Communication Tips from Children

Are you afraid of public speaking? Don't be shy, you are not alone. Studies have shown that fear of public speaking ranks up there with the fear of death. Yes, that's d-e-a-t-h as in "end of life."

But is it really because we can't speak well or is our unwillingness to try the culprit? We did so well speaking in front of any audience when we were children. What happened now?

Whatever happened, it's time that we learn back from our children.

"We can learn a lot from a child", says Garr Raynolds, a well known writer on multimedia presentation skills. "Plenty of adults engage in childish behavior, but not enough adults allow themselves to truly become childlike and exhibit an approach and display behaviors that exemplify the very best of what being a child is all about."

Garr gives us 13 communication and life tips that we can learn from our children:

(1) Be completely present in the moment
(2) Allow for spontaneity
(3) Move your body!
(4) Play and be playful
(5 ) Make mistakes
(6) Do not concern yourself with impressing people
(7) Show your enthusiasm
(8) Remain open to possibilities and "crazy" ideas
(9) Be insanely curious, ask loads of question
(10) Know that you are a creative being
(11) Smile, laugh, enjoy
(12) Slow down
(13) Encourage others

I particularly like the 11th. Don't make your presentations boring. Kick them up a notch and may be you will get your point across.    

Which one do you like? 

Read the original article here.

Are you Auditing or Checking?

"It is prudent to have an occasional audit to everyone's expense accounts to be sure people are not unwittingly erring in reporting, or are up to date on tax regulations, or are properly coding re-billable expenses. But checking expense accounts is a waste of time. Checking expense accounts signals mistrust, or undermines trust. Having to check expense accounts means you have the wrong people" -- Jeffrey J. Fox

Know the difference between auditing and checking. Hire the right people and trust them.