The new year presents an opportunity to get a fresh start at working to achieve your goals. While New Year’s resolutions may be broken before the end of January, SMART goals are built to last. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based. These five criteria aim to help you fully realize and accomplish a goal. A good SMART Goal may look like this:
“To advance my C-suite presence [Relevant], I will attend two online seminars and attain one [Specific and Achievable] new certification so I can negotiate a 5% raise [Measurable and Achievable] at the end of the second quarter [Time-based].”

Setting SMART goals for the new year can help you stay on track and follow through with your personal and professional goals.

Here are some of the “don’ts” to avoid when promoting virtually and working to engage the audience. Some of the speakers running for office missed the mark at the Toastmasters International annual meeting. The issues included:

• A background that washed out the visual appearance of speaker.
• Having a lack of engaging facial expression.
• Using a very serious, dry tone of voice.
• Visual technical problems.
• Audio technical problems.
• Making clothing choices that did not enhance the speaker’s appearance. For, women, their appearances were too plain at times. For men, the jacket and tie combinations appeared stiff and intimidating at times.
• Using a negative pitch.
• Using generalized challenges.
• Keeping these “do’s” and “don’ts” in mind when presenting virtually can help you to capture your audience’s attention and help your pitch be successful.
• Telling personal story that rambled and was a bit too long.
• Using a negative pitch.
• Using generalized challenges.

  Keeping these “do’s” and “don’ts” in mind when presenting virtually can help you to capture your audience’s attention and help your pitch be successful.

Promoting a product or an idea virtually in a meeting can be tricky. Here are some of the “do’s” that work to help engage the audience. These aspects helped the members running for office and speaking at the Toastmasters International annual meeting:

• A visually appealing background that aligned with the personal appearance of the speaker.
• An engaging tone of voice and excellent audio sound.
• An engaging personal appearance. Making good color and clothing choices. For women, adding a nice, sophisticated touch of jewelry. For men, wearing a white shirt and a tie that is a good color choice.
• Smiling and use engaging facial expressions.
• Sharing a quick, related personal story (such as when someone asked them why they were a member of Toastmasters).
• Asking the audience to consider how this vote would affect them.
• Giving a pitch to the audience as to why the audience members should vote for them.

The new television series, Pearson, stars Gina Torres. Torres also was the star of Suits, a series that lasted for eight seasons. The wardrobe of her character, a high-power attorney, hit all the key qualities: style, color, and intimation. Torres knows what fit and color works for her. We all think it is the stylists who make it work for the client, which is true most of the time. However, the clients who shine are the ones who know what works for their bodies. They have undergone the process of trial and error, which requires time and patience. They also are willing to take risks. The proper fit provides a winning element.

Your face is always the star of the show. Hair, jewelry, and clothing choices just serve to frame the face. The way you look someone in the eye and your smile says it all. Yes, from a distance, we notice the posture, color, and some style choices.

However, The way you walk toward another and the way the other person extends their hand or in other countries, bows, will set the stage for engagement. Even then, the face is always the star of the show and is how you will be remembered.

Presenting to a group or individual has its challenges because of the ever-present conflict of what is happening in their lives. Beware of these speaking sins which will definitely cause folks to be inattentive or even worse be a difficult audience.

1. Speaking out-loud (impromptu speaking will always get you in trouble)
2. Rambling on and on (talking too much – being insensitive to time)
3. Looking like a deer with your eyes caught in the light (not being prepared for questions)
4. Too many ahs and ums (which makes it difficult to listen to – we know political speakers who do this – it shows a lack of knowledge and / or preparation)
5. Being augmentative (making the folks feel uncomfortable – not empowering them)
6. Not presenting what is in it for the audience (Why are they even there?)
7. Using too much humor (Humor only works if it is relevant to the listener.)

Committing one of these sins can derail any presentation.

The US has gone through a drastic change that may have started with folks working at home, around business casual evolving into casual or weekend wear at the office. A few years ago, while visiting a prestigious firm, I was struck by how casual the partners appeared, wearing short sleeve polo shirts and outdoor sports slacks. I was told it was to help the staff relax and attract younger professionals.

I was wearing a suit, as luck would have it, in a light-colored soft fabric. The same year, traveling to Asia for a presentation, the professionals in the country wore full suits, ties, and dress shirts.

Today, I see certain firms gravitating back to the full suits, not because it is a dress code requirement, but because these executives liked the comfort of a full suit since the fabrics are softer and styles more relaxed.

It is easier to look sharp in a full suit with matching or companion jacket, and pants or skirts. Many are also discovering that a suit can be less work than the mix and match process to look sharp. Dress to show up in your best in an environment where folks take note of you.

In a recent conversation with a colleague, we discussed whether formal education is necessary or if just being well read on the right actions to take in a difficult situation is enough. A reference to the movie, Caine Mutiny, ended up proving the point.

The film is based on The Caine Mutiny, the 1951 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel written by Herman Wouk. It depicts the events on board a fictitious World War II US Navy destroyer minesweeper and a subsequent court-martial for mutiny. The movie was a good example of the fact that doing what is right is always difficult but that does not mean that the most learned individual in the room always has the answer.

It appears there are two new neutrals on the rise to replace black. Navy is the newest new comer and gray stays strong every year. A new neutral takes hold in accessories, handbags, shoes, and jewelry.

The new navy is much darker, In some cases, it looks almost black with a blue cast. The neutral gray looks a little gentler. Gray is always a favorite because it has a lighter, more relaxed feel to it. Gray worn with red, yellow, and even orange boasts a freshness to it. My latest, new purchase is a new navy tote.

May the joy of the season stay with you throughout the year.