Category Archive for "Productivity"

DRIVING INNOVATION THROUGH NEW BUSINESS MODELS

Innovation can bloom even in a grim economic climate. If anything, the slowdown may foster creativity.
–Wired Magazine

High energy prices, the tightening of commodity supply and the credit/housing crisis have caused US economic growth to slow to a crawl. Growth in GDP was an anemic 0.6% for the 4th quarter of 2007 and 0.9% for the first quarter of 2008.  As a result, small and medium size businesses are being advised to cut costs, reduce inventories and revamp marketing.

But astute business owners and senior executives recognize that, in fact, the recession presents an opportunity to test an enterprise’s most fundamental business assumptions in order to determine the most effective—and profitable—way forward.

Successful large companies have, for a number of years, approached this situation through the use of business modeling, and increasingly, smaller businesses are turning to this tool for innovation, which today empowers them to compete more effectively in a recession—and can do the same for you. Continue Reading »

Be well prepared and get your sleep the night before. Lack of preparation and energy creates anxiety and ruins a presentation.

Prevent last-minute surprises. Arrive early and check the microphone, slide projector or any other equipment that you’ll be using during your presentation.

Be pleasant. Smile at every opportunity. Maintain a pleasant disposition.

Be trustworthy. Establish and maintain eye contact with your audience.

Do not eat hot spicy foods, eggs, or anything else that would dehydrate before the event. Keep a bottle of water close by, just in case.

Visit the bathroom before your begin the presentation.

If you are using a PowerPoint slide show (recommended) do not use raw powerful colors or any animation in your slides. That would prevent your audience from paying attention to your words.

Do not stand in the projector’s way.

Adjust the length of your sentences. Try to follow a long sentence with a few short ones.

Adjust the pitch of your voice. Alternate it between high and low to stress your words. Do not put your audience to sleep by a monotonous drone.

Be relevant. Try to relate your material to the experiences of your audience. If for example you are addressing a group of chemical engineers, try to pick your examples and analogies from the chemical industry and not from politics or entertainment.

Do not confuse your listeners by going into too much detail. Try to stay at a general enough level so that your audience can both follow you and also learn at least one new item.

Invite those who insist on getting really detailed information to see you after the presentation.