Whenever effective public speakers end a sentence or phrase, they usually pause. This gives listeners time to absorb their words. Nervous presenters often do the opposite: The stress of being in front of an audience causes them to speak faster and faster, rushing past the pauses. Whether you’re speaking to a large group of strangers or a small room full of colleagues, give your audience a moment to take in your information. Create a pause by dropping your voice at the ends of your phrases instead of raising it, which avoids the dreaded “Valley Girl” effect. Concentrate on dropping your voice and you’ll not only sound more authoritative, but you’ll add those essential pauses.
How to Reach Your Enemy
Having enemies in the workplace is often destructive. Ideally you should try to work with your rival instead of against him. But if your collaborative efforts fail, try one of these strategies instead:
Find a common ally.
Seek a third party whom your enemy trusts. A common ally may convince him of the benefits of working with you.
Wait for the right time. Sometimes people need time and space before they can see your side. Put off communication until the right opportunity presents itself.
Recognize when to go elsewhere. The effort of converting a rival is sometimes so great that you’re better off focusing your energy on another relationship.
KPN rolls commercial 4G LTE
KPN rolls commercial 4G LTE network in Utrecht and The Hague
KPN will from May 11 to offer a 4G LTE connectivity for business subscribers. This just after Ziggo earlier this week a similar network for business subscribers in certain regions introduced. KPN’s 4G network will first be used only in the regions Utrecht and The Hague.
The 4G network of KPN has a maximum download speed of 50 Mbit / s and an upload speed of 25 Mbit / s. The speeds will first be used in business subscriptions, but KPN will start soon on a pilot project involving an LTE network for power users tested. Later this year, these experiments further.
Although Ziggo this week as the first 4G network in the Netherlands introduces, the more interesting developments at KPN: Ziggo said earlier because no immediate plans to continue as a telecom provider.
At the moment there is no 4G iPhone that supports (although this does indicate some U.S. iPhones), but the latest iPhone has a 4G receiver. This only works on U.S. frequencies. It is not yet clear whether a future iPhone 4G will support.
When to Share Bad News
When you’re privy to information that your team isn’t, should you share the news or protect your employees? When deciding whether to divulge bad news, do these things first:
Know your tendency.
We all have a preferred approach when it comes to privacy. Some keep things quiet, while others are more open. Understand your bias and find a middle ground.
Question your motives.
Whether you’re eager to share news or resisting a conversation, question your motives. Are you feeling guilty about harboring information? Are you afraid of people getting angry?
Tend toward transparency.
Lean toward transparency if possible. As long as you’re not violating company policy, give your team the bad news — especially if it’s going to impact their work.
Trust Your Gut
Most of us are taught to defer to authority. As a result, we tend to disregard our internal compasses. But your instincts are often right. Here is how to counter your conditioning and question authority:
Listen to your inner voice.
Take a moment to breathe and consider what is going on. Ask yourself, “Are there other ways to approach this assignment?”
Constructively question. Ask your boss, customer, or client: Why do we do it this way? Would you be open to different ways? Can we experiment?
Reflect.
Whether you’ve followed along or pushed for an alternative, think about what happened. Remember what it felt like to go against authority and think about how you might handle it differently in the future.
Turn Your Employees into Company Advocates
Loyal, passionate employees benefit a company as much as dedicated customers. They stay longer, work more creatively, and go the extra mile. So how do you turn employees into advocates for your company and its work?
Throw out the annual employee survey. They’re unwieldy and unreliable. Survey employees often, but just ask a few simple questions. Try:
How likely would you be to recommend this company to a friend as a place to work?
How likely would you be to recommend the company’s products or services to a potential customer?
Give employees unfiltered customer feedback.
When frontline employees hear directly from customers they respond. Positive feedback inspires them to keep up the good work. Criticism often motivates them to improve their performance.
Perfect Your Pitch
Elevator pitches aren’t just for start-ups. They are helpful in job interviews, networking events, presentations, or any time you need to quickly explain your case. Instead of stumbling when asked, “What does your company do?” prepare an effective pitch that outlines win-win goals and launches a deeper relationship. Grab the listeners’ attention with a smart hook, and then convince them of the mutual benefits you could provide. End by suggesting a follow-up and converting a chance meeting into an opportunity. Speak in terms your audience can relate to. And communicate with the passion that comes from knowing that this opportunity may never come again.
Introverts: Network in Your Own Way
Networking is essential to thriving in business. But if you’re an introvert with a natural aversion to groups and talking with strangers, what can you do? Try these things:
Focus on individuals.
Group interactions can drain introverts. Spend your networking time having one-on-one conversations.
Rethink how you reach out.
Introverts often hesitate to introduce themselves, but social media makes it easier. Reach out via LinkedIn, Twitter, and even Facebook to people before events. This pre-introduction may put you at ease.
Re-energize.
Take time between networking events to recharge. Take a walk or find 30 minutes alone.
3 Ways to Handle a Colleague You Dislike
Working with a difficult person can be distracting and draining. Next time a colleague irritates you to no end, try these three things:
Manage your reaction.
If someone annoys you, don’t focus on his behavior. Focus on how you react, which is usually the only thing you can control.
Keep it to yourself.
Emotions are contagious, so complaining about a co-worker can bring everyone down. And it can reflect negatively on you. If you must vent, do it outside the office.
Work together.
It’s counterintuitive, but by spending more time together you may develop empathy for your colleague. You might discover reasons for his behavior: stress at home, pressure from his boss, etc.
You Can’t Get It All Done
If you’re like most people, you’re overwhelmed with how much you have to do and frustrated by all the things you can’t finish. The reality is that there isn’t enough time to do it all. Once you admit that, you can explicitly choose what you are going to do. Instead of letting things haphazardly fall through the cracks, you can intentionally push unimportant things aside and focus on the things that matter. Don’t instantly react to the needs that land on your desk; make deliberate choices that will move you toward your goals. You also need to make conscious decisions about what not to do.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
