Yes, You Can Get over Presentation Anxiety
One of the ways people are taught to get over their fears is simply by facing them. Hence – just do it. If that’s the best we have for addressing presentation anxiety, it’s not enough. Eventhough I, too, have offered quick fixes with the confident by tomorrow morning approach, tactics like this address circumstantial-, not .. read more
Priority Management – a heady chore
For many professionals, Friday is a day to soften the load. We try to leave the office early, schedule events into the day to break up the disciplined focus and look for distractions before Monday rolls around and we’re tied to our tasks again. But for the entrepreneur, the focused business builder and professional trying to .. read more
Emotions have a place, when handled
An introvert, I used to try to conceal my emotions, afraid they would show a weakness. Then I watched some of my favorite performers and realized another perspective. Emotions have a place, when handled. My desire was to learn how to gain control of emotions, then appropriately pull people into my conversations. Although I wanted people to .. read more
If you like the 70’s
This morning the Toledo Eleven news tweeted, “If you liked the 70’s, they are back. Not bell bottoms and disco, but milder temps.” What a welcome relief! Not because I dislike bell bottoms or disco (loved them back in the day!) but because I so enjoy the cooler, milder temperatures. In milder temperatures I am .. read more
When We Are Deliberate
I used to direct an exercise called “Enter the Room” with actors as a reminder of human behavior in given locations. “Enter the room as though you’ve never been there before.” “Now enter the room as though it’s familiar.” “What changed?” Usually the actors would shift from observation mode to purpose. For instance, in the .. read more
Social Pressures at Work
This morning I attended an executive breakfast that included a presentation in team building techniques for effectiveness. Ironically, I had just read Susan Cain’s chapter, When Collaboration Kills Creativity from her book, Quiet. The gist I took from Cain’s chapter is, it’s okay to encourage collaboration, but add a healthy dose of individual, uninterrupted work .. read more
Sharing a page or two
Ever stepped away from the platform after having just presented to a group and thought, “I was really into the topic and so was my audience. Yet, I was all over the place.” It happens. The passion many presenters have to get it all out there when sharing what they know leads them to forget to .. read more
When Introverts Focus on What Works
Yesterday I had a rough day. I watched my partner and her kids hit the road for a fun roadtrip while I stay behind to keep the house in order; discovered one of the songs my band has recorded now has only 30% or less of my harmony in it; and began stressing over my .. read more
The need for downtime
Tick, tick, tick, tick, tick…your brain is full, the creases are marking your forhead and the To-Do list is growing. When can you close up shop and head out? Your stomach is growling, the weekend relaxation calls and your family and friends nudge you into distraction. If you don’t say NO, you feel like a .. read more
Merri’s Tips – Part 6
36. Confirm appointments the day before. How often have you been stood up, where at the wrong location or didn’t know the location of your pre-arranged appointment? It’s a waste of time. Progress and relationships with clients or others take a hit. It’s worth the energy to confirm in advance. 37. Carry extra material to .. read more
