Appreciate The Deeper Level Of Negotiation…

Training overseas has always been an exciting experience for me. The days before traveling are filled with a sense of anticipation. At the same time, I get to read up and prepare more to adapt to the customs and cultures of that country I am traveling to. This also gives me an opportunity to further customize my trainings and talks in accordance to the practices of the locals. I enjoy it thoroughly. Besides, who would turn down the chance to make more friends from other countries?

 

I was in Indonesia recently for an intensive training on “Effective Negotiation with Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP)”. This program was specially designed for the staffs of a major international bank. This time round, I incorporated plenty of important negotiation concepts into the updated version of this essential skill.

 

And I was very pleased with the participants. Ranging from the eager learners to the sincere appreciators, they made my trip to Indonesia feel welcome and the warmth was undeniable. The sharing included a part of their culture, one that embraces service quality. I am deeply impressed by their commitment to customer service excellence.

 

We moved into discussing on the deeper concepts of negotiation. The exchanges and enquires were filled with fervor, reflecting the innate desire to acquire negotiation comprehension, fast and rigorous. I was up to the task, for I loved such interactions. It was negotiation-in-training at its best.

 

As a result, these were some of the in-depth negotiation concept discussed:

 

1. Negotiation is a skill you cannot do without in life. It happens almost everywhere.

 

2. Negotiation requires knowledge of human psychology and behavioral understanding.

 

3. The better you can negotiate; the sooner you will attain your life goals.

 

4. The outcome of negotiation is sometimes already determined before you meet the other party.

 

5. Negotiation is often an art too, not just merely scientific procedure of technical transaction.

 

6. Negotiation exists because of our primary emotional nature.

 

7. Negotiation is at times, not what it seems.

 

 It does take reflection, application and close observation to further appreciate what these concepts mean. Yet when one sees beyond the fundamentals and include the strategies, the ways to get your intended outcome through negotiating become clear as sky. I encourage you to contemplate on these reasoning and integrate them into your daily practices as a negotiator of life.

May you Excel Beyond Excellence in your negotiations!

 

 (Source: wekie.com)

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5 Ways You Can Gain A New Perspective Of Life

These few weeks have been extremely packed with the training workshops and coaching. These trainings range from Anger Management to Counselling and Leadership Management Skills, tapping on the different aspects of human behaviour and capacities.

 

In addition, what I truly like are the experiences I’ve encountered and the new friends I’ve gotten to know, be it at the workshops or the social gatherings. It does speak of the need to see the world beyond what our personal perspectives can offer.

 

In the midst of us being in pursue of whatever we hope for in life, I’m just wondering how often do we take time to smell the roses, stopping by the tracks to appreciate what we might have missed.

 

To look at life in another way, consider these:

 

1. Stop being busy for the sake of being busy. Start re-evaluating the reasons why you work at what you are currently working at and the ultimate purpose behind it.

 

2. Speak to someone whom you consider to be in a much worse off condition than you. You’ll discover how much difference in lifestyle there can be.

 

3. Attempt to perform a regular task in an irregular way. For example, take a different route on your way to work or to school. Discover the things you don’t usually see along the way.

 

4. Read an article that is usually outside your common area of interest. If you’re into baking and cooking, why not explore a book about the Milky Way of the galaxy and see if there’s any ‘correlation’ that you may derive out of it. You’ll be surprised how creative your mind can get.

 

5. Mediate your mind and reduce the pace of your living. Allow relaxation to handle your life’s demands. Not everything must be done in a panicky, hurried manner.

 

These exercises hence form an essential part of our growth and development as a citizen of the world. It becomes a beginning foray into what might be beyond the mere hustles and bustles of mere busyness. Or perhaps it may give you a new meaning to what life and living is all about…

 

At the very least, it sets you on the path to Excel Beyond Excellence.

(Source: wekie.com)

7 Important Things You Must Know To Excel In Your Table Topics

When I stepped into the auditorium yesterday, the enthusiastic mood of the audience filled the air. Indeed, they were present to learn and acquire the art of public speaking. The fervor to learn was undeniable. You will be inspired by their passion and touched by their willingness to improve.

As I presented my workshop on “Table Topics Triumph”, I could see all of the participants gripping on to their pens, ready to note down the various pointers that I would cover. When I asked for their suggestions for table topics, the willing hands would raise up. We were never short of ideas when it came to topics. I liked that.

Most of all, I take honor in having the privilege to contribute my knowledge, expertise and services to the participants. I appreciate them coming forth with enquiries and their answers to my questions. This is what sharing is all about. We grow together.

Adding on, there are important things that can further help you if being excellent in Table Topics is your aim:

1. The audience is smart. Never underestimate the people you are addressing nor look down on them. Treat them with worth and respect.

2. Remember to answer the question. Instead of getting too carried away with your opinions, get back to attention to the topic eventually.

3. Ensure that there is a logical flow to your speech. In the midst of time pressure, it’s easy to be way too scattered with your speech. Keep it flowing smoothly.

4. Avoid the dreaded awkward introduction where the audience knows that you are unsure. This usually serves as a major obstacle to an otherwise great speech. Stand your ground on this.

5. Use the stage positions to display compare and contrast if required in your speech. This will enable your audience to differentiate your points within a very short time in a quick duration of your speech.

6. Let the topic drive your speech and its content. In this way, your entire speech will come across as more coherent and answering to the topic.

7. Know that there are always multiple angles to approach the topics. Short of being too absolute, topics can truly be answered from more than one methodology. Work on showing your perspectives of the topic, allowing it to make sense with the audience.

At the end of it all, it’s ultimately your show. To put up a positive display of your speaking prowess, correct and constant practice is essential.

Here are my best wishes. May your speeches always Excel Beyond Excellence!

(Source: wekie.com)

What You Can Do To Boost Your Sales, Negotiation and Persuasion Techniques

What I truly love about full day trainings on Sundays is that the streets are so peaceful whenever I travel to the workshop venue. And it always gives me newly energized perspectives to share differently. Hence for the recent Sunday training, I decided to add even more value to provide more concepts taught.

This was a customized training on “Selling Skills and Persuasion Techniques” for a major company in the industry. The large group of audience was highly participative and massively added to the fun and laughter. While sales techniques were practiced, I was also glad when I showed them how to further create more strategies that work.

Let’s explore how you can boost up these vital techniques of yours:

1. Be willing to experiment with different variations

Understand that there are no absolute fixed techniques that will work perfectly. You have to mesh the techniques with your personality and your mannerisms. As a result, varying circumstances do call for an invented strategy sometimes. While impromptu techniques may not work all the time, it adds to the fun of selling and negotiation.

2. Learn to be observant of your potential customers

Your customers, when you are observant, will give you plenty of clues to know how to sell to them. There are always signs and cues that will somewhat provide you hint as to whether you are ‘colder’ or ‘warmer’ to getting the sale. However, your part is to train yourself to be observant enough to detect these all-important, profit-generating, quota closing signals. Experience through interaction does count very much in this case.

3. Work with a persuasion mentor by sharing your encounters

Your mentor for persuasion should be competent enough to detect, highlight and analyze your various blind spots during your interaction with your customers or colleagues. This will certainly help to accelerate your learning curve on this skill. In addition, your sharing allows you to further encapsulate your thoughts through your expression, giving in greater reflection and learning.

When you conscientiously work on these pointers, you will, over time, experience a greater sense of understanding towards applying addition sales and persuasion techniques. These hence, become an integral part of you eventually.

Wishing you the results that Excel Beyond Excellence in this New Year!

(Source: wekie.com)

A New Thought For The New Turn Of The Year

As the clock goes ticking away, the world awaits the turn of the year. Many people look forward eagerly to the arrival of 2009 with a sense of anticipation and hope. A hope that the New Year will be better, a wish that the current outlook will be brighter, and a yearning that personal lives will be smoother.

This year, 2008, has been filled with turning events, ranging from tainted scandals, to elections and change of governments, from terrorists events to monumental human achievements. These are all worth reflecting, analyzing and discussing, along with the fact that they provide lessons worth learning.

Granted some events are beyond our personal control, but there are surely things in life that we can affect and have some influence over. These things that we can do, no matter how miniscule, are things that we can do. And that is enough, for now.

Therefore as we watch the hours, minutes and seconds drawing closer toward the countdown, what we can hold in our mind is this:

What can I do next?

In the light of merely having the events happen and sweep pass us, what we can ponder about are the things we can do for ourselves and the people around us. This simple thought in the form a question can drive people to create ultimately massive changes in the world.

At the very least, it will set us of in the direction we want in our lives. Think about the allure of knowing what your life in gear the very moment the clock strikes twelve. I would be pretty excited by the prospects of this.

Some of the questions that you can think about on this last day of 2008 in preparation for the New Year include:

— Do I want to treat people better?

— Do I intend to work on my communication?

— Are there things that are left over to accomplish?

— Am I ready to quit unproductive things that I should have stopped long ago?

— What can I pay attention to in my life?

— What has been sitting there, idling, screaming for me to work on?

— Have I taken the following step towards my dream?

Whatever that, in your perspective, would be meaningful to you will hence add that value to this turn of the year. After all, if we are to carry something forward from this departing year, we might as well bring over the residual learning and our dreams to the next 365 days.

May you take a closer step towards your life goals and Excel Beyond Excellence!

Have a wonderful New Year! See you in 2009!

(Source: wekie.com)

From A Time Of Birthday Reflection To A Year Of Growth

As I sit here in the middle of the night typing out my thoughts, I can’t help taking a quick glance at my organizer. Flipping the dogged-ear pages back and forth brought back a sense of sweet nostalgic feelings. I remembered just a year ago, on my Birthday; I made my annual reflective recollection in my own quiet time.

It brought to mind how thankful I was for the year’s encounters. I also remembered the friends I’ve made in my talks, trainings as well as those who had engaged me as their personal coach. The contributions they’ve allowed me to make in their lives had helped in my grand appreciation of the world at large.

These fuelled my realization of how complex the entire human race can be, yet how simple the solutions can turn out to become.

Paradoxical, perhaps? Yes, indeed.

And you’ll be surprised how much an irony life can turn out to be.

Nonetheless, to me, it simply means how clear cut I can see the answers to the problems are. These insights now merge into an experience and discovery I’ve deeply treasured in my personal capacity as a citizen of my community and of the entire universe. Hence, I strive to add these values and learning into my work as a speaker and trainer.

In the course of this year I’ve been receiving an increasing amount of speaking, coaching and training engagements. They are often packed back to back, at times running for a series of days. Hence a nearly continuous standing up of 8 to 11 hours a day makes my legs demand that I treat them to a warm massage and a deep healing rub. Despite their lamentations, I carried on “mis-treating” them. But, it’s all worth it.

It’s an emotional high whenever I speak or train! No joke. I’ve never been as serious as now. 🙂

Therefore, this is what makes me grow. I’ve discovered that: When I’m doing what I truly love, it’s all worth it!

Ok, I know some people will exclaim, “But I’m not doing what I love?!!”

Then, my friend, it’s time for you to reflect, and find a reason to love what you do. And you’ll start to grow too.

Complex problem, simple solution.

Merry Christmas to you!

(Source: wekie.com)

5 Important Steps To Super-Charge Your Relationship Communication In Life

It was just a few nights ago where the evening newspaper, Lian He Wan Bao, published my advice on the headlines and the inner page. I was engaged by the organizers because of my expertise in relationship communication and my experience in coaching different people.

Based on what the reporter had observed, I was being interviewed and shared some practical tips on how people can improve their relationships with each other.

As a Professional Excellence speaker and trainer, I am passionately interested to see people communicate better, build quality relationships, eventually be competent in all the Professional Excellence skills and ultimately excel beyond in various aspects of their lives.

Indeed, we must start to consider how the world has changed and evolved. It’s through our self-reflection and mutual consideration that we can discover enhanced ways to relate with one another.

Be it with colleagues, parent and child, staff and boss, friends or other forms of interaction, you have to be more tactful and remain sensitive to your relationship building skills. Fortunately, there are 5 of such important steps to make our communication so much better in our relationships and interactions.

The steps are:

Step 1: Consider the other party’s position first.

Step 2: Understand how the way you communicate your viewpoints can affect that person and your relationship.

Step 3: Seek to bridge the gap between both perceptions by establishing the common purposes.

Step 4: Practice saying those sentences to yourself before you talk in person. Ensure they come across acceptable.

Step 5: Check for mutual understanding and appreciation during the communication process.

Remember, Communicate Well, Make Your Relationship Excel!

(Source: wekie.com)

I Thirst For More

It’s often in learning that we progress. For today, an enthusiastic Toastmaster, Gerald Ong, sent me an article for posting. I’m sure the eager learners will be hungry for more and thirsting for more knowledge.

Here’s what Gerald had share:

I Thirst for More

Are you thirsty after having a spicy meal?

Are you thirsty for better speaking skills?

Do you hunger for more a lively club environment?

What should we do?

— Share the benefits of Toastmasters to the public!

Benefits of Toastmasters are:

— Unlimited opportunities for personal growth and career advancement

— Improved Abilities and Broadened experience

— Learning points in Leadership development through club administration and club management

— Self-Confidence and Self-esteem in public speaking

— Better interpersonal communication skills and human relationships

“If you can dream it, you can do it” — Walt Disney

Why do members leave the club?

— Commitments to other voluntary organizations

— Work Commitments

— Change of personal interests

— Family Matters

— Differences in club atmosphere as compared to their heydays.

“Altitude does wonders”

— Revive the atmosphere by involving your club coach, club mentors and club sponsors.

— Have a positive mindset. Nothing is impossible. Look at “impossible” as “I-M-Possible”

— With the right mindset, you can achieve anything you dream.

“Focus Bring Power”

When you are down, you will rise up at the end of the day. “Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.” Helen Keller

Only time will tell that it would be successful.

A quote to ponder:

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.” Helen Keller

With the right attitude, mindset, you can excel beyond excellence!

(Source: wekie.com)

3 Ways To Make Yourself Heard For The First Time As A Speaker

Tonight’s meeting at The National University of Singapore Toastmasters Club saw 7 new Toastmasters presenting their Project 1 speakers. It was heartening and encouraging to see how much effort they had put into ensure their maiden speech was well presented. Congratulations to all the speakers tonight!

With regular practice, your commitment to becoming a better speaker will bear fruits soon.

Here are some of the ways you can create an impact as a first-time public speaker:

1. It’s always interesting to share with your audience the culture you come from.

2. Provide your audience a more vivid account and highlight the background to how you embarked unto this path of self-improvement.

3. Seek to pepper your speech with interesting incidents you’ve encountered.

Welcome to the journey of speech competence. May you always Excel Beyond Excellence!

(Source: wekie.com)

Do You Have The 7 Characteristics Of The Self-Leader?

When a person exhibits a certain sense of leadership that you can hardly put your fingers down, he could be a Self-Leader. You will notice that he seems to get things done without the need to be pushed as well as building resources that are often useful and practical. He displays certain charisma that draws people to him and ultimately you know, if anyone’s to be on top, it’s him, He is The Self-Leader.

Here are the characteristics that make one a Self-Leader:

1. The Self-Leader is self-motivated.

2. He is grounded in his own values and foundations.

3. He is self-sufficient.

4. He is a self-starter in taking action.

5. He is manages his own emotions well.

6. He already has a plan and knows how and where to get things.

7. He is comfortable in communicating his needs, requirements and directions.

As you read through the list, you may want to reflect and discover if you are already one. No matter where you are in life, it’s never too late to start becoming a Self-Leader.

(Source: wekie.com)