Category Archives: Advice from a Life Coach
June 8, 2016 Cheers! How to Give a Better Toast
We’ve all been there. Someone stands up or leans over the table to give a toast and it falls absolutely FLAT. Maybe there are too many inside jokes in the toast, or maybe the speaker crosses the line between funny and just plain raunchy. Or, maybe the speaker forgets their lines, fumbles their words, or loses their concentration. Or the microphone cuts out. Or the speaker mumbles. Or no one laughs at the jokes…
The list goes on and on! It makes you wonder why anyone in their right mind would agree to give a toast.
But, fear not. There are just as many ways to give a good toast as to give a horrendous one! The trick is to put a little thought into the occasion and look at it as an honor instead of a burden.
Because I’m a career and life coach, I often help people to deal with difficult or touchy situations with as much finesse, sensitivity, and effectiveness as possible. Being the “Toast-Giver” at your next special event is a perfect time to make an impression and send a message to a group.
How can you ensure that the toast you give during the summer wedding season (or any other season, for that matter) stays the impressive course and avoids turning into a train wreck? Start with these 7 handy tips:
The Toast-Giver’s Survival Guide
What’s Your Subject?
Every toast should have a subject. This should not be difficult to discern—for what reason have you all gathered today? Whether for a holiday party, wedding, graduation, or birthday, the major message of your toast should reflect the event’s specific occasion.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you’re anticipating being called on to make a speech, prepare one ahead of time and practice. Say your speech out loud (you’ll find that the pacing is much different than when you read to yourself) and practice in front of a mirror or with a friend.
Know Your Audience
Always assess the formality of the group and event. Take a cue from others who made toasts or speeches before you and, when in doubt, always keep your comments as respectful and professional as possible.
Don’t Burn the Toast!
When giving a toast, brevity is always key. Avoid causing waves of rolling eyes by sticking to your main message to avoid rambling.
Be Sober
I don’t think I need to paint a picture for you here—it’s pretty obvious what happens when someone misjudges their level of inebriation and subjects a room to their long, blush-inducing speech. If you hope to make a toast, abstain from the sauce until you’re finished.
Ditch the Inside Jokes
If only one or two people understand a reference you make during your toast, you’re alienating everyone else. If you decide to refer to a certain story or event, be sure you frame it properly so that everyone feels included.
Speak From the Heart
Avoid canned quotes or cliché phrases. Instead, be genuine, focus on the positive, and speak from the heart.
Follow these rules and make sure that your toast is remembered for the right reasons!
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: career coach Margaret Smith, champagne toast etiquette, embarrassing toasts, give a better toast, give a memorable toast, give the perfect toast, rules for toasting, UXL career coaching
June 1, 2016 5 Minutes to a Better Cover Letter
If you’re on the hunt for a new job, you’re probably well-aware of the importance of a compelling cover letter. It’s how you can stand out from the crowd, how you can demonstrate a slice of your personality that you really can’t convey in your résumé. It’s also a great way to take a deeper dive into some of your past experiences and really highlight your accomplishments.
How do you write a cover letter that gets noticed? Seems like a daunting task, right?
It doesn’t have to be. I’ve laid out several simple pointers below that will guide you through the cover letter writing process and help you create something that is polished and memorable.
Remember: Cover letters are not just a repeat of your resume—viewing them as such will put you at a serious disadvantage.
Cover Letter Basics:
- Name, address, and date at the top of the letter
- Cover letter addressed to a specific person if possible. If individual unknown, send letter to the title of recipient (Production Manager, Technical Director, Human Resources, etc.)
- State your interest in the position
- Make note of special skills that qualify you for the job
- Provide contact info and a time you can be reached
- Thank the contact and close with “Sincerely”
- Always ask someone else to proofread your letter and resume—don’t miss simple grammatical errors!
- Sign your letter with either blue or black ink, NO EXCEPTIONS
- Be concise and to the point (no cutesy statements or overbearing comments)
- Use the same paper as your resume
- Avoid using “I” too often or repeating the same words
Beyond the Basics:
- Focus on two (or, at the max, three) major accomplishments in your career and really dive into them
- Use concrete facts whenever possible. For example:
- I saved XYZ Company $3.5 million dollars in their annual budget by…
- During my time at ABC Inc., I trained over 200 people in…
- I helped Company X grow by 4% through my….
- I was the top salesperson at ABC, Inc., selling $$ annually
- Let your authentic voice come through, but don’t sound too casual. It’s a fine line to ride and you may need a friend to weigh in.
- Do your homework. Understand the company’s values and what they’re looking for in a new employee and make sure you highlight those parts of your experience.
Interested in learning more about creating an effective cover letter or interested in consulting a professional to ensure that you land that next job opening? Contact Me Today to learn about career coaching and UXL’s public workshops!
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: 5 minutes to better cover letter, career coach cover letter, career coach Margaret Smith, cover letter basics, cover letter protips, Cover Letter Tips, create a better cover letter, resume and cover letter, stand out cover letter, UXL career coaching, writing practices cover letter
May 25, 2016 Four Strategies for Staying Calm During a Crisis
At one time or another, we all must deal with a crisis or emergency, whether at work, at home, or out in the world. While we can never know where or when these events might occur, there are steps we can take to ready ourselves for when that time comes. When we have trained to navigate a crisis, we can remain calm. Remaining calm can give others peace of mind; this will encourage them to focus on the task at hand, and remedy the crisis, instead of worrying about possible outcomes. Here are four strategies for remaining calm during a crisis:
Have a Plan: Chances are, your building or office has a first aid kit on site and fire evacuation plan established. It is just as important to plan for business-related crises. With a plan in place, you can tackle a situation proactively, rather than reactively. While there may be no way to plan for every possible scenario, there is value in preparing for potential crises, such as handling a hesitant client or defusing a public relations issue. With a clear crisis management plan, team members can efficiently collaborate to address the situation and begin to execute the plan.
Breathe In, Breathe Out: When under mental or emotional stress, your body physiologically reacts; with rapid breathing and increased pulse, your brain may be too worried about your well-being to concentrate on the crisis in front of you. Turning your focus to your breathing for a few short minutes can return you to your previous state. Try breathing in through your nose for five seconds and exhaling out of your mouth for seven seconds. Now, with a calm body and mind, you can pay attention to the current emergency.
Be Your Own Cheerleader: The concept of fake it until you make it has some credence to it; even if you don’t always feel confident or brave, telling yourself that you are can help boost your self-esteem. Out loud or in your mind, tell yourself that you know you’re smart and capable enough to conquer the task before you. This is a strategy that you could use every day; that way, when crises arise, you may not need the internal pep talk like you did before. Additionally, when you emanate this confidence in front of your team members, they are more willing to rally behind you and have trust your capabilities.
Practice Mindfulness: In moments of crises, your mind can flood with what-if thoughts and negative outcomes. When you practice mindfulness, you can concentrate on the current task without being distracted by unhelpful thoughts and emotions. This allows for better ideas for crisis resolution in a shorter amount of time. If you want to train yourself to be more mindful, you can practice outside of work: focus on each step you take as you walk the dog or concentrate on each dish as you wash it.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS®DISCOVERY LICENSED PRACTITIONER, FOUNDER OF UXL, AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE TAG TEAM. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE. YOU CAN VISIT HER WEBSITE AT WWW.YOUEXCELNOW.COM
Tags: breathing exercises, keeping a confident calm, keeping calm at work, practice mindfulness work, strategies to keep calm, ways to keep calm
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