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How to embrace short-notice presentations

Paul A. Slattery outlines the keys to successful impromptu public speaking. Ad hoc speaking situations are a common occurrence in professional settings, and the mere prospect of delivering a speech at short notice can be nerve-racking for many of us. However, there is no need to dread this. By employing specific techniques, you can deliver a successful presentation at any time. Be prepared to sound spontaneous Your goal is to sound spontaneous while articulating your ideas in an organised manner, making an impact on your audience. Although being fresh and spontaneous is desirable, simply ‘winging it’ should never be your approach. Achieving a balance of ‘organised improvisation’ and appearing natural without following a script requires preparation. The rule of three The ‘Rule of Three’ is an excellent starting point. It can be adapted to suit any topic and is based on the concept that we are more likely to remember a list of three items or ideas. You can use the Rule of Three to structure your presentation and deliver a solid argument, even with barely any time to prepare. Select the three most important aspects to concentrate on, such as “Three necessary measures to undertake….” The Rule of Three is exemplified in another recommended communication model: ‘Be Brief. Be Bright. Be Gone.’ This philosophy was introduced by Jay Frost and David Currier in their book of the same name. The idea was originally intended for aspiring pharmaceutical sales representatives, but it can be universally applied. To succeed in sales, it is essential to comprehend and implement these three principles: Be brief — Keep your sales pitches short and to the point. Be bright — Understand your product and its context. Be gone — Respect your customer’s time. Be brief Keep in mind that simplicity is key to effective communication. Start by defining the reason for the presentation and providing the relevant facts. Tell your audience only what they need to know – not everything you know. Be ready to answer their questions and maintain a positive attitude in your communication. Consider using the BLUF methodology. BLUF stands for Bottom Line Up Front and is a concise communication practice in which critical information is presented first. It is commonly used in the US military to ensure precision and impact. Think of BLUF as an inverted pyramid providing a simplified version of the message. It is applicable not only in military writing and journalism but also in business presentations. Be bright As a starting point, understand your situation and its context. You should also aim to create a bright impression by engaging in eye contact and, when feasible, firmly shake hands. Try maintaining a confident posture by standing tall. Make sure to convey openness and receptiveness by uncrossing your arms and legs. A sincere smile can go a long way in creating a connection. When speaking, project your voice into the room to ensure everyone can hear you clearly. Speak with confidence to convey your expertise and captivate your listeners. In other words, project your executive presence. Be gone Once you have conveyed your message, it is important to conclude promptly, respecting people’s time and avoiding unnecessary follow-up. Showing consideration for others’ schedules and minimising complexity are vital in any professional communication. There is no need to dread presenting at short notice. Being ready will assist you in delivering concise and compelling presentations. By practising the approaches mentioned here, you can deliver successful impromptu speeches, sound spontaneous and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Paul A. Slattery is the founder and Managing Director of NxtGEN Executive Presence

Jun 23, 2023
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Six questions in six minutes for Donal Bourke in Leeds

There may not be many miles between Cork and Leeds, but there was certainly a big jump from the family dairy farm to FinOps for Donal Bourke. We caught up with Donal recently to hear more about his career journey.     1. Where did you grow up and where do you live now?  I grew up on a dairy farm in Co. Cork about 30 minutes from Cork City. The majority of my family and extended family worked (and still work) in agriculture, but I have bad hayfever, and a sense of adventure took me to UCC to study commerce. 2. What made you choose to become a Chartered Accountant?  When I finished commerce, I still didn’t know what I wanted to do. The majority of my class were doing interviews with the big-4 accounting firms, and it seemed like the path of least resistance. So, I went along and managed to secure a job with KPMG in the transaction services department. You could imagine my surprise to learn that there was a qualification and exam expectations involved in the path I had chosen! However the firm provided great support and time off to ensure I completed my exams and became an ACA. 3. Can you tell us a little about how you got to where you are today – both the geographical relocation and career path. And, what advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Once I completed my qualification I went to Sydney, Australia (as the majority of my intake did at the time which was 2011). From there I’ve moved to Leeds, back to Cork and finally to Leeds again using my qualification to work in a wide array of industries. I've gone from spuds to drugs, when I moved from being Financial Controller for a potato plantation in South Australia to being a Revenue Reporting Analyst responsible for generating rebate invoices from harnessing millions of lines of generic drug sales data. I now find myself back in Leeds (my wife is from here, so "happy wife = happy life!"), where I have undergone another career pivot working in the field of FinOps for NetApp. This involves analysing customers' public cloud environment (outsourced opex IT spend). The third party providers have different commitment options available for purchasing their services and I am responsible to use the best instruments to deliver the highest savings. The advice I would give my 20-year-old self would be to never stop learning and looking for opportunities to evolve in your career. It was only after being made redundant from a previous role in 2019 that I took ownership of my career and what I wanted to do and I wish I’d done it sooner. 4. What do you value most about your membership of the profession, and how do you think those benefits can be used to support the economy and society? I value the transferability of the membership most. Whenever I have travelled, it automatically sets the bar for the type of roles I will be approached for. An ACA or FCA qualification means recruiters and employers know who they are getting. I think society can benefit from members having a more rounded experience and world view – personally and professionally. It is the unique experiences and mental connections we make which allow us to tackle problems in our own ways. With the pressing challenges of climate change and the uncertain nature of AI (artificial intelligence), our own rounded perspective is more important than ever. 5. As a member living away from Ireland, can you talk to us about how your membership has been of value to you within the UK, and what do you value about it now that you’re living there (and what would you like to see more of)?  I would love to see a more active district society and chartered community with networking opportunities outside of London. 6. What were the most significant/noticeable differences you encountered doing business and networking away from home and back in Ireland? Doing business, I’ve found no real differences between Ireland and the UK. My previous roles in Ireland were fully remote and I continue to work from home. One of the few good things to come out of Covid in my opinion.  In terms of networking, the biggest difference I’ve found is that I now have four small children, so the opportunities to network are limited but I look forward to building on that aspect once the kids become less of a handful. Pictured with Donal are his daughters, (L-R) Ornaith and Evelyn. Donal Bourke is a Cloud Optimisation Consultant with NetApp.

Sep 20, 2023
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Institute marks Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) 15 year anniversary

As a member of the A4S Accounting Bodies Network (ABN), we have made a great deal of progress in the knowledge and skills needed to implement sustainable finance practices. But as the world changes due to macro sustainability trends such as climate change, biodiversity loss and inequality, more is needed. Our profession needs to adapt in order to be at the forefront of these changes, and as your professional body, we will support you on this journey. As a professional body, it is vital that we help the profession adapt so that it keeps pace with sustainability developments. To celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the ABN, we have shared our views of how we think the profession may transform in the future in this thought piece. This collection of insights focuses on how systems, technology and skills will change the profession in the near future, and what we, as your accounting body, can do to support you to adapt. We look forward to helping shape that future and building a springboard from which new generations of accountants can take us forward even further. You can access this online resource here.  

Sep 13, 2023
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