Ways To Sound Smart

Stacey Gawronski of Business Insider's , The Daily Muse had an article that popped 

"How to sound smart when put on the spot" 

I thought "Wow! Yes, that is needed and useful info, let me click through and read." 

And generally, it was useful, except for one. 

And that is why I am sharing with you,

So you know,

How to sound smart when put on the spot 

&

How to avoid looking like a liar when put on the spot. 

1. Focus on what's important

Stacey wrote: "If you're nervous [about speaking up in an impromptu setting], it probably means you're overly focused on how other people are going to perceive you. Instead, focus on what's being discussed and think about three questions: 'What do I not understand which could be better clarified?' 'What question could I ask that would advance the discussion?' 'What perspective or insight do I have that's shareable?'

That is really great advice. And also, great advice to have you sound credible. If you are focused on how others are going to perceive you  that means you are contemplating lying. And thus is what makes you nervous.

2. Repeat the question

Stacey wrote: "One of the hardest parts of contributing to a conversation or answering questions in meetings is feeling as though you are under pressure to produce an expected response. One way to overcome this feeling is to not jump into your feedback too quickly. If your response isn't clear, it can come off as an incomplete thought, or it may fail to address the question.

DO NOT DO THIS! No only will this spotlight that you are buying time, but also gives the feeling that you are about to lie whether you are about to lie or not. Anytime you answer a question with a question, it is a red flag for analysis that a possible lie is coming up next.

3. Call upon your knowledge

Stacey wrote: "People usually talk about the things that are of interest to them (professionally or personally), or information most relevant to the organization. Use your knowledge to generate questions that demonstrate your involvement in the conversation.

This is good. To put it another way, "He that controls the questions reins the conversation."  Use your question to nudge the topics to areas that are in your knowledge area.

4. Take a deep breath before you do anything else

Stacey quoted: "If someone asks you a question that catches you off guard, pause, look thoughtful, and say, 'That's a really interesting question. Let me take a minute to think about it.' This gives you a moment to take a deep breath and collect your thoughts before responding. You'll be less likely to get flustered. It's a strategy that works well in interviews, too, if you're asked a question you don't have the answer to." —Heidi Ravis

100% spot on! Simply be truthful. If you are nervous say so!

5. Project confidence 

Stacey quoted: "This all boils down to having confidence in yourself. If you know who you are and feel good about what you're doing, are regularly and positively engaged in your work, have learned the industry and, in general, have strong interactions with your peers and managers, you should feel comfortable sharing your insights and opinions in any given situation." —Kristina Leonardi

This is really saying practice makes perfect.

6. Stop being afraid

Stacey wrote: Get over your fear of looking stupid. If you make a mistake and say something that isn't immediately met with nods of agreement or approval, that's OK. Follow your inner voice, and have your own thoughts.

This goes back to practice makes perfect with the addition of being familiar with yourself. If you have practiced, your flaws are not as noticeable to others as they are to you.

7. Take a moment of silence

Stacey quoted: "Silence can be golden, so don't be afraid to use it. If you're unsure of how to answer a question, or are searching for the right words, it's OK to pause for a bit before speaking. You can say, 'Let me think,' or 'That's a great question,' while you piece your thoughts together in your mind. These phrases help buy you time until you're ready to present the ideas swimming in your brain." —Ryan Kahn

Don't leave your audience in black hole suspense! Highlight your brilliance with care and concern for giving them the best!

8. Provide your point of view

Stacey wrote: "I find it fascinating that when we're asked for our input on a given topic, we often freeze up, or we feel unqualified to speak. You hold back because you don't think you have enough expertise. But, you don't gain expertise by keeping your mouth shut. You gain it by putting your ideas out there, and following what sticks.

When asked for your point of view, grab that practice time!

9. Avoid going on the defense

Stacey quoted: "When we feel caught off guard, it can be easy to get defensive. If, during a meeting or spontaneous conversation, a colleague rattles off a litany of criticisms as to why your proposal won't work, resist rejecting them by responding with 'No, but...' Instead, try the 'Yes, and...' strategy, a technique borrowed from improv comedy. By saying, 'Yes, and... here's how we overcome those challenges...' you move the conversation forward. You inspire creative problem-solving, invite possibility, and create an atmosphere for constructive conversation." —Melody Wilding

This is brilliant!  When someone curtails you, get them back into your leadership fold by including and acknowledging their decent.

3 ways to sound smart when put on the spot! 

Here are the keys to sounding smart. 

1. Be honest.

• If you are nervous, say so. Take a moment and then speak. This will lead to having fewer times when you need to take a moment. If you do not know the full answer and need a moment to give a thoughtful answer say so. Take a moment and then answer. 

2. Practice.

• Put yourself on the spot. Put yourself in situations where being on the spot will be a part of the experience. 

3. Be inclusive.

• Include people into yours! Ask them questions that lead into your areas. If they are opposing acknowledge it and provide them a means. If you need a moment to answer, share with them that you are giving them more than just what is on the top of your head. 

Smart on the spot! 

EzVid Review

I went looking for the best screen recorder so I could document an event on Facebook.
Update-  All the reviews I had watched or read about EzVid implied that gaining access to the EzVid project files was not an option or very difficult. That is not true. The project files are easy to access. They are listed in your documents file, right under EzVid. A simple search would find them. They are in normal WMA file. Thus editing them in Windows movie makes would be easy. 

I reviewed EzVid. It is a piece of crap. Do not bother. Some had said if you want something easy with just drag and drop, use EzVid. That is simply a lie by omission. EzVid is simple, but lacking in such basic functions as a cut feature.  All it allows you to do is split a frame. That sounds like it would work for editing. That suggests that EzVid would cut the frame where you placed the time tracker to cut, but it does not do that. It merely splits the frame in half, really in essence leaving you with nothing workable on either side. 
The simplicity makes it completely non-functional. 
I really cannot see any redeeming qualities about the software. I would not even let a child use it because it would teach bad habits to them in video editing. 
Right now, I am waiting for it to unfreeze, this is the second time it has frozen while working on a video.

15 secrets of really persuasive people

Persuasive people secret weapon is likeability. 

• They Know their Audience

Toning down your assertiveness when talking to someone who is shy . Cranking it up for the aggressive, high-energy type

• They Connect

The key here is to avoid getting too caught up in the back and forth of the discussion. 

The person you are speaking with is a person, not an opponent or a target. No matter how compelling your argument, if you fail to connect on a personal level, he or she will doubt everything you say.

• They Aren't Pushy

Persuasive people don’t ask for much, and they don’t argue vehemently for their position because they know that subtlety is what wins people over in the long run. 

If you tend to come across as too aggressive, focus on being confident but calm. 

• They Aren't Mousy

Remove qualifiers from your speech. When you are trying to be persuasive, there is no room for “I think” or “It is possible that.”

• They Use Positive Body Language

Positive body language will engage your audience and convince them that what you’re saying is valid. When it comes to persuasion, how you say something can be more important than what you say.

• They Are Clear and Concise

Persuasive people are able to communicate their ideas quickly and clearly. 

A good strategy here is to know your subject so well that you could explain it to a child. 

• They Are Genuine

By concentrating on what drives you and makes you happy as an individual, you become a much more interesting and persuasive person than if you attempt to win people over by trying to be the person they want you to be.

• They Acknowledge Your Point of View

 Admit that your argument is not perfect. This shows that you are open minded and willing to make adjustments.

• They Ask Good Questions

Something as simple as a clarification question shows not only that you are listening but also that you care about what they’re saying.

• They Paint a Picture

Good stories create images in the mind of the recipients that are easy to relate to and hard to forget.

• They Leave a Strong First Impression

 First impressions are intimately tied to positive body language. Strong posture, a firm handshake, a smile, and opening your shoulders to the person you are talking to will help ensure that your first impression is a good one.

• They Know When to Step Back

Urgency is a direct threat to persuasion, so tread lightly.

• They Greet People by Name

Your name is an essential part of your identity, and it feels terrific when people use it. 

• They Are Pleasers

Persuasive people never win the battle only to lose the war. Persuasive people do this because they know in the long run this wins people over. They know it’s better to be successful than it is to be “right.”

• They Smile

People naturally (and unconsciously) mirror the body language of the person they’re talking to. If you want people to like you and believe in you, smile at them during a conversation, and they will unconsciously return the favor and feel good as a result. 

Putting It All Together

Persuasive people are adept at reading and responding to other people. They rely heavily on emotional intelligence (EQ) to bring people to their way of thinking. 

Techniques For Giving Better Presentations

the content is the most important part of your presentation. All the bonus stuff—the animated slides, the videos, the jokes—can’t compensate for lack of compelling content.
What’s more, your content should stand out from what other people are saying. 

You have to take a stance and differentiate yourself from what’s out there. 
That's the part that people forget when it comes to presentations. They try to be everything to everyone, but you can’t. 

The goal of a presentation is to change someone’s beliefs or behaviors. If you don’t take a stance, if you’re too vanilla, you can’t change other people’s behavior.

Rock stars use production elements like lighting to shape the emotional effect of their presentations. As a corporate speaker you may be able to do that to some extent, but mostly you communicate emotions through your personality, your passion, and stories from your life. 

Three recommendations.

First, be authentic. Don’t try to be funny if you’re not. Don’t pretend to be a bigger company than you are. Don’t pretend to be more knowledgeable than you are. And don’t pretend that you want to be there if you don’t. Audiences can sniff out a fraud in 30 seconds.

Second, be confident. At an M.I.A. ladies were gushing: “She has so much swagger! I wish I could have some of that.” Confidence is attractive. Frank Sinatra, who was a physically unimposing high-school dropout. But through his self-confidence, he made the most of his talents as a musician, actor and businessman.

You can’t fake confidence, so it’s best rely on your expertise, practice and preparation

Finally, be likeable. Make an effort to be relatable, friendly, and open. It helps build relationships with audiences. Some adopt a more punk attitude. and break free of the constraints of likeability. But as a public speaker, you’re better off taking the route of Taylor Swift than Courtney Love.

Rock stars really wow us when they simplify. Some of the best business talks I’ve seen have been simple. No slides, no videos, no New Yorker cartoons, no fancy infographics. But they had a meaningful message that resonated with me and was all the more memorable for the lack of frills.

Finally, go for broke. Give a great show each and every time on the stage. “Business people somehow believe that if they didn’t sleep well or had a bad flight, they can be off their game, That’s wrong. When you’re trying to present,when you trying to influence people, when you’re trying to change behavior, you better bring it. You get one shot to get it right and you’ve got to go for it.”

After a good show, people talk. They buy the t-shirts, they share on social media. Presentations are the same. “If you do a good presentation, people talk about it afterwards.It will lift you and your career. If you do a lousy job, then boy it’s a missed opportunity.”

VIA http://www.forbes.com/sites/ruthblatt/2014/10/16/rock-stars-techniques-for-giving-better-presentations/