No Time for Executive Skills Training?

Crazy busy? Business executives often tell me: "I have a nuts schedule and I'm crazy busy. I know I should stop to take a presentation skills training -- but I can't seem to find the time." There's only 24-hours in a day. And let's face it. It's insane to have back-to-back meetings, urgent projects, and staffing challenges. Still there must be a way to make time for professional education and specific skills training. Let's pause for a moment. Think back to the last time you flew a commercial jet. Most likely, you'll recall the familiar instructions: "put your oxygen mask on first, before putting one on your child." This simple reminder is a good one for all of us. Get the training you need. Put your presentation skills in order, before jumping into the next urgent task. There are always more issues and challenges to solve. But if you invest in skills first, you're going to be in a better position to rise to the challenge. You won't be resigned to using the same-old-same-old responses. You won't have to avoid important issues about how to engage, persuade and inspire audiences. Plus, let's be honest. Things change. If you took a presentation skills training back when you started your career, things have changed. There are new developments and different standards. New media. New technology. New generations in your audience. And most importantly: new expectations. So, put your skills training first. Before all the other endless items on your To-Do list. Before you insist on going crazy with building a gigantic slideshow. Before you decide that a story isn't right for your audience. Or a visual display is inappropriate for your hardcore viewers. But still... I bet you're wondering what is the best way to make time in your nuts schedule for training. The answer is simple: pick a virtual presentation skills training. Choose a training solution you can use when you want, from where you want. Eliminate the cumbersome attributes of on-site training or coaching. Open up alte atives that you can squeeze into your life. Not the other way around. While many of my executive clients have relied on on-site trainings for executive leaders, there's a change in direction. More and more clients are opting for hybrid training solutions. These are mixtures of options including online training, on-site seminars, virtual coaching, and one-on-one in-person coaching. As you look at the options, select based on what you know will fit best for your work environment. If you are constantly on the move, choose virtual training and virtual executive coaching. If you are in one location for a period of time, add on-site training and in-person coaching into the mix. Look for solutions that give instant success as well as ongoing skill building. The good news is that virtual options are often easier to do, more flexible, but also often much more affordable. Who knew that better training could be less expensive? Get exceptional results in your executive presentations by getting the right skills training. Anywhere. Anytime.