Mic Check: Public Speaking 101

It’s Wednesday and your manager gives you a new task: write and deliver a speech for 100 people at a public event in two days. You will either react in one of two ways: thrilled at the professional development opportunity or fearful of speaking publicly in front of large crowds. Fear of public speaking may happen to anyone at any time. It also happens to veteran speakers because each new public speaking event is a new experience for the speaker.  There are a few quick steps you can take to prepare for your speech using quick and easy microphone (mic) check tips.

Public speaking can bring about great professional development opportunities. For example, public speaking engagements may build speaker confidence. Each time you create an audience-centric approach, you have the ability to engage your listeners using an informative or persuasive message. 

Another way to enhance your speaker confidence includes incorporating research, audience demographics and concise messaging for the target audience. 

In addition, check the speaking event location before your speech as part of your prep work. It is important to know the event logistics, test the microphone and other electronic devices before the speaking engagement. Then conduct a “test run” on your speech to hear the final message aloud and make updates as necessary.

Moreover, according to a Psychology Today article, when a speaker focuses solely on the perfect message, they make the mistake of focusing on the errors instead of messaging. The perfectionist principle is a hindrance that can stop even the most ardent speaker in her tracks. A way to move beyond this type of barriers is by continuing the audience engagement despite any real or perceived missteps. In addition, the ability to avoid high levels of self-criticism may lead to more enjoyable public speaking engagements while boosting one’s confidence.

Also, it is okay to be nervous when you are about to deliver a speech. Instead letting your nerves take you to an extreme fear factor level; try to channel your energy. For example, leverage your internal locust of control to reach a calm and collected mental place. In addition, create a pre-speech music playlist to help amp up your positive energy so you can deliver the best message to your audience.

Breaking Down the Fourth Wall on Project Management

Imagine your manager gives you a new project to manage and you are required to develop a strategy for the next year. A few other requirements are identified and you are sailing along great until it happens. You realize that the program requirements have now put you in a “box” where all the parameters are in a fixed, non-flexible position making it a challenge to move forward. What do you do, especially if the requirements create barriers instead of bridges to your goal?
Sometimes the challenge to starting a new task lies in the ability to see beyond the basic scope of the assignment. For example, maybe your group has a fixed set of templates for project plans based on historical data. While they may provide a spring board to a new endeavor, they may not be the best tools if they’ve never been revised in the past five years. Consequently, it may require you to develop new tools and resources to manage ground-breaking endeavors.
Also, when some project managers receive a new task, they feel beholden to manage the task by only using the processes their boss outlined for them. That is a nice “check the box mentality” but it will not always yield the results you may seek, especially if the resources provided are antiquated.  A good program manager will take a step back before just jumping into the fray, assess the situation from all angles and then develop a solid strategy. Sometimes that includes having the courage to break down that fourth wall of project management to take a few risks.
Take the time to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to your project by collaborating with internal partners who are willing to see the “big picture perspective.” I’ve learned that leveraging a solid SWOT analysis may help to increase your awareness and acceptance of issues and innovation in project management.
Lastly, there may be an unwritten office rule that that staff may only use canonical documents for all projects as some sort of tribute to the original creator of all things SOP in your agency. This is a direct path to stifle creativity and sink your project plan. Moreover, allegiance to the team is one thing; however projects cannot be managed effectively by tradition. One of the great things about project management is having the ability to explore the unknown using a strategy that acknowledges potential variables, troubleshoots issues that will impact your deadlines.

Office Rebel: Benefits of Coloring Outside of the Lines

Each year, some employees do their best to stay focused by following the office rules and political climate succinctly. While this is a way to play it safe, it often yields the same results: a “check the box mentality” of task management. Yet, have you ever wondered what life is like on the other side of the canonical practice at work? Sometimes, it takes breaking down the fourth wall by “coloring outside of the lines” by moving beyond outdated processes so you can achieve great things.

Welcome to the wild side where office rebels deliver great things daily due to their initiative and innovation. For example, an office rebel will research the historical context of a task, determine the lessons learned then implement new processes to yield better results in a timely manner. This type of industrious behavior comes from living on the fringe as well as knowing how to bend new technology to one’s whim.

Moreover, innovation in the federal space is not confined to a desk for eight hours or more daily. It includes learning from others, networking with thought leaders and trying new things in the pursuit of agency goals. Basically, the ability to innovate does not occur via email. Creative collaborators get out from behind their desk, create a plan and then become a catalyst for positive change.

Also, when an employee continues to approach work in the same manner using outdated rules, their ability to grow and learn new skills becomes limited. Back in the day, some people referred to going above the minimum requirements as “going outside the 9 dots.” When was the last time you achieved more than just the basic goals? Have you ever wanted to do more? An office-rebel-in-training understands the benefits of being an “individual contributor” by creating and innovating off the clock to yield extraordinary results at the office.

5 Tips to keep the low morale vulture away at work

Recently, the news has focused on low morale at work due to a variety of issues. The way some employees view their jobs is through a double lens that highlights either their work or the people around them. Sometimes, when there is a conflict in these realms, an employee's feelings about their job may decrease based on their:

• passion for their work
• work environment

When people select a career, it is usually because they enjoy getting paid for the work they love to do each day. This sentiment may be hampered when there are scarce resources that influence a person's ability to stay happy about their efforts. For example, a lack of advancement, challenging work or professional development opportunities may cause issues with staff who want to strive for great things.

Another effect on a person's morale is their workplace environment. Take a moment and look around the office the next time you arrive at your job. Are the folks engaged, forward leaning and ready to take risks to move the organization forward? Or, are they just getting by to supplement the daily routine because they are inundated with work that truly requires more people to effectively complete it?

Moreover, office politics may cause a reduction in one's passion for work because the "in-group" gains acknowledgment, advancement and recognition based on relational aspects instead of business acumen. Another challenge is preventing the "out of site, out of mind" mentality. For example, some managers may assume that if you are out of the office teleworking or not in their line of sight, you are simply not important enough to them to give you more high visibility tasks. While this is a perception issue, it is still something that needs to be managed with tactfulness and directness to keep you "visible" in front of some managers.

Either way, the problem of low morale is symptomatic of every workplace. While one person may not readily change the issue of low morale, you may possess access to improving your personal feelings about your job.

5 Tips to Improve your office morale

1. Increase your awareness of your career needs and create an action plan to move them forward
2. Build a coalition of trusted advisers who are subject matter experts and encourage them to be your "go-to project team" 
3. Expand your personal and professional network by being actively engaged at work each day
4. Update and practice delivering your elevator speech to promote your skills to others
5. Gain more face time with power brokers