How do you do that? Let’s break it down to basics, to ABC’s.

We need first, to act (A) upon basic positive beliefs (B) about people. This means we treat them with respect, dignity and make them and their needs our priority. And, second, we need to be clear and specific in our coaching (C) of people to help them do right job, right way. This includes teaching them, and listening to them, so they become more responsible, therefore have more say into their work and products they create.

You’ll notice that supervisors are being told to concentrate on people who work for them and not job or final product. If supervisors spend their time attending to these needs of workers, products will be superior. Happy workers produce excellent products. And you will be a boss who will eliminate three reasons above why people leave their jobs.

‘Well’, you say, ‘I can’t spend all my time doing that. My bosses have expectations of me, too!’ And you are right! Those are second and third things you do. So here are three things you spend your time on to remain you as a person, not become you as position:

1. Act, Believe and Coach with staff, making them your priority. 2. Any administrative work expected by our bosses, i.e. reports, budgets, meetings. 3. Any tasks that only you can do and that are required by any special credential, education or experience you hold. See! Simple as ABC.

Linda LaPointe, MRA, is author of The New Supervisor, and has taught thousands successful supervisory techniques. See part one of this article, buy book, and sign up for Linda’s FREE E-Tools News at www.thenewsupervisor.com

Many experienced speakers use ‘headline cards’ to jog their memories. These are postcard sized cards held in palm of hand and listing just principal subjects that they want to cover. Each card shows main bullet points for one section of talk and at any given moment card that is uppermost in speaker’s hand will show points to be covered in that section of speech.

Before moving on to next section speaker glances quickly at card to check that he has covered all points and then puts that card to bottom of pack. He glances quickly at new card now revealed in order to remind himself of points he must cover next, and away he goes again with his talk.

Practical Tips.

1.Cards of postcard size fit most comfortably into hand.

2.Stiff paper or cardboard is best. It doesn’t flop about.

3.Only use one side of each card.

4.Write in large clear letters that you can read at arms length.

5.Put only a few points on each card. 3 or 4 is good.

6.Number each card so that you can put them in order quickly. (You might drop them!)

7.Identify in some way (colour is good) cards that you can skip if you find you are running out of time.

8.If you are right-handed, hold cards in your left hand (and vice-versa). This avoids you waving cards about when you make hand gestures (normally made with your ‘strong’ hand).

With this simple memory aid you will find that you will quickly gain fluency and confidence in delivering your talks.