Views in Verse on empathy

The most important factor in delivering a successful presentation... empathy !

You often see pocket lists that address this key aspect of business. I always look intently at these to see whether they have included what I believe to be far and away the most important element. The reason that I feel quite strongly about this? ...I learnt this lesson the hard way.

A member friend Earl Lappen had asked me to present on knowledge management in the clunky old former premises of the Australian Institute of Management in North Sydney. Being a casual member at the time (circa 1998), I had been there once or twice earlier and witnessed speakers struggling with the noisy intermittent air conditioning, the microphones that had minds of their own and the audio visual gear that usually took assistance from the 'techo guy' to both get and keep going.

On the night, I did my best to address all these 'front of mind' things and got through the planned agenda (with the air-con off) - a technical subject I delivered to what I believed to be a somewhat technical group - AIM's member chapter of 'the business systems group'.

Upon asking for questions afterwards, you could have heard a pin drop amongst the fifty odd present as ten or maybe twenty seconds passed; until one member quizzically asked "do you think any of these things are relevant to small business?" A question I was utterly unprepared for as I had assumed the audience to be mainly 'systems oriented' representatives from major corporates.

But hey ...when you've 'dug a deep enough hole you just keep on digging' ...so I then asked "how many of you here are from small business to-night?" A clear majority of hands went up in the room. I then delivered what I thought to be a passable answer to a brave question, but the whole time realizing that both my context and content had both missed the mark on the evening.

The most important element in preparing for a speech/presentation - know your audience!!!

I hopefully made up for this error some ten years later, when as a chapter convenor, I presented a member forum on the same topic using some relevant business colleagues who ((like Earl) remain linked-in up to this day - Duncan Robinson, Pat Lockley and Peter Niven.

During the introduction, I made note of my clumsiness from all those years before and broadly encouraged the audience to stay involved for the duration to ensure that none of us drifted off the radar. Never forget that communication is a two way process.

It often pays to ask background questions of your audience before you start (as well as reading the attendee list as they arrive). This type of introduction, that promotes immediate comments, brings with it a 'buy-in' that gets the group involved right from 'the get-go' as well as making you fully aware of who you are actually sharing with.

It also pays beforehand to be in touch with all the marketing data that has been circulated and to whom - this aspect is not always achievable but does 'throw even further light' on your planned audience.

Good luck with your next presentation! Enjoy!

GF

Reflection

(seeing things through other people's eyes is often not as easy as some like to think!)

The man in the mirror

is toiling away

working off last night's fun

A self-critique

while purging away

reflection on the run:

I pump and I grind

cause I have to really

I carry some weight you see

Cause the man in the mirror

he ventures on out

a little too often that's me

As I work through the sets

thoughts comes on through

a 'little' uncomfortably

I'm the man in the mirror

I'm feeling good but

moving gingerly...

The woman with the hat

was in my face

well ...that was plain to see

A friend of a friend

she was so pissed off

...but hey ...well ...not because of me?

What about Sonia's brother in law?

some argue

even when they're wrong you see

He's better off really

for the 'spray' I gave him

but hey ...deservedly

I was with that blond

...say ...why not?

she captured my interest awhile

The 'hat lady' sank as the

blond headed 'skank'

waved at me and smiled

The blond wouldn't dance

when I offered the chance

said I'd  indulged 'too willingly'

Tried to resolve it

but I couldn't hold it

in speaking ...adequately

More time at the bar

could only but mar

any chance of a budding romance

By now kind of numb

right down from my bum

best suited for sitting ..not dance

Then that fellah

who just kept looking..

staring provokingly

I broke my rule

confronted the 'tool'

sorted it out...gentlemanly?

Sometimes there are things

that are much better

well...left more unsaid

A good shove ...yeah

it works every time

Puts the issue 'straight to bed'

The pain in my shoulder

I can't quite trace though

the bouncers do come to mind

For no good reason

that I can recall

the barman really wasn't that 'kind'

My mates tell me

I could do a little better...

be more careful with what I drink

But those last few...

'wow'!!!

kind'a creep right up on you

you just really can't ...'think'

Anyway...

I'm better for the workout

Now it's time to text the boys

Sunday's a good day

I always reckon

for makin' a little noise...

Reservedly though

yes so reservedly so

I'm a social soul

that's me

Yeh!

Forwarded from my I phone - Grahame J Flynn

views in verse on taking control

Are you a ball of stress by day's end?

Is every conflicted day the same?

Are people at work damaging your health?

Let's see if we can find some ...'consolation in philosophy'


Alain de Botton in his BBC series Consolations of Philosophy used London cabbies to demonstrate that the stress we bring upon ourselves in everyday life is indeed controllable. His views, based upon Seneca's philosophy, were fully explained in his text of the same name.

Seneca had served in the court of Nero; the brutal monster who had murdered members of his own family. Seneca's choice was in knowing that this wild behaviour was consistent and that what we really want in the world is in truth beyond our control - wishing will not change how things are - we must learn daily to accept reality.

His view was that by accepted reality (as it is) and not fancying how we 'wish it would be', we will not suffer ongoing disappointments in our life. Thereby reducing stress, self pity, shock and anger.

He interviewed dozens of London Cabbies and he got the same result. They were all appalled at the end of each day by the driving they had seen during that same day. Thereby, ending each day as 'stress-balls' - by achieving what they had dreaded at the start of the day; succeeding in not changing the harsh reality of London traffic.

De Botton in applying Seneca's method to this, upheld that if they had begun each day fully accepting the day is 'as it is' and not 'as they wish it would be' they would travel a lot more smoothly through the day and would be in a much fitter state by the day's end.


Are you working with a difficult person who rules your day perhaps. You can't change this - but you can learn to manage it. By accepting that person 'as they are' and not continually wishing that they would 'act differently'. See text 'working with you is killing me' Crowley/Elster.

Plenty of tips in here to help get you through your working day!







Would all this help in your daily life? See whether you can adopt a different philosophy in your working day and then benefit from it!




A SENECAN PRAEMEDITATIO

(the wise) start each day with the thought...
'Fortune gives us nothing that we can truly own
Nothing, whether public or private, is stable;
the destinies of men,
no less those of our cities
are in a whirl...
reckon on everything
expect nothing!'

Views in Verse on World Series Champions

Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants - A truly exciting series to go to 7 games - a 3-2 final result. The Royals were magnificent too ...rank outsiders march into baseball folklore - A series to savour - an October to remember - Madison Bumgarner the shining star - the Panda ...not far behind!



Dream OctoberYou say our parting is like losing a best friend
What kind of friend are you to never call at all
You say that people keep on changing without you
But that's not how I thought of you in the fall

Dream October, dream October back to me
Dream October, is that all that it could be
Dream October, see the sun set in your eyes
Dream October, as I say goodbye

Like the glacier at the top of a mountain
With the sun melting what left of the snow
And like the drop carried out to the ocean
It seems some things these days are meant to be let go

Dream October, dream October back to me
Dream October, is that all that it could be
Dream October, see the sunset in your eyes
Dream October, as I say goodbye

Yeah, sometimes I still miss you
Even though, it didn't work out in the end
Once in a while, I think back to when it all began

Dream October, dream October back to me
Dream October, is that all that it could be
Dream October, see the sunset in your eyes
Dream October, as I say, as I say goodbye

Views in Verse on 'walking the walk'

Diabetes Australia

Walk to Work Day 2014

Why not join in? Friday 14th November






Morning in the City

I caste a lazy eye 
as the the bus nears 'The Bridge'
the sun shines bright off Middle Head
The Opera House smiles
as she peeps o'er the brow
I'd be pained to use my vehicle instead




I come in early 
for my 'walk 'cross town'
the ideal start to the working day
An easy pace 
...no need to race
from The Quay toward Castlereagh

Through narrow lanes
of convict stone
I make my way toward the heart
Pitt St will take me
most the way to Sydney South
a steady hill right from the start












Martin Place is stirring;
the 'promotional' zone...
early workers busy on displays
In an hour there'll be shouts
from painted roustabouts
as commuters go along their merry way

A few blocks up 
the retail heart
trucks descend upon the mall
Restocking shops
for the day that's ahead
a greengrocer at his stall









It's a steady rise toward
the top end of town
An eclectic mix there you'll find
Best brands galore
In specialist stores
past the Hilton 
where taxis entwine

Crossing Bathurst St
up at the top 
Say hello to the 'new' Chinatown
Once confined
to 'old' Dixon St
now thriving some eight blocks around






A little further on
the railway arches
I routinely make my way down
Once you cross under
Surry Hills beckons
with the aroma of fresh coffee ground

The side-walks are narrow
where the locals gather
to await barista service with style
Just beyond them
men walk streets
clutching at loose bedding piles







But it's the 'metro' zone now
the place to be seen
I chance to wonder what I'm doing here
But I shot in the key
Enter ...just me
Ready to work ...no fear


from my notebook Grahame J Flynn

Views in verse on "the old fashioned way"

The Gaints - an 'old fashioned' baseball team!


The Giants this week stormed into the World Series under the inspiration of their 'old fashioned' right fielder Hunter Pence. After the Wild Card game that got them into the play-offs, Pence not only wound up his team to "go all the way" but he even grabbed the public address and included the fans to do all they could to see that the Giants win 'the ring' again this year.


They won in 2010 and 2012 - Pence was a key player in these games. But more than that he is their informal leader. In this knee high socks and his untrained swing he looks every bit the boy next door coming up to bat. But last night in what ended a dry spell for him (batting-wise) he posted a (3 run) home run that set up the Giants to a convincing 7-1 win in game one against the Kansas City Royals.


The manager Bruce Bochy also likes to stick to traditional baseball. He adopts a style nearly gone in these 'media mad', 'hit the ball over the fence', image that we have seen in recent decades. The Cardinals in their 4-1 series loss to San Francisco last week hit overall 10 home runs to the Giants 3. The Bochy style is that you bat for the lead runner - he is always the one in the best position to score. And score they do!


The whole Giants team appears somewhat unconventional against the hard core finely tuned professionals of the age. But this makes them very interesting. And given the fact that they can dominate (...when they want to) it makes them a lot of fun to watch. Their 3rd baseman 'the Panda' is worth the entry ticket alone too - great fielder - great batter - great entertainer!


The enthusiasm of the team shows at this time of year. They only had a 60/40 win ratio in the season but here they are! Another World Series win beckons.


Watch out for the World Series this week (7 games planned)!

Take me out to the ballgame

Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out with the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don't care if I ever get back

'Cause it's root, root, root for the home team
If they don't win it's a shame
'Cause it's one, two, three strikes you're out
At the old ballgame

'Cause it's one, two, three strikes you're out
At the old ballgame