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September 16, 2008 Leave a Comment

Tracking my WPM Count

For my video blog entry yesterday – “Which Presentation Will You Deliver?” – I used a script. I am actually enjoying the discipline of writing and reading the script for these blog entries. My preferred style is to use an outline to guide me as I deliver my presentations. However, I find the “permanence” of an Internet blog demands a more disciplined approach.

I am not a perfectionist. When recording my video blogs, I do a “straight take” – no pauses and no editing.  Of course, I abandon a recording that contains obvious “flubs” or false starts. But, I am content to publish a video blog entry that is less than perfect. I really don’t have the time to go back an re-record the occasional “vocal blemish.”

How long?

My biggest concern is the length of a video blog post. I do not want to condense my posts to fit some arbitrary time limit. My feeling is that if I have something to say, I should post what I want to say – adapting my delivery to fit the chosen media. If my message is compelling, a viewer will stay engaged. And, hopefully, return for more. If not … well, that is my problem. Only time, tracking and feedback from my viewers will help me to find the correct balance between content and time limit.

Since I have been using a script for my recent videos, I have been able to track my Words-per-minute (WPM) count. For my “Which Presentation Will You Give” entry, the script contains 1,130 words. The video is 7 minutes and 17 seconds. This gives me a wpm count of @ 160. This is my normal speaking rate. This feels like a comfortable rate – to me. How does it feel it you?

“Eye-Opening” Experience

Recording my presentations has been “eye-opening” for me. Yes, I deliberately used the description “eye-opening.” I am paying more attention to the graphics and text that I choose for each slide in the PowerPoint presentation. I want to ensure that each slide serves a specific purpose.  Reinforcing my speech and not replacing it. Guiding my audience and not distracting them from my content.

When I do a “live” presentation I never get to see how my slides interact with my speech. Recording  these short video blog posts allows me to see and analyze the presentation. Of course, there is a missing ingredient – the audience. You.

So please give me your feedback. What do you think? Do I speak too fast or too slow for you to understand? Do I talk too much or for too long? Is the video blog format useful – for you? What topics would you like to see?

You can email me – danny@thecompanyrocks.com – or add your comments below. I welcome your thoughts.

News! My new DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for PowerPoint 2007” is available for purchase. Visit my online store for details.

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Filed Under: Powerpoint Techniques, Presentations, Words per Minute Tagged: , , , , ,
July 27, 2008 Leave a Comment

I have added an Index of topics taught

Now, it is is easy to locate the video lesson that you are looking for. I have added an Index to the front page of this blog – Index of Topics Taught.

Just click on the topic and you will go directly to the video lesson.

As each new video lesson is added to my site, I will update the Index to add the link.

This suggestion came from one of my colleagues who reviewed this website. I welcome your feedback.

Find the video lesson that you want – Index to all Excel Topics

News! My DVD, “The 50 Best Tips for Excel 2007” is now available to purchase. I invite you to visit my online bookstore for more details.

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Filed Under: Excel Training, MS Excel Training Tagged: , ,
July 5, 2008 Leave a Comment

How a coach can smooth out the learning curve

“The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself.”

– Edward Bulwer-Lytton

I’ve been exposed to some great teachers during my lifetime. They have, indeed, inspired me to teach myself; to continue to learn and grow.

But there are times when I need to have a good coach by my side to help smooth out the learning curve.

Case in point: I am learning to use a new software program. This program enables me to record training videos which I then upload to my website. Sounds pretty straight forward. Except it isn’t – for me at least!

I spent the better part of yesterday, searching through on-line help websites; reading the users manual for the program; trying one option after another to get the files uploaded properly. It took me hours and hours of trial and error before I succeeded.

OK, so now I know how to perform this task – I’m over the learning curve for this part of the program.

But… did the learning curve have to be so steep?

No… I needed a coach to help me achieve what I wanted to achieve. Quickly, professionally, and interactively. I was more than willing to pay for the coach’s services. There was just one problem…

The “live” coaches for this program took the day off. They were relaxing with friends and family over the 4th of July weekend.

I was not relaxing. I was climbing a steep learning curve.

A good coach – at the right time – would have made the learning curve much smoother. I learned another lesson while trying to learn this software program.

 

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Filed Under: Business Communications, Training Tagged: , ,
April 9, 2008 Leave a Comment

Drip, Drip, Drip

Seth Godin posed an intriguing set of questions on his blog the other day:

“What would happen if every single high school student had to have a blog? Or every employee in your company? Or every one of your customers?”

Learn to “Write Like a Blogger,” is Seth’s Advice. He lists 9 key points – and yes, using lists is one of them – that effective bloggers use to make their writing stand out. Great article. Great advice for anyone who wants to improve their written communications. Read it.

That is another point – “Bloggers aren’t afraid to include links or distractions in their writing, because we know you’ll come back if what we had to say was interesting.” So click here for a link to read the article.

The title of this post is “Drip, Drip, Drip.”  That is Seth’s point # 3. You don’t have to say everything at once.

How liberating!

How many articles did I abandon because I felt that I didn’t have the time to tell the complete story? Many.

How many of my posts did my readers abandon because they didn’t have the time to read? Many more than I care to admit. But it is true…

We never have enough time. So don’t waste time. But even more to the point, don’t miss an opportunity to write because you don’t have enough time to write everything.

Write a short note. Make one point. Make it timely. Make it interesting. Make your audience want to read more.

To apply this priniple in a business situation, think about the (dreaded) annual employee “performance appraisal.” Don’t delay giving your employees constructive feedback. Don’t wait for a year to pass by. Do it when you spot the opportunity.

Make one point. Don’t wait to tell the complete story. It will never be complete.

Give feedback on one point. Give it at the time that you spot the opportunity. Keep it positive. Make them want to do more. You will get more of what you point out. So keep your feedback focused on future positive results.

Do it drip by drip by drip. It will carry more impact.

To be continued…

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Filed Under: Business Communications, Business Practices, Communications Tagged: , , ,