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?

Marie is a HR Leader by day and entrepreneur by night. She is developing two businesses. The first is focussed on growing authentic leadership and maximising the possibility within people. The second helps people with food intolerances and allergies find safe eating options. Her website wiselyshared.com gives more details about her adventures in business.

What kind of presenting do you do at work?

I think presenting happens all the time. At work, it will be in front of Senior Leaders. In other contexts I can even find myself presenting myself or my ideas or even a mini pitch for one of my products at networking functions.

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program? We had been enrolled as a work team and I was mortified about the prospect of standing in front of my peers to learn to present. I have to admit that I was not keen to attend. I am glad to say that I was WRONG! Michelle made it easy to www.michellebowden.com.au

I now feel more grounded in presenting and am confident to put my hand up to speak (it used to be a mental struggle). I can also have more fun and let my own presentation style shine through because I am prepared and know where I am headed.

Another area which has benefited has been my writing. The persuasion skills work just as well when used in spoken presentations, and individual conversations and also in emails or reports. It is brilliant for change management. It is amazing how the skills Michelle teaches becomes second nature when practiced.

The big change for me was challenging myself next year to hold workshops on authentic leadership and leading from the heart. I can now focus on the content of the workshop, instead of worrying about the presenting element.

In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training?

I needed to present to our executive management team shortly after the program.

Whilst I had used the training program to

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!4

SUCCESS STORIES! (CONT.) practice my speech and felt confident delivering it, some of the things which I thought I paced well were not accepted. A colleague who did the course asked me to go through the steps to see what I could have done differently… Aha! I was proposing a lot of change to a conservative audience. I needed a lot more of what Michelle calls ‘pacing’ (possibly over a longer period of time).

Valuable lesson learnt.

What were your top take aways from Michelle's program?

I now also find myself spending planning the message instead of PowerPoint slide presentation agenda. I feel very comfortable with very few or no slides.

4. Use pauses. If you have read this far and have not done the course yet, I highly recommend it for 2015. The sooner you do it, the sooner you can use it.

www.michellebowden.com.au

more time letting the drive the presenting

1. Use what you learn – practice it, share it with others.

2. Use ‘because’ instead of ‘but’ to persuade – it is like a magic spell.

3. Use both your actions and words to make an impact.

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!5

WHAT NOT TO DO #1

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Welcome to a new segment in How to Present called What NOT to do! This segment is dedicated to remind you of all the funny little habits that you should get rid of immediately.

Is there a stance I should not do as a presenter?

The Fig Leaf or Crotch Clutch position is where you stand with your hands covering your crotch! I commonly notice that male board members and politicians are photographed in this stance! Ha!

This is the only stance you shouldn't do. It makes everyone look at the one part of your body you'd probably rather they didn't!

I'll say no more! Instead place your hands by your side in the natural stance or move them with a purpose to reinforce your various points.

Happy Presenting!

MEASURE YOUR PRESENTATION SUCCESS

BY ANDREW DENT Presenting is not easy. You can travel long distances, away from your family, to stand up in front of a group of strangers, and share your ideas. You might have to be a little crazy to do this! A big part of what drives many of us is the ability to impart some knowledge to our audiences; knowledge that they will take away and use back in the real world.

So how do you know if you have enriched someone’s worldview or helped them in some way? Sure we collect business cards, and ask for the feedback forms to be filled in. But I think many of us will acknowledge that what happens to our attendees after they leave the room or meeting is bit of a mystery.

social space enables collaboration between the presenter and the audience, before, during, and after the presentation. Through the use of discussion threads and audience polling, Zeetings provides the opportunity for a deeper connection with audiences. Presenters have access to a wealth of analytics relating to audience participation and engagement. This enables better measurement of learning outcomes, and most importantly helps to solve the mystery of what happens to your attendees after they leave the room.

There is free version of the product to try here.

Give it a try.

Aussie startup Zeetings understood that it was important for presenters to build an ongoing emotional connection with their audiences, connections that live beyond the presentation event itself. Zeetings has developed an online tool that allows presenters to create a social space around their presentation materials. This www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!6

CONFERENCE SPEAKING TIP #1

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Attend Other Presentations. If you are one of many presenters at a conference be sure you don’t act like a superstar jetting in right before your presentation and then leaving straight away without giving the audience time to connect with you in a more personal way. If you’re giving a talk as part of a conference, try to attend some of the earlier presentations by other presenters.

This shows respect for your fellow presenters and it gives you a chance to get a sense of the vibe of the audience. What's the mood of the crowd? Are people confortable laughing or are they a bit more formal? Are the other presentations more strategic or tactical in nature? Another speaker may also say something that you can refer to in your own presentation. www.michellebowden.com.au

DON’T PICTURE ME NAKED

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Imagining your audience naked will not work, so please don’t do it! There are many excellent techniques that you can use to reduce your nerves and increase your enjoyment when presenting, and they don’t include imagining your audience naked! How revolting!

I’ve been told stories time and time again of presenters who were told by their boss to imagine their audience naked, and they either froze on the stage or felt more nervous than ever.

Despite the fact that this has been touted as a "cure" for speech anxiety since time immemorial, you have to ask yourself, was there ever such a ridiculous and counterproductive solution to public speaking fear?

Seriously, how would this technique improve your focus and mindfulness? Instead, remind yourself that the people in this audience are the same ones you talk to effortlessly and without any self-consciousness in your general conversations. And if you were one on one you would be fine.

www.michellebowden.com.au

Instead of picturing them naked please remember my favourite saying: “IN ANY GIVEN MOMENT IT’S JUST ME AND ONE OTHER.” Speaking to your audience as a group is a wonderfully efficient way to get your message across to as many of people as possible.

Just always remember you cannot look meaningfully at a group. You have only one set of eyes (and they generally look in the same direction!) So you can only look at one person at a time. Deliver individual concepts to one person at a time and make sure you really connect with each person as you look at them.

This is called Extending the Self and it will help you manage your nerves and engage your audience. Happy Presenting! www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!7

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED IN SALES

BY DAVID PENGLASE

Make a plan 1. Break goals into sub-goals.

2. Define activities for sub-goals.

3. Time activate activities.

4. Start with 'Can Do Now’.

Here are some things you can do to ensure you stay motivated in sales. Because sometimes it’s not easy right? Set yourself some 'inspirational goals' - these are goals that you personally want to achieve. Don't just think about sales targets (these are usually given to you) think about tangible and intangible things that you want to achieve out of life. In fact you could apply a goal management model like the following to help you achieve your goals and to stay motivated.

Build the goal 1. List what you would like to achieve.

2. Prioritise down to top 5.

3. Time activate (start or finish time).

4. Check consistency with self and others.

Invest in the goal 1. Define skills needing development.

2. Define knowledge needed to acquire.

3. Define attributes needing refining.

4. Define network and contacts for assistance.

Complete actions 1. Start success journal

2. Start with 'Can Do Now'

3. Start rewarding incrementally

4. Start sharing success

Self evaluate 1. Complete goal review questions

2. Decide on appropriate action

3. Continue success journal

4. Continue sharing success

www.intentionomics.com

Affirm value 1. Write personal affirmations.

2. Develop visual reminders.

3. Involve trusted others.

4. Practice possibility thinking.

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!8

PRESENTING PREZI

BY KRIS FLEGG - OFFICIALLY ACCREDITED PREZI EXPERT

You may have seen it used in a TED talk, or heard about it from a student using it in the classroom — Prezi is an increasingly popular tool that you can use to help make your next presentation a success. But what is Prezi and why should you bother with it?

Can you remember the first time you used Google Maps or Earth and enjoyed that wonderful experience of zooming in from a view of a country, then to a city, then a suburb and then into a street? Imagine the same experience for your presentations — that's Prezi. Rather than being constrained to a slide, Prezi uses a really large canvas in 2.5 dimensions that allows you to show the big picture overview of your presentation and then zoom in to reveal the details.

As Australians, we love to be colloquial and given the name Prezi, some of us like to think of it as ours. Actually it’s not — Prezi has come from Budapest, Hungary. Adam Somlai-Fisher was an architect who found the constraints of slides a challenge to express his work and ideas. In early 2000 he enlisted the help of a programmer friend to create the first version of

www.michellebowden.com.au

a moveable canvas. Over the next few years he used Prezi across Europe and by 2009 an early version was released to allow others to use the tool. Today over 50 million users have created 200 million Prezis. From the boardroom to the classroom it’s helping presenters create more effective and engaging presentations.

As a visual aid, Prezi allows you to show relationships and context to information by allowing you to create a big picture, then zoom into details. Presenting information in a hierarchical way is easier to understand and recall.

I spent a decade in banking, making and delivering presentations. After struggling to make slides work I found that after just a few days using Prezi, I could make better presentations than 10 years of using slides.

Today, I'm an officially accredited Prezi Expert and head up a team that works with clients designing Prezi presentations. I also give training on how people can make great presentations using Prezi.

Presentations are important and it is easy to get them wrong. There are definite dos and don’ts when it comes to presentations. Over the coming year I will explain more about what to do and what to avoid when it comes to adding a visual edge to your presentations.

Like to see a Prezi? Click here for an Australian themed Prezi overview:

kris@prezitraining.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!9

MANAGE YOUR PRESENTER STATE

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN I had a presentation to deliver last year in the worst venue possible! There were no walls – just curtains between the various parts of the event. Unfortunately there was another speaker on at the same time as me. We were both wearing lapel mics. We shouted over the top of each other for a good hour until thankfully his session finished an hour before mine. I had a good hour to bring it back on track!

The good news is since that dreadful event I’ve actually received bookings from the people who were there to speak for their companies. They loved the presentation despite the dreadful venue because I managed my presenter state.

It’s true that your presentation is not always going to be held in the best possible venue within the best possible environment, or even the best possible audience! As the presenter,

www.michellebowden.com.au

remember your role is to control three things: yourself, your message and your environment.

And that’s what makes it great for your audience!

Here are 5 things you can do to help manage your presenter state more effectively:

1. Know your Audience.

Make sure you work out what your audience is thinking, feeling and doing prior to your presentation. What is their current state? Then work out what you need to achieve from this presentation. What is your desired state? In this way you won’t be walking in to any big surprises.

2. Rehearse your Key Message.

Rote learning doesn’t work. It overloads your brain and almost certainly causes you to go blank. Rehearsal or practice is essential though. Be sure to run through the key messages of your p re s e n t a t i o n o u t loud so you know roughly what you want to say and in which order. Some people like rehearsing in front of a mirror. Just be sure to make time for as many run throughs as possible so that if everything goes wrong on the day you’ll be able to keep going if necessary.

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!10

MANAGE YOUR PRESENTER STATE (CONT.) day and be sure to eat a good breakfast with more protein that processed carbohydrates (think green leafy veges, eggs, salmon) or you’ll end up starving and exhausted and at the end of the day with a massive headache to boot.

5. Work off your stress hormones.

When we are ‘nervous’ or ‘stressed’ our body produces cortisol in response to a perceived threat, promoting the burst of energy that allows you to run or fight. Too much cortisol and you’ll be too ‘full-on’ when you present and the audience won’t be able to relate to you! In my early days of speaking I recall almost shouting at an audience because I was so pumped up on cortisol. This is not OK!

3. Get in the zone.

Serena Williams believes she wins tennis games because she follows a certain routine each time. She brings her shower sandals to the court, ties her shoelaces a specific way and bounces the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second.

Williams believes her losses are due to not following her routines correctly.

When presenting you might like to listen to a certain song to get in the zone. Or maybe you want to wear a certain pair of socks, use a lipstick that makes you feel great, or a suit that just works for you. Like serious actors, I recommend you always do your vocal warmups to get in the zone before an important presentation. My confident speaking vocal CD is available from my website.

Although our distant ancestors may have benefited from this physiological response, a modern lifestyle that involves high levels of stress may lead to excessive amounts of cortisol in your system, which is not healthy for you. Regular exercise can help reduce your cortisol and stress levels. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice reports that aerobic exercise seems to have the greatest effect on reducing cortisol levels.

All these tips are essential to help you better manage your presenter state. Happy Presenting! www.michellebowden.com.au

4. You are what you eat.

Avoid alcohol and caffeine because they dehydrate you. Chose herbal teas, coconut water or energy drinks at a push. Plan your www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!11

STRONG LEADERS AREN’T AFRAID TO SHOW WEAKNESS

BY GREG MOWBRAY Is it just me, or do you find it weird that some people try to create the illusion that: • • • •

they are always in control they are always right they are always confident they always know exactly what to do.

If you are a leader who promotes this illusion you are risking people not engaging with you.

others' input reveal that they too sometimes second guess themselves ask for help.

Showing vulnerability from time to time will demonstrate your authenticity as a leader.

People get that, they like that and they follow authentic leaders. www.licencetolead.com.au

This could be because they know you are not perfect, but you still try to kid them that you are.

Or, it could be that as a result of the 'perfect image' that you promote, they are intimidated by you. Either way, they are not likely to truly follow you.

Strong leaders aren't afraid to: admit they got it wrong, but they learn from the mistake and go again confess that they sometimes don't know what to do, but they ask for

TESTIMONIAL about Michelle’s training: FROM DANIEL PANOZZO, OPTUS “I attended your 2 day course called Presentation and Communication Skills as part of my organisation’s leadership development program in 2008. I still speak to people about this course and maintain it is the most influential, enjoyable and meaningful facilitation course I have attended. I now present and facilitate regularly to many different sized audiences and about many various topics, continuing to utilise so much of what I took away from your course. Thank you.”

For more information on Michelle’s keynote speaking go to www.michellebowden.com.au

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!12

COUNTERING NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES AT WORK

BY KEN WARREN “I’m standing in misunderstanding. I must have just stepped in it.” Jarod Kintz, This Book Has No Title Have you ever been unfairly accused by a colleague of workplace bullying? Or have you been labeled as a trouble-maker, due to simply raising concerns at work? Do people speak negatively about you?

It is very hurtful, of course, when people think the worst of you and misjudge your intentions. If negative stereotypes are allowed to continue, such beliefs can certainly affect other people’s dealings with you and perhaps result in formal grievances being launched.

Fortunately, there are ways to break such negative stereotypes.

1. Reassure people of your intentions. When people have insufficient information, they are often tempted to fill in the blanks for themselves.

Sadly, many people tend to assume the worst.

Cognitive psychology says that this is due to most human beings having a negativity bias.

When faced with uncertainty or challenging behaviour from others, we often assume the worst so we can anticipate danger and take protective actions. While this negativity bias can certainly ensure our survival in high-risk situations, assuming the worst in others at work means that we are usually wrong.

If you sit down with a team member to address a concern you may have about their performance, this bias may cause them to misread your intentions. Rather than seeing it as an opportunity to learn or get on the same page for the future, they may assume you dislike them and would prefer not to be working with them. www.michellebowden.com.au

So, it is important when there is a chance that colleagues may think the worst, that you let them know that you have good intentions. For example, letting people know that you genuinely want to achieve a good outcome that is fair for both of you.

If you are a team leader, you might be able to say that you have your team leader’s hat on, that it is part of your role to give feedback, and that you very much want to help them to succeed. Of course, it is important when communicating good intentions that you also communicate genuineness. The other person has to believe that you mean what you say.

2. Contradict the negative stereotype they have. Here it is important to give people a different experience of you to one they are predicting. It is hard to maintain a negative view of you if your behaviour is completely different to what they expect. If they are misreading performance management as bullying, is it possible to give them space for a while? When speaking with them, can you give more of the feedback that is positive than constructive? Or can you work with them more collaboratively, involving them in solutions that are respectful both of their needs and the workplace’s needs?

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!13

COUNTERING NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES AT WORK (CONT.) In such situations, it can also help to have a supportive third party present, ‘to keep you both on track’. Assuming this third party is supportive of your approach, this can help to counter any negative stereotype the team member concerned may have and help protect you from unfair accusations.

run customised training about building positive t e a m r e l a t i o n s h i p s , h a n d l i n g d i f fi c u l t conversations well, and what workplace bullying is, as well as what it isn’t. We all need to understand how we can easily misperceive other’s behaviour, how our behaviour can come across to others, and what can do to work through difficulties as they arise.

If others see you as a team member who is constantly negative and resisting change, can you pick your fights more carefully? Can you make it more obvious when you are cooperating with what needs to be done? Is it possible to make comments that are more positive and supportive.

Yes, it is very tempting to tell people to lighten up, to point out their own defects, and to defend our own behaviour. Unfortunately, such human responses tend to only confirm negative stereotypes, not dispel them.

Remember that negative stereotypes are developed through misperceptions, over time.

It is also what you do over time that counters those stereotypes.

3. Run appropriate training. There is no doubt that education and skill development influences change at the workplace level. For example, I am often called into workplaces to

Such training, where the issues appropriately, can be a way to needs of individuals and develop someone feeling like the finger being pointed at them.

are handled address the skills without of blame is

Although we can’t control how people choose to see us, we can at least make sure that people understand our intentions and that our body language and behaviour matches accordingly.

Ken Warren BA, M Soc Sc, CSP is a Relationships Specialist who helps teams to perform at their very best.

Through his enjoyable and interactive speaking programs, Ken will help your people to build even stronger, more positive and productive teams; work more easily with difficult colleagues and clients; and enhance their resilience and well-being at work.

Check out all of his free resources through his website: www.positivepeoplesolutions.com.au

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!14

PERSUASION TIP #2 - GIVE THEM LESS OPTIONS

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN From salad dressings to computers and vehicles, we’re flooded with options. Most people celebrate that, but if you’re looking to make a sale, you’re better off giving fewer choices.

Only 3 percent of shoppers made purchases when presented with 24 different varieties of jam as opposed to 30% percent when six varieties were offered. Similar results were found when an employer offered 50 different mutual funds versus five.

M o r e options produce paralysis.

The mental p ro c e s s i n g required to assess and make a goes into overload. Avoid decision by narrowing your options down to sales, increase your conversion offering fewer options.

www.michellebowden.com.au

decision paralysis three. In rate by

PESSIMISM VERSUS OPTIMISM

BY JON PRATLETT You talk to yourself! Yes? Well, the way you explain setbacks, mistakes and disappointments to yourself can dramatically effect your outcomes. Whether your thoughts are pessimistic or optimistic will affect the choices you make, and actions you take.

Pessimistic thoughts, are useful in high risk situations where doing a second safety check might save your life, but optimistic thoughts will generally serve you better.

When coming up against a stressful situation a pessimist's fight/flight response will be triggered more readily and stay switched on for longer than an optimistic person.

Explanatory styles can be altered, with attention and practice by asking yourself three Yes/No questions around the situation: 1. Do I think I played a key part in causing it or was it mainly caused by outside forces?

(Personalisation or not). www.michellebowden.com.au

2. Do I think the situation, and the feelings around it will remain the same or can things be changed over time?

Pessimists view negative events as permanent and positive events as temporary.

Optimists view negative events as temporary and positive event as permanent.

3. Do I think the experience is replicated right across my life or is it specific to just one part? (Pervasive or not).

Want to know more?

Read "Learned Optimism" by Martin Seligman. To your success. Jon Pratlett www.jonpratlett.com

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!15

THE GREY SCALE

BY ROBIN POWIS There is much hype surrounding the upcoming release of the movie Fifty Shades of Grey in Australia on February 12. Fifty Shades of Grey is based on the erotic trilogy by E. L. James, which has sold over 100 million copies.

Love or hate the book it definitely has made an impact.

So its no wonder that grey is the hottest neutral this autumn in shades ranging from dark to light grey including silver, platinum, ash grey, battleship grey, charcoal, blue-grey and gunmetal.

Grey whether cool, warm, soft or rich, has always been a classic neutral as it is timeless, refined and elegant. A minimalist shade, grey is stylish all year round as it transcends from season to season depending on its hue.

How to wear Grey Grey works with most colours though the trick is to make it work for you, to flatter your colouring. A cool shade, grey flatters cool skin tones so if warm skinned choose a warm grey.

Corporate Wear grey with black and white if you want to look professional.

A neutral colour palette is a fresh look.

Choose charcoal grey as your wardrobe hero either in a suit, a tailored coat, slacks or pencil skirt. Wear with a classic white or black shirt and add a splash of colour for individual flair.

Fire Engine Red Stand out in grey with a bold fashion choice like fire engine red. Red looks daring in pants, a skirt, a www.michellebowden.com.au

top or a distinctive tie.

Romantic Create a soft classical look with pastels: blush, powder blue, baby pink, lilac or mint.

Jewel Tones Contrast with ruby, cobalt blue, emerald or violet. The lighter the grey, the darker the complementary colour should be, and viceversa.

Accessorise Use grey accessories to anchor your dramatic outfits. Grey suede shoes, a grey leather handbag, gloves, a textured scarf or jewellery. Wear silver jewellery to give your outfit life.

Alternative to Black Grey provides a softer alternative to black and is more flattering to wear for light haired individuals and most people over 40.

Tonal Grey Head-to-toe grey creates a modern minimalist look and with fifty shades to choose from, why wouldn’t you.

The key is to: Add shine with a sheen in the fabric, hints of metallic thread or sequins.

Layer shades like dove grey with charcoal.

Add texture and pattern such as fringing, fur, lace or velvet.

Look for pieces cut in feminine and contemporary for girls, or in a modern shape for men. www.definingstyle.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!16

CONFIDENT SPEAKING VOCALS–AUDIO

A confident, persuasive speaking voice lies within you!

Many of us know someone who has a strong, rich, resonant voice. Maybe it’s an actor like Sean Connery or Cate Blanchett.

At some point you may have found yourself wishing that you could enhance your vocal quality and projection so you were more compelling, influential and persuasive when speaking in meetings, persuading your manager, or selling to your clients.

Well you know it’s possible, and it’s easy! Creating a rich, resonant influential voice is all about warming up your voice, and this CD will take you through the warm-ups that actually work one by one. Enjoy!

HOW TO PRESENT–TIPS FROM THE MASTERS–AUDIO SERIES

Fast-track your presentation and speaking skills success by discovering the presentation secrets of 14 of Australia’s top conference keynote presenters.

What would be possible for your career and income if you absorbed the wisdom of Australia’s top speaking professionals and could learn from their tips and their mistakes?

Well, now you can in this series of insightful interviews by Australia’s #1 Presentation Skills Expert–Michelle Bowden.

Learn critical presentation tips from the amazing: Amanda Gore, Lisa McInnes-Smith, Glenn Capelli, Alan Parker, Siimon Reynolds, Rodney Marks, Sam Cawthorn, Marty Wilson, Terry Hawkins, Dale Beaumont, Catherine DeVrye, David Penglase, Avril Henry and Bruce Sullivan.

EXCEPTIONAL PRESENTATION DESIGN–DVD

You can design an exceptional presentation in a minimum amount of time!

Imagine how helpful it would be if you could have your very own coach taking you through the design process for an exceptional presentation. That’s exactly what this DVD is for!

If you have a presentation to write, simply play this DVD and Michelle Bowden will coach you through the design of an exceptional presentation from beginning to end. It couldn’t be simpler!

An ideal accompaniment to Michelle’s book How to Present, you’ll be reminded how to identify the purpose of your presentation, analyse your audience and design a powerful message that influences your audience to change their thinking and/or behaviour using techniques that actually work!

www.michellebowden.com.au

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!17

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER I am presenting every day in many ways. I will strive for excellence on every occasion.

I recognise that you cannot not influence. I will pay attention to the impact of my choices, actions and decisions on their wellbeing.

It’s not about me. It’s all about the audience! Remembering this helps me achieve my communication goals.

I am confident and interesting and I will strive to be as good at being my ‘authentic’ self as possible.

It doesn’t matter how good my message is if no one is listening! I will do what I can to help them listen.

MICHELLE BOWDEN (CSP) PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER Michelle Bowden is an authority on presentation & persuasion in business.

Michelle is a CSP (the highest designation for speakers in the world), co-creator of the PRSI (a world-first psychometric indicator that tests your persuasiveness at work), best selling internationally published author (Wiley), editor of How to Present magazine, producer of Michelle Bowden TV, and a regular commentator in print, radio and online media. www.michellebowden.com.au

These guiding principles should be your presentation mantra every day you go to work!

www.michellebowden.com.au

Presenting is a lot more than a nice voice, good body language and some PowerPoint slides. Presenting is about connecting with people through the words I choose to say and the way I choose to say them. I will choose carefully!

I will look people in the ‘whites of their eyes’ and really connect with them the whole time.

I am an interesting, confident, engaging presenter. I believe in myself because I know that my self belief will help me help my audience.

I respect my audience, prepare in advance and strive to master my craft.

How to Present Magazine

Happy Presenting!

MARCH 2015

!18

WATCH YOUR PEOPLE GROW.....

BY GREG MOWBRAY "Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon them and to let them know you trust them.” Booker T. Washington A leader's number one job is to grow and develop their people. Do these three things and watch them respond.

1. Give them responsibility. I encourage leaders to delegate all of the tasks that someone else in the organisation can do and to focus on just the tasks that only they can do.

Work out what you are going to get someone e l s e t o d o . B e s p e c i fi c a b o u t y o u r expectations, the outcome required and the timeframe.

they need to do the job (time, skills, resources).

Offer to guide them as they go if necessary.

To be honest, this is not going to work every time with every person. You actually have to risk failure in order to go forward. In the majority of cases people will accept the responsibility and rise to the occasion. They grow in confidence and self belief. You get a more capable, engaged team. Everyone wins. www.licencetolead.com.au

2. Trust them. This will take courage. You have to accept the risk that they may not get it 100% right. Unless people are given opportunities to shine they won't grow, so take the risk.

3. Support them. Set them up for success, not failure. Make sure that they have everything

FREE AUDIO GIVE BUSINESS ESSENTIALS In October last year I was interviewed by the Business Essentials team.

To receive your personal copy of my interview on persuasive presenting in business PLUS interviews with Heather Maloney (Project managing a new website); Peter Maguire (Why you invest in your peple); Harry Mills (Turning Aha moments into sales) and many more; be one of the first 5 to email michelle@michellebowden.com.au with the words Business Essentials in the subject line.

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!19

BOOK OF THE MONTH OK, I know it’s MY book! If you are serious about really improving your business presentation skills then you need this book. Go to my website

CD OF THE MONTH

HELP OTHERS

Thinking of improving your presentation skills but don’t want to go on a training program? You need to grab a copy of How to Present - Tips from the Master.

Tips from 14 of Australia’s top public speakers. Go to my website

Walk in Her Shoes is CARE Australia's biggest fundraising event. Every March, thousands of Australians take on the challenge of walking 25km, 50km or 100km over the course of one week to raise money for women and girls living in poverty.

www.walkinhershoes.org.au

GIFTS

HEALTH

How fabulous is this? Design your own beautiful chair using this clever on-line website.

Raw Cacao products are a source of beta-carotene, amino acids (protein), Omega-3 essential fatty acids, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, sulphur, potassium, and one of the best food sources of muscle relaxing, stress relieving magnesium.

MICHELLE LOVES...

Here are some of my favourite things for you

FRAGRANCE

TRAINING ROOMS

KARMA Ginger & Sandalwood My favourite location for training 125mlA natural and refreshing in Australia. In my 2 decades of long-lasting scent that can be experience there simply isn’t used in the home, office and car.

anywhere better than Christie Venues in Sydney & Brisbane!

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

BEAUTY MAC Phlox Garden limited edition fluidline eye-liner gel.

Perfect for anyone with green eyes!

MARCH 2015

!20

 

Photo Gallery

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!21

Photo Gallery

www.michellebowden.com.au

How to Present Magazine

MARCH 2015

!22