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Presentation Week

Today my group presented our consulting project about Alterra Pest Control.  We met the night before and practiced our presentation and worked for several hours.  Then this morning we met at 8am to print and practice some more.  I felt very prepared to present, but was still so nervous.  In my presentation, I forgot to have someone read the quote on the PowerPoint.  I also forgot some of my points I practiced.  I said a lot of filler words.  Those things are mainly just because of nerves.  I think presenting would much more enjoyable if we weren't being graded.  I am  not a fan of being graded on presentations.  It makes me present less effectively and to me it feels like we are graded on our personalities.  Some people are more natural presenters than others. But, I know it is a part of school and we have to work on presenting.  Presenting is a very important skill that everyone will need to use at some point in their life.  I need to work on not using filler words.  For me it might be best if I memorize my a script a little more so that I don't use filler words.

Next class I get to do my individual presentation about how to use Google+ for business. I think this topic will be more enjoyable to present about.  But I have a lot of work to do in just two days to get ready.  This presentation we will be using flip charts.  This is going to be interesting because the first time I had ever seen one was last week in class.  Hopefully I can learn how to use them properly for my presentation and not look like a fool.  This will give me more practice to implement what I learned from my group presentation.

Remote Meeting

So our remote meeting was pretty much a failure.  Meeting in person is much better or if you need to get information when you are a part a phone call would be much more effective.  In our remote meeting there were many technology issues.  At first only Sarah and I could talk and we couldn't hear Trent.  Then after a few minutes we all were able to talk.  We discussed our presentation and PowerPoint.  After awhile Sarah's connection cut out and Trent and I finished up some work.  Sarah tried to get back on but it wasn't working so we scheduled another time to meet in person to practice. 

I think remote meetings are a good idea to brainstorm ideas and assign work.  Then everyone in the group can get their work done before a final meeting.  Without technology issues, this can be really convenient and get rid of pointless meetings in persons. If a company needs to have meetings with people in different locations, then remote meetings are a necessity.  This was a good practice to see how it works.  Definite improvements would need to be made for it to be successful in the future.

Consulting Projects

This week has been a lot of work.  This has been a great opportunity to practice working as a team.  There are many aspects that go into being a successful team.  Everyone has to do their part and get it done on time.  Everyone needs to be willing to meet and work on it together as well.  As a team it is important to be able to brainstorm together and come up with creative ideas.  When everyone just throws out any idea and doesn’t feel embarrassed brainstorming goes much better.  Sometimes this can be hard after working on a project for a while because you start to run out of creativity and motivation and energy.

Our group has been working together well.  Our plan was we divided up to research our complaints on Alterra Pest Control.  We got back together and decided on the top three and began creating a report.  We outlined it and then split up who would write what.  Once that was finished we met back up to edit the report, create the powerpoint, and the handout.  This process of figuring out what to do, then doing the work on our own, and then meeting back up to complete and edit worked very well for us.

All in all, group projects are always way more work than you initially think they will be! Scheduling when everyone has many other classes and projects and work can be a challenging and frustrating task.  But, we got it figured out and made it work!

Design is Everything

Have you ever looked at a magazine and thought about why you are drawn to certain articles more than others?  I know that when I read a magazine I want to read the articles that have less text and a clear title that interests me.  If it has too much text, I usually just flip right by it.  I am sure we all flip by articles a little bit differently because we all have different view points and interests.

There is a more formal way that helps us understand why we don't want to read something.  The acronym is CARBS.
Color
Alignment
Repetition
Balance
Spacing

The use of color is very important.  It can't be too much.  It needs to be just a few colors that go nicely together and appeal to the eye.  It also needs to be appropriate for the topic.  Bright colors can't be used for an article about puppies dying.

Alignment must be appealing to the eye.  If one item is out of alignment, the article will just look wrong and your eye won't want to read the article.

Repetition is a good thing.  People like to see repetition.  Repetition in fonts, colors, and  themes make the article look well put together.

Balance is about the overall look of the article.  Do both sides of the article look balanced.  It doesn't mean that everything has to be symmetrical but they have to balance each other. A picture needs to be placed where it looks balanced on the other side.

Spacing is one that I think is the most important.  If there is no spacing in text, then I will not read it.  It needs to be broken up into chunks so my eyes do not get tired.  White space is a good thing.

Now the hard part is applying everything to the briefing article we are working on in class.  It is easy to pick out things you like and do not like in other people's work, but it is hard to make your own work look good.  Especially when I am the least artistic person and have horrible skills with editing and design.  But I am trying and I am learning and getting better.

Researchhh

Probably one of my most least favorite things ever about school is research papers.  We got assigned a briefing article which is a research paper condensed down to one page.  This can be difficult condensing all the information into one page.  But it can be done.

When I think of research, I think of endlessly searching through articles that do not apply to exactly what I want.  It takes so much time to find the articles that you want.  Research is just so time consuming.  But, the librarian said the reason most people do not like research is because they spend too much time doing it.  I 100% agree with her.  I do spend too much time.  She then went one to teach us ways to improve our research.  She showed different cites that are helpful.  She taught to us words like "and," "or," and "not."

This did cut a lot of time off of my research.  I have all my research and my paper is coming along smoothly. Hopefully I will be done soon.  My next dilemma is citing all of my sources properly.  That is an intimidating task in itself, at least for me.

Online Interview

Today I did an online mock interview with a classmate to get some practice.  I have done this once before and I got the job from it, but I definitely prefer interviews in person.  I get very distracted looking at the computer because I want to look the person in the eye but by doing that you aren't looking into the camera so it doesn't look like you are looking at them. It is a hard task for me.

My computer worked fine, but on his computer I was a black screen.  Once again computer issues can arise that you do not expect.  We continued through it because we could still hear each other, but if it was a real interview it might have caused a problem.

A mistake I made was that I didn't send him my resume in a pdf format.  My resume was all off for him.  That would look really bad in an interview.  I need to save a copy in a pdf to prevent from doing that again. I need to work on better eye contact as well.

Overall I thought it was a good learning experience, I asked him if he had any questions and he did not think I would do that so he hesitated a moment.  It helped both of us to remember to form questions ahead of time. We both had good professionalism throughout the interview so we were able to feel like it was a real situation.
Jordan Michaelson--5

Delivering Bad News

Before this class, I always got annoyed when receiving a rejection to a job because they always worded it in a round about way.  I would prefer to just say, "sorry, you didn't get the job." But we viewed different letters of delivering bad news letters and there is a benefit to not being so direct.

I never have had to write a letter delivering bad news before.  I have received bad news letters and rejection letters, but I never paid attention to how they were written.  When writing a bad news letter, the way you organize and write can make a big difference in how the recipient receives it.

To write a bad news letter, you are supposed to use an indirect approach.  The opening should give some information that applies to what you need to tell them but not say that you "firing" them.  It should lead into the fact that you are firing them.  Your body should give the bad news and reasons why.  Then the closing should give them a positive outlook.

This has changed my view of bad news letters.  They are harder to write than I would think. Now I won't be so judgmental when I receive a indirect letter.  I understand that it is the nicer way to write it.

Mock Interviews

Today in class we had to practice interviewing.  We had to come to class with a resume and cover letter dressed appropriate for an interview.  Even though it was not real and did not matter, I still got nervous.  When I hear the word interview, I immediately get uncomfortable and nervous.  I just do not like them.  What I realized today that I do not like the most is that when they ask an open ended question, I never know how much they want me to talk.  I do not know when I should stop talking and because of this I usually end up talking way too much.  One problem of mine is that I do not like silence and where this is a silence, I like to fill it.  This is not necessarily a good thing because sometimes I start talking in circles and need to just stop talking.

Some feedback I received was that when I am thinking about a question before I respond, I tend to look up.  This can make me look nervous and unprofessional.  I need to work on maintaining eye contact and not looking away distractedly.  And I had a bow on my shirt and near the end I started pulling on it and playing with it.  I did this probably because I started getting bored and wanted it to end already.  These are two good things for me to work on.  It is good for me to know of my bad habits so that in a real interview I do not do them.

Interviewing

This week in class we had a guest speaker. She gave us great advice on interviewing. One of her pet peeves is when she asks the interviewee if they have any questions for her and they say no. She told us that we need to research the company and find out about projects they are working on. It's important to look knowledgable. We need to show them that we belong there and can provide beneficial input.  I had never thought about this before. In many interviews I have been in, I have not asked questions.  I had no idea that was a bad thing. But usually when I got home I did have questions I just could not think of them on the spot. So next time I will prepare questions ahead of time so I don't get caught off guard.  Knowing how to interview well is huge skill we must work on. Just having an outstanding resume won't get you the job. You must be able to stand out in a crowd and be remembered by the interviewer.  With some practice and more advice, hopefully I will get better at interviewing.

It's a Small World--Networking Assignment

Today I went to a Luncheon at the Sleepy Ridge where David Bradford was speaking.  This was a great networking activity.  We grabbed some food and then they had us each introduce ourselves and talk about a good or bad experience we have had in an interview.  It was a good way to meet each other and find out about each others careers.  I was one of two students there and the rest were older and had careers.

As the speaker David Bradford started talking, he called me out of the audience and asked me what I was studying and where I was from.  We realized that he was really good friends with my dad.  They used to play basketball together all the time.  He told me to talk with him afterwards.

After the event I waited until I could talk with him.  We chatted for awhile and he told me to e-mail him and he could meet with me next week to try to find me an internship for the summer.  Then another man came up to me and asked for my e-mail so that he could connect me with his brother-in-law who is a speech therapist for the Alpine school district.

I e-mailed David Bradford and now we will see what happens.  Hopefully we will get to meet next week and start working on interview skills.  He has so many connections that I know this will lead to something.  This was a great opportunity!

Caught on Film--Ch 4 presentation

In class, my group presented on the information in chapter 4 from our textbook.  Watching yourself present is really embarrassing. I think at least.  I don't like hearing my voice.  Some of the feedback I was given was to speak louder.  To fix this I need to go into my presentation with more energy.  I naturally speak softer and I know that so I need to make a conscious effort to increase my volume.  Sometimes I feel like I am yelling but it is normal to everyone else.

Also in the beginning of my presentation I was rocking back and forth as I did the introduction but then when I was presenting my part I stood still.  I think in the beginning I was more nervous and we didn't practice the beginning part as much so I wasn't as confident in what I was going to say.

Lastly, I referenced to my slides a good amount because they were diagrams I was talking about.  And sometimes I would point with my opposite arm and reach across my body.  That doesn't look good.  I need to remember and practice pointing with my correct arm.  Or stand on the side that is more comfortable and automatic.

Overall this was a fun experience.  I think this is the best way to actually improve presenting because we can see what we are doing wrong.  It's one thing to be told what you are doing and another to actually watch it.

HATS

Headings
Art
Typography
Spacing

This week I learned how to apply HATS in my writing and how important the look of a document is.  If the document does not appeal to the eye, then it probably won't get read.  If you do not have a good, informative heading in an article or an e-mail subject line, then it might not get read even if it has very good content.  How the document is written and spaced, is like a mini hook to get someone to read it. White space is not a bad thing, we need to white space to divide and frame elements on a page.  It also gives the reader relief and invites the reader to read it. Headings should be written in Sans Serif and the body should be written in Serif which is what I am writing in right now.

Using art in a document, you need introduce, insert, and interpret.  You cannot just insert a visual and not talk about it.  That is like inserting a quote and not talking about why it is important or how to apply it.  Using tables and graphs have guidelines as well.  You need to make sure that they represent accurate intervals.  Red and green should not be used next to each other.  If you don't have information, then you need to put N/A, don't leave it blank.

Remember pictures speak louder than words.  Using photographs appropriately can convey your message much better than words can.

How to tell your story

Today we learned about giving presentations.  Our hands are meant to tell our story.  If we don't use our hands properly, then they become a distraction.  We should use our hands to emphasize what point we want to make.  They show that you are about to say something important and that everyone should listen up.  The best place for our hands when we are in a neutral position is down by our sides.  It is okay to put one hand slightly on our waist or in our pocket, but the best is both hands down.

There are some big no-nos.  One is called the fig leaves, that is where you clasp your hands together down in front.  This can be okay for a moment, but don't stay there the whole presentation.  Another one is the drill sergeant, that is where you clasp your hands together down and behind you.  When we get nervous, we tend to want to hold onto something so we hold our own hand, but that shows that you are nervous.

Remember even if we are nervous, we need to "fake it, til we make it."  Giving presentations brings us back to the point, that we need confidence to make people believe what we are saying and to effectively communicate.  If we are a genius, but speak monotone, no one will get to hear what we have to say.  Our message will be a waste of time.

Let's get Talking!

Networking is the key to being successful.  What you know, only matters after who you know.  Finding a job can be a very long, discouraging process.  If you start networking now, then when you need a job you will already have connections.  If you wait until you are desperate for a job, then it is too late.  Job openings usually don't happen at the exact moment you need a job.

A good way to meet people and follow up with them is by using a business card.  If you want someone to be able to contact you, then you need to give them your information.  Plus it makes you look more professional anyways. I am considering doing this.  At least once I get into grad school, I definitely will.  The two ways people fail in networking is: (1) what's in it for me? (2) no follow up. You can't only think about yourself and you have to build a relationship before they can help you.

Um, uh, uh

Today in class we did our first presentations.  A lot of people's mistakes, were little things that can be fixed easily.  For example, where to stand, not to look at the screen, and not talking loud enough.  Things like fidgeting will come as we get more comfortable and with more practice. 

BUT... the thing that is hardest to stop and the most irritating and distracting thing is everyone's filler words.  We all have one.  Some of us say um or uh or like.  Whatever it is, we need to work on not saying it.  Especially when presenting.  I think this is the hardest thing for me.  It is hard to pick up on it, when I am doing it. Which makes it hard to stop when you don't know that you are doing it.  One thing that I do that helps is to practice what you are going to say beforehand.  The more prepared you are, the less likely you will need filler words because you know what you want to say.  It doesn't need to be memorized because then you will sound like a robot, but you need to know your outline well.  We all need to find out what our word is and try to stop it.  I am an UMer, and need help.

Who is watching you?

Today in class we were talking about different cultures.  Some hand gestures in other countries are offensive.  If you do the O.K. sign or the thumbs up sign, then you might be offending someone from another country. If you are presenting to a large group of people, then you should be aware of these signs.  Also what I found interesting is that in Asia making eye contact is rude, but here in the states it shows respect. Just something to think about. You never know who you will be talking to or who is judging you.  Some job interviews, like to take you out to eat so that they can judge your manners.  A general rule is to start with outside utensils and then work your way in.  How you butter your bread can tell your employer if you know good manners.  You should put butter on your bread dish and then butter individual pieces NOT the whole bread. So remember, someone is always watching your actions.  Don't get caught with your fork in the wrong hand!

Getting Started

Hey there! This is my first blog I have made. My sisters and I have a blog we created to share recipes, but honestly I have never used it because I never took the time to learn how. And I am a huge Pinterester! Anyways, the reason for making this is for an assignment for my MCOM class. I am excited to learn! We are supposed to talk about something new we have learned each week in class.  Today in class I learned that communication is only 7% verbal. That is crazy to me! Why does it not matter what I say? To me this means that how we are dressed, how we use our hands, and how we talk determine what people think of us more than the words coming out of our mouth.  If I show up somewhere, anywhere in sweats and my wear in a bun no one will take me seriously or want to talk to me.  So on Sunday my husband and I have been asked to speak in Sacrament.  Can I get away with blabbering on about what I did this weekend, if I dress nicely and act like I know what I am talking about?  Probably not. I do have to talk about my topic which is "New Beginnings." If I act confident up on the podium and come prepared, then I believe people will be interested in what I have to say.  My goal is to try to keep my audience's attention and not bore them to tears. I am going to look nice and focus on my nonverbal cues more than just on what I have to say.