We can talk about 120 to 150 words per minute. We think between 600 to 800 words per minute. What these facts mean is that, when you are talking, your listeners are way ahead of you. You can never talk faster than they can think and you are always in danger of losing their interest.
So what do you do to keep hold their attention. You must talk their "language". What this means is that, if you are talking to a group of college undergraduates, you must know their interest, the current trend among them and weave it into your conversation. If you are talking to senior managements than you learn what is that turns their world.
It is impossible to hold the attention of anyone for long periods. Researches done on the human attention span shows that the mind needs a break every 10 minutes. So, if you have to talk, remember to sprinkle your talks with humour or digress a bit every 1o minutes or so.
Also remember that, it is your duty to hold the attention of your listener.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Simplify - No 2
The papers in your office can be divided into 4 types:
1. Can be thrown away - old cards, expired warranties, old newspapers, anything that you know you will refer it again.
2. Forwarding - papers that can be delegated.
3. Important - things that you have to yourself.
4. Immediate action - That needs you immediate attention.
The first two is obvious. Throw away what you can and a little more. Somehow it is hard to let go things that we know we will use again, but hoarding up things is just going take your energy away. As for things that can be done by others, pass it to them.
Important things and immediate action things deserves your attention.
Immediate action things can be fax, phone calls, emails and others that must be done now. Do it and get over with it.
Learn to deal with things just once and be selective about what is important. Always start with
Will We Succeed?
Science Daily recently reported on a research by University of Illinois Professor Dolores Albarracin and Visiting Assistant Professor Ibrahim Senay, along with Kenji Noguchi, Assistant Professor at Southern Mississippi University, about self talk.
The research shows that those who ask themselves whether they will perform a task generally do better than those who tell themselves that they will.
"The popular idea is that self-affirmations enhance people's ability to meet their goals," Professor Albarracin said. "It seems, however, that when it comes to performing a specific behavior, asking questions is a more promising way of achieving your objectives."
Read the article in full here.
The research shows that those who ask themselves whether they will perform a task generally do better than those who tell themselves that they will.
"The popular idea is that self-affirmations enhance people's ability to meet their goals," Professor Albarracin said. "It seems, however, that when it comes to performing a specific behavior, asking questions is a more promising way of achieving your objectives."
Read the article in full here.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
The "Better Immediately" Principle
This principle can be illustrated by this example;you see a spot of stain on your stove, rather than wiping sighing and telling yourself that the whole stove needs a wipe over, you just take a piece of rag and clean the stain first.
This simple action leaves you feeling a little better about the situation. Rather than aiming for perfection ( wiping the whole stove), you acted immediately and made a positive difference. This, of course, shouldn't stop you from cleaning the whole stove later
This is a useful principle to use. Rather than always seeking perfection, strive for a simple and direct solution first to address the problem at hand.
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Praise
If you see a man doing something good, tell him. Don't wait. A little praise can go a long way.
Do this today and do it everyday.
Do this today and do it everyday.
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
List Everything
Frank Tibolt, suggested this in his book, The Touch of Greatness as a tool to achieve not one but two purposes; to get things done and as a thought provoker.
An advice I should have heard earlier in my life.
After I started doing list on how to do my job to the best of my ability, I found I am more focused. Problems seems so much easier to solve. I am more at peace with some of the more irritable colleagues of mine. This is the list I used.
- How can I improve some part of my job
- Does it have to be done this way?
- How can I increase production?
- How can I save time?
- What Ideas from other field can I use profitably here?
- How can I express initiative, the biggest achievement factor?
This helped, try using it.
After experiencing its benefits, you might want to start having list for everything that matters in your life.
Wednesday, 31 March 2010
Useful Advice
I found this in my e-mail.
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