How to Hold Your Own During A Conference

In the fast-paced world of business, every meeting is an important meeting. Mobile applications and web conferencing makes any location a suitable location for a business meeting, and true success comes from being able to transition seamlessly from one environment to the next. All the practice and preparation won't change the fact that how well you engage your peers is more important than the content of your presentation, or the polish of your pitch.

Surviving the On-The-Spot Skype Interview

Holding your own in a conference boils down to holding your own in a conversation. This means being able to act natural, confident, and relaxed while still focusing on the topic of the meeting. More often than not, speaking comfortably and confidently comes from speaking with others – often.

Conversing with others sounds easy enough – on the surface – but it doesn't always provide ample preparation for discussing detail-heavy business topics with the appropriate level of poise. Scripted role-play may be okay for some training situations, but what about those times when an unanticipated question comes up? That's where simulation training comes in.

Practice Makes Perfect

Keep Cool – Practicing the art of dialogue and etiquette will result in a sense of confidence and poise which will help you keep a clear head in even the tensest of business meetings. Great leaders are often marked by their ability to remain unflappable even when under fire, they weren't born that way, they practiced it until it looked easy.
Anticipate Curve-balls – Today's job market is increasingly competitive, getting a job means standing out from the crowd. Most interviewers have not only mastered keeping a straight face and unreadable body language, but also delight in asking insightful questions which force you to shift mental gears quickly.
Organize Coherent Thoughts – Being heard and appreciated as part of the business team means being able to comprehend what your cohorts are saying while also preparing a coherent response. Practicing active listening allows you to touch upon the important points others have raised while also providing a resolution of your own.

To keep up with the break-neck pace of today's high-tech business world, it's important to remain in step with the latest in business innovations. Learning how to hold your own in a conference is just like learning a foreign language, which is why simulation training is so important for anyone wanting to maintain a competitive edge.

SimSource Inc. is a communication company that provides performance-based training and assessment services. Their mission is to provide customized actor-based training, assessment and consultation for a variety of industries such as health care providers, human resources, and law school. For more information visit www.simsourceinc.com.

Politeness in the Workplace: Self-Test

I originally created this self-test on politeness for the revision of Interpersonal Messages but later decided to use a more general (and shorter) self-test for politeness. But, I thought this one might be of use as well, especially for those who want to focus on the workplace.

Test Yourself

How Polite Are You at Work?

Here is a list of statements that refer to polite behavior with special application to the workplace. Indicate the degree to which each statement reflects your own behavior, using the following scale: (1) always, (2) sometimes, (3) about half and half, (4) seldom, and (5) never.

_____ 1. I listen attentively to those I supervise, my peers, and my managers.

_____ 2. I avoid imposing on others.

_____ 3. I compliment others.

_____ 4. I avoid strong cologne or other smells that may prove offensive to others.

_____ 5. I avoid even the suggestion of sexual harassment.

_____ 6. I avoid any suggestion of bullying.

_____ 7. I willingly mentor those less experienced than I.

_____ 8. I help others in their networking.

_____ 9. I avoid language that may prove offensive.

_____ 10. I avoid bragging and tooting my own horn and act with appropriate modesty.

_____ 11. I ask questions that show my interest but avoid those that may appear intrusive.

_____ 12. I contribute readily to groups and teams.

_____ 13. I express positive attitudes toward others.

_____ 14. I avoid negative gossip.

_____ 15. I talk on my phone and in conversations so as not to disturb nearby workers.

_____ 16. I avoid giving advice unless it’s genuinely desired and then am constructive.

_____ 17. I am prepared for meetings.

_____ 18. I am on time for meetings and appointments.

_____ 19. I share any praise for my accomplishments with others.

_____ 20. I use appropriate communication channels.

_____ 21. I avoid spam and information overload.

_____ 22. I express appreciation when others give me feedback.

_____ 23. I dress appropriately in terms of organizational norms.

_____ 24. I respect office property.

_____ 25. I avoid stereotyping in my workplace communication.

How did you do? As you can see these characteristics of politeness are also the characteristics of effective workplace communication. Add up your scores; they should total between 25 (indicating extreme politeness) and 125 (indicating extreme impoliteness).

What will you do? Consider if any of the behaviors that you rate 3, 4, or 5 are creating problems for you. If so, how might you go about changing your behavior?