How to Write a Retirement Letter Using a Retirement Letter Sample

There are various samples or templates that can be used in writing a letter of retirement.

Tips on How to Write a Retirement Letter Using a Sample Letter or a Template

1. Include the following items: * Your name * Date of the letter * Corporate Employee ID Number * Years of service * Official date of retirement * Whether to continue medical, dental and other retirement benefit contributions * Whether you want to be of some small assistance after you retire

How to Write a Retirement Letter Using a Retirement Letter Sample

2. The letter should be clearly written with no opportunity for misunderstanding by the employer.

3. The letter should be written in a graceful and cordial tone.

4. Leave a forwarding address in your retirement letter.

Your letter should state your intention to retire and what date you intend to retire. If you have had a great working relationship with the company, thank your employer and your colleagues for contributing to the happy experience that you have had working there.

Sample Retirement Letter #1

Dear Sir: I am writing to confirm my retirement from my position as Project Engineer with ABC Engineering effective July 21, 2008. Although I am looking forward to retiring happy, wild, and free, I will miss working for the company and with my former clients and colleagues. May I take this opportunity to thank ABC Engineering for having given me the opportunity to work at this fine organization for over 20 years. I will do my utmost to be of any required assistance from now up until my retirement. Sincerely, Frank Sunley
Sample Retirement Letter #2

Dear Ms. Wilson Please accept this as formal notice of my retirement on January 15, 2008. Although I am looking forward to retirement, it is with some regret that I am leaving. I will miss my colleagues and the challenges and great working environment that the company provides. Please let me know if the company requires assistance after my retirement date in training a successor to my position. Yours sincerely. Mike Kennedy

How to write a retirement letter is not difficult when you have all the information you require. A good quotation about retirement can bring attention to the point you are making. Here are five retirement quotes that you may want to consider to add to your letter:

I'm not just retiring from the company, I'm also retiring from my stress, my commute, my alarm clock, and my iron.
- Hartman Jule

Don't wait for retirement to be happy and really start living. Invariably, people who try this find out that they have waited much too long.
- Unknown Wise Person

Retirement: World's longest coffee break.
- Unknown wise person

In your retirement years never drink coffee at lunch; it will keep you awake in the afternoon.
- Unknown wise person

Retirement is a time to make the inner journey and come face to face with your flaws, failures, prejudices, and all the factors that generate thoughts of unhappiness. Retirement is not a time to sleep, but a time to awaken to the beauty of the world around you and the joy that comes when you cast out all the negative elements that cause confusion and turmoil in your mind and allow serenity to prevail.
- Howard Salzman

How to Write a Retirement Letter Using a Retirement Letter Sample
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Vipbooks Books Author Ernie Zelinski is a leading authority on early retirement and solo-entrepreneurship.

Ernie is the author of the recently released Real Success Without a Real Job: The Career Book for People Too Smart to Work in Corporations, the bestseller How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free: Retirement Wisdom That You Won't Get from Your Financial Advisor (over 90,000 copies sold and publlished in 7 foreign languages), and the international bestseller The Joy of Not Working: A Book for the Retired, Unemployed, and Overworked (over 225,000 copies sold and published in 17 languages). His latest work is 101 Really Important Things You Already Know, But Keep Forgetting.

Ernie Zelinski's Top-10 Specialties

1. International Best-Selling Author - His books Have Sold Over 550,000 Copies

2. Early Retirement - He Semi-Retired When He Was 30 Years Old and Broke!

3. Solo-Entrepreneurship - "Secure Career" Is Not Part of His Vocabulary!

4. Self-Publishing - All of His Best-Sellers Had to Be Self-Published.

5. Book Promotion - Specializes in Using Free Creative E-books for Viral Marketing.

6. Foreign Book Rights Sales - He Has Negotiated 95 Book Deals in 25 Different Countries

7. Public Speaking - Only When He Feels Like It, Gets Paid to Fly Business Class, and Gets to Stay at the Ritz-Carlton!

8. Living the 80/20 Way - Working 3 or 4 Hours a Day and Still Earning a Great Living.

9. Outwitting Corporate Life and Wearing a "Corporate Employment Is So Last Year" T-shirt with Pride.

10. World Class Leisureologist - Leave the Relaxing to Him!

Check out Ernie's: Free Retirement Letters on Squidoo

and his

Sample Retirement Letters on The Retirement Letters Caféa

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Public Speaking - Here's an Example of a Speech Outlined With the Talk Template

Organizing your presentation logically and coherently not only helps the audience understand your ideas and follow along easier, but it also helps you stay on track and remember your points. Here is a sample speech outline to help you understand how all the elements of a template work together -- note how some of the outline just uses key words or phrases. This is ideally how a speech should be drafted, so the speaker can speak naturally and conversationally from the key points and not have to read the speech!

How to be a Great Listener

INTRODUCTION

Public Speaking - Here's an Example of a Speech Outlined With the Talk Template

I. Hook (using a quote):

The ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus said, "Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak." If all of use practiced this formula, it's amazing how much better our work and personal lives would be.

II. Reason to Listen:

Good listeners not only hear what's being said -- which means they receive information and can appropriately react to it -- but they are also masters of a powerful skill because they are able to fulfill two very basic human needs-to be heard and to be understood. When you let other people feel like they've been heard and understood, it opens doors, bridges differences, reduces conflict, and creates loyalty and trust. Being a good listener improves your work performance, productivity, and especially your ability to get along with other people. There is no doubt it will help you in both your professional and personal life.

BODY

I. Road Map:

Today I want to introduce you to the concept of "Active Listening" and how three simple steps, which I've captured with the acronym "ear" -- E.A.R. -- can help you improve your listening skills.

II. Definition...

A. What good listening is not...

- Marginal
- Evaluative

B. What active listening is... definition...

III. E: Engage the Speaker

A. Define: show the speaker that you're paying attention.
B. Examples of how to do it: looking him in the eye, nodding occasionally, showing appropriate facial expressions like a smile for good news or concern for distressing news, giving vocal signals such as: "mm-hmm," "yes," "really?," "I see," etc. An important tip: keep in mind that total silence does not imply listening.

IV. A: Actually hear what's being said

A. Define: pay attention and process the information.
B. How to do it:

- Concentrate on what the speaker is saying.
- Think about what the speaker means.
- Try to look at it from the speaker's perspective.
- Identify the speaker's key points.
- Recognize what emotion might be behind the words.
- Observe nonverbal cues.
- Take notes to help you capture the essence.
- Repeat key ideas to yourself to stay on track.

V. R: Respond appropriately

A. Define: Instead of saying, "Yes, but...," you let the other party know you've heard and understood him.
B. This step effectively wields the power of listening. Three forms:

1. Paraphrase- repeat the gist of the message

* So what you're saying is...

* If I understand you correctly...

2. Probe - ask questions for more information and to gain understanding

* Why do you say that?

* How do you think that will work?

3. Reflect- let speaker know you understand how he or she feels

* You must be so proud.

* How frustrating that must have been for you.

CONCLUSION

I. Summary:

You can see the importance and the value of being a good listener because there's not much else that makes any of us feel more important or more validated or more cared about than being listened to. It is easy if you work actively on the three steps I've shared with you-Engage, Actually hear, and Respond.

II. Open the floor for questions...

Now before I close, are there any questions

III. Closing:

In closing, I'd just like to invoke the words of Peter Drucker, one of the country's most respected authorities on management. He once said: "Too many executives think they are wonderful with people because they have the ability to speak well. What they fail to realize is that being wonderful with people means being able to listen well."
If you start practicing these steps today, you'll become a better listener and people will think you're wonderful!

Public Speaking - Here's an Example of a Speech Outlined With the Talk Template
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Barbara Busey, president of the training firm Presentation Dynamics, has been a professional speaker, trainer and author since 1990. She does training and speaking on the "dynamics" of how people "present" themselves, is the author of the book, "Stand Out When You Stand Up," and is the creator of The Compelling Speaker, a unique presentation skills training program that combines advance audio CD instruction with a hands-on, ultra participative workshop. She now offers the Compelling Speaker Certification, a turnkey system -- complete with training content & technique, business strategies, and marketing guidelines -- that positions communicators to make a living training other business professionals to become more compelling speakers. Go to Compelling Speaker Certification to see her video, listen to her audio, and learn when the next Certification training is.

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Public Speaking - How to Speak With Power and Passion

Generally, the best talks come from presenters who speak on topics that resonate with their own values. These devoted orators talk about subjects that matter to them deeply. They speak with power and passion because they believe so strongly in what they are saying.

When you have the freedom to pick your topic, you have a chance to talk about what matters to you. The challenge here is convincing your audience that the value(s) you are speaking about ought to matter to them as well. Many classic talks, speeches, sermons, and presentations are deemed great not because they echo the sentiments of the day, but because they stimulate listeners to think and act differently. These speakers do this by encouraging their audience to reexamine what they believe, what they value, and where to invest their time.

Years ago I was privileged to attend a dinner party given in honor of astronaut Jim Irwin. Part of the evening's program included a talk by Jim, who spoke on "The Power of Encouragement." It was a talk I'll never forget because it changed the way I feel and think about encouragement.

Public Speaking - How to Speak With Power and Passion

Jim began his talk by recalling a childhood incident that changed his life. One evening he and his mother were out on their front porch. (I seem to recall him saying that he was young enough then to be sitting on his mother's lap.) The night sky was clear and brilliantly dotted with stars. Suddenly, Jim looked at his mom and then once again up at the sky. After a short pause he said, "Mom, someday I'm going to walk on the moon."

Jim's mom was also at the dinner that night, so when Jim said this, I glanced over at her. She was nodding her head in agreement, and the cutest smile you can imagine come over her aged face as she was surely remembering his outlandish childish statement that night. You see, at that point, no one had ever walked on the moon, so what was a mother to say?

As Jim continued his story back on the porch, he said he stared at his mom and waited for her response. It was one of those pregnant pauses that are noisy with thought. Finally, Jim's mom said, "Son, maybe someday you will walk on the moon," and those encouraging words set the course for the rest of that little boy's life.

On July 26, 1971 at 9:34 a.m., Colonel Jim Irwin, commander of Apollo 15 set off for the moon with his crew. This was NASA's fourth manned lunar expedition. Four days later, on July 30, the lunar module "Falcon" landed on the moon's surface. During that visit Jim Irwin fulfilled his childhood dream and walked on the moon.

Jim's inspirational talk celebrated the power and impact of his mother's encouragement. It also changed the way I think about and value encouragement. Since then, I have worked hard to be an encourager. I doubt that I will ever encourage a moonwalk, but perhaps someone reading this story just might come to believe they, too, can do something that others say is impossible. That is good enough for me.

Jim Irwin focused on a single subject that night, speaking for only about twenty minutes. But he beamed with passion and talked about a subject that mattered to him deeply. As a result, he touched his audience in a life-changing way.

Celebrate the opportunity to choose your own topic when you get the chance to do so. Study your audience and tap into your knowledge base, values, experience, and passions. This alone can help you identify a speech topic that you can deliver with power and passion.

Public Speaking - How to Speak With Power and Passion
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Dr. Gary Rodriguez is President of LeaderMetrix http://www.leadermetrix.com and author of Purpose Centered Public Speaking http://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Centered-Public-Speaking-Purposeful-Presentations/dp/1450727085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288971818&sr=8-1

Gary is committed to helping aspiring and active speakers improve their presentations skills. This is accomplished through Purpose Centered Public Speaking Workshop and personal one on one mentoring. He also offers a free public speaking phobia test and monthly newsletter to those who visit his website.

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Why Are Communication Skills Important?

Communication is the heart of every organisation. Everything you do in the workplace results from communication. Therefore good reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are essential if tasks are going to be completed and goals achieved. As you develop your career you will find various reasons why successful communication skills are important to you, for example:

1. To secure an interview.

You will need good communication skills to make sure your application letter is read and acted upon.

Why Are Communication Skills Important?

2. To get the job.

You will need to communicate well during your interview if you are to sell yourself and get the job you want.

3. To do your job well.

You will need to request information, discuss problems, give instructions, work in teams, interact with colleagues and clients. If you are to achieve co-operation and effective teamwork, good human relations skills are essential. Also, as the workplace is also becoming more global, there are many factors to consider if you are to communicate well in such a diverse environment.

4. To advance in your career.

Employers want staff who can think for themselves, use initiative and solve problems, staff who are interested in the long-term success of the company. If you are to be seen as a valued member of the organisation, it is important not just to be able to do your job well, but also to communicate your thoughts on how the processes and products or services can be improved.

Benefits of effective communication

The most successful organisations understand that if they are to be successful in today's business world, good communication at all levels is essential. Here is a useful mnemonic to remember the benefits you and your organisation can achieve from effective communication:

Stronger decision-making and problem-solving

Upturn in productivity

Convincing and compelling corporate materials

Clearer, more streamlined work flow

Enhanced professional image

Sound business relationships

Successful response ensured

Remember: Today's workplace is constantly changing, so learning more about effective communication will help us all adapt to our changing environments.

Why Are Communication Skills Important?
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Shirley Taylor is a popular trainer and author of many successful books on communication and business writing skills. Shirley lives in Singapore and conducts popular workshops on business writing, communication skills and e-mail writing. Visit http://www.shirleytaylortraining.com and receive five complimentary special reports in the Seven Steps to Success series. Check out Shirley's books at http://www.stsuccessskills.com.

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Speakers - Setting Fees For Workshops and Other Speaking Engagements (Purposely Not Called 'Gigs')

Speakers (of every different ilk, i.e., keynoters, workshop leaders, consultants, trainers, etc.) often wonder what to charge and how to decide their fees. Since I have been a speaker (in all of these roles) for many years, I've given this question a fair amount of consideration. Here are some ideas on how to determine your fee:

Sometimes, I do have a flat fee, but rarely. For example, for me to do a Productivity Power Day(tm) in someone's office - in the area where I live - then it's a flat rate. If I have to travel, it goes up some because I will be spending the night out of town, etc. Productivity Power Days are quite similar in scope and process, so it's one of the reason I can quote an exact fee right on my website or when someone calls me. For essentially all other endeavors (speaking & consulting), there is much more involved in making the determination.

For speaking engagements even within my own area, I have a base rate and then I make a final determination based on some (or all) of the following factors:
Is this a brand new workshop (speech, etc.) or one I've done before and will be able to offer in essentially the same way or with minor modifications? Are the people ones who will be easy to work with (or difficult to work with)? Often, I don't know this until I've worked with them in the past...and then I know, believe me! What is the expected number of participants? It takes far more energy to work with a group of 100 or 200 (for a workshop, for example) than a group of 35. So, I need to know the number of people who will be in attendance. Is this part of a series of workshops/seminars I will be doing for this group or is it a stand-alone? I prefer to work with people over longer periods of time - developing relationships and building community and trust. When people are interested in that as well, they receive a different price than those who want a one-shot event. If I am going out of area, then I take the following into consideration, as well:
Time zones crossed (more of an issue as I get older!) I add a certain amount for each time zone I hop. Ease or difficulty in travel (flying all the way across the country in one plane vs. hopping 3 different planes, taking a bus, then renting a car to even get 1/3 of the way across the country).

Speakers - Setting Fees For Workshops and Other Speaking Engagements (Purposely Not Called 'Gigs')

So, these are issues I take into consideration, but each person needs to determine what it is that makes the work easier or harder for him/her.

Sometimes, one factor to consider is whether you are trying to build up a market -- and in order to penetrate that market, you choose to price yourself a bit lower than you will later on...I have certainly done that (and continue to) in certain markets.

Always, always, always, however....remember the value you're bringing to your clients and price yourself accordingly. And to go back to the title, for heaven's sake, don't call what you do 'gigs'! Unprofessional and unworthy, in my opinion, which is what you got in this article, of course!

Speakers - Setting Fees For Workshops and Other Speaking Engagements (Purposely Not Called 'Gigs')
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If you want additional ideas for moving your speaking and consulting business forward, be sure to consult the Life of E's blog:

http://meggin.com/lifeofes/wordpress/

Topics ranging from money to productivity to speaking to writing to coaching to business set-up and more are featured there.

And, to make sure you are productive in your personal and professional life, you'll want to access the resources at

**http://www.TopTenProductivityTips.com

(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm)

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, & consulting.

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Public Speaking - Example of a Persuasive Speech Outline to Prove That Something is True

One form of persuasive speaking is when you want to prove that something is - or is not - TRUE. There is also when you want your audience to DO something and when you want to sway them to your point of VIEW. Hence, the DO, TRUE and VIEW forms of persuasion.

Being persuasive requires different considerations than informative speaking, and one of them is how you organize your ideas. Your particular objective determines the best organization. You still have the three parts of a speech - the intro, body, and conclusion. But in the TRUE method, the Main Points in the Body of your talk would consist of some combination of any or all of these three items: (1) personal observation or experience, (2) evidence, (3) expert testimony.

To see how this organization would work when you want to prove to your audience that something is (or is not) TRUE, let's create a hypothetical objective. Suppose you're talking to a group of people who want to go on a diet. You've recommended the "Skinny Minny" system. But some members of the group have questioned whether that particular diet really works. You want to prove to them that it is TRUE that they can lose weight on this diet. Here's how you might outline that presentation:

Public Speaking - Example of a Persuasive Speech Outline to Prove That Something is True

I. INTRO

A. HOOK: Start with something attention-getting. Maybe it could be a startling statistic or revelation: "Eighty percent of all people who lose weight on a diet gain it back within a year."

B. REASON TO LISTEN: "To lose weight effectively and keep it off, you need to follow a program that allows you to control cravings and make smart eating choices without having to count calories. The problem is, how do you know which diet will do that and not just be another fad leaving you hungry or with the lost pounds returning a year later? There is an answer."

II. BODY

A. ROAD MAP: The Skinny Minny System is an effective eating program that will enable you to lose pounds slowly but permanently and keep the weight off simply by changing some of your eating choices. Let me show you the proof that it works.

B. MAIN POINTS:

1. EVIDENCE

Present research results, studies or other data that support your claim. In proving this diet's integrity, you might present health and nutrition studies that document this plan's success with weight loss. You could cite surveys of people who took weight off and kept it off over several years.

2. PERSONAL OBSERVATION

Something you've seen or experienced personally can be very compelling. You could tell your own story of how, on this program, you shed pounds, dropped several clothing sizes, and have kept the weight off.

3. EXPERT TESTIMONY

A validation of your claim by other people who are acknowledged as experts can build your case. You could cite testimonials from doctors and nutritionists extolling the results of this plan and its health benefits. You would also probably cite, complete with before and after photos, the testimony of others who have lost and kept off the weight.

III. CONCLUSION

A. SUMMARY: Wrap up with reviewing the proof-the research, the personal success stories, the expert validation-that supports your claim about the Skinny Minny's success at weight loss.

B. CLOSE/CALL TO ACTION: "I hope you've been able to see the proof of Skinny Minny's results. If you change the way you eat, you'll change the way you look and feel. So just give it a try. Sign up for just one month and see if you don't look and feel different after 30 days."

Public Speaking - Example of a Persuasive Speech Outline to Prove That Something is True
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Barbara Busey, president of the training firm Presentation Dynamics, has been a professional speaker, trainer and author since 1990. She does training and speaking on the "dynamics" of how people "present" themselves, is the author of the award-winning book, "Stand Out When You Stand Up," and is the creator of The Compelling Speaker, a unique presentation skills training program that combines advance audio CD instruction with a hands-on, ultra participative workshop. Sign up for her newsletter, Stand Out Strategies, on her web site: http://www.presentationdynamics.net/ and receive a gift of her "Top Ten Stand Out Tips."
She now offers a Certification program, a three-day intensive workshop that certifies people in how to make a living offering the Compelling Speaker training. Go to http://www.compellingspeakercertification.com learn more about this unique business opportunity and sign up for the special report, "Do You Have What it Takes to Run Your Own Training Business?"

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Public Speaking: 10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

When I ask my audiences their number one challenge with public speaking, they overwhelmingly say, "to overcome the fear of public speaking." It's okay to have "butterflies." The key is how to get them organized, focused and flying in formation. Here are 10 tips for delivering a more powerful, persuasive presentation. Practice these techniques consistently to improve public speaking skills.

1. 95% of your success is determined before the presentation. Your audience will know if you didn't rehearse. Rehearsing, or "rehearing" yourself minimizes 75% of your nervousness. Rehearse standing up, or better yet, ask someone to videotape you. The camera will be your most objective ally. The more comfortable you become with your material via rehearsing, the more comfortable you will be with your body language.

2. Either memorize or "know cold" your opener and close. Two minutes each for an opener and a close is enough. The most important thing your audience will remember is your closing. Second most important thing they'll remember is your opener. Start with something attention grabbing, like a quote or statistic, which relates to your topic. Never start with, "Good Morning." It is obvious and boring.

Public Speaking: 10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills

3. Public Speaking: 24 hours before your presentation:

A. Have a quiet dinner with a quiet friend. (This may or may not be your spouse!) You won't be as concerned about your public speaking skills if you can put your nervous system on glide.

B. The evening before, put your presentation on audiocassette as background noise one hour before retiring. Listen to your opener and close before bedtime as a review.

C. No massive changes 24 hours before. Nothing increases the fear of public speaking more than rewritting your material at the last minute. Impromptu speeches notwithstanding.

D. Visualize your presentation going smoothly and successfully. All Olympic athletes use this technique, and it works with public speaking as well.

E. Review your notes and visual aids the evening before. Your notes should only be "fast food for the eyes" in bullet form, and are NEVER read to the audience.

F. Eat a good high protein breakfast the morning of your presentation. Even if you're not speaking until that evening, feed your mind and body the proper fuel.

4. Before your presentation, check yourself in a full-length mirror. A dear friend of mine forgot to do this. During her keynote speech in front of hundreds, someone quietly pointed out that her skirt was tucked into her pantyhose!

5. Public speaking and purpose: When organizing your talk, define your purpose. Why are you there? Why are they there? Is this a sales presentation? A community watch group? If you present technical information, is this an information/knowledge transfer or a decision briefing? When presenting technical information make certain not to overload your audience with too much detail, or too much on each slide. Tailor your message. Define your objective.

6. Know your audience before designing your opener and close. It is imperative that you "speak the language" of your audience. What are their ages? Percentage of males/females? Are they highly technical or non-technical? Do they want to be there or is this mandatory? What are their expectations? If you are a scientist or engineer, speak to the "lowest common denominator." Technical presenters have a propensity to use a lot of technical jargon. Does the person in charge of funding understand the language?

7. Avoid using too many slides. Visual aids are wonderful tools as long as they're used to enhance the information. A common mistake is using the visual aids as the presentation. Look at the audience frequently to establish rapport and a connection. In almost every presentation, you are there to "sell" them not simply "tell" them. Do not look at your visual aids other than a quick glance, and never read them. Never turn your back on the audience to read slides. They will not look at your slides. Their minds will start to wander. Remember, you are your own best visual aid.

8. Good public speaking skills mean being prepared. As the saying goes, prior planning prevents predictably poor performance. Planning and preparation will reduce nervousness 75%. Again, your audience will know if you didn't rehearse. Consider hiring a public speaking coach. The dollars invested may well be worth their weight in gold.

9. The Q & A period and how to handle a hostile audience. The second most frequent comment I hear in my public speaking seminars is "What if they ask a question and I don't know the answer?" Or, "What if someone in the audience is a know-it-all and doesn't like me?" Avoid being argumentative. If you don't know the answer, ask if someone in the audience has the answer. Or, simply let them know when you will get back to them. Make certain you do. When you lie you die. It destroys your credibility.

10. Variety and venue. Variety serves as a "wake up call" to your audience. Examples of adding variety: humor, relevant stories, quotes, voice inflection, paired and group activities, pauses, audience participation in the question and answer period, and slides or other multimedia. As for your venue, are your visual aids appropriate to your size of audience? Will everyone be able to see them?

Lastly, make sure to confirm the time, date, and place with the appropriate contact person. If possible, arrange to see the room ahead of time so you can practice visualizing in the exact location of your presentation. At the minimum, arrive at least one hour ahead of time. To improve public speaking skills, and overcome nervousness, nothing works like being prepared.

Copyright 2006 Colleen Kettenhofen

Public Speaking: 10 Tips to Improve Public Speaking Skills
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Colleen Kettenhofen is a motivational speaker, workplace expert, & co-author of "The Masters of Success," as featured on the Today Show, along with Ken Blanchard and Jack Canfield. http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com Topics: leadership, management, difficult people, success, public speaking. To order the book, or for free articles and newsletter visit http://www.ColleenSpeaks.com You are free to reprint or repost this information provided Colleen Kettenhofen's name and website is provided with the article.

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Public Speaking: 9 Characteristics Of The Greats

There's more to speaking than sharing a few words. Here are the top nine characteristics of public speakers that you can use too

1. Solid Content. Even a person lacking charismatic gifts can develop solid content. Always share something the audience finds valuable to their lives.

2. Humorous. It's hard to hate someone you laugh with. The best speakers find a way to get people smiling early in the program. It opens hearts and makes the group receptive. You don't have to be hilarious, just humorous.

Public Speaking: 9 Characteristics Of The Greats

3. Organized. There's no excuse for rambling through a presentation. Have your notes structured in way that keeps you on pace and on target. Listeners should feel they received a message that made sense and was easy to remember.

4. Approachable. Some speakers try to get in and get out as fast as possible, but the audience likes to know the speaker is available an approachable. One of the best ways to make a good impression is to get to the event early and meet people as they come in.

5. Authenticity. It's said that honest arrogance is preferred over false humility. We all want to know people are being honest with us and that what we see is what we get. Be true to yourself and others by being the same around everyone. That way you don't feel like one person in front of an audience and another person at other times.

6. Growing. Great speakers continue to grow in the knowledge and application of the craft. They don't rest when reaching a particular level. Instead they continue to stretch and become better.

7. Giving. The best in this profession give without expecting return. Most big name speakers give anonymously to the charities and organizations they cherish. This giving attitude in private creates warmth and welcome in public.

8. Natural. Last night I actually watched BookSpan for the first time. I've flipped by before and mostly viewed it as a cure for insomnia. However, Walter Isaacson author of Benjamin Franklin An American Life was speaking. Having read the book I wanted to see how well he presented the material. He did a great job. I got the impression that he would be the same off the podium as he was in front of the microphone. A great example of natural expression.

9. Passionate. Speaking transfers energy with words. The more passion passes through the message the greater the chance of it being remembered and applied. No one has ever said, "I sure hope the speaker is boring." Instead they like to say things like, "Wow! She sure was excited about her message."

Public Speaking: 9 Characteristics Of The Greats
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Paul Evans is the creator of Great Public Speaking. He has helped over 30,000 speakers and presenters. http://www.GreatPublicSpeaking.com.

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Nonverbal Communication in Business

There are five key elements that can make or break your attempt at successful nonverbal communication in business:

Eye contact Gestures Movement Posture, and Written communication

Let's examine each nonverbal element in turn to see how we can maximise your potential to communicate effectively...

Nonverbal Communication in Business

Eye contact

Good eye contact helps your audience develop trust in you, thereby helping you and your message appear credible. Poor eye contact does exactly the opposite.

So what IS 'good' eye contact?

People rely on visual clues to help them decide on whether to attend to a message or not. If they find that someone isn't 'looking' at them when they are being spoken to, they feel uneasy.

So it is a wise business communicator that makes a point of attempting to engage every member of the audience by looking at them.

Now, this is of course easy if the audience is just a handful of people, but in an auditorium it can be a much harder task. So balance your time between these three areas:

slowly scanning the entire audience, focusing on particular areas of your audience (perhaps looking at the wall between two heads if you are still intimidated by public speaking), and looking at individual members of the audience for about five seconds per person.

Looking at individual members of a large group can be 'tricky' to get right at first.

Equally, it can be a fine balancing act if your audience comprises of just one or two members -- spend too much time looking them in the eyes and they will feel intimidated, stared at, 'hunted down'.

So here's a useful tip: break your eye-to-eye contact down to four or five second chunks.

That is, look at the other person in blocks that last four to five seconds, then look away. That way they won't feel intimidated.

Practice this timing yourself, away from others. Just look at a spot on the wall, count to five, then look away. With practice you will be able to develop a 'feel' for how long you have been looking into your audience member's eyes and intuitively know when to look away and focus on another person or object.

When focusing on individual members in a large meeting or auditorium, try and geographically spread your attention throughout the room. That is, don't just focus your personal gaze (as distinct from when you are scanning the room or looking at sections of the room) on selected individuals from just one part of the room. Unless you are specifically looking to interact with a particular person at that moment of your presentation, select your individual eye-contact audience members from the whole room.

Gestures

Most of us, when talking with our friends, use our hands and face to help us describe an event or object - powerful nonverbal aids.

We wave our arms about, turn our hands this way and that, roll our eyes, raise our eyebrows, and smile or frown.

Yet many of us also, when presenting to others in a more formal setting, 'clam up'.

Our audience of friends is no different from our business audience — they all rely on our face and hands (and sometimes legs, feet and other parts of us!) to 'see' the bigger, fuller picture.

It is totally understandable that our nervousness can cause us to 'freeze up', but is is in our and our communication's best interests if we manage that nervousness, manage our fear of public speaking, and use our body to help emphasise our point.

I found that by joining a local Toastmasters International club I was rapidly able to learn how to 'free up my body' when presenting to others.

Movement

Ever watch great presenters in action — men and women who are alone on the stage yet make us laugh, cry and be swept along by their words and enthusiasm?

Watch them carefully and you'll note that they don't stand rigidly in one spot. No, they bounce and run and stroll and glide all around the stage.

Why do they do that?

Because they know that we human beings, men in particular, are drawn to movement.

As part of man's genetic heritage we are programmed to pay attention to movement. We instantly notice it, whether we want to or not, assessing the movement for any hint of a threat to us.

This, of course, helps explain why many men are drawn to the TV and seem transfixed by it. It also helps explain why men in particular are almost 'glued' to the TV when there is any sport on. All that movement!

But to get back to the stage and you on it... ensure that any movement you make is meaningful and not just nervous fidgetting, like rocking back and forth on your heels or moving two steps forward and back, or side to side.

This is 'nervous movement' and your nervousness will transmit itself to your audience, significantly diluting the potency of your communication and message.

So move about the stage when you can — not just to keep the men in the audience happy, but to help emphasise your message!

Posture

There are two kinds of 'posture' and it is the wise communicator that manages and utilizes both.

Posture 1

The first type of 'posture' is the one we think of intuitively-the straight back versues the slumped shoulders; the feet-apart confident stance verses the feet together, hand-wringing of the nervous; the head up and smiling versus the head down and frowing.

And every one of the positions we place the various elements of our body in tells a story—a powerful, nonverbal story.

For example, stand upright, shoulders straight, head up and eyes facing the front. Wear a big smile. Notice how you 'feel' emotionally.

Now-slump your shoulders, look at the floor and slightly shuffle your feet. Again, take a not of your emotional state.

Notice the difference?

Your audience surely will, and react to you and your message accordingly.

A strong, upright, positive body posture not only helps you breath easier (good for helping to calm nerves!) but also transmits a message of authority, confidence, trust and power.

If you find yourself challenged to maintain such a posture, practice in front of a mirror, or better yet join a speaking club like Toastmasters International [http://www.toastmastersa.org/champion/index.html].

Posture 2

The second type of 'posture' comes from your internal mental and emotional states.

You can have great body posture but without internal mental and emotional posture your words will sound hollow to your audience.

For example, the used car salesman at 'Dodgy Brothers Motors' might have great body posture and greet you with a firm handshake, a steady gaze and a friendly smile. But if in his heart he is seeing you as just another sucker then sooner or later his internal conflict between what he says and what he really thinks will cause him to 'trip up'.

His body will start betraying his real, underlying intentions and you'll start to feel uncomfortable around him, even if you can't figure out why.

But, if that same used car salesman had a genuine desire to help you find the right car for you, and he puts your needs before his own, then his words and actions will remain congruent (in harmony) with his underlying intentions and you will trust him, even though you might not be able to identify why.

I have seen some supposed 'self help' gurus who don't actually practice what they preach. Consequently their words ring hollow to me and their books, cds, dvds and training materials remain unpurchased.

I have met salesmen and women who don't actually make the money they claim to make in their 'fabulous business opportunity', and while their words are practiced and polished, and their body posture is 'perfect', their words ooze like honeyed poison frm their lips and I remain unconvinced.

This second type of 'posture' is fundamentally tied to truth and honesty. It is about 'walking the talk' and being who you say you are.

It's about not trying to sell something you don't believe in or use yourself. It's about not trying to pass yourself off as an expert when all you've ever done is read a book on the subject.

It's all about making sure that your words and your intentions are underpinned by truth and honesty. Because all of us, no matter how polished a presenter we might be, are at the mercy of our body and its ability to 'tell the truth' in spite of what our lips might utter. Nonverbal clues rule!

Written communication

I could spend a lifetime writing about the art of written communication.

There is an art (and also a science) that can be learnt with diligence and practice. To write too formally; to write too informally; to write too briefly; to write too lengthily...

My first suggestion would be to avail yourself of one of the following three books, each of which is absolutely brilliant at giving you the skills and insights into effective business writing:

The Business Style Handbook: An A-to-Z Guide for Writing on the Job with Tips from Communications Experts at the Fortune 500 by Helen Cunningham and Brenda Greene The Elements of Business Writing: A Guide to Writing Clear, Concise Letters, Memos, Reports, Proposals, and Other Business Documents by Gary Blake and Robert W. Bly Effective Business Writing: Strategies, Suggestions and Examples by Maryann V. Piotrowski

From persuasive memos to complaint letters, sales letters to executive summaries -- these exceedingly useful guides help you to write clearly and in an appropriate format, style and tone. Each book has numerous examples that show how to overcome writer's block, organize messages for maximum impact, achieve an easy-to-read style, find an efficient writing system and much more.

In conclusion...

There are five key elements that can make or break your attempt at successful nonverbal business communication:

Eye contact
Gestures
Movement
Posture, and
Written communication

Nonverbal communication in a business setting requires not only recognition of these elements, but confidence in meeting their challenges.

Good luck and remember to communicate with passion!

Nonverbal Communication in Business
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When you match consumer psychology with effective communication styles you get a powerful combination. Lee Hopkins can show you how to communicate better for better business results. At Hopkins-Business-Communication-Training.com you can find the secrets to communication success.

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How to Become More Confident - 10 Ways to Build Your Confidence

What is confidence, if not the difference between feeling like the sky's the limit and the world is out to get you? Having enough self-confidence can often be the "make or break" deal when it comes to securing a job, striking a business deal or even a matter as simple as asking someone out on a date. The key to successfully becoming more confident about yourself is how others perceive you through your own self-perception. Yes, this means, if you see yourself as an attractive, capable and energetic person, the others will see you the same way too.

Of course, there are many factors beyond your control in this world, but there are also many things that you can do on your own to give yourself more confident in preparation to go "get the gold". Follow these 10 tips for how to become more confident instantly, and you'll be able to face the world without worries.

Dress To Impress

How to Become More Confident - 10 Ways to Build Your Confidence

No, it's not cliché. Your appearance matters most to you and if you feel unattractive or dowdy, you'll give out that perception to the world. Dress smartly, not just by concentrating on your clothes, but also by paying attention to proper grooming. If you can't afford to buy expensive clothes all the time, don't. Cut the buying in half, but spend twice as much as you would normally, to buy high-quality clothes. In the long run, this reduces your expenditure on clothes, because high-quality clothing lasts longer and give a better impression,.

Brisk Walking

People who are confident walk faster and more energetically, because they feel important enough to hurry from place to place. They have people to meet, places to go to and have generally have a full agenda. So, even if you are in no hurry, add a little sprint to your walk and you'll instantly feel very confident and purposeful.

Good Posture

Remember the days when our grandmothers would yell at us to "stand up straight and don't slouch"? Well, they had a good reason to do so. A person without any confidence can be spotted a mile away because of the way they carry themselves - never looking up, huddled and ambling along, it's quite apparent they don't see any importance in what they are doing.

Advertise Yourself

Not literally, of course. Record or write a small speech about your positive attributes and read it or listen to it whenever you feel down and low. It's a great way to give yourself some confidence boosting.

Focus On Gratitude

The more you think about what you don't have, the less confident you'll become. Instead, always focus on what you do have, the positive sides of your appearance, character and abilities. Feel gratitude towards what you've been given and able to achieve.

Compliment Other People

We tend to project our negative feelings towards ourselves through insulting others and gossiping about them. Refuse to engage in such time-wasting activity and instead, start complimenting everything good about any person. When you look for the best in others, you'll gradually be able to see the best in yourself too.

Go Right To The Front

Whether you are at a lecture, conference or even church, if you have the tendency to go sit at the back, you are afraid to be noticed. This is a baseless fear, so take courage and go right to the front of an assembly.

Speak Up

Hiding like a mouse while in open discussions? Don't; speak up, join in the conversation. Unlike your belief, you won't say anything stupid. Most people battle with this notion in fear of public speaking, but it has not real cause, because unless you speak up, your issues will never get resolved. Public speaking will always contribute to increasing your confidence.

Exercise

Boost your energy by working out at least 3 times a week. It'll give you the energy and the "looking-good" confidence, so you can face the world with your head held high.

Contribute To Society

All too often, we as humans, are wallowing in self pity and desire. By concentrating on helping others and making a difference other people's lives, you have less time to think about your own self-perceived faults, which in turn helps to build confidence.

How to Become More Confident - 10 Ways to Build Your Confidence
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Get more help on how to build self confidence and watch your confidence levels skyrocket!

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