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Positive Voice Blog
Confidence is a matter of minset: How to improve yours
Posted on Wednesday, April 04, 2012 by Positivevoice
The Rhetorical Question Technique
Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 by Positivevoice
Yesterday I was teaching a 6 year old child to improve his voice and confidence. I don’t usually work with children this young, but he is home schooled and incredibly intelligent.
I taught him a couple of little techniques and gave him an impromptu topic to speak about. So, he had no preparation time, just the structure for a good presentation. I obviously had to keep it really simple, as he is only 6 years old. The process I gave him worked really well, so I thought I would share it with you.
Ask a ‘special question’: This is just a rhetorical question/ normal question/ raise your hand if…
He seemed to love the ‘raise your hand if’ option and beamed each time he asked the question, raising his own hand, as I had (Children like fun things and SO do adults)
“ Raise your hand if you like Spiderman” (one example)
A story about you and the topic. The more detail you can add in, the better.
A question about the audience and the topic- in the future.
“I wonder whether you will still like Superman in the future?”
As I said, this is so simple that even a 6 year old can do it. You can obviously add in more interaction and rhetorical questions or even quotes. Questions show a high regard for your audience and help them to relate the topic to themselves. This is my reasoning for placing one at the beginning and one at the end. This draws the audience in and then leaves them with something to reflect on.
For more detailed methods about public speaking, click on: Previous blogs
I taught him a couple of little techniques and gave him an impromptu topic to speak about. So, he had no preparation time, just the structure for a good presentation. I obviously had to keep it really simple, as he is only 6 years old. The process I gave him worked really well, so I thought I would share it with you.
Ask a ‘special question’: This is just a rhetorical question/ normal question/ raise your hand if…
He seemed to love the ‘raise your hand if’ option and beamed each time he asked the question, raising his own hand, as I had (Children like fun things and SO do adults)
“ Raise your hand if you like Spiderman” (one example)
A story about you and the topic. The more detail you can add in, the better.
A question about the audience and the topic- in the future.
“I wonder whether you will still like Superman in the future?”
As I said, this is so simple that even a 6 year old can do it. You can obviously add in more interaction and rhetorical questions or even quotes. Questions show a high regard for your audience and help them to relate the topic to themselves. This is my reasoning for placing one at the beginning and one at the end. This draws the audience in and then leaves them with something to reflect on.
For more detailed methods about public speaking, click on: Previous blogs
Positive Voice
Posted on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 by Positivevoice
You do not have to look far to find war and negativity, do you? There is always something atrocious being reported on the news - if you care to watch it. Indeed, most of us spend the majority of our days warring with ourselves!
Until we, as individuals, can find peace of mind, how can we expect society as a whole to live in harmony?
The most amazing thing I've found about enthusiasm is that it is infectious! By simply being more positive, you will find that people enjoy being around you and will come to you for advice because you won't be putting energy into their problems, you'll be looking for solutions. If you were to inspire just 5 people and they were to do the same (and so on), you could create quite an impact, couldn't you?
The place to start is your thoughts. Make an agreement today to think only positive thoughts. All you need do is catch yourself when you find yourself being negative and smile - this in itself will take the edge off any negative dialogue. Another great place to start is by repeating a mantra, such as 'I am powerful beyond all belief'. The more often you repeat your mantra, the better you will feel. The best time is just before bed; in order to make your dreams as sweet as possible and first thing in the morning; so that you start your day in the right mood.
I use this one because most people only use a fraction of their ability - this is often because they lack self belief. So, you see, It is important to remind yourself how incredible you are, isn't it?
Keep Motivated
Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 by Positivevoice
People often worry about how to offer constructive criticism. Interestingly, I rarely hear people worrying about not giving enough praise. You may be surprised to hear that the two come hand in hand!
If you focus on keeping your staff and colleagues motivated, you will never need to worry about them becoming de- motivated.
The concept is simple, and comes back to this idea of us all having an emotional bank account. If your deposits into someone's account are low, there will be nothing left to take out when you offer constructive feedback. This will result in your poor colleague going into deficit and we all know what happens then: low self esteem, slumps in confidence and de- motivation.
So, keep your team pumped up with plenty of praise!
Beware, though; false, empty praise won't go very far. Your praise MUST be genuine!
If you focus on keeping your staff and colleagues motivated, you will never need to worry about them becoming de- motivated.
The concept is simple, and comes back to this idea of us all having an emotional bank account. If your deposits into someone's account are low, there will be nothing left to take out when you offer constructive feedback. This will result in your poor colleague going into deficit and we all know what happens then: low self esteem, slumps in confidence and de- motivation.
So, keep your team pumped up with plenty of praise!
Beware, though; false, empty praise won't go very far. Your praise MUST be genuine!
Become a Competent Communicator
Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 by Positivevoice
People often ask me how best to manage their staff or deliver constructive criticism without causing offence.
The quick way:
Sandwich your constructive criticism between honest praise or compassion.
1. Commendation: Offer a commendation by praising them for something they do well or thanking them for doing something. This could be about their punctuality, presentability or the fact that they just made you a cup of tea!
2. Constructive criticism: Ask them about the problem rather than launching straight into accusations or say: 'you're doing well and I'd like to see you doing even better' (notice how I use 'and' in place of 'but'- 'but' always negates what comes before and should be avoided.
3. Commendation: Finish by saying something pleasant, by praising or thanking them. This may seem foreign to start with, but will keep them motivated. Criticism can often perpetuate a problem and demotivate, so this last step is crucial.
As I said, this is the quick way. You can keep people motivated by highlighting the good things they do on a daily basis. Interestingly, a lot of managers only point out the negatives, which can lead to low self esteem and under performance.
Give this more supportive approach a try and notice the results. You may, initially, find it easier in writing... But keep practicing and you'll soon become extremely competent.
The quick way:
Sandwich your constructive criticism between honest praise or compassion.
1. Commendation: Offer a commendation by praising them for something they do well or thanking them for doing something. This could be about their punctuality, presentability or the fact that they just made you a cup of tea!
2. Constructive criticism: Ask them about the problem rather than launching straight into accusations or say: 'you're doing well and I'd like to see you doing even better' (notice how I use 'and' in place of 'but'- 'but' always negates what comes before and should be avoided.
3. Commendation: Finish by saying something pleasant, by praising or thanking them. This may seem foreign to start with, but will keep them motivated. Criticism can often perpetuate a problem and demotivate, so this last step is crucial.
As I said, this is the quick way. You can keep people motivated by highlighting the good things they do on a daily basis. Interestingly, a lot of managers only point out the negatives, which can lead to low self esteem and under performance.
Give this more supportive approach a try and notice the results. You may, initially, find it easier in writing... But keep practicing and you'll soon become extremely competent.
The Voice Within
Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 by Positivevoice
Recently, I was coaching someone who didn't know exactly what she wanted
me to work on. so before we could begin, we were faced with the
challenge of tapping into her inner knowingness of what was right for
her on that particular day. Without even realising it, we had hit the
nail on the head!
She soon realised that what she needed was the ability to access that still place within, no matter what was going on around her; to access that 'inner knowingness' and to feel at peace with the knowledge that everything is just as it is meant to be. A week later, I received a card saying that she felt 'at peace and guided'.
This morning, I had the realisation that we can all feel like this. Where there is a part of you that is in turmoil, there is another that is in perfect peace. All you need to do is still your mind and it will obediently come to the surface.
Meditation is key here. I will be teaching some techniques at this weekend's retreat in Shepherds bush. We have 1 place left. Please do visit the following page if you are interested in attending: http://positivevoice.co.uk/group-workshops
She soon realised that what she needed was the ability to access that still place within, no matter what was going on around her; to access that 'inner knowingness' and to feel at peace with the knowledge that everything is just as it is meant to be. A week later, I received a card saying that she felt 'at peace and guided'.
This morning, I had the realisation that we can all feel like this. Where there is a part of you that is in turmoil, there is another that is in perfect peace. All you need to do is still your mind and it will obediently come to the surface.
Meditation is key here. I will be teaching some techniques at this weekend's retreat in Shepherds bush. We have 1 place left. Please do visit the following page if you are interested in attending: http://positivevoice.co.uk/group-workshops
Public speaking for women: Changing fear into Excitement
Posted on Tuesday, May 03, 2011 by Positivevoice
So Much More than Weight Loss...
Posted on Friday, April 15, 2011 by Positivevoice
A Powerful Workshop for Women who are Serious about Being Kinder to Their Bodies
Imagine being able to eat whatever you want whilst maintaining your ideal weight. Imagine fitting into that perfect pair of jeans. This may sound like a dream, but it could become your reality.
Nutritionist, Julie Deeks and NLP Master Practitioner, Francesca Gordon-Smith, are coming together for a 1-day workshop on Saturday, 11th June at the Columbia Hotel in Lancaster Gate.
Losing weight doesn't need to be about counting calories.
Julie Deeks will help you understand the importance of eating differently to stop physiological cravings. She will explain how stress and lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain. You will be provided with the tools to improve your metabolism in order to create a healthier muscle-to-fat ratio. It is not all about food, though; a healthy gut flora can also help you stay trim.
It is a fact that reducing calories will lead to weight loss, but we won't be asking you to count your calories or weigh your food, we will show you how to eat to feel satisfied and stay full for longer, eliminating the need for snacking.
Alongside practical tips on healthy eating and nutrition from Julie, Francesca Gordon-Smith will provide therapeutic coaching using Neuro Linguistic Programming and hypnotherapy. She will use some powerful tools to re-programme the way you think and feel about food. She will guide you to reduce unhealthy cravings, whilst ensuring that your self image is as positive and loving as it can be.
Some women struggle to lose weight and when we have a session with them, it becomes apparent that they are holding on to weight for emotional reasons. Others have picked up unhealthy eating habits from their parents and don't understand what a healthy diet is. Whatever your needs, we will help you to manage your weight whilst improving your relationship with yourself.
For further information, please contact Francesca Gordon-Smith: fran@positivevoice.co.uk / 07903 954 550
For further information about Julie, visit: http://nutritionaltherapylink.wordpress.com
For further information about Francesca, visit: http://positivevoice.co.uk/about-francesca
- Do you live to eat?
- Do you spend the majority of your time thinking about food?
- Are you struggling to manage your weight?
Imagine being able to eat whatever you want whilst maintaining your ideal weight. Imagine fitting into that perfect pair of jeans. This may sound like a dream, but it could become your reality.
Nutritionist, Julie Deeks and NLP Master Practitioner, Francesca Gordon-Smith, are coming together for a 1-day workshop on Saturday, 11th June at the Columbia Hotel in Lancaster Gate.
Losing weight doesn't need to be about counting calories.
Julie Deeks will help you understand the importance of eating differently to stop physiological cravings. She will explain how stress and lack of sleep can contribute to weight gain. You will be provided with the tools to improve your metabolism in order to create a healthier muscle-to-fat ratio. It is not all about food, though; a healthy gut flora can also help you stay trim.It is a fact that reducing calories will lead to weight loss, but we won't be asking you to count your calories or weigh your food, we will show you how to eat to feel satisfied and stay full for longer, eliminating the need for snacking.
Alongside practical tips on healthy eating and nutrition from Julie, Francesca Gordon-Smith will provide therapeutic coaching using Neuro Linguistic Programming and hypnotherapy. She will use some powerful tools to re-programme the way you think and feel about food. She will guide you to reduce unhealthy cravings, whilst ensuring that your self image is as positive and loving as it can be.
Some women struggle to lose weight and when we have a session with them, it becomes apparent that they are holding on to weight for emotional reasons. Others have picked up unhealthy eating habits from their parents and don't understand what a healthy diet is. Whatever your needs, we will help you to manage your weight whilst improving your relationship with yourself.
Price: £425*
*Lunch and healthy snacks will be included throughout the day.
**EARLY BIRD OFFER: Purchase before 14th May and pay £390**
*Lunch and healthy snacks will be included throughout the day.
**EARLY BIRD OFFER: Purchase before 14th May and pay £390**
For further information, please contact Francesca Gordon-Smith: fran@positivevoice.co.uk / 07903 954 550
Date & Time: Saturday 11th June 2011, 10am-5.30pm
Venue: Columbia Hotel, 95-99 Lancaster Gate, London, W2 3NS
Venue: Columbia Hotel, 95-99 Lancaster Gate, London, W2 3NS
For further information about Julie, visit: http://nutritionaltherapylink.wordpress.com
For further information about Francesca, visit: http://positivevoice.co.uk/about-francesca
Public Speaking workshop: Structuring a speech with confidence
Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 by Positivevoice
Recent Posts
- More Confident Public Speaking
- How to ALWAYS be on time
- Confidence is Easier When you Trust Yourself
- Confidence is a matter of minset: How to improve yours
- Public Speaking & Confidence Boosting
- You Can Only Change Yourself
- The Rhetorical Question Technique
- You are what you think!
- Positive Voice
- Your Authentic Voice
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