This taste of the industry has piqued my interest; so I’m now anticipating the next phase — as a guest speaker on an actual cruise. I think of it as a departure from my usual stomping grounds — from boardroom to on-board. The intention is to get both a better perspective of cruise staff training needs and passenger behaviour, to ultimately develop some timely protocols for both groups. Although a guest speaker’s responsibility is “to speak”, the social aspect is equally as important. Hosting a table at dinner, being available to discuss informally the finer points of your speech, and being sociable, friendly and approachable are all part of the job.
Posted on March 24th, 2010 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Diane's Reflections, Special Events, Workplace Etiquette | 7 Comments »
Public speaking is fundamental to my profession. Every week, without fail, I’m in front of an audience. Size and location vary — from a dozen people in a corporate boardroom to several hundred at a convention centre. Regardless of the size or scope or topic, I generally make sure there’s time provided for questions from the floor.
Many people are reluctant to ask a question. Call it inhibition or self-consciousness, bottom line; it’s good old-fashioned fear — getting in the way. On the other hand, there are folks just waiting to hear the sound of their own voices. Often “specialists” in one-upmanship, they tend to monopolize the time allowed, making everyone uncomfortable.
I’ve compiled a guide to help increase the comfort zone for everyone, so question periods become effective and useful tools.
Posted on October 2nd, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Business Etiquette, Communication, Conferences | 2 Comments »
Last month, I attended a conference on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation in Montreal. As you may know, this is a cause I am passionate about. Serious business is an understatement. And yet, I found myself consistently engaged, even entertained, by speakers who clearly shared my heartfelt feelings, but managed to convey their [...]
Posted on June 11th, 2009 by Diane
Filed under: Conferences | 4 Comments »
