What to Do?

Alhaji265

I would like to know how can I give my updates in my daily meeting with my boss regarding on the W7 deployment project? I noticed that when I communicate I seem to frustrate people (I speak low without any energy, angry/depress tone, etc.), how can I overcome this.

Also, I feel like I rub people the wrong way with my demeanor. They seem disturbed around me and can sense something wrong? Any advice? Thanks!

cyberguypr

Is there something actually wrong? Are you tired, lacking motivation or something else? Or is just that they have the wrong impression and everything is fine and dandy?

Alhaji265

Well I guess lack of motivation, tiredness, can't focus and the hours I'm working (7am to 4pm, M - Th.) and I have to wake up at 4 am in order to get to work on time.

techdudehere

1) If you look sharp, you will feel sharp. Make sure you're confident in your image. If you think your wardrobe may need some assistance, get a woman to help you lol

2) Don't deliver important information when you're distracted. Make a note of what you need to do when you're back at your desk, then forget about it and focus on presenting your news.

3) Practice what you're going to say the night before, outloud. You don't need to memorize a script but you want to have your thoughts organized so people can easily understand you. This should also boost your confidence.

4) Don't try to tell someone important information if they are distracted. I would first say, I'd like to go over __, do you have 5? If they say they are busy, I'd ask what might be a better time.

5) Ask yourself how the person might react to your news. What questions and reactions might be expected. By being prepared, you will deliver the information effectively and confidently.

Good Luck!

Ivanjam

(1) You have already taken three immense steps in recognizing and acknowledging that you have some sort of a communications problem, and in seeking help in remedying the situation.

(2) You need to determine whether the problem is just with your presentation skills, with this particular project or with your general demeanor.

(3) If it is just presentation skills - have you tried using presentation aids such as Powerpoint or fancy paper charts when you do these updates? People seem to like pictures more than just words - but remember, address your audience at all times and not the screen or chart! Try to make eye contact with each person in the audience for a few minutes at a time and present the topic as if to this one person - make everyone feel that you are having a conversation with them alone. If you make a mistake, try not to become flustered - smile, make a joke or say something like "lets try that again" or "okay, rewind" and start over - the main thing is to stay relaxed and remain focused. Make sure you highlight the positive contributions of other team members, like "John made an excellent suggestion that cut our deployment time by half".

(4) If the problem lies with this particular project, try to answer the following questions: do you feel passionate about your work in general? What excites you about a project - the planning, the execution or achieving the final objective? Maybe you did not participate in the planning of the deployment so the whole exercise seems mundane and the objectives vague? If it is any of these then you lack motivation. Maybe you should speak to your boss or someone senior in your department about the problem? A lot of people have gone through similar experiences and are quite willing to share their personal strategies to overcome this type of problem - in short, get a mentor!

(4) If the issue is your general demeanor, I can tell you what worked for me. Become a part of an organization or develop a hobby that involves some aspects of public speaking and leadership - take up ham radio and join ARES or MARS, join the Kiwanis, Rotary or Optimist clubs, become a red cross volunteer, give talks in schools on IT - just to name a few. Of course, never forget to have a few beers with your buddies once in a while.

(5) In all of this I cannot adequately underscore the importance of finding one or more mentors. Mentors are usually quite willing to share their experiences with you and to train you in people skills. Finally, when you overcome these difficulties, become a mentor yourself and help others with similar problems.

DigitalZeroOne

I applaud you for wanting to improve this...I would try a couple of things. If you really are tired around meeting time, maybe you could drink some coffee a little bit before the meeting, or maybe an iced cappuccino to raise up your energy levels. Also, record yourself giving some type of speech (anything), let someone you trust look at it and look for ways to improve. Make sure the person isn't the type of dork that wants to post the video online. Make the speech short, a minute or two, maybe make it about technology, and try to make it as upbeat as possible.

Ivanjam

Alhaji265 wrote: »

Well I guess lack of motivation, tiredness, can't focus and the hours I'm working (7am to 4pm, M - Th.) and I have to wake up at 4 am in order to get to work on time.

By the way, I hate those hours too - I'd probably feel grumpy, myself - I am an evening person, give me the 4pm-midnight shift any day.

kurosaki00

that a long commute...
Get a healthy breakfast, work out a bit before going out
stretch well
get a good night sleep

If you are by nature a bit introvert/grumpy it takes more work to change it, but you can!
Remember you should have a filter between your mind and your words
Just try to talk in a better way, eventually it will come out naturally.

Alhaji265

Thanks for the info.

Forsaken_GA

Alhaji265 wrote: »

I would like to know how can I give my updates in my daily meeting with my boss regarding on the W7 deployment project? I noticed that when I communicate I seem to frustrate people (I speak low without any energy, angry/depress tone, etc.), how can I overcome this.

I've always found that chugging a 24oz Monster prior to meetings solves the low tone without any energy problem!

70P6BV8

Good Morning to Everyone,

Motivation is something that has challenged even the best of us because of reasons that we not be aware of. I have gone from one side of the scale to the other with life, from owning a home to being homeless and I must admit that my faith in God is what fixed my head. Now, I do not know what your faith is and I apologize if I offend you, this is based on personel experience so here it goes....

You have to start with the man in the mirror, who is he, what makes him tic, are you happy with your life, and I mean truly happy with your life, how is your heart, how is your head and how is your spirit? Are all of these in synch with each other? From what I have gathered, they are not.

It sounds like you need to get away for a weekend and go where you FEEL yourself again. Get yourself grounded, keep your phone off, do not have any electronics with you and do something that brought you alot of happiness, wear yourself out having fun and you will find your answer, but be warned, you might have to make changes in your life and this could include moving. I let God control my life, He is who I follow and He is who I want to please so therefore, If I need to make a change to FIND myself, then I MUST do it. Life is what we make of it and if we continue to make everyday terrible, then, well life is going to be terrible.

I believe this is the root cause of what you are going through so take some time, and go look in the mirror and discover who you really are, the rest will follow. Otherwise, it will be just the surface and that will never hold up to fixing you. Going to work out, or changing your routine is just surface stuff, you have to look within. Trust me I know from experience. I am 50 years old, unemployed, fixing to get married and am completing my Masters in 1 month and I am the happiest I have ever been.

Alhaji265

70P6BV8 wrote: »

Good Morning to Everyone,

Motivation is something that has challenged even the best of us because of reasons that we not be aware of. I have gone from one side of the scale to the other with life, from owning a home to being homeless and I must admit that my faith in God is what fixed my head. Now, I do not know what your faith is and I apologize if I offend you, this is based on personel experience so here it goes....

You have to start with the man in the mirror, who is he, what makes him tic, are you happy with your life, and I mean truly happy with your life, how is your heart, how is your head and how is your spirit? Are all of these in synch with each other? From what I have gathered, they are not.

It sounds like you need to get away for a weekend and go where you FEEL yourself again. Get yourself grounded, keep your phone off, do not have any electronics with you and do something that brought you alot of happiness, wear yourself out having fun and you will find your answer, but be warned, you might have to make changes in your life and this could include moving. I let God control my life, He is who I follow and He is who I want to please so therefore, If I need to make a change to FIND myself, then I MUST do it. Life is what we make of it and if we continue to make everyday terrible, then, well life is going to be terrible.

I believe this is the root cause of what you are going through so take some time, and go look in the mirror and discover who you really are, the rest will follow. Otherwise, it will be just the surface and that will never hold up to fixing you. Going to work out, or changing your routine is just surface stuff, you have to look within. Trust me I know from experience. I am 50 years old, unemployed, fixing to get married and am completing my Masters in 1 month and I am the happiest I have ever been.

That was very interesting on what you posted. I will consider that in the future (to get away, explore, move, etc.) Thanks.