Career Musings

Second in the series: Presidential Poise

This segment talks about being ‘well prepared and well practiced’ in order to deliver an effective speech.

“Not all of us need or have the opportunity to make a public speech. If we did we could certainly learn many lessons form Obama. Most importantly to be well prepared and well practiced. I’m certain he didn’t write a few notes on the back of his hand and just “wing it”. In fact he has been learning the craft of public speaking for many years and so can you. Even if you just speak up in meetings or conference calls being at ease in these situations is the sign of control and confidence.

Having a powerful, persuasive voice helps. Again this trait can be developed through being aware of what your voice sounds like, eliminating the ums and ahhs, you knows and perhaps getting some voice coaching.”

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As an aside, Toastmasters is a great organization to help you eliminate the ums and ahhs and deliver an effective speech. Visit www.Toastmasters.com and find a club near you.

The next post will be Being Well Mannered.

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Sue Currie, the director of Shine Communications Consultancy and author of Apprentice to Business Ace – your inside-out guide to personal branding, is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. To learn more about how you can achieve recognition, enhance your image and shine, sign up for free monthly tips at http://www.shinecomms.com.au

The following is an excerpt from Sue Currie’s recent newsletter titled Presidential Poise. As a career coach and speaker, I usually discuss some of Sue’s points with clients when I meet with them one-on-one, when I facilitate workshops, or when I speak to groups. I cover topics like poise, self-confidence, public speaking, dress code, mannerisms, etc. Over the next few days, with permission from Sue Currie, I’ll reprint segments of her article. Here’s the first segment:

“According to former Australian Prime Minister, Paul Keating in an article in The Australian, one of the attributes that sets Obama apart is his poise.

What is poise? According to various dictionaries it means calm self-assured dignity, ease of manner and assurance, especially in dealing with social situations. Also, a graceful controlled way of standing, moving or performing in action. Equilibrium, a stable state of balance. Going further into the Thesaurus these words and phrases come up also, mental poise, intelligence and wisdom.

Poise is a very desirable personal brand attribute. Here are a few tips to help you include and exude this trait into your personal brand:

Self confidence. Displaying self-confidence and self-assurance is easier said than done. However, a leader or someone in control shows re-assurance to others. They take an interest, listen and make the first move to initiate conversation, putting other people at ease. Obama uses encouraging words of hope and a future to look forward to. He has a warm, genuine smile. His words, actions and manner are comforting and reassuring.”

Next post will be How to Speak well with Composure.

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Sue Currie, the director of Shine Communications Consultancy and author of Apprentice to Business Ace – your inside-out guide to personal branding, is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. To learn more about how you can achieve recognition, enhance your image and shine, sign up for free monthly tips at http://www.shinecomms.com.au

Attend this 1.5 hour presentation at Sheridan College in Brampton tomorrow, January 20, at 6 pm. The presentation will include:

**How to Bridge the “No Canadian Experience” Gap

**Creating a Road Map to SUCCESS

**Elements of Effective Communication (and it has nothing to do with Words)

**The 3 R’s of an Effective Job Search

**Using Social Media as a Networking Tool

Amid news of layoffs and a declining employment rate, what should we be doing to secure a place in the workplace? Career coach Daisy Wright of The Wright Career Solution says job seekers should make proactive choices now. Get your resume ready, take advantage of training opportunities at your current job and do a lot of networking. Get to know people within the company, as well as others in the field. Make sure people know who you are and what your skills are. She says many companies offer bonuses to employees if they successfully recommend someone before they even post a job. That’s one of the reasons jobseekers should learn how to network effectively. CHUM FM reporter Sara Konings spoke with Daisy Wright.

Visit this link: http://www.chumfm.com/podcast/MP3s/Interviews/Career%20Coach.mp3 to hear the entire interview. You can also visit www.thewrightcareer.com/news.htm and click on the CHUM FM 104.5 link.

Hello Readers,

Happy New Year! I would like to share with you a part of an email from motivational speaker Jonathan Sprinkles in which he asks whether the people we associate with SUPPORT or STRETCH us. Do they support us because they care how we feel or do they stretch us so we can question the self-imposed limitations we place on ourselves? Great points to ponder for 2009!

According to Jonathan:

People who SUPPORT you care how you feel.
People who STRETCH you care how you finish.

People who SUPPORT you don’t want you to get hurt.
People who STRETCH you don’t want you to waste your potential.

People who SUPPORT you want you to feel loved.
People who STRETCH you want you to feel challenged.

People who SUPPORT you tell you it’s okay.
People who STRETCH you ask you how you’re going to do better next time.

People who SUPPORT you want you to be safe.
People who STRETCH you love you too much to let you stay where you are.

My wish for you in 2009 is that you will surround yourself with a good blend of supporters and stretchers. Supporters are great, but you need some no-nonsense stretchers to force you out of your comfort zone and set you on the path to achieving your goals. Olympians Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps had stretchers who helped them reach their gold-medal potential…so can you!

Happy New Year!

Daisy