"With Jim Kouzes, cited by the Wall Street Journal as one of the 12 most requested leadership educators in the U.S.

In their book, The Leadership Challenge, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner asks that you write your tribute or what you want others to remember you by. What descriptions would make you feel the proudest? If you could write those tributes yourself, what would you want them to say?

If you have trouble writing your tribute, you might start by recording your answers to some questions about what you most care about:

• What do you stand for? Why?
• What do you believe in? Why?
• What are you discontent about? Why?
• What brings you suffering? Why?
• What makes you weep? Why?
• What makes you jump for joy? Why?
• What are you passionate about? Why?
• What keeps you awake at night? Why?
• What do you want for your life? Why?
• What is it you really care about? Why?

So there you go. Once you've determined the answers to these questions, you can now go ahead and pen your tribute. Becoming who you want to be first, is central to everything.

Maideen, our new Training Administration Manager is ever so observant on things that make our participants more successful! After videoing and watching hundreds of our participants presenting in our workshops, he's compiled a list of 10 ever- useful tips and hints to make YOUR presentation more successful! So here's the list:

TOP 10 POINTERS TO MAKE A DYNAMIC PRESENTATION

1. Manage your time allotted to you for the presentation well ñ Structure it well, know your audience and have something for everyone.

2. Practice your delivery ñ That makes the difference between an ìOkî and ìDynamicî Presentation!

3. Use KEYWORDS only in your Powerpoint slides ñ YOU are the performer, not your slides or IT tools.

4. Breathe consciously - In 2, 3...Out 2, 3...In 2, 3... Out 2, 3... - Before & during a presentation as it is a great way to slow down your heart rate and calm those nerves!

5. Maintain proper Eye Contact ñ 2-3 secs per person, or do a Lazy "Z" sweep for a larger group of audience.

6. If you put up a slide ñ Please explain it! If not, donít put it up!

7. Check use of non-words such as "uhhms", and "arrhs" & where you place your hands ñ remember that Body Language makes up over 50% of your presentationís believability.

8. Maintain a good ìI ñ YOUî ratio in your presentation ñ Talk WITH the audience, INVOLVE them.

9. Call Audience to Action(CATA) - It's essential to end a dynamic presentation with a Call To Action for your audience.

10. Donít produce a Data Dump! - Provide your INSIGHTS instead, leaving your audience with a lasting impression of what you want them to do.

Now if this doesn't help you improve your next presentation, nothing will! Good luck!

************************************* ***

Iíll be one of the presenters at ASSAP 2006 to be held at the Orchard Hotel, Singapore on 18-19 May 2006.

ASSAP 2006 is The Asian Summit for Secretaries and Admin Professionals, organised by Shirley Taylor and Partners Conference.

What is ASSAP 2006?
ASSAP is a one-day conference featuring a powerhouse of 7 dynamic and inspiring presenters, plus a one-day workshop on Effective Communication Skills conducted by me and Shirley Taylor.

Who is ASSAP 2006 for?
ASSAP 2006 aims to promote and enhance the skills and position of all the admin and support staff, secretaries and PAs.

Find out more about ASSAP. For any enquiries about ASSAP 2006 please contact Delphine at (65) 6288 1273.

From Stuart Wilde, one of my favourite philosophers, from his book, "The Secrets of Life" , 1990

"On Your Word As Law: The words you use are important, for your mind is used to you giving it your impressions, your assessments. You are the general, and your mind is the foot soldier.

If you say, "It's hard," the mind believes that and creates the circumstances "hard" to fit the opinion you have given it. If you say, "It's simple - it's bloody simple," that's how it will be.

You decide.

Your words are important. If you constantly moan that life's a pain in the butt, you'll one day wake up with piles.

And I say that's worth thinking about!