![confident because in any situation of my life I handle it with a positive attitude. For eg. When I was
working with a marketing company I was assigned a target of selling 20 machines. My senior colleagues
told me that this was one of the unachievable targets. But I took it as a challenge and I worked hard on it
continuously for all 30 days and at the end of it, I had achieved a sales of 27 machines – which broke all
the records. I think this was all because of my confidence and positive attitude.
What are your strengths and your weaknesses?
[First of all, take time to write down 3 of your strengths and 3 weaknesses. These are examples
from personal life, you can quote your relevant real professional life examples.]
Since my childhood, I have a habit, if I want to go to a movie, solve Maths problems, I used to
make sure that I do it. I would not care how much effort was involved, how much convincing
was required. , so my first strength is that I am a determined person.
Secondly, I have a habit, when I take up some work, I make sure that I do it very well. It was my
dad’s 25th birthday. All my family members had completed the decoration, but I started when
everybody finished, because I was not satisfied with the way it was. I worked alone for four
hours and at the end of it, everyone appreciated it. Moreover, my father, for whom it was a
surprise was delighted. , my second strength is that I love perfection and I achieve it most of the
times.
Now as I have told you about my strengths I would like to share with you something. One of my
strength of being a determined person is also my weakness. When I take up some commitment,
I invest so much energy, hardwork and efforts in it that I sometimes neglect my personal life,
social life, health and family life. I still remember I have not visited my very close friend since last
2 years. My strength of being a determined person is also my weakness.
My mother tells me that I spend a lot of money. I think she is right and but from other
perspective, I think what I am doing is also right. Whenever I buy something – clothes, watches,
shoes, I buy best quality products, and good products or services are always expensive. My
second weakness is that I spend a lot of money on quality products.
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I have observed that your company has grown very fast in the last five years. I want to contribute my
services and be a part of this growth. I think in five years I would like to see myself as a Head of a
Department.
Share21
There are other 3 candidates with same age, experience and work-profile. Why should we consider
you for this post?
I know about myself, hence I can comment about myself. I not only have relevant experience in the
required field, but also, I am passionate about my work. Most people become Software Engineers](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/pdpcoursecontents-120313084140-phpapp01/85/Pdp-course-contents-36-320.jpg)
![because there is a demand, but I got into it because I love & enjoy programming. Additionally, I have
achieved two promotions in three years, which clearly shows my performance in my current job. I think
these qualities qualify me for this job.
What if you do not get this job?
Based on my qualifications, experience and skills, I am very sure that I deserve and will get this job. But
for some reason, if you decide to select somebody else, I will respect your decision and would like to
know from you the reason. I will then work on the skills that need improvement and maybe come back
to you again.
Your resume has 2 spelling mistakes, can you justify?
I have checked my resume twice before submitting it to you. But there are chances something must
have slipped out. Since you are commenting, I would like to have a look at the resume. Can I please take
it? I can only find one spelling mistake in EDUCATION, and I am not able to find the second one. Can you
kindly help me out? [take response]. Ok Thank you, for pointing out my mistakes. At this point of time,
we have to do with this one. I will correct it once I leave from here and then email it to you.
What if you get an opportunity in other company?
[Fresher] I am working for this company currently and as far as I know myself, once I make a
friend, I maintain the friendship for life and it is the same in my career. Once I work for a
company, I take it as a long term commitment. In this highly competitive market, offers from
other companies will always be there but I want to work with your company to build a Career
with you.
[Experienced] I have studied about your company in detail. I am seriously looking at dedicating
my services for the company’s growth and I know that your company offers excellent growth
opportunities to employees who deserve it. So I am looking forward to work with your
organization in long-term.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/pdpcoursecontents-120313084140-phpapp01/85/Pdp-course-contents-37-320.jpg)
Pdp course contents
- 1. Certificate Course Contents: Personality Development Introduction to Personality Development Finer Points of Conversation / Behaviour Good Grooming - Hair Care, Hair Styling, Skin Care Public Relations Table Manners Magic Laws of Success Attitude & Motivation Inter-Personal skills Time Management / Leadership & Team Building Stress Management Interviewing Skills & Group Discussions Public Speaking Mechanics of Public Speaking Voice Culture Audience Analysis Speaking with Confidence Body Language Course Details: Duration : 13 Sessions of 2 hrs. each (SUNDAY / WEEK DAY BATCHES) Timings: 10.30 a.m. to 12. 30 p.m. Course Fees Rs.3,900 + Rs.100 Entrance Please make cheques payable to "Davar's College of Commerce, Secretarial Studies & Services". Fees once paid are not refundable under any circumstances.
- 2. Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Course Outline / Syllabus COURSE SYLLABUS I. Course Code : Personality Development II. Descriptive Title : Personality Development III. No. of Units : 3 IV. General Objectives Upon completion of the course, the students should be able to: 1. Describe a winning , pleasing personality and the winning qualities . 2. Explain how self – image affects one’s feelings, attitudes and behavior. 3. Discover appropriate ways for becoming physically fit so as to stay young and healthy . 4. Understand the consequences and cause of having win – lose or lose win attitudes and relationships .Demonstrate effective ways of coping with difficult people who resemble persecutors in a psychological game . 5. Identify the behavioral manifestations of self discipline . V. Course Description This course deals with the dynamics of personality development and then proceeds to guide students in comparing themselves to the ideal so that they will become more aware of their personality handicaps. Activities are also meant to deeper their self – realization as they reflect on their existing value system , their life philosophy , paradigms and perceptions and the discover how all these influence their present behavior , success and happiness . These activities are expected to facilitate paradigm shift , unloading of mental and emotional bondages and adopting healthy coping mechanisms . Unpleasant experiences are processed such that the participant is able to perceive them positively , learn from them and turn them into learning , meaningful and purifying experiences . VI . Course Requirements Case Study Term Paper VII . Grading System Quizzes Class Standing ( 60 % ) Major Examination ( 40 % ) VIII . Course Outline
- 3. I. What Makes A Winning Personality A. Personality Defined B. Determinants of Personality C. How Personality is Developed D. Corporate Theories on Personality Development E. The Development Process F. What Makes A Winner II . Building Self – Esteem and Self – Confidence A. Indicators of a Positive Self – Image B. Indicators of a Negative Self – Image C. The Development of Self – Image and Self – Esteem D. Self – Esteem and Maladjustment E. Behavioral Manifestations of Woundedness F. Therapy for Wholeness and Wholesome Self – Esteem III . Projecting A Positive Social Image A. Social Image Defined B. Looking Great and Attractive C. Dressing and Make – up D. Hair Care and Inner Glow E. Poise and Posture F. Eye Contact and body Language G. Physical Fitness H. Projecting a Professional Image I. Social Graces and Table Manners J. Manners in Conversations K. Getting Acquainted – Behavior in Introductions L. Projecting an Image of a Real Lady M. Projecting an Image of a Perfect Gentleman IV. Developing a Win – Win Attitude A. Various Life Scripts and Emotional Programs B. Characteristics of the Five Life Scripts C. Fruits of a Win – Win Attitude D. Differentiating Assertive from Aggressive and Passive Behavior E. Developing an “ I’m Ok , You’re Ok “ Program F. Making Others Feel Good about Themselves G. Positive Strokes H. The Magic of Affirmations I. Therapies for Developing a “ You are Ok “ Script J. Forgiveness as Part of the Healing Process
- 4. K. Maximizing People Tolerance V. Becoming a Pro – Active and Responsible Adult A. Ego States and Personality B. Characteristics of the Three Ego States C. What is Your Ego State ? D. Contamination of the Ego States E. Constant Parent , Adult and Child F. Types of Transactions G. Making The Adult Computer Work for You H. Psychological Games I. Coping with Persecutors J. Difference Between Reactive and Pro – active Response K. Learning to Accept Responsibility for One’s Actions L. Learning from One’s Mistakes M. Putting Order in One’s Life N. Discipline in Problem Solving Reference : Roldan , Amelia Samson . A Workbook on Personality Development and Character Building. AR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES ( SDMS ).Paranaque City , Metro Manila . 1993 . Santos E. Amparo . Personality for The Woman of Today . Santos , Revised Edition .National Bookstore. Manila . 1991. Posted by Agoo Computer College at 11:30 AM 2 comments Labels: Course Outline, Syllabus Course Outline / Syllabus COURSE SYLLABUS I. Course Code : Personality Development II. Descriptive Title : Personality Development III. No. of Units : 3 IV. General Objectives Upon completion of the course, the students should be able to: 1. Describe a winning , pleasing personality and the winning qualities . 2. Explain how self – image affects one’s feelings, attitudes and behavior. 3. Discover appropriate ways for becoming physically fit so as to stay young and healthy .
- 5. 4. Understand the consequences and cause of having win – lose or lose win attitudes and relationships .Demonstrate effective ways of coping with difficult people who resemble persecutors in a psychological game . 5. Identify the behavioral manifestations of self discipline . V. Course Description This course deals with the dynamics of personality development and then proceeds to guide students in comparing themselves to the ideal so that they will become more aware of their personality handicaps. Activities are also meant to deeper their self – realization as they reflect on their existing value system , their life philosophy , paradigms and perceptions and the discover how all these influence their present behavior , success and happiness . These activities are expected to facilitate paradigm shift , unloading of mental and emotional bondages and adopting healthy coping mechanisms . Unpleasant experiences are processed such that the participant is able to perceive them positively , learn from them and turn them into learning , meaningful and purifying experiences . VI . Course Requirements Case Study Term Paper VII . Grading System Quizzes Class Standing ( 60 % ) Major Examination ( 40 % ) VIII . Course Outline I. What Makes A Winning Personality A. Personality Defined B. Determinants of Personality C. How Personality is Developed D. Corporate Theories on Personality Development E. The Development Process F. What Makes A Winner II . Building Self – Esteem and Self – Confidence A. Indicators of a Positive Self – Image B. Indicators of a Negative Self – Image C. The Development of Self – Image and Self – Esteem D. Self – Esteem and Maladjustment E. Behavioral Manifestations of Woundedness F. Therapy for Wholeness and Wholesome Self – Esteem
- 6. III . Projecting A Positive Social Image A. Social Image Defined B. Looking Great and Attractive C. Dressing and Make – up D. Hair Care and Inner Glow E. Poise and Posture F. Eye Contact and body Language G. Physical Fitness H. Projecting a Professional Image I. Social Graces and Table Manners J. Manners in Conversations K. Getting Acquainted – Behavior in Introductions L. Projecting an Image of a Real Lady M. Projecting an Image of a Perfect Gentleman IV. Developing a Win – Win Attitude A. Various Life Scripts and Emotional Programs B. Characteristics of the Five Life Scripts C. Fruits of a Win – Win Attitude D. Differentiating Assertive from Aggressive and Passive Behavior E. Developing an “ I’m Ok , You’re Ok “ Program F. Making Others Feel Good about Themselves G. Positive Strokes H. The Magic of Affirmations I. Therapies for Developing a “ You are Ok “ Script J. Forgiveness as Part of the Healing Process K. Maximizing People Tolerance V. Becoming a Pro – Active and Responsible Adult A. Ego States and Personality B. Characteristics of the Three Ego States C. What is Your Ego State ? D. Contamination of the Ego States E. Constant Parent , Adult and Child F. Types of Transactions G. Making The Adult Computer Work for You H. Psychological Games I. Coping with Persecutors J. Difference Between Reactive and Pro – active Response K. Learning to Accept Responsibility for One’s Actions L. Learning from One’s Mistakes M. Putting Order in One’s Life N. Discipline in Problem Solving
- 7. Reference : Roldan , Amelia Samson . A Workbook on Personality Development and Character Building. AR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES ( SDMS ).Paranaque City , Metro Manila . 1993 . Santos E. Amparo . Personality for The Woman of Today . Santos , Revised Edition .National Bookstore. Manila . 1991. Posted by Agoo Computer College at 11:26 AM 0 comments Labels: Course Outline, Syllabus .
- 8. Course Description In this Personality Development course you will learn in-depth information about personalities. You will gain a better understanding about those around you and also more about who you are and how you got to be that way. This course starts with a basic introduction of personality. It then goes on to look at theories of personality development, the stages of development theories, key researchers in personality psychology, and the main influences on personality development. You will also delve into looking at basic personality traits, including values, beliefs, and nature versus nurture. You will learn about your own personality and how you can use that information in career choices and to make changes. You will also learn about some personality disorders and how to put all the information together to use it to your personal or career advantage. With this course you can literally stop wondering about why you or someone you know behaves a particular way. By the time you complete this course you will know how someone's personality develops and how that information can be useful. This course is especially helpful for those who are striving to learn more about who they are, which direction their life should take, to learn more about others around them, or even if they work in human resources and want to learn more about personalities and how it may impact who they hire. Course Requirements
- 9. This course will not require you to have previous experience in any particular area but you should have a high school reading level. No books will be required Course Outline I. Introduction to Personality Development a. What is personality? b. Why does it matter? c. We are all unique. II. The Developing Personality a. How do personalities develop? b. Multiple theories in psychology. c. Three main influences cited: i. Heredity ii. Environment iii. Situations III. Stages of Development a. Freudian stages of development b. Erik Erickson’s stages of development IV. ‘Need’ a little personality? a. How needs impact personality b. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs V. Basic Personality Traits a. Values
- 10. b. Beliefs c. Interactions d. Experiences e. Environmental influences f. The big five dimensions VI. Moral Development a. As related to personality b. Kohlberg’s stages VII. What’s your personality type? a. What are the basic personality types? b. Quiz to determine personality type c. Learning about yourself through type VIII. Hearing Jung Out a. Who was Carl Jung b. His contribution to personality development theory IX. Personality and Career Choice a. Matching your career and personality b. Why it matters c. Self efficacy X. Changing Your Personality
- 11. a. Can personalities change? b. Being yourself, being adaptable c. Positive attitude d. Individuality e. Controlling emotions XI. Personality Disorders a. What they are and why understanding them matters i. Paranoid, schizoid, antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, avoidant, dependent, obsessive ii. Symptoms iii. Causes iv. Treatments XII. Do opposites really attract? a. Getting like personalities together, as well as opposites b. What can happen c. Multiple personalities on the same team XIII. Personal Growth a. Ways you can try to improve b. Helpful tools and exercises c. Benefits of keeping a journal d. Setting goals, focusing on positives XIV. Working on Personality Changes
- 12. a. Focusing on attitude b. Staying motivated c. Increasing confidence d. Watching body language e. Handling other people XV. Putting it all together a. Knowing your own personality strengths and weaknesses b. Being able to identify other people’s personality traits c. Using that in your home, career and relationships
- 13. Advanced EnglishSpeaking Course Grammar Practice Public Speaking Body Language Group Discussions Personality Development Role-Plays Communication Skills Presentation Skills Business English Attitude Training Mastery in Interviews Voice & Accent Video Recording Email Drafting
- 14. Research has shown that for the most part, employees are very good at what they do. That's why they are hired, trained, retrained, and promoted. They are all "subject matter" experts. Their problems occur when they attempt to communicate their subject to others. They have had extensive training and experience in performing their jobs, but very little training in effectively presenting their ideas to others. We have trained individuals and corporates to effectively present their ideas in a clear, concise, convincing manner. Even if your people are already excellent presenters who only wish to pick up a few tips and techniques - our presentation skills training workshops can help! The benefits to you will be more effective presentations, more effective meetings and seminars (both one-to-one and one-to-group), elimination of confusion, increased productivity, increased morale, and tremendous savings of time and money. We are professionals in the field of training and development with result-oriented programs full of real- life practice sessions, allowing participants to take the maximum benefit in minimum time.
- 15. GRAMMAR How to learn English Grammar? That really is the question, because few aspects of English make new speakers of the language quite so much anguish. People who are used to clear, precise grammatical rules find the challenges English grammar can be both funny and, often, puzzling. The fact that native English speakers themselves often have little grammatical knowledge does not really help either; they are quite prepared to justify an unusual word order, a totally illogical verb ending or the vagaries of spelling with a shrug of the shoulders and a 'Well, that's just the way it is' kind of comment. And yet millions of students such as yourself, coming to English as a second or even a third language, have managed to learn English grammar successfully. So let's look at some ideas that can help point you in the right direction. Enjoy Learning The worst way to learn anything is to just keep on relentlessly working your way through a text book, hour after hour. Even the most motivated people struggle to maintain their enthusiasm. One of the key things to remember about how to learn English grammar is to make sure you find some ways that let you have FUN ! Yes, believe it or not, it is grammatically correct to use the words grammar and fun in the same sentence. Begin your studies of grammar with Reading and Listening Of the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing, the easiest in terms of picking up the grammar, are those of reading and listening, when you are receiving information rather than trying to give information to someone else. Of course, as in all languages, spoken grammar is not as strict with the rules as written, which makes it more straightforward. Push yourself on to more formal English grammar when you feel confident in yourself with the spoken word. Now, you will be learning about various verb tenses, types of sentence, and technical aspects of language, which can be complicated. Begin with simple aspects, though, and progress steadily and you will soon become familiar with it. Read, Read, Read and then Read some more Read anything that you can in English - whether it be a a comic book, a self-help book, a magazine or the instructions on a packet. What you read does not matter - the very act of reading and looking at the ways in which the sentences are structured, the tenses used and the words ordered will be the perfect way to see how the language fits together. It's a good idea, too, to remember grammatical aspects that look confusing to you, so that you can think about them and perhaps look them up in a text book later.
- 16. Set yourself targets It's always a good idea to give yourself certain targets to set out to achieve. Give yourself some realistic targets that you can try to reach - perhaps some short term ones, for a week, and some loner term ones to really strive for. When you reach your targets, give yourself a little treat as a reward for your hard, successful work. Regularly setting targets and assessing your progress is one sure way of keeping your level of motivation high. There are times when everybody's energy levels and sense of commitment drop just a little, but, if your targets are clear and you are choosing enjoyable study techniques, then you will be able to win through these battles. After all, you know it will be well worth it in the end. Finally, a last piece of advice about how to learn English grammar is not to let it overwhelm you. A famous language teacher once said that the most important thing about communicating in a foreign language is the same as the important thing about tennis - you have to get the ball over the net. In other words, as long as the person the other side of the net - listening to you talk or reading what you have written - is able to understand you, that's what really matters. If you can hit a wonderful tennis shot - or be absolutely exact with your grammar - then that's a lovely bonus, but it's not the only thing to worry about. Learn more about English Grammar:- Welcome to English Grammar Parts of Speech Tense Conjunction Phrasal Verbs
- 17. Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners. Know the room Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids. Know the audience Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers. Know your material Practice your speech and revise it if necessary. If you're not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Relax Ease tension by doing meditation or breathing exercises. Visualize yourself giving your speech Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful. Realize that people want you to succeed They don't want you to fail. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. Don't apologize If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience's attention to something they hadn't noticed. Keep silent. Concentrate on the message - not the medium Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissolve. Turn nervousness into positive energy Harness your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm. Gain experience Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
- 19. Body language is a term for communication using body movements or gestures instead of, or in addition to, sounds, verbal language or other communication. It forms part of the category ofparalanguage, which describes all forms of human communication that are not verbal language. This includes the most subtle of movements that many people are not aware of, including winkingand slight movement of the eyebrows. In addition, body language can also incorporate the use offacial expressions. One of the most basic and powerful body-language signals is when a person crosses his or her arms across the chest. This can indicate that a person is putting up an unconscious barrier between themselves and others. It can also indicate that the person's arms are cold which would be clarified by rubbing the arms or huddling. When the overall situation is friendly, it can mean that a person is thinking deeply about what is being discussed. But in a serious or confrontational situation, it can mean that a person is expressing opposition. This is especially so if the person is leaning away from the speaker. A harsh or blank facial expression often indicates outright unfriendliness. Consistent eye contact can indicate that a person is thinking positively of what the speaker is saying. It can also mean that the other person doesn't trust the speaker enough to "take his eyes off" the speaker. Lack of eye contact can indicate negativity. On the other hand, individuals with anxiety are often unable to make eye contact without discomfort. Eye contact is often a secondary and misleading gesture because we are taught from an early age to make eye contact when speaking. If a person is looking at you but is making the arms-across-chest signal, the eye contact could be indicative that something is bothering the person, and that he wants to talk about it. Or if while making direct eye contact a person is fiddling with something, even while directly looking at you, it could indicate the attention is elsewhere. Disbelief is often indicated by averted gaze, or by touching the ear or scratching the chin. So is eyestrain, or itchiness. When a person is not being convinced by what someone is saying, the attention invariably wanders, and the eyes will stare away for an extended period. Boredom is indicated by the head tilting to one side, or by the eyes looking straight at the speaker but becoming slightly unfocused. A head tilt may also indicate a sore neck, and unfocused eyes may indicate ocular problems in the listener. Interest can be indicated through posture or extended eye contact. In BM English speaking Course each participant has to do Public speaking practise 20 times on various topics and a professional trainer corrects Grammar, pronunciation, Body Language, trains him/her to speak fluently with confidence. How many of you have made your mind up about a speaker’s message without concerning yourself about the words, purely by observation and your intuition. And this is going on right now somewhere in the world. A business speaker has a good message but it’s being clouded by the way its presented. The purpose of this article is to remind you, convince you of some key steps to take to ensure your body doesn't cloud the message next time you get up a speak.
- 20. The Head As adults, we still have childish habits and one of them is to focus on the face of someone who is speaking to you. So get those expressions working for you and really exaggerate the meaning. Smile, frown, look angry, shocked, amazed – but please always be congruent with your message. Eye Contact Next we have eye contact. This is probably the one skill, when mastered, that does the most to engage the audience and build trust and rapport with the audience. The rule is to hardly ever let go. Imagine you’re playing tennis or squash. You never let your eye off the ball otherwise you’ll miss a shot. Like wise, keep your eye contact on the audience at all times. Careful with the lighthouse technique as well – this is where speakers sweep the audience in a repetitive swishing motion that does more to put people to sleep than engage. Instead have a conversation with your audience with your eyes. Randomly contact with each audience member and give them 2 to 3 seconds of eye contact and move onto the next person. Maintain this random movement. Find those in the audience who like just a little more eye contact and be aware of those who want slightly less. When faced with a large audience – more than 25 or so people, adopt a similar habit but don’t give each person eye contact. That’ll take ages. Instead clump people into small groups and give these clumps the same eye contact as if they were one person. Because of the distance between you and a large audience, this gives people the impression that you are looking at them. Feet Now let’s go to the other extreme of your body. Your feet and legs. Now what do you do with these limbs. Not a lot really unless you are moving around your stage, that’s movement with a purpose, not aimless wandering that only distracts the audience. Try to stand with both feet firmly on the ground pretty much the same distance apart as your shoulders. Keep them balanced so your body is not leaning to one side. Don’t look like a cat walk model or if you’re supping a pint at the bar of your local. Stand straight and look professional not a slouch. Nerves…that’s a word than conjures up fear and dread every time people stand up and speak in public. And sure enough you’ll have nerves. Professionals call it adrenaline and you need that to do a really good job. If you don’t have nerves or adrenaline, you might as well not bother because you can’t be bothered. Sop welcome nerves, call them adrenaline and make them work for you. Nerves will show in the periphery of your body. The ends such as feet, hands, head. Keeping your feet still transfers this energy to the top part of your body where it should go. You should stay rigid to the spot; that would be terrible for 20 minutes. Instead focus your attention on preventing aimless movement, pacing up and down, shifting from side to side. The Body
- 21. Next we have the trunk. Not much you can do with the trunk apart from keeping it straight. Not like the sergeant Major on the parade ground but not slouched either. Relaxed and comfortable. The worse sin is to block the invisible mid line that runs from between your 2 feet and your head. Block it and you place a barrier with your audience. Just don’t block it – that’s the rule. Hands and Arms How many people I’ve spoken with who don’t know what to do with these very useful limbs. Shame really so they copy people on the TV especially weather girls. They grasp them together. It made me feel better and comfortable so much that as soon as I stood up to talk, my two hands came together. And when I got really nervous I used to rub them together too. So what do you do with them? Behind your backs but that just reminds me of Prince Charles. In your pockets I hear you say. No, you’re hiding something, keeping back from the audience and besides, you’re missing out on a great weapon. No the answer is to use them to back up your message by gesturing. We should gesture with audiences. Large dramatic gestures to help the audience understand what you’re saying. Broad gestures that welcome every person into your speech, building rapport. Think of your speech content and let your hands do the talking. Watch deaf people doing their sign language – it really is a very clever way of losing your gesture buttons. And when not gesturing, or talking, maybe standing still to take questions from your audience, assume the assertive stance. Standing straight with your arms and hands down your sides in a relaxed assertive and confident manner. Body Movement Finally, body movement. Movement can be an enormously effective way of engaging the audience into your message. Clean your stage – remove obstacles, tape wires to the floor, so you don’t trip over them, place the screen to the side. Once you have a clear space do move around with a purpose. I’ve used past, present and future by gradually moving along an imaginary line. The audience can see the time moving along as well as hear. I’ve used one side of the stage being advantages of an idea I’m promoting and the other side, the disadvantages. I’ve placed flipcharts at both sides of the room to mirror these place anchors. Move forward towards your audience when you want to make a really big point. Move backwards when you want them to reflect on something. Move to your left or right to change the subject or pace of your delivery. Do move around your stage but with a distinct purpose. The next time you’re observing and listening to a speaker, try and cut out the sound and focus entirely on the visual aspects. Try and interpret what he or she is saying just by the body language alone. You may not be right in your assumption of the meaning, but its the impression that everyone else is probably getting too. And first impressions last for ages.
- 22. A GD is a methodology used by an organization to judge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its members. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss the it among themselves for 15-20 minutes. 1. Knowledge: Your ability to state convincing and possible solutions for the topic or case study will determine how good you are in applying what you have learned till now. The panel ranks the ability to use your knowledge in real life situations rather highly. Your ability to build a strong knowledge base is dependent on your understanding. 2. Listening Skills: You are in a GROUP discussion. You must participate as a group member. If you include the viewpoints of others in your viewpoint, then you will be seen more favorably by the Group Discussion panel. 3. Respect: DO NOT criticize or laugh at the viewpoint of another participant no matter how silly it may sound. Group Discussion participants are expected to be dignified and professional in their behavior. Always speak positively and supportively of other participants Use the above tips to quickly think of solutions for the given topic whether economic or abstract. Remember why you are in Group Discussion in the first place. Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include :- Ability to work in a team Communication skills Reasoning ability Leadership skills Initiative Assertiveness Flexibility Creativity Companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people. The GD is to check how you behave, participate and contribute in a group, how much importance do you give to the group objective as well as your own, how well do you listen to viewpoints of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own. The aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication, non-verbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making ability and co-operation. You should try to be as true as possible to these aspects.
- 23. Tips for Success in GDs (Group Discussions) Initiate - Break the ice, be the first one to start the discussion, if somebody else has started, relax. There are a lot of opportunities later. Listen - Carefully. Communication is a lot about listening. Listen, Comprehend, Analyse. When you listen carefully, it allows you to contemplate and analyse which helps in speaking the right thing at the right time. Remember - Names, Facts, Figures, Quotations. It helps a lot if you know who has spoken what. If permitted, you can use a notepad to write. Observe - Body language, how conversation shapes up, gets diverted. Then do the right thing at the right time. Manage - People. At times there are people who create difficult situations. These are best opportunities to demonstrate assertive attitude. Communicate - Be frank, clear, firm and jovial in your communication. Your voice should reach out but not irritate people. Summarise - If you did not initiate the talk, this is the right time. If you have been listening carefully, your summary will be the best one.
- 24. Learning a language is a complex and long process as anyone who has tried will agree. One of the most difficult and challenging thing is making the change from the classroom to the 'real' world. In the classroom, everyone knows you are a participant and mistakes are allowed, and the environment is safe. Speaking another language outside the classroom is completely different and often participants are lost as soon as they step outside the door. Lists of memorized vocabulary are suddenly useless when ordering in a restaurant. Many people mistake the physical appearance and various external characteristics of an individual and his or her personality. As they talk about a marvelous personality they may refer to the height, weight, stature and complexion. Well, if you think that it is just the appearance of the physique of a person that determines the personality ,it is time to have a rethink. It is true that physical appearance does matter. However, since most of them are beyond our power and control, it is useless to waste our time and energy thinking on them. Though physical appearance can help, there are many other aspects that contribute greatly to one's personality. Today, personality is considered the "Brand Image" of an individual. In simple terms it is made up of three aspects namely: Character Behavior Attitude Basically, personality development is the improvement of behavior, communication skills, interpersonal relationships, attitude towards life and ethics. Character can be considered the basic factor in determining and individual's personality. There are several psychologists who say that improving character and behavior alone will largely influence one's personality. It is a fact that all other factors behind a powerful personality will become useless if the person lacks a good character and behavior. Personality is like a building. Just as a building can exist only when it has a strong foundation, a personality can impress others only when it has a formidable basis. And the strong foundation is supplied by character and behavior. If personality is developed on the solid base of values and ethics, it will last forever. Fake smiles and mannerisms may attract others for a comparatively short period. However they are shot-lived and do not help in improving one's personality. Share12 Good behavior and co-operation makes a man popular. As a result the possibilities of his progress and success are much more. Different people have different opinions about what makes a man’s personality complete. There are several scientists who have the view point that character does not form a part of personality, but Seven Covey, one of the all time great authors and motivators says the best personality should be based on the solid foundation of character.
- 25. The person who wants to improve his personality has to have a desire and determination; he has to identify the direction for his goals to achieve it. Once all the above three steps are taken he has to dedicate himself to the task of achieving his goal. Every human being is a unique creature. therefore, in addition to the various common components, each one should develop his or her characteristics of personality. Always remember that blindly following someone else who is successful will never take you in the direction right for you. There are immense possibilities within you to develop your personality with strong character you must recognize and understand them. The key to success is hidden with you. The wealth you have earned is not important but what is important is the means you have adopted for acquiring that wealth. Your personality, your capabilities, your thoughts and your ideals are all very important in determining your character. “All power is within you” – Spiritual guru Swami Vivekananda.
- 26. ROLE - PLAYS Learning a language is a complex and long process as anyone who has tried will agree. One of the most difficult and challenging thing is making the change from the classroom to the 'real' world. In the classroom, everyone knows you are a participant and mistakes are allowed, and the environment is safe. Speaking another language outside the classroom is completely different and often participants are lost as soon as they step outside the door. Lists of memorized vocabulary are suddenly useless when ordering in a restaurant. Role-plays can ease participants transition into using English in real world situations. Students act out a real-life situation, for example checking into at a hotel, but do not act out a different personality. Role- plays are where students take on different personalities. In a role-play, for example, one student may be asked to take on the role of "an angry neighbor" which is out of character for the student. Role-plays require more imagination by participant and teacher and are challenging because they are unpredictable. The initial scenario develops from the participants interacting with each other and can literally go in any direction. This gives participants practice in a non-threatening environment, and gives the motivation and involvement where they have to think in English. Role-plays are interesting, memorable and engaging, and participants retain the material they have learned. Exaggeration is good! You can exaggerate your actions, opinions and movements. Exaggeration helps us to immerse ourselves in the role. In their assumed role, participants drop their shyness and other personality and cultural inhibitions, making them one of the best tools available for learning a second language.
- 27. Communication skills simply do not refer to the way in which we communicate with another person. It includes many other things - the way in which we respond to the person we are speaking, body gestures including the facial ones, pitch and tone of our voice and a lot of other things. And the importance of communication skills is not just limited to the management world, since effective communication skills are now required in each and every aspect of our life. First, let us concentrate on the importance of communication in business. We can measure the importance of communication skills in the business sector when we take a look at job advertisements. There is little chance that you will come across an advertisement which does not mention that candidates should have good communication skills. Perhaps this is the only criteria which creates a positive impact when a person goes for a job interview. This is because technical qualifications are likely to be more or less the same for the candidates. Without effective communication skills, a person may find it impossible to climb up the corporate ladder. Promotions come to those who can communicate effectively at all levels, from senior management level to the lowest employee. As for communication within relationships, it should be remembered that maintaining good relationships is a way to a healthy lifestyle, and a good relationship can only be maintained by maintaining healthy communication with our near and dear ones. They are the ones we stay with on a regular basis. They are also the ones who see us at our best as well as our worst. Good communication skills help the relationships to develop along good lines, and ensure that arguments and disagreements are kept to a minimum. Good communication will avoid arguments and insults. Another important part of communication in relationships is taking the initiative yourself. Do not wait for your best friend to call you after a long break. Instead take the phone and also take initiative to start the conversation. Often people have this problem while communicating, which comes from fear. They always think a thousand times whether to approach a person or not. But a person with good communication skills is always the first to start a conversation. Given the importance of communication skills in both the personal and the corporate world, any individual who want to make progress with their life should develop this important skill.
- 28. Deliver Effective Presentation Did you know that without good, clear communication your business will never be effective nor efficient? It's plain and simple to understand. Your business will not succeed or last for long if you can't get your message across to others. One of the more effective ways of communicating your business's message to a large number of people all at once is through a presentation. They need to be able to create interest and excitement in your business along with trust and enthusiasm in you. Here are some simple tips to help you craft your presentation skills effectively: Structuring - Think of your presentation as a story and just like any story it needs a beginning, a middle and an end. Structure the presentation around these three premises and clearly define all three as well. Try your best to provide your listeners with new information or put a new interpretation on existing information. Relevancy- What makes your presentation and more importantly, your message relevant to the audience? Don't let them decide if you are relevant; tell them you are. Throughout the presentation, focus on main message all times to tell your listeners why you are relevant. If it the first trial run of this isn't on topic, trash it and start over with a new that it. Enthusiasm- If you're not enthusiastic about your presentation, then why should anybody else be? While, it is good to show some passion in your message, try not to get too carried away. There isn't a quicker way to lose an audience than becoming too over-the-top. Practice- Don't expect to walk into that room and perform flawlessly without practicing over your presentation. It will never happen. In order to nail it and convince your audience that your position is the side to be on, you better know the presentation like the back of your hand. Know how in's and out's of any equipment you plan on using. Have a backup plan ready just in case there are any technical problems. Know you subject- It sounds pretty obvious to be on this list but you would be surprised with how many presentations I've sat in where the speaker wasn't adequately informed as much as they should have been. No one in that room should know more about your subject matter than you. There is no getting around this step. They may know the subject as well as you do, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't know a unique spin on the topic. Get clear on what message you want to convey to your listeners. In the BM English course, we train you and make sure that you follow the 8 important rules of delivering an effective presentation. How Can You Have Effective Presentation Skills? Effective communication is all about conveying your messages to other people clearly and unambiguously. It's also about receiving information that others are sending to you, with as little distortion as possible.
- 29. Doing this involves effort from both the sender of the message and the receiver. And it's a process that can be fraught with error, with messages muddled by the sender, or misinterpreted by the recipient. When this isn't detected, it can cause tremendous confusion, wasted effort and missed opportunity. In fact, communication is only successful when both the sender and the receiver understand the same information as a result of the communication. By successfully getting your message across, you convey your thoughts and ideas effectively. When not successful, the thoughts and ideas that you actually send do not necessarily reflect what you think, causing a communications breakdown and creating roadblocks that stand in the way of your goals – both personally and professionally. In a recent survey of recruiters from companies with more than 50,000 employees, communication skills were cited as the single more important decisive factor in choosing managers. The survey, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Business School, points out that communication skills, including written and oral presentations, as well as an ability to work with others, are the main factor contributing to job success. In spite of the increasing importance placed on communication skills, many individuals continue to struggle, unable to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively – whether in verbal or written format. This inability makes it nearly impossible for them to compete effectively in the workplace, and stands in the way of career progression. Being able to communicate effectively is therefore essential if you want to build a successful career. To do this, you must understand what your message is, what audience you are sending it to, and how it will be perceived. You must also weigh-in the circumstances surrounding your communications, such as situational and cultural context.
- 30. What is Business English? Largely depending on the intention for which learning is intended, Business English can refer to the study of business English vocabulary used in the fields of trade, business, finance, or international relations. If the study focuses on techniques on business presentations, negotiations, correspondence, writing and other skills needed for business communications, then it can be classified as the study of Business English communication skills in the workplace. There is really not much difference between the two classifications, as vocabulary and communication skills work together to achieve a common goal - to develop or enhance both written and verbal English skills for business or career advancement purposes. Why Learning Business English Is Important? Around the world, there is an estimated 1 Billion people learning English. Many factors point to the reason why learning English has seen exponential growth in recent years, but it all boils down to the English language being the "global language" of business, politics, international relations, culture, and entertainment for so many countries worldwide. And that is just an understatement as in fact, while English is not an official language in many countries worldwide, it is the language most often taught as a foreign or second language. Business Leverage The rapid growth in technology for global communications notwithstanding, there are still many companies and individual professionals who fail in their quest for business or professional success. And oftentimes the failure primarily lies on one of the most basic foundations of making business relations - the language spoken. Undoubtedly, the English language is the global language for business and having a good command of English will definitely give one who is eyeing globally competitive business or career a clear edge. Any communications problem, whether personal or business, translates to losses, zero result in negotiations, incompetence for global business, or will just simply leave you ill-equipped to carry out international business. Career Growth Going down on a more personal level of career success, having the right Business English communication skills will surely equip you with a liberating confidence and ability to express yourself in the English language. It will surely be an advantage in interviews, thus giving you more opportunities to widen your career prospects. Or if you are not looking for a new job, having the confidence and ability to speak Business English is one way of enhancing your potential for earning by making you stand out for career advancement or promotions. Studies show a steady growth in the number of companies worldwide requiring employees who have bilingual skills. Internet Proficiency Means English Proficiency Research shows that 80% of the amount of Internet web content is in the English language and that content relating to business written in the English language largely comprises this figure. It goes without saying that having a good grasp of business information, data, or terminologies in the English language is
- 31. very important to have a good understanding of the wealth of business information available on the Internet. Tips for Correspondence in Business English Regular Way of Communicating Business Communication In my letter to Mr Shah. In my written communication to Mr Shah. She spoke to me in detail. We had a meeting. I liked her advice. I appericate her analysis. He has told he will come at 11 am. He is scheduled to arrive at 11 am. Three people had come to inquire There are three potential customers. about our product. Can you speak loudly? I am unable to hear you. Can you speak to Mr Suresh and get Please co-ordinate with Mr. Suresh and ensure our PC repaired? that our computer is up & working Can you tell me your phone number Can you help me with your phone number & & email id? email id?
- 32. Attitude is everything. Yes, Everything. It is more vital than events. It's more important than what's happened. Because attitude determines whether we are happy or unhappy, fulfilled or empty, the positive perspective assures us that we can never fail. A hopeful attitude guarantees internal success. Attitude- the altitude adjuster determines whether we fly high or low, crash or soar, glide or slide. Anybody can have a positive attitude when things are going well. What really matters is how you act when things are going badly, that determines the strength of your character. An appropriate attitude means feeling hopeful in challenging times. Stop yourself. Count your blessings. Look for the good. Here are the magnificent 7 Ways to Improve Your Attitude: 1. Choose to be Enthusiastic Corporate presidents voted it the most valuable personality trait. It's the biggest single factor in successful selling. Think enthusiastically. Talk enthusiastically. Become enthusiastic by acting enthusiastic. Your thoughts and actions establish your level of enthusiasm. 2. Be Alive to Everything You Do Walk fast. Put a bounce in your step. A vigorous, hearty handshake indicates you are glad to be alive and happy to be with the other person. A good smile radiates enthusiasm. Put spirit into your speech by varying the tempo, raising and lowering the pitch, changing the tone and modulation. Force yourself to act with enthusiasm, and soon you will feel enthusiastic. 3. Broadcast Good News No one ever made a friend or accomplished anything worthwhile by transmitting bad news. Good news, on the other hand, promotes good-will and spreads enthusiasm. The message, "Hey! I've got good news" gets the attention of everyone. Take sunshine to school or work. Always aim to make the person you talk to feel better than they otherwise would. 4. The Power of Visualization Imagination powerfully influences successful outcomes. When imagination and willpower compete, the imagination always wins. Force of will never keep you striving for success, but proper visualization will. All peak performers visualize success. Before you try to do anything, close your eyes and visualize yourself doing it well. 5. Positive Self-Talk What did you say to yourself today? Did you moan and groan about everyone at school or work? Did you complain about your parents to your best friend? What we think is 100% reflected in how we feel. If all we think about is negative thoughts, our actions will be negative. Remember "I'm a 10! I'm Healthy! Wealthy! Happy! I do what I ought to do, when I ought to do it, whether I want to or not! No Debate! I love me!"
- 33. 6. Love Others How can we become more loving? By bringing encouragement, optimism, and hope to all that we meet. By helping others feel comfortable in our presence. By spreading joy and goodwill. By being concerned about the wishes and desires of others. By understanding, caring, accepting, and forgiving. By becoming more concerned about helping others achieve their individual desires. 7. Never Miss 1 to 6 Above Go, choose your Attitude and choose your own way!
- 34. Interview Success and Tips for Interviews 1. Always remain positive during the interview even if things aren't going as well as you'd hoped. In school, did you ever write a test that you were sure you'd failed, only to find out you passed? You never know, you might be doing better in the interview than you think and you don't want to give up. 2. Try to leave the interviewer with at least one thing about you that might be unique from other candidates that would be valuable to the company if they hired you. Once they've interviewed several people with similar backgrounds, they will tend to look for reasons to hire one person over the others or they might try to eliminate candidates who don't meet certain criteria. 3. If during an interview you realize that the position is not of interest to you, complete the interview and answer the questions as you would if you were interested in the job. I've seen situations where the candidate wasn't good for the job they were interviewing for but the hiring manager referred them to another hiring manager in the company for a different position that they ended up receiving. It doesn't happen often, but it can happen. 4. Don't speak negatively about your former or current employer or divulge confidential information that you shouldn't. I have seen people lose out on jobs by criticizing former employers or by mentioning things about their current employer that they shouldn't have. 5. Don't forgot to listen during the interview! Sure, you are there to answer questions but don't forget to listen. Listen to the questions you are asked, listen to the answers to the questions you ask and also listen to comments that the interviewer makes that might help to shed more light on the job, the company, and your interest in both. Share598 Success in Interviews: Interview Tips Your dress-up reflects your choice, how much you respect yourself and your professionalism. Check your resume thoroughly for sentence framing, grammar, spelling mistakes, correctness of information, consistency etc. Carry atleast 2 copies of your resume in a neat folder Explain: Interview is arranged to understand aspects of your personality. A lot of explanation is required and real life / other examples play a very important role in putting your point across. When you just say "I have a positive attitude." That's not enough, "Whenever I face a difficult situation, I face it with a positive attitude. When I was in 12th standard, I was not at all prepared for my exams because of ill health and everybody told me that I will fail. But just seven days before the exam I worked hard and was confident of clearing my exam and I cleared it with flying colours."
- 35. Do not lie: There are very high chances that you will be nervous in an interview for various reasons. If you put forward a wrong information ("I have 7 years work experience in Sales" when you have only 2) You will have a tough time justifying if the interviewer asks many questions. On the other hand, if you don't know something, admit it gracefully. "I am sorry sir, I do not have a 50 wpm speed but 30 wpm on computers, but if you can give me 10 days time, I can definitely reach that speed." Prepare: Before going for an interview: o Know the company name, job description and other relevant details o Collect information about the company from company’s website or any other source o Understand the role of your department o Be sure about the date, time, venue of the personal interview o Print two copies of your resume and check for spelling / grammatical errors, missing information o Carry two passport-size snaps, if possible o Think of the interview questions you might face and do mirror practice of all till you are satisfied. Ask: An interview is not about just talking and answering questions. After major part of interview is completed, if appropriate, asking couple of questions will demonstrate your interest in the job and will also make you aware of your role, if selected. Suggested questions: o What will be my exact role in the company? o What will be my key performance parameters? o What are company’s future plans? o What will be my career-path in your company? Share34 Commonly Asked Interview Questions and Suggested Answers Describe yourself as a person People tell me that I am a very confident and mature person. I think one reason people tell me that I am
- 36. confident because in any situation of my life I handle it with a positive attitude. For eg. When I was working with a marketing company I was assigned a target of selling 20 machines. My senior colleagues told me that this was one of the unachievable targets. But I took it as a challenge and I worked hard on it continuously for all 30 days and at the end of it, I had achieved a sales of 27 machines – which broke all the records. I think this was all because of my confidence and positive attitude. What are your strengths and your weaknesses? [First of all, take time to write down 3 of your strengths and 3 weaknesses. These are examples from personal life, you can quote your relevant real professional life examples.] Since my childhood, I have a habit, if I want to go to a movie, solve Maths problems, I used to make sure that I do it. I would not care how much effort was involved, how much convincing was required. , so my first strength is that I am a determined person. Secondly, I have a habit, when I take up some work, I make sure that I do it very well. It was my dad’s 25th birthday. All my family members had completed the decoration, but I started when everybody finished, because I was not satisfied with the way it was. I worked alone for four hours and at the end of it, everyone appreciated it. Moreover, my father, for whom it was a surprise was delighted. , my second strength is that I love perfection and I achieve it most of the times. Now as I have told you about my strengths I would like to share with you something. One of my strength of being a determined person is also my weakness. When I take up some commitment, I invest so much energy, hardwork and efforts in it that I sometimes neglect my personal life, social life, health and family life. I still remember I have not visited my very close friend since last 2 years. My strength of being a determined person is also my weakness. My mother tells me that I spend a lot of money. I think she is right and but from other perspective, I think what I am doing is also right. Whenever I buy something – clothes, watches, shoes, I buy best quality products, and good products or services are always expensive. My second weakness is that I spend a lot of money on quality products. Where do you see yourself five years from now? I have observed that your company has grown very fast in the last five years. I want to contribute my services and be a part of this growth. I think in five years I would like to see myself as a Head of a Department. Share21 There are other 3 candidates with same age, experience and work-profile. Why should we consider you for this post? I know about myself, hence I can comment about myself. I not only have relevant experience in the required field, but also, I am passionate about my work. Most people become Software Engineers
- 37. because there is a demand, but I got into it because I love & enjoy programming. Additionally, I have achieved two promotions in three years, which clearly shows my performance in my current job. I think these qualities qualify me for this job. What if you do not get this job? Based on my qualifications, experience and skills, I am very sure that I deserve and will get this job. But for some reason, if you decide to select somebody else, I will respect your decision and would like to know from you the reason. I will then work on the skills that need improvement and maybe come back to you again. Your resume has 2 spelling mistakes, can you justify? I have checked my resume twice before submitting it to you. But there are chances something must have slipped out. Since you are commenting, I would like to have a look at the resume. Can I please take it? I can only find one spelling mistake in EDUCATION, and I am not able to find the second one. Can you kindly help me out? [take response]. Ok Thank you, for pointing out my mistakes. At this point of time, we have to do with this one. I will correct it once I leave from here and then email it to you. What if you get an opportunity in other company? [Fresher] I am working for this company currently and as far as I know myself, once I make a friend, I maintain the friendship for life and it is the same in my career. Once I work for a company, I take it as a long term commitment. In this highly competitive market, offers from other companies will always be there but I want to work with your company to build a Career with you. [Experienced] I have studied about your company in detail. I am seriously looking at dedicating my services for the company’s growth and I know that your company offers excellent growth opportunities to employees who deserve it. So I am looking forward to work with your organization in long-term.
- 38. VOICE AND ACCENT Whether you speak for a living, give an occasion dinner speech, or an event, you need to take care of the tool of your trade: your voice. The tradesman keeps his tools sharp, the computer programmer keeps their computer running smooth, and the writer keeps their mind sharp and flowing with ideas. The sharper and more skilled you are with your tools, the easier and more effective your trade is. The speaker's tools are their mind, their voice, and their body. In this segment, we will be teaching about your voice. Your voice is unique. There is no one else who has your voice. If a voice print was done on you, you would see that there are many waves on the graphic voice print. There are high points and low points in the sound waves. This represents the many levels and dimensions that are in your voice. There is a difference between your voice and your speaking style and regional accent. And yes...everyone has an accent. This is about the sound of your voice. A great way to put all this into practice is to record yourself and listen to how you sound. Do you like it? If you don't, you can change it with vocal training. This is not to be confused with musical vocal training with a musical voice coach. There aren't many speaking-voice coaches out there, but they do exist. You can find them at professional speaking organizations. It is an investment that you cannot afford to do without if you want to be the best possible speaker you can be, especially if you want to make a living or an impact with your voice.
- 39. 10 Tips for Professional Emails Consider this. Every business email you write is like a personal PR agent. What do your emails say about you? "The writer of this email is disorganized / creative / thoughtful / unthinking?" Here are 10 tips to ensure that when you write business emails you give people the right impression... 1. Stop, think then write (or don't!) Are you emailing to say you’d telephone when the fax goes through? Is a phone call more appropriate? Choosing the right communication medium will increase your chance of being listened to. 2. Prevent premature sending To avoid sending a badly spelled, half written pile of rubbish, wait until you have written the email before you key in the recipient’s names. Hitting send too early is a painful, toe-curling experience. 3. Be professional You lose control of your email as soon as you hit 'Send' so stick to professional language. Out go all “ist” comments – racist, sexist, ageist, genderist (okay so I made that last one up but you get my drift). Even your own brand of oh-so-funny humour can cause offence in the wrong hands. 4. If in doubt, spell it out! How well you know your audience will dictate whether you use short hand, jargon, abbreviations and emoticons. If in doubt, spell it out! Always err on the side of being too polite and respectful, particularly when writing emails to business colleagues where translation may be required. Use the spell-check and re-read your email before it goes out. To, two and too will all be spelled correctly but which is the correct in context? And to all you text savvy hipsters out there – I h8 ur txt style emails. Leave it to the kids. 5. Be precise, concise and clear • Keep it brief • Use the subject header • Get to the point, quickly • Use “urgent” flags sparingly • Use bullets (did you see how I cunningly demonstrated by example?) 6. Tailor emails to your audience Always open emails with a hello and use the name that they signed off with, even if it’s crazyhorse38! If you must send the same email to loads of people, put their address in the bcc box and use just one email address in the To box . This keeps the person’s email address private and makes it look like you’ve taken the time to write a personal email. Getting technical, there are mail merge functions that do all the hard work for you. Warning to novice emailers – test before you go emailing the world!
- 40. 7. Most people can’t read minds Writing an email to a career site requesting “all the stuff you have on getting a job” could at best land you with a load of bandwidth hungry information or at worst be ignored. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to get a response. If responding to multiple questions embedded in a large email, copy the questions into your email and write your answers next to them. 8. Keep your cool Your emotional state can slip into an email without notice, with curt sentences, skipped pleasantries and blunt asks. I purposefully let these emails gather dust until the person writes again in a more appropriate tone or picks up the phone. You wouldn’t tolerate someone coming to your desk and having a tantrum would you? TAKE OFF THE CAPS LOCK KEY. It’s rude to shout. 9. Need to know basis. A common business email warfare tactic is to cc in senior managers in the vain thought that this adds weight to the communication. Fight your fights in private so that when you really need someone else to step in, they know you mean it. 10. Be clean and tidy! Attachments clog up networks and spread viruses. Could the salient points be pasted into the email? If you value your PC, only open attachments if you trust the source. Use spam filters and delete chain emails or other scams and make the web world a better place. Writing business emails well can make you stand out in the corporate landscape. Writing them badly can do the same, but for very different reasons. These 10 email writing tips will help you get it right. Oh, and finally always sign off professionally.