Procrastination is not only a time thief, but also a killer of dreams. If left uncurbed, it will lead to missed opportunities, increased stress and anxiety, mediocre performance, and possibly low self-esteem as your results fail to match your dreams and capability.

In this article, we’ll explore five tips to help you overcome this productivity killer.

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1. Identify The Root Cause

Understanding why you procrastinate is the first step to overcoming it. Take some time to reflect on what triggers your procrastination. Common causes include fear of failure, lack of motivation, perfectionism or simply a lack of knowledge on the subject matter.

If you fear failure, you will procrastinate on taking action. It’s your brain’s way of protecting you from the pain and disappointment of the perceived failure if you don’t get the desired outcome.

It’s not always easy getting to the real root cause of our procrastination. It often presents as one thing, when in reality, it something else. Engaging a coach could help you gain clarity on exactly what is holding you back, so you can deal with it.

 2. Set Clear Goals and Prioritize Accordingly

When the mind is confused, it will do nothing. Most of us have dozens of things we could be doing in any particular day. With no clear direction or goal, it becomes a humongous task trying to decide what to do first and in that place of indecision, we start procrastinating and end up doing nothing.

Having a clear goal makes it easier to decide what tasks to focus on first, and which will help you achieve your goal the quickest. It’s easier to implement a plan of action, when you actually have one!

3. Schedule Your Priorities

Simply having a “To Do List” is not sufficient. It’s important to actually schedule the tasks you have decided to prioritise in any particular day, into specific time slots on your calendar. This will give you structure, create a sense of urgency and help you stay focused and organised. If you don’t tell your time where to go, you give it permission to go wherever it pleases.

When scheduling your priorities, don’t be tempted to tackle the simple tasks first because they will take less time and you can quickly tick them off. Instead schedule your tasks in order of importance and deadlines. If you need to, break your work into smaller, manageable tasks. You are less likely to procrastinate on a task that will take you six hours if you schedule 30 minutes each day to work on it, than if you tried to get it all done in one 6-hour slot.

4. Eliminate Distractions

Now you have scheduled your priorities, you need to prioritise your schedule. It’s no use spending time to identify your priorities, and scheduling them in your calendar, if you allow distractions prevent you from keeping to the schedule.

Identify what typically distracts you and take steps to eliminate them. This could include turning off notifications on your devices, switching off your mobile phone or putting it on silent for certain periods of time. Setting up a dedicated workspace, using website blockers during work hours will all help you stay focussed. We like to believe we are so important, that we need to be reachable 24 hours each day and seven days a week. This is of course not true. Do not underestimate the unimportance of most things.

5. Make Yourself Accountable

Being accountable to yourself or others can boost your motivation massively. It will help you stay focused and consistent and keep you on track. Knowing that someone is aware of the goal you have set and is keeping tabs on your progress, will cause you to work diligently to meet those expectations even when faced with challenges or distractions.

For someone trying to beat procrastination, I would highly recommend you don’t trust yourself to hold you accountable. Make yourself accountable to someone else. Someone you know will not let you get away with making excuses, but who will also encourage you not to give up no matter the number of times you fail to hit your targets. This is one of the main reasons people will engage a coach, to have a trusted partner hold them accountable to achieving their goals.

Procrastination is a habit that is common to most, but it can be beaten! By recognizing the negative impact it can have, and implementing the tips provided, you can overcome procrastination and unlock your full potential in your career and business. Watch this video for more tips on beating procrastination.

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I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach
Mary is an author, professional speaker and certified trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, to enhance performance, achieve better results and enrich lives.

Check out our FREE RESOURCES HERE
© 2024

The post Five Tips To Beating Procrastination appeared first on CAN DO Academy.

In life’s dynamic journey, we often face challenges in our relationships, whether personal or professional. Stress can disrupt these connections, causing turmoil that may tempt us to abandon ship. Yet, with the right tools and mindset, we can navigate these rough waters and guide our relationships back to calmer seas.

Here are six strategies that will help if you find yourself on rocky waters with any of your relationships.

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1. Keep The Communication Channels Open

When faced with relationship challenges, the instinct is often to withdraw and shut down communication as a means of self-protection. However, this can exacerbate the situation. Keeping communication open, no matter how uncomfortable, is crucial for potential reconciliation or resolution.

 2. Accept That You Have a Part to Play

In relationships, it’s common to blame the other person when things go awry, but this perspective may not reflect reality. Acknowledging our own role, no matter how small, is essential for healing and restoring the relationship. Remember it always takes two to tango!

3. Acknowledge The Other Person and Empathise

Conflict often stems from differing perspectives, where our perception shapes our reality, even if it doesn’t align with the actual truth. Validating the other person’s viewpoint, even if we don’t agree, fosters openness and receptiveness to dialogue. Our unique perspectives influence how we interpret experiences and respond to them, underscoring the importance of empathy and understanding in our interactions.

“Seek first to understand, then to be understood” – Stephen Covey

4. Address the Issue Without Attacking the Person

Conflict is natural in relationships but need not be detrimental. If managed properly, it can even strengthen them. Constructive conflict resolution involves addressing the issue rather than attacking the individual. Taking ownership of your feelings and expressing them without blame fosters a more constructive dialogue. For example, saying “I felt undermined when my idea was discarded” is more productive than “You made me feel undermined by discarding my idea.

5. Let Go of the Need to be Right.

In relationships, prioritizing doing what’s best over being right is key. Instead of creating a divisive “me versus you” dynamic by focusing solely on being right, concentrate on the desired outcome and how to collectively progress towards it. This approach fosters common ground and facilitates bridge-building. Remember if you insist on being right, it means the other person must be wrong. Nobody loves being wrong.

6. Invest in Your Personal Development

The more we grow individually and accumulate emotional strength, the better we handle challenges in relationships. Investing in personal growth enhances understanding, broadens perspective, and provides the wisdom needed to navigate relationship difficulties effectively.

“We don’t see the world as it is, we see it as we are” ― Anaïs Nin

Every relationship encounters storms, but with patience, perseverance, and these strategies in your toolkit, you can navigate through them with grace and resilience.

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I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach
Mary is an author, professional speaker and certified trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, to enhance performance, achieve better results and enrich lives.

One of our areas of expertise is communication and inter-personal skills. Discover your unique communication style here 
© 2024

The post Weathering The Storm – Building Relationship Resilience appeared first on CAN DO Academy.

Communication is more than just words on a screen or the sound of a voice through a speaker. It’s about understanding, empathy, and building relationships. Whether it’s a virtual meeting, an email exchange, or a social media interaction, the ability to connect with others on a human level remains paramount.

Here are some strategies to creating connecting conversations even in a highly digital world.

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1. Be Authentic

People can spot a fake a mile away. Be genuine in your interactions. Share your thoughts, experiences, and emotions openly and honestly. Share personal stories and show genuine interest. In others In order to be authentic, your words, thoughts, feelings, and actions have to be congruent. Who we really are always speaks louder than what we say.

 “Who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you are saying” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. Listen Actively

In a world filled with distractions, being an active listener sets you apart. Pay attention to what others are saying without interrupting or formulating your response prematurely. I know this can be very difficult depending on your personality type, especially when you are convinced you know exactly where they are headed and what they are about to say. It can be tempting to want to jump in to save everyone some time, don’t do it. People won’t listen unless they feel they’ve been listened to. Listening to understand rather than to respond demonstrates respect and fosters deeper connections.

3. Be Empathetic

Seek to understand the perspectives and feelings of others. It does not mean you have to agree with their point of view, but empathy bridges the gap between individuals and cultivates a sense of understanding and compassion. So, seek first to understand, then to be understood.

4. Be Clear and Concise

In a digital world where attention spans are fleeting, clarity is key. Put some thought into the message you want to get across and the intended recipients. Put yourself in their shoes and think about the most effective way you can communicate the message so the recipient can understand and receive it. Use simple language and avoid jargon whenever possible. You don’t make a basket when the ball leaves your hand, but when it lands in the net.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place” – George Bernard Shaw

5. Make Time and Effort

Despite the promises of technological progress to streamline our activities, the truth is, we’ve ended up setting higher expectations for ourselves regarding daily productivity. Consequently, we find ourselves busier than ever before. However, if genuine connection is what you seek, carving out time and proactively initiating meaningful conversations becomes imperative. Building meaningful connections requires time and demands dedication and energy, yet the rewards far outweigh the investment.

The art of communicating to connect is more important than ever in our increasingly digital world. By embracing these strategies, we can foster deeper connections and build more meaningful relationships, both personally and professionally. So, let’s strive to communicate not just to convey information but to truly connect with others on a human level.

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I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach
Mary is an author, professional speaker and certified trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, helping them to achieve peak performance and desired outcomes.

One of our areas of expertise is communication. Find out more about our Communication Skills Workshop here
© 2024

The post How To Create Connecting Conversations appeared first on CAN DO Academy.

Being able to stand in public and speak before an audience will do wonders for your confidence and increase your influence and impact. Yet public speaking remains the number one fear for most people, but it’s a skill and like any skill it can be learned. In this article I’ll be sharing five tips to help you give an unforgettable talk.

1. Pick The Right Topic

Don’t just pick a topic because it’s something you love talking about or something you’re even good at. Pick a topic that is right for the audience. Like motivational speaker Les Brown says, “Don’t let what you want to say get in the way of what the audience needs to hear.”

So, think about something that will add value to the audience. Also make sure it’s something you can talk about authentically as well, so that what you are talking about matches your beliefs, your values, and your own lived experience.

2. What’s The Main Point You Want To Make? 

Get absolutely clear on the main point or points you want your audience to leave with. What’s the main thing you want them to walk away with from your talk? This would appear obvious, but how many times have you walked away from a talk or presentation asking yourself “what was that all about?” So, get clear on the main point you want the audience to leave with and wrap everything else around that point.

It’s also important not to overload your audience. It’s pointless giving them three points when they will only remember one and it’s even worse giving them six points and they end up remembering none.

3. Use Stories 

We all love a good story, and we tend to remember them. You might not remember all the data and even the point the speaker was trying to make, but you will remember the story, especially if it’s a good one. So, use stories to make your point. Use your own life story, use other people’s stories, use hypothetical stories, it does not really matter. Just make sure it’s making a point number. So, make a point, tell a story. Tell a story, make a point.

4. Use Humour

We all love to laugh. It makes us feel good and people learn better when they are having fun. Your audience might not remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel and most of us feel good when we laugh. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be a funny person, read a funny story, read out a funny joke. You might read it, and it comes out flat or dry. Don’t worry about it. People might laugh because it fell so flat, but they will still remember. So don’t be afraid to use humour, even if you don’t consider yourself to be a funny person.

5. Use The Power Of The Pause

When you’re speaking and you’re going on and on and on, it’s very easy for people to zone out and your voice just becomes background noise. However, if you pause just before you make a point or just after you make a point, it makes that point hit home. So, learn to use the power of the pause.

If you will imbibe these five tips in your next talk, whether it’s a 3-minute or 45-minute talk, you stand a real good chance of being able to give an unforgettable talk. Don’t forget public speaking is a skill and the more you practice, the better you’ll get at it.

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I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach
Mary is a solicitor and professional speaker, trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering Institute of Leadership and Management approved and CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, helping them to achieve peak performance and desired outcomes.

If you would like to improve your speaking skills, join our next Public Speaking Made Easy Workshop here
© 2023

The post 5 Tips For An Unforgettable Talk appeared first on CAN DO Academy.

Do you get nervous when you have to give a presentation in front of a group? Do your hands shake, your mouth goes dry, and your mind goes blank? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone! In fact, fear of public speaking is often cited as the Number one fear for over 75% of the population. You need not be a part of this statistic. By following these tips, you can learn how to overcome your fear of public speaking and give talks and presentations that engage and inspire your audience and increase your impact and influence.

1. Preparation is essential – Know your topic inside and out

Public speaking can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced speakers. The key to success is preparation. Before you step up to the podium, take the time to get to know two things. Firstly, know your topic inside and out. Be clear on the key points you want to make and be prepared to answer any questions that might come up. Secondly, know your audience. Find out as much as possible about those you will be speaking to. This will put you in a better position to serve them. Consider their needs and expectations, and tailor your message accordingly. By preparing, you’ll give yourself the best chance of making a great presentation or giving a powerful talk.

2. Make an excellent first impression by dressing professionally and arriving on time

Making a good first impression is essential in many situations, including speaking in public or just meeting someone for the first time. There is never a second opportunity to make a good first impression, so it’s important you get it right the first time! There are several things you can do to make an excellent first impression, such as dressing appropriately and arriving on time.

First impressions are made within the first few seconds of meeting someone, so it’s essential to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward. Dressing professionally shows that you’re taking the situation seriously and helps to build trust. It can also help boost your self-confidence and your audience’s confidence in you. Arriving on time shows that you respect your audience’s time and are organized. If you can master making good first impressions, you’ll be sure to set yourself up for success in any situation.

3. Use clear, concise language that everyone can understand

When communicating, it is always essential to ensure the person you are in communication with understands what it is you are communicating. This becomes especially important when speaking in public, as you want to ensure that your audience can follow along and grasp the main points of your talk. There are a few ways to achieve this. Firstly, use simple, clear, everyday language and avoid jargon or technical terms. Secondly, be concise, direct, and to the point. Get rid of any unnecessary words or filler phrases. Thirdly, slow down and enunciate your words. You can ensure that your message comes across loud and clear by following these tips.

4. Be aware of your body language

When it comes to communication, remember our words account for only 7% of what our audience believes, our tone accounts for 38% and our body language accounts for 55%. So, our body language accounts for the largest percentage of what we are communicating. Our physical expressions, such as posture, gestures, and facial expressions, convey messages. Although body language is often subconscious, it can have a powerful impact on how others perceive us. For example, speaking with confident body language can make us appear more credible and competent while speaking with negative body language can make us seem nervous or uncomfortable.

When speaking in public, it is important that we are aware of our body language and use positive gestures to convey our message. For instance, instead of crossing your arms or fidgeting, maintain an open stance and make eye contact with your audience. Also keeping a smile on your face, if it is appropriate to do so, depending on what you are talking about, could make your audience warm up to you. Using positive body language can help you effectively communicate your message and make a positive impression on your audience.

5. See yourself Succeeding

The reason most people get nervous when asked to speak in public is they envision all the things that could go wrong and believe it! They imagine everything that could go wrong, from forgetting their words to tripping over and falling as they get up on stage and everything in between. By imagining all of these negative outcomes, you programme your subconscious mind with the idea of failing, and because the subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is real and imagined, the body starts to act out what is in the mind, resulting in shaking hands, dry mouth, racing heart and all of the other negative symptoms.

Instead of imagining everything going wrong, visualize yourself succeeding, giving a powerful presentation, and visualize the audience standing up to give you a standing ovation. Remember that everyone in the room is there to listen to what you have to say, so visualize your audience as friendly faces instead of a sea of strangers. Doing this frequently will help you reprogramme your mindset from a failure to a success mindset and help you lose those nerves.

6. Practice, practice, practice!

 If you’re looking to improve your speaking skills, there’s no substitute for practice. The more you speak in front of an audience, the more confident and polished you’ll become. And while it’s always helpful to have someone give you feedback on your performance, there’s no need to wait for a formal occasion to get started. Just start practicing whenever and wherever you can. Record yourself giving a practice speech, and then listen back to see how you can improve.

You could also try speaking extemporaneously on a topic for a set amount of time, such as two minutes. The goal is to get comfortable speaking off the cuff so that when it comes time for a formal presentation, you’ll be able to handle whatever comes your way. So go ahead and start practicing today – your future self will thank you for it.

I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Remember if you say you can, you are right and if you say you can’t, you are right!

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach

Mary is a solicitor and professional speaker, trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering Institute of Leadership and Management approved and CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, helping them increase performance and to achieve desired outcomes.

Join our next Public Speaking Made Easy Workshop here

© 2022

The post 6 Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking appeared first on CAN DO Academy.

Do you get nervous when you have to give a presentation in front of a group? Do your hands shake, your mouth goes dry, and your mind goes blank? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone! In fact, fear of public speaking is often cited as the Number one fear for over 75% of the population. You need not be a part of this statistic. By following these tips, you can learn how to overcome your fear of public speaking and give talks and presentations that engage and inspire your audience and increase your impact and influence.

1. Preparation is essential – Know your topic inside and out

Public speaking can be a daunting task, even for the most experienced speakers. The key to success is preparation. Before you step up to the podium, take the time to get to know two things. Firstly, know your topic inside and out. Be clear on the key points you want to make and be prepared to answer any questions that might come up. Secondly, know your audience. Find out as much as possible about those you will be speaking to. This will put you in a better position to serve them. Consider their needs and expectations, and tailor your message accordingly. By preparing, you’ll give yourself the best chance of making a great presentation or giving a powerful talk.

2. Make an excellent first impression by dressing professionally and arriving on time

Making a good first impression is essential in many situations, including speaking in public or just meeting someone for the first time. There is never a second opportunity to make a good first impression, so it’s important you get it right the first time! There are several things you can do to make an excellent first impression, such as dressing appropriately and arriving on time. First impressions are made within the first few seconds of meeting someone, so it’s essential to make sure you’re putting your best foot forward. Dressing professionally shows that you’re taking the situation seriously and helps to build trust. It can also help boost your self-confidence and your audience’s confidence in you. Arriving on time shows that you respect your audience’s time and are organised. If you can master making good first impressions, you’ll be sure to set yourself up for success in any situation.

3. Use clear, concise language that everyone can understand

When communicating, it is always essential to ensure the person you are in communication with understands what it is you are communicating. This becomes especially important when speaking in public, as you want to ensure that your audience can follow along and grasp the main points of your talk. There are a few ways to achieve this. Firstly, use simple, clear, everyday language and avoid jargon or technical terms. Secondly, be concise, direct and to the point. Get rid of any unnecessary words or filler phrases. Thirdly, slow down and enunciate your words. You can ensure that your message comes across loud and clear by following these tips.

4. Be aware of your body language

When it comes to communication, remember our words account for only 7% of what our audience believes, our tone accounts for 38% and our body language accounts for 55%. So, our body language accounts for the largest percentage of what we are communicating. Our physical expressions, such as posture, gestures, and facial expressions, convey messages. Although body language is often subconscious, it can have a powerful impact on how others perceive us. For example, speaking with confident body language can make us appear more credible and competent while speaking with negative body language can make us seem nervous or uncomfortable. When speaking in public, it is important that we are aware of our body language and use positive gestures to convey our message. For instance, instead of crossing your arms or fidgeting, to maintain an open stance and make eye contact with your audience. Also keeping a smile on your face, if it is appropriate to do so, depending on what you are talking about, could make your audience warm up to you. Using positive body language can help you effectively communicate your message and make a positive impression on your audience.

5. See yourself Succeeding

The reason most people get nervous when asked to speak in public is they envision all the things that could go wrong and believe it! They imagine everything that could go wrong, from forgetting their words to tripping over and falling as they get up on stage and everything in between. By imagining all of these negative outcomes, they programme their subconscious mind with the idea of failing and because the subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is real and imagined, the body starts to act out what is in the mind, resulting in shaking hands, dry mouth, racing heart and all of the other negative symptoms. Instead of imagining everything going wrong, visualize yourself succeeding, giving a powerful presentation, and visualizing the audience standing up to give you a standing ovation. Remember that everyone in the room is there to listen to what you have to say, so visualize your audience as friendly faces instead of a sea of strangers. Doing this frequently will help you reprogramme your mindset from a failure to a success mindset and help you lose those nerves.

6. Practice, practice, practice!

 If you’re looking to improve your speaking skills, there’s no substitute for practice. The more you speak in front of an audience, the more confident and polished you’ll become. And while it’s always helpful to have someone give you feedback on your performance, there’s no need to wait for a formal occasion to get started. Just start practicing whenever and wherever you can. Record yourself giving a practice speech, and then listen back to see how you can improve. You could also try speaking extemporaneously on a topic for a set amount of time, such as two minutes. The goal is to get comfortable speaking off the cuff so that when it comes time for a formal presentation, you’ll be able to handle whatever comes your way. So go ahead and start practising today – your future self will thank you for it!

I hope you have found this blog helpful. Please feel free to leave your comments. I would very much love to hear from you.

Remember if you say you can, you are right and if you say you can’t, you are right!

Mary Eniolu – Speaker, Trainer, and Coach

Mary is a solicitor and professional speaker, trainer, and coach. She is the founder of Can Do Academy, a training and development company offering Institute of Leadership and Management approved and CPD accredited training and coaching solutions to individuals and organizations, helping them increase performance and to achieve desired outcomes.

Join our next Public Speaking Made Easy Workshop here

© 2022

The post 6 Tips To Improve Your Public Speaking appeared first on CAN DO Academy.