Question

You work for a relatively large company in which many of your co-workers
need to make presentations and sales pitches to customers and clients.
Management is not happy with the way the employees have been delivering these
presentations and sales pitches. Because of your experience with public
speaking, you have been asked to conduct a workshop to enhance the skills of
your co-workers. Identify and discuss three or more important concepts or
practices that might help them. Be specific and use clear and detailed examples
to illustrate your points.

Answer 1

Interpersonal skills from an integral part of your professional toolbox. From collaborating on a project with a colleague to liasing with an important external stakeholder, you need the confidence, empathy and communication skills to make the most of every interaction. Strong interpersonal skills will help you gain allies and simultaneously demonstrate to your supervisor that you're capable of bringing out the best in others. And that's a key aspect of career advancement. CULTIVATE A POSITIVE OUTLOOK- Teach yourself to be positive by reminding yourself everyday of the good things about your life and your job. If you're upset about a personal matter, set those feelings aside until after work. If you're stressed about a work issue, look for the positive in the situation and try to build on that. CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS- Work isn't the place to be overly emotional. Whether you're extremely irritated, severely depressed or ecstatically happy, take a deep breath and tone your emotions down. Always express yourself in a calm, patient manner. SHOW REAL INTEREST IN YOUR COLLEAGUES- You work side-by-side with your colleagues for eight hours everyday; it's only logical that you'll learn something about their lives. Make a point of getting to know what's important to your co-workers. It will help solidify your relationships with them. PRACTICE EMPATHY- Gain a well rounded view of things by putting yourself in other people's shoes. This will help you develop empathy for others, which in turn goes a long way in finding solutions that work for all involved.