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5 Tips to Develop Confidence in English & Communication

How To Make Your Day Productive

It is said that "WORK IS WORSHIP". We all are involved in some activity or the other. We all get the same number of hours to do our work. Yet, we have different results. Many people do their work aimlessly, having no purpose and planning. At the end of the day, they do not have the desired results. 

Given below are some tips which can help in improving productivity:

• Planning: Generally people prepare a plan for the day in the morning. But it is advisable that you plan your next day’s work in advance before going to bed the previous night. This gives you an edge. It saves a lot of time. You can also do the more important tasks first rather than wasting time on doing the less important ones.
• Upgrading: Many people know, it helps to sharpen your axe from time to time. Keep upgrading yourself in every possible way. It is necessary that day by day we improve ourselves to increase productivity.
• Time Management: Proper time management improves your productivity. Therefore prioritize your work and do not waste your previous time in non-productive activities. Giving value to your time adds value to your work.
• Learn From Mistakes: Be quick to learn from mistakes and do not repeat them. Carelessness and ignorance can lead to wastage of previous time and can keep you busy with no productivity.
• Attain Balance: Live a life of balance. There are seven important areas in our life. For long lasting and true success, devote equal time to your health, family, wealth, intellect, society, spiritualism and religion. Have a holistic approach.
• Be Neat: De clutter your work station. It does save a lot of time!
• Be Organized: File important papers separately and be meticulous. Waste papers should be discarded in the bin. All this saves energy which can be used to produce more work.
• Be Result-Oriented: Spend your time only in qualitative work whether it is in your personal life or professional life.
• Sleep: Though it is the simplest, it is also very important that you get enough sleep and rest during the dry. Never compromise on sleep because in the long run it can affect your productivity drastically. Sleep deprivation can cause lack of enthusiasm.
• Relax: Learn to relax and rejuvenate yourself. Take a break from time to time, especially the meal break is very important. Never compromise on that. People, who feel that skipping their meals to do some work is a great idea, often feel exhausted very soon. Therefore do not commit their blunder. You definitely need proper meals to recharge your batteries.

Thus planning and organizing your work enables you to get better results and in the end leaves you satisfied. This way you don’t feel stressed and you can enjoy a peaceful sleep.

Importance Of Positive Thinking

There is a saying that “Every cloud has a silver lining”. Positive attitude is when you are able to see that silver lining. It is our outlook towards life. When a person is able to see the brighter side of things, he is said to have a Positive Attitude. Such people are certainly more content than the rest of the people as they focus more on the good even in adverse conditions. They treat obstacles as opportunities. Positive attitude is also the key to success in life.

Positive thinkers are always upbeat. They find happiness in whatever they do. As a result negative energies do not affect them. Those who have a positive state of mind usually prove motivating to others in society. They love to see their near and dear ones prosper.

Positive thinkers are the ones who have understood very early in life that problems are a part of life and it is better to focus on the solution. They never cringe about a situation. Instead they go through the struggle without complaining and always remain hopeful that something good will come out of the difficult situations.

7 WAYS TO BE POSITIVE:

1.  At first, you need to make a choice. Once you make a choice about changing your attitude for the good, then there’s no looking back. Your determination can help you in being a positive thinker.
2. Many great positive thinkers have quoted about attitude. One can read those quotes and get inspired. There are many books and tapes available in the market on ATTITUDE DEVELOPMENT. One can also attend Personality Development workshops for the same.
3. A sure-shot way to feel good and positive is to help others in their growth. Your success lies in their success.
4. Knowledge grows with sharing. So never keep it to yourself. Go ahead and share your knowledge with others. It gives immense satisfaction to see others grow due to your sharing knowledge with them.
5. Writing your goals also helps us to focus on the positive things on life.
6. Staying with Negative thinkers can have a bad influence on us. Therefore one must avoid such company.
7. People who think Positive are always welcome wherever they go. They are respected by others. You can count on such people in time of distress. Positive thinkers always stand by you, providing moral support.
   Even if you have a negative attitude, you can surely change it to a positive one with your determination. Finally, remember that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR THE BEST. 

Always Keep Your Sunny Side Up.

Listening Skills - Importance of Listening

It is more important to listen well rather than speak. By simply speaking one never communicates. It is only when one listens that the transaction is complete. Listening is not nearly hearing a set of sounds. Effective listening is when you not only hear but clearly understand what is being spoken. This is effective communication.

Listening is an art in which we must fully participate with our body, mind and soul. Like any other skill you can learn to listen. Speaking less and listening more is the quality which people find desirable.

Tips for Effective Listening: Hearing only means that you are aware of the sounds made by other person. Listening means that you only hear the sounds but also clearly understand the meaning of what is said.

Five basic tips to be a good listener:

1. Pay Attention: You must respect others than only you will pay attention to what they have to say. Look directly at others without being distracted, looking at your watch or speaking on your cell phone.
2. Do not Interrupt: No one like to be interrupted while speaking. Allowing the speaker to complete what he has to say will show that you are interested in it.
3. Do not let your mind Wander: If you are thinking of something else when the speaker is speaking you are nearly hearing but not listening.
4. Clarify: Requesting a speaker to clarify demonstrates your interest in what he is saying. It also helps to clearly understand the subject and remember the points made.
5. Do not jump to Conclusion: Nothing is more disturbing a speaker than someone leaping to conclusion before he has completed his speech.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Definition of Stress: Stress is the change in human behavior caused by situations & circumstances around us which affect us mentally, physically & emotionally. Stress can have both good and bad effect on our behavior. Stress can be an impetus for positive action for a desired result. At the other extreme, stress can create anger, feeling of inadequacy, lack of faith in others, depression etc. which causes actual physical problems in the form of headaches, stomach upset, sleepless, high blood pressure, cardiac problems, stroke etc. Normally the loss of spouse or close relative, delivery of child, friction in relationships, a job promotion etc causes stress. Stress can also be caused when you are joining or leaving a job, interviews at the time of annual appraisal by your boss, pressure at work, the desire to conform with friends and colleagues, relocation out of town, salary can be either positive or negative.

Stress is Relative: The identical situation may or may not be stressful to different persons. Though two persons may be working in the same organization, under the same boss, with identical designations, one may feel stressed while the other may actual enjoy his job. Stress if therefore relative.  Similarly, there is no one uniform solution to stress. It will differ from person to person depending upon the nature and qualities of that person. Lots of things cause stress at work. Deadlines, competition and friction at work lead to anger, anxiety and sadness but the stress level is never constant but keeps varying.

Stress Management: To cope with stress and may be get rid of it, you first need to understand the cause of stress.

• Neglect stress at your peril. Tackle it, lead on by finding out what causes you stress.
• If you can identify what causes you stress may be you can avoid such a situation the next time. 
• Impersonally analyze the effect of stress upon your physical & mental state. 
• Ask yourself whether you can avoid situations and circumstances which trigger stress? 
• If stress simply cannot be avoided, ask yourself, whether you can limit the period you are exposed to stress? 
• One way to reduce stress is simply to take a break when you are stressed. Stretch your legs. Go for a walk. Take a vacation. 
• Stress Management techniques should effectively put you on top of situations which you previously feared or were anxious about. 
• Understand that it is simply impossible to please everyone in life. So do not doubt yourself at the first sign of disapproved or criticism. 
• You can reduce stress by refusing to treat every matter as urgent or critical. 
• Stress is a good servant but a bad master. Do not allow stress to dominate you. Think of ways in which you can harness stress to get things done. 
• If you are stressed you tend to become emotional. It also works the other way round. If you can control emotions or find a safe outlet (like exercise, for example) you can control stress. 
• When stressed your heart beat start racing in readiness to cope with the threat. Bring it down through deep breathing. 
• Monitor your physical parameters with regular check-ups by our doctor and keep blood pressure under control to ensure that your body doesn’t take a beating. 
• But remember that addiction to medicines as a way to control stress can actually lead to more stress. 
• Natural and common sense ways of controlling stress are best. 
• Exercises which are good for the heart are also good for relieving stress. 
• If you have your weight under control, it is likely that you have stress under control. 
• Give yourself the 8 hours or whatever you require to really feel rested. Sleep like a child and you can deal much better with stress at work.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Public relations refers to a systematic and organized way of creating good will and understanding between and an organization, its stake-holders and the general public. Thus it will include customers, suppliers, share holders employees, banks, government departments and the media.

What is Public Relations?

Public relation is a formal way of maintaining good relations with all concerned in a systematic manner.

1. Public relations now-a-days is not confined to the print media. Television and the internet have become a very important means of communication used by public relations professionals.
2. Public relations focus on timely and creative communication of information to both stake-holders and general public.

Importance of Public Relations: Public relation is important because:

1. It makes an organization well known to the general public.
2. It helps in creating good will for the organization.
3. It helps to inform stake holders and the public in a timely manner.
4. It allows an organization to extend the area of its reach.
5. Through positive and negative feedback it helps an organization to understand its customer’s better.
6. Through modern means of communication an organization can reach out to global markets.
7. Feedback helps an organization to know levels of customer satisfaction and their expectation in future.

What is LEADERSHIP?

Leadership is the ability possessed by some persons to motivate, guide & lead others. Those who are lead may have hidden abilities and potential which can only be realized under able leadership. This is similar to a child having the ability to sit, move, speak or walk but requiring someone to guide or lead him.

True leadership is helping people to achieve their full potential by giving them a purpose & direction.

The qualities of a Good Leader are:

1. Natural Ability: Some people are born leaders with a burning desire to forge a different path.
2. An example to follow: Good Leaders set great examples for others to follow.
3. Good leaders are good listeners: A good leader is not ashamed to seek suggestions from the people whom he leads. It improves participation and productivity.
4. Constant Improvement: Leadership qualities need constant refinements. A fine leader is always in the making.
5. Be one with the team: A leader should never stand aloof from his men. Encouraging those who come out with positive suggestions boosts their morale.
6. Encourage education & training: It is a truism that learning never ends. Constant education and training helps people to contribute to better team performance.
7. Never hide your mistakes: Only those who act can commit mistakes. The team greatly admires a leader who accepts his mistakes as a mark of true courage.
8. Tackle the bad apple: Do not allow a problem creator to get away. Tackle him immediately and firmly.
9. Celebrate each other’s success: Team members must be trained to appreciate and acknowledge each other’s achievement. Crab mentality where each pulls the other down must be avoided at all cost.
10. Motivation: An important way to motivate your team is to hold functions, give awards and generally recognize achievements of the team.
11. Awake abilities: A good leader conducts contests and competitions to bring out the latest talents and abilities of the team.
12. Expose: A good leader gives his team maximum exposure so that they gain experience and knowledge in all kinds of situations.

How to go about DECISION MAKING?

Decisions are central to our lives & professions. Decision making is crucial at almost every stages of management while there may be 100 routine decisions; there are also some critical decisions in an organization which place a big burden on the decision maker who shoulders the blame if the results are not as expected. Is there a method to decision making? How does one make a choice between multiple options and how does one deal with the decision that gives bad result?

It is almost impossible not to be confused & stressed while taking critical decisions. It requires both bravery and stamina for the decision maker to decide in the first place and then shoulder the responsibility decision. No wonder such persons are welcome in most organizations. Such a person must be positive & cool in dealing with the uncertainties surrounding decision making. No decision maker can be right all the time but he must certainly have the ability to take a gusty call.

Why is decision making so difficult?Critical decisions cannot be changed later and consequences both good & bad arise. One bad call will result in condemnation of the decision maker which is why such decisions are critical.
In this case of a critical decision the entire focus is on the decision-maker. In case he makes a wrong decision he will never be allowed to forget all his life.

Critical decisions can make you famous or dubbed a fool. Fear of failure is what puts great pressure on decision-maker leading to uncertainty and consequent mental distress.

8 Easy steps to decision making:-

1. A decision is something like the toss of the coin. One must be prepared for either heads or tails. But one must always back one’s decision. Have the right mental frame.
2. Having assessed the situation to the best of the ability take your decision in positive spirit and chances are likely that you will succeed.
3. There is no way that you can be 100% right in every decision you make. The simple solution is to openly accept when you are wrong and go on with your life.
4. Procrastination is the greatest enemy of decision making. It is worse than a failure due to bad decision and can destroy your reputation.
5. You may depend on your own knowledge and experience or you may ask those you may trust. But remember when you finally take the decision, the buck stops with you.
6. Remember large decisions are frightening because they are complex. If you take the decision one step at a time what is complex may now become simple.
7. One simple trick to decision making is to list them and dispose them according to priority.
8. If the same technique or the same logic applies to all decision making it would be wonderful. But each decision comes with its own baggage and requires a different template for its solution.

How Good Are You At Setting Goals?

Everyone wants to be successful in life. But you can measure success only if you have a goal. No football match can be played without having a goal post. In the same way there can be no success in one’s career without a clear goal. There are systematic steps to goal-setting as given below:

The SMART way to set goal. Five easy steps to set goals:

1. S – Specific: General goals are no good; Goals must be specific and clear. For e.g.  Just wanting to look presentable is not a clear goal. However, “Achieving the ideal weight can be a definite goal”
2. M – Measurable: A goal which cannot be measured is not a true goal. For e.g.  A goal of losing weight is too vague. But losing “15 Kgs.” is a clearly measurable goal.
3. A – Achievable: It should be an attainable goal. To dream of losing 60 kg weight at the age of 20 years when you totally weigh 130 Kgs is thoroughly unattainable.
4. R – Realistic: It should be feasible to attain the goal. There is no point in setting goals which are simply outside one’s abilities.
5. T- Time bound: A goal without time limit is no goal at all. Every goal should have a commencement and a completion time. For e.g. If we commence weight loss exercise today, we can set ninety days as completion time for losing 15 kgs.

So whether it is your career, job, profession or business. Remember there is a smart way of setting goals. And finally, big goals lead to big success.

Financial Planning: Real Financial Advice for Real People

Whatever you do in life, whether you are a Businessman or a salaried employee, you are interested in earning a good income to keep up your standard of living. This requires that you keep checking different parameters such as source of income, liabilities and net worth. Financial planning is the systematic manner by which we control and manage the above parameters with the view to increasing one’s net worth.

Given below are simple tips on Financial planning which will really make your money work for you..

1. A penny saved is a penny earned.
2. Just keeping a record of your expenses will magically reduce them.
3. A credit card is a good servant but a bad master. Never use it for impulse purchases but only in a crisis situation.
4. A budget makes senses only when you stick to it. It is a very important tool in financial planning. Remember if you do not stick to your budget, money will not stick to you.
5. The first rule in investment is earning safety of your money. High returns from fly-by-night operators is best caution, choose caution.
6. The simple goal to save an “x” amount of money every month makes sense. Each addition to your savings gives you a big kick so keep up the monthly savings habit.
7. Remember savings can come only by reducing expenses. For eg. Your car could be guzzling fuel or your electric bills may be shooting up or you may be spending too much on unnecessary clothes. But these are the areas of potential savings if you can cut down on your expenditure.
8. Meticulous records of liabilities can end up saving the whole lot of money spent as delayed payment charges. Paying insurance premiums and credit card bills on time, filing income tax returns on due dates etc. will save a good chunk of hard cash.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

People who are good public speakers always have an edge over others who do not know the art of public speaking. If you want to master the art of public speaking then correct training & technique are a must. Preparation and practice alone can help you overcome the fear of facing a large audience. Below are some tips on mastering this art and becoming professional public speakers.

1. It is commonly observed that when a person is about to enter the stage to address a large audience, his heart starts beating frantically, some even develop cold feet. People often s experience a nervous feeling like butterflies in stomach. The main cause of such a feeling is often the pressure to do well. This is the time to take deep breathes, relax, move slowly towards the stage & begin the speaking. The fact that these are the initial jitters experienced by many and it is quite natural, should help you keep relax.
2. Your actions speak louder than words. Correct posture reflects great confidence. Your posture should be relaxed with one foot little forward.
3. Unnecessary gestures can leave a bad impression. Gestures should be in co-ordination with the topic.
4. Eye contact is another important factor which radiates confidence and helps to build a rapport with the audience. Make sure to maintain eye contact with each and every person in the audience. Do not make the mistake of looking up at the ceiling or down at the floor.
5. Focus on word-stress, as emphasis on the wrong word can give different messages to people.
6. Taking a pause is equally important while maintaining a good flow of speech. A good rule is to take a pause of 2 seconds after a coma & 4 seconds after a full stop.
7. A good voice level ensures that your voice reaches people sitting at the back. Also it radiates your confidence as a speaker. Your volume speaks volumes about you.

There are many course conducted on Public Speaking. These courses & books related to public speaking can be very useful in overcoming any fear. Convey enthusiasm through your body language & speech and you’ll surely win over your audience.

CHANGING YOUR CAREER

Switching over to a different career is a crucial decision. There are a lot of uncertainties involved in it. There are chances of success as well as failure. This decision can be a turning point in one’s life. One must weigh the pros and cons carefully. If the current career is not working for you at all then changing a career becomes inevitable. Let us see what steps can be taken to ensure a smooth transition.

•  Plan: in order to ensure that you face as few hurdles as possible during your career change you need to plan well in advance. It is possible that your new career may not give you profits for the first few months. In such a scenario how will you survive? Take into account your monthly expenses and also ways to meet your expenditure till you start getting money out of your new career. Get information about any skills that you need to acquire for your new career. Evaluate the growth prospects in that career and study the market trends.
• Inspiration: During this phrase it is also essential keep yourself motivated. Keep yourself surrounded by as much positivity as possible. One good way is to read the success stories of achievers, especially those who dared to change their careers. It will definitely keep your motivation level high. You also need to interact with the right kind of people who can guide you regarding your new career. You can benefit by listening to their experience and considering their advice.
• Evaluate your Skills: Skills never go waste. The skills that you already possess can be an added advantage in your new career. So assess your skills and try to make maximum use of your acquired skills.
• Introspection: This is the time to introspect. Think over it many times before taking this important decision. Make sure that it is not a hasty decision and that the timing is right.
• Act wisely: Begin by taking small steps. You can look out for some part time jobs first while keeping your present career. It would be better if you don’t jump directly to the new career. Part time or weekend jobs related to your new career can help to make you comfortable and build your confidence before taking the giant leap.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR CAREER

Different people have different perception about a fulfilling and successful career. To many, a successful career would mean a good pay package, to others it can mean the work which gives them job satisfaction and some will consider both equally important. The perception generally changes with age and position. Ideally a good career would be the one that you build with planning, taking into consideration your interest and aptitude.

One can, infact, build the right career with proper planning. There are three steps to follow:

• Step 1: To begin with one needs to some soul searching. Spend some time with yourself and think that work which you would enjoy doing again and again and never get tired off. See what is your passion. See what it is that you always dreamt of doing. This introspection will provide you with answers. Then move on to the next step.

• Step 2: After dream comes action .Once you have chosen the career, you need to check whether you have the skills and qualifications needed for it. If not then check how they can be acquired. Also do self-analysis. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. It is very important that your skills match the career that you have chosen.  For example; if a person has chosen Graphic Designing as a career option and he also has a genuine interest in art and a good hand at sketching then definitely it is a smart decision. Now think of a person who has poor communication skills and he lands up in the field of marketing, he is definitely going to have a tough time. He either needs to enhance and work a lot on his communication skills or quit the career.

• Step 3: The third step would be to study the market trends, industry norms and growth, prospects related to that career. For example; if a person chooses to become a chef as per his passion and aptitude then he also needs to be aware of the minimum and maximum remuneration that can be earned. Building a career requires a long term planning. Switching a career at a later stage can be damaging and unfavorable for growth.

HOW TO MASTER THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING

A majority of the people experience fear when they have to speak in front of a group or audience. What holds them back is the fear of appearing foolish in front of others. Preparation and the right attitude is the key to win over this process.

Some of the fears that top the list are fear of dying, fear of snakes fear of height etc and fear of public speaking is also one of them. Many people experience faster heart beats and dry mouth when they are about to begin their speech. Some even experience nausea or giddiness. These symptoms aggravate once they start speaking. The heart beats frantically and the voice starts trembling. Their body, especially the legs begins to shake. Stuttering or increased rate of speech is also possible. In some case, people experience these symptoms only during the initial moments, later they calm down whereas; others may go through the ordeal for longer.

I remember my high school days, whenever we were asked to speak in front of the whole class, I would develop cold feet and I would start shaking and behaving in an unnatural manner. Then I found a way out. I realized that I could give a good presentation to the class only when I was sitting on a chair. But that didn’t help me because my teacher thought I was trying to act smart.

The primary reason that holds back people is their fear of looking foolish or dumb in front of their peers or others. They dread being laughed at. If they make a mistake or forget something, people may form a not-so-good opinion about them. This in turn affects their ego and confidence. If we follow some steps, we can definitely overcome fear.

1. Preparation: The value of preparation should not be underestimated. Being prepared well in advance helps to avoid blunders. It is necessary to be aware of what you are going to speak and who will be your audience. Professionalism demands that nothing is left to chance. Work on your strategies, keep the material ready, pay attention to every minute detail, plan well in advance. Preparing in advance makes you feel confident and in control of yourself, thereby reducing the chances of foolish mistakes or failure. As far as the material is concerned knowing about your speech content doesn’t mean you learn it by heart, because that may make you sound scripted. Instead you should know the outline and the structure in which you are going to talk. Also not knowing about the type of audience can leave you embarrassed at the last minute. Therefore you should know your audience and accordingly you can customize your speech. Depending on the importance of the event you can prepare yourself and overcome the anxiety.
2. Practice: It is said that knowledge is a treasure and practice is the key to it. Practicing the speech takes you nearer to perfection. There are various ways to practice. You can begin by practicing alone. Saying the speech loudly a number of times helps to get the material easily registered in your memory. Next you can do mirror practice. This exercise is very effective. You need to stand in front of a mirror and say the speech loudly, maintaining eye contact with yourself. This helps you to observe your body language as well. Then, you can also practice speaking by standing in a corner. This way you can listen to your sound reflecting back to you. Using a recorder is also a good way to practice. You can learn many things by observing your voice. You can record your voice and listen to it as many times as you want. You can learn many things by observing your voice. Finally you can practice in front of your friends. They can give you a feedback. Practicing before friends gives you a feel of talking in front of the real audience. The number of friends required for this practice is irrelevant. You can even begin with one friend.
3. Back up plan: It is always advised to have a back up plan ready in case of emergency. The type of emergency I am talking of is, let’s say what if in spite of a lot of practice you can forget what you had to say or you go blank. Your back up plan can work as a safety net in such a scenario. What you can do is, you can note down the outline of your speech on some sheets or on small cards. These important points can be referred to very easily and the audience also would not mind. Only bear in mind that you shouldn’t sound scripted. When you have a back up plan ready you can rest assured that in case you happen to forget something, you have help at hand. This reduces your anxiety to a great extent.
4. Knowing the audience:  When it comes to the fear of your audience, remember it is all in the mind. The magnitude of your fear can get greater only if you allow it to be. The fact that you focus your thoughts on your audience as being very important can aggravate your fear and anxiety. Your audience can be truly important, for example your bosses, your colleagues, your important clients or even your friends and relatives but that should not inhibit you in any way. What you can do is you can shift your focus. Instead of fearing your audience and feeling intimidated you can look up to them. You need to visualize them as your friends and supporters. Remember, they are there because they want to listen to you and infact they want you to succeed. Visualize that they care for you. If your focus shifts from negative to positive, you will find the same shift in your body language and it will definitely be reciprocated by the audience.
5. Relaxation: Relaxing yourself before your speech may sound a little difficult but you can follow a simple step and actually feel relaxed. Before starting your speech do remember to take a few deep breaths and then begin by thanking the person who introduced you. Then immediately start counting 1 to 10 in your mind and begin your speech. With each breath and count you feel relaxed. It also gives time to the audience to settle and get ready for you speech. This is also the moment when you are in front of your audience and you may panic. However, being prepared allow you to be confident & in control of the situation. It feels good to be in command and you definitely deserve it. If your work demands that you speak in front of small or large groups of people then you should practice speaking in order to enhance your skills and overcome the fears. Doing a Public speaking course is also a good idea and a proactive measure.

DEVELOPING THE ART OF COMMUNICATION

Communication can be defined as passing of message from 1 person to another.

Various aspects of Communication

1. Verbal Communication 
2. Non Verbal Communication
• Body Language
• Eye Contact
• Voice
• Gestures & Postures
• Facial Expressions
• Dress Code

TIPS ON HOW TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The English word communication is derived from Latin term ‘Communis’ which means ‘to make common, to transmit, to impart’. When something is made common, it means sharing and interaction and both of these are very important for communication, general and business communication in particular. When a message is sent out it becomes communication only when it is understood, acknowledges, reacted to or replied to by the receiving party.

The objectives of Communication: Why do we need communicate?

1. Sharing of Information 
2. Motivation 
3. Inspiration   
4. Delegation 
5. Education & training
6. Suggestion  Persuasion 
7. Influencing a potential customer.

It is a general observation that professionals devote a lot of time, money and energy in learning technical skills (Software Engineer learns programming, does certification, A CA does learns accountancy, learns international accounting). One may be excellent software engineer, accountant, back office executive, Architect, Graphics Designer but of he/she has not learnt the art and science of Business Communication it becomes very challenging to develop a career in Corporate world. Due to lack of Business Communication skills one may experience difficulties while preparing resumes, clearing interviews, expressing confidently in Business Meetings, getting the desired promotions, delivering presentations, managing and leading teams.

A professional who wants to constantly excel in his career in this vast competitive corporate world he/she has to commit to invest a lot of time and effort in developing interpersonal or communication skills. After years of research and training thousands of professionals here’s a list of tips to enhance these skills.

1. Develop listening Skills: It is a wrong notion that an excellent communicator is one who speaks very well. Actually it is the other way round. An excellent communicator is 1 who listens very well. Tips on how to develop listening skills:
• Watch an English movie with English subtitle.
• Listen to audio tips and practice writing down what was there sentence by sentence.
2. Learn the art of Observation Skills: It is very important to understand the situation, the people, and the background before communicating. How to develop observation skills:
• Before communicating on important occasions study the situation in detail.
• Read the body language of the person or group of people.
• Look at the Dress Code and take some hints.
3. Learn correct Body Language: Our body speaks a lot even when we are silent. So it is very important that we understand what are different body postures communicate and we also learn the right body language. How to develop correct Body language:
• Stand in front of Mirror and observe yourself.
• Practice impromptu speech in front of mirror and see for your self if your gestures & postures are consistent with what you’re trying to communicate. Make appropriate changes in that.
• Video shoot yourself delivering a speech and watch it repeatedly.
4. Develop a Quality Voice: A less energetic, low and unclear voice fails to arouse interest in a listener. A loud, clear & deep voice creates a powerful impact. One can say, the quality of voice defines the personality. A lot of practice is needed to develop quality voice. Tips to develop Voice quality are:
• Pitch of Voice: If you have a low voice, practice reading loudly as much as you can and if your voice is too loud practice speaking as low as possible.
• Pace of Voice: Of you speak very fast practice slow reading. Read each word followed by a 5 sec pause. If your words per min is too low practice reading fast.
• Pause in your Voice: Practice to take a 1 sec pause after every fullstop and comma.
• Voice Modulation: If you speak in plain vanilla voice, the listener will lose interest very soon. To develop voice modulation practice reading each sentence by stressing on any one particular word.
• Global English: If English is not your mother toungue, you may have mother tongue influence which may affect your English. How to develop Global English.
• Identify the wrong sounds in your spoken English.
• Learn to speak the correct sounds.
• Practice tongue twisters.
5. Chose the correct mode of Communication: Now-a-days 1 can communicate through various mediums like mobile, SMS, fax, email, chat, voice mail and 1 to 1 meetings. It takes experience and proper judgment to choose the right mode of communication. How to choose right mode of Communication. (Ex: When instant response is required phone is the right mode of communication & when you require to have information or idea on records email is the best form)
• Before you communicate any important point or an idea stop and think and ask yourself.
• What are the modes through which I can communicate this idea.
• What will be the best mode of communication at this point of time.
6. Develop proper dress code: Before one start speaking body language & dressing already create an impression and the listener starts relating to what one communicates keeping that perception in mind. Ex: If you go to a party in a formal dress there are very high chances that the 1st question you might face would be are you coming directly from office? How to develop proper dress code.
• Identify one of your friends or family member who has excellent dressing sense.
• Budget a certain amount for changing your dressing style.
• Choose the clothing’s with the help of your chosen friend or relative.
7. Inculcate Corporate Vocabulary: Day to day communication may involve use of simple English. At the same time it is very important to use corporate vocabulary in importance situations such as presentations, interviews, emails & sales calls. How to develop corporate vocabulary. Ex: “Instead of saying we are thinking, if we can find a solution to this problem” You can use Business English & reframe it “We are developing a strategy in order to get a desired results.” 
• Observe Senior Managers, Clients using corporate vocabulary and note them down.
• Read news paper, magazines, articles from net related to your field and make a note of Business Vocabulary. Keep these notes handy and use it at every opportunity till it becomes a habit.
• Habituate yourself to collect & use Business vocabulary.
8. Learn Public Speaking Skills: Speaking to groups of people is an important aspect which helps to effectively participate in Business Meetings & presentations. In order to develop Public Speaking skills:
• Take a topic of your choice and prepare yourself.
• Practice speaking in groups of people.
• Ask the listeners to evaluate your public speaking skills on parameters like body language, voice quality and clarity of speech.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION EFFECTIVE

A lot of knowledge is available on how to make your speech effective. Correct gestures, fluency, voice level, hand movements, avoiding fillers are all important for public speaking. But if one had to pick out one most important factor, then it would undoubtedly be “Enthusiasm”. The power of enthusiasm is magical and you can easily win over your audience with it.

When you convey enthusiasm, your other shortcomings are usually overlooked and what stands out is your energy, your passion and your zeal. Remember, ‘Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm’.

When you are enthusiastic, it is reflected in your talk and in each and every step. There seems to be a bounce in your step. It leaves people with no choice but to pay attention to your talk. They can easily see spark in you.

Professional speakers must remember two important rules. The first rule is that you must not speak on any subject which you yourself don’t feel excited about and the second rule says that if you cannot follow the first rule then fake enthusiasm and keep on doing so till you feel it. IT WORKS!

While taking in front of large group, our nervousness is often reflected through our high rate of speech, our unnecessary gestures, we get right to the point, we don’t seem to stand in one place and the good news is that when people are excited, they behave in exactly the same manner.

Many a times it has been observed that new salespersons are able to close sale after sale in spite of lack of product knowledge or experience where as the experienced people have to struggle. The reason is simple. Being new in the field makes the sales people nervous so they usually talk faster, fearing that they may forget something. They get straight to the point; they also find it difficult to sit still because of their anxiety, therefore they move around and many times this behavior works in favor of these new and nervous sales people. The potential customers find these people very enthusiastic about what they are selling. This generates interest in the product.

Negative emotions of nervousness and fear can be changed into positive ones. We can transform them into positive energy and enthusiasm. Our enthusiasm spreads to the audience, leaving them equally energized.

THE MAGIC OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Everyone is not lucky enough to be born with type of facilities needed to become successful. Yet they have turned luck in their favor. Some people like Dhirubhai Ambani proved that to be successful you needn’t have ideal conditions at the start of your life. You can become very successful even in adverse conditions. Whereas, there are people who have all the ideal conditions from the start, yet they haven’t been successful.

When we look around us we find that there is abundant money in the banks. Knowledge is available in plenty in the form of books.  Schools also provide knowledge through good teachers. There are plenty of opportunities provided in this free world. There is no dearth of support systems and facilities in this world.

Power and sophistication are easily attainable. The prime reason that keeps us from taking full advantage of opportunities is laxity and neglect. They are contagious. We should examine our self and prevent this inflection from spreading in our system. Neglect, if not checked early can cause a complete failure over a period of time.

When we do not do the things we know, we should, it makes us guilty. The guilt eats up on our confidence. As a result it affects our activity. That causes a blow to the results. When that happens we become negative in our outlook. This again diminishes our self-confidence. Thus it is a vicious cycle.

A person should constantly work on self. This will help him to evolve as a human being. Abilities can be turned to capabilities. Working on self ensures not only success but also happiness.
We have a shining example of Dr. Abdul Kalam who is the son of a fisherman. He went on to become the most successful President of India. We have one more example of Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani. He started by working at petrol pump and later built an empire.

What this people never did was complain about obstacles. They never wasted their energy on complaining. They focused their energy on their vision. There are people persistently complain in spite of having plenty of facilities. They should consider the above two examples.

Dr. Abdul Kalam had the option of working with NASA, instead he stood to stay back in India & contribute to the nation.

Most people generally concentrate and work on improving that what is outside them. They fail to understand that real work has to be done on things inside of them. Self awareness is the key. Ask yourself what you want.

It is possible to be powerful and all that you would ever want is very much within your reach. You need to work in the right direction. Do not neglect yourself.  Whatever is outside of you gets immediate attention when there is a breakdown, be it your car, T.V, computer etc. However when our confidence and motivation need a boost, we become lax. Therefore it leads to a breakdown and you do not experience joy.

Do not fall in the vicious cycle of guilt. When people neglect work, which should be done, they feel guilty. The guilt takes away the confidence to act and without action they don’t get results. Because of this entire guilt trap we begin to feel low and weak but there is a way out. Start working on yourself and develop your personality!

Tips on GROUP DISCUSSIONS:

Basically, group discussion is as important stage of selection process, whether you are seeking admission in premier management institutes or jobs with top-notch corporate houses.

There are many misconceptions regarding group discussion. Due to some myths, many deserving candidates are not able to perform well at this stage. It is no use blaming the environment or doubting the validity of this tool, because the fact is everyone has to face group discussions at some stage, climbing the corporate ladder. You need to be good at them to achieve your desired goals.

A group discussion is a normal conversation among a group of individuals, since the conversation is related to a particular topic, hence the word “discussion”. A group usually comprises eight to twelve participants who engage in a discussion far approximately 15-20 minutes. The moderator or judge for GDs assesses participants based on their contribution both as an individual as well as a team player. Talking about your performance as an individual, remember that what you speak is more important than how much you speak. "Quality counts, not quantity". You need to excel in content as well as presentation.

Moving on to performance as a team player you should exhibit leadership skills. Project yourself as an extrovert and co-operative. Connect with and build a rapport with the other members of the group. The essential requirements for success in a group discussion are knowledge, listening skills, presentation, calm composure, assertiveness, co-operation, analytical thinking accomodative and encouraging.

With these guidelines you can start preparing yourself for a Group Discussion.

BE A MAGNET

A piece of iron when lying on the road is often kicked by walkers passing by. To a rag picker it is a source of income therefore he picks it as scrap. A physics student uses it in his experiment. Where as to an explorer it appears to be a treasure. He is passionate about creating something; therefore the same piece of iron creates wonders. He works on it by aligning the ions through the iron bit. He uses some wires and electricity. As a result, what is created is a powerful magnet!

We can compare ourselves to the bit of iron. We all have many dreams. We need to align ourselves and focus all our actions and thoughts in one direction. We all can become a magnet and start attracting all that we want in order to achieve our goals.

SECRET OF SUCCESS

15 well-known motivational leaders were interviewed some years ago. After talking to them, 8 secrets to success came to light. I am going to share them with you.

•    RESPONSIBILITY:
As human beings we have a tendency to blame something or someone for our failures. The ones who don’t fall in this trap are the ones who succeed. Therefore, taking complete responsibility for your life is the first principle of success. By doing so, we are in complete control of out life. Our energies also do not get drained in playing the blame game. By taking responsibility we shift from being a victim to being the master and creator of our own lives.

•    PURPOSE: What is your purpose in life? We are all on this planet for a purpose. The sooner we realize that the better. Find a cause you believe in and do your job right. Be self-motivated. Knowing your purpose helps you to focus your attention on it. It helps you to understand when to take a stand and take right decisions. Living life without a purpose is like just wasting another day of our life. An entrepreneur, who lives life on purpose, brings passion to his work.

•    What is the price you are willing to pay for your dreams?
Dare to dream and if you have a dream then be ready to pay the price. Wishful thinking cannot guarantee success. If you really want to change your dreams into reality then be courageous and do not back out when faced with challenges.

•    FOCUS ON YOUR GOAL:
Everyone is hard-pressed for time these days. Everyday people are loaded with hundred of tasks, phone calls, meetings etc. It is important to remain focused among all these activities. One should have the wisdom to give up something today and invest that time in something that you will yield greater results in the long run.

•    STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE:
Always be ready to improve at what you do. Successful people take their work seriously and always aim for the best. Never compromise on your work. Keep track of what the ‘BEST’ in your profession are doing and implement that in your life. Your work should make you proud rather than embarrassed.

•    SUCCESSFUL & UNSUCCESSFUL:
The difference between successful and unsuccessful is that successful people always write down their goals on paper. What separates a wish or a fantasy from a goal is that, the letter is written down on paper. Reaching out for goals without an action plan is like traveling in unknown area without a map and worse still, not knowing the destination!

•    PERSEVERANCE:
The power of perseverance is immense. Be determined to reach your goal. Never ever doubt yourself. The thought of giving up should not be entertained even for a fraction of a second. Remain committed to your mission and keep marching ahead and very soon you’re there. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.

•    DON’T PROCRASTINATE:
Time is precious. Don’t wait for the right moment because the right moment is NOW. No one knows how long they are going to be here. Even Gandhiji has said that ‘Live as if you were to die tomorrow’. You must live each day with the same energy and passion. People who believe life is too short, do not delay and make full use of the time they have NOW.

THE POWER OF NOW!

Once two friends Dev & Ram were passing through a forest. On their way they were attacked by wild bulls. Seeing the bulls, both were frightened. Dev began thinking about what will happen to his sons and the loan amount he had to take from his friend. Whereas Ram focused on the present. He could see a tree. He ran towards it and quickly climbed it. Apparently he was saved but Dev got run over by the bulls.

The only thing that matters is the present moment. Our past is nothing but memories similarly our future is just a thought, it has yet to happen.

As we see in the story, Ram lived in the present moment. He saw the branched tree and took appropriate action to save his life. His focus was on NOW therefore he was powerful. Dev on the other hand wasn’t happy about the present situation so he allowed his mind to travel to the past and future. He lost focus, therefore became powerless in the present situation. He compared the present moment with his pleasant moments of the past and future. He let his ego dominate the present. When we think about past and future, we actually drain ourselves of our energy and time and thus feel weak in the present moment. Then we also fall in the ego trap of how the present should have been, thus losing emotional stability.

It is clear that we need to train our mind. Our mind is the culprit. Our mind easily dwells on the past or worries about the future. We need to be the master of our own thoughts. For, if you are driving a car, you cannot look into the rear mirror most of the time!

Line in the present. Stop thinking of what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow. Concentrate on what is happening; you will be able to see what is wrong with it! Once you start accepting and living it you will start getting solutions to the present.

Focus makes you powerful. It not only lets you achieve but also you start enjoying it..

FAILURE & SUCCESS

Once I noticed a young boy playing in the garden. I was amused at what I saw. At first when he fell down, he looked around to see if anyone was watching him. When he saw that there was no one, he immediately sprang up and continued to play. Later when he fell again he saw that his mother was looking at him in pity, he began crying.

This boy reminded me of Edison. Edison never gave up and he did not bother about failures. As children we all have fallen many times while learning to walk or cycle. Then we spring back with enthusiasm to continue what we are doing. However over the years our conditioning reduces the enthusiasm it takes to achieve our goals. As adults we begin to take our falls and cuts very seriously. We don’t like when people point our mistakes and don’t like to be reminded of our failures.

In fact we get to learn many lessons from our failures. Failures teach us to be gusty and persistent. History is witness to the fact that all successful people have failed their way to success. Education alone is not sufficient. One needs to have entrepreneurial qualities. Failure, taken in the right perspective teaches us just that. Combining Ethics with education and enterprise ensures that success is not short lived. Failure should be followed by reflection on its causes; working on them takes you on your road to SUCCESS!

How to Develop a Positive Attitude

Tips for Goal Setting - Brian Tracy

How can you achieve what you want in life? First by knowing what you want. Follow the tips mentioned in this video....

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

Once I was addressing an audience of about a thousand people. Before I began my talk I offered them a bar of chocolate and invited all those who wanted it to come on stage. But I was astonished to see only about 500 hands go up. Out of them only 3 people started moving towards me. The first person had already reached the steps of the stage. Seeing this, the second person gave up but the third person continued to run. This proved that though less than 50% were inspired only about 1% got motivated and less than that optimistic.

Isn’t it surprising? As children we are born with the power to be decisive. We are gifted with inspiration and motivation. As adults these traits should be more developed and intense but on the contrary, they all reduce! Sadly, today most people are part of a rat race and overtime they become bigger and bigger rats in their pursuit of bigger homes, cars, wealth and popularity. God created all of us to be happy and successful. In fact he has planted all these traits required for happy and successful life in all of us. Take the example of a seed. Do you know that the entire tree is planned in it! Probably, the comparisons, competitions and our conditioning while growing up are responsible for taking us towards hatred and negativity in life.

We all know that when man didn’t use his tail, he lost it. Similarly a road that is not walked upon, grows grass. Therefore we must use the package of traits that we are gifted with or else we may lose them. We need to identify the seed in us and start watering it.

People today spend a lot of their time in achieving all that is outside if them. Luxurious homes, expensive cars, branded clothes etc to flaunt to the world that is outside of them, yet, they do not have time to nourish and nurture their true values. People are running after valuables which even when in plenty cannot bring happiness. Our values are our true valuables. If we don’t use our values we may begin to lose them; Because USELESS – IF USED LESS!

MONEY VS SATISFACTION

The eternal dilemma between money and job satisfaction continues to vex individuals even today. Piyush Bhatia explores the two sides of the debate and narrows in on a common ground

Few are lucky to find a dream job that is enjoyable and also pays well. Most of us are forced to pick between two greatly divergent interests—money and job satisfaction.
    

At some point in their career, most job seekers are forced to prioritise one over the other. This choice is not an easy one. The big bucks are tempting, but at the risk of being stuck in an uninteresting job. The greatly polarised needs of security and satisfaction are difficult to balance. Countless surveys have been done on the topic, but human psyche is not as predictable.

MONEY MATTERS

Call it pragmatic or just plain practical—but money matters. “The basic requirement of a job is that it should secure you financially. The income should pay the bills and put food on the table. I really doubt anyone can be happy with a satisfying job but an empty bank balance,” opines financial analyst Bhisham Gupta of Zen Solutions.

Money makes the world go round. “Job satisfaction is personal happiness. It cannot be shared. Be it medical bills, education or daily provisions, the family needs money. An individual should secure his or her family first,” adds Gupta. Those at the start of their career mirror similar views. The need to gain independence from their parents and families is great. In the quest for self sufficiency, money becomes a key concern.
 

Unlike money, which is tangible and finite, satisfaction is a rather ambiguous ideal. “It is foolhardy to chase an ephemeral dream. Job satisfaction is not a constant concept. Hard cash is an assured, while pursuing happiness is usually just a pipe dream,” says Koyal Guha, who picked a cushy finance job with a foreign bank over a free spirited script writing job.
 

Those prioritising money tend to separate their profession from their passion. “I work to earn money and engage in hobbies for personal satisfaction. The line between the two should remain distinct,” believes Guha.

SATISFACTION SPEAKS

“Most people who take up a job for money do not last. We have observed that they slack off, lose interest and become a liability in the team. Those who work for love of their job are noticeably more dynamic and interested. So our company makes it a point to find recruits who are not joining only for the money,” shares Jeremiah D’Sa, HR manager in a multinational bank. Research analyst Karan Taurani, who works with Pioneer Investment Corp says, “Job satisfaction is a greater priority than money. It directly affects efficiency, motivation and involvement in the job. Money is simply a subset of the same.”

Twenty-nine year old Simran Ahluwalia holds an engineering and MBA qualification. Yet, she is chasing her dreams as a theatre artist. “I spent two years stuck in a job I disliked, for sheer monetary reasons. Ultimately, money can’t hold you to a job. The need for job satisfaction is very great.” Today, she may not be earning the big bucks but is loving her work.

THE COMMON GROUND

“It is not difficult to find a common ground between money and satisfaction. You just need to know where to look. Do your job to the best of your ability. Enjoy it and the money will follow,” shares Shezaan Daya, who works with a reputed chartered accountancy firm.

Psychologist Poonam Mulchandani agrees. “I have seen several cases of patients suffering from stress and anxiety due to inability to prioritise one over another. I always encourage patients to pick personal satisfaction. In cases where the individual is unable to leave a job due to monetary reasons, I encourage him/her to engage in a hobby. Or perhaps find an aspect of their work that complements their personal interest and build on this. However, in most cases, it is lack of confidence that encourages people to pick financial security over satisfaction,” she reveals.
 

Whether it’s about satiating your soul or lining your pockets, the challenge is to unite these divergent priorities and build on this common ground.

ATTITUDE AT WORK

As they say, ‘it’s all in your mind’. Thus, having the right attitude can help you scale the success ladder.

Broadly speaking, there are four kinds of employees:
(1) The over enthusiastic ones, who think they can bring about a revolution overnight.
(2) Those who look at the corporate structure as a doomed entity with no redemption whatsoever.
(3) The ‘I-don’t-care’ kinds and finally.
(4) Those who perceive every situation objectively and are constructive in their actions.

Unfortunately, no matter how efficient you are, if you don’t have the right approach towards the job, the results will be evident. Each employee has his/her stance about several aspects of their career and job in particular. Thus, the key to success begins with the realisation that everything is a matter of attitude, and thus, having the right attitude can work wonders for your career.

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

“Adopting an extreme approach all the time is unacceptable,”states Supriya Parikh, who works as an In House counsellor with a leading KPO, “Irrespective of whether your bend is positive or negative, it’s important to strike the balance. For example, some people make tall claims of what they can do, but their achievement is null. On the other hand, there are others who accept every situation the way it is. If you look at it objectively, neither of the two is actually productive.”

Employees with the right kind of attitude can help take the company to the next level. “However, by ‘right attitude’ we do not imply ‘positivity’ alone. It’s fair on the part of the employee to feel let down or unhappy about a particular instance or situation. But venting that anger or disappointment in the most appropriate manner, or more importantly, in a ‘productive’ manner is what matters.”

MENTOR MATTER

The attitude of an employee is one of the key attributes that is evaluated during the recruitment process. “When it comes to recruitment, the attitude of an employee and his/her belief in oneself has as much to do as his/her core abilities and skill sets,” explains HR executive Kanchan Shah, “For example, very often we have candidates who think they are in control of technically every situation. Their confidence levels appear to be at its peak. Self confidence is important, but over confidence can be a disaster as such candidates are difficult to mould. They come with a mindset and stick to it.”

Elaborating on this, Parikh, feels, “The learning curve is limited in such cases, and ego clashes are quite common, thus stimulating negativity among the team members.” So how do you strike the balance?

Start Positive: To begin with, start with a positive attitude towards your job and your colleagues/supervisor. Be open to ideas, and ready to expect as well as accept change in its varied forms.

Opinion matters: It’s best to form your own opinion/s about people/situations rather than following the herd mentality; but before you do so remember to assess the situation objectively.

Be constructive: As Kalpesh Thakkar, who works as a Manager, HR (Initiatives for employee welfare) with a BPO, explains, “Constructive feedback is always a boon. Therefore for any problems you may be facing, it’s best to approach the concerned people and get it sorted rather than cribbing over it. Unlike popular belief, the job of the HR team is not just to support the requirements of the management. Happy employees are an asset to the company, and therefore, one of their key roles of HR is to ensure that employees are satisfied and their grievances are addressed appropriately.”

Resist negativity: No matter how much you want to shun it, you cannot escape negativity. It’s all around you. Therefore, it’s important to resist it for your own benefit. For example, when you hear something negative from a colleague or friend, understand that you may be getting only one aspect of the whole situation. The other side of the bread could also be buttered. Therefore, be your own judge.

Break free: Humour and enthusiasm are two key elements that can always keep energy levels high. Try to find humour even in hostile situations. It’s not all that difficult; there is humour in every situation. However, whether you identify it or not defines the kind of person you are. Sometimes you may have to dig deeper, but it’s worth the effort for it keeps you going.