How often have you got everything in your head about what you need to do but there is just no time to get it all down? When I present at a conference or create voice workshops I have a wealth of ideas in my head but getting it down in a list seems so much like a chore. Enter the “planning circles” Many of my clients have now adopted this technique to help them to get focus and clarity.

Ideas are the life blood of any business. They allow you to imagine the possibilities and explore the opportunities available. They are also where many people stumble and fall. Why is this? In many cases the ideas fill your head so that in actual fact nothing gets done at all. You are inspired, you feel great but those vital steps to get you started just never happen. “This idea is good but so is this one…what if I created both that would be amazing. I could …..”and so on.

I saw a great presentation once that ended in someone lighting a candle and then asking the audience “So I’d like you to close your eyes and imagine blowing out this candle” Everone closed their eyes. “Now, keeping your eyes shut really believe you can blow out the candle” Then when the audience opened their eyes they saw that the candle was still burning brightly. “Well,” said the presenter “You can think and believe things will happen but it’s only when you take action that things will really change - phuff!” (He blew out the clandle)

Creating a design with each section divided into small chunks can be very liberating. All those ideas suddenly become focused into a plan of action. You begin to see clearly which steps you need to take first, which ideas link into others and then you’re head becomes less cluttered. You have a real plan that works for you and keeps you focused.

Think about what kind of design would work for you to create your ideas on. I choose circles but several of my clients chose blocks, clouds, petals etc. Then place them one on top of the other leaving spaces in between and joining them with arrows asending. Leave enough space in each circle (your design) so that you can write about 5-6 bullet points. I divide mine into months using about 4-5 bullet points for each week.

I am looking at my asending circles as I write this. It is pinned to my corkboard in front of me. I have written goals for each month so that I keep to my schedule. Some ideas are colour coded as this helps me to link my ideas and see the progression.

Ideas, possibilities and projects need not be a chore. You can achange your designs to suit your mood or a particular project. One of my associates liked the simplicity of planning circles and now uses them to help his staff focus their ideas and plan projects. The applications are enless. Give it a try - turn your possibilities and good ideas into a planning design of your choice.

Jackie Arnold

Today I signed my contract for the new book “Coaching Skills for Leaders in the Workplace” this is very exciting as I have wanted to write a book on coaching for several years. As the owner and principal of a language school from 1988 - 2001 I would have liked a coach or mentor to support me through the transition from teacher to manager.

It is not always apparent that when we do something well we are not necessarily good at running our own businesses in that field. The E-Myth by Michael E Gerber was a very valuable tool during those formative years and he demonstrated that many small businesses fail through lack of key management and people skills.

Coaching is the best tool I have come across to support people in the workplace. It empowers people to take ownership and responsibility for their CPD and releases senior managers leaders to carry out their own roles. Too often managers are fire-fighting and dealing with issues that are brought to them by their staff. The realisation they do not need to have all the answers is very liberating. It certainly was for me! Of course we want to help our staff to succeed. We are keen for them to do things “right” but we may be blind to the fact that our way is not always the “right” way. People have different views of the world and their filters are often not the same as those of their managers.

Take an example of a manager who is very action orientated. She likes to get things done and is not really too concerned about the details. Her direct report is a woman who likes to consider all the options before coming to a decision and feels more comfortable when she has read through all the information. Unless, as managers, we are able to recognise that others may do a task differently but may also be just as effective we will not get the best from our people. This is where coaching can be so valuable. It can raise our awareness of how others see the world and operate within it. It can help us to see that by “fixing it” for our staff it is not necessarily the best way for them. Giving them back the responsibility and allowing them to make mistakes without judgement enables them to grow. It increases their confidence and self-worth.

If you or any of your colleagues are coaching as part of your role within an organisation I would love to hear from you. How do you coach your staff? As a line manager can you coach your staff effectively and non-judgementally? Do you have any useful case studies you can share.

Many thanks for your input

Jackie Arnold

Well! It isn’t often you get asked to speak on BBC radio 2 on the high profile Steve Wright show but that is exactly what happened to me last week.

My book “Raise Your Glasses Please” is a book giving tips and hints for writing short punchy speeches and giving toasts at events and weddings.  It includes quotes and jokes and even limericks that you can integrate into your speeches.
Lisa Turbuck interviewed me and she was very relaxed, which was helpful, as all the activity going on around was quite distracting. I found that after taking several deep breaths and focusing on her questions that the interview jogged along nicely and I ended up enjoying myself!
She wanted to know why people sometimes dry up. I replied that if we get to the source of the fear and then work on getting people to feel more confident and relaxed they will not get into that state of mind.  Keeping a glass of water handy is alos helpful.  Then you can pause, take a sip and then resume. When taking this pause you have the chance to gather your thoughts, and the audience likewise.

Lisa asked what make’s a Best Man’s speech go well. I mentioned the three P’s - Plan Prepare and Practice.  First plan your speech well and find out some interesting or amusing stories about the groom.  Ask what hobbies or interests he has.  Find out if he ever did anything really daring or particularly unusual.  Prepare some props to give your stories more visual impact. Then practice, practice and practice again. Only when you are sure of your speech can you start to enjoy it.

As I said to Lisa during the interview, speaking really can be so much fun.
She also asked me about the Toastmaster Speaking clubs that can be found all over the world.  In the UK there are at least one or two in every major city and in London alone there are over 20 clubs.  You have a wonderful safe place to practice and get really excellent feedback on what you do well and how to develop as a speaker.  For less than £100 a year!  In 2001 I started a club in Brighton & Hove and we now have a regular 30-40 members of all ages and walks of life.  It’s a great social club too and everone is very supportive.

Lisa finished up by asking me about the best and worst speakers I had heard. I mentioned Winston Churchill as being one of the great orators and Tony Blair wasn’t bad either.  I mentioned George Brown could do with getting his voice out of his chest and that Chris Evans gets squeeky when he runs out of breath.  He speaks too fast and forgets to breathe!

All in all it was a very interesting experience and I would reccommend it. Let’s end with a quote form the book:
“Speaking in public is a lot like black coffee, very stimulating and just as difficult to sleep after”

Jackie Arnold
Voice Coach

Authenticity is key

This week I was coaching someone who was honing his speech for a local competition. It is often at these times when we are anxious to be successful that we begin to “perform” and forget who we are as people.

When we speak in public the audience wants to see who we really are. They want to feel the person touching them in a way that enables them to be drawn into the world of the speaker. I noticed that as we began to work on the connection with the audience that the speech took on a new life. The life of the speaker, his true thoughts and emotions came through and he immediately connected with me and I began to feel and “be” in his world. This allowed me to really listen to him and hear and experience the words rather than just have them bounce off me.

Sometimes in our desire to be successful we introduce ways of speaking that others have used. Mannerisms, gestures and stress patterns that our not ours naturally. The result is a false picture and the effect is to turn the audience off, far better to slightly exaggerate our own natural ways of being. When we speak on a stage it is necessary to make things larger so that we can be seen and heard at the back. Our natural gestures need to be bigger and our voice needs to be clearer and more powerful. However, the nature of who we really are is so vital in keeping the audience with us as we speak. We need to be as authentic as possible if we really want to have the greatest impact.

Who have you heard speak recently? What was your reaction? Did you feel the connection with the speaker and really believe they were authentic?

Martin Luther King was an incredible speaker. I remember the first time I heard him speak and how I was moved to tears – I was twelve years old and I really felt his words although I did not even understand all that he said.

My client came 2^nd in the competition – a really fantastic achievement as this was his first real test in the speaking world. Was he authentic – yes! Did he draw the audience in - yes! Was he pleased – of course!