Mastering the Art of Public Speaking: 10 Essential Hacks for Success

Public speaking can be a terrifying task for most people, but with the proper techniques and mindset, anyone can become a confident and effective communicator. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, speaking at a conference, or addressing a large audience, these ten essential hacks will help you enhance your public speaking skills and leave a lasting impact.

Prepare Thoroughly

The key to successful public speaking lies in thorough preparation. Research your topic, organize your thoughts, and create a clear structure for your speech or presentation. Practice extensively to familiarize yourself with the content and anticipate potential questions or challenges.

Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is vital. Research their demographics, interests, and expectations. Tailor your message to resonate with them, utilising terminology and illustrations they can understand. Engage the audience by addressing their specific needs and interests, ensuring a more impactful and memorable speech.

Start with a Strong Opening

You need to lock in your audience straight away. Begin with a captivating anecdote, an intriguing fact, or a thought-provoking question. A powerful opening sets the tone for the rest of your speech and captures the audience’s interest, ensuring they are engaged and attentive throughout your presentation.

Use Visual Aids Wisely

Visual assistance like presentations or objects can enhance your presentation, but use them sparingly and purposefully. Keep visuals simple, uncluttered, and easy to comprehend. They should complement and reinforce your message, not distract or overwhelm the audience. Practice with visual aids to ensure a seamless delivery.

Speak with Passion and Energy

Your enthusiasm for the topic will captivate the audience. Speak with conviction, infuse your voice with energy, and project confidence. Use appropriate intonation and vary your speaking pace to keep the audience engaged. A passionate delivery helps convey your message effectively and leaves a lasting impression.

Connect with Stories and Personal Anecdotes

Stories and personal anecdotes are powerful tools for connecting with the audience. They add a human touch, making your speech relatable and memorable. Incorporate relevant stories that illustrate your points, evoke emotions, and provide real-life examples. Authentic storytelling helps create a strong connection with your listeners.

Maintain Eye Contact

Establishing eye contact builds trust and engagement. Make an effort to connect with different individuals in the audience, maintaining eye contact as you speak. This fosters a sense of connection and involves the audience. Avoid fixating on one spot or constantly looking at notes or slides.

Utilize Body Language and Gestures

Effective body language enhances your presence and helps convey your message. Stand tall, maintain good posture, and use purposeful gestures to emphasize key points. Facial expressions should reflect the emotions you want to convey. Utilize confident and open body language to establish a solid and engaging presence.

Practice Active Listening

Public speaking is not just about speaking; it’s also about listening. Pay attention to the audience’s reactions, non-verbal cues, and feedback. Adjust your pace, tone, or content based on their responses. Active listening allows you to adapt and connect with the audience more effectively, fostering a two-way communication experience.

Embrace Mistakes and Learn from Them

Even the most seasoned speakers make mistakes. Accept them as chances for development and education. If you stumble or forget a point, take a deep breath, and continue with poise. Be authentic and genuine; the audience appreciates speakers who show vulnerability and resilience.

You can definitely improve your public speaking abilities with practice and the right strategies. By following these ten essential hacks, you can elevate your public speaking abilities and leave a lasting impact on your audience. Embrace the challenge, and you’ll become a confident and influential communicator with time.

6 Efficient Automation Tips for Business Processes in 2023

Automation has become an integral part of businesses in recent years. It not only helps reduce manual labor but also provides a high level of accuracy, improves efficiency, and reduces errors. The success of automation depends on how effectively it is implemented in the business processes. Here are some ways to enhance business automation:

Identify the right processes for automation

The first step in enhancing business automation is identifying the right automation processes. Not all processes are suitable for automation. Identify the processes that are repetitive, time-consuming, and have a high chance of errors. These processes are ideal candidates for automation. Once you have identified the processes, prioritize them based on their impact on business operations.

Evaluate the available automation technologies

Once you have identified the processes to be automated, evaluate the available automation technologies. There are different types of automation technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotic process automation (RPA), and machine learning (ML). Each technology has its strengths and weaknesses. Choose the technology that is best suited for your business processes.

Integrate automation with existing systems

Integrating it with the existing systems is essential to enhance business automation. Communication with other systems should be possible between the automation technologies such as ERP, CRM, and HRIS. This integration will ensure that data is shared seamlessly across systems and the automation technology can access the required data to perform its functions.

Ensure data quality

Automation is highly dependent on data. If the data is inaccurate, incomplete, or inconsistent, it can lead to errors in the automation process. Therefore, it is essential to ensure data quality before implementing automation. This can be done by identifying the data sources, cleansing the data, and creating data governance policies.

Test and optimize the automation process

Once the automation process is implemented, it is essential to test and optimize it. This involves monitoring the automation process, identifying issues, and resolving them. It also involves analyzing the automation process’s performance and identifying improvement opportunities. Continuous optimization of the automation process can lead to increased efficiency and accuracy.

Train employees

Automation may require employees to learn new skills or adapt to new working methods. Therefore, it is essential to train employees on new processes and technologies. This will help reduce resistance to change and ensure employees can work effectively with the latest automation processes.

In conclusion, enhancing business automation requires identifying the right processes for automation, evaluating the available automation technologies, integrating automation with existing systems, ensuring data quality, testing and optimizing the automation process, and training employees. Automation can significantly benefit businesses, but its success depends on how effectively it is implemented and managed. By following these steps, businesses can enhance their automation processes and improve efficiency and accuracy.

5 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2023

The pandemic has pushed many people to rethink their career paths and explore new avenues of income. Side hustles have become a popular option for those seeking additional income streams. With the sudden popularity of the gig economy and technological advancements, there are plenty of side hustles to choose from in 2023. Here are five of the best side hustles to consider.

Online Tutoring

Online tutoring has become a lucrative side hustle with the shift toward online learning. Whether it’s math, science, or language tutoring, the demand for online tutors will be much higher in 2023. Platforms like Chegg, TutorMe, and Skooli offer opportunities for tutors to connect with students globally. Online tutoring provides flexibility in terms of hours and location, making it a perfect side hustle for those passionate about teaching.

E-commerce

E-commerce has been on the rise for years, and the pandemic has only accelerated its growth. Starting an online store on platforms like Etsy, Shopify, or Amazon allows you to sell products from anywhere in the world. You can create your own products or source products from other suppliers and actually resell them at a markup. With the right marketing strategy, e-commerce can be a highly profitable side hustle.

Delivery Services

The pandemic has seen a surge in demand for delivery services, and this trend is expected to continue in 2023. Companies like UberEats, DoorDash, and Grubhub offer opportunities for delivery drivers to earn extra income by delivering food from local restaurants. With the rise of online shopping, delivery services for packages and groceries are also in high demand. Platforms like Instacart and Shipt provide opportunities for drivers to deliver groceries to customers’ doorsteps.

Freelance Writing

Freelance writing has been a popular side hustle for years, and with the rise of content marketing, it’s expected to continue to be in high demand in 2023. Freelance writers can create content for websites, blogs, and social media platforms. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr provide opportunities for writers to connect with clients globally. Freelance writing offers flexibility in terms of hours and location, making it a perfect side hustle for those with solid writing skills.

Virtual Assistance

With the rise of remote work, virtual assistance has become a popular side hustle. Virtual assistants offer assistance to various businesses and individuals from anywhere in the world. Tasks may include scheduling appointments, managing email accounts, and social media management. Platforms like Zirtual and Fancy Hands provide opportunities for virtual assistants to connect with clients globally.

In conclusion, the gig economy has opened up numerous opportunities for side hustles in 2023. From online tutoring to virtual assistance, there are plenty of options for those seeking additional income streams. With the right skills and a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, a side hustle can turn into a lucrative career.

3 Surefire Tips On Empowerment and How To Engage Your Employees

With the different industries slowly opening up after being upended by the pandemic, business owners are now re-calibrating for immediate strategies to achieve their long-term organizational goals.

SKYBIZ, the business solutions arm of SKY Cable Corporation, rolls out some important tips and solutions that will help employers grow both their business and their employee’s morale in this post-lockdown era.

Encourage a favorable set-up

The remote set-up became the new standard in most businesses, employees are able to go on with their daily tasks while working in the comfort of their homes, connecting with their peers purely online. Now that a lot of industries have gone back to their pre-Covid set-up and with the hybrid work arrangement gaining popularity, business owners should allow for more flexibility for employees to get their work done either at home or in the office.

A comfortable working environment is crucial for employees’ productivity, performance, and job satisfaction. Whether you are working from home or back to the office, the physical space where work is done should be conducive for every employee to excel daily.

Engage professional and personal growth

A well-balanced life is something that both employers and employees should strive for. Businesses will continue to grow if their people also grow, hence, it’s important to make the workplace a safe place where employees can unleash their maximum potential professionally and personally.

Most companies have incorporated different activities and practices that can boost the morale of their employees. A shared activity outside the workplace like a Monday morning reflection over coffee or a Friday night sports fest will strengthen the working relationship within the company allowing employees to feel more at ease and closer with their peers.

Invest in tools that empower

With most of the work transactions and meet-ups done digitally, businesses should invest in a reliable service provider and solutions tools that will empower them to grow their business in this digital age.

SKYBIZ is extending its BizTastic BunDeals with its Biz Broadband Connect and BizFiber Connect plans that include reliable business-grade internet connection for SMEs suited for their day-to-day activities, bundled with a three-month Microsoft 365 and a voucher from ABS-CBN Dash or Grab.

4 Simple Ways to Wake Up Happier Tomorrow

Granted, some mornings are better than others! No matter what the mood or situation, you’ll be thanking yourself silly if you follow these four easy steps before leaving the house every morning. They will ensure you start your day off positively and with an air of complete determination and purpose.

1. I am just as good as the person next to me.

Always remember that the person you’re comparing yourself to will always be comparing themselves to someone too. You never know; it could even be you! Although a little bit of extra push and determination can come from comparisons, making daily comparisons to others can be very detrimental to a woman’s thought process. Constantly thinking ‘she’s much skinnier than me’ or, ‘she likes him more than she likes me’ is simply pure negativity. Remember that you are on the exact path in life you’re supposed to be on, and everyone has a different path. The time taken to stop and look around at everyone else’s paths will slow you down on your own.

2. Today, I will be brilliant.

I find this to be very important. Every morning I wake up, look in the mirror and say (out loud), ‘today, I will be brilliant!’ There are a few reasons for this – I promise there is a method to the madness. The first reason is that I like to use my voice before I have to speak to anyone else and embarrass myself with the husky cough we all know too well because the ole’ vocal cords aren’t warmed up. The second and more important reason is that positive self-talk is really important to a successful outlook on life.

3. I deserve the best

I think this is something women are constantly compromising on, and you know what? I’m sick of it, ladies! Everyone deserves the absolute best when it comes to important matters of life! Now I’m not talking about having the perfect espresso every morning from your local brew house; I’m talking much bigger picture! Things like relationships, jobs, and friends. Yes, finding a balance between the three is hard, but simply aiming for the best will push you in the right direction. Settling for ‘just ok’ or ‘average’ should be a thing of the past!

4. Say Cheese!

Smiling as you walk out of the front door can be one of the most rewarding things you can do all day. It can truly set the tone for the rest of your day. The mere act of smiling releases endorphins and initiates a chemical reaction in your brain that forces happiness to conquer any feeling of unease. I find this technique especially useful when I’ve had one of those terrible mornings where everything that can go wrong does go wrong! Even though you’re in a state wherein the SheWitch Banshee from Hell would be afraid of you, forcing a smile will help you leave negativity behind you.

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Homegrown Basketball Australia… What Is This All About?

Homegrown Basketball Australia (HGBA) is a community-based sporting association that started off as a small group of interested basketball players and enthusiasts playing social basketball games in 2012. It was later established as an organisation by its founders, Karlo Basa, Alfred Sayas, and Cromwell Alvarez.

HGBA prides itself on being the seasoned basketball influencer in Western Sydney and the Sydney Filipino community. Its presence has continued to expand all over Australia and is commonly recognised by International Filipino Basketball associates as the long-standing leader in Filipino Basketball in Australia.

The brand continues to be associated as the driver of the basketball movement in Western Sydney as it constantly elevates and redefines its services throughout the years. This has resulted in wide exposure and strong influence over the Basketball and Filipino community at large.

Homegrown Basketball provides the following services:

Western Sydney Basketball Association (WSBA)

WSBA is the Basketball League entity of Homegrown Basketball Australia, which officially commenced its Basketball League operations in Autumn 2013. In its tenth year and 16th basketball season, WSBA has established itself as the leading amateur Basketball League in Western Sydney, managing between 40-50 teams every season.

Homegrown Basketball Academy (HG Academy)

HG Academy is the basketball coaching and player development entity of Homegrown Basketball. Accredited coaches and trainers deliver the program in an innovative and fun environment, providing several options for all ages and skill levels.

National Basketball Training Centre (NBTC)

Homegrown Basketball Australia is the tenured partner of the SM NBTC Basketball Pathway to Philippine UAAP and NCAA Basketball. The program provides for Philippine Collegiate Basketball aspirants to participate in the extensive training and development program with an opportunity to be selected to represent Australia in the annual SM NBTC Global Games, the scouting platform for Philippine NCAA and UAAP coaching and scouting staff.

HGBA continues to build on its rich history as they endeavour to develop the sport of Basketball and its presence in Australia. For more information on its services and how to be part of the Homegrown Basketball community, please contact the Homegrown Basketball admin at info@homegrownbasketball.com.au.

Can You Really Use Netflix’s Global Smash Hit Series Squid Game To Teach Economics??

First-year business and economics students all over the world may soon be using Netflix’s global smash hit series Squid Game to learn complex economic theories.

A new paper by the Monash Business School has revealed how integrating the strategies of the smash-hit dystopian series Squid Game can revolutionise the way students learn game theory, one of the most challenging concepts of introductory economics.

Researchers from the Monash Business School have developed a range of innovative and interactive teaching tools based on insights from Squid Game to provide educators and students with a fresh approach to teaching and learning one of the most demanding topics at the introductory economics level.

And from semester one, first-year microeconomics students at the Monash Business School will use the Squid Game insights.

“Game theory is important because it helps us understand decision making in strategic situations,” says Associate Professor Wayne Geerling from the Monash Business School and co-author of the paper “Using Squid Game to Teach Game Theory”.

“The players in Squid Game are a metaphor for companies, and we have examined the strategic interactions of Squid Game in comparison to real-life business. How do players, ie companies, interact. Game theory has a lot of real-world applications, analysing how actions influence others and the strategic implications of such.”

Associate Professor Geerling has identified a number of scenes from the immensely popular television series that can be used to teach game theory principles. He has developed a series of teaching guides that can be adopted or adapted by any instructor anywhere around the world.

The economics profession has been notorious for its continued reliance on ‘chalk and talk’ to deliver lectures. Still, a significant amount of research pioneered by Associate Professor Geerling and his colleagues has focussed on innovative ways to teach economics concepts.

“Many students struggle to think in a strategic manner when the material is taught through traditional methods alone. Pop culture, such as Squid Game, can be used as an effective medium to break down barriers to learning because it taps into everyday life and allows students to see connections between abstract theory and real-world applications,” he says.

Squid Game revolves around 456 players, all of whom are heavily indebted, risking their lives to play a series of six children’s games against each other – with a deadly twist. The reward for the winner is a sizeable bounty. For everyone else, the consolation prize is death.

In Squid Game the players are making decisions in real time without full information and to survive they must work out their optimal strategies to maximise their chances of winning.

Just like the cut-throat real world of business.

“The Netflix series focuses on six games, we’ve chosen three of those to represent the best practical applications of game theory for students,” says Associate Professor Wayne Geerling.

Using Squid Game to teach game theory reflects Associate Professor Geerling’s passion for revolutionising how we teach economics and promote active learning techniques in class using pop culture.

“Despite the growth in teaching resources and the ability for educators to integrate innovative teaching practices into their curriculum more easily, the vast majority of educators continue to teach using a traditional lecture.”

This article was sourced from a media release sent by Medianet

Editorial credit: DANIEL CONSTANTE / Shutterstock.com

The Perfect Side Hustle For You, According To Your Star Sign

Finalists Officially Announced For The Australian Women’s Weekly Women of the Future Awards

The Australian Women’s Weekly, in partnership with La Trobe Financial, is proud to present our six outstanding young finalists, selected from a competitive field of entrants in the ninth annual Women of the Future Awards.

Since 2013, the awards have been helping exceptional young women aged between 18 and 34 develop projects that transform lives. This year there was a spectacular array of impressive entries, with strong themes around disability, conservation, and consent.

The Women of the Future Finalists are:

·      Hannah Diviney of Missing Perspectives (NSW), a global publishing platform that seeks to address the marginalisation of women and girls across news, media, and democracy decision-making on a global scale.

·      Camille Goldstone-Henry of Xylo Systems (NSW), a cloud-based platform to connect, track and manage conservation projects.

·      Angelique Wan of Consent Labs (NSW), a youth-led not-for-profit organisation that revolutionises the discussion around sexual consent, harassment, and assault.

·      Mannie Kaur Verma of Veer Foundation (VIC), an organisation that works to prevent domestic violence and support victims in marginalised communities.

·      Molly Rogers and Emma Clegg of JAM the label (VIC), a clothing brand born out of the need for inclusive clothing for young people with disabilities.

·      Martina Ucnikova and Jessica Smith of She Runs (WA), a not-for-profit that supports women’s political and civic participation through the power of education and connection.

Their incredible stories are showcased in the December issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, on sale Thursday, 4th November. In addition, each finalist will appear in a new a six-part series on podcast Short Black with Sandra Sully. Each Tuesday from October 26, the 10 News First acclaimed journalist, presenter and women’s advocate sits down with these emerging young entrepreneurs and campaigners to talk about their passion and determination to help make a difference.

The Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly, Nicole Byers, said: “This year, we had a record number of entries and I am proud to announce our six finalists. They are inspirational, they all do incredible work, they are committed, smart, and full of excellent ideas and they’re shaping the way to help create positive change for a better future.”

The finalists will be flown to Sydney to attend the prestigious Women of the Future event on December 1, a much-anticipated date in the diary of some of Australia’s most influential and change-making women. The overall winner will be announced and receive more than $100,000 in cash and prizes to assist in reaching her business goals.

The panel of judges tasked with choosing one winner for the awards this year are: Ita Buttrose (AC OBE, Chair of the ABC); Yasmin Poole (Youth Advocate and Plan International Australia Ambassador); Julie Bishop (Australian National University Chancellor and Former Foreign Minister); Narelda Jacobs (Network 10 presenter and journalist); Tanya Plibersek (Federal Shadow Minister for Education and Women); Nicole Byers (Editor-in-Chief of The Australian Women’s Weekly and group Publisher Women’s Lifestyle & Food at Are Media); and Caterina Nesci (Director of ESG and International Partnerships at La Trobe Financial).

The Australian E-Commerce Market Is Projected To Reach US$70bn In 2025

Australia’s e-commerce market has been witnessing high growth during the past few years, supported by growing Internet penetration, availability of secure online payment systems as well an increasing number of online shoppers. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the shift from offline to online sales and subsequently the market is expected to reach A$91.5bn (US$70bn) in 2025, says GlobalData, a leading data, and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s E-Commerce Analytics, e-commerce sales in Australia, which grew by 16.8% in 2020, are estimated to grow by 13.4% to reach A$60.6bn (US$46.7bn) in 2021.

While sectors such as travel and accommodation were affected due to the lockdown and travel restrictions, strong growth was seen in online purchases of retail goods such as groceries and electronics.

Shivani Gupta, Banking and Payments Senior Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The pandemic accelerated e-commerce activities in the country as wary consumers are staying home to avoid exposing themselves to disease vectors. This trend will continue driven by rise in new online shoppers.”

As Australian consumers continue to embrace online shopping, it will support the growth of electronic payments. According to GlobalData’s 2021 Financial Services Consumer Survey* for online purchases, payment cards account for 37.2% of all the e-commerce sales in Australia. Alternative payment solutions such as PayPal, POLi, Afterpay, and Apple Pay collectively account for 43.3%.

‘Buy now, pay later’ is a popular payment option among Australians, particularly millennials. According to GlobalData survey, Afterpay accounts for 7.7% of total e-commerce payments in 2021.

Ms Shivani concludes: “The pandemic has brought a permanent shift in consumer buying behavior from in-store to online shopping, which has accelerated digital payments adoption and benefiting alternative payment solutions.”

Please Note 

  • Quotes are provided by Shivani Gupta, Banking and Payments Senior Analyst at GlobalData
  • Information is based on GlobalData’s E-Commerce Analytics.
  • *GlobalData’s 2021 Financial Services Consumer Survey was carried out in Q1 and Q2 2021. Over 52,742 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed across 42 countries.
  • This press release was written using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, primary and secondary research, and in-house analysis conducted by GlobalData’s team of industry experts

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology, and professional services sectors.

This article was sourced from a media release sent by GlobalData