I conducted a confident public speaking workshop in Chicago a couple of weeks and I when I was working on my presentation and it was interesting to me how much I reflected on just how unnatural public speaking really is, for everyone. I am a professional speaker and it is what I do for a living but the reality is, there isn’t a presentation that I do that I don’t feel nervous or a little worried about.

This got me thinking! If I feel nervous and I do this for a living then how difficult it is for people who don’t. Well I thought that in some small way if in this blog I could be completely honest with you about how I feel then maybe in some small way it might be able to offer you a little help & support the next time you speak in public.

Let’s start that everyone is afraid of something when it comes to public speaking. So, what is your biggest fear? While that question might evoke some nervous energy I think it is an important one to answer. You see in order to manage your fears & insecurities you have to know exactly what they are and where they come from.

Let me get the ball rolling by answering that question.

“Susan, what is your biggest fear when it comes to public speaking?”

Funny that you ask that, my biggest fear is that people are going to think that I am stupid. Yes that is my biggest fear. I don’t know if you have looked at my photo but I have been blessed and cursed with blonde hair. While I love being a blonde I am not a big fan of the countless blonde jokes. If anytime a blonde makes a mistake it is like the only thing a person can see is the color of their hair. I don’t want people to see me as some “dumb blonde”. My fear of people thinking I am stupid also comes from my relationship with my big brother. As I share in my Confident Public Speaking Audio Training, I have always tried to prove to my oldest brother Gary that I am more then just his “stupid” little sister.

So why am I telling you all of this? Well it is simple. The more you understand where your fears come from the easier it is to manage it in the moment when that fear is being evoked. An uncomfortable situation like speaking in public puts people face to face with their inner most fears. For me by understanding my fear of looking stupid and where it comes from gives me the ability to mentally support myself when I start feeling that fear. You see, I know that I am not stupid and that this fear or insecurity is just a part of me…it is not all of me.

One of the things that I teach my clients how to do with my coaching and seminars is how to play with their insecurities instead of letting them play with them!! The definition of confidence in my book is that confident people “feel the fear but they do it anyway”. I have been speaking professionally for over a decade but I still have to play with the same fear every time I get up in front of an audience, big or small. Yes I am nervous about my next presentation but I am not going to let my fears keep me from sharing what it is that I know. The more you learn to play with your fears the easier it is to speak with more confidence. You are not your fears!!

Next time you feel the fear, figure out where it comes from and then find a way to feel the fear but do it anyway!

Susan Leahy MA. ABS turns groups into teams through increasing communication, improving meetings and driving results. Susan conducts keynotes, workshops and full day retreat for her clients across the country. Visit Susan at www.SusanLeahy.com for more details about how to turn your group into a TEAM!

Excited to share at long last my updated Parli Pro DVD!! We updated the look and have put together this great promo piece to share a FREE Sample of the DVD. It will be on my home page soon enough.  Lot's of work went into this DVD and it feels awesome knowing that it is being used successfully by thousands of board across the country!!  Check it out, share it with a friend and let me know what you think!  Smiles and Happy Meetings!!

Giving Feedback even on the little things can be hard.  Enjoy my Video TEAM Quick Tips as we discuss how to give feedback so not to get punched in the eye!! Great TEAMs are great at giving feedback.  Enjoy my "CHIRP TECHNIQUE" as shows you how to give even the most painful feedback!
Enjoy this months video blog!!

Enjoy this Video TEAM Quick Tip as I talk to you about how to manage conflict.  This video is great because I share with you some personal stories about conflict and also reveal some practical tips on how to manage conflict to build better TEAMs both personally and professionally!! Enjoy!!

So I know this video is going up late but I sent it out over the holiday's and didn't post it on my site.  It already has over 600 views.  It was a fun video to make and just gives my clients, friends and family some fun advice for the holiday's!! Enjoy!!

There are few things that feel worse than a meeting where nothing gets done.  People walk out feeling frustrated, angry and upset.  Useless meetings will cause a team to break down forcing them to digress back into a group.  Bad meetings are bad news for building strong teams.  

Here are a few easy tips to keep your meetings on track to support the success of your team.

Step #1:  Have a pre-written agenda

Wait don't stop reading.  I know you have heard this before.  But whether the meeting is formal or informal, short or long, have a written agenda and then stick to it. 

Included in your agenda should be items such as:

-Start Time & End Time
People like to know when the meeting is going to start but more importantly when it is going to end.  Work to start all meetings on time and never let your meetings run over.  Nothing says, “I disrespect your time” more than a meeting that runs over!

-Participants
Having meeting participants' names on your agenda can create accountability.  Members can’t be anonymous.  Make sure that people who are attending the meeting really need to be there, you don’t want to waste anyone’s time.

-Information Items with TIME FRAME
People are good at talking. Be sure that you have a space for people to give information, but you dictate exactly how much.  By giving people a time frame, people will have to consider what information to add and more importantly what information to not add.

-Action Items
This is where business and decisions take place.  Make certain that if there is a decision that needs to be made by the time the meeting has adjourned that everyone knows the action items of the meeting.  There is nothing more frustrating then getting to the action items and running out of time.  

Step #2: Review the agenda at the beginning of the meeting

This step seems simple but many facilitators think that since they passed the agenda out beforehand that they do not have to read the agenda aloud.  That is a very big mistake. Start the meeting by reading the complete agenda. 

This accomplishes several things.  

A.    It gets everyone on the same page and ready for the meeting.

B.    Many companies have a problem with people showing up late.  Reading the agenda buys the facilitator a little bit of time so that he or she will not have to repeat as much when people walk in late.    

C.    Facilitating a meeting is not an easy task and makes many people
nervous.  If you are facilitating a meeting reading the agenda allows you to do something that will help to focus you and to help you manage your nerves so you can have a successful meeting.

Reading the entire agenda at the beginning of the meeting is a great facilitation tool that many Chairs miss out on.  Read that agenda.

Step #3:  Ask for participation

Sometimes in meetings it is not uncommon to hear from the same people over and over again.  We need to find ways to not discourage those who actively participate but find ways to encourage others to participate.  Here is an example of a couple of things a person chairing a meeting can say to stimulate discussion from people who are not participating and to manage those who are participating too much:

“I have noticed that there are several people we have yet to hear from.  Does anyone we have not heard from have something to add?”

“These are all great points but is there anyone with a different opinion we haven’t heard from yet?”

“I would like to encourage those we have yet to hear from to please share their understanding of the topic at hand?”

Great meetings include the voices of both the majority and the minority, the loud and the soft-spoken.  It is crucial that members feel comfortable to and are invited to participate.

Step #4:  Teach Parliamentary Procedure

If you are running a formal meeting using Parliamentary Procedure it is essential that you teach your members how to use it properly.  Members do not have to become experts they need to understand the basics.  For example, the instructional DVD "Driving the Language of Parliamentary Procedure" reviews the 7 Fundamental Motions used during most meetings.  Teach your members the basics first.  Many groups spend the year fighting with the tool instead of taking the time to learn it.  Bring in someone to teach it or provide training tools such as Driving the Language of Parliamentary Procedure.  But remember even Parliamentary Procedure is a team tool it is no good if only one person knows how to use it!

While this list can go on forever it is essential to remember that nothing de-motivates people more then meetings where work doesn’t get done.  If you want to be a TEAM you have to run great meetings!


Susan Leahy MA. ABS turns groups into teams through increasing communication, improving meetings and driving results.  Susan conducts keynotes, workshops and full day retreat for her clients across the country.  Visit Susan at www.SusanLeahy.com  for more details about how to turn your group into a TEAM!

Teach Students How to Debate During a Meeting!

3 steps that will give confidence when you debate.

Prior to the SG training that I was hired to conduct at Central Connecticut State University, I was asked by the Student Body President to focus a portion of my presentation on how to debate during a meeting. I was excited to share my insights with the group because learning how to debate effectively is the easiest way to save an organization time and increase productivity. 

Too many times I have listened to students during meetings give away the power of their voice because they just do not know how to debate.  We have all experienced the person who doesn’t talk loud enough, talks in circles or just repeats what the person before them said.  These types of debates feel like a waste of time and can create undo frustration.  Remember, I believe that great teams run great meetings and how the members within that team learn to debate has a huge impact on the efficiency of your meetings.  The members of your board need to become great at debating a motion. 

I encourage you to remember that the reason you are debating during a meeting is for really only 2 reasons. You debate to:

• Give information that will help move the group closer to a decision about the motion at hand.
• Influence the group to make a certain decision about the motion at hand.

During my personal coaching and group seminars I teach my clients this simple 3-Step process about how to debate a motion during a meeting.  These steps are easy to remember, and create a needed structure for members to use when they are about to debate a motion.

The steps are:

1. Repeat the motion you are talking about
2. State your opinion about the motion
3. Tell them how you want them to vote!!!

When you start off by repeating the motion you are getting everyone on the same page. Make sure everyone knows what motion you are about to discuss by repeating the motion. Then, be clear and to the point when you state your opinion. Give 2 to 3 firm points as to why you are in favor or against the motion you are debating.  Finally, the last step should be obvious but too many members miss it, tell the assembly how you want them to vote!  You are there to influence your fellow board members as well as be influenced! Tell people how you want them to vote.

I have watched countless discussions where a member of the assembly starts to discuss a motion, says a few interesting points and then sits down without a strong finish and I am left wondering, what do they want me to do? Pass the motion or fail the motion??? State how you would like the assembly to vote. When you do you add power to your voice!!

These 3 simple steps are meant to support you as you work to run move effective meetings.  Remember Great Teams Run Great Meetings!

Good luck and until next time Happy Meetings

Susan Leahy MA. ABS turns groups into teams through increasing communication, improving meetings and driving results.  Susan conducts keynotes, workshops and full day retreat for her clients across the country.  Visit Susan at www.SusanLeahy.com or www.FreewayGuides.com for more details about how to turn your group into a TEAM!

(Note: Please feel free to publish this article as along as you include the byline provided and email a copy of the publication to susan@susanleahy.com)

4 Key Tips For Great Team Work

I work with universities across the country helping train newly elected officers into becoming dynamic creative teams.  Typically this training is done at retreats where new communication skills are learned that are specifically designed to deal with the multitude of special issues facing a university setting.

Even though we all talk and listen to others talk every day, it is important to understand that effective communication especially in a team setting is a skill that can be learned.   

Communication is never about perfection rather  it is about the willingness to keep on learning and trying, with the goal of building better and stronger teams.  Communication is the cornerstone of any successful working environment, and this is especially critical in a team setting where the goals of the organization tends to take precedence over the goal of any particular individual working on the team.

 Here are some quick and easy tips for your new officers to think about with respects to driving powerful communication as they begin a new year.

#1.  Everyone plays nice in the beginning

When a new group is coming together it seems that everyone usually  “plays nice” and puts their best foot forward.   For example we take turns when we are talking, we don’t hog the floor with our pet issue, we listen to what other people have to say, we act interested and if we get frustrated we are more apt to let things roll off our back than to take something personally.  

Even though this is the tendency at the beginning, time tends to change our manner of relating to each other and the initial “niceness” will wear off.  I always recommend at the early stages of the team formulations that  members get to know each other by establishing team guidelines (or team norms) for when the newness wears off and the real personalities start to come out.  

It is almost impossible for people to “play nice” for the entire year.  Your team is going to eventually deal with conflict and the sooner you determine how your team is going to handle it before the conflict happens the better!  This one process issue will have a big impact on whether the team is effective or not.  Remember usually everyone plays nice in the beginning so don’t be fooled. Talk about how your team is going to handle conflict BEFORE it occurs. Working out your Norms at the outset also gives you an idea of the strengths and challenges that the team may encounter when the business issues are actually dealt with.


#2.  Remember the goal is TEAM

When communicating in and out of team setting remember, keep the bigger picture in mind (i.e. what you are trying to accomplish). Your group is working to become a TEAM and to create a team result!  A great tip when communicating; especially when the issues is an emotional one, is to remind yourself as well as everyone else is that you are in this together.  You are a team.  This can sound something like:

“Before we get started I want to remind everyone that I know that this is a sensitive issue but I want us to remember that we are a TEAM and we are in this together.”

Taking time at the beginning of the communication to remind the people that they are on the same team can minimize defensiveness.  Also it is a great statement to come back to if emotions start running high.  This could sound something like:

“I know that people are getting frustrated but I want to again remind you of what I shared before, we are a TEAM so let’s try to keep this in mind as we focus on finding a solution.”

#3.  TEAMS focus on Solutions not Blame

This is such an important difference between groups and teams.  Teams work very hard to keep conversations focused on solutions while many groups can get stuck focusing on blame.  We have all heard the rule, “Attack the problem not the person”.  Great teams take this one step further they attack the problem with the intention of finding a solutions.  If you are ever in a meeting where you see the blame game being played try saying something like:

“Does it seem like we are focusing on blame? Maybe we should try shifting our focus on possible solutions.”

Notice that I phrased this intervention as a question.  When making an intervention it is important to do it in a constructive way, not a judgmental way.  Questions are a great way to make an intervention.  In this example shifting the group to solutions will support you in getting work done.  Nothing gets accomplished when we play the blame game.

#4.  Read Body Language Out Loud

We all know how important our body language is and I have heard so many people say that they are good at reading other peoples body language. I want to know how do you know if you are good at reading body language unless you read it out loud?  Great teams are able to check in with one another.  For example if I am in a meeting and Joe and Joe rolls his eyes while I am talking.  The way I read that is that Joe is board or disagrees with my points.  What I want you to realize is that it is ok to read body language out loud.  So using the example with Joe you might say something like:

“Joe, I noticed you had an interesting reaction. Tell me what you are thinking or feeling?”

For many people this would feel uncomfortable (and rightly so but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it!)  Letting someone know you see them and then getting curious is essential to staying connected to the people on your team.  If you are having a meeting and you are making a decision and someone is visibly upset (arms folded, face flushed, breathing or sighing not participating) and you say nothing then you may not really have his or her buy in.   If you need everyone’s buy in and you see someone displaying some of the characteristics I just described you may say something like:

“Jane, I noticed that you haven’t said much and that your arms are folded.  Your opinion and your buy in are important.  Do you have anything you would like to add?’

Notice that this statement is not judgmental it is letting this member of your team know that you see them and that they are important.  This will feel uncomfortable when you first do it but remember Communication is not about doing what is natural it is about doing what will support the success of the TEAM.

Susan Leahy MA. ABS turns groups into teams through increasing communication, improving meetings and driving results.  Susan conducts keynotes, workshops and full day retreat for her clients across the country.  Visit Susan at www.SusanLeahy.com or www.FreewayGuides.com for more details about how to turn your group into a TEAM!

Tip #1.  Start by emphasizing the benefits of using Parliamentary Procedure
When I was a student leader no one ever told me that I would be using this stuff after I graduated. The truth is everyone attends meetings and knowing how to effectively apply Parliamentary Procedure will make you more effective, no matter what field you are in.  Start the teaching process by telling people why they are learning this tool.  Saying that one needs to use it because it is a part of your bylaws is not a good enough reason and will not motivate people to want to learn.  Help them understand that it is a tool that they can use throughout the duration of their careers.

Tip #2.  Stick to the basics
Don’t teach too much too fast! Make certain that everyone on your team is learning the same basic motions at the same pace.  Too many times people try to cram too much information into a training.  In my DVD, "Driving the Language of Parliamentary Procedure" I review the 7 fundamental motions used during most meetings.  During my live trainings I start with teaching just the three most commonly used motions (Main Motion, Amendment & Amend the Amendment). Sometimes you have to slow the learning process down before you can speed up

Tip #3. Provide ongoing training opportunities
People are not going to learn everything in the first training.  Provide opportunities for people to practice outside of the meetings so they feel like they can be more productive during the meetings.  Consider doing more than one training throughout the year and give new members different resources to learn this tool.

Tip #4.  Make your meetings a learning environment
Are your meetings intimidating?  This is a very common problem, but creating a safe space for people to learn is key to the success of your team.  If people do not feel comfortable communicating then you are sure to end up wasting valuable time.

Tip #5.  Bring in an outside facilitator
Sometimes this can be helpful to move the group forward with learning Parliamentary Procedure. Having an outside facilitator is a great way to speed up the learning process.  I work with organizations across the country teaching them how to use this very valuable tool.  One tip about hiring a Parliamentary Procedure facilitator: Make sure they are fun!  Most facilitators make this topic feel dry, when it doesn't need to be.  Hire a facilitator to not only teach your members Parliamentary Procedure but also to motivate them to want to learn!

That's it for now…happy meetings!

Are you planning a retreat?  Well if you are know that you are doing the good work.  A well planned and executed retreat lays the foundation of trust that any group needs to become a TEAM.  I just got done with a retreat at Loyola Marymount University today, where I worked with the Senate.  Whenever I am asked to speak at any retreat I always start with the same question,  I ask, "Are you going to be a group or are you going to be a team?" 

Students usually pause when I ask this question and then eventually one by one students start to say, "Team"  This was again the case today.  But it is at this point that I remind the group that saying you are a TEAM does not make is so.  You have to earn the right to be a TEAM.  The way that you handle the inevitable pressures of classes, personal life and work life that occur during an individuals term will determine if you have earned the right to be a TEAM!  Know that your retreat is an important first step in the TEAM process! 

Good luck and happy meetings!