Influencer Marketing
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Leading High Performing Remote Teams
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Design Thinking
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Gantt Chart
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Navigating Change Successfully
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Halo Effect
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Anchoring and Framing
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ZOPA and BATNA
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Content Marketing
In this course, you’ll learn how compelling blogs, videos, podcasts, and other media can reach customers and drive sales. You’ll also learn steps for creating an effective content marketing plan, and some important ways to measure its impact and success.
Content marketing is a essential digital marketing strategy for companies looking to provide relevant and useful information to support your community and attract new customers.
Get started on your content marketing journey today.
Sustainable Innovation in Times of Disruption: Choices for a Better Society
There are opportunities for progress all around us. The key is to innovate on these opportunities sustainably.
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It's time to find out.
Social Media & Digital Communications: Impact on Global Public Opinion
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What do companies need to be aware of when utilizing social and digital media? How can these mediums be used to better communicate strategically with the world?
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Blockchain
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Mehrabian’s Rule
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Pareto Principle
Your time and resources are limited. Efficiency means learning to prioritize. The Pareto principle (also called the 80-20 rule) can help you identify the best way to use your time for maximum results.
Country Analysis Framework
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SECI Model
The SECI model illustrates how knowledge is created and shared. Learn how to put it to use for best practices, and how the Japanese concept of “ba” fits in to broaden your perspective.
Johari Window Model
The Johari Window Model is a self-awareness framework that helps you better understand . . . you. Learn how its four quadrants can help you identify gaps between how you see yourself, and how others see you.
Sunk Costs
Wondering if you should continue an investment or look for something new? Sunk costs can have a powerful psychological impact on decision-making. Learn how to recognize them to ensure rational decisions.
CAGE Distance Framework
Want to expand overseas? The CAGE distance framework can help ensure you're constructing a solid global strategy in four areas: cultural, administrative, economic, and geographic. Learn how to leverage useful differences between countries, identify potential obstacles, and achieve global business success.
Groupthink
Groupthink refers to group pressure and the perception of consensus which together lead to ill-formed decisions—or even unnecessary risks. Learn to identify the warning signs of groupthink and apply countermeasures in this online course.
Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
Solving problems with the best results means using two types of thinking: deductive and inductive reasoning. In this online course, learn to form a broad premise, make observations, and form conclusions from different perspectives.
Critical Thinking: Hypothesis-Driven Thinking
Anyone can come up with a good idea. The real challenge is putting that idea into action. In this online course, explore how to form compelling, testable hypotheses and bring ideas to life in your own organization.
Critical Thinking: Structured Reasoning
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Critical Thinking: Problem-Solving
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How to Dream
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Logical Thinking
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Investing & Diversity: The Changing Faces of Venture Capitalists
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Servant Leadership
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Organizational Behavior and Leadership
Ever wonder what makes a great leader? Whether your role requires leadership or not, understanding organizational behavior is useful for your career. This course from GLOBIS Unlimited can set you on your way.
Leadership vs. Management
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Strategy: Creating Value Inside Your Company
Have you ever wondered why certain companies are more successful than others? The answer is strategy: internal processes that control costs, allocate resources, and create value. This course from GLOBIS Unlimited can give you the tools you need for that strategic edge.
Strategy: Understanding the External Environment
To plan strategy on any level, you need to understand your company's external environment. In fact, your level of understanding can impact hiring, budgeting, marketing, or nearly any other part of the business world. Want to learn how to do all that? This course from GLOBIS Unlimited is the perfect first step!
Using Japanese Values to Thrive in Global Business
Japanese companies have unique cultural, communication, and operational challenges. But they also have values that have led to remarkable longevity. Check out this seminar to hear how these values help earn trust from overseas head offices and develop employees.
Turnaround Leadership: The Differences Between Japan and the West
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Conflict Management
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Evernote Founder: How Tech Startups Can Break through in Japan
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Women Empowerment: Lessons from Cartier
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Marketing: Reaching Your Target
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Marketing Mix
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The Principles of Negotiation
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Negotiation: Creating Value
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Finding Your Life Purpose with Ikigai
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Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
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Confirmation Bias
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An Investor's Lesson to Entrepreneurs
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Managerial Accounting
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Finance Basics: 1
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Basic Accounting: Financial Analysis
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Career Anchors
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Digital Marketing Psychology to Transform Your Business
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Pyramid Structure
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Leadership with Passion through Kokorozashi
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Technovate Thinking
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Product Life Cycle
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Logic Tree
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MECE Principle
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Hi, I hope you’ll enjoy my presentation. I’ve traveled a long way to be here. In fact, I got in just yesterday and I’m really jet-lagged and tired, ha-ha! So, I haven’t had a lot of time to prepare, I apologize in advance. Anyway, let’s begin. I’d like to talk about… oh dang, there’s a mistake on this slide.
Maybe you haven’t heard a speaker say all of that to kick off their presentation, but maybe you’ve heard some of it. Or perhaps you’ve used one of those phrases yourself. In any case, stop right there.
The French philosopher Simone Weil said, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” When you are presenting, people are listening to you. They are giving you the gift of their attention and time. Don’t squander that generosity with a substandard presentation by saying things that signal their attention is being wasted. Here are three common phrases never to say in a presentation.
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3 More Things Never to Say in a Presentation
“Sorry, I’m tired/jet-lagged/hungover…”
Tired? Jet-lagged? Hungover? Why would the audience want to know that? Are you expecting sympathy? Unfortunately, this confession is likely to bring out their enmity.
What it really says is that you’re trying to cover your ass for the inevitably shoddy presentation you’re about to deliver. You’ve essentially told them to be prepared to be disappointed and taken the gift of their attention, crumpled up the wrapping paper, and thrown it back in their faces.
We all suffer from being tired, and maybe others in the audience are also jet-lagged, so don’t expect a free pass. And admitting to being hungover–which I’ve heard some speakers say with pride–is just unprofessional. Regardless of how bad you feel, it’s simple: Don’t use your physical condition as an excuse for wasting people’s time.
However, if you really do feel that unwell, politely cancel the presentation. At least this way you can give the audience some free time, rather than waste it.
“Sorry, I didn’t have time to prepare…”
Saying this does two things: It lowers your audience’s expectations and shows them a lack of respect. There’s always time–unless you’ve just been ordered onto the stage at gunpoint–to prepare for your presentation. Even in the unlikely case that you were told an hour ago, you can still do some preparation.
If you do have insufficient time to prepare, be smart about what time you use. Focus on the presentation’s opener and closing, the first and last things that you’ll talk about. These are the parts that make or break your presentation.
First tip for a strong opening? Make sure you don’t say any of the three phrases mentioned here. And forget about these other presentation killers.
Beyond that, rehearse what you’ll say to grab the audience’s attention. Look through the slides for some surprising or provocative statement to engage them right off the bat. Think about starting with a story.
Then come up with a way to recap your main points or issue a call to action to end the presentation. Be sure to add your own take on the content that’s not on the slides. Tell the audience what you want them to do, think, or feel about what you just presented.
With little prep time spent focusing on how to hook your audience at the beginning, and to end on a high note, listeners are more likely to forgive a mediocre middle.
“Oops, there’s a mistake on this slide…”
First, avoid putting yourself in this situation at all costs. It may sound obvious, but go through your presentation to check for errors, especially things that spellcheck might not catch. Then check everything again. Get a colleague or two to put a fresh set of eyes on your slides. It’s amazing how many people don’t do this simple exercise.
Don’t forget to rehearse your presentation out loud to catch additional errors–even if you only have five minutes and are under duress (see the second point above).
If, despite your diligence, you notice errors during your presentation, don’t mention it. Unless it’s a glaring, major error that will mislead your audience, don’t draw attention to it.
It may be a mistake that only you would know about, like forgetting to include some content. Nobody else will know, so don’t acknowledge it.
If you don’t mention a small error, less than 100% of the audience will have noticed it. Mention it, and 100% of the audience will have noticed it. Which would you prefer? That each and every member of your audience notices your error, or that only a few are clued in?
If something slipped through that could mislead, point it out without using the words “error” or “mistake” as those can make you sound less credible. Apologize, state what it should say, and tell them you’ll get them a corrected copy later. Take ownership and move on.
Whether it’s a major error or a minor one, don’t let it sap your presentation’s energy or momentum. Ignore it, apologize if necessary, and move on.
These phrases pop up frequently in public speaking, and using any of them shows a lack of respect for your audience. Stop making excuses, because they aren’t going to get you off the hook for a lack of preparation. Make the audience–and the gift of their attention–the star focus, give them value for their time, and your presentation will succeed.
This article was originally published on Fast Company.
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