Tag Archive for 'Skills'

Before you react use the “Full Force Five”

Published
by
Warwick
on December 17, 2009
in Skills
. 0 Comments

Full Force Five

What do you do when someone does something to annoy you?  Often it will be your reaction to their “annoyance” that will cause more conflict that the original “offense”.

If you are irritated by the environment or people around you, or react in a negative way (anger, frustration), try this simple technique: Full Force Five.

Before reacting to the situation, take a pen and quickly write down five things that are currently great about this situation. No matter how trivial the five things may seem, write them down.

Read through your list of five and then go back to the situation. You should feel a little more positive about it now. By inserting this “space” or “pause” before you allow yourself to response will help you stay more positive - and more importantly avoid taking on the negative energy that drains through your body every time you get irritated, frustrated and annoyed.

Are you stretching yourself?

Published
by
Warwick
on March 4, 2009
in Skills
. 2 Comments

Despite the growth of interactive and digital technology like the internet, mobile devices and gaming, TV broadcasts are still a powerful way to get your message across.

Although I haven’t actually watched TV since 2006, I am amazed at how many people do.  I have made TV appearances since 1997 as part of my role as a marketing director for an e-marketing firm, some dubious roles in sitcoms and variety shows in Mandarin and recently a talk show on humour.

ICS is one of China’s two English language stations and I appeared on a popular show, Culture Matters. The topic was humour and as I am the host for a stand up and improv night in Shanghai called Chopschticks, I was asked to come in and talk about humour for their 1 April 2009 show. It was an enjoyable experience and I picked up a couple of tips for stand up comedians I had not come across: Katt Williams and Steve Harvey. Katt Williams is hilarious.

With my coaches hat on, I asked myself what did I learn from this experience. A couple of areas came to mind:

Public speaking ability is a golden key to success

I noticed that I didn’t feel nervous at all during the filming and put this down to my public speaking experience. To my mind, the ability to express your thoughts and ideas is an essential vessel to reaching your potential. Your purpose in life is to be abundant and to share your talents with the world. The more people who get to hear about you, the more abundant you will be. Check out Toastmasters or see my new book and blog for The One Minute Presenter.

Turn every experience into a learning opportunity

While I was at the station, I talked with producer Graham Folkema and host Sammy Yang and picked up a few tips about the process of making the show. I noticed how they used the cameras to get different angles. And I enjoyed speaking on the topic of humour (which is very different from my usual coaching and corporate clients).

Choose action over inaction (fear)

When I was initially asked to appear on the program, my first reaction was to say, “No thanks”.  I thought about this for a while and realised that uncertainty and fear of the unknown is an every present force. The best way to lower this voice is through action. Take a chance. Use it as a learning opportunity.

If you need help with overcoming obstacles in your personal, career and business life, contact The Change Catalyst who can help you work through these issues in a practical and appropriate way.

It’s a small world, so be nice..!

Published
by
Warwick
on December 29, 2008
in Contribution and Skills
. 0 Comments

A network

I live in a city of 16 million people and I am amazed at what a small world it is. Just yesterday at a gathering for trainers and facilitators in Shanghai I bumped into a friend I had not seen for 8 years and last met in Taipei. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it seems to happen all the time. Let me share a recent example.

Last week, I was asked to evaluate a speech for one of my mentees, Cher, who I had not met for about six months. During a quick conversation as we caught up we found the following connections:

1. I had been a charity auctioneer for the British Chamber Charity Ball from which I was asked to host a similar event for SCAA from which I was asked to host one for Hands On Chengdu.

2. During the Hands On Chengdu event I met one of the organizers, Fang, who was a friend of Cher.

3. Fang’s husband works in the same company as Cher.

4. Another one of Cher’s colleague had just emailed me via the IAF web site on a question about facilitation.

Just for another connection during the event I met a young man who attended a university speech I gave four years ago on “Finding your Passion” - which he still remembered.

It was a good reminder than every little interaction affects so many connection now and in the future. We live in an interconnected world where six degrees of separation often seem to be just one or two degrees. The six degrees of separation started out to link every actor to Kevin Bacon through six or less degrees. One degree of separation are the people you know directly. Two degrees are the people who your friends know but you don’t know and so on.  Business networking sites like LinkedIN are built on this principle.

There are lots of books and sites on networking but here are a couple of my simple networking guidelines:

A. Be nice to people

If you assume that every single person you meet will play some important part in the success (or failure) of your future, how would you treat them?  Even if you only meet a person once, they still can affect your future by referring people to you, making connections and talking you up to their friends. Be nice. Treat everyone you meet like a long-lost buddy.

B. Pay-forward (not payback)

Instead of waiting for someone to help you, so you can then “pay them back”, why not pay-forward. Be proactive. What service and support can you offer your friends? How can you contribute more to the organisations you are a part of? The best way to build up a name for yourself is through step up and offering help to others.

As we move into the new year, we all set goals in health and wealth. How about setting a few goals under “contribution”. Choose areas that you are passionate in and have something to offer. You will be surprised to find that this selfless contribution accelerates yourself in other areas. People remember you more and in a better light. Be nice. Contribute.

Warwick’s publisher of his book The One Minute Presenter have pledged that for every copy sold, a book will be bought for The Library Project who install library in schools for orphans and under-priviledged children across China.