Daffodil International University
Career Development Centre (CDC) => Career Guidance => Various Resource for Career Development => Topic started by: shibli on September 13, 2009, 03:44:27 PM
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"Ladies and gentlemen…."
Food for thought on speakers and audiences!
Quazi M. Ahmed
"Once you get people laughing, they're listening and you can tell them almost anything."
- Herbert Gardner
A research conducted many years back in the US asked close to a thousand people this simple question: "What are you most afraid of?" The answers, among many others, were: darkness, snakes, spiders, drowning, cockroaches, dogs, ghosts, death and obviously God's name came up in the list too. Any guesses as to which item was ranked number one? Yes, speaking before a group of people, reportedly, was the number one source of fear in that research project. Apparently, even fear of death was not as scary as the thought of public speaking. Perhaps this is the reason why someone quipped that the human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in front of others.
Well, sooner or later in your life, whether as a student or as an executive, you'll be asked to deliver a presentation--an activity that creates a certain kind of fear in many people. But once you follow a few simple guidelines, you can conduct trouble-free, entertaining presentations that would help you earn an excellent grade at the university or get the much-desired attention from colleagues and superiors.
It might sound like I am beating my own drum but I must admit that over the years, many people approached me after my speech or presentation at a training programme and told me that my presentation was excellent and that they also would like to learn the art of speaking. Keeping this context in mind, I am pleased to share some of my thoughts on the issue of presentation skills.
First, let me share an interesting set of statistics with you. Dr. Albert Mehrabian, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found out in his research that when we express feelings and attitudes through our presentations, the impact goes something like this: only 7% of the message is in the words; 38% of message is the way the words are spoken; and 55% of message is in facial expression. In others words, 93 percent of success of your presentation depends on your effective delivery of nonverbal communications. I believe now you have a clue why "I have a dream" speech of Martin Luther King, Jr. became so famous the world over or for that matter why 7th Match speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech at the race course maidan was so much inspiring for all freedom-loving Bangalees. Thus, my suggestion is that pay careful attention to nonverbal aspects of communicationssuch as eye contact, tone, facial expressions, volume, gesture, posture, handshake, physical distance from the audience and the like.
Secondly, one of the challenges for a novice presenter is how to structure the talk. Here is the age-old three-step method. In any presentation, your first step is to "tell them what you are going to tell them'; step two is to just 'tell them' one idea at a time and the third and final step is to 'tell them what you told them'. Put differently, you first announce your topic, then you divide the topic into different parts and explain each component with data, anecdotes, etc. and finally you take a few moments to summarize. Maybe not a very creative system, but the beauty of this simple approach is that here the audience gets the feeling that you are an organized and systematic presenter.
Those among us who know a thing or two about presentations will perhaps remember that mainly there are four different kinds of presentations, known as impromptu, extemporaneous, memorized and written script. When you watch a debate, you can see extempore speech in action where the debaters have notes or key words at their disposal but rest of the speechmaking comes naturally, neither from rote memorization nor from script reading. I haven't met anyone yet who can appreciate a memorized speech, except when we are talking about things like poetry recitation (amar naam Chitra, ami ekti kobita bolbo..). As for speaking from scripts, we get to see this everyday on BBC, CNN or Al Jazeera when the likes of Obama or Ahmedinejad read out their speeches when sensitive positions are taken with regard to global issues or when they hardly want to take any risk of misinterpretation by the press or principal stakeholders.
Thirdly and finally, a few words about impromptu speaking. It basically means that you are expected to speak on occasions such as dinner, iftar or farewell party without any preparation or at best preparation for a minute or two. Now we all know that if you are known as an experienced presenter or as an expert on a particular subject, you will certainly be asked to give an impromptu speech at one time or another. And most likely you will do an excellent job of speaking, impressing the host and the audience. But what if you are not an expert and yet you have to do a good job of speaking and saving your face? Here is what I call "A2F Method" of impromptu speaking which can be extremely helpful in such circumstances.
The next time you are suddenly called on stage to say something and you don't have a clue as to what to say, think about the A2F Method where 'A' stands for 'Appreciation' of the organizers who arranged the event where you are being asked to share your thoughts. As you can see, you don't have to say anything clever initially; just say something like, "I deeply appreciate the organizers for giving me this opportunity to say something on this (name of the occasion…)". With 'B' you simply think of the word 'Best' or its synonyms. Why? Because, now you are going to say that the issue or topic being discussed is best-suited, topical, appropriate, whatever. This will make the organizers feel happy. For 'C' I want you to choose the expression 'Care' and in this context, share a story, an anecdote that relates your life with the discussion.
All the first three letters, namely A, B and C had to do with creating a positive emotion: you thanked them, told them that they are doing a good thing and you even proved that you mean it through an example or two. Now it's about time that you walked in the other direction. What I mean by that is that an element of shock is necessary for creating an impact. For instance, reserve the letter 'D' for 'Danger" and as part of your speech say that "while it is good to see that we are concerned about the child labour issue in Dhaka, but I am afraid many of us say these things only in seminars and workshops and may not take concrete steps towards solving the problems." By now you have said quite a few things and perhaps time is short and you quickly move on to the remaining two letters. As far as 'E' is concerned, we now bring up 'Electronic' communications opportunities and announce that the audience can reach the speaker through email, and if they want to know more about the subject matter, they can search on the internet or go to relevant websites, etc. Having completed your speech up to this point, you are welcome to use 'F' in the form of 'Finally' and share your parting thoughts along these lines: 'Finally, I sincerely believe that you have learned quite a few things here and if you can apply at least 1 idea, if not more, then the effort will be successful. Thank you."
In all frankness, I have tried the above fail-proof A2F Method numerous times in my career as a trainer, presenter and facilitator. And there is no reason why you can't do the same. Let me wish you good luck with your presentations.
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Career Planning 101 for Students
How students can search for career services and information
Quazi M. Ahmed
I am sure many of you are wondering, if not worried, about what you are going to do after you complete your higher education. Well don't worry-- you don't need to know how to find your dream career just yet! However, what you do need is some good career planning advice and information and the opportunity to explore career choices when there is still some time left to do so. As a student at a public or private university, take the time to search for information about possible career choices, and take advantage of the career resources that are available to you as a student.
Now the obvious question is where can you find reliable career information and advice? Based on my training and experience, here are some tips to help you explore career options and find important career information and advice. Why not try some of these ideas to get you started!
Make internet your best friend. Institutions offering higher education in Bangladesh are still far away from offering quality career counseling services. You may have come across fancy names such as Career Office, Career Counseling Center and the like at various universities, but admittedly they have a long way to go. My recommendation on this? Go to the internet and especially visit these sites for a detailed self-assessment—the first step in your dream career:
www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca, www.assessment.com, www.personalitytype.com. Sadly, there aren’t many teachers, parents or career coaches out there to help you; so, make the best use of the online reliable personality tests.
Look for information interviews. This is one of the best kept secrets of career exploration. Suppose you are interested in working for a reputed bank. Find someone in the banking industry or better still find someone who already works in the bank of your choice. With a little bit of social skills, set up an information interview. This is a short interview (10-20 minutes) where you ask questions about what this career is like and how to enter into this career in terms of grades, majors and such. It's crucial for you to be polite and follow up with a thank you note. Information interviews also are a great networking opportunity, and sometimes they can lead to internships or employment.
Conduct research, research, research. Having completed your personality test, you might get some ideas about where you are more likely to succeed. For instance, if you are an extrovert person, you may do better in a sales and marketing career as opposed to a high-flying career in accounting or finance. Now surf the web in search of information about industries and companies that interest you. You'll want to research types of jobs, the availability of jobs, job requirements, and even salary ranges. Visiting job sites such as www.prothom-alojobs.com or www.bdjobs.com may give you powerful insights about career trends. Individual company sites, of course, can give you excellent source of current information about that company.
Try job shadowing. You can say that this is an information interview at the next level where you "shadow" someone throughout their workday to see what their career experience is like. Those who wanted a career in consulting or training spent time with me, volunteered at an outbound training held at BRAC CDM at Rajendrapur or at Jamuna Resort. Many professionals will be flattered to allow you to spend the day as long as you also become useful and assist him or her with errands of the day’s work!
Attend job fairs. In Bangladesh context, you know by now that no one goes to a job fair to get a job! However, there are many other reasons why you should still pay a visit. For one thing, you have the best opportunity to ask questions about the organizations, what qualifications are required for entry-level positions, career tracks and the like. You also get to see how they talk, what they wear and whether your values fit in.
Seek a quality internships experience. One of the best ways to develop job skills is to get an internship at an organization in a industry of your choice, say telecom, pharmaceuticals or textiles. Internships can help you figure out if a career choice is right for you. If internship sounds tough in an industry, try to write a term paper on a company’s challenge (or industry’s for that matter) well before your internship time comes. Having done a good job, you will be making connections and they would know your value because you probably did an excellent job of analyzing an issue through your research paper as part of a course. Some of your teachers can also link you to excellent organizations. Most importantly, do your best work during internship and this may lead to job offers.
Good luck, then! Please keep in mind that you really don't need to have all the answers about your career right now. And while it's important to investigate possible careers while you are a student, don't focus too much on this. Enjoy your life as a student and focus on getting an excellent education that builds you for the future.
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Anyone Can Be A Leader!
Quazi M. Ahmed
WHAT does it really take to be a leader? Who is capable of leading, and how is it done?
The dictionary defines leadership as, "a person who by force of example, talents, or qualities plays a directing role, wields motivating influence, or has a following in any sphere of activity or thought." So in other words, a leader is someone who paves the way in a new, positive direction. And that some one can be anyone. Most importantly it can be you!!
We often think of leadership as positional…in a student club, the president is the leader by right of title. But often, leadership is grounded in the creativity and drive of an individual who can just be a member of the club. Someone sees a need and attracts others into a process to foster change. For instance, I saw that need in the eyes of Chowdhury Quaseed a student at NSU in the year 1997 and he was determined to take an NSU debating team at the World Universities Debating Championships. Even as the Debating Club Advisor, I couldn't conceive it, but he could and made it happen with sheer determination and enthusiasm. For many leaders of this sort, the journey begins with a single decision. And it can come from anyone, because anyone can be a leader.
To reach your potential as a leader, know who you are, and know your purpose! If you don't, you're probably wasting more energy and efforts on things you shouldn't. A good leader knows why s/he's doing what s/he does and what to expect from his/her team. A good leader always helps his/her team to keep focus on the vision. Would you follow someone lacking purpose and direction in leading? One of the key issues with leaders is that they know really well what they're good at. But more important, they are 100 percent clear of their strengths and weaknesses. They know their strengths so that they can maximize them, and they know their weaknesses so that they can surround themselves with other team members and friends who compensate for them. Know your purpose, and people will follow.
Your values are your internal laws, the ones that direct all your actions. You'll know you've broken one of those laws, the minute you feel uncomfortable with your actions. If you want to identify your core values, watch your actions. Values and character define leadership. One of the most important values you should foster is integrity. Being a true leader is being able to stand up for what you believe in. They don't use false facades or "poker faces"- as the expression goes. Instead, they say what they mean and mean what they say. They are aware of their own inner voices and selves, and strive to know themselves better everyday. Whether you are a student or a professional, today's work is a call for working on teams, and today more than ever personal relationships play a big role in the outcomes of every team or work group. The ability to develop good relationships is one that a leader needs to work on to connect with his/her team, and will result in a deeper commitment of the group to their work. They know that their "purpose" as a leader is to SERVE those that they lead. Therefore, they have genuine concern for the people they lead. They never belittle or humiliate others; and they do not discount the opinions of others, even when they disagree with them. Know your people's strengths--enhancing a person's positive attributes allows him to use more of his potential.
One of the most important leadership skills is motivating people. Leadership is the ability to be looked upon as a role model. Lead from the front (or walk the talk)…be the first to volunteer if you want volunteers. Leaders can motivate being an example for their teams. Appealing to your team's hearts and minds is more than giving a pep talk, knowing them and having a good understanding of why they're working on a extracurricular project. A good leader knows how to appeal the souls of their fellow students to reach performances way ahead of what is expected. Leadership is the ability to lead people or represent them. It all starts with responsibility…your actions not only affect you, but everyone you represent.
Finally, self discipline is the quality that helps you gain the respect of others around you. No matter how good you're at something, if you can't perform consistently and with discipline in the long term you will not have the respect of your group. Your actions reveal your values, so if you want to lead, you should rely on self discipline. Nobody follows someone who can't control him/herself. Give up being right…sometimes you have to show you know you won't be right all the time. That's one of the hallmarks of strong leaders.
So as you can see there are many different aspects to leadership. But at the end of the day it all starts with just one essential feature…YOU! A leader can be anyone from anywhere, doing anything as long as he or she is making a positive change. And we all have huge leadership potential in all of us, because everyone has something unique to offer in one way, shape or form. Know yourself, don't be afraid to test your limits, always stick to your passion and dreams, and most of all believe in yourself. "The world is your oyster" and you can lead the way!
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Presentation is the way of communicating ideas and information to a group. But a good presentation carries the speaker's personality better and allows immediate interaction between all the participants. A good presentation has to have 2 things:
1)Content: It contains information that people need. But unlike reports, which are read at the reader's own, presentations must account for how much information the audience would like...
2)Structure:It has a logical beginning, middle, and end. It must be sequenced and paced so that the audience can understand it
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I once participated in a Presentation Skills Workshop, what was missing was ACTIVE PARTICIPATION on the part of the participants. All we did was see and listen to the trainers giving speeches and presentations, and it got tiresome at times!
I am sure there are many people with similar experiences!
The presenter should get the participants to do presentations, get them involved, get them to have some hands on learning experience, and ensure fair participation.
From my point of view, to create impact on audience its essential to find the interest which might be created by dividing the team into groups by some certain cluster and give them something, suits their interest. So a presenter has to know how to blend with the audience and the subject matter, where the presenter is just a facilitator, presentation is more important than the presenter.
Moreover, one should know that Presentation is not about talking only, it means something more how one looks like, feels like, thinks like, and finally presents. Presentation reflects one's personality and attitude. Its a overall thing- from inner side and outer side - the speaking capability as well as the dress sense.
As the first thirty seconds of speech are probably the most important one must grab the attention of the audience, and engage their interest in what you have to say. He or she could start with a thought-provoking question, make an interesting or controversial statement, recite a relevant quotation or recount a joke. He or she could also use a historical reference, a personal reference or a combination.
The choice is presenter's. his/her opening should also indicate the subject topic.