Decision Making Skill

People often find it hard to make decisions - inevitably we all have to make decisions all the time, some are more important than others.   Some people put off making decisions by endlessly searching for more information or getting other people to offer their recommendations.  Others resort to decision making by taking a vote, sticking a pin in a list or tossing a coin.

Regardless of the effort that is put into making a decision, it has to be accepted that some decisions will not be the best possible choice.  This page examines one technique that can be used for effective decision making and that should help you to make effective decisions now and in the future. 

Although the following technique is designed for an organisational or group structure, it can be easily adapted to an individual level.

What is Decision Making?

In its simplest sense: 'Decision Making is the act of choosing between two or more courses of action'.

However, it must always be remembered that there may not always be a 'correct' decision among the available choices. There may have been a better choice that had not been considered, or the right information may not have been available at the time.  Because of this, it is important to keep a record of all important decisions and the reasons why these decisions were made, so that improvements can be made in the future. This also provides justification for any decision taken when something goes wrong.  Hindsight might not be able to correct past mistakes, but it will aid improved decision making in the future.

Stages of Effective Decision Making

Many different techniques of decision making have been developed, ranging from simple rules of thumb, to extremely complex procedures.

The stages are:

1. Listing all possible solutions/options.
2. Setting a time scale and deciding who is responsible for the decision.
3. Information gathering.
4. Weighing up the risks involved.
5. Deciding on values, or in other words what is important.
6. Weighing up the pros and cons of each course of action.
7. Making the decision.

Listing Possible Solutions/Options

In order to come up with a list of all the possible solutions and/or options available it is usually appropriate to work on a group (or individual) problem-solving process. This process, could include brainstorming or some other 'idea generating' process.

This stage is important to the overall decision making processes as a decision will be made from a selection of fixed choices.  Always remember to consider the possibility of not making a decision or doing nothing and be aware that both options are actually potential solutions in themselves.

Setting a Time Scale and Deciding Who is Responsible for the Decision

In deciding how much time to make available for the decision making process, it helps to consider the following:

• How much time is available to spend on this decision?
• Is there a deadline for making a decision and what are the consequences of missing this deadline?
• Is there an advantage in making a quick decision?
• How important is it to make a decision?  How important is it that the decision is right?
• Will spending more time improve the quality of the decision?

Responsibility For The Decision

Before making a decision, it needs to be clear who is going to take responsibility for the decision. Remember that it is not always those making the decision who have to assume responsibility for it.  Is it an individual, a group or an organisation?  This is a key question because the degree to which responsibility for a decision is shared can greatly influence how much risk people are willing to take.

If the decision making is for work then it is helpful to consider the structure of the organisation that you are in. Is the individual responsible for the decisions he or she makes or does the organisation hold ultimate responsibility?  Who has to carry out the course of action decided?  Who will it affect if something goes wrong?  Are you willing to take responsibility for a mistake?

Finally, you need to know who can actually make the decision?  When helping a friend, colleague or client to reach a decision, in most circumstances the final decision and responsibility will be taken by them.  Whenever possible, and if it is not obvious, it is better to make a formal decision as to who is responsible for a decision. This idea of responsibility also highlights the need to keep a record of how any decision was made, what information it was based on and who was involved.  Enough information needs to be kept to justify that decision in the future so that, if something does go wrong, it is possible to show that your decision was reasonable in the circumstance and given the knowledge you held at the time.

Basics of Negotiation Skill

What is this skill which is needed by everyone and everywhere?

Why do people try to negotiate?Every one have their own goals to achieve and their achievement has a dependency  with one of your actions.So unless you do that they will not achieve their target.So they negotiate with you.Negotiation in simple terms is influencing to get some work done.

More over people negotiate to 

• Reach an Agreement
• Beat opposition
• Compromise
• Settle an argument 
• Make a point

So what is NEGOTIATION?

Negotiation is back and forth communication designed to reach agreement while leaving the other side intact and positive.

Why do people need to reach to agreement?

People around you bear different thoughts, views and

opinions.

So as we are walk the journey at least at one point we will definitely need to get things done by some one around us.As we own different opinions this getting something done might lead to conflicts.Here we start a  conflicts.Conflicts are either good or bad.If the final outcome of a conflict is good, which means both parties gain some thing or both parties improve/create a good relationship we cal call that conflict a good conflict.If its the other way round then we can call it a bad conflict.Thus there is one important thing.

Any and Every conflict have its own underlying relationship between the two.More the closer more the possibility for conflicts.

Bargaining, Bribing, Threatening etc , all are the ways of negotiating.Good or bad, ethical or unethical still we negotiate to get what we want to be done.

In some ways both parties loose. If the deal is reached in the quality of its terms and if the different parties work together and make the deal with trust and differences, its approach is purely negotiating.

It is very much important to determine the kind of relationship you want to have with the other party and negotiate.You must inspire the other party and create a confidence about you with regards the win win situation you are to create.

As i mentioned earlier we well people hold different thoughts, views and opinions.So better to have alternatives all the time.Alternatives may help yo safe guard the relationship while satisfying the interests of both parties at the provided criteria. 

Simply must explain the gains they will get and the gains for you and must make sure that both parties leave the table with something more than they bought to the table and that is true negotiation.

To be success in negotiation one must listen and observe well.Study the body language of the other party well as they tell a story which may not come out from the mouth.Be open and flexible yet firm.Practice patience and need to possess good leadership skills as well.A good negotiator needs to control her/his emotions.Have to have knowledge - pros and cons of every deal thoroughly. Being a trust worthy person would help more for negotiation.Grasp the situation and face wisely.

Being a good negotiator knowing your alternatives you will never sign for a bad deal but win the deal and honestly/ cunningly will  make the other party feel about their victory as well.Be different, See different and Act different these are the keys of a successful negotiator.

Last but not least YOU WILL NEVER GET WHAT YOU DESERVE BUT ONLY WHAT YOU NEGOTIATE.

Change Management For a Business Consultant

Change Management simply talks about how well a person can adapt to changes and practice the change in her/his  life time.There are three stages of Change Management.

1. Un-freezing 
2. Changing
3. Re-Freezing

Adopting to the change is  not as easy as splitting the term change management.It is sort of leaving the comfort zone and stepping in to the danger zone.One should be extremely courageous to leave the comfort zone and ready to adapt to a change.

Below graph explains why some person would search for a change and her/his progression.

The thought for Change begins with frustration.After realizing the denial one would get angry and surely will resist to work hard for it. Continuation of the feeling of frustration would lead one to the tipping point where the decision is taken to LET IT GO.After that one starts looking for a new hope, new path or new destination.The one might start search for a change.

Things to remember in the journey of  searching are :

Resourcefulness: -Being effective at making the most at the situation.Must not forget to utilize what ever resources available.Try to see all the ways to achieve what to want rather getting stuck with one solution.

Optimism: -Recognizing the opportunities and possibilities.Be enthusiastic and positive about the change.See the brighter side of the change.

Adventurousness: -Change is sort of taking an unknown risk.Still walk in the path with courage and confidence.Work hard for the success of your goal.

Drive: -Combine your physical energy and mental desires.Hold the passion "NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE."

Adaptability: -Being flexible and resilient at the same time.Your will power to adapt to the changes is very much important.

Confidence: -Believe in your ability.Enjoy the process of change.

Ambiguity Tolerance: - This is the ability to handle the elements of indefiniteness.Coping with uncertainty and facing the changes.

Changes can happen in many ways.A minor/major change can happen collaboratively or a minor/major change can happen coercive.Either way if there is a necessity for a change the responsibility is to make that change and adapt for it.

In the perspective of a Business Consultant I would rather say she/he is a person who would face many changes out of all as we as business consultants will needs to deal with different sets of people and with regards different domains.One person to one person or one domain to the other is not same at all.So a business consultant needs to have the ability to change as soon as possible if the situation requires it.Further business consultant definitely must raft to the changes rather rowing as i mentioned earlier as well out career is all about dealing with people and consulting them about changes to their business or the business process.If we are not fast enough flexible enough or focused enough will it be a successful consultation.

So my dear business consultants keep changing- get updated about every possible domain, be flexible and change as per required, enjoy what you do by seeing the positive side of the adventure. 

Change Management In General

I wanted this amazing movie "Who Moved My Cheesse" : [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QmeWe2KoDs ]  and below is the learning.

Thought this will inspire you and teach you to be more flexible to achieve success in anything and everything you do in life.

Cheese is a metaphor used to define your goals or dreams or hopes in life (a new house , a new job etc ). Cheese defines the things  which make you happy (knowledge, skills, success in career, family, hanging with friends etc).

Remember world change.We must never stick on to what we know and what we like.We must adapt to the changes.We must keep improving our cheese and keep it moving.We much accept the changes.Always know what is happening around.Keeps your eyes widely opened for the outer environment so that you are aware of the changes to happen in the future and even happening around you.Enjoy the changes.Do not be rigid  for changes.Get used to changes quickly.

What you think?

1. What is cheese for me?
2. What is my favorites quote?
3. What are my experiences on change management?

Everyday is a new beginning with loads and heaps of opportunities.You may experience those only and only if you are ready for a change or if you are ready to accept those challenges.

Basic Economics for a Business Consultant- Supply Cont.

Supply is defined as the quantity of a good that producers are willing and able to supply at a specified price and a specified time. Supply must be distinguished from the total stock of a commodity in existence. Supply is only that part of the stock which comes into the market in response to the prevailing price.

Individual supply is what a single supplier would supply to the market at a particular price and a particular time.

Market supply means the quantities of a good that all sellers in the market are willing and able to supply at a specified price and a specified time.

Determinants of Supply:

Price of that good - Higher the price, greater would be the quantity supplied and lower the price, smaller would be the quantity     supplied ceteris paribus. The normal supply curve slopes upward from left to right.There is a direct or positive relationship between price and quantity supplied.

Prices of other goods - Goods can be produced with the same resources (or changes in relative prices). If the price of one good rises with prices of other goods constant, factors of production (resources) will be shifted to producing that good whose price has risen.

Prices of factor inputs - If the price of a factor input such as the wage rate rises, the cost of production increases resulting in a decline in the profit margin. Then the supply of goods requiring the use of that factor will decrease. If the price of a factor input used in  the production process falls, the cost of production falls, the profit margin of the producer rises and supply will increase.

Technology - Improved technology helps to produce a bigger output and cost per unit
will fall. Supply will increase.

Time - In the short run, supply is relatively stable as certain factor inputs are fixed in supply; in the long run, supply tends to be more flexible as all factor inputs can be changed.

Tax -A higher production tax imposed by government reduces the producer's profit margin and supply decreases. On the other hand, a subsidy given to producers will increase supply.

Government Policy - Restrictions placed on imports will decrease market supply.

Goals of firm - If the goal of the firm is sales maximization (rather than profit maximization), supply will increase.

Weather conditions - In the case of agricultural goods, favorable weather conditions will lead to an increase in supply, while unfavorable weather conditions will lead to a decrease in supply. Good weather leads to a bumper harvest and bad weather to a poor harvest.

Basic Economics for a Business Consultant- Demand Cont.

In a free enterprise economy, the price of a good or a service is determined by market demand and market supply. Demand comes from buyers while supply comes from sellers. Market price gets determined as a result of the free interaction between buyers and sellers.

Definition of Demand

Human wants or desires are unlimited but demand is not unlimited. Demand means both the desire to have a good and the ability to pay for that good. Individual desires alone have no effect on decisions made by producers unless they get translated into actual spending on goods. Consumer demand must have an effect on the production process. In economics, demand refers to effective demand i.e. a consumer's desire to have a thing must be backed by his ability to pay for that thing.

Generally, the quantity demanded of a good tends to increase when its price falls and decrease when its price rises.

The market demand curve is a summation of all the quantities of a good that consumers would buy at a

particular price and at a particular time.

Determinants of Demand :

Its own price - The first factor that determines the demand for a good is the price of that good. When the

price of a good falls, there tends to be an increase in the quantity demanded; and when price rises, there tends to be a decrease in quantity demanded, with the other factors affecting demand remaining unchanged.

Giffen goods -This determines the ability and inability to buy luxury goods.

Expectation of a future price increase - People might purchase more of a commodity at a higher price if they believe that the price will rise further in the near future (e.g. pre- budget purchases of electrical and electronic items or expected changes in share prices).

Ostentatious goods - Demand for articles of ostentation or display will be higher at a higher price than at a lower price (e.g. diamond jewellery, luxury cars, collector's items such as antiques and vintage cars). This would be valid only up to a certain price point and not indefinitely.

Obsolete goods - These are goods which have gone out of fashion such as clothing items that are no longer fashionable. A reduction in the price of an obsolete good is not likely to attract a higher demand.

So far it has been assumed that the demand for a good is determined solely by its own price. But there are many factors other than the price of the good, which affect demand. If any factor other than its own price is considered, a new demand curve has to be drawn. The distinction between a change in quantity demanded and a change in demand is essential to an understanding of how the price mechanism works. A great deal of

confusion can arise if this point is not properly grasped. The former is a movement along a demand curve, while the latter leads to a shift of the entire demand curve. The normal demand curve shows that different quantities are demanded at different price levels, but a shift of the demand curve shows that a different quantity is demanded at each of the original prices.

Changes in Demand

The factors leading to changes in demand and a shift of the entire demand curve are;

1. Prices of substitute goods - Substitutes are goods that satisfy the same want. They are competitive products or alternatives to each other.If the price of coffee rises, there tends to be an increase in the demandfor tea with price of tea remaining constant,a fall in the price of coffee tends to lead to a decrease in the demand for tea, with the price of tea remaining the same.
2. Prices of complementary goods - These are jointly demanded or inter-related goods so that one is useless without the other.An increase in the price of fuel leads to a decrease in the demand for cars.
3. Income - An increase in consumer's money income leads to an increase in demand, with prices of other goods remaining constant. Also, a re-distribution of income in favour of the poorer sections of society will lead to an increase in demand for those goods mostly bought by the poor.
4. Tastes and preferences - Over time, new products enter the market and become fashionable (e.g. a particular type of school bag or sports shoes); similarly, some other products might go out of fashion.
5. Advertising - An increase in advertising expenditure tends to increase consumer demand (sales).
6. Weather and seasonal changes
7. Availability of credit facilities

Basic Economics for a Business Consultant

Business consultants  deals more with day today business scenarios as the main responsibility of a business consultant is to help her/his customers to grow the business from AS IS to TO BE state.Economics is the studies how consumers, given his limited income, make his buying decisions and how the firms, given his limited capital, make production decisions.

So for a business consultant to consult a client must to have a good understanding about the business and also about buying patterns of consumers of the client.

There are 4 fundamental concepts of economics.They are,

1. Scarcity
2. Choice
3. Opportunity Cost

Before getting in to more details about the above mentioned factors lets get to know the difference between 2 main terminologies used in economics.

• Needs
• Wants

Needs are basic to human existence such as food, clothing, shelter etc.

Wants are specific satisfiers which are used to satisfy the  above mentioned needs.For example to satisfy hunger human kind may need not only rice but also burgers, noodles, pasta etc. Wants multiply.This occurs due to the many reasons such as likeness to imitate, advertising campaigns etc.

Getting back to the point.What is scarcity?

Economics rests on two basic assumptions i.e. human wants are limitless but the
resources available to satisfy them are limited. The basic problem facing every society
is how to satisfy unlimited wants with limited resources. Scarcity of resources is the
foundation of the economic problem.So scarcity Human wants are limitless though the the resources to satisfy those needs are limited.

What is choice?
Resources are not only scarce but have alternative  uses.Hence, choices must be made between competing
uses.Resources are not only scarce but can be put to alternative uses. Scarcity of resources compels us to make choices between alternatives. A consumer has to choose what goods to buy with his limited  income. A landowner can use his land for cultivation or to put up buildings. Even these
choices can be further sub-divided.

What is Opportunity Cost?

Making a choice between alternatives involves a sacrifice or a cost which in economics

is termed opportunity cost.

“Opportunity cost is defined as the cost or value of the next best alternative we give up in order to get something. It is the cost of the next best alternative forgone or sacrificed.” (Fonseka, 2013, p.06).

For opportunity cost to arise, two conditions must be satisfied. First, the resource must
be scarce.Second, the resource must
have alternative uses. Thus, when a choice has to be made between alternatives, the
decision would involve a sacrifice or an opportunity cost.

 Points on the PPC (‘a’, ‘b’, ‘c’,‘d’, ‘e’) - These show the maximum combinations of output  that can be achieved by the economy when  resources are fully employed.

Point outside PPC (‘f’) - because it shows a higher output combination an so a higher level of material satisfaction. But point ‘f’ cannot be reached with the given resources.

Point below PPC (‘g’) - Point ‘g’ which is inside the boundary is achievable. But, it is inferior to any point on the PPC as point ‘g’ shows a lower output combination than what is achievable. It implies unused (unemployed) or under-utilized productive resources.

System Economics:

Free enterprise economy - Answers to basic economic questions:

• What, How & for
• whom to produce – are
• provided by the private  sector.

Mixed economy -  Goods and services are produced both by the private sector & the public sector.

Centrally planned economy -  Answers to basic  economic questions are provided by the State.

"Efficiency is doing the thing right while Effectiveness is doing the  right thing”. Good managers are both efficient and effective. They do right things, right. Nations and organizations need complete, and not half- managers.

Productive Efficiency: It means producing a given output at the lowest cost for that level of output; it is producing the maximum output with a given quantity of input. It occurs when goods and services are produced using the least cost production methods.

X- Inefficiency: the inefficient use of resources. Output is produced at a higher average cost (or cost per unit).

Allocative efficiency: This occurs when available resources are devoted to producing that particular combination of goods most wanted by society. A situation of efficient allocation is achieved when no one can be made better off without someone else being made worse off. It is termed Pareto optimality.

User Stories

A user story represents a small piece of business value that a team can deliver in an iteration. 

A user story is defined incrementally, in three stages:

1. The brief description of the need
2. The conversations that happen during backlog grooming and iteration planning to nail down the details
3. The tests that confirm the story's satisfactory completion

Bill Wake has given us the INVEST mnemonic to help remember the characteristics of a well-formed user story:

I – Independent

N – Negotiable

V – Valuable

E – Estimable

S – Small

T – Testable

Why use user stories?

1. Expressing business value
2. Avoid introducing detail too early that would prevent design options and inappropriately lock developers into one solution
3. Avoid the appearance of false completeness and clarity
4. Get to small enough chunks that invite negotiation and movement in the backlog

How do I write user stories?

As a <user type>, I want to <function> so that <benefit> 

Examples:

As a business consultant, I want to know which tasks I own so that I can decide what to work on now.

Try to avoid the generic role "User" when writing user stories. User stories are about all of the "actors" who interact with the system or who realize some value or benefit from the system. Not all actors are end users.

What size should a user story be?

A story should be small enough to be coded and tested within an iteration- ideally just a few days. When a story is too large, it is called an "epic". Backlog items tend to start as epics, when they are lower priority. 

How detailed should a user story be?

Too broad

"A team member can view iteration status."

Too detailed

"A team member can click a red button to expand the table to include detail, which lists all the tasks, with rank, name, estimate, owner, status."

Just right

"A team member can view the iteration's stories and their status, with main fields."

"A team member can view or hide the tasks under the stories."

"A team member can edit a task from the iteration status page."

How do we know when we’re missing the mark? Ultimately “User stories are a promise for a conversation” (Ron Jeffries). If Product Owner and Team both know what they mean, you’re off to a good start. But you can probably save some time by avoiding the common pitfalls below:

“Design brochure layout.”

Drawbacks: not Independent, no business Value. This is a task representing a horizontal architectural layer or phase. The architecture will be done in a vacuum, possibly contributing to analysis paralysis.

Better: “As a dog owner, I can find a meal schedule on the brochure so I know whether this doggy day care center is appropriate for my hungry dog.”

This will lead to only the necessary amount of design to support this Sprint’s features. The layout might change the next Sprint, but rework is cheaper than no work.

“Write game rules.”

Drawbacks: not Independent, no business Value, not Small.

Better: “As a newbie game player, I want to know who goes first so we can start the game.”

Better: “As a competitive gamer, I want a way to leapfrog my opposing players.”

“I want the brochure to be colorful.”

Drawbacks: not Independent, not Estimable (without knowing other features of brochure), not Small.

This is an easy trap for those of us who grew up with the habit of writing “the JFIDM _shall_ comply with the IEEE-488 interface specification.”

Better: Use “colorful” and other cross-cutting requirements as acceptance criteria on each of the specific features in the backlog they apply to.

“As Product Owner, I want a list of highly-rated restaurants on the brochure.”

Drawbacks: It’s not only about you!

Better: Focus on your end users and stakeholders. “As a gourmet tourist, I want a list of highly-rated restaurants on the brochure.”

Better: “As the Chicago Public Health Department, I want warnings about restaurants that serve raw ingredients so that tourists don’t get sick on our dime.”

“Play test the game.”

Drawbacks: Not Independent. Encourages phase wise development.

Better: Make testing, refactoring, etc. a default acceptance criteria on every Product Backlog Item.

User stories are simple thing. “Simple” is often not the same as “easy.” Happy unlearning!

Effective Presentation : Cont.

Further about "Effective Presentation(s)"

Communication is the process of transferring signals/messages between a sender and a receiver through various methods (written words, nonverbal cues, spoken words). It is also the mechanism we use to establish and modify relationships.

Be confident in knowing that you can make worthwhile contributions to conversation. Take time each day to be aware of your opinions and feelings so you can adequately convey them to others. Individuals who are hesitant to speak because they do not feel their input would be worthwhile need not fear. What is important or worthwhile to one person may not be to another and may be more so to someone else.

Developing advanced communication skills begins with simple interactions. Communication skills can be practiced every day in settings that range from the social to the professional. New skills take time to refine, but each time you use your communication skills, you open yourself to opportunities and future partnerships.

Make eye contact. Whether you are speaking or listening, looking into the eyes of the person with whom you are conversing can make the interaction more successful. Eye contact conveys interest and encourages your partner to be interested in you in return.
One technique to help with this is to consciously look into one of the listener’s eyes and then move to the other eye. Going back and forth between the two makes your eyes appear to sparkle. Another trick is to imagine a letter “T” on the listener’s face ,with the cross bar being an imaginary line across the eye brows and the vertical line coming down the center of the nose. Keep your eyes scanning that “T” zone.

Use gestures. These include gestures with your hands and face. Make your whole body talk. Use smaller gestures for individuals and small groups. The gestures should get larger as the group that one is addressing increases in size.

Don’t send mixed messages. Make your words, gestures, facial expressions and tone match. Disciplining someone while smiling sends a mixed message and is therefore ineffective. If you have to deliver a negative message, make your words, facial expressions, and tone match the message.

Be aware of what your body is saying. Body language can say so much more than a mouthful of words. An open stance with arms relaxed at your sides tells anyone around you that you are approachable and open to hearing what they have to say.

• Arms crossed and shoulders hunched, on the other hand, suggest disinterest in conversation or unwillingness to communicate. Often, communication can be stopped before it starts by body language that tells people you don't want to talk.
• Appropriate posture and an approachable stance can make even difficult conversations flow more smoothly.

Manifest constructive attitudes and beliefs. The attitudes you bring to communication will have a huge impact on the way you compose yourself and interact with others. Choose to be honest, patient, optimistic, sincere, respectful, and accepting of others. Be sensitive to other people's feelings, and believe in others' competence.

Speak clearly and don’t mumble. If people are always asking you to repeat yourself, try to do a better job of articulating yourself in a better manner.

Pronounce your words correctly. People will judge your competency through your vocabulary. 

Develop your voice – A high or whiny voice is not perceived to be one of authority. In fact, a high and soft voice can make you sound like prey to an aggressive co-worker or make others not take you seriously. Begin doing exercises to lower the pitch of your voice. Try singing, but do it an octave lower on all your favorite songs. Practice this and, after a period of time, your voice will begin to lower.

Animate your voice. Avoid a monotone and use dynamics. Your pitch should raise and lower periodically. Radio DJ's are usually a good example of this.

Use appropriate volume. Use a volume that is appropriate for the setting. Speak more softly when you are alone and close. Speak louder when you are speaking to larger groups or across larger spaces.

Effective Presentation

Presentations skills and public speaking skills are very useful in many aspects of work and life. Effective presentations and public speaking skills are important in business. Developing the confidence and capability to give good presentations, and to stand up in front of an audience and speak well, are also extremely helpful competencies for self-development too. Presentations and public speaking skills are not limited to certain special people - anyone can give a good presentation, it simply takes a little preparation and practice.

The formats and purposes of presentations can be very different, for example: oral, multimedia, powerpoint presentations,or a talk on a subject to a group on a voluntary basis for pleasure.

"Many are ready to even die in battle, but few can face an assembly without nerves."
(Couplet 723, from Thirukkural/Tirrukural, also called the Kural - a seminal guide to life and ethics attributed to the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, said to have lived between about 200-10BC. )

A common physical reaction to having to speak in public is a release of adrenaline and cortisol into our system, which is sometimes likened to drinking several cups of water.Even experienced speakers feel their heart thumping very excitedly indeed. This sensational reaction to speaking in public is certainly not only felt by novices, and even some of the great professional actors and entertainers suffer with real physical sickness before taking the stage or podium.

Speaking in public is genuinely scary for most people, including many whom outwardly seem very calm.

Our primitive brain shuts down normal functions as the 'fight or flight' impulse takes over.Good preparation is the key to confidence, which is the key to you being relaxed, and this settles the butterflies.Good preparation and rehearsal will reduce your nerves by 75%, increase the likelihood of avoiding errors to 95%.So Prepare, or plan, and practise.

Then you will be in control, and confident.The audience will see this and respond accordingly, which in turn will help build your confidence.

Preparation and knowledge are the pre-requisites for a successful presentation, but confidence and control are just as important.

Remember Roosevelt's maxim that "no-one can intimidate me without my permission".

Good presenting is about entertaining as well as conveying information. As well, people retain more if they are enjoying themselves and feeling relaxed. So whatever your subject and audience, try to find ways to make the content and delivery enjoyable - even the most serious of occasions, and the driest of subjects, can be lifted to an enjoyable or even an amusing level one way or another with a little research, imagination, and humour.

Enjoyment and humour are mostly in the preparation. You don't need to be a natural stand-up comedian to inject enjoyment and humour into a presentation or talk. It's the content that enables it, which is very definitely within your control.

When you have structured your presentation, it will have an opening, a middle with headed sections of subject matter, and a close, with opportunity for questions if relevant.Make sure you have a good, strong, solid introduction.Clearly identify your subject and your purpose to yourself, and then let the creative process take over for a while to gather all the possible ideas for subject matter and how you could present it. Use brainstorming and mind-mapping.

Create a strong introduction and a strong close.Tell people what you're going to speak about and what your purpose is.And while you might end on a stirring quotation or a stunning statistic, you must before this have summarised what you have spoken about and if appropriate, demanded an action from your audience, even if it is to go away and think about what you have said.

Essentially the structure of all good presentations is to:

"Tell'em what you're gonna tell'em. Tell'em. Then tell'em what you told'em." (George Bernard Shaw - thanks Neville Toptani)

Introduce yourself and tell them what your going to tell them. Tell them why your telling them it; why it's important, and why it's you that's telling them. Tell them how long your going to take, and tell them when they can ask questions (if you're nervous about being thrown off-track then it's okay to ask them save their questions until the end).

By the time you've done this introduction you've established your authority, created respect and credibility, and overcome the worst of your nerves. You might even be enjoying it; it happens. If you're just giving a short presentation then by the time you've done all this you've completed a quarter of it!

Remember,"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." (Friedrich Nietzsche)

Be aware of your own body language.

creating and giving presentations - step by step summary
1.     define purpose
2.     gather content and presentation ideas
3.     structure the subject matter
4.     develop how to present it
5.     prepare presentation
6.     practice
7.     plan, experience, control the environment
8.     'dress rehearsal' if warranted
deliver the presentation

Relax, you have practiced and prepared so nothing will go wrong, enjoy it, the audience is on your side.



Points to remember: smile, solid well-rehearsed opening, impact, tell'em what you're gonna tell'em, tell'em, tell'em what you told'em, entertainment, interest, body-language, humour, control, firmness, confidence, avoid jokes/sexism/racism, speak your audience's language, accentuate the positive, use prompts, participation, and have fun!

Active Listening : Are You a Great Listener?

According to the recent survey conducted in India on how members spent time on communicating, 63% of their time was spent on listening to one another.Listening is an important aid to communication.In the process of learning, listening plays a great role.How ever listening is a communication skill used most often in human interaction  still not a skill which most people perform well.

Listening and Hearing are two different aspects.As a user for you to achieve many steps in the career ladder you must understand the importance of effective listening as it can be named as the most important aspect in communication.

We listen to people we like  and We like to listen to people we like but effective listening is not listening to the people you like.Still after little bit of marketing you need to make people listen to you.That is the talent.unless you listen you will not able to complete communication process.

Listening Process:

Selecting Stage: The listener selects, from among a multiple of stimuli, the only one which seems to be important at the point of that time and convert it to a message.

Interpreting Stage: The listener is engaged in the act of decoding the message.

Evaluating Stage: A great deal of critical listening takes place in this stage.The listener assign a meaning to the message, draw interfaces, takes an overview of the message , and accuracy of information and evidence.

Responding Stage: This is the stage where the listener is ready to respond.This can be verbal or non verbal.

 Memory Stage: This is the final stage of listening. Effective listening helps listeners to retain chunks of what we heard.Though "Memorability" is one of the most important aspect very less number of speakers do remember what they listened.

Advantages of listening:

1. It breaks barriers between people.
2. We can understand each other.
3. It minimizes the losses of potential revenue by getting to know what the customer really wants.
4. Prevent miss communication.
5. It saves time by reducing second or third meeting times to convey the same message.

Lets get to know what LADDER tips for  active listening:

L - Look at the person speaking to you

A  - Ask questions (open ended) / Attention

D - Do not interrupt

D - Do not change the subject 

E - Empathize

R - Response (verbal or non-verbal)

So an active / efficient listener is as above.

Benefits of listening to the Leaders and Teams:

Listening helps to know the organization
Listening helps to bring better policies
Listening forms a bond of respect
Listening increases the productivity
Listening can calm down people
Listening increase accuracy
Listening improve confidence
Listening improves innovation and creativity

Importantly as for a social being  listening helps to spot sensitive areas before they become explosive.

So why not listen?Be an active listener.Practice the skill of listening if you feel that you are are weak in that as it will be a life time investment for both professional and personnel lives.

Leadership

Can every leader be a manager? I would rather say NO, not all managers are leaders or all leaders are managers.Leadership is just another pillar of management.(04 pillars of management:: Planning, Organizing, Leading, Controlling)

Leader is not an instructor but the one who creates an enthusiasm or the feeling of necessity and likeness towards the goal.

Leadership is:

• Inspiring
• Influencing
• Instructing

Leadership can be either Corporate Leadership or General Leadership.

General Leadership:

General leadership is not about positions it is all about the dedication and the actions.General leader do not have to hold a designation but a person with the ability to drive the team towards a goal.

Either Corporate or General a leader is a dreamer.She/He make it a reality by working towards it.

Three Types of Leaders:

• Grumpy Leaders
• Good Leaders
• Great Leaders

Corporate Leadership:

Triple Mastery of Leaders:

• People mastery
• Task mastery
• Context mastery

People mastery is the ability to talk to people and influence them.The ability of  talking to peoples heart and influencing them is a great quality which a leader must acquire. 

Task mastery is acquiring the technical skills needed to a manager.

Context mastery is the knowledge about the culture and the traditions.

Remember employees do not leave the company but the boss.So a leader needs to acquire both artistic and scientific.A leader must be inspiring, caring and trust worthy.In the same place a leader must be controlling and instructive.

Leader can be 

1. Trait
2. Behavioral
3. Integrative
4. Contingency 

1% of the leaders are trait(born) and 99% of the leaders are behavioral (made).Integrative means a leaver can be born and further made as well.Also a leader can be generated based on the situation.

A transactional  leader gets the work done but a Transformational leader empower the followers.So even at the absence of the leader the followers behave active.

So my dear friends be a great leader.Do not instruct your team but empower them by your behavior and inspiring words.

Effective Business Writing

The aim of this blog post  is to provide some information on effective business writing as business consultancy deals a lot with documentation.

Plain English

Remember "NO BODY IS DYING TO READ WHAT YOU WRITE IN THE OFFICE ".It is  one of the most important factor which everyone of us keep in our minds as we go one writing emails or reports or business letters or anything.Do you die to read the emails you receive from your office college? am sure the answer is "NO".So do the others.

Using Plain English means writing in a such manner that the reader can read, understand and act upon it at the very first time of reading the article/email/business letter.

It is even important that what you write can be read fast and the message is conveyed at one time still in a very friendly manner.

Always

• Use short and simple words
• Reduce old fashion English
• Short sentences (15- 20 words)
• Avoid bulky paragraphs (3-5 lines maximum)
• Prefer active verbs

Active Verbs:

SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT
The cat      + sat  on + the mat

Make Lists : Use Bullet Points

• introduce the list with stem sentence
• use a colon to introduce the list
• match verb-verb and noun-noun

Linking Words
Once you have organized the information, it is necessary to link it together so that it is easy for the readers to follow.

contrast
  I like chocolate but not cheese.

  eg: but, although, meanwhile, how ever

sequencing/ time
  First you add the sugar and also milk powder.

  eg: also, more over, consequently

cause and result
  He was late so i was angry.

  eg: so, since, because, there fore

additional/ reinforcement

  I like chocolate and cheese.

  eg: more over, especially, further more

Before Writing:

• Why i am writing? (purpose)
• What do i want from the reader? (action)
• Who is the reader?

Email Writing Essential:

• Have a clear subject, specific subject line (eg: Report Format)
• Salutation (Dear Mr.Jackson )
• Write in short paragraph
• Remember to sign off
• Have an email signature

Report Writing Essentials:

• Have a clear aim and objectives
• Focus on the reader
• Be selective
• Spend time planning
• Allow time to edit and proof read

So write plain, simple language in a very friendly manner.It will help you to reach the top of the career ladder fast.