July 16 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

Public speaking is leadership communication. If you are asked to speak on a particular topic or to make a presentation, it's because you are a leader or an expert on your subject matter.

The more you present, and the better you are at it, the more you will be "perceived" as a leader and an authority. If public speaking is something you are not 100% comfortable with or you experience a level of anxiety or nervousness when presenting, you can take advantage of the resources available to help you be more at ease on stage, speak with confidence and present to INFLUENCE.

At our one-day workshop, we help people go from whatever level they are at and accelerate their confidence levels as a presenter. We offer a very unique and proprietary process that enables participants to overcome fear, develop total confidence and speak to amaze, inspire and WOW the audience. It's a big promise....and we do all this in a single day!

Join our next workshop on July 16 and please register quickly as we have many spots reserved already from our waiting list.

Look forward to seeing you on stage!

Date: Saturday, July 16, 2011
Time: 9:30am to 7:00pm
Venue: Jasmin Room 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send name, contact details to July16dps@biz-results.net or register online on this page (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

May 30 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

We have a special guest joining us for our next workshop on Monday, May 30, 2011.

I have been a fan and I am completely in awe of EFT and what it can do for overcoming anxiety, nervousness, fear and help build confidence, focus, clarity and empowerment. It's no wonder that I have been sharing this powerful but unbelievably simple technique in our workshops.

But I am not the expert, only a fan.

For our next workshop, we have invited an EFT specialist and practitioner, Dr. Michelle Gabbe, to give us a hands-on demonstration on how to use this simple technique anytime to overcome fears and to achieve total confidence for public speaking and other areas of work and personal life.

DO NOT MISS OUT!

What will you get out of this workshop and a one-day investment of your time? You will discover your unique presentation style and strengths as a "leader in communication" and explore your public speaking persona. You will do this by delivering presentations and receiving immediate feedback.

You will be coached "real-time" on preparation, delivery and presentation. We learn the most quickly by DOING so be prepared to STEP UP, take action during this workshop and exponentially accelerate your skills as a public speaker.

A participant from a workshop shares: “This workshop was well beyond my expectations and the best workshop I have ever been to. Thank you Cecilia!” – Duane Cheung, Project Safety Manager, Leighton - China State Joint Venture

Please CLICK HERE to read more client testimonials.

This workshop will teach you how to:

1. Prepare your speech for maximum impact
2. Create a compelling and memorable message
3. Present your content in a powerful and meaningful way
4. Make a strong impression with your audience
5. Develop rapport with and engage your audience
6. Deliver a smooth and flawless presentation with minimum preparation
7. Control nervousness and anxiety
8. Adopt empowering and secret techniques that the world's most accomplished speakers use


Date: Monday, May 30, 2011
Time: 9:30am to 7:00pm
Venue: Jasmin Room 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send name, contact details to May30dps@biz-results.net or register online on this page (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

Thank you so much for your inquiries about the next workshop. The date is confirmed!

Date: Monday, April 11, 2011
Time: 9:30am to 7:00pm
Venue: Jasmin Room, 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to April11DPS@biz-results.net or register online (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

As usual, our workshops fill up quickly so it is advised that you reserve your spot EARLY.

We look foward to working with you!

February 28 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

We kicked off 2011 with a memorable workshop on January 22nd with yet another amazing group of participants. We were inspired, enlightened and moved by the level of energy, passion and power of the group and the personal message each participant shared from the heart. Thank you for sharing the day with us!

Must keep up with this incredible momentum!

We had many inquiries for our first workshop as well as clients from last year who wish for us to maintain a regular schedule of workshops.

We are pleased to announce the next Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop will be on Monday, February 28, 2011.

Date: Monday, February 28, 2011
Time: 9:30am to 6:30pm
Venue: Jasmin Room, 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Feb28DPS@biz-results.net or register online (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

As usual, our workshops fill up quickly so it is advised that you reserve your spot EARLY.

We look forward to seeing you on stage!

Advance Your Career by Mastering Your Presentations

What are the types of presentations that will move you up the corporate ladder?

Are you helping or sabotaging your advancement opportunities with how you present in front of prospective clients, board members or senior management?

A joint study by AT&T and Stanford University found that the single best question to predict high earning was "Do you enjoy giving speeches?"

Many fear it and avoid it like the plague. Some will even give up a promotion to a new job because it requires a lot of public speaking.

Overall, people understand the value of being able to present well in front of a group of clients, senior management or a large public audience but maybe think, "it's only for sales and marketing people" or "My performance is not measured by the my stage theatrics but by my skills, experience and results!"

While the latter statement may be true, nowadays in the corporate world, there are more expectations of middle managers and senior executives to be able to stand up at any given time and impress and wow an audience. This is regardless of whether you are in R&D, engineering, accounting or sales.

In today's world where public exposure and notoriety accelerate people to fame and success and combine that with being totally bombarded by the information blitz era, being competent at your job today is just not good enough.

You have to stand up and tell people you are competent, over and over again by making presentations. The tougher or the bigger in number the audience, the more competent you are perceived to be.

Here are the different types of presentations that you may already be presenting very well, or panicking as you have been asked to deliver one shortly or you have been avoiding or dodging with a lot of effort:

Sales Presentations - This type of presentation is no longer reserved for the sales and marketing team. While it is daunting to have to put your credibility on the line when selling to a skeptical or a tough group, there are ways to use this to your advantage.

The first step in becoming effective at this is to refrain from selling. Most sales presentations I've attended are focused on how big the company is, how impressive their products are, how the service will improve my life, and on and on. Not once am I asked what my needs are, what my concerns are and what I'm looking for.

Before you launch into your 60-slide standard corporate PowerPoint presentation, ask the audience what they want to know, what they are interested in, and what information would help them make a decision. Find out the needs of your audience first.

Please refer to our article "A Formula for Your Next Sales Presentation".

Management Presentations - This type of presentation is when you have to report quarterly or annual results to the board or senior management or project status/results.

If the numbers are good, everyone gets acknowledgement and the most accomplished speaker in the group will deliver the presentation with a big confident grin. Everyone gets top marks.

However, when the results are not so good, the typical reaction is the pile on more slides and more data on why you did not achieve the targets. TOTALLY WRONG MOVE.

If you're the lucky one to be present the good news, you will make a very strong impression on senior management but if you have to present bad news, quitting your job or leaving the country is not the solution.

The key is to take accountability, be upfront, share solutions and no matter what, DO NOT MAKE EXCUSES! This reflects very poorly on your leadership skills.

The most important tip for presenting well in a situation like this is to master your confidence and one of the ways to achieve this is through preparation.

Preparation is vital for all types of presentations but when you're getting ready to go in to defend your territory and be attacked, you must spend a substantial amount of time anticipating what the objections, criticism, challenges will be and how you will respond instead of adding more flashy PowerPoint slides.

Expert Presentations - If you are asked to speak at a conference or with your team or department, you are already considered a leader and an authority on your subject. This type of presentation really adds points to your credibility scale. If you do this well, you are already secured in or very soon on your way to the top ranks of your organization.

To be even better at delivering expert presentations, focus on presenting value and sharing this with sincerity and a genuine desire to contribute insights and wisdom. It's not about you. It's ALL about what the audience will take away, what value are you adding to their life and what will change their thinking or actions.

In summary, there are different strategies for each type of presentation and using a loaded PowerPoint presentation is not the answer. Be clear on your objective, audience needs/expectations, do your research, prepare and get some coaching. Stressing over it is not going to get you results. You are far better off spending that time preparing.

The final good news...

The more often you present any of the above type of presentations, the better and more confident you will become.

If you have a presentation coming up and a specific question, please email us at presentation_tips@biz-results.net.

January 22 Workshop - First Workshop in 2011!

Thank you for your amazing support in 2010! We keep receiving your kind comments about our training and requests for more workshops.

We have scheduled our first workshop for 2011 on Saturday, January 22, 2011.

Please register early as seats fill up very quickly! We were overbooked in November and this workshop will accommodate a number of those we turned away and had to be placed on a waiting list. Please email us or register online to secure your spot!

Date: Saturday, January 22, 2011
Time: 9:30am to 6:30pm
Venue: Jasmin Room, 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Jan22DPS@biz-results.net or register online (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

November 22 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

We are scheduling one more workshop for the year due to many client requests!

Thank you so much for your support and your many emails asking about another workshop. We have decided to run a FINAL workshop on Monday, November 22, 2010.

We have more than half the spots reserved already so please register early if you wish to join this final workshop for 2010.

See you very soon!

Date: Monday, November 22, 2010
Time: 9:30am to 6:30pm
Venue: Jasmin Room, 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Nov22DPS@biz-results.net or register online (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

September 20 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

One of the unique advantages of our workshop is that once a participant has attended, he/she is welcome to re-attend as many workshops as needed to refresh, practice and master the skills. After all, we need a practice ground.

Here's what a graduate shared about our recent workshop in June:

"Thank you for yet another great presentation skills workshop. I really feel the confidence and this means a lot from someone who couldn't say a peep in front of a group before I attended your workshop. You teach with so much dynamism it's unbelievable. Great energy that is really catching."

Be sure to register early for our last workshop for 2010. Spots will fill up quickly to accomodate those on our waiting list.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Monday, September 20, 2010
Time: 9:30am to 6:30pm
Venue: Jasmin Room, 3/F Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one, HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to sept20dps@biz-results.net or register online (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

June 7 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

We are pleased to confirm the date of our next workshop! There's been a very long gap since our last workshop and as mentioned previously, we are reducing the number of public workshops we run per year.


Many of our clients have been waiting for this upcoming workshop so please register early to secure your spot. We are so excited to be working with you again!

Our last workshop in January was most enjoyable and again, an incredible group of people graced us with their presence and made the day rewarding, meaningful and so much fun!

We have confirmed the workshop for Monday, June 7th. Quite a few slots have already been taken by clients on a previous waiting list so please register early as we will fill up very quickly.

Simply email us at June7DPS@biz-results.net or reserve your spot online by registering in the upper right hand corner of this page.

Details:

Date: Monday, June 7, 2010
Time: 9:30am to 6:00pm
Venue: Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to June7DPS@biz-results.net or register online by clicking on logo (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

Look forward to seeing you at the event!

January 29 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

Celebrate 2010 with renewed confidence and mastering your public speaking skills!

Our first workshop of the year will be on Friday, January 29, 2010.

Register early as we have quite a few clients on our waiting list from 2009 attending this workshop. Our last workshop was back in October and we have been receiving a lot of inquiries and requests.

Please email us at Jan29DPS@biz-results.net or reserve your spot online by registering in the upper right hand corner of this page.

Date: Friday, January 29, 2010
Time: 9:30am to 6:00pm
Venue: Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Jan29DPS@biz-results.net or register online by clicking on logo (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

October 23 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

After a long summer hiatus, we have finally scheduled our workshop on Friday, October 23rd. This will also be one of our last workshops for the year. We have quite a few clients waiting for this confirmed date so please accept our apologies for taking so long!

Please be sure to register early as the seats will fill up very quickly. We have only a limited number available for graduates to refresh and the other spots, quite a few have been reserved already from those on our waiting list. Please make sure you email us to book right away or register online (upper right hand corner) to secure your spot.

Date: Friday, October 23, 2009
Time: 9:30am to 6:00pm
Venue: Ramada Hong Kong Hotel, 308 Des Voeux Road West, Hong Kong
Cost: HK$2,280 for one HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Oct23DPS@biz-results.net or register online by clicking on logo (upper right hand corner)

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

Top 5 Presentation Disasters and How to Avoid Them

As preparation is a vital key to confidence and a smooth delivery of your presentation, be sure to schedule plenty of time for your thinking and planning process. It also helps to think of the worst that can happen. This will actually give you the boost you need knowing that whatever happens, you will be able to handle it.

Here are my Top 5 Presentation Disasters (and they are all from direct experience!) and how you can avoid them.

1. Audience not responding, falling asleep or distracted (on mobile phones or blackberries): The easy way to have your audience on alert is to schedule your presentation (if possible) in the morning when people tend to be more fresh and awake. After lunch is the worst time, especially if you are showing PowerPoint in a dark room.

Announce at the opening that all phones and blackberries are to be turned off to ensure the presentation runs smoothly and on time.

To keep participants engaged, create interaction and ask questions to solicit a simple yes or no answer to keep them involved. One of my favorite techniques is to pair up or organize small group discussions so that they not just sitting and listening the entire duration of your presentation.

The average attention span is 10 minutes and you will have to handle this with different styles and engagement to maintain the audience's attention.

2. Forgetting your lines or mind going completely blank. This seems to be the biggest fear among our clients and you must realize that the more you think and worry about this, the more likely it may actually happen! The real secret to avoiding this is to prepare and prepare well. We always recommend clients to prepare with an outline of their presentation, rather than an entire speech and you can write out the key points on index cards.

NEVER memorize a speech word for word. That is exactly how someone may go blank. If you forget a line, then you will be frozen as you try to recall from memory the exact line you have missed and you are unable to continue as the line precedes the next line.

If you do forget, it is TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE to step back, take a sip of water and refer to your index cards.

Another way to handle this awkward moment is to immediately take a deep breath. It will help clear your mind and get back on track. If you panic and start racing to remember, the moment will feel like an eternity, an agonizing eternity. Taking a deep breath will send oxygen to your brain and help you focus.

3. An audience member interrupts your presentation to openly challenges your content. To avoid this from happening is to firstly know what you are talking about. If you know your subject inside out, you will be able to respond confidently. If you are not the world's #1 expert on your topic, then study very hard and prepare, prepare, prepare! Also you must believe in your content, that is, you must first "buy-in" to what you are saying. Otherwise, how do you expect others to?

Realize that someone who makes a public remark and challenges a speaker on stage is looking for attention and significance. The last thing to do is to defend yourself or challenge him/her back. Give the person some respect and the attention they seek and then move on.

A way to respond may be: "Thank you for bringing that up. We have not fully researched the findings so you are right about XXX..." and then offer to follow up.

As part of your preparation process, have a think about what challenging questions may come from the toughest skeptics and plan your answers accordingly. Put yourself in the shoes of a most apathetic participant and poke at the holes in your presentation. You may either change your content or study up some more on your subject!

4. Audience members walking out or showing clear disapproval. This tends to be a number one distractor for presenters and they are likely to react or feel they have to work harder to keep the rest of the audience interested. Remember that you will never please everyone.

They may have things going on in their life and you will never know what's happening behind the scenes to cause the distraction or for them to walk out. If you had prepared your content to meet your audience's needs, the likelihood of this happening will be greatly reduced as you are providing relevant value.

The key tip to handling this is to carry on and focus on the message of your presentation, the value of your content and remember that you are speaking to contribute to the audience. Get over yourself and focus on their needs!

5. PowerPoint or audio/visual equipment not working. This happens to every presenter at one time or another, myself included just recently. First rule if you are using AV equipment is to GO EARLY TO SET UP!

Test out your PowerPoint, check that your battery is fresh in your clicker, microphone and other visual aids. Back up your presentation on a memory stick in case your laptop is not compatible with the projector.

Another way to avoid this from happening is to scrap the PowerPoint altogether!

As for my recent mishap with a laptop refusing to cooperate and consistently crashing even though I tested it before the presentation; I pushed the whole thing aside and moved on to the next portion of my presentation while a colleague helped to sort it out.

In summary, preparation is key but sometimes the unexpected will happen. Remember that you will survive and live on. The final tip is to be focused and prepare for every presentation like it's the most important presentation of your life and stay audience focused.

We have more presentation tips and articles on this website. Please continue to scroll down for more resource materials.

To PowerPoint or Not PowerPoint

One of the biggest communication atrocities to occur in the modern workplace is the use of PowerPoint as a presentation tool.

It has been so grossly misused that the term "Death by PowerPoint" (as in a slow and painful death of boredom) is now commonly known and a topic among top executives whether to completely ban this tool in the organization.


"We had 12.9 gigabytes of (Microsoft) PowerPoint slides on our network. And I thought, 'What a huge waste of corporate productivity.' So we banned it. And we've had three unbelievable record-breaking fiscal quarters since we banned PowerPoint. Now, I would argue that every company in the world, if they would just ban PowerPoint, would see their earnings skyrocket. Employees would stand around going, 'What do I do? Guess I've got to go to work.'" - Scott McNealy, Sun Microsystems

The purpose of the tool when it first came out in 1988 was to aid presenters in displaying visual imagery, graphs, charts or video clips that may not be able to translate across to the audience with a flip chart or whiteboard. It was intended to save the presenter time in preparing visuals or having to draw out the images or resort to overhead transparencies.

However, the modern use of it stretches far from the original purpose and gradually, it has become a mainstay in darkened boardrooms, dimly lit hotel ballrooms and conference halls where audiences have to struggle to stay awake from the onslaught of poorly prepared slides and slides of data, thus the term "Death by PowerPoint".

"PowerPoint presentations are a new form of anesthesia and torture. They were even used at the Abu Ghraib Prison." - Anonymous

Millions of PowerPoint presentations are made each day. A typical one would consist of 40 slides, packed with data, data and more data and the speaker is usually relegated to a corner, in the dark, to read off the slides one by one.

By doing so, the speaker has in fact, made him/herself redundant as people read faster than listen to the words. The presenter is just an audio accessory. A lot of time can be saved if the speaker simply emailed the presentation to those in the audience and they can choose to review the information at his/her leisure.

There is some good news! But before that, some more bad news...

The bad news is that 60-90% of the presentations that use PowerPoint are completely ineffective and typically, just serve to annoy audience members. An online survey of people who regularly view PowerPoint presentations cited the following as the most annoying:

1. Speaker reads the slides
2. Full sentences instead of bullet points
3. Text too small to read

These top 3 annoyances simply indicate that presenters inundate with too much information on screen and as a result, are not communicating effectively with the audience. So this is not a case of PowerPoint itself as the major annoyance but rather the presenter who uses it ineffectively.

More than half of the 680 people surveyed also added comments as to why they are annoyed and the general feedback was:

• A lack of presentation skills by presenters
• Not knowing how to use PowerPoint or presentation equipment
• Not being familiar with their presentations
• General lack of preparation
• Too much focus on the slides instead of the content

With all fairness, PowerPoint, in its defense is an incredible, user-friendly and multi-dimensional communication tool, if used correctly. It can be used to prepare proposals, project summaries and may be complemented with animation and add-on tools such as a voice-over.

For a presentation, it can be used very effectively when the speaker does not make it center stage and instead, uses it mostly for visually purposes.

Note: Google Steve Job's speech when he launched the iPhone. This is a perfect example of how to use visuals to enhance a presentation.

And now the good news! Because the prevalent use of PowerPoint has completely lowered the standards and quality of presentations, nowadays, anyone who can speak a key message to an audience in a structured way without a slideshow would be considered an accomplished speaker!

A speaker running slide after slide of long scripted sentences on a corporate designed template and then reading the words with their back to a comatose audience in a darkened ballroom is NOW the norm and general standard for a business presentation.

If you actually turn on the lights, connect with the audience, address their concerns and speak on stage without the crutch of a dazzling slideshow, you will be seen as a very skilled presenter! In summary, PowerPoint is a very useful communication tool with numerous applications. Unfortunately, it is just misused and way overused for presentations.

Here are some additional pros and cons of PowerPoint:

Pros:

• Display images and visual data to enhance presentation
• Multi-media applications can add impact
• Reinforce corporate branding and image (logo display and slide design)
• Can be used as a tool to show complicated processes or concepts in a visual format

Cons:

• Technical problems often occur
• Presenters overload slides with data
• Audience prefers to read slides then listen to presenter
• Presenters do not have a key message due to masses of slides
• Speakers use the presentation as a prompter
• Screen usually take center stage, forcing the presenter off to the side
• The slideshow or PowerPoint presentation dominates, making the speaker redundant
• Presentations are made in the dark therefore speakers have to work harder to maintain the attention of the audience members

PowerPoint is a tool to enhance a speaker's presentation and is not the presentation itself. When you are preparing for your next presentation, rather than pulling out your last PowerPoint to update the slides, take some time to think about what message you wish to convey and ways to help your audience understand this message such as sharing a case study or sharing research statistics.

Use it as a tool to enhance your presentation and remember a speaker has the ability to influence an audience, not the projection of data on a screen.

Speak to Inspire Like Obama? Yes You Can!

Why is there so much written about Barack Obama as a public speaker? His command of an audience and his powerful speeches are the topic of many articles, blogs and books.

Well for starters, he looks like a leader. And because he speaks flawlessly using visually-rich metaphors and sweeping statements, we cannot help but listen.

We follow and admire people who can captivate our attention. Their credibility follows when they are congruent with their message.

Those with grand oratory skills are enough to initially trigger people's decision to regard them automatically as a great leader, an expert and someone to trust and follow.

Pretty useful skills to have wouldn't you agree?

Here are some of my observations of Obama as an inspiring speaker.

Speak to Inspire - Three Simple Keys

Focus on the Audience - A very basic rule but is often overlooked as the preparation of the message gets lost with who the speaker is, what the speaker will do and how much the speaker knows.

To connect with people, find out their issues, concerns, problems and offer a solution, empathy or just simple understanding.

Get to the heart of what's important to your audience, to your team, to your constituents and address these issues/themes sincerely.

A practical way to find out what's concerning them is to ask them! Call in advance or have them fill out a questionnaire before a presentation.

Here's a real-world example: a client recently took this advice and called his clients before a tender presentation to ask about what their issues were, what is their #1 concern and he was pleasantly received with "You're the only one who has bothered to call and find out..."

Guess who had the advantage and attention of the audience?

Be Authentic - This may sound easy but how do you practice being authentic? There isn't a step by step process to becoming authentic. The word itself is defined as "not false or imitation" and "true to one's own personality, spirit, or character".

It is not easy to fake authenticity or rather, people can usually see right through it.

To be authentic is just to be you, not whom you think you should be or say the right things. Transparency is key and sometimes a little disclosure helps.

Speak from integrity and from honesty and this is one of the most respectable things you can do for your audience.

Don't say things like "I know what it's like..." or "I know what you're going through..." if you have never been in the trenches.

A well known example is during the aftermath of 9/11, then New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani appeared at a press conference distraught and conceded that he did not know or understand what was happening.

It did not make him less of a leader to appear shaken, uncertain and under no terms did the public think he was weak just because he did not have all the answers.

In fact, his popularity ratings soared as his authenticity connected him to how millions were feeling.

A more local example is after a motorway tragedy, our Chief Executive went to the scene the next day and in his attempts to console the grieving survivors, caused more anguish than relief.

He couldn't communicate a message authentically and instead, resorted to politically correct rhetoric about what the government plans to do.

He was a politician through and through.

At that critical moment, just showing his authentic self would have been enough. The families needed compassion and understanding, not assurance of new laws.

Believe in Your Message - What you say and how you say it comes from how much you believe in it. You must be congruent with your message or people will be able to spot a fake.

Have you ever sat through a sales pitch and said to yourself that the presenter would say anything to make a sale?

Or how about the CEO who announces that the company must reduce costs as he's on his way to a 3-hour lunch at the club in the company limousine?

That is when credibility goes down and cynicism goes up.

The term "walk the talk" may be a bit overused but the value of this is even more magnified during challenging times.

Leaders have to be congruent with what they say. The way you say it "shows" it all.

Barack Obama is particularly gifted at this. His unwavering voice, his direct eye contact, his unfaltering pitch and confident stance already show, without words, that he believes in his message.

You can ask someone who doesn't understand a word of English distinguish one of Obama's speeches whether he stands behind what he's saying.

Do not underestimate how people can discern whether a message is congruent or not.
CLICK HERE to view Obama's victory speech, one of my favorite clips. Notice the confidence, the leadership stance and masterful use of words.

These three keys are just a clue to becoming an inspiring speaker. Of course, there's a lot more to discover, learn and apply.

Join our upcoming April 27 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop to learn about how to present as an inspiring leader.

March 2 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

This is our first DPS workshop of the year! We've had a very successful four years of running this program and our advance program is now available for those who wish to take on the next level of facilitation skills.

“I initially went to Cecilia's seminar because I felt I needed help to reach a higher level of performance in my own abilities. What I got out of it was much more than that. Cecilia's depth of understanding, her skillful facilitation of people and the wisdom she shares is invaluable. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone.” - David Ogg, Director, Central Sun

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

Date: Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Time: 10:00am to 6:30pm
Cost: HK$2,280 for one - HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to mailto:Mar2dps@biz-results.net for or call +852 3519 8336 or register online by clicking on the icon in upper right hand corner.

For copies of our articles and free resource materials on presentation skills, please email us at resources@biz-results.net and we will be more than happy to send you our latest tips.

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!

December 1st Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

This will be our last workshop for the year of 2008!

Our workshop on October 28 was truly memorable. With a smaller group size this time around, it felt like an advance training. We had quite a few graduates along for a refresher and we were all astounded by how much everyone had improved.

The refresher courses definitely pay off!

Please note the details for our last workshop of the year and be sure to sign up early! Look forward to seeing you there :-)

Date: Monday, December 1st, 2008
Time: 10:00am to 6:30pm
Venue: 6/F Grand View Commercial Centre, 29-31 Sugar Street, Causeway Bay
Cost: HK$2,280 for one - HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Dec1dps@biz-results.net for or call +852 3519 8336 or register online by clicking on the icon in upper right hand corner.

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

For copies of our articles and free resource materials on presentation skills, please email us at resources@biz-results.net and we will be more than happy to send you our latest tips.

October 28 Dynamic Presentation Skills Workshop

Thank you for your continued support! We are so pleased to have worked with such an amazing group last month and our clients have been requesting another workshop this month so please mark your calendars for October 28th. Our group size is very limited and with the confirmed registrations we have received already, there are only a few more spots left. Please register early!

I look forward to seeing you there!

Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Time: 10:00am to 6:30pm
Venue: 6/F Grand View Commercial Centre, 29-31 Sugar Street, Causeway Bay
Cost: HK$2,280 for one - HK$3,900 for two
To Register: Send email to Oct28dps@biz-results.net for or call +852 3519 8336 or register online by clicking on the icon in upper right hand corner.

Please CLICK HERE to read our client testimonials.

For copies of our articles and free resource materials on presentation skills, please email us at resources@biz-results.net and we will be more than happy to send you our latest tips.

Client Testimonials

Please note some comments from our past participants:

“I enjoyed the day immensely. Cecilia is an excellent facilitator. The content was 100% relevant and the information was clear and concise. Cecilia has a wonderful ability to put people at ease. She creates and atmosphere of inclusion and equality as she tells the story of her struggles.” - Niamh O'Connell, Director of Spa, Asia Pacific, Hyatt International Asia Pacific Limited

"It's a very interesting workshop and you will get to know more techniques to step up your presentation skills. Cecilia is a passionate, experienced and energetic trainer. You will never get bored in the class. Time flies and you will not believe how much you have learned and transformed." - Sam Lau

“I have had a LOT of public speaking engagements in the past couple months, throughout the launch/growth of the Hong Kong Cleanup, and some of the principles I learned in your course have been invaluable. Thanks again for the excellent value and confidence-boost!” – Nissa Marion, Project Director, Editor-in-Chief, EcoVision Asia

"Cecilia is a professional and amazing facilitator. She really can tell everybody's strength and weakness and teach in line with our abilities. I could even get the messages and encouragement from her eyes. She has let me see her power and influence. She is the best facilitator I've ever met." - Lucinda Lin

“Just on my way home right now from the panel speaking event and WOW! I feel really great!!! You're one of the first people I wanted to tell because you have an absolutely workable, realistic and fantastic formula! I'm so so glad to have taken your class, I've learnt so much from you- thank you!” – Claire Hau, Sustainability Relations, H&M Mauritz AB
 

“Thank you for your generosity in offering advice, guidance and modeling. This is the third workshop I've attended and they have all helped me dismantle my fear towards giving presentations and gave me a wonderful format to structure my ideas. Thanks!” – Judy Lai, Mud Pies Education

 

“Our mentor Cecilia Yeung is just a brilliant and talented and courageous female icon. I am so proud to know her and learn from her. This is more than presentation, its value of work and life - be positive!! – Bonnie Leung, Assistant Manager, Catering Performance, Quality Assurance & Projects, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Limited

 

“Cecilia has demonstrated vividly a successful presentation skill on her own. She is so observant and is able to give very precise and accurate feedback for the participants.” – Katherine Wong

“A very enjoyable and useful workshop. It was great to have an opportunity to practice using stories in my presentations as well as practice selling on stage. The specific feedback I received from Cecilia and the other participants around selling on stage was extremely useful.”  – Carole Lewis www.insightscoaching.hk

“I have attended a number of Cecilia's workshops over the years and have always found the approach and content extremely useful. It has certainly helped with my confidence in public speaking environments. The Advanced Dynamic Presentation Skills session provided new and really interesting ways to improve the content of any presentation. Both seasoned and novice presenters can get some benefit from these sessions.” – Godfrey O www.spiritworth.com

 

“I have learnt a lot of the presentation skills at the training. I am particularly impressed by the Powerful Words which are very useful, encouraging and, most importantly, can be applied both at work and life. We are not only receive the valuable comments from the facilitator but also got the chance to give comments to the co-workers after each practice on the spot.” – Tandy Chu

 

“Encouragement and professionalism of the facilitator in which participants have a good model to follow and self-reflect.” – Maria Lee
 

“Thank you for another great workshop. A number of years ago I was petrified by public speaking as you know. I was in the category of people who ranked public speaking higher than death as a fear! Your workshop and encouragement were a big reason for me in turning the corner and becoming increasingly comfortable in talking in front of larger groups of people. One of my epiphanies was that if I was there for the audience and not for myself, then I had nothing of which to be scared. As I believe I have something to contribute to society I made a decision to challenge myself.

Recently I did a talk in front of 400 people at Seoul National University with absolutely no problems, and many of my fellow panel member asked whether I had been professionally trained! I have more large talks in the diary and am looking to do TED at some point. The refresher course I did yesterday highlighted how passionate you are about people, not only over-coming their fears of public speaking, but actually thriving on the stage.  And I am so impressed by your ability to pack so much in to one day, and see so many people transform. Truly professional! Many thanks.” - Benjamin Butler, Chief Executive, Apotheosis Consulting
 

“Your enthusiasm and delivery was first class and you were able to take a topic that is fearful for some and turn it into a positive message with great learning and actionable takeaways. I will be back to do the follow up sessions. Thanks for helping me become a more confident professional.” – Paul Jeffrey Chandler, Director of F&B Operations, Hong Kong Disneyland

“What I really enjoyed and appreciated about this workshop is the partner work, group work and individual time spent on practicing presentation skills. I enjoyed the constructive feedback from everyone and Cecilia's genuine interest in helping everyone become better presenters. If you want to increase your confidence in presenting, this is a workshop you definitely have to consider as a quality investment.” - Julie Chiu, Mindful Health & Lifestyle Coach, and Law of Attraction Trainer, http://www.mindfuleatinghk.com/, http://www.loa-hk.com/
“The workshop was beyond my expectations. Cecilia guided us to build up confidence step by step and created an encouraging environment to allow us to practice. It inspired me very much.” – Noon Kwok

“This workshop was well beyond my expectations and the best workshop I have ever been to. Thank you Cecilia!” – Duane Cheung, Leighton - China State Joint Venture

“Cecilia has a gift to motivate even the most scared person to get on stage and give their best with confidence. It sure worked for me! I just love her energy, it's so catching. I will go back to her workshops anytime. There is always something new we can learn from her.” – Doris Baer, Baer Jewels

"Since the workshop, I am one of the most confident speakers in any room. I’m far more grounded which lets me deliver an impactful presentation. I would recommend this workshop for anyone who wanted to take their public speaking to the next level! – Sonia Samtani, Image & Lifestyle Consultant, Sonia Samtani Consulting

“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

"I know that presentation skills are critical for my personal and business success and I was looking for a course that can give me the accelerated track to attaining this skill. After attending this workshop, I immediately saw the results in my confidence and a big improvement when communicating to a group or speaking on stage. The workshop was concise, hit all the key points and a lot of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire learning process." - Mandy So

“This workshop inspired me! It changed my ‘old-days’ perspective on presenting that is "to inform" rather "to inspire" the audience. Not only has this changed the way I communicate in my career, but also how to deal with the fear of presenting in front of a group of people.” - Chloe Kwok, Brand Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

“After attending the workshop, I can now speak confidently when before I was rather shy. When I present to people in a work environment, the feedback I receive is that I have no fear when speaking. I’m speaking to more people at work which can only lead to a promotion. I’m more confident because now I Prepare, Prepare, Prepare for every talk!” – Pinky Lam, Assistant Product Manager

“It was a very worthwhile training that not only offered so much insight about myself, I was amazed at how much I improved in just one day!” – Sophia Law, Executive, Gavin Anderson & Co.

“Thank you for a fantastic workshop. I’ve attended presentation skills training before and the techniques you shared are unlike anything I have experienced before. They really make a huge difference!” – Kristin Lowe, Managing Director, Organising Solutions

“My objective was to combat my fear of presenting in front of an audience and the workshop met my expectations and more. I feel I now have the skills to do this. It is a brilliant and worthwhile course. Thank you Cecilia!” – Richard Le Gallez, HSBC Bank International Limited

“It is an excellent program. Well structured, professional and very thorough. You are a professional, truly integrated trainer and facilitator, full of love and humility. Your programme, the refresher sessions and the personal coaching, have given me great value which I cannot put a price on. – Kumi Masunaga, Director, Rhythm of Life Co.

“It is a day I will never forget. I learned a lot about myself and I am confident I can take my communication skills to the next level. I’ve been to hundreds of workshops throughout my career and this experience really stands out from the rest.” – George Muirhead, General Manager, Top Builders Group Ltd.

“Everything you taught us that day was extremely useful, and it has given me such a positive perspective not just on public speaking, but on life in general. I still cannot believe how much I was able to grow in just one day! I am so thankful that among all the workshops I could have attended, I chose to come to yours!” – Claire Hau, MA Global Fashion Supply Chain Management Student, HK Polytechnic University

"This is a fantastic workshop in which I learnt so much about public speaking skills and techniques. It does wonders to help overcome the fear we have when speaking to an audience. I am really impressed by how Cecilia conducts this workshop and absolutely did not expect my first hand experience on such a "scary" topic could turn out to be so fun filled, so invaluable." - Nancy Porchetta, Managing Director, Rebound Internet Services Limited

“Cecilia works with head and heart. I experienced my two workshops with her as very practical and immediately applicable. Her suggestions and examples proved to be immensely useful; also her way of communication and connecting to each individual in the group created a very trusting and relaxed atmosphere. Please keep me posted on any new seminars you are offering!” - Gudrun Kittel-Thong, Career Path & Life Direction Coach

“I initially went to Cecilia's seminar because I felt I needed help to reach a higher level of performance in my own abilities. What I got out of it was much more than that. Cecilia's depth of understanding, her skillful facilitation of people and the wisdom she shares is invaluable. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone.” - David Ogg, Director, Central Sun

“As the firm’s CEO, it was fantastic to see how my team’s presentation skills transformed during the course of the day. Well done and job done!” – Richard Barton, CEO, Gavin Anderson & Co.

“Since the workshop, I have practiced and rehearsed what Cecilia taught me. The major change has been moving away from relying on slides in my presentation. My audiences like my new communication style much more. I’m now more confident and natural when presenting.” – Esmond Ng, Business Development Manager

“The workshop has given me a dramatic improvement to my public speaking. I have learnt and applied an awful lot including better preparation, improved audience contact and better posture.” - Don Conning, Director, Aedas Limited

“Cecilia has been most helpful with my presentation skills. The workshop was useful, practical, condensed and very good. I would recommend anyone to attend and will send my staff.” - Geoffrey Lung, Managing Director, MI Insurance Brokers Ltd.
“Since the presentation workshop, I’ve gone from a speaker who occasionally spoke to a regular comedy club impromptu presenter! Cecilia gives inspiring presentations! I can’t wait to do another course of hers in the future.” - Diane Huntoon

"Thank you for helping me re-focus on the important aspects of presenting. When I first attended your course I was skeptical. Now I am so pleased to have worked with a professional of your standing. It has certainly improved my perspective and my presentation skills!" - David Harman, Interfax News Service Ltd.

"Cecilia is the most genuine and passionate trainer I have met to date. She will guide you, both personally and professionally on how to create more results in your life. Be inspired and ready for more success after attending her workshop." - Grace Lee, TLC Wellness

“After attending this workshop, I learned not to focus on memorizing the content of presentation and how to handle the fear standing in front of a group. Now I am more clear on the objective behind each presentation and I find my communication with colleagues and friends around are better day by day.” - Terry Ng, Senior Brand Manager

"Cecilia is masterful at bringing out the best in people. With her inspiring presence and elegant dedication, her workshops are all about adding value and confidence. She, in a short period of time, has enabled accelerated growth in me on personal as well as business levels." - Martike de Grip, Managing Director, Transcedge Ltd.

"It was a truly life changing experience for me and I can't thank you enough for the support you showed me as did the whole group in my moments of self doubt. I can approach future challenges in a much more positive way now and actually look forward to opportunities to speak to groups rather than dreading it!" - Michael Fawdry, Director, Ernest Maude Continental Investments Limited.

"10+! Highly energetic, excellent facilitator, speaker with cross cultural experience. Best facilitator seen ever!" - P. Thorson, Senior Manager

“This workshop inspired me! It changed my ‘old-days’ perspective on presenting that is "to inform" rather "to inspire" the audience. Not only has this changed the way I communicate in my career, but also how to deal with the fear of presenting in front of a group of people.” - Chloe Kwok, Brand Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

"Shortly after attending this workshop, I delivered a corporate presentation and it was amazing how much I improved and didn't panic! It was by far the best presentation I have ever delivered!" - Ashley Khoo, Senior Investment Manager, HSBC
"Cecilia's workshop gets right down to work and has all participants learning the techniques and practicing right away, each receiving constant constructive feedback. It's one of the fastest ways to polish one's presentation skills I've ever experienced." - Brett S. Cameron, Sales Director, REDEV Properties of Canada

"Within hours, I realized I am not afraid to make presentations in front of people and I felt very brave. I can present to an audience now." - Henry Chan, Senior Manager, Federal Express

"Right after attending the workshop, I made a presentation to a contractor to share information about our projects and I applied the skills I learned. I was very confident and delivered my presentation smoothly. I received very favorable feedback from my boss and was informed by the contractor that my presentation was the best among the others." - Gary Lin, Marketing Executive, Proficiency Net Ltd.

"I can now control my mind and body to present with total confidence and come across as a successful speaker. I can do it! Thank you so much for this opportunity to grow and to be able to handle a big aspect of my job with confidence. I had a wonderful and impactful experience." - Lily Lam, Teacher

"Cecilia is the best facilitator that I have ever experienced in a training class." - J. Rahaim
"This workshop was amazing. It was more than a public speaking workshop. It was empowering, encouraging and I feel big possibilities and opportunities open up for me. Thank you Cecilia. You are a vibrant facilitator and you sure do change people's lives!" - Yoko Ogawa, Wellness Educator, NetworkCare Hong Kong

"I really enjoyed the afternoon seminar. It was challenging, fun and at the same time very insightful. I learned a lot and will conduct my next speech in an entirely different (and hopefully better) way... I think Cecilia did a great job and I was also moved by the great progress everybody made within these few hours." - Charlie Lang, Executive Coach & Trainer, Progress-U Ltd.
"This workshop completely changed how I feel about standing to speak in front of a crowd. My outlook has been transformed to what is possible in my career because of the communication skills learned and the confidence gained in presenting to a larger audience. There is no doubt that this was the catalyst that made me decide to launch my own business." - Peter Armstrong

"Because I have managed to avoid public speaking for the last 15 years, the hurdle to step up in front of people was huge. Through the help of Cecilia and the open feedback of the course participants I did a final speech at the end of the day. I never thought I would do a speech with only 15 minutes preparation without using any notes. Two weeks after the course, I did a speech in front of 70 people, something I would have never considered in a million years prior to attending the public speaking course." - Brigitte Weber

“I find the workshop really practical. I use it in negotiation with others by using power words before meeting them instead of memorizing the content. It transforms my approach style and gives me more confidence in presenting my objective to them and got them walk with me. The beauty of this workshop is there is a safe environment for us to practice.” -Jenifer Ip, Commercial Head of Enterprise Brands, GlaxoSmithKline

Tips on How To Handle Your Next Q&A Session

I am not a big fan of lengthy Q&A sessions as it tends to denote that my presentation was not informative enough if the audience is left with many questions. However, such a session can open up the audience to what they are really looking for and especially for a sales presentation, will give you the buying signals to indicate that they are serious.

My first rule is that you must prepare your content for what your audience is seeking information on. That means your presentation should answer the questions that they have and they do not have to wait until the end of your PowerPoint when you finally say "any questions?" to get the information that they are seeking.

Also, it is not a very powerful way to end a presentation. How many times have you heard, "and now we will take questions from the audience" which signaled that you can quietly dart out?

You must always end your presentation with impact and reiterate your message before you steer into the Q&A portion.

The next time you are presenting, here are some quick and easy tips for you to try out:

1. Be an expert on your topic. If you truly know your subject, then you will not be caught out with a challenging question. You will be able to handle any question or statement or comment thrown your way. Trust that you are the knowledgeable expert on the topic. After all, that is why have asked to present.

2. Do not make up a story or change the question if you do not know the answer. The best way to handle this is to thank the audience member for bringing up the subject and admit that you do not have all the data or facts or background, etc to fully answer the question but you will get back to them with the answer as soon as you get the relevant information. More importantly, you must remember to follow up!

3. Do not start your answer by saying "That's a (very) good question." Then you will have to say that for everyone who asks a question. Many speakers say this without actually knowing why. It is in fact, a form of respect and acknowledgement and sometimes, to buy a little bit of time while formulating a response. Instead, start with "thank you for your question..."

4. Prepare someone to ask a question. If you have anxiety about a shy audience not speaking up or facing the awkward deafening silence when no one raises a hand, then prepare a colleague to ask a relevant question. It will help kickstart the session if someone speaks up first.

5. Steer irrelevant questions offline. If a question is clearly off topic and likely to tune out the rest of the audience, then request that you speak with the respective audience member after the presentation. "As this is not related to the presentation, would it be okay if I speak to you afterwards on this?" This also applies to someone who is on attack or is clearly being challenging.

6. Prepare by thinking of what the audience may ask you including the worst, most challenging and skeptical questions. Put yourself in the shoes of your worst skeptic and what questions may they throw at you? Formulate your answers accordingly and it will help you feel more prepared. Your thorough preparation will always be the best confidence booster.

For more resource articles on public speaking and presentation skills, please continue to scroll down.

For more information about our upcoming presentation skills workshops in Hong Kong, please contact info@biz-results.net.