Author Archives: Tan Teck Kim

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Public Speaking Course in Singapore – 5 Tips To Deliver Impactful Presentations

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Are You Thinking Of Attending A Public Speaking Course In Singapore or Malaysia?

Don’t attend any public speaking course in Singapore or any Singapore Toastmasters Club Course until you have read these 5 Tips On How To Speak Publicly and Improve Your Public Speaking Skills :

5 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLSPublic Speaking Training Workshop Course in Singapore

 

The first thing to know about improving public speaking skills is that there are many successful speakers who never started off as naturally gifted public speakers. Everyone acquires the ability through the same process of preparation, repetition and control – in short PRACTICE.  Even 2nd World War Leader Winston Churchill, who was famous for his war rally speeches, was was not born a great orator. It is reported in history that Winston Churchill had a slight stammer and a lisp when he was young. He compensated by investing in hours and hours crafting his speeches, practicing and perfecting each word.

Public Speaking Course in Singapore

It is very important to recognize that public speaking is not a terror to be shunned, but an opportunity to be seized. Most Singapore or Malaysia training courses in Public speaking Skills will teach you that Presentation Skills are all about persuasion of human beings by being connected with your audience and engaging them.

A Little Known Secret About Steve Jobs, one of our most awesome public speakers and innovators of our generation (watch the keynote speech by Steve Jobs and then his presentation secret is revealed below):

The Presentation Secret of Steve Jobs is this : Steve Jobs spends at least 2 days on presentation and public speaking practices and rehearsals, after he has prepared his keynote speech.

Online Public Speaking Lesson (Singapore) 1 : How much time do you spend on preparation versus rehearsals?  When you start adjusting and allocating more time for your presentation rehearsals, you are on your way to experiencing more success with public speaking

You use public speaking to gain something you want.  It does not matter if you are attempting to sell a product or persuade an audience as to how compelling your viewpoints are. The best outcome of any public speaking engagement is a win-win between you and your audience. You have implanted your ideas on fertile ground, you have picked up sales orders or gained customers. You can win and make your life much better by mastering the basics of public speaking.

• Key Messages are a critical success factor in successful public speaking. Figure out what you want to say, not every last word but every last concept you wish to touch upon. Leave nothing out and avoid any ad libs until you have mastered the craft enough to safely deviate from your notes without clouding your intended message.  If you are not clear what you want to say, chances are your audience won’t either!  And they won’t take a long time to find out.

Online Public Speaking Lesson (Singapore) 2 :  Decide what your key messages are and plan your hooklines, stories and plot around your key messages.

Whether you attend a Singapore public speaking training course by British Council of Singapore, or join several Singapore Toastmasters Clubs, or enrol yourself in the Speech Academy of Asia,  you are likely to be advised of the importance of key messages and rehearsals.

To join the exciting Public Speaking Training Programme by 36 HR Training & Consultancy, please check below :

►► Public Speaking Workshop (Singapore & Malaysia) – Impactful Presentations

• Budget your time. You must know how long you will be speaking. There is nothing worse than awkwardly trying to stretch out a five minute speech except perhaps trying to squeeze a long speech into a short window.

Online Public Speaking Lesson (Singapore) 3 : Most audiences will be grateful if you end slightly earlier than scheduled especially in a long day of public speaking seminars.

• If possible, visit the speaking venue in advance. Stand on the stage and look out over the arena. Test the equipment and sound system.  The more familiar you are with the venue, the more comfortable you will be when it comes time to actually deliver.

Singapore Public Speaking Course

Online Public Speaking Lesson (Singapore) 4 : Tap on the power of visualisation – it’s a very powerful public speaking technique which you must incorporate into your rehearsal/preparation.  Many successful salesmen practise visualisation before they actually speak to clients to enhance their chances of success.

• Practise your speech in front of a mirror so you can judge if your technique,  body language and gestures are awkward or distracting. Do it again and again until you find that you do not need to use your notes at all. They will be there to catch you if you fall or stumble, but the plan is to carry on without them.

Public Speaking Workshop in Singapore

Online Public Speaking Lesson (Singapore) 5 :  Rehearse using this technique called Verbalisation.  It’s like your body muscles – you need to repeat your exercises before your arm muscles start toning.   Likewise you need to exercise your mental and vocal muscles.  You may verbalise key messages only if you are running out of time.

 

If you like this coaching article on Public Speaking Techniques, you will also like the following Online Resources/Courses on How To Improve Your Public Speaking Tips :

►►Coaching Stories on Public Speaking Techniques – How To Speak Confidently

►►More Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

►►7 Minute Guide To Presentation Skills

►► Attend A Public Speaking Course For Free – Learn How To Speak Like Steve Jobs

►►5 Power Tips To Overcome Fear of Public Speaking – Try Them!

 

Best Public Speaking Course in Singapore

You can sign up for a 1-to-1 Coaching Programme to improve your presentation skills, or sign up for an exciting 2-Day Public Speaking Training Course in Singapore by 36 HR Training & Consultancy :

►►Yes, I want to find out more about this 2 Day Presentation Skills Workshop On How To Improve My Public Speaking Skills

 

Public Speaking Course Singapore – How To Speak Confidently

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Effective Presentation Skills Course Singapore on How To Speak Publicly

Conquer Mankind’s No. 1 Greatest Fear : Public Speaking.

It has been said that some people would rather die than to speak on stage.  Does that apply to you?  If you are one of those who would do anything to escape public speaking, or wish to learn a secret formula to deliver effective presentation skills, read on the following real life cases – they are all former participants of my public speaking courses in Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.  They might inspire you 🙂

Public Speaking Course Singapore - Effective Presentation

Effective Presentations Skills Case Study 1 :  Fear of Public Speaking

Lixin would freeze whenever she went on stage.  This was due to a childhood situation when in school, she forgot everything she was supposed to speak on stage.  Since then, she experienced panic attacks whenever she’s on stage.

During my coaching session with Lixin, I suggested to her to try to visualise the happiest moments she had – which she said were riding on the motor-bike, because she felt liberated.   I suggested to her to use visualise the same image in her mind, and the same liberating emotions she felt, whilst on stage.  She did and started smiling.  This was when her public speaking fears were loosened.  During that Effective Presentations Course (Singapore) – How To Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking,  she won the award for being the most Improved Presenter.

Effective Presentations Skills Case Study 2 : Stiff Steve

Steve, whom I coached during a Public Speaking Course (Singapore), was a great technical expert who can have an explanation for anything connected with technology. But when he has to speak publicly, he is frightened and starts stumbling for words.  In addition, he is stiff and he stands rooted in his position from the start to the finish of his presentation.  There were moments when the public speaking class participants laughed, in good team spirit, at his awkward gestures, when he tried to gesticulate.

Public Speaking Courses Singapore

I suggested to Steve to practice his presentations and look in front of the mirror.  After that, nobody could guess what he was like (previously) because his gestures look so natural.  Yes, the good news for nervous speakers is that : Gestures can be practised and learnt.  The right amount of gestures can help you achieve a greater impact in your public speaking or presentations.

Effective Presentations Skills Case Study 3 : Forgetting Your Message and Tongue-tied

One of the most common fears shared by my participants in my Public Speaking Course (Singapore and Malaysia) is about their fear of FORGETTING their lines.  Take the case of Janice Heng.  There were times when she had to speak as part of a larger group.  Even if she only has to speak 1 minute, the fear of public speaking would overwhelm her.  She would forget her what she was supposed to say, and her mind would go blank.

Public Speaking Course Singapore and Malaysia

The solution :  Rehearse using KEY MESSAGES, not memorising your text word for word.   If you are one of those who memorise every word, you would be lost the moment you forget even just one word, while presenting.  Instead, remember your KEY messages.  For eg, If I were to ask you what this whole case study 3 is about – you wouldn’t recall every word.  You would remember this story’s Key Message is about Key Messages. They form like a jigsaw puzzle in your head.  That’s also how you want your audience to remember!

 Effective Presentations Skills Case Study 4 : Boring Brendan

Brendan is a senior manager in his company.  He rose to his position due to his technical competence and track record.  He is not afraid to present but he knows something is amiss when he speaks… the audience is not interested and starts to snooze.  The more polite audience stare blankly at him.

Don’t be a BORE when you present publicly.  Please spare your audience of technical details if they are not relevant.  To be effective in your presentations, whether 1 to 1 or 1 to many – you need to tailor your message, understand what your audience needs are.  The presentation starting point is NOT about you or your wonder product.  It’s about the audience.   Before you go on stage, do your homework and find out :

– what do the audience want to know?
– what do the audience already know?
– what is in it for the audience?
– what keeps them awake at night?
– why should they listen to you?

Singapore Public Speaking Course

and finally what can you offer to solve their problems/needs?  So forget about sharing in detail the excellent award winning 20 features of your product, and focus on the 3 features that meet your customer or audience needs.   They will be awake during your presentations or public speaking!  More useful resource here :

►►► 7-Minute Guide To Impactful Presentations

►►► Power Tips To Improve Your Presentation Skills

►►► How Your MBTI Assessment Can Help You In Your Presentations

           Effective Presentations Course Singapore Workshop

Effective Presentations Skills Case Study 5 : Get Your Audience To Remember You

Alice attended my Effective Public Speaking Course (Singapore) and she is is not nervous, she has key messages, and she is reasonably competent managing the audience. She is not boring.

But perhaps she has the most serious problem – nobody remembers her after she speaks.  She simply blends and leaves no impression.  Her brand isn’t visible.

►►► Read here on How To Brand Yourself

The cure?  Start having a story.  In fact, you can illustrate your speech effectively with carefully designed stories.  All humans love a story.  Whether it’s about Steve Jobs who was one of our greatest come-back heroes (always rising from the ashes of failure to greater heights of success), or your neighbour next door – there’s a story to be learnt.  In my Effective Presentations Course (Singapore and Malaysia), and my Public Speaking Courses (Singapore) – I teach participants how to build stories, and how to help your audience remember you, your brand, your key messgaes, through your story 🙂

►►► Click here to find out more about Effective Presentations Training workshop.
►►► 3+ 5 Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

I hope your find this coaching useful – please LIKE this article or share it with your friends!

Written by Tan Teck Kim, trainer and coach in Effective Presentation Skills Courses, Delivering With Impact workshops. He has travelled to various parts of Asia to train country managers and executives to deliver impactful presentations.   Teck Kim is also a trained coach to administer MBTI and FIRO-B personality instruments which are used for understanding human interactions, leading to higher performance.

Contact Tan Teck Kim if you wish to enrol of the latest Effective Presentation Skills Course (Singapore) or Impactful Public Speaking Course (Singapore and Malaysia).  Teck Kim also customises in-house Business Presentation Skills Training Workshops as well as Public Speaking Workshops.  Or if you have an urgent need and prefer to be coached personally on a one to one basis, you may contact public speaking coach here.

Singapore Public Speaking Course

3+5 Ways To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills

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Public Speaking Course SingaporeThinking of Attending A Public Speaking Course in Singapore To Improve Your Presentation Skills?

Here are 3+5 Powerful Tips To Help You Improve Your Public Speaking Skills :

Presentation Tip 1 : Prepare A Great Speech

How To Improve In Public Speaking Skills Be clear about what you want to achieve.  Eg : – I want the audience to know why our company must trim costs by 30% to stay competitive
– I want senior management to support investing in a new technology to gain new clients
– I want my company to sponsor all front line staff for a public speaking course to improve their confidence in speaking to clients.  If you are unclear in what you want, neither will your audience be clear!  To be a winner in public speaking, be clear in what you want to achieve.

 Presentation Tip 2 : Understand Your Audience Pain Points

How To Improve Public Presentations Skills The starting point of your speech should be from your audience’s perspective.  The more you understand what their pain point is, the better you are prepared.   Connect your solution to your audience pain point – the greater the pain, the more likely they are motivated to hear you out.  The deeper the pain they experience, the more they will be willing to invest their time with your solution.  All public speaking courses (in Singapore or Malaysia) will tell you to ensure your starting point is your audience – take time to understand their needs.

Presentation Tip 3 : Arouse Interest In Your Audience In What You Say

Best Public Speaking Courses Singapore Do you know when you take centre stage and speak – you only have 18 seconds to impress the audience before they decide whether to continue to listen to you?

In my Public Speaking Course Singapore – Stand Up and Stand Out – I teach participants 10 ways to arouse audience’s curiosity and interest.  Here are a sample of effective opening statements to deliver effective presentations or impress your audience :

 

(I)  Ask Interesting Questions:

 public speaking training in singaporeThe moment you ask any questions – it’s the audience natural response to answer them, even in their minds.  For eg, for my public speaking courses teaching people how to overcome their fears, the opening questions I ask will be : “Do you know what is mankind’s greatest fear?” “Do you know that many people would rather die than to speak publicly?” “How many today are interested to conquer mankind’s greatest fear?

 

(II) Ask Good Questions : 
Improve public speaking skillsA father took his young son to the opera for the 1st time.  The opera conductor started waving the baton, and the soprano began hitting her high notes.  The boy watched everything intently and finally asked, “Dad, why is he hitting her with his stick?” “He’s not hitting her,”, answered the dad with a smile. “Well then,” asked the boy, “why is she screaming?” “Well, those are good questions the son asked and I’ll like to share some good questions with you today…”  The above is just a sample.  You can ask good questions by spending time to design them before you delivery your speech publicly.

(III) Make Shocking Facts or Statements About A Problem Which Needs Your Solution

Best Public Speaking Workshop in Singapore

One of my favourite tip in my public speaking course (Singapore and Malaysia) is to start a presentation with a shocking statement of fact that people don’t think much about.  For eg :

“Every year, 300 million people contract cancer.  Of these 1.1 million people die.  Out of 1.1 million people, less than 10% have left sufficient monies for their dependent families.  Most people don’t save, nor invest in insurance, nor write a will.”

Another example of my effective presentations training – opening starters :

“We all know that global warming is BAD for humans and our future generations.  But do we know that the following are also linked to global warming? – higher crime rates due to higher temperatures – more kids today now have asthma compared to 20 years ago – Sea levels have risen about seven inches in the last 100 years, which is more than in the previous 2,000 years combined – in short cities can sink.

 

(IV) Use An Interesting Quote

Effective Presentation Skills CourseIf you are delivering a presentation topic on Teamwork: “Individuals play the game, but TEAMS win championships.”  Do you agree? “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”  ~ Phil Jackson

The idea is to get your audience to start thinking about an important topic. Arouse their interest in your presentation!

 

(V) :  Tell A Story

Singapor Toastmaster Club CourseMost people cannot remember details and not everyone is interested in details – think about this :  Can you remember what was the last sentence said by the lead actor in your favourite movie?  But can you recall the storyline in brief?   Yes, we are all wired to listen to stories.

Make the connection with your audience through your story telling skills.  Once you have connected with your audience with a story (or stories), they are more likely to listen to what you have to say.  In fact stories are not only powerful starters, but are highly effective presentation skills strategies to keep your audience engaged throughout.

►►►Read this article on case studies and stories of participants in my previous public speaking classes.

During our 2 day workshop on public speaking and business presentation skills, we share with you secrets on how to tell stories, and how to engage and connect with your audience through different story telling techniques.  It’s one of the most exciting parts of the course!  Stories don’t have to be long! Whether you are seeking the best public speaking course (in Singapore or Malaysia) or attend hours and hours of Toastmaster Course Singapore or whether you are personally coached by the best public speaking coach – you need to practise your public speaking skills.

Remember you can’t learn football skills by merely reading.  You’ve gotta get out there and kick around!  More useful public speaking resources here :

►►► 7-Minute Guide To Impactful Presentations Our Public Speaking Courses and Effective Presentation Skills are designed to teach you practical public speaking skills and to give you feedback on your presentations practice sessions.  

Contact us for more info to improve your public speaking skills or to find out how you can enrol in our Public Speaking Course in Singapore.

Career Advice : Why Career Advice and Career Coaching Is The Key To Retain Talent

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Career Advice and Career Coaching As A Powerful Talent Retention Tool

career adviceIn my years of coaching and leading teams, one of the biggest challenges is attracting talent and staff retention in a very competitive industry where competitors are willing to fork out huge salaries to lure your key talents away.  One of my best kept weapons is the ability to provide career advice and coach my staff in their career journey.

What Constitutes Career Advice or Career Counselling?

career adviceFor the purposes of not losing the larger picture of the intention of this article, I have loosely used career advice and career counselling interchangeably.

In general, career advice or counselling focusses on issues such as career exploration, career change, personal career development and other career related issues.  Every staff or member of your workforce has a career need which varies with their working experience and age.

For example,

  • new workforce entrants or graduates tend to be lost or need advice in career direction – not knowing exactly what types of jobs they should go for and what they would excel in.  This of course is not always the case but a good 70% of those I have coached tend to face such issues.
  • Employees who have worked for 5-10 years tend to get anxious or be more concerned about career progression, job enlargement or promotion prospects especially when their peers are doing far better.
  • Senior employees who have worked between 10-20 years tend to seek worklife balance, or even more aggressive promotion or career advancement opportunities as their lifestyle needs change – most of them might have formed their own family units and hence the changes in career needs.
  • Finally, those employees who have worked over 20 years tend to seek out the meaning of lives and how their careers could bring out the meaning.

career adviceAs you can see, whilst I might have generalised the types of employees, their career needs are varied, and a function of their lifestyles and life aspirations.

If you are the manager of these employees, how would you be able to provide career advice to these employees, and what happens when you do not give adequate career counselling?

Let’s take the 2nd question first : When you can’t provide adequate career counselling, you have not considered your employees’ needs in totality.  If you are merely MATCHING your HIRING needs with your employees’ SKILLS, you have missed out a large part of the staff attraction and retention principle.   If you were to interview your staff on what types of managers they like to have, a number would tell you it’s those who can coach them in their career (and that’s much more than job coaching).  For example, awarding promotion opportunities to a staff who is seeking worklife balance or meaning does not necessarily appeal to them.

Case Study 1 

Peter was a highly driven manager whose team brings in the results, and Peter has a reputation of being a very good manager who cares about his staff.  One day, one of his top performing team members, Jessie resigned.  Upon probing and chatting with Jessie , I discovered that Peter’s strive for high standards was something that staff, upon reaching 45, felt she could no longer cope with.   In order to meet his expectations, she had to make a lot of personal sacrifices for years and she felt she could not sustain this as her children were growing up.

career-advice

Case Study 2 

Leena was a senior regional manager who values staff loyalty and commitment.  Leena rewarded all staff with enlarged jobs or promotions.  Monika resigned one day to the shock of everybody – everyone was expecting Monika to be promoted or to have a huge salary increase in the next 6-9 months.  Monika explained to me that she was a sole breakwinner and the salary simply wasn’t enough.  She loved everything about her job, the environment and working for Leena.  But she desperately needed more money for the increased living expenses of her family and her children growing up.

Therefore, the manager who is able to differentiate himself/herself as a leader is likely one who is able to understand the personal and career aspirations of the team members and find a common path between this understanding and the job and work environment.  Sometimes this path is blurred or narrow but the successful manager is able to create this path when it’s non existent or be prepared to let go of their skilled talents to competitors.

career advice

3 CAREER ADVICE TIPS For Managers To Coach Your Team Members Or Employees: 

1.  Set aside time regularly – at least once in a quarter of a year, to chat with your employees and LISTEN to them.  They might have new lifestyle needs which impact on their jobs and such issues are unlikely to surface in usual work environment unless in informal discussions like these.  One of my good friends Christina lunches with her staff on a regular basis.  Consider this if it works for you.

2.  When you are hiring – go beyond matching job needs to employees’ skills.  It is far more than that.  Consider how your job can meet the aspirations and needs of your potential employees.  Therefore, instead of just asking what they can do, find out what are important to them in their career.

3.  Practise career coaching skills.  Such skills don’t come naturally – you need to practise them.  If you haven’t ever counselled anyone on their careers before – start on a small scale by listening to your employees’ needs.  First step is to listen, understand BEFORE you give any career advice.

career adviceCAREER CONSULTATION

If you are

(a) an individual seeking professional career coaching tips, career advice or

(b) a manager/business leader seeking seeking to learn coaching skills as a manager/coach,  or

(c) a company requiring training solutions, please contact us for a professional consultation or training – please state your objectives and what you need :

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    You might find these articles useful :

    Career Advice | Personal Branding part 1 | How To Brand Yourself

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    Managing Your Career : Personal Branding Career Advice – Tips and Strategies

    by Career Strategist and Workplace Trainer Tan Teck Kim

    Recently many readers wrote to ask about what is the most important career advice I can give them in their career development.  From the perspective of a Trainer and A Career Coach, several key ideas come to mind which I have shared with several interviewees. Here are the excerpts of Tan Teck Kim’s interview with Glow Magazine, a leading lifestyle magazine in Singapore, produced in 2 parts.

    HOW TO BRAND YOURSELF SUCCESSFULLY IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT

    career advice


    1. What does self branding entail and why is it so important to do so in today’s modern economy?

    First let’s agree on what constitutes Personal Branding, a much hyped subject in our modern and tech-savvy economy, which has intertwined closely personal and business networks.

    Personal branding is basically the way one markets oneself to the world.  How one markets one’s beliefs, image, attitude, skills and behaviour in a coherent manner.  Our personal brand is the summation of all the associations people have of us in their minds.   In some ways it’s outside one’s control, but one obviously has some influence over it

    People and the world are still forming impressions of us all the time and it’s in our interest to have a consistent branding strategy that drive these impressions.   If you speak to any career coach or counsellor and seek advice on career, it is very likely they would highlight the need to be consistent in your personal branding.

    A positive branding is important because it could gain you advantages in your career and in relationships.     More on this point later.

    IMPORTANT : If you don’t brand yourself, chances are someone is already doing that, and succeeding at it plus getting the chances and the deals which elude you.  Branding differentiates you from others because you become identifiable with certain beliefs, attributes or skills or images.
    personal branding

    Want to STAND OUT and STAND UP through branding?

     

     

     

     

    2. To achieve success in life, marketing oneself is important. How does one go about starting to do so and what are the main things to note?

    There are 2 parts to this :

    A.  One’s Internal branding

    B.  One’s External branding

     A.  Internal Branding :

    How one perceives oneself is drives one’s internal brand.  To achieve your desired internal brand, start by asking yourself what 3 short sentences or adjectives would you use to describe yourself?  Take a moment to reflect on this question, and jot your answers down. Is this a brand you feel good about?  Does it really resonate with you?  Answering these questions is the best piece of career advice you have rendered yourself.

    career advice

    Differentiate yourself through Branding

    B. External Branding

    Be holistic and consistent in your branding strategy – consider your beliefs, your attitude, your image, your skills and your behaviour/job performance. If for eg you believe yourself to be trustworthy and reliable and want others to see you that way – reflect this in those things that represent you, and not just your job.  Don’t have for example, a personal email ID that says : LazyChick@gmail.com or CoolGuy@hotmail.com or a daily sloppy dressing to work.

    Important : Your internal and external branding must be in sync. If they are in conflict, your external branding may not be sustainable.

    To brand yourself externally, ask the following questions :

    1. 3 sentences that I would like myself/brand to perceived.
    2. 3 sentences on how others perceive me to be.
    3. What strategies do I need to close the gaps between (a) and (b).

     

    This reflection process is an absolute necessity before you start.  How many times have you heard your boss saying that he’s smart but you totally disagree in your heart?  Or your assistant who wants a promotion but you think she should be fired for poor performance?  Your Personal Branding begins with uncovering the gaps between reality and desired perceptions.  In all my coaching workshops – this reflection process is one of the most powerful Career Counselling Tools to help my candidates to be honest with themselves. Your Personal Branding and Image starts and ends with you.

     

    career adviceTo take this to the next level, find someone you can trust, and whose opinions you value, and share your self reflections with him/her.  Alternatively, if you wish to have a full fledged career advice discussion with Tan Teck Kim, please contact him here :

    Look out for Part 2 of this interview on how to position your Personal Image, Confidence and enhance your Personal Branding

    RECOMMENDED READING :

    Understand what your employers are thinking :

    Why Career Advice and Career Development is Key To Staff Retention

    Career Advice Part 2 – Personal Branding, Confidence and Image

    Career Advice Part 3 : How To Differentiate Your Personal Branding 

    5 Case Studies On Overcoming Your Fears Of Public Speaking

    Career Advice | Personal Branding part 3 | How To Differentiate Your Personal Branding

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    Managing Your Career : How To Differentiate Your Personal Branding by Tan Teck Kim

    << This is a continuation of the previous career counselling article on : Career Advice Parts 1 and 2, part of the Interview of Tan Teck Kim with a leading Lifestyle Magazine, Glow >>
    << Click here to read part 1 on Career Advice >>     
    << Click here to read part 2 on Managing Your Personal Branding >>

    Personal Branding

    7. In terms of self-branding, how does social success translate to career success, and how are the 2 correlated?

    •  When was the last time you bought something you really didn’t need, all due to the persuasive skills of the likeable salesperson?
    •  If you are a manager, who would you choose to promote from 2 equally competent staff?  1 who is hardworking, competent and reliable but quiet.. the other who is equally competent but with good people skills and is able to interact with people at different levels.
    •  If you have 2 job offers, you would choose to work for the manager whom you think can share his knowledge and counsel you on your career progression. Do you agree?

    I believe these 3 examples illustrate the importance of strong EQ or people skills which are to some synonymous with social success, and the ability to connect.

    Social Skills are a highly valued asset.  If you are in your 20s or 30s, you can stand out with your ability to connect. If you are in your 40s and 50s, your ability to coach and connect makes you the leader why your staff want to stay on despite competition poaching staff…

     Social skills are critical and give you a cutting edge in your career and business :

    1. Differentiation : In today’s world dominated by technology – social skills become a highly valued asset.  The population in the 20s and 30s are especially strong in technology but you can stand out from the crowd with your ability to connect with people.  And if you are a leader in your 40s or 50s, then your ability to coach and connect becomes the reason why your staff want to work for you despite plentiful opportunities.
    2. Problem Solving : In business, problems with processes, people and clients happen all the time.  The one who can resolve the problems is the one who gets counted when it matters.  And problem solving is often a function of one’s ability to work through different geographies, departments and the people in them.
    3. Forming Meaning Relationships :  Social skills generally translate into one’s ability to cultivate meaningful relationships.  This opens up tremendous opportunities.
    how-to manage your personal branding

    In the business world, the higher one climbs the corporate ladder, the more responsibilities one assumes – and it becomes a situation of being able to manage people to get things done for the organisation, rather than doing everything yourself.   International firms and businesses  are constantly look for leaders and managers who can work with people and bring out the best in others.

    Social success translates naturally into opportunities which in turn lead to career success.  To grow and advance further in one’s career, social skills come into play again.

    Need I say more?

    8. What are some of the most crucial things you need to bring to the table at a job interview? 

    The 2 Key Factors are :

    (I) TAILORING your message and Adding VALUE.

    (II) Decide what your KEY messages are in advance, and TAILOR them to suit your audience/interviewers.

    Know in advance, as much as possible or practicable,

      • Who your interviewers are
      • What their communication styles are like
      • What keeps them awake at night (or what problem they need to solve).

    To illustrate the importance of being prepared and knowing your interviewers with a real life story : I once arranged for a candidate (whom I intend to recruit) to meet my lady boss who had a very stern and austere air about her.  Despite my friendly ‘warning’ in advance, the candidate did not expect what she saw – she was so startled to see my boss during the interview that she stumbled and completed faltered in incoherent sentences.  She didn’t get the job of course.

    On communication style : If for example, the interviewers are CEOs, they might be more keen on the big picture and revenue numbers – this means you might need to trim your 10 page report to a 1 pager to highlight pertinent high level issues that impact on the company’s viability and market standing instead of sticking to what you know.

    IMPORTANT : The key differentiating factor for you is your ability to add value to them in a problem where they cannot resolve fully or at all. Adding value can be giving new perspectives & effort that will contribute to resolving the problem. This will make your interviewers feel that you are the one they need to hire.

    Many fresh graduates or less experienced job interviewees I have interviewed ‘suffer’ from this fatal flaw : They always ask what they can learn.  There is nothing wrong with this expectation but if the focus is only on themselves and not on what the potential employer needs, then you haven’t differentiated yourself and come across as just another interviewee.

    To add value, you must understand what issues your interviewers are facing.  Get info from the interviewers about what their challenges are, what the challenges of the job (you are interviewing for are), and relate them to your previous experiences (you can quote examples of school projects which are relevant) to demonstrate that you could solve their problem.  This perhaps is the singular most important piece of CAREER ADVICE I would give to anyone preparing to go for a job interview.  Help your potential employee solve a problem or position yourself as the one who could solve their problem and you are on a roll.

    NEW: This section on Growth Mindset is updated in 2022:

    Increasingly, companies look for employees and leaders who portray a Growth Mindset attitude.  This attitude can be felt, seen and heard.   Read here for Why Having A Growth Mindset Matters To You.

    You can also contact us for Growth Mindset Workshop to see how your company can benefit from this.

    9. What are some no-no’s when it comes to presenting yourself well? 

    a. Don’t go to any meeting without being prepared or a mental rehearsal.  There are times when I hear my coachees say that they don’t know who they are meeting, and they get so nervous and so they would just adopt a ‘I’ll-go-as-I-am’ attitude, without any preparation.  This is a definite no-no.   If you don’t know anything – at least go back to the person who connected you to the chance to present yourself and find out as much as possible.  And google search to help you do your homework!

    Personal Branding

    Don’t Be Mousy – Brand Yourself Confidently

    b.  Don’t be mousy – I once interviewed a candidate who stood at my door entrance, but her body was half hidden by the door.  The impression I got was she lacked confidence and experience or maybe had something to hide.  Would that be your preferred hiring choice if you are the manager?  Knock the door, wait for acknowledgement and walk in confidently.

    Manage Your Personal Brandingc.  Don’t talk too much – use any meeting as a chance to understand others’ perspectives and whether there is a chance for you to contribute and learn. If you are going for an interview, you must at least spend 30% of the time listening (some experts put it to 70% and so that gives you an idea of how important it is to listen).  If you are making a public presentation, obviously you have to do more talking but you still need to observe your audience and listen and make adjustments accordingly.  For example, if you audience asks a question, listen and acknowledge it and answer it at the appropriate time.

    d.  Don’t stick to a prepared script rigidly.  I know I said one must prepare but equally important is the need to adapt and tailor your message.  I recall in the early years of my career when on one occasion,  I stuck to my 30-min prepared script despite only having 5 minutes to speak as the speakers before me took more time than planned.   I learnt lesson 101 on adapting and tailoring my message to the circumtances, after we lost the deal and I got ‘painfully’ famous for it.

    Manage Your Personal Branding Well

    e.  Don’t start off with an apology or bad note. “I’m sorry as I’m presenting for the 1st time and hence really nervous.”  “I didn’t want to come up but my colleagues pushed me up here to share.”  Avoid negative statements that immediately discredit yourself.  With your preparation and rehearsals, you could be doing much better than you realise!

    f.  Don’t focus on your weakness – instead focus on what you can contribute to your clients.  Draw comfort in the fact that everyone is nervous or has been through that stage, when presenting or meeting a new prospective client or employer.

    Real Life Coaching
    I once coached someone who insisted that she could never present in front of a group.  She spent 2 hours convincing me that she could never ever do that.  To-date, she remains the only 1 person I have coached who still fumbles and falters at every presentation.

    As you can see, you can manage your Personal Branding consciously by applying these tips and strategies above.  I hope you have enjoyed these 3 part series on Career Advice and Managing Your Personal Branding.  Develop your image, your confidence and adopt the right attitudes.  Differentiate yourself from others through your social skills – increasingly an asset in today’s world too reliant on technology.  Invest in your career by first investing in your personal branding.  You can improve your presence and confidence in public speaking too by investing in the right Presentation Skills courses.

    If you would like to hear fresh perspectives and benefit from career counselling,
    << Contact Tan Teck Kim if you wish to be coached in your career >>

    career advice

    Coached To Clearer Direction and Higher Performance

    RECOMMENDED READING :

    Understand what your employers are thinking :

    Why Career Advice and Career Development is Key To Staff Retention

    Career Advice Part 1 – How To Brand Yourself 

    Career Advice Part 2 – How To Manage Your Personal Branding

    Career Advice | Personal Branding part 2 | How To Manage Your Personal Branding

    Posted on by

    Managing Your Career : Personal Branding Career Advice – Tips and Strategies by Tan Teck Kim

    << This is a continuation of the previous career counselling article on : Career Advice Part 1, part of the Interview of Tan Teck Kim with a leading Lifestyle Magazine, Glow >>

    4. How does appearance count towards presenting oneself and how can one ensure that they give off a good initial impression? 

    Career Advice and Career Counselling

    Pay Attention To The First Impressions You Convey!

    In many of my business presentations courses, I share with participants that the moment you stand up there – the audience will decide within 3-8 seconds whether to be interested in what you say.  It’s unfair and scary but the sooner we accept this truth, the more we realise we need to prepare for the correct first impressions.   It’s not just what you say – but how you say it, and how you look when saying it.

    Always have on hand the following :

    1. A 30 second elevator pitch of yourself to any business associate.  The pitch can be a summary of what you do, your achievements, the value you bring and what you are like.
      Career Advice on Elevator Speech

      Always Be READY with Your ELEVATOR SPEECH

      For eg, “My name is TK Tan and I specialise in helping my clients find NEW PERSPECTIVES in their career or problem situations.  I have 10 years of experience in managing clients service in banks and today I am a Coach and Trainer for quality career skills and customer service and experience.  The clients I have managed include large banks and corporates, as well as career minded individuals who want to be coached on career skills.“

    2. Decide what image you want to project and dress yourself according to the image you want to project.  Check yourself in the mirror before you leave home and in the washroom (if possible) of your meeting’s premises, before your actual meeting.  Ladies – avoid distracting sexy clothings in a formal business setting.  You might win the man for the moment but not the deal.
    3. Learn the importance of body language and firm and appropriate handshakes to demonstrate confidence, sincerity and interest to connect.  Don’t give a feather weight handshake or an earth shattering one.
    4. Learn to look at others in the eye to demonstrate interest.  Bear in mind : People like others who like them.
    5. Be genuine and enthusiastic.  People can detect fake behaviours easily.
    6. Finally – a very practical and useful tip : Find something about your audience or new client/boss that you like and focus on it.  If you like the person, it can be felt.  Likewise, if you dislike the person, it’s a lot harder for you to win your cause!
      IMPORTANT TIP :  
    FIND something about your audience or new client/boss that
     you LIKE and focus on it.  If you like the person, it can be felt and the feeling may be reciprocated!  

    5. Why is networking/image so important when it comes to marketing oneself and how to go about doing so?  

    career advice and career counselling

    Tap On The Power of Network

    Once upon a time, it was said that we are all related to each other by 6 degrees of separation – the beggar might be even related to the king through 5 parties or less.

    In today’s world where social media connects billions of people and everyday thousands of new users are added to Facebook, the human race is ever more connected than before.

    Major literature and evidence now suggest that in USA, people getting jobs through referrals are rising over the years and in fact now higher than through newspaper or formal applications.  This trend is catching on in Asia.  I believe at least 1 in 3 to 4 persons now get the job or the deal through networking or referrals.

    That’s the power of network – connectivity gets you somewhere you might want to go to one day.

    One’s image is a combination of one’s physical and media presence.

    As regards to physical presence, in many communication studies, it was demonstrated that it how one says the message and how one looks when saying the message contribute more to the overall impression of the audience, than the actual message.

    This means that your audience is more likely to believe what they SEE than what they hear from you.  .

     TIP : If  your image and body language contradict what
    you say verbally – your audience WILL BELIEVE the messages
    conveyed through the former – image and body language.

    So, if you want to persuade convincingly, or want to get that deal or job – make sure that your image and body language are in sync with your verbal content.  As for media presence – we will talk more about this subject in the weeks ahead, but for now, at least you must be ready to go digital with your media image.

    Career Advice and Career Counselling

    Your Image & Body Language Must Be In Sync

    6. How can one gain confidence over time and learn to present him/herself clearly and succinctly?

    Some believe that certain people are born confident and gifted speakers.  Do you know that Bill Clinton was not the born charismatic speaker everyone believes he is. He admitted in his autobiography that his first speech effort while in high school was ‘unremarkable.”  In one of his earlier political speeches in 1988 as governor of Arkansas, by the time he completed speaking, the audience was roaring their approval for him to go away. So we can all take comfort that confidence and ability to speak is something that can be nurtured, TRAINED and developed.  Key tips :

    1.  Learn the art of formulating key messages.  Whether you have 5 minutes or 5 hours to speak, decide in advance what your key messages are first, and then build content around them.  If you only have paragraphs of words – your key messages can easily be lost. Start with your topic and then key messages before building detailed content.
    2. Tap on the power of rehearsal and verbalisation.  Verbalisation is speaking aloud your key messages.  It is like exercising your mental muscles – just like your body muscles needing to be exercised before they get toned.  Likewise, you need to verbalise to get your brains to formulate your key messages and to sound natural.  Verbalisation is not memorisation of everything you want to say though.
    3. Practise the power of 3 – SIMPLICITY.  Human minds retain messages when messages are delivered in sets of 3.  Don’t have 11 or 20 points as chances are your audience won’t remember anyway.  Instead have 3 key messages, each with about 3 sub points.
    Career Advice and Personal Branding - Bill Clinton

    Naturally Charismatic Or Trained?

    Finally get trained or be coached like Bill Clinton obviously has.  Another great example of a confident and charismatic communicator is Cara Fiorina, the former CEO of HP, who was known to have gone to great lengths to hone her selling and presentation skills.  There are many coaches and trainers out there – find one that fits your learning style and preference.   I teach and coach groups and individuals to deliver their messages with confidence and impact.  Individuals who are totally shy have come to me for individual coaching before, on a one-to-one basis, and have been transformed when they realise what their strengths are.

     TIP : Confidence and Presentation Skills
    Can Be Trained and Developed.

     

    Look Out For Part 3 of Career Advice on Differentiating Yourself Through Your Branding

    RECOMMENDED READING :

    Understand what your employers are thinking :

    Why Career Advice and Career Development is Key To Staff Retention

    Career Advice Part 1 – How To Brand Yourself 

    Career Advice Part 3 : How To Differentiate Your Personal Branding

     

     

     

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