Creating Your Presentation Success With a
Positive "I CAN" Attitude

According to the Lamalle Report on Top
Executives of the 1990s, one of the most
important factors in determining financial
success by those earning over $250,000 is being
enthusiastic and having a positive attitude
(46%).  Apparently, successful people never
underestimate the power of positive thinking.

Why does having a positive attitude matter so
much?  Research solidly indicates that
expectations influence behavior meaning if you
expect to succeed, it is likely that you will and
if you expect to fail, you are more likely to be
unsuccessful.  Expectations create outcomes
because we work toward the outcome we expect,
even if it is failure.  Henry Ford said, "Whether
you think you can or think you can't--you are
right." 

Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of
presenters who had a negative script running
through their head before each presentation. 
Their self-talk sounded something like this, "I
should have prepared more.  I wanted to do so
much more but I ran out of time.  I'm not a very
good presenter.  I don't think this is going to
go very well.  If I had a few more days, I could
do much better."  And so on and so on.
  
This constant mental berating of oneself is very
dangerous.  Not only does it increase your
anxiety about presenting, it helps shape the
outcome of failure.  We believe we won't do well
and so we manufacture that failure to confirm
what we already know to be true.

How incredibly self-defeating is that?

The goal of your presentation preparation is to
do EVERYTHING necessary to be prepared for your
presentation and then change that negative self-
talk into a more positive dialogue that increases
self-esteem, reduces anxiety, and sets up the
expectation of success.  Before a presentation,
you should be telling yourself, "I am ready. 
I've done everything I could to prepare.  I know
my stuff.  I am going to do very well."  This
will enable you to think positively about your
presentation and carry that positive attitude
into your actual presentation. 
 
What amazes me is how much more difficult it is
to be kind to ourselves and believe in our
success than it is to demean and berate ourselves
and expect to fail.  

The things we say to ourselves undoubtedly
influence our feelings and our attitudes. Instead
of telling yourself that you aren't ready or that
you wanted to be more prepared, why not try
adjusting your attitude to the positive side of
life-"I am ready and I am going to give a good
presentation."  Then watch as your positive
outlook creates a positive outcome! 

Debbie Bailey is a well-regarded Presentation
Skills Training Consultant, founder of Trainer2go Inc.,
and Author of the book "15 Presentation Secrets -
How to WOW Even the Toughest Audience.  For more
information about Debbie go to 
http://trainer2go.com or email 
debbie at debbie@trainer2go.com 

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