Mike Acker's Blog, page 8
May 18, 2020
Top 5 Ways to Be Assertive and Confident
Self-help books fly off the shelves of bookstores. They’re the most common books on request at libraries. From business people to housewives, people are looking for ways to improve their lives, and the most sought after self-help books are those on how to be assertive and confident.
During job interviews, potential employers look for essential qualities in prospective employees. Assertiveness and confidence are high on the list. People we admire in the business world are often seen as confident and assertive.
As a public speaking coach, CONFIDENCE IN COMMUNICATION, is the number one area I work on with clients.
To achieve goals in life, assertiveness and confidence are valuable character traits. While some people seem to be born assertive and confident, the rest of us can learn these coveted characteristics.
I’ve put together a list of 5 ways with corresponding actions to become more assertive and confident:
1. Overcome shyness. Shyness can range from healthy to overwhelming and debilitating. Shyness is not the same as having low self-esteem. Many shy people have a very positive image of themselves, but they lack assertiveness and confidence. If you’re shy, you can practice these techniques to overcome your shyness:
Visualization. Positively visualize situations and circumstances before experiencing them. This will give you a better “what if” scenario, and help you be better prepared for any variation.
Practice speaking. People who are shy often dislike the sound of their own voices. Practicing speeches in front of a mirror or with trusted friends will help you gain the confidence you need. (Practice with me https://advance.as.me/speech)
Reinforce the positive. This is a way of thinking yourself out of being shy. By using affirmations to assert your positive characteristics, you can convince yourself that you are brilliant and worthy of great things. After all, sometimes the hardest person to convince is you!
2. Learn the difference between being aggressive and assertive. People respond better to an assertive person rather than an aggressive person.
Aggressive people are seen as bullies who approach a problem with harsh criticism. They would say someone is doing a project “all wrong,” for example.
An assertive person, on the other hand, approaches the same situation with concerns and ideas to improve the project.
Your goal should be to approach people with positive attitudes and solutions to problems. If you respect others and treat them as you want to be treated, you’ll have the same courtesy returned to you.
3. Become informed. One of the best methods of being assertive and confident is to know your subject matter. No matter what the situation is, the more you know, the more confident you’ll be.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a job interview or a presentation to your peers, knowing what you’re speaking about will give you that aura of confidence you desire.
Be prepared for potential questions on your subject matter. A good idea is to have a trusted coworker help you identify common questions and answers. You will gain confidence in front of others when you first brainstorm and practice with someone you are comfortable with.
4. Speak up. Speak with confidence even if you don’t feel confident. Practice speaking this way. The more you practice the more it will become second nature.
5. Model your behavior after people you admire. Chances are the people you admire have the assertiveness and confidence you’re looking for in your own life.
Observe how they do things.
Pay attention to what they say and how they say it.
Watch their body language.
Studying people who have the traits you crave is one of the best ways to create those very same traits in yourself.
Learning to be confident and assertive can enable you to achieve your goals with ease, whatever they may be. Practicing these and other methods will put you on the right track to success.
First and foremost, you must believe in yourself and your abilities. Keep in mind that some of our greatest leaders didn’t start out assertive and confident. George Washington was too shy to talk to people growing up. He changed his ways, and so can you!
– Mike Acker
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May 14, 2020
EP. 04 | NOT FLASHY, BUT PREPARED
In our exploration of the 3 Verbs – Actions to Improve Your Online Communication, Mike talks with us about how to PREPARE:
Prepare to speak – not just show.
When we present with a powerpoint, we have a tendency to show the slides. But there is a REASON that you are there! The font, the graphics, the visuals should be secondary – YOU are the primary focus of your webinar, speech, or presentation. Anyone can present the visuals. YOU are what is not replaceable.
To PREPARE the best you can:
Prepare EARLY! Leaving the speaking prep to the last minute will cause you to sound like you don’t know what you are talking about – even if the slides tell the whole story!
Practice – again and again. Practice makes perfect.
Show up early. Make sure everything – including you – are ready to go, well before your starting time. Avoid the panic and stress of the last-minute setup!
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May 7, 2020
EP. 03 | TALK THROUGH THE WALL
In our exploration of the 3 Verbs – Actions to Improve Your Online Communication, Mike talks with us here about how to ENGAGE.
You are not communicating with the computer – you are communicating with people THROUGH the computer.
It’s important to LEAN IN as you work online.
Stand Up – It’s easy to lean back, to relax and to disengage as we work online. This is at best, unflattering, and at worst – you appear disinterested.
Speak Up – Energize your Communication
Smiling changes the way your voice sounds!
The camera is an obstacle – a wall – that you can turn into an opportunity to break through to connect with people.
Break through the wall!
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May 4, 2020
The Art of Organization: 7 Time Saving Tips
Organization is more important in your life than you may imagine. Organization is so difficult for some people that they feel as if they’re just meant to be unorganized. The truth is, however, is that none of us are meant to be unorganized!
We’re a species that functions better when we have structure in our lives. Without structure, we live in utter chaos.
All is not lost, though, if you have trouble organizing things! Organizing only one aspect of your life helps you to begin on the rest of it. This nice chain reaction helps things fall into place the way they should.
Time Saving Tips to Organize Your Life
The worst part about organizing your life is that it seems like it can take so much time. That’s one reason why so many people refuse to find an organization strategy. They feel like it will take too much time out of their day.
However, it doesn’t have to take much time at all! The strategy is to work it into your life in ways that don’t take so much time. Once your strategy is in place, it can actually save you time.
Here are some time-saving tips to help you get organized:
1. Pace yourself. You don’t have to do everything all at once. Take care of one thing at a time.
A lot of unorganized people have clothes lying across the floor and shoes in strange places. You could contain such a mess by picking those things up as you pass by them. Don’t wait to do it all at once; otherwise, it may never get done.
2. Set achievable goals. Make a plan to do only certain chores each day so that an entire day isn’t taken up by trying to do it all.
For example, set the goal of cleaning off your computer desk one day. That’s a task that may take only ten minutes. That’s a whole lot more manageable than resolving to clean your entire house in an afternoon!
3. Storage. Invest in some functional storage containers. There are also some nice storage boxes that are decorative, too. Fill them as needed and when convenient.
Keep a storage box handy in your closet. As you find things you don’t use or wear anymore, put them into the box. Before you know it, your closet will be cleaned out!
4. Make a game out of it. Get the whole family in on it. This will save a lot of time if everyone pitches in.
Tell the kids if they help that you can have a special pizza night. Present them with a reward and they’ll work hard, saving you time and getting your home organized quickly.
5. Change habits. Changing some of your habits can make things easier for you.
Instead of waiting for days to wash those dirty dishes, pick a time at the end of the day to wash them or do it in the mornings. That will save you time because it only takes a few minutes to wash a few dishes, instead of a heaping pile.
6. Make the entire family responsible. Give everyone in the house responsibilities so that things can become organized and stay that way.
Put up a chart on the refrigerator or on a wall that outlines the weekly responsibilities and who’s supposed to do each chore. It’s not your responsibility to clean your child’s room, make sure they take ownership of their own tasks.
7. Use racks and shelves. Make a place for everything so that everything has its own place.
Use a spice rack for your spices. Invest in shoe organizers for the closets. Hang stuffed animal hammocks in the kids’ bedrooms.
The Importance of Organization
The importance of organization cannot be underestimated because it carries over into other aspects of your life. Without it, it’s hard to see clearly what’s going on around you.
When your life is organized, you can better point out the solution. You can also feel better about yourself and your environment. Plus, you’ll be able to find more time to do things you actually enjoy.
– Mike Acker
President of ADVANCE
contact@stepstoadvance.com
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April 30, 2020
EP. 02 | 3 ACTIONS TO IMPROVE ONLINE COMMUNICATION
Introducing the 3 Verbs – Actions to Improve Your Online Communication
ENGAGE
PREPARE
KNOW
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April 27, 2020
Your Secret Weapon for Excellent Time Management
Your Secret Weapon for Excellent Time Management: The Bullet Journal
There are plenty of time-management and organization systems. But right now, there’s one organizational tool that’s very much “in vogue” and doing the rounds on Instagram and across productivity/self-improvement blogs. That tool is the bullet journal.
The bullet journal is ideal for business professionals or anyone who just wants to make the most of their time
What is a Bullet Journal?
A bullet journal is essentially a journal that you use to organize your to-do lists, as well as to keep other notes and a log of things that you’ve already done. You do this by using bulleted items, which is where the name comes from.
So, it’s just a book of lists then?
Well kind of, but it’s also a fair bit more attractive and useful than a book of lists. To better understand, consider the components of a typical bullet journal and how you might go about setting one up for yourself.
Sections of a Typical Bullet Journal
Daily Log and Key. The bulk of your bullet journal will consist of a daily log. Each day, you’ll create a list of items, which will act as a to-do list as well as a place to keep your general notes and ideas you want to jot down.
● You might be wondering how you keep all this in one place without it becoming cluttered. You use a key in order to distinguish different types of notes.
● Instead of simply bullets, you use crosses, circles, dots and other elements that you predefine. You also create a key for reference which will explain what each of these things means.
● While it’s up to you precisely what kinds of items you want to include, you’ll typically have a way to indicate: To-do tasks, Tasks already completed, Tasks that are deferred for later, and Notes to yourself. You might also include quotes and other items.
Tracker. Many people include a tracker for their daily logs, which will track such things as workouts, nights that you got more than 7 hours of sleep, and more.
Future Log. At the front of the journal will normally be a page for you to plan out your year. You use this similarly to the daily log, except here you might place important key events, things to remember, or goals to achieve. Trackers can also go here.
Monthly and Weekly Logs. These operate just like the future log, except they work for each month and week.
Module. A module is a page that you dedicate to… pretty much anything you want. These typically take the form of lists, but don’t have to. This might mean that you list films to watch, gift ideas, recipes that you want to try, inspiring quotes, rules to live by, or anything else.
● Some people insert modules as they go between their daily logs and simply turn to the next blank page to insert them. Others start their modules at the back of the book.
Index. Finally, you include an index and page numbers at the front of the journal. This is useful for quickly and easily finding the items you want.
The great thing about the bullet journal is that it’s entirely adaptable to how you want to use it. And when you apply a little creativity, it can also look very attractive. Happy bulleting!
– Mike Acker and the team at ADVANCE
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April 24, 2020
EP. 01 | IMPROVE YOUR ONLINE COMMUNICATION
Mike Acker, Author of SPEAK WITH NO FEAR, is offering a free short course in Improving Your Online Presentation and Communication.
We’ll release a video module each Friday, starting April 24, 2020.
Conquer your fear of public speaking. Learn to use technology to your advantage. Better online communication translates into currency – helping you to build stronger business and stronger relationships
We are telecommuting now, more than ever! Don’t get left behind!
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April 20, 2020
Accepting Situations as They Are
There is a sense of peace that comes from knowing what I am unable to control. I can see things as they are and accept them.
Being accepting means looking at a situation as it is and avoiding the urge to color it with my biases. Doing this allows me to feel satisfied with the approach I take to resolving it. I know that some issues are beyond my ability to solve.
My mind is at ease when I am in a financial rut because I know my money stretches only so far. I avoid the urge to let stress take hold.
Asking my creditors for time to settle a debt is the wise thing to do. It shows that I am willing to resolve the issue. It also shows that I am committed to meeting my obligations. Maintaining my positive character is important to me.
I know how to remain calm and confident in the face of adversity. When I commit to finding a solution, I feel instantly at ease.
It is pointless walking around frustrating myself because of a situation as it is today. My attention is always on how to alter the situation for a more favorable tomorrow. I refuse to be bogged down by today’s challenges.
Today, my focus is on making tomorrow a brighter day than the days before. My peace of mind is maintained because I move on from how things are today and concentrate on making them ideal for the future. I go easy on myself.
Self-Reflection:
1. What can I do to calm my mind when I sense anxiety coming on?
2. Who are some of the people I rely on to offer creative suggestions?
3. What does my ideal future look like?
– Mike Acker
PS: Our team can help you with this! Schedule a FREE time to discover how our team can work to advance your goals: https://advance.as.me/discovery
President of ADVANCE
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April 13, 2020
7 Ways to Maintain Your Motivation
When it comes to getting things accomplished, motivation can be hard to come by. Yet, motivation is exactly what is needed. A small amount of motivation is required to do small, simple things, like brushing your teeth. Bigger tasks such as major resolutions or major races require more motivation to complete.
But how do you manufacture motivation when you have none?
Learn to motivate yourself and you’ll accomplish more:
1. Use pain. If you fail to complete a particular task, what damage will be done? It might just be the inconvenience of having even more to do the following day. Or it could be the prospect of someone dropping by and seeing how filthy your home is.
Come up with several good reasons why failing to take action would be painful to you.
2. Use pleasure. Saving $25 this week might not be too exciting, but the vacation you’ll be taking next year is pretty great. Remind yourself of all the benefits you’ll receive. Make a long list that will help to keep the fire burning inside to successfully deal with those unpleasant or boring tasks.
Visualize the future you expect to enjoy from getting your tasks completed. Rehearse your successes in your mind. Create an image that motivates you take the next step enthusiastically.
3. Set short-term goals. It’s hard to stay motivated for more than 8-10 weeks. So, if you have a goal that will require a year to accomplish, you’ll run out of gas before you’re successful.
Break goals that take an extended amount of time into smaller goals that can be accomplished within two months.
4. Make the task more enjoyable. Raking the leaves might sound like a dreadful way to spend the afternoon, but what if you listened to your favorite album on your iPod while you raked? You could invite a few friends over for a barbeque and ask them to bring a rake.
Ask yourself, “How can I make this task as enjoyable as possible?” and then listen to the answers you receive.
5. Give yourself a reward. You wouldn’t go to work each day if you didn’t get paid. The reward you receive is enough to keep you going back each day. Apply the same idea to keep your motivation high enough to get things done. Think of a few things you truly enjoy and use them as motivation.
Just feeling proud and pleased with your progress can be a form of reward. Those that struggle with motivation are often hard on themselves. Be happy with your progress and you can expect to enjoy more progress in the future.
6. Take a deep breath. Few things will drain your motivation faster than an over-stimulated mind. Stay clear on what you’re trying to accomplish and focus on the most direct path to get there. Deal with one task before moving on to another.
Keep your brain focused on your current task. Meditation is an effective tool for learning to focus more effectively.
7. Include another person. Going to the gym each day can be challenging. But if you know your workout partner is waiting for you, it’s more difficult to stay home. The presence of others can increase your level of commitment. Reach out to a friend.
Without motivation, willpower is the only solution. Willpower is much more difficult to sustain than motivation. Learning to control your motivation is part of learning to control yourself. There’s little that can’t be accomplished once you learn how manipulate your level of motivation. Even the most challenging tasks become manageable.
– Mike Acker
PS: Our team can help you with this! Schedule a FREE time to discover how our team can work to advance your goals: https://advance.as.me/discovery
President of ADVANCE
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April 1, 2020
Gamification in the Workplace for Enjoyment & Achievement
A while back, one of my business clients asked me to help him gamify his business. I had never heard of this idea. After researching it, we came up with a plan. Perhaps this will inspire you in your own workplace.
After all, it’s not just that one client. The concept of gamification is sweeping through the business world, with hundreds of companies jumping on the bandwagon over the past few years. Gamification is the practice of applying game design and game playing techniques into normal business operations.
The notion of gamification relies upon the innate desire of people to compete against one another and themselves. Taking tedious work tasks and making them into enjoyable “games” can create a better experience for management, employees, and customers alike.
No matter what line of business you are in, you can use rules, scores, and rewards as motivation to help your organization move ahead.
General Principles for Applying Gamification
1. Clarify your objectives. It’s important that your gamification efforts align with the goals of your business. Focus your efforts on areas that provide the biggest payoff.
Why are you implementing gamification and who’s your target? Are you using it to increase employee productivity? Or are you starting a customer loyalty or retention program to try to increase business?
2. Understand what motivates your members. Make the rewards exciting and meaningful for all involved parties. For some, you may need to offer tangible rewards such as prizes or cash for completing certain tasks.
However, sometimes just the gratification that comes along with strengthening your knowledge and skills may be motivating all on its own.
Perhaps your company has leveled learning modules for training. Your employees could compete to “level up” before others. Healthy competition can increase productivity!
Implement a system where employees earn points for every training document they read. Take it a step further and let them earn extra points for their next performance review.
3. Keep it simple. Games are easier to enjoy when the basic rules are short and easily understood. You can always design higher levels of play that are more complex later on.
4. Build a sense of community. Look for ways to keep the conversation going. Publicize success stories. Although some players may enjoy individual competition, creating team challenges can enhance cooperation and create a more cohesive work environment.
One primary use of gamification is deepening connections between staff and customers.
5. Offer small and frequent rewards. Studies show that a modest prize each week has more impact than giving away a new car once a year. Seeing others win on a regular basis keeps everyone excited and interested as they anticipate their own turn to win.
Employees can earn and accumulate points that can then be turned in for special privileges or positions.
6. Use measureable goals. Aiming for specific objectives is the key. Let players know what is expected and how far they have to go. Empower participants to achieve goals!
Think about those posters showing a public television station that needs to raise just 10% more to reach its annual target.
Perhaps you can post progress bars, meters, or leaderboards where you show individual or group progress toward an ultimate goal. This will keep everyone on track.
Integrating the principles of gamification into the workplace will lighten the mood, encourage productivity, and deepen everyone’s sense of satisfaction. When you approach your work life like a game, you may just end up having more fun than you ever anticipated.
– Mike Acker
PS: Our team can help you with this! Schedule a FREE time to discover how our team can work to advance your goals: https://advance.as.me/discovery
President of ADVANCE
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