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The world economy is in a state of extreme tension and competition. The current times are such that all companies expect their employees to prove their efficiency by exhibiting impeccable interpersonal skills and confident public speaking. Doing good work is no longer the only criterion that makes someone successful in their job. Making presentations is also an integral part of excelling in today’s corporate environment. These presentations go a long way in determining the understanding of the individual regarding the topic at hand.

Many people are fearful of making presentations as they wonder if they will be able to pull them off. Also, they are not sure of being able to cover the entire content and prepare a presentation that meets industry standards. Presenting the content in front of many people is another aspect which sends shivers down the spine of persons who have not made a presentation before. The following tips are sure to assist an individual considerably when they are out to make a PowerPoint Presentation.

1. Understand that the presentation is a means to complement your program; your program does not revolve around it.
2. Always remember to take back up of your presentation on a disc to ensure that the content is not lost and can be retrieved in spite of a computer crash.
3. While using handouts, it is always advisable to carry an original copy of the presentation. In cases where the handouts fall short, these copies prove to be saviors.
4. Experts suggest that the person presenting on PowerPoint should always position himself in a lighted area. This ensures that the audience can see the face of the presenter even while the lights have been put off in order to make the screen clearly visible. Not being able to see the presenter adversely affects the efficiency of the presentation.
5. Usually, the final slide of the presentation always contains the contact information of the presenter. It helps to put this slide up while the question-answer session with the audience is on. This tip helps immensely because this way, the details of the presenter is visible to the audience for the longest possible time. The audience is given enough time to take note of the name, email address and phone number of the presenter.

People who keep all the above points in mind while making a presentation can be sure of coming up with a presentation that meets the highest standards of quality and professionalism.

Some say the secret to being a good presenter is to visualize the audience naked. I say if you really want to be a great speaker, it’s the speaker who must strip for the audience.

Great speakers and presenters are not afraid to bare their souls to the audiences. They strip away their masks and illusions allowing audiences and prospects to see them for whom they are. Audiences walk away not only with increased knowledge but some insight into the presenter as a person.

Whether our goal is to sell, educate, or inform every speech or presentation has a goal, and key to reaching that goal is generating trust. In order to trust us, people must know us, like us, and believe we are credible.

It’s no wonder so many of us are terrified to speak in front of a group. Presenting speaks to our greatest insecurity – people may not accept us as we are.

Each person has a unique presentation style, and while some elements work well, others do not. Regardless of the presenters’ skill level, I have found most presenters can increase their likeability, credibility, and authority by at least 25 percent by unlocking the “four-second window.”

Within four seconds, most of us form an immediate impression and then spend the next 30 minutes justifying our impression. Think back to a blind date, first interview, or social situation. Did you make a snap judgment as to whether or not you were going to like him or her? Most of us do.

We do it to others, and others do it to us. Most audiences decide whether or not they like us before we utter our first word.

For some, this “four-second window” is a breeze. These rare men and women have naturally-high “likeability factors,” a face, smile, or presence in which people find instantly attractive. For most of us, however, this is not the case. We have to earn our positive rating in an incredibly short period of time.

Six factors contribute to first impressions: gestures, stance, movement, dress and grooming, stance, and eye contact. Of these, dress and grooming, stance, and eye contact are most important.
Experts abound on the subject of proper dress and grooming for presentations, yet the best advice I found came from one of my seminar participants. She suggested looking into the mirror and noticing if anything stood out, and if it does, taking it off and changing it.

One man I coached loved loud ties. While his neckwear reflected his outgoing personality, it also distracted from his presentation. The audience focused on his ties rather than his face, missing much of what he had to say.

Like appearance, stance contributes to instant credibility, and for many women, stance is a challenge.

Most women are taught at a young age to assume a dancer’s pose, feet close together with one toe pointed out at a 90-degree angle. While this stance may be feminine and pretty, it holds no authority.

Instead, I counsel both men and women, to stand tall, feet shoulder width and pointed outward, hands at their sides. While it is important to gesture naturally, hands should drop to the sides when not in use.

Stance is important in establishing credibility so don’t hide it. At no time should speakers stand behind a podium, desk, table, or other obstacle. Great speakers allow the audiences to see all of them – physically as well as emotionally.

The eyes have been called the “windows of the soul.” As such, they are one of our greatest weapons in winning audiences. When it comes to eye contact, great speakers use a rifle instead of a shotgun.

I coach executives to begin their presentations by standing in silence, finding a friendly face, establishing eye contact, taking a deep breath, and then beginning their talk. This simple tip helps speakers become grounded and start their presentations with authority.

Many presenters talk while moving their heads from person to person like a sprinkler system, or worse they lose all connection with their audience by staring at one person, the slide screen, or into space. I train presenters to pick one person and maintain steady eye contact with that person until they have delivered a complete thought. Intensive eye contact can be uncomfortable, yet it is also highly effective in generating trust.

Discomfort is a constant companion for great presenters for they know no matter how good they think they are they can always be better. Using appearance, stance, and eye contact, they generate instant credibility while constantly challenging themselves to share more of themselves with their audiences.

Time to Negotiate a New Telecom Contract?

Great! After reading this article you’ll be ready to negotiate that next telecom contract like a seasoned pro. The first steps to successful telecom contract negotiation begins by simply understanding the key areas which most contracts are based.

Sound simple? It is, so let’s get started!

Telecom Contracts: Do We Really Need Them?

Businesses sign contracts for all types of telecom services. In fact, you may have contracts in place for local, long distance, wireless, voice and data, etc. Keep in mind that the information contained in this article can be applied to just about any telecom contract negotiations.

A telecom service contract is an easy way for a service provider to lock you into a predetermined rate structure and set of conditions for a specified period of time. Having contracts in place makes it easy for a carrier to count customers. Multi-year contracts also help solidify the customer base – in other words, they can count on predictable revenue.

Contracts can also be to your advantage as well. Having contracts in place eliminates the guess work when conducting routine audits of your telecom services. You’ll never be able to verify that your accounts are being billed correctly without using contract terms and rates as a comparison.

The 7 Key Elements Included in Almost All of the
Telecom Contracts You’ll Sign

Listed below are seven common characteristics and elements that will arise when negotiating your telecom contracts. Use them as a “checklist” before you begin. It’s best to know what you want before negotiations get under way.

Keep in mind that the best deals seem to materialize when there is the element of “win-win” involved. Concentrate your negotiations on just two or three critical items that will make the biggest difference and have the most value to you and your company.

1. Most carriers will combine different offerings to maximize overall volume and revenue. Today more than ever, carriers are fighting to be your one-stop shopping for a variety of telecom services. The fact that they CAN offer you every telecom service, doesn’t mean you should follow their advice. Handle one at a time, then see how the overall package can be put together for your benefit and maximum savings for your company.

2. All telecom contracts will require a minimum volume commitment. This commitment is usually in terms of pre-discounted revenue per month. Variations could include annual usage, net revenue amounts or total minutes of usage. Determine your level of commitment based on previous months or years. Be aware that there are often additional sub-commitments included for specific service elements. FACT: The more volume you offer the carrier, the better rates you’ll be able to negotiate.

3. All require a minimum term commitment.
Two or three year terms are most common, but contracts can be written for shorter or longer periods. Like volume commitments, the longer the term – the better the rates. Service providers are usually willing to renogotiate an existing contract , even if only half the contract remains. Before renegotiating an existing contract, be sure that there are no early termination penalties or fees in the existing one.

4. The net rates are usually expressed in terms of specific discounts off regular published rates.
However, some express specific rates in lieu of service guide pricing. Bottom line? Be sure you know which is which during negotiations! Always be sure that you know the EXACT terms of the agreement before you sign on the dotted line.

5. Some published rates may be specifically waived.
Such waivers are common for installation charges and certain elements of private line pricing. Make it a point to ask to have these kinds of charges waived during your negotiations. After all, you won’t get it unless you ASK!

6. Most telecom contracts include a provision that is included for promotional and other credits.
These are applied at scheduled times to off-set costs of converting from other carriers’ services. Be sure to make specific notes of these credits at the time of negotiation so that you can be sure they were actually credited in the future just as the contract reads.

7. All telecom contracts provide for penalties if violated.
Sounds basic but….ALWAYS be sure you understand the penalties and costs associated with violating the terms of the contracts you sign. Penalties and fees can be substantial so make sure all contract information is provided to new employees who will be overseeing telecom should the original negotiator leave the company or is transferred.

Business Downturn and Technology Clauses

While not always offered by the carrier, many businesses are now asking for business downturn and technology provisions.

For example: A business downturn provision would allow a customer to renegotiate the agreement if the company cannot meet its minimum commitment levels due to unforeseen changes in the business itself (i.e. bad economy, layoffs, etc.). Usually a carrier will renegotiate a lower commitment level in exchange for a longer term commitment.

The Technology Clause protects a customer if they decide to change services to more advanced technology, resulting in lowered usage levels on initial services. An example of this is a company moving from a private line network to a frame relay or virtual private network.

Successful telecom negotiation can mean a huge difference in your company’s “bottom line” telecom expenditures. Plan your strategy. Familiarize yourself with the basics, and always remember: Everything is Negotiable!