Do You Retain Enough of What You Read?

August 23, 2018
Do You Retain Enough of What You Read?
We’re consuming more information than ever before — but retaining all that knowledge is another story. If you find yourself struggling to use what you read (or even just remember it), you probably aren’t learning productively. To be a more efficient learner, try three things. 

First, focus your reading on a single topic for several months. The deeper you go into a subject, the stronger a foundation you’ll have for learning about it in the future. 

Second, regularly synthesize what you have learned. When you finish reading something, ask yourself, “What are the key takeaways here?” If you can’t explain an idea to yourself, you probably didn’t learn it very well.

 And third, take occasional breaks from consuming new information. Reflecting on what you’ve read in the past is an important part of processing it — and constantly taking in new information can interfere with that. Give yourself time to review, consider, and apply what you’ve already read.

Adapted from “Become a More Productive Learner,” by Matt Plummer and Jo Wilson

Make Sure Your Webinar Lets the Audience Participate

August 28, 2018
Make Sure Your Webinar Lets the Audience Participate
One of the biggest risks of presenting via webinar is boring your audience. No one wants to watch as a disembodied voice clicks through slides. So be sure you’re giving people a chance to interact with you. Depending on the number of attendees, you may ask them to “raise their hand” if they have a question, type their questions into the comment box, or use a separate Q&A feature. Whatever you decide, clearly explain the instructions at the beginning of the webinar, and periodically remind people how they can join in. Remember that it may take participants some time to formulate their questions, especially if they're typing them, so give several minutes’ warning before you dive into the Q&A. And if you expect there to be a lot of comments or questions, you may want to have an assistant pick the ones you’ll respond to, so you can focus on your talk.

Adapted from “ How to Give a Webinar Presentation,” by Dorie Clark

New Leaders, Move Slower Than You Think You Should

August 27, 2018
New Leaders, Move Slower Than You Think You Should
When you start a leadership role, there’s pressure to prove yourself by getting off to a quick start and delivering early wins. But if people sense that you’re making a change without thinking it through — or getting their input — you’re unlikely to be successful. That’s why you need to slow down, especially in your interactions. When talking with new colleagues, repeat what you hear, both to confirm your understanding and to demonstrate that you’re listening. Ask the group reflective questions such as, “What just happened here?” and “What could we learn from that?” These questions force a pause, preventing a discussion from rushing to a decision. And don’t be afraid to use silence. Pausing before you speak gives you a chance to weigh alternatives and decide on the best way to respond. It also pushes others to wonder what’s going through your mind, which may cause them to think more creatively.

Adapted from “Why New Leaders Should Be Wary of Quick Wins,” by Dan Ciampa

Use Tough Feedback as an Opportunity for Self-Reflection

August 20, 2018
Use Tough Feedback as an Opportunity for Self-Reflection
Negative feedback is tough to hear, but it doesn’t have to be soul-crushing. When your manager or a colleague points out something you need to improve on, think before you react. Even if the input is upsetting or surprising, remind yourself that it’s useful information to have. One simple, effective way to consider what you’ve heard is to put your feelings into words. For example, after a critical performance review, you might say to yourself, “I feel blindsided and a little scared.” Naming your emotions can keep them from overwhelming your ability to act on the feedback. Then ask a few trustworthy sources whether they agree with what your manager or colleague said. It can be hard to know how others see us, so getting multiple points of view will help you understand the impression you create. It will also prevent you from overcorrecting based on one person’s opinion — which, after all, is what feedback sometimes is.

Adapted from “The Right Way to Respond to Negative Feedback,” by Tasha Eurich

To Start a Paid Speaking Career, Start Speaking for Free

July 30, 2018

To Start a Paid Speaking Career, Start Speaking for Free

Many professionals would love to speak at conferences and conventions. If you’ve established yourself as a capable speaker, you may be able to find gigs that pay well. But when you’re first starting out, speaking for free is a perfectly reasonable strategy: It will let you practice and hone your skills, and it will get you in front of audiences who could hire you in the future. There might be other, more tangible benefits too, such as the opportunity to travel. Some conferences will cover your travel costs even if they don’t pay a speaking fee. Once you’re offered a talk, consider asking the organization to film it so that you can use the video to find new clients. Ask for a testimonial for your website, too. Even if you aren’t being paid, speaking connects you with people who care about the same things you do, which is an invaluable experience.

Adapted from “How Much Should You Charge for a Speech?,” by Dorie Clark

Stop Dominating the Conversation in Your Meetings

August 1, 2018

Stop Dominating the Conversation in Your Meetings

When you’re leading a meeting, it’s tempting to hold the floor. After all, you called everyone together, right? 
But no one wants to go to a meeting where one person talks the whole time, and you’re unlikely to get what you need from the group if you’re delivering a monologue. 
To keep yourself in check, try three tactics.
(1) First, make notes and stick to them. Give yourself a time limit, and condense what you have to say into that amount of time. 
(2) Second, send the agenda around in advance. Tell people whose opinions you respect that you are hoping they will speak up, and then call on them during the meeting. 
(3)Third, use a round-robin format, where you go around the room and everyone has an opportunity to talk. 
Some people will pass, but at least they were given the chance — and didn’t have to interrupt you to get a word in.

Courtesy : HBR 

Business Travel Can Ruin Your Health. Don’t Let It.

August 22, 2018
Business Travel Can Ruin Your Health. Don’t Let It.
Traveling for work is bad for your health, especially if you do it often. Research shows that business travel can increase your risk of weight gain, anxiety, depression, alcohol dependence, and poor sleep. So if you travel for work regularly, make sure you know how to establish healthy habits on the road. Try to eat low-calorie meals whenever possible, even if your culinary options are limited. You might be tempted to reward yourself after a long day, but resist the urge to order the steak and fries or a late-night cocktail. Those choices will take a toll over time. And don’t skip out on exercise. Stay in a hotel with a gym (and use it), or do simple exercises in your room, such as push-ups and squats. You can also take walks in between meetings, or join colleagues outside for a walking meeting. The physical activity will help prevent weight gain and reduce stress.

Adapted from “Just How Bad Is Business Travel for Your Health? Here’s the Data,” by Andrew Rundle