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When you’re choosing a driving present, although it’s a generous gift and everyone likes fast rally cars, you want to make sure you get the present they want the most!

So you’ve got to think (it’s the thought counts – awww!) about what driving level the person you’re buying the rally driving present for is at? If they’ve never been rallying before, you want to go for the beginners courses which are in “slower” rally cars, that are much easier and the person you’re buying it for will probably get more satisfaction out of, rather than being slightly frightened at the adrenalin rush of trying to go as fast as possible round trees and rocks!

If they’ve done some rallying / racing before then you might want to go for a more advanced rally driving present where they get to drive faster cars! Or they might be an experienced driver who does a lot of driving for example like someone who always drives a van in the day or maybe even a truck driver, and so they know some basics already. They might also be interested in rallying so you could ask them; “what’s your all time favourite rally car?” If they answer Ford Escort Mark 2, Subaru Impreza or Mitsubishi Evo (which is likely!) then choose a present that has that car to drive in it. They’ll be delighted, because some people never get the privilege of doing the incredibly exciting thing of driving your all time dream rally car!

Perhaps they / you own a 4 x 4, or live in a place where 4 x 4′s are useful or maybe even someone who has come off the road at some point (especially in the extreme snowy climate we must all remember right now!) and they want some training in off road driving. Most rally schools have 4 x 4′s like Land Rovers for example and highly trained and experienced instructors to go with them, so it’s a safe bet to buy a 4 x 4 driving present for someone who is in some way interested in 4 x 4′s. 4 x 4 driving presents are mostly cheaper than the rally ones anyway, and they can be considered more “beginner” activities because they are slower, but they can also be more challenging on the advanced courses.

Either way, your loved one / friend or you will have the ride of your life when you purchase a rally driving present! Life’s too fast, so don’t let it pass you by booking today to get a highly valuable skill that can save lives and accidents, and build huge assuring confidence!

Please check out the website right now for some top tips and where to find the right rally driving present by clicking here rally driving present, you’re going to love it.

If you are speaking to a large audience, a small room full of people, or conducting a personal presentation, nothing is as effective and engaging as living in the moment. This is a lesson taken from the stage to the boardroom by Pat Dolan, Fine Arts Chair of St. John’s.

As the Fine Arts Chair of St. John’s, it is Pat Dolan’s responsibility to prepare young men and women for the stage. As a teacher and mentor, his lessons are invaluable for life beyond the stage. He requires rehearsals with dedication and commitment. In the process of teaching communication skills he imparts confidence. In the process of challenging students to design the stage he unveils hidden creative talents. In the process of teaching his pupils how to act, he teaches them how to be.

After individuals and understudies are selected to play roles, each person begins the arduous task of learning the script by rote. The lines are rehearsed with constant repetition until the very words become memorized as a reflexive response to auditory stimulus, speaking without thinking. By the time that the actors achieve this level of emotionless repetition, Mr. Dolan begins to work his real magic.

Three Lessons

As a first step, the cast was instructed to lay down on the floor motionless. With eyes closed, each member of the cast was instructed to tell the other members of the cast about one new sound that they could hear in the silence. At first this seemed absurd. However, once everyone was quiet, someone noticed the faint sound of cars outside. After a few moments, as the other most obvious sounds were identified, members focused with intent concentration on the most sublime sounds. Someone identified the sound of the wind on the windows, and another person quickly noted the sound of footsteps and laughter in the distance. As we became intensely aware of our surroundings, we started to notice the sound of each other breathing and the faint shuffle of someone moving. With all other stimulus removed, we noticed the pulse of our own heartbeats. It is amazing to realize how much we overlook and choose to tune out when we are focused on specific thoughts. How many clues and input do we miss from the world around us when we are concentrating on what we are about to say?

As the second step, the cast was instructed to sit on the stage in darkness. Completely motionless and with eyes closed, the entire play would be spoken aloud in the empty hall. Each of the players listened intently to the rise and fall of the other voices as they echoed in the otherwise empty chamber. The fluctuations, tones and subtle nuances of the voices became heightened once all other senses were stilled. How much did we learn about the inflection of our own voices and the ability to convey emotion in the sound of the spoken words?

As the third step, Mr. Dolan instructed us to act out the entire play in our own words. The simple rule was to complete the entire drama from beginning to end without using any of the scripted language. This sounds simple right? It is not. Imagine knowing what needs to be said and knowing that you can not use the very words that have been memorized. It was necessary to express the feeling, intent and purpose of the words without using the predetermined words to create actions and response. The feeling and intent had to be our own, the purpose was prescribed even though the words were forbidden. How much of what we say or hear in meeting or presentations is scripted or prepared in advance? How well can we convey our feeling and intent by adjusting our language to the listener, rather than our own prepared script?

On Stage

During one production on the stage, we had an opportunity to apply this training in action. The play was based on the legendary Sherlock Holmes, and in one critical scene the great Doctor Watson was to be threatened at gunpoint by the leading lady. Unfortunately, upon walking on stage, in front of friends, family and strangers, the leading lady encountered a severe case of stage fright. As Dr. Watson delivered his lines with perfection, the leading lady froze, motionless and staring at the sea of eyes. Undaunted, Dr. Watson repeated his lines, and then tried to break the spell. He waved one hand in front of her eyes, but she remained as a statue. This moment would surely put the training by Pat Dolan to the test.

The great Doctor Watson began the most amazing one man show off Broadway. He adapted his soliloquy to incorporate both ends of the conversation. He uttered questions aloud and crafted a story that was as mesmerizing as it was spontaneous. As the story expanded, he wrapped the plot around a game of charades, pretending that the leading lady was a famous statue from ancient Greece. From time to time, Dr. Watson would guess at the name of goddess, giving the leading lady a chance to rejoin the activity. He juggled props on the stage and gracefully twirled his bowler hat from the top of his head to the tip of his fingers. He enthralled the audience with his stories, guesswork and animated activities.

As the good Doctor Watson was in mid-stride across the stage, the leading lady suddenly came to life and blurted out her scripted line. Needless to say, it had absolutely no connection whatsoever to the soliloquy that Dr. Watson had created. The audience responded with a stunned silence. Pausing for a mere breath, Dr. Watson shouted with excitement, “Ah ha, Galatea! The statue comes to life! And I, fair lady, shall be your Pygmalion. You win the charade fairly and squarely, and now on to matters at hand.”

The audience erupted in laughter and applause, and then the play continued as if never interrupted. The transition between the statuesque stage fright and back into the scripted activity was so entertaining that it was transparent. Even the director, Mr. Dolan, did not recognize that the play had taken an unexpected detour. The audience, cast and crew were so engaged in the dialogue that everyone thought it was part of the play.

In the Boardroom

Fast forward several years to boardrooms, stage and customer presentations. How many times have these thespians drawn on the lessons learned from Pat Dolan? No matter how well scripted or rehearsed, there is nothing more engaging than performing and living in the moment. Adapt your style of communication to the audience and to the moment. Incorporate meaningful dialogue based on the surroundings, the people and interactive communication.

The old adage is to ‘open with a joke’. The underlying purpose to this approach is to make a connection with the audience. Regardless of the size of the audience, the purpose is to recognize and engage your audience with some commonality and shared sense of being. Your audience may be as small as one person, in which case it is much easier to get to know the person and adjust your script to be a conversation. If your audience contains tens of people or hundreds, then it is a more challenging task to quickly identify a shared sense of purpose, mutual interest and method of communication, but it can be done.

Do not fear eye contact, interaction or individual connection when you are presenting. This is the goal, not to be avoided. It is as important to express the feeling and the intention as the purpose. It is as important to be interested as it is to be interesting. It is in recognizing response that you confirm connection, being aware of your surroundings and of your audience.

Another old adage is to imagine your audience in underwear. This is intended to mitigate fear by removing the intimidation and reducing the humanity of the audience. On the contrary, it is the humanity that you should be trying to reach with conscientious consideration. Do not fear your audience, but speak to them respectfully as if each person is a recently rediscovered acquaintance and long lost friend. Imagine yourself shaking hands with each individual as you speak to them and look them in the eyes. Welcome the audience into your presentation and make them an active participant, even if they remain in their seats. Be authentic with your audience, adapt your script to accommodate their style of communication, and live in the moment.

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Words of Wisdom

“It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”

- Mark Twain

“All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts…”

- William Shakespeare

“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, ‘The Beatles did’.”

- Kurt Vonnegut

“Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.”

- William Penn

Human Psychology has always been a subject that has fascinated sociologists and anthropologists for a very long time. Understanding the intricate dynamics of our behavior patterns, value systems and instincts for flourishing has always been the subject of intense scientific study for decades. Some people have the incredible ability to memorize things almost photographically. Others can calculate equations and algorithms a lot easier than most people. People also vary immensely based on what type of personality they might be. Some are very laid back and calm while others can be focused and driven. And then there are the rare few – the few whose traits don’t quite fall under conventional categories of human diversity in abilities and appeal. Some people would say that these rare few have what is generally called, ‘charisma’ or ‘chutzpah’. But even those words don’t do justice to the traits that these people have. These rare people have what is intangibly yet unanimously called, ‘the X factor’. These people, while they may be as normal as you or I, seem to have the ability to command one’s attention, assume authority or leadership roles with ease and in general have no problem in getting people to comply with their ideas or visions for something. People just seem to like being around them and give them their undivided attention. This is the effect of the enigmatic ‘X Factor’! But not only do these rare few have the ‘factor’ but they also know how to or put it to good use. People with the ‘X Factor’ have naturally good presentation skills.

While not everyone may have this intangible quality, there are certain aspects of it that can be successfully simulated to create the impression of actually having it. And when practiced long enough, it can actually become a part of one’s own aura. And learning to wield it well in your own presentation skills will certainly almost always make people to sit up and pay attention to what you have to say! Lets examine a few of these aspects of the ‘X Factor’:

1. Kinesics or Body Language – After the 1960 presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon, psychologists discovered an interesting phenomenon. People who watched the debate on TV were convinced that JFK won the debate while those who listened to the debate live on radio felt that Nixon had won the debate. Psychologists concluded that it didn’t matter ‘what’ the candidates were actually saying about their own convictions or policies but instead it was their non-verbal communication that people instantly picked up on. The human brain has the ability to pick up faint, non-verbal cues that a person may exude just as well as the words it hears. Good presenters know the importance of exploiting this well. Standing up straight, making eye contact with listeners and smiling while looking relaxed all do well in exuding confidence and a sense that you know what you’re doing. This makes your listeners more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.
2. Voice Modulation – Sometimes a presenter may look the complete picture of confidence visually but may sound unconvincing if he or she sounds weak or unsure. Confidence can just as well be exuded in the volume, tones and fluctuations of the voice during a presentation. A well-paced, well-spaced verbal delivery with optimal volume and clarity makes for a clear, audible and convincing presentation. This subconsciously gives the listeners the impression that you really believe in what you are saying and sound confident talking about it too. It will make them want to listen to what you have to say.
3. Clear Presentation - Finally, of course, is the actual presentation of the content itself. Often presentations can look like ‘information overload‘ with tons of numbers, stats, graphs and charts. After a barrage of details and information, the listeners can often be left overwhelmed and ambiguous about what exactly was said. Presentations, whether presented as slides, notes or bullet-points must be clear, concise and to the point while avoiding unnecessary details and verbal ornamentation. Hence, we recommend having one central objective or theme that guides the presentation and not more than three key ideas that the presenter wants the audience to take-away from the presentation. This is the crux of a good presentation!

Presentation Skills Training is a vital aspect of teaching employees the significance of efficient human communication dynamics. Learning to understand how the human brain works in relation to the five senses is an important and useful aspect of effective presentation skills.