Speak and Speak and Speak

I have been asked many times how I came to be a speaker.  The answer, you might guess, is to just do it.

Of course, just speaking doesn’t mean you know what you are talking about.  As a student leader who will be looking for a job in the future, or a student affairs professional who may be looking for the next career step…place yourself in situations where you have to present and speak.  Just speaking won’t necessarily help your skills.  Having to give a presentation on a specific topic may….as that will require you to think, develop, reflect, practice, restructure, rewrite, memorize some, tell stories and then….to do it.

What Employers Are Looking For?

I just read an interesting article related to resumes.  In a nutshell…it suggested that you might not have one.

I have been suggested something of that nature to students for years….instead of a resume, have a marketing brochure.  I won’t get into that too much here other than to say that time and time again, interviewers want to know about your experiences, what you have done, your projects, etc.  What you have done in the past successfully are some of the best indicators of what you can and will do for them in the future.

Great GPA’s rock….and you should work hard academically….but, they are a dime a dozen.  Employers want to know about your experiences.

Interview with Balance

“You’ll work nights in this job.”

You say “OK.”

“You’ll work weekends if you are offered and take this job.”

You say “Great, no problem.”

The problem though is that you set yourself up.  You look desperate…like you’ll do anything.  And, you need to have work-life balance.  You know, the ability to have hobbies, friends, pastimes.

Don’t get me wrong….I’ve never had a job that didn’t require some nights and some weekends of my time.  If you are interviewing, don’t look too anxious and be concerned about an employer who looks like they are setting out to “own” you.

You are worth more than that.

Leading with a Newsletter, a short one

A short newsletter does wonders.

You have a list of your members and they know what is going on with your group.  And that’s great.  Hopefully you are using some kind of e-newsletter to keep them in the loop on stuff.

How about if you sponsor events.  People who attend one of your events may want to attend another one.  Give them the option.

At one of your events….before, during or after….ask to keep in touch with them.  If they say yes, collect their email address and send them a “thank you” for attending your event.  Tell them about the next one.  They will appreciate you thinking about them.

Note that this is “permission marketing” which is different than “interruption marketing” or “spamming.”  You will repel people if you do that.

Lead with the Little Things

Little things make a diffence in life and in leadership.  Welcoming people to a meeting, recognizing contributions, using names.

We all need to do the little things.  In the end, that is how people remember us and want to follow our leadership.

Make a big deal of the little things.

Start With The Important

Most students sit down at the end of the day to get to their homework.  Student leaders have homework as well.  Planning, contacting people, motivating and listening.

The challenge is to start with the important.  Most start with “the easy” stuff.  The easy stuff feels good and it usually gets done quickly.  And, you cross things off that list.

But “the important” or “the hard” stays on the list and is usually tackled last.  Instead, today start with the important.  Make the phone call.  Write the outline.  Hand write a personal note to thank somebody.

Leaders do the little things (and the important things first) that make a BIG difference!

Get To It

As the semester begins for students, student leaders are in full swing.  Too often though, in new positions and new roles, we take it easy and play it safe.

A semester is short.  You don’t have time to play it safe.  Not that you should run around like crazy, barking orders and dictating what others should do either.  My recommendation though is to jump right in, motivate the group and get things going.

Facilitate and help them make decisions.  (Don’t spend two meetings trying to figure out the theme for you big event.  Make decision, stick to it and move forward.)

Time is a wastin’!

Slideumentation

A term I first learned from Garr Reynolds…refers generally to the overuse, overload and overkill of PowerPoint in presentations.

Several years ago I got feedback from an audience member that the presentation could have been improved by using PowerPoint.  As a speaker, I waiver on using the tool.  I do use it for some presentations and not for others.  The particular presentation, “Straight A’s Won’t Get You The Job!” is a keynote speech.  I use tons of visual images and stories.  Students are engaged, focused and at times…hanging on the edge of their seats.  I’ve given the presentation to groups of 50 and 3,000.

I think the comment came from the fact that PowerPoint is just expected in many ways.  You know, the dark room, eyes glazed over, drool, snoring.

PowerPoint is a tool.  It turns 20 years old this month and the creators are happy and sad in a way.  They love how it has evolved and the money they have made, but don’t care for the misuse by their standards.

There are tons of resources on correct and incorrect use.  My presentation “Do Less, Lead More” is a good example of appropriate use…photos, minimal words, feelings emoted, action to take.

Use PP….sparingly for best results. 

“serrefine”

What does it mean?

As a leader, it is important to understand and value language.  What people say isn’t always what they mean.  The challenge for is to dig a bit, listen even more.  If you are in a meeting and somebody says something you don’t understand…ask.  Don’t assume.  Get clarification for you…and probably the other people there too!

 Serrefine defined:  a noun describing small forceps.  It was also the winning word for a 13 year old boy in the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Internships Rock

I just found an excellent resource if you are seeking Business, Engineering and IT positions in the St. Paul/Minneapolis.  Check out www.corporateinterns.com.  What a cool service!