Tweet

Any Volunteers For The Next Presentation?

Guest post by: Milly Sonneman

Article Overview: Do you slink down in your seat when your boss calls out: "any volunteers for the next presentation?" Find out what it means...and what you can do about it.

Any Volunteers For The Next Presentation?

Your boss calls. "Any volunteers for the next presentation?" "NOT ME!"

Right? If you're like most of the people on this planet, volunteering to present in front of a group is not on your 'must-do' list. So, hiding under a rock and slinking down in your seat may be your first urge. This is the first thing that pops into your head.

But wait. This could just be force of habit.

If it is, here's a taste of what you are not saying:

"Oh Yes! I'll do it! This is an opportunity for me! This is an opportunity to communicate my point of view. This is my chance to shine."

Sure, you still dream about being the leader. But you're hiding out in a cave. You're hiding behind habitual words.

BIG MISTAKE.

Hiding in the cave of "NOT ME" is a really bad idea.

It's habits like these that guarantee you won't get noticed. And you won't move ahead in your career.

You know what leaders do to get ahead? Presenting ideas!

You know what you need to do to get ahead? Presenting your ideas!

So, let me ask you a question.

Haven't you had enough with spinning your wheels, working like crazy but not being recognized? Isn't it time to kick these two words "NOT ME!" out?

Fire them. Toss them out. Hey, while you're at it - torch them.

Why do these five letters "N-O-T-M-E" have so much power? Why is it so easy to keep wrapping yourself in the chains of these five letters?

Between you and me, it's just plain and simple. Force of habit.

This is how you stay in the background. It's how you guarantee no one will think of giving you a promotion. It's a rock solid recipe for a dead-end career.

Even if you are brilliant. Even if you are the very best person for the job. If you don't get comfortable giving presentations, no one will know you exist.

"NOT ME" is how you stay the victim.

"NOT ME" is how you stay in the sidelines and never get a promotion. "NOT ME" is how you paint yourself into a corner - and go nowhere.

So instead of risking all that pain and suffering, get ready. One of the easiest and fastest ways to get ready is to watch videos and get comfortable with the skills of presenting. You can watch free videos on You Tube.

But, as I often say, you get what you pay for. There's only a certain amount of insight and practical tips you'll get for free. If you want to really hardwire your skills and transform your career, get professional training.

Get the skills and tools you need so you can jump up the next time your boss calls out, "Any volunteers?"

It's time to take your own destiny in your hands.

Related Articles
  Frustrated Network Marketer - Needs vs. Wants
  Eight Helpful Tips For Developing An Exemplary Volunteer Program
  9 Simple Tips for Better Presentations
  Background Checks for School Volunteers -- Necessary or Not?
  Professional Presentation Skills
  Presentations - Easy as 1 - 2 - 3
  Three Ways To Reduce Conflict And Improve Volunteer Retention In Nonprofit Organizations
  YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE REALLY VOLUNTEERS
  Power Presentations Tips 02: Begin with the end in mind
  Present the Presentation Confidently
  Stop Your Stammering -- The Power of Silence in a Presentation
  Mobilising masses of moving resources
  Six Alternatives to a Webinar
  Presentation Success: The First Question You Must Ask
  Power Presentations Tip 01: It's not about you
  Presentation Skill
  Public Speaker: Do Not Think on Your Feet
  Present the Butterflies in Formation
  A Perfect Next Career for Recent Retirees and Seasoned Businesspeople
  Money as a Social Barrier

Article Tags: business presentation, presentation coach, visual story



Related Forum Posts
Re: Essential Leadership skills - Vision Values Mission Strategic Thinking Decision Making Communication Team Bonding People Development Coaching / Mentoring / Guiding / Grooming Presentation Thanks Robert
Re: Poll: Video Marketing Online, Do you use it? - Hi GT, One of my goals for this year is to start using video over the summer. I checked the "actively researching" box as I have been looking into it in the last six months with that in mind. I have practical experience with making videos as that is what I do with my "English Presentation" students at college in their second term. Earlier this year, I used iMovie on my Mac OSX to make a DVD stringing together edited versions of the students' presentations, so I'm OK with the technical side... It's the production side that is more of a challenge at the moment!
niche forum categories - I think Kevin just touched on the point that I was going make... and that is developing 'categories' that stick. Sales and Marketing may be too broad for example. However I can almost guarantee you that you would see many more sign-ups if you tailored a category to 'internet marketing' for newbies. I've seen this work on other forums, however, [i:1i903wkn]it can get a little frantic[/i:1i903wkn]... Fine tuning the categories, or expanding the scope should be effective. I think a lot of IM folks are surfing right on by because they're not finding what they're looking for here... Just a few thoughts: Better Blogging Developing Info Products Internet Marketing Presentation Skills More How to's Another point is... a lot of people don't know that they can benefit from participating in forums. The signature links to their site - if they have one - can / should be motivation enough to get more involved. The more internet savvy members that have signatures seem to stick around more... Don't you think?
Re: Public Speaking and Presentations - Hi Annette, Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your passion. I suppose if you include teaching and lecturing, as well as weddings and a funeral, and some acting, I've built up quite a lot of experience of public speaking. I also teach "English Presentation" to several classes at a women's college here in Hiroshima. That can be quite a challenge due to the language level and for the most part the complete inexperience of public speaking on the part of my students. Great fun to teach, though. I seek to encourage them and to build up their confidence, and also give them feedback about posture, fidgeting (hands in hair seems to be a favourite distraction), sniffing loudly while reading/speaking and so on... Giving that kind of feedback without embarrassing people can be quite a delicate task so I wonder if you have any "easy to understand tips" about helping with confidence and posture etc. Best wishes, David H


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

How to sell a business

What should your free giveaway be?

SEO and the Entrepreneur

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.