Politicians must be addicted to stress.  They must thrive on it!  How else could they possibly survive under the pressure?  From the moment they throw their cell phones into the ring, they’re under constant pressure to be innovative, adaptable, constantly aware, forever positive, amazingly unflappable, always energized, and inhumanly correct and clean-shaven 24/7!  They can’t afford to be thin-skinned (Ha! Ha!), unprepared, or easily discouraged.  Imagine a job description that includes “You’ll be performing on stage in front of large - occasionally hostile - crowds every day and judged - often unfairly - every night.  Everything you say or do for the foreseeable future will be on the record - whether you’re expressing frustration with a local reporter while talking on the phone with your mother or joking about your opponent’s dandruff with your campaign manager.”

My response?  No thanks, I’ll take my chances as a middle school teacher or high-rise construction worker.  Both scare me but at least they’re more respected by my friends and neighbors.

The truth is, we could all benefit from learning how to handle stress on the job.  Research has proven that stress - and how we handle it - has a direct impact on our personal health and happiness.  Well-conceived stress education programs often lead to greater productivity, fewer accidents, lower turnover, and more joy!  (Oops, got a little carried away there.  I’ll try to contain myself!))

So I’ve come up with a new offering for organizations based on years of developing and delivering seminars on stress, job burnout, and public speaking.  It’s called “Handling Stress Like a Pro - Lessons from Politics and the Podium.”  In this program I am able to demonstrate how many of the fundamental best practices of politicians and professional speakers can benefit everyone in the business of earning a living and making a life.

Here’s my claim: All politicians and speakers speak., right?  They’re constantly on the go.  They’re constantly being scrutinized and criticized for everything they believe, say or do!  These are the classic sources of stress in modern-day life: public speaking, job performance, taking a stand, and taking on too much.  (There are many others, of course.  Let’s not quibble.  It just stresses me out!)

Whether you’re on a quest to improve your communiction skills in front of an audience or your coping skills on the job, how you handle stress is a critical success factor for both.  Click or call to discuss what we can do for your team of professionals in this highly stressful, occasionally toxic, and always challenging business environment.

Take a breath.  Whew!  Now give me a call BEFORE you check your portfolio!

“Cut!”  Back in the days when I produced film and video programs, that cry was heard many times throughout the day when a take was successfully recorded or when there was a screw-up in the middle of the take requiring a ”Take 2″ (or 3 or 10 or 11!).

In today’s business environment upper management has been yelling “Cut” more often as budgets are continually being trimmed in an attempt to preserve profits in the face of economic downturn.

So how do you choose?  What stays funded and what gets cancelled or postponed?  Well, training, of course!  We always look at training as a “nice to have” vs. “need to have,” right?  But is that the most strategic response?  Like most issues, it depends.

Let’s consider one commonly identified business goal: effective business presentations.  When times are tough and the competition is getting tougher, more effective business presentations can make all the difference in landing that new client, getting buy-in from the board of directors, or motivating employees.  Presentation skills training not only leads to greater understanding and trust, the results can be immediate.  That’s critical when you’re working overtime to avoid business losses now - this quarter, this year. 

And think of what mastering a valuable skill set like public speaking can do for your team’s attitude.  Never discount how important it is for employees to maintain a positive attitude when everywhere you turn the news is negative.  Suddenly your team, your organization has another business-building way to stand out from the crowd! 

Show me anywhere else in this crazy economy where investing makes so much sense!  Effective communication skills - now more than ever!

Can you feel it?  Is your hand poised over the panic button while beads of sweat begin to form on your furrowed brow?    Have you noticed you can’t stay focused on anything for more than a few seconds at a time?  Was it you who just asked your boss to repeat what he anxiously just aked you to do?  And why is nothing tasting or smelling good to you the last few days?  Sounds like stress toxins are flowing full tilt throughout your body!  Is fear at the front desk registering for an extended stay? 

What’s going on?  Well, it might have something to do with the future.  You know - the one you learned to control/affect with a few well-timed screams while still in diapers - the one you’ve been planning and working and hoping for since you gave up beer pong as your favorite college weekend sport?  Need I remind you that human beings - at least those of us of the American variety - have developed a nasty habit of wanting and expecting to control everything in our lives, especially when it comes to “future.” 

Then along comes something like the demise of our largest, most sacred financial institutions coupled with a complete meltdown of the system that sustains nearly all small and large business activity and all our hopes and dreams appear have been extinguished - in a matter of just a few days.

Mom!  Please, wake me up!  I’m having a bad dream!

Do I have any advice for you in these troubled times?  Is there a way to minimize the negative impact?  I’m glad you asked!  This is the perfect way for me to remind me what works and what I need to do.  It’s kind of like sitting on the chair and lying on the couch at the same time. 

The first step is acceptance.  It’s harmful both short-term and long-term to tense up and resist what is happening, what is so.  I’m not talking about endorsing or approving of the situation.  Regardless of who or how it was created, this crisis is here.    Embrace - accept - that fact so we can begin to move beyond it.

Secondly, study it so as to fully understand your options.  Ask questions.  Resist running in the opposite direction.  Resist formulating an opinion.  You’ll end up spending way too much time and energy on defending an ill-informed point of view.  Knowledge combined with acceptance is power. 

Next, get moving quickly on a solution or series of actions tied to your personal goals.  Don’t wait for a perfect plan.  It’s more important to feel like you’re doing something constructive.  Mid-course corrections are key to getting where you want to go. 

Embrace the present!  We may be in for a rocky journey, but life is always about now.  Don’t miss out on the process, the now moments vs. praying on a big pay-off at the end.   

Finally, give - unconditionally - to others.  Don’t wait for the right time, the right circumstances, or the right recipient.  Lots of people need your help.  Giving is the fastest, most effective way I know to appreciate having without wanting more.    

“Thanks, Steve!  I needed that!” declared Steve.

This blog entry was hastily put together.  I welcome your comments.

What constitutes a good question?  Do you know how to ask such a question?  What does knowing how to ask a good question do for you?

An employee, volunteer, family member, or potential customer likes to be asked a question.  It’s an indication of genuine interest.  A good question says to the recipient:  “You matter.”  A good question leads to better understanding which leads to greater trust which leads to greater cooperation.

I don’t hear very many good questions.  On top of that, there’s often no real interest in my answer.  The person doing the asking simply wants to make a point.  He has an opinion and is manipulating the conversation so he can express it.  Politicians have turned this into an art form.

Let’s assume you have a good question and you’re genuinely interested in the answer.  The challenge is to ask the question so as to demonstrate that level of interest.  Right away I can think of three choices that would help do that.

The first is patience.  A good question need not be put into competition with the issue or point currently being discussed.  Wait until some sort of resolution has been achieved.  As the dust settles, make it known that you have a question.  If someone else jumps in before you, take a breath, stay engaged, and practice a little more patience.

A second choice is attitude.  Don’t have one when asking a question.  Stay neutral to insure a more open – therefore useful – response.

And speaking of open, when you ask your question, keep the door “open” long enough to allow the person to fully answer the question.  Don’t slam the door with a comment the moment you think she’s finished.  Pause for a second.  Stay connected with your eyes and nod slightly.  These are all cues that you got it.

Not only was that person allowed to make a meaningful contribution, she is going to feel encouraged to continue participating.  Now you’ve got something going that matters.  I think the word is dialogue.  It may feel a little strange or new or unusual.  But you’ll get used to it.

Why Do We Use Visuals?

• Emphasis or to Highlight
• Clarity
• Comparison/Contrast (last year vs. this year, for example)
• Illustrating Process (Like a flow chart: this affects this which will result in this, etc.)
• Variety
• When we need to be visual (Show the vacation villa vs. describe it)

Secondary Reasons (not very good ones)

• Part of the culture (Everybody does PowerPoint!)
• Appearances – looks professional and you appear prepared
• Keeps the presenter on track (What’s wrong with using notes? – Just don’t stay buried in them!)
• Smitten by the technology (gotta have the latest and greatest)

The Best Reason…

Because the audience needs it!

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