Network Without Networking

Recently I taught a networking class. I asked the question “Where can you network that really isn’t a networking group or event”? The class was confused by my question. The answer is anywhere and everywhere!

At networking events, people are sometimes hesitant to talk to others. If you are in a more casual setting, a conversation is easier to start, and you can gather more information. If the person already knows you or sees you frequently, you are half way there to having a great networking connection.

I could tell my class was still skeptical, so I asked them to brainstorm some ideas. The list was so long I was running out of white board space to list all the ideas.

I always suggest joining groups with likeminded people, it’s easier to forge a relationship without the stress of “networking”. Do you like to read? Join a book club and meet people while discussing the book. Enjoy golf? Join a new golf league and just watch all the new people you meet. Do you belong to an organization, play bingo, attend a child’s sporting event? The possibilities are endless!

Try unconventional networking. Chances are there will be people you see on a regular basis that may want to get to know you better as well. 

 
Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Don’t forget to check out my limited time free online masterclass: Present like a Pro: Keep your Audience Engaged from Start to Finish. Visit my website for details and to register at
https://www.dgtrainingsolutionsinc.com/products/

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

 
Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Freshen Up Your Social Media

Autumn is here and before you realize it, the new year will be here! Now is a great time to update your social media profiles and freshen them up for 2019.

Each social media platform could have its own blog because there is so much to talk about. Today I just want to focus on LinkedIn.

If something happened and you lost your employment, would your LinkedIn profile be ready to go and get you the job you want? Is your information current? Do you keep adding to your connections? Was your photo taken within the last two years? Did you add all your accomplishments or any new skills you learned?

If you answered no to any of these questions, it is time to freshen up that profile. I know you are thinking it is too much work, too much time, and you don’t want the hassle. But what if you lost your job today? With everything you would need to focus on tomorrow such as signing up for unemployment, working on your resume, recalculating your budget, start calling your connections, why add updating your LinkedIn to your to do list?

The best way to keep your profile updated is to look at it monthly and add new things as they occur. Here are a few tips to get you started:

1.   Make sure you have an updated professional looking picture

2.   Add your current job and responsibilities

3.   Change your heading to something catchy such as experienced ____ or proven ______

4.   Keep adding connections and follow up with the important ones whenever you receive a notification that they have a work anniversary, birthday, or new status

5.   Continuously add your new skills and any achievements

These five things should not take very long, and your profile will be ready for 2019. Don’t forget to look at other profiles in any associations you belong to and your other social media platforms. A few minutes today will save you time in the future.

Don’t forget to check out my limited time free online masterclass: Present like a Pro: Keep your Audience Engaged from Start to Finish. Visit my website for details and to register at https://www.dgtrainingsolutionsinc.com

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Death by PowerPoint, Oh It’s Real!

Death by PowerPoint, oh yes, it is a real thing and not as uncommon as you would think. It happens. While you are reading this blog, somewhere someone is dying while sitting through a PowerPoint presentation. Okay, they may not be literally dying, but figuratively they are. This is such an issue you can find books all over Amazon describing how it happens and how to stop it.

Speakers need to realize, if you use PowerPoint slides, the slides are for your audience not you. They are not to be used to remind you of what you are going to say. The slides should provide additional information to the audience. Additional information, not you reading the bullet points for them. If you are using bullet points, remember these things: one, the audience is reading ahead of what you are saying, two, they are not focusing on you. If you want your presentation to be successful, you do not want either of these things to happen.

If you ask me if I still use bullet points in my presentations, I would say yes occasionally. I do have a number of corporate clients that expect this when I am speaking in a staff meeting to their employees. You have to give the clients what they want but I always try to add other things in my slides such as pictures, cartoons or quotes to break up the slides. Adding these “non-bullet point slides” also makes my presentations more memorable.  At times you may want your audience to feel some type of emotion: sad, happy, outraged, etc. A picture is worth a thousand words, this saying has been around a long time for a reason.

Consider adding media clips to your presentations, pictures, even personal pictures if they fit your theme of the presentation. Your audience will appreciate it and they will be more engaged. The audience will look at the slide then turn their attention back to you, the speaker.

Until the next blog or video blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Answer a Question? That’s a Good Question.

One of the most popular questions I get asked about presenting pertains to…questions. Seriously, the questions range from how do you handle questions during your presentation, do you even take questions, or do you wait until the end to answer them.

The answer depends on the situation. If I am doing a training and it is several hours long, I will stop to answer questions as they come up. My main goal is to ensure the audience leaves with an understanding of the material, that is why the company paid me to be there.

If I am doing a presentation that is short, under an hour, I usually take questions at the end. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. While going over the agenda at the beginning of the presentation I may say, “In order to cover all the material I am asking you to jot down your questions and I will answer them at the end”. 

If I am delivering a speech which is more motivational or inspirational than informative, questions from the audience should not be an issue. Although I will try to answer as many questions as I can at the end of all my presentations.

Another tip would be to incorporate some of the frequently asked questions into your presentations. It becomes tricky to answer questions during your presentations. Sometimes a question will take you away from where you want to be in your talk. At times, the question will spark the other attendees to ask a question unrelated to your presentation but related to the question that took you off topic. Once a question is asked, others may feel they want to ask questions at that moment. This may cause you to run out of time.

To take a question or not? That is a good question. What are your thoughts on questions?


Until the next blog or video blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Your Introduction is Key

Your Introduction is Key!

You’re ready to step on the stage in the front of the room and begin your presentation. You may be the last speaker of the day, and the audience is tired. You take a few breaths as your introduction is being read.

Don’t underestimate the importance of a good introduction. A great introduction will excite the audience and cause them to look forward to your talk. While you need to show credibility in your introduction, there are ways to do this without your intro reading like a resume or laundry list of all your accomplishments.

Here is a quick example. Denise Galloni is the owner of DG Training Solutions Inc. and has been in business for four years. She has delivered over 500 career presentations and is the creator, producer and host of a TV show called Empowering Women. Okay, while this intro does give me credibility, is it really that exciting? Will the audience be excited to hear what I have to say as soon as I walk out on the stage?

Let’s use the same biographical information and add to it and make it memorable while still providing credibility.

Voted the quietest girl in her senior class, Denise never had much to say. Today she will tell us how she went from that young quiet girl to starting her own business four years ago called DG Training Solutions Inc. She is the creator, producer and host of a monthly TV show called Empowering Women and has delivered over 500 career presentations.

Basically, both intros have the same information. Which one sounds more intriguing to you? Did I have the same credibility in both? Which one make you want to hear what I have to say?

Tailor your introduction to the audience you are speaking to. Always give the person introducing you your typed introduction. Ask your introducer to read it as written because you will refer to it in your presentation. You can even add some details about your presentation or questions for the audience.

These tips will have the audience anticipating your presentation before you even open your mouth.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Would you prefer Handouts or Slides?

It never fails, when I do a presentation someone in the audience asks me for a copy of my slide deck. Does this happen to you?

Most of the time I do not give out my slides. There are a few reasons why. Reason #1, I prefer to give out handouts with the important material on the pages. Sometimes if it is a long presentation and people want the slides, it is too many pages to give out at the event. Reason #2, even if I print them out and email to the attendees afterwards, they may not know or remember what the slide signifies. I try to use less words but more pictures or symbols to achieve my message. Unless I am explaining why they are there, someone will not understand my intent. And reason #3, the slides are my intellectual property that I designed and created. I don't want to share them and have someone share them as their own.

For the reasons above, this is why I rarely provide my slides to an audience. Handouts or slides, which if any do you give out?

Until the next blog or vlog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Narrow Down Your Topic

Last month I wrote about making sure you know exactly how long you will be speaking when doing a presentation. I also explained why you should have extra information if your time is extended or how to cut out information if your time runs out.

If you are preparing to speak, you most likely already have your topic. Hopefully it is a topic you know a lot about. Here lies the problem, how much information do you provide to the audience? Sometimes we want to give so much value we overwhelm the audience or confuse them with too many details. How do you narrow down all the information you know about the subject to fit into those time limits?

In most cases, you should be able to pick three main points and build your presentation from there. You can add as much detail as your audience needs or time allows. Choosing only three main points allows you to tell the audience during your introduction what they will hear. An example would be "Today I am going to tell you how to prepare a room to paint, pick a color for the walls, and the most efficient way to get the room painted". The audience knows in advance what they will learn.

Once you have your main points, you can add the details. In our example, the first main point would be preparing the room.  You can then add any supporting information such as supplies you will need, how to properly prepare, why it is so important, etc. You would continue with each point and keep building on those main points. How much detail do you need? It really depends how on how much you want to add to your presentation to fill the time and educate your audience.

Next month I will give you suggestions to polish your presentation.


Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise

Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President

DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com

Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube – Empowering Women TV Show:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkS-fsSVzGlE5SI_yg3I8ZAGn3GB4DglO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc

LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni

Blog:  http://DGTrainingsolutionsinc.blogspot.com

Timing is Everything

You have been asked to give a presentation. You are excited because you have so much information to share. This is a big moment for you. Then the thought enters your mind, how do I narrow this down?

Before you start working on your presentation, here are a few tips to keep you from stressing out the day of the event. First, make sure you ask how long you will have to speak. Have them be specific about the layout of the program.  People may say the presentation is an hour, but often they conduct some business before you speak, wait until most people have arrived, give a longer introduction or want to have time to wrap up the event. After all this is done, your speaking time may be forty-five minutes. Fifteen minutes may not sound like a big deal, but if you timed your presentation for sixty minutes and after forty minutes you are getting the sign to wrap it up, it is very stressful, and the audience will see you struggling.

Have you ever been listening to a speaker and they fast forward through the end of the presentation and you can’t even keep up? Guess what happened? They either ran out of time, or thought they had more time to speak.

Since we are talking about timing, after your presentation is written, practice your timing so you can fit your presentation into the allotted time you have to speak. Go slowly when practicing and allow time for laughter (if your presentation is humorous), questions, etc. You can fill time easier at the end than struggling to get all your information in before you run out of time. Remember if you tell them you are going to tell them something, you better have time to tell them. If you are a few minutes early, it shouldn’t be a problem. Overtime, big problem and the audience will let you know by their body language.

Only after you have all the details of the presentation, can you start to prepare your presentation. Tips on narrowing your topic and planning your presentation will be next month.

Until the next blog, Keep Speaking!

Denise
Denise Ann Galloni, Owner & President
DG Training Solutions, Inc.

Website:  https://www.DGTrainingsolutionsinc.com
Email:  dgtrainingsolutionsinc@gmail.com

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc7d1KUEIqZTUBlSzMSm9eA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/deniseanng
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DGTrainingSolutionsInc
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/deniseanngalloni