5 Tips to Help You Have More Energy When Socializing

Introvert or extrovert? You wouldn't think it matters, but the truth is, some people thrive on social interaction. Others don't.

 

But even if you're not an introvert, social interactions can sometimes be draining. The problem is these interactions tend to be the ones where you do need to be at your best. Think about the last time you had a job interview or spent time in conversation with a mentor. Even the best conversations can leave you tired.

 

So, how do you turn this around and keep up your vitality for even the most draining social interactions?

 

Imagine Who You Want to Be

 

If you want to have high energy during social interaction, you first need to picture yourself as someone who has this kind of energy. What does it look like? What kind of gestures would you use when speaking? What tone of voice do you use? Do you laugh or smile often? If you can picture the person you want to become, it's much easier to become that person. This might seem like a form of acting, and at first, it might well be, but the more you do it, the more authentic this high-energy version of yourself will become. 

 

Try Being Someone Else

 

Who do you admire who has a lot of energy? This might be an actor or celebrity, or it might be your own best friend. When interacting socially, start asking yourself how this other individual would likely act in the same situation. Do what they do. Again, mimicking high energy has a funny way of becoming high energy.

 

Try Some Coffee

 

This one won't work for everyone, but coffee is a great stimulant. If you know you're going to be needing a lot of energy for an upcoming social situation, why not have a cup of coffee beforehand? You might need to experiment with this slightly to figure out how much coffee gives you an optimal amount of energy without leaving you jittery. 

 

Look Around

 

When attention lags, it's natural to come off as being more low energy. By remaining interested in your surroundings and especially in the people around you, you naturally maintain a higher level of energy. Start taking note of details. This has the added benefit of giving you things to talk about. 

 

Deal with Stress

 

if the energy drains right out of you in social situations, chances are it's because you're stressed. Any time you're experiencing anxiety, your body takes more energy to get through simple tasks. With this in mind, the best way to get more energy for social situations is the deal with the root of the anxiety you're feeling when being social. This might mean dealing with some baggage. It's worth it in the end, though. 

 

How to Make Networking Events Less Stressful

How many people do you know who actually enjoy networking? If you’re like most people, you find it awkward or uncomfortable, and if you’re an introvert, it might even feel excruciating. 

 

But you know that effective networking is crucial for your career, whether you’re looking for a new job, a promotion, or to build your business. Excellent networking skills are essential if you want to get ahead. So how can you make it less stressful? Try these tips to get more out of your network, and maybe you’ll even enjoy it!

 

Do your homework

 

You wouldn’t dream of going to a job interview or an important meeting without preparing, would you? Treat networking events the same. Find out as much as you can about the event, who’s organizing it, and who will be there. Study the sponsor’s website and arm yourself with knowledge, so you have two or three topics of conversation to help break the ice and start connecting with other participants. 

 

Find yourself a role

 

If it’s appropriate, see if there’s any way you can volunteer to help out. If you have some official position, you have a ready-made pretext to connect with people. Make sure to check in with the organizers first, but maybe they could do with some extra people to staff the registration desk or set out welcome packs. Perhaps you could offer to take event photos or live Tweet. At question time, you could help pass the microphone.

 

Take a friend

 

Who says you have to go to networking events alone? It will feel much better if you invite a friend or colleague to share the learnings. Not only will you feel braver about connecting, but you’ll also likely look more approachable than if you’re standing alone radiating anxiety.  

 

Find the key networker

 

You can take the stress off yourself by looking around to find the extrovert, the natural networker who knows everyone. In any big group, there will always be one or two people who are enjoying connecting with people. Find that person and benefit from their positive networking. Follow in their wake, and you will find it much easier to join in the conversation. 

 

Turn it into a game

 

Try taking the heat off yourself by turning networking into a game. Before you go, make yourself a list or even a bingo card of things you want to achieve. Your networking goals can include things like connecting with two people, handing your business card to five people, connecting on LinkedIn to three people. 

Top 8 Tips for Delivering Your Elevator Pitch at Networking Events

You probably know how important networking is for maximizing your career. But it’s not always enjoyable. You can make networking a whole lot less painful by being prepared and by having your personal elevator pitch rehearsed and ready to go. 

 

Here are eight tips to help you polish your pitch for your next networking event. 

 

1.    Keep it punchy

 

A good elevator pitch should be no more than 45 seconds (yes, the average length of an elevator ride). It should be interesting, memorable, and brief, and you should feel comfortable delivering it. It should sound natural and not like an elevator pitch!

 

2.    Keep it focused

 

You can tailor your elevator pitch to the event. Are you there representing your organization or there to get your next sale or your next job? Keep your two- or three-line pitch focused on that objective. If the person you’re talking to is from the same sector or went to your college, include that to get their attention. If you have an existing connection, you can start to build the relationship there. 

 

3.    Mention your career experience or goals 

 

Be clear about your experience or your business goals. Tell them you’ve worked in 3D printing or horse-breaking for however many years, or that you’re an entrepreneur or a human right advocate. Mention any specializations without falling into jargon and make sure to steer away from too much detail.

 

4.    Mention your qualifications

 

If you have a diploma of jurisprudence or an MBA, mention them. If you’ve just graduated, you can specify your college major. You might want to include any significant achievements, leadership skills, or standout strengths. 

 

5.    Highlight what makes you unique

 

Think of what makes you stand out. Do you speak other languages? Have you worked or volunteered overseas? What unique qualities or experiences make you memorable?

 

6.    Include a question

 

Your elevator pitch isn’t a party piece that just finishes, and that’s it. It’s an invitation to continue the conversation. You should consider including an open-ended question, perhaps asking about the other person’s company or an opportunity to speak again. 

 

7.    Slow down!

 

In your eagerness to get your elevator pitch across, it’s easy to speak too fast or even appear desperate to impress. Remember to breathe, slow down, and smile! Make eye contact and allow the other person to respond. 

 

8.    Practice!

 

Above all, once you’ve written your elevator pitch, you should rehearse and refine until it’s second nature. Practice repeatedly with your partners, a friend, or even your dog. Practice in front of the mirror and observe your expression and body language. What image are you projecting? You want to look calm, confident and engaging. 

Three Rules To Help You Make A Good First Impression

Making a great first impression isn’t always easy, but it’s well worth attempting as much as you possibly can. To help you make it happen more often, here are three simple rules you should always follow. While they are not the only great advice on making a good first impression, they are the things that will have the biggest impact – whether you get them right or wrong. I suggest you get them right :) 

 

Rule #1 – Dress To Impress 

 

Pay attention to what you’re wearing. This may seem very superficial, but that’s what first impressions are all about. They are a first, quick judgment based on things like appearance. Overdress just a little if it’s an important first meeting like going to a job interview or meeting the future in-laws for the first time. 

 

At the very least make sure that what you’re wearing is neat and flattering. Don’t go crazy and when in doubt go for something somewhat conservative. You can always let your personality shine after you’ve made that great first impression. 

 

Rule #2 – Be On Time 

 

Another very important thing to remember is to always be on time. It makes you look prepared and reliable. But there’s another important reason for this. The world is made up of two types of people. The first group is a stickler for time. Being late is one of their biggest pet peeves. The other group has a more looseinterpretation of being on time and doesn’t mind waiting for someone for a few minutes, or being late themselves. 

 

The problem is that you never know what camp the person you’re about to meet will fall into ahead of time. So be prepared and make sure you get there on time or even a little early. It’ll look good no matter how the person you’re meeting will feel about time and it will definitely keep you from making a bad impression with a time stickler. 

 

Rule #3 – Think Before You Speak 

 

Last but not least, think before you speak. It’s easy to get nervous and just prattle on about anything and everything. It makes you look nervous and silly. Even worse, if you don’t think before you talk it’s very easy to put your foot in your mouth. Trust me, I’ve done it plenty of times. It’s not a good feeling and definitely a quick and easy way to ruin that first impression. 

 

VoIP: It’s Part in Web Conferencing

Web conferencing is causing big waves in the last few years. By web conferencing, meetings, interviews, collaborations, demonstrations, orientations and additional business issues may now be done even if the participants are geographically scattered.

 

VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. This is the technique of transmitting analog audio signals through the Net. Analog signals are changed over into digital data so it may be transmitted by Net connection. VoIP may turn a standard Net connection into a way to place free of charge calls. 

 

VoIP enables the user to make calls from anyplace with broadband connectivity. Adding VoIP into web conferencing is like blending data and audio in a handier system. However, there are some skeptics on the affectivity of VoIP in web conferencing.

 

There are benefits and disadvantages for utilizing VoIP. VoIP dramatically cuts the costs dispensed for voice minute charges. Adding audio and voice in web conferences heightens the effectiveness of the meetings. Necessities for VoIP set-up is likewise minimal, like a PC, broadband connection and a communications headset or additional audio data input device.

 

Prior to VoIP web conferencing, companies and businesses paid much money for international calls utilizing landline connections. However, with VoIP, companies may save 100s of 1000s of dollars yearly. By utilizing a phone adaptor (ATA), the VoIP technology may travel anyplace. The user just has to connect their phone adaptor to a broadband connection to utilize it. 

 

More than Two persons can talk on the phone line. With VoIP, affecting a conference for the whole team at once is possible. More calls may be handled at the same time. VoIP likewise has many features like Caller ID, Contact Lists, Voicemail, and so forth. 

 

Meanwhile there are individuals who doubt the VoIP use in web conferences. The voice quality is among the greatest questions over the use of VoIP. The greatest issue is echo, particularly if the participants are utilizing speakers and microphone rather than headsets. 

 

A different condition is that VoIP is contingent on electricity. For normal phones, if power goes down, the phone is still functioning. With VoIP, no power stands for no phone. Since VoIP likewise uses computer and Net, it's susceptible to worms, viruses and even hacking. To resolve this problem, VoIP developers and suppliers are already working on VoIP encryption. 

 

For sorriest case scenarios, a computer crashing in the midst of the call will likewise mean no phone. VoIP phone system is wholly dependent on PCs and the broadband connection. 

 

VoIP and web conferencing are still really young and evolving technology. There is still room for betterment to further improve the efficiency of VoIP. Similar to other rising technology, the beginning is always the edgy part. VoIP service suppliers are still facing many challenges to better improve the services they're offering. 

If You Are Sick Of Spam

Analyses show unsought or “junk” e-mail, called spam, accounts for about half of all e-mail messages gotten. Although once thought of as little more than a pain, the preponderance of spam has expanded to the point where a lot of users have started to express a universal lack of confidence in the effectiveness of e-mail transmissions, and expanded concern over the spread of viruses via unsought messages.

 

So what do you do about spam? 

 

Do what you are able to ward off having your e-mail address out on the internet. 

There are products named “spam spiders” that browse the Internet for e-mail addresses to send e-mail to. If you're interested, do a search on “spam spider” and you'll be amazed at what you return. Interestingly, there's a site, WebPoison.org, which is an open-source project geared to battle net "spambots" and "spam spiders", by presenting them bogus HTML web pages, which hold bogus e-mail addresses.

 

You can utilize form e-mails, which may hide addresses or likewise utilize addresses like sales@company.com instead of your full address to help fight the issue. There are likewise programs that encrypt your e-mail, like jsGuard, which encrypts your e-mail address on web pages so that while junk e-mail spiders find it hard or impossible to read your e-mail address.

Acquire spam blocking software. There are a lot of programs out there for this. There are free versions or you might also buy a pro version. Get some sort of software. It will save you time. The software isn't foolproof, but they truly do help. You commonly have to do some manual set up to block particular sorts of e-mail.

 

Utilize the multiple e-mail address approach. There are a lot of gratis e-mail addresses to be had. If you must subscribe to e-zines, then have a “fill-in” e-mail address. It would be like presenting your cell number to your best friends and the business number to everybody else.

 

Attachments from individuals you don’t recognize are risky. A common issue with spam is that they've attachments and attachments may have viruses. General guideline: if you don't know who's sending you something, don't open up the attachment. Second, seek services that offer filtering. Firewall vendors provide this sort of service likewise.

 

E-mail services now hold “bulk-mail” baskets. If what you utilize currently doesn't support this, consider moving to a new vender. The construct is simple. If you know somebody, they may send you e-mails. If you don’t know them, put them in the bulk e-mail pile then “Pick” to allow them into your circle. 

 

Spam Blocking software has this construct likewise, but having extra layers seems vital these days, so it's worth checking into.

How To Prevent Spyware

There are a few things you are able to do to preclude spyware from infecting your PC. First of all, invest in a dependable commercial anti-spyware platform. There are many currently on the market including stand-alone packages like Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware or Windows Antispyware. Additional choices provide the anti-spyware software system as part of an anti-virus package. This sort of choice is offered up by companies such as Sophos, Symantec, and McAfee. Anti-spyware platforms may fight off spyware by allowing for real-time protection, scanning, and the removal of any discovered spyware software systems. As with a lot of programs, update your antivirus software often. 

 

As you might or might not know, the Internet Explorer (IE) is a great deal of the time a contributor to the adware/malware issue because spyware programs like to bind themselves to its functionality. Spyware loves penetrating the IE’s failings. Because of this, a lot of users have changed over to non-IE browsers. All the same, if you would like to stick with Internet Explorer, make certain to update the protection patches on a regular basis, and only download computer programs from reputable sources. This will help cut down your chances of a spyware infiltration. 

 

And, if all else gives out?

 

In conclusion, if your PC has been contaminated with a great number of spyware programs, the only answer you might have is backing up your information, and executing a complete reinstall of the operating system.

All About Trojans

We have all heard the phrase Trojan, but what precisely is it? A Trojan is a destructive computer program that masks itself as an innocuous application. Unlike computer viruses Trojans don't replicate themselves, but they may be even as destructive. Among the gravest examples of a Trojan horse is a computer program that promises to free your PC from viruses but alternatively introduces computer viruses into your PC.

 

The Trojan horse may be dodgy. Who hasn’t been online and had an ad crop up stating to be able to free your PC of some awful virus? Or, even more terrible, you get an e-mail that claims to be alerting you to a fresh computer virus that may jeopardize your PC. The sender promises to rapidly annihilate, or protect, your PC from viruses if you merely download their “free of charge”, attached software into your PC. You might be skeptical but the software looks licit and the company appears reputable. You continue to take them up on their offer and download the software. In doing so, you've just possibly exposed yourself to a monolithic headache and your PC to a laundry list of ailments. 

 

Once a Trojan horse is touched off, many things may occur. Some Trojans are more bothersome than malicious. A few of the less annoying Trojans might choose to alter your desktop settings or add cockamamie desktop icons. The graver Trojans may wipe out data on your PC, taint files, spread other malware like viruses, spy on the user and secretly report information like browsing habits to others, log keystrokes to steal data like passwords and charge card numbers, phish for bank account details and even establish a backdoor into your PC so that they may come and go as they please.

 

To increase your likelihood of not coming across a Trojan, abide by these rules of thumb.

Trojan horses may infect your PC through rogue sites, instant messaging, and e-mails with attachments. Don't download anything into your computer unless you're 100 % sure of its sender or beginning.

Guarantee that your OS is always cutting-edge. If you're running a Microsoft Windows OS, this is crucial.

Set up reliable anti-virus software. It's also crucial that you download any updates often to catch all new Trojans, viruses, and worms. Make certain that the anti-virus program that you select can likewise scan e-mails and files downloaded through the net.

Think about installing a firewall. A firewall is a system of rules that prevents unauthorized utilization and access to your computer. A firewall isn't going to wipe out your virus problems, but when utilized in co-occurrence with regular OS updates and reliable anti-virus software, it may provide additional security and shelter for your computer.

Nothing may guarantee the protection of your computer 100 %. But you can go forward to better your computer's security and lessen the possibility of infection by consistently following these rules of thumb.

About Phishing

Who hasn’t gotten an e-mail leading them to visit a familiar site where they're being required to update their personal info? The site needs you to affirm or update your passwords, charge card numbers, social security number, or even your bank account. You realize the business name as one that you’ve done business with previously. So, you click on the handy “take me there” link and go on to provide all the info they've called for. Regrettably, you discover much later that the site is bogus. It was produced with the sole aim of stealing your personal data. You've just been “phished”.

 

Phishing (sounded out as “fishing”) is specified as the act of sending out an e-mail to a recipient falsely claiming to have a founded, legitimate business. The aim of the phisher is to con the recipient into delivering their private data, and finally steal your identity.

It isn’t' at simple as you think to spot an e-mail phishing for data. At first sight, the e-mail might look like it's from a licit company. The "From" field of the e-mail might have the .com address of the company noted in the e-mail. The clickable link even appears to take you to the company's site, when as a matter of fact, it's a fake site assembled to replicate the licit site.

 

A lot of these individuals are pro criminals. They've spent much time in producing e-mails that look bona fide. Users need to go over all e-mails requesting personal info cautiously. When reviewing your e-mail remember that the "From Field" may be easily altered by the sender. While it might look like it's coming from a .com you do business with, looks may be deluding. Likewise hold in mind that the phisher will go all out in attempting to make their e-mail look as legitimate as conceivable. They'll even re-create logos or pictures from the official web site to utilize in their e-mails. Lastly, they like to include a clickable link that the receiver may follow to handily update their data. 

 

A good way to check the authenticity of the link is to point at the link with your mouse. Then, have a look in the bottom left screen of your computer. The actual site address to which you're being directed will display for you to view. It's a very quick and simple way to check if you're being led to a legitimate site.

 

Lastly, abide by the golden rule. Never, ever, click the links inside the text of the e-mail, and always erase the e-mail at once. Once you've deleted the e-mail, empty the trash box in your e-mail accounts likewise. If you're truly concerned that you're missing a crucial notice regarding one of your accounts, then type the full web address of the site into your browser. At least then you are able to be confident that you're, really, being directed to the true and legitimate site.

Decorating Your Workplace for Christmas

When it pertains Christmas decorations, there are numerous who only decorate their homes, but there are other people who wish to do more. If you're one of those people, there's a good chance that you may be interested in decorating your workplace for Christmas. If you're interested in decorating your workplace or even just your workspace, you'll find that there are a number of different ways that you can go about doing so; ways that can help you find affordable Christmas decorations or the ones that look the best.

 

Before you are able to begin to familiarize yourself with simple and low-cost ways to decorate your workplace for Christmas, you may prefer to keep a number of important things in mind. One of those things is the fact that not everybody celebrates Christmas as a holiday. There are some people who opt not to celebrate Christmas on their own, but there are other people who are following the views and beliefs of their religion. Since there's a good chance that you may be working with somebody who doesn't celebrate Christmas, you may want to ask your supervisors or your other employees before you begin decorating, even if you're only decorating your own personal workspace.

 

Although there's a good chance that you may be shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, there's also a chance that cost may not be a concern of yours. If you're looking to have the best decorated workspace in your building, you may be shopping for beautiful, elegant, or trendy Christmas decorations. If that is the case, you may want to think about shopping at a local specialty Christmas shop or online. These browsing methods will likely give you the biggest selection of Christmas decorations to choose from. They may cost a little bit more, but they're almost always worth the price. Whether you're looking for porcelain or ceramic Christmas figurines, tabletop fiber optic Christmas decorations, or small Christmas trees that you could decorate, you should be able to find what you're looking for online or at a specialty Christmas shop.

 

As mentioned above, it was advised that you speak to your coworkers and supervisors before you decorate for Christmas. Even if you know of somebody in your workplace who doesn't celebrate Christmas you are able to still decorate your workspace for Christmas; however, you'll need to take a little bit different of an approach. Instead of decorating your workspace or workplace with Christmas decorations that symbolize Christmas, such as decorations that have Christmas trees, Santa, or reindeers on them, you could take a simpler approach. Simply by purchasing a red and green tablecloth for your desk or an artificial bouquet of red and green flowers, you could still bring the holiday spirit into your workplace, without having to worry about offending one of your coworkers.

 

By keeping the above-mentioned points in mind, you should easily be able to decorate your workplace or workspace for Christmas, no matter what you had in mind. Christmas season is all about sharing, giving, and spreading the holiday joy, so, if you want, start spreading that joy to your coworkers today!