Our Grandfather Story (OGS)’s Post

👔 Ties: The Essential Accessory for Men! Here are my top 3 reasons why every guy should rock them: 1️⃣ Instant Authority: Need to look like you have it all together? Throw on a tie and watch as everyone suddenly thinks you're the CEO (even if you're just the intern). 2️⃣ Built-in Napkin: Forgot your napkin at lunch? No worries! Just use your tie like a makeshift bib. It's stylish AND practical. 3️⃣ Tie-ing the Knot: The ultimate icebreaker! Nothing sparks a conversation like complimenting someone's funky tie pattern. You'll be networking like a pro in no time. In the picture with me: Bearded dragon 🐉 🦎 Medina Grando Menezes #TieGameStrong #DressToImpress #NetworkingWin

Is your fear of #publicspeaking preventing you from realizing your full potential? Learn how to rise above your anxieties, focus on your audience, communicate with confidence, and much more in our latest blog, “From Fear of Speaking to Courageous Connection.” https://lnkd.in/dvNZMbeu #fearofpublicspeaking #confidentspeaking #professionaldevelopment

Discover the inner, powerful speaker in you by tapping into your generosity. Intrigued? Learn what I mean in my latest #blog.

If you had ten minutes. A new week. A new opportunity. If you have a smart phone or computer access and can give yourself ten you can invest that time for yourself. -Analyze one ad. -Publish a blog post. -Watch a skills-based video -Practice one aspect of public speaking -Read an article about a trend you're curious about. Time goes fasts, but it's amazing what can be done in ten minutes. #tenminutes #learnaskill #timeandopportunity

Would you like to do more public speaking but are nervous about it? I got asked for advice again this week. Here are a few common-sense tips I shared with them and will share with you: 🚀 It's really not rocket science! Start by figuring out what it is that you want to share. Take long walks if you need to do deep thinking work before opening up that PowerPoint 🎯 Know thy audience. Why are they there in the first place and what do they want to get out of it? But also things like: are they native English speakers? What is their level of existing knowledge about the topic? 🕺 What do you want to happen after your talk? Are you trying to influence, persuade, inform, educate? Your presentation should be constructed to achieve that. Then make sure there is a clear call to action. What is said in Vegas shouldn't always stay in Vegas if you want to effect change 😂 Be authentic. That means not trying to be funny if you are not (like me). Personal anecdotes go a long way. But most importantly, think about what you uniquely have to share that will be of interest to your audience ✅ Read the room. No matter how well you prepare, you really never know how your content will land. If people are staring at you with a deer-in-the-headlights look, or they are spending more time on their phone than paying attention to you, try to pivot on the fly 📚 Keep text on slides to a minimum. A presentation should not read like a book. If people are reading your slides they are not really listening to what you are saying. I'd love to skip slides altogether but not that much of a pro yet! 😰 If you are nervous, just think: Your presentation is super important to you... but how important is it to everyone in the room? Probably not so much. I find this helps take the weight off. (Others recommend imagining the audience in their underwear but this would just make me giggle on stage!) ❓ What other advice would you share? #publicspeaking #edtech #learningtechnology #hrtech #conferences #careeradvice

Ever wondered why your career isn’t progressing as fast as you’d like? 🏃♂️ Bet you wouldn’t believe it’s something as simple as social skills. And I bet you didn’t know this but I was actually head boy at school. This was how I learnt public speaking and stepping way out of my comfort zone. Speaking in front of hundreds at a school assembly was a huge for me! Frankly, I was bricking it 🧱 At the end of the day it comes down to confidence, you don’t have to be born with it. My girlfriend’s university just pulled her presentation project a week before it’s due, for inclusivity reasons in regards to those who find speaking in front of others uncomfortable. While I understand some people struggle with public speaking, I don't think public speaking projects should be cut for everyone. Whether meeting a client in person or via Zoom, presenting to colleagues, meeting people at a networking event, or event working as part of a team, you NEED social skills. They're essential, especially in this line of work. When you first jump out of your comfort zone, it's tough. But take this from me; The discomfort will be temporary, once you get going, you’ll wonder why you were uncomfortable in the first place. #30daysofLIprompts by Benjy P. #influencermarketing #creatoreconomy

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 When I talk to my executive clients, I tell them, “Your life experience is a reservoir of unique experiences and insights.” I ask them questions that I am curious about to uncover a wealth of content that can enrich their speeches. This makes them memorable and deeply authentic. This technique is not just about storytelling; it’s a journey to understand the essence of your communicative power. Your unique experiences will resonate with others and foster a connection that transcends the conventional speaker-audience dynamic. For example, what talking about strategy I asked my client “When was the first time you realized the importance of strategy?” “When I was a 14-year-old ball boy before the French Open…” Another “How do you describe Corporate Citizenship to your children?” “It was the day after Christmas and I sat both of my children down…” Another “When did you become passionate about statistics?” “In college. Our professor was a new PhD and we were his first class. When he began telling us…” Another “When did you become determined to be a success?” “I was ten years old sitting at the kitchen table. My 36-year-old father had just died with no insurance. My 29-year-old mother of four had never worked outside of the home. She said, ‘Mary, you will never be in the position of not being able to support yourself and your family…’” The advice I give my clients who need to inspire and motivate their associates is, “They will respect your title. They will fight in the streets when they see the person behind the position.” As you embark on this exploration, remember that every experience, no matter how trivial it may seem, holds the potential to inspire, influence, and ignite change. Your once upon a time is not just your history; it’s the bedrock of your unique voice and perspective. Next time you are with friends, why not say, “Did I ever tell the story about when I was…?” #presentationskillsexpert #keynotespeaker #publicspeaking #frippvt

Are you thinking about getting out there as a keynote speaker to promote your agency? Speaking to your target audience can be a productive way to grow awareness of your agency and generate leads, but getting yourself considered by the right event can take time and preparation. One way to get yourself on stages sooner is to say ‘yes’ to pay-to-play opportunities. But are they really a good investment? I’ll tell you on this Just Ask Jody. https://lnkd.in/eK8sT8PP #agencybusinessdevelopment #agencypitch #agencypositioning #agencynewbusiness #newbusinessstrategy

Who is your community? Over the past couple of weeks, I had the honor of speaking for Clario for their diversity week and for Her Workplace. These experiences made me reflect on how cool it was that these organizations saw a need for talking with their community about developing public speaking confidence and for why community is so important for us to develop as speakers and here are a few 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 and the 𝘣𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴: 1️⃣ 𝐀 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭-𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩: A supportive community provides valuable feedback and constructive criticism. This will help you refine your speaking skills and identify areas where you can improve. 2️⃣ 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭: Interacting with peers who share your passion for public speaking can boost your confidence. It's like having your personal cheering squad! 3️⃣ 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: Communities bring together people from different backgrounds and experiences. Engaging with diverse perspectives can enrich your speaking style and make you more relatable to a wider audience. 4️⃣ 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Building a community also means building a network. Networking can open up opportunities for speaking engagements, collaborations, and exposure to new ideas. 5️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Within a community, you can find safe and brave spaces to practice your speeches or presentations. This helps you gain experience and refine your delivery. If you are someone who doesn't have a community where you can bravely develop as a speaker, please reach out to me because not only do I have a couple of communities that I have started, but I also know other great resources to help you on your speaking journey! I will leave a link to my calendar in the comments 👇 so we can find a time to connect. #community #publicspeaking #meridithspeaks ******************* 👉Dig this? Click my name + Follow + 🔔 Or Connect if you dare 🙂 You will receive Public Speaking Tips and Insights Poetic and sometimes entertaining thoughts 💥

Finally an update to my blog! In our career journey, we cannot be a one-trick pony. We have to capitalize on our strengths and work on our weaknesses. In my case, it all starts with me saying "yes" to an invitation. I am still far from my ideal speaker, the one who is truly inspiring and moves her audience, but I am glad I took the first step. #publicspeaking #overcomingchallenges