Tips for Effectively Presenting in the Classroom

The first tip to effectively present in a classroom setting should go without saying. But for the purpose of this blog, let it be said that preparation is the single most important thing anyone can do if they are going to be presenting in any setting. If you are prone to "forgetting your words" when standing in front of a group, bring a note card with you that has key points written down on it. If your voice easily gets hoarse when speaking, perhaps having a small bottle of water would be appropriate. Part of preparation involves having practiced what you are going to say. This way, if there are any words grouped together that can be a tongue twister, you will not stumble on them during your presentation.

Another essential tip for anyone presenting in the classroom is to check to make sure your technology is working correctly--and do that well in advance of the presentation. Never assume that because it works on your computer, it will work on the computer you must present on. Check to make sure the computer you present on has the same software applications you will need, that your links work, and that you know how to use everything. Nothing shoots a hole in someone's credibility more than when they fail to be able to use their technology during the presentation.

In Response to Ben Jensen's Blog Post on the Apple iPad

As I looked through Ben's blog to see which topic I most wanted to respond to, I noticed that he had picked the Apple iPad as the current business topic he wanted to discuss. Personally, I just became aware that such a thing existed as I met with my group for a management project a few weeks ago. The men in my group seemed absolutely overjoyed at the prospect of Apple releasing this new "miracle product". I expected Ben's blog post to hold the same little-boy-on-Christmas-morning feel.

What I found instead, was a surprisingly refreshing perspective. Perhaps I felt it was so refreshing because he agreed with many of my personal thoughts on the iPad. As I had it explained to me by men in my group, the iPad is, "like an iPhone but the size of a piece of paper!" This was all stated with much enthusiasm, but to me I wondered who in the world would want to tote something like that around when they could have the convenience of something as small as the iPhone. I vocalized this thought and then was met with a dreamy look as they began to discuss the potential of the iPad in the future; how it could virtually make textbooks obsolete. If that is what potential the iPad holds, I think that is fantastic—just don’t try to sell me one until it has reached that caliber of greatness.

Current Collaboration Technology: Giving a New Edge to Classroom Group Work

There are many new collaboration technologies in the world. Although they can be extremely useful as social networking tools, they are rapidly finding their way into both corporate and classroom settings. There are numerous new collaborative technologies out there, but the one I will be focusing on is Google Docs.

Google Docs is a free, web-based application that lets you create word documents, spreadsheets, and forms online. Perhaps the biggest reason it is such an effective collaborative tool is because you can easily share the files with others, and in turn, they can edit them at the same time you edit them. There is no need for flash drives or for one member of a team to have to do all of the compiling. In a classroom setting, this allows members of a group to work on the same homework while still allowing them to work on it independently. Google Docs definitely provides an avenue for collaborative homework assignments to be done in a much more convenient way.

Job Hunting Success: Who AND What You Know

I believe that finding success while job hunting is a combination of both who and what you know. It seems that the business world constantly says that networking is the holy grail to finding a job. While I do believe that to be true in some measure, I don't think that a person's individual qualifications should be overlooked.

In my own personal life, I have found great success in finding jobs on my own with the qualifications I possess. Five out of the seven jobs I have had are jobs I got completely on my own. After discussing this fact with my mother, I was told that perhaps my luck was because my jobs have been low, entry-level positions--not "real" careers. The thought I was left pondering was, "Should it make a difference whether or not I'm applying for a entry level position or a high-powered career? Networking is networking; skills are skills!"

According to job hunting experts, my train of thought is utterly wrong. That became apparent when I read the title to an article that said, "Job Hunting? It's NOT What You Know..." After receiving that little blow to my ego, I started to feel better about the article as I read it. It states, "Many companies promote from within or rely on referrals from current employees... Most of the best jobs are never advertised...Only about 30 percent are publicized through traditional channels."

So, it appears it is possible to get a job without networking--just not the BEST job. The article concludes, "So it seems that the best jobs go to the people who spend a lot of time networking and getting to know people in [an] organization. It may be true — but not for the reasons you thought." I agree.

Source: http://www.chiff.com/a/job-hunting.htm

Current Business Issue

On a trip to the English countryside this summer, my cab driver and I began discussing European politics. He began discussing the fact that the U.K. has not adopted the euro as their currency yet, unlike so many other European nations. So far, 16 out of the 27 members in the European Union have adopted the euro as their currency. The cab driver's take on the issue was that the people of the U.K. would like to adopt the euro as their currency, as the euro is the currency, "with the highest combined value of banknotes and coins in circulation in the world, having surpassed the U.S. dollar".

It soon became apparent why the U.K. has reservations about adopting the euro. By each country being tied to the same currency, if one country's economy is doing poorly, the other countries will begin to suffer as well. This is more apparent than ever with the current Germany vs. Greece controversy.

According to BusinessWeek, Germany is the head of Europe's biggest economy. Germany is now being called upon to ladle out billions of dollars to help save Greece from its large, self-imposed deficit. Germany now finds itself between a rock and a hard place. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, feels that if Germany bails out Greece, the Greeks will have learned nothing from this experience and will continue to be frivolous spenders. Yet she also knows that, "German companies are more sensitive to the losses they would suffer if Greece and other European nations slipped under."

Sources: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_09/b4168024506794_page_5.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro

Topic: Letter Writing Is Archaic and Should Not Be Taught Anymore

In a world where communication skills are increasingly on the decline, learning how to write effectively is a must. Skilled letter writers can have an immense impact on the well-being of their companies. According to Copyrighting 911, "While a proper letter can build an excellent reputation in the business world, a bad one might ruin it, compromising not only the writer but the whole company." Although fewer companies may be sending out hard copies of business letters, emails should be written in correct business letter format.

Besides learning the correct formatting for a business letter, it is crucial that business-appropriate language is used. Slang is becoming more commonplace in all types of writing but it should have no place in professional writing. Besides the actual verbiage of the letter itself, the tone in which it is written needs to be carefully monitored. Businesses have to break both good and bad news to customers, employees, and investors. What kind of news the letter is conveying should be tied to the appropriate tone. Failing to do so could make the writer of the letter seem patronizing, among many other things.

On a final note, things are being taught completely different in public schools from even 12 years ago. Students now do not receive the emphasis on writing business letters that was once given. According to Copyrighting 911, "when it comes to composing an official, all standard-looking, grammatically correct business letter in fine English, your school background may be not enough". It very well may be up to business professionals and students to learn this skill on their own.

Source: http://www.copywriting911.com/business-letter-writing

What Can Professional Blogs Do For Businesses?

Reading blogs is quickly becoming a favorite American pastime. Many businesses are hopping onto the blogging bandwagon. A professional blog is a great thing for businesses to take part in. One especially positive aspect of blogs are that they are essentially free publicity for a company. They are quick and easy to set up and simple to maintain. Whether the information contained in the blog is for the benefit of investors or the general public, blogs provide an excellent opportunity for anyone to access quick information about a company. If the company excels in making the blog compelling, they may even increase their sales as a result from their blog.

Another advantage of a professional blog is that it helps give a company insight into what people want. Comments left on blogs can be invaluable information. In addition to being able to hear what people want, comments left behind can show a company what posts--and therefore, what products or services--people are most interested in. In these ways, a blog can become free market research for a company.

Source: http://www.webreference.com/authoring/bus_blog/