Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Happy New Year! Bring on 2009!

Hope you had a very refreshing and relaxing Christmas and New Year's break. It's now time to get back to work and back on stage!

Did you make a declaration or a 2009 resolution to master your presentation skills?

“Cecilia runs a very useful presentation. My presentation style has really improved. Make it a New Year’s resolution to see her and speak with confidence!” – Serene Lo, Director of Human Resources

The start of this year is very different from years past. There is a little more tension and concern stepping into this New Year and no wonder. Gloomy predictions and economic woes dominate headlines in just about every newspaper and magazine cover.

Whatever your career or business situation is, the temporary slow down is the perfect time to top up skills and sharpen your competitive edge! The ability to communicate effectively, to persuade and to influence will be in demand more than ever. Tough times call for strong leadership and leaders who have the ability to motivate and inspire in the coming months.

Here's a few tips to get you started:

1. Join a Toastmasters Club or at least go to a meeting. There are over 30 Toastmasters Clubs in Hong Kong conducting meetings in Cantonese, English and Mandarin. Check out the listing of clubs at: http://www.hongkong-toastmasters.org/toastmasters_hk.php. I highly recommend two clubs in Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Achievers Toastmasters Club and Centraler Toastmasters Club.

Not only will you top up your presentation skills, you will meet a group of friendly, supportive and positive minded people to network, connect and build lasting business/personal relationships with.

2. Attend a BNI meeting to practice promoting your business in 60 seconds or less. BNI (Business Network International) is a fantastic network of business owners who meet regularly to pass qualified referrals to each other. Check out the meetings at: http://www.bni.hk. You can check out the two English language chapters: Attraction BNI and Creation BNI.

3. Check out courses or online programs to stretch yourself or for motivation. There is no better investment than in yourself. Whether it's a 2-day course on management skills or an online self study program, you are making better use of your time focusing on growth rather than joining the complainers.

Our upcoming Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop will be on March 2nd. Check it out and register early!

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