By Liz Radzick of Manifest Consulting

I was working at my desk the other morning and for over an hour annoyed comments about a female presenter scrolled on my TweetDeck.  ”She’s pretentious,” “Annoying,” “She’s BORING.”

Who IS this person getting all this negative press? I wondered.

Turns out it was Cammie Dunaway, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing at Nintendo’s E3 2009 press conference – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBy2FJAKeC8

Now this is a serious gig for a female executive – in fact, WIRED magazine wrote last year that it was unusual if not unprecedented to have a platform holders’ press conferences run by a female executive. My hat is off to her for her very well-rehearsed management of her technically complex presentation. She dressed well in a beautiful white suit and she was clearly on message. But something wasn’t quite right.

I diagnose Ms. Dunaway as having The Teacher Syndrome. Women who try to sound passionate and who look too serious at the same time often come across as “angry teachers”.  It’s a very common challenge when I’m coaching female clients for sales presentations, especially when they are presenting in a large audience venue. The fact that she was so serious and unsmiling at an event that is about fun and games -literally! – was compounded by 2 other delivery errors:

i) She spoke too slowly and deliberately with lots of pauses. As a consultant for a Japanese-American company, my guess that she may have been speaking that way to either to facilitate simul-translation to Japanese or just to speak clearly and with conviction. The unintended result was that she sounded like she was talking down to people. If most of her audience were experienced Gen Y gamers you can imagine how that went over.

ii) 37 seconds into her presentation Ms Dunaway gave her audience the finger.
No, not THAT finger, but she might as well have. While making a point, she gestured in the air with a pointed index finger. I ban this gesture from the podium/stage because it evokes such negative parental/authoritative associations.

 The Finger + no smiles + deliberate delivery = irritated young, hip audience within the first minute.

So what is a woman to do, you ask?  Smile like the village idiot for every presentation? Stifle her passion? Definitely not. In my next article, we’ll take a look at what you can do to appear approachable, authentic AND passionate at the same time.

Until then, keep smiling.

By Kena Paranjape of In Life & In Fashion

There have been countless articles written on taking your look from the office to a night out with friends.  In truth, there is no need to stash heels or a glittery purse in your handbag to make the transition.  Here are a few simple ways to glam up your look as you head out for a fun evening:

Unbutton an extra button on your blouse and roll up your sleeves. This simple step takes you from conservative to casual (and sexy!) without a wardrobe change.

Switch from simple studs to sparkly, swinging earrings. Keep a few pairs of chandelier or drop earrings in your purse and make the switch before you leave the office.

Apply eyeliner, perfume and lip gloss.  Eyeliner is a simple way to take your look from day to night.  A roll-on or solid perfume will easily fit in your make-up bag and is a signal to you that you are no longer on the company’s time!  Lip gloss is a fantastic multi-tasker.  In addition to applying to lips, dab on cheekbones and brow bones to give your skin that evening glow.

Most importantly, as you walk out of the office leave your over-due projects, tough meetings, and workplace squabbles at the door.  You are on “you time” now!

By Amanda Laird of Mise En Place

With fancy kitchen supply shops in every shopping mall and new gadgets launching every week it’s hard to decipher what we really need to have on hand to make a great, home-cooked meal.

Now that your pantry is in order, clear out the clutter and make sure you have only the essential equipment on hand in the kitchen.  It will save you space, time and most importantly, a little sanity.  When clearing out kitchen clutter the best advice comes from Laurie Colwin, who said, “there is no point at all in anything that does only one job.”

A good knife

As long as you’ve got at least one good knife you’ll be able to get around in the kitchen.  Keep it sharp and you’ll always be ready to go.  Once you’ve mastered the basic knife skills, you might consider a smaller knife, like a paring knife or perhaps a serrated bread knife (which are great for tomatoes).

Wooden spoons and rubber spatulas

When it comes to every-day tools, you might want to double up so you’ll always have at least one clean when dinnertime arrives.  Wooden spoons are the jack-of-all-trades utensil and are great for stirring, mixing, sautéing, etc.  And rubber can bend when wood cannot.

Pans

A frying pan and a sauté pan are essential.  What’s the difference?  A sauté pan has higher, straight sides and has a lid, whereas frying pans usually do not.  Ensure that your pans have ovenproof handles to increase their versatility.

Pots

One small, one large, with lids.  With these you’ll be ready to make sauces, boil pasta, melt chocolate, you name it.  A stockpot is also a good idea to have on hand for when you double a batch of pasta, chili or stew.

Roasting pan

Perfection in home cooking is a roast chicken.  A medium-sized roasting pan can also double up as a gratin.

A baking sheet

Four words: homemade chocolate chip cookies.  Muffin tins and various-sized and shaped cake pans are also handy to have on hand if you’re inclined to bake.

Mixing and prep bowls

You can usually find a set of 5-10 bowls in varying sizes made of stainless steel, glass or ceramic, for a decent price.  Mixing bowls don’t have to match, but if they nest it makes them easier to store.  Here the rule of them is the more the better.

Instant-read thermometer

Overcooked meat is unappetizing and undercooked meat can be hazardous to your health.  An instant-read thermometer is essential in every kitchen.

Two cutting boards

If you’re really diligent at cleaning your cutting boards well one is enough, but I prefer having two: one for meat and one for everything else.  Try wooden butcher’s blocks.  One that is made of a beautiful end wood can even stay on your counter, if you have room.

That one thing you just can’t live without in the kitchen

Maybe it’s your wok or a spring-form pan or an electric mixer, but we all have that one tool or gadget we just can’t live without.  For me, it’s a pair of tongs; hardly a meal is cooked in our home without them.

What can’t you live without in the kitchen?

By Liz Radick

In the last article I talked about how not being present, waiting to speak vs. listening, and interrupting are all behaviours that can disrupt effective communication.  Here are a few more of my least favorite communication habits:

1. Talking too quickly

The modern world moves at warp speed but that doesn’t mean you have to talk that fast. If you’re talking too quickly you’re probably also:

• Rambling
• Using too many filler words such as ‘um’ and ‘like’
• Not thinking before you speak
• Ignoring your listener’s signals that they have tuned out or have a question for you.

If you notice that you are speaking quickly try to stop and take a breath.  Breathe before each sentence. Pronounce every word as if your listener had to lip read what you are saying.

Listen to a podcast and try to speak along with the narrator/host at the same speed they are speaking at.  It will feel like you are talking in slow-mo, but actually you’ll be at just the right speed.  And maybe skip the Red Bull for breakfast.

2. Using Jargon

You worked hard for your financial/ medical/ insurance/ coaching/ legal designation and that’s great. Just don’t expect me to understand what a business methodology that helps companies manage marketplace variability and complexity and align company strategies with execution processes in an IS20087-B environment means.

When you use words I don’t understand I do two things:

1. Feel stupid

2. Tune out

Probably not the effect you’re looking for.  Watch your listener’s reactions.  Are they following you? Just because they are nodding politely doesn’t mean they understand.

Your best bet is to speak plainly or explain the acronyms and terms that are so familiar to you. (Check out http://www.johnsmurf.com/jargon.htm for more fun samples of bad jargon usage)

3. Giving Unsolicited Advice

Sometimes we’re blunt about it: “You should really get organized.” Sometimes we veil the advice under a question: “Don’t you think you’d save more time if you were more organized?”

Receiving a ‘teachable moment’ when you’re just plain emotional, frustrated or exhausted is no fun.  If you want to give advice try asking “I have a suggestion if you’re open to it” or even ask the person “Do you just need to vent right now or do you want me to give you some ideas for solutions?”

The bottom line: sometimes your full attention is a better deal than your free advice.

Have a question for Liz? Want to share your pet peeves? Post Here!

By Liz Radzick

I love to talk and I love to hear about other people’s ideas. Sometimes I get frustrated trying to do both of these things. Why? Because the person I’m communicating with is unconsciously doing something that blocks my connection with them.

Whether it’s a personal or business situation, try to avoid the following behaviours:

1.      Not Being Present

Have you ever been on the phone with someone and felt like they weren’t really listening to you? Perhaps you could hear keyboard clicks or other noise that indicated you weren’t their sole focus. I’ve had conversations that suddenly didn’t make sense because the other person spontaneously started talking to the gas bar guy and spoke right into their phone as if the communication was meant for me.

Perhaps you’ve been in a meeting when someone was texting under the table during a presentation. Or perhaps you’ve tried to talk to a colleague and they kept typing on their computer while talking to you. It’s hard to connect with people who are multi-tasking.

Make sure this isn’t you! Give your full attention to the person or group you are with. By being present you let others know they matter and that you are interested in what they have to say. By demonstrating this type of social generosity and respect you will create a lasting positive impression and stronger bond with the people you interact with.

2.      Waiting to Speak vs. Listening

I admit I am sometimes guilty of this one. I rationalize by telling myself that I’m such a great idea person that it’s hard for me to keep quiet when what you’re saying is stimulating so many ideas in my head. You can tell when I’m doing this because I’m probably compressing my lips and holding my breath while leaning forward as if I’m going to pounce on you. Or I actually clip off the end of your sentence with my exhaled interjection.

To become a better listener, you must become present -be in the moment, try breathing in and out slowly and imagine that you are a digital recorder – repeat each sentence in your head as the person finishes saying it. Look into their eyes and unclench your fists. Relax. There is enough time for you to speak once they have finished talking.

3.      Interrupting

This behavior has “Epic Fail’ stamped all over it. You know it’s annoying when people do it to you. It’s no less annoying when you do it to others and it screams “unprofessional.” Do it with Boomers and you will be perceived as young and arrogant Nobody wants that.  See #2.

Everything we needed to know we learned in kindergarten: Play nice and wait your turn.

Stay Tuned for Part 2 next week!

Have a communication question or want to share a communication pet peeve? -Post here!

By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND

If you are trying to lose weight, increasing your metabolism can help you burn more calories with less work.  You’ll find hundreds of advertisements endorsing products that claim to enhance your metabolism, many holding false promises in a bottle. Here are some research-based suggestions.

Break the fast: Think about a fire as it dies out, the flames grow weaker and burning slows. If you add wood, the flames grow and the fire intensifies -burning at a quicker rate.  Your metabolism is slow ‘burning’, like the fire, while you sleep.  In the morning, the sooner you fuel your metabolism the sooner things start to burn. 

Eat your protein: Protein is harder to break down, so you burn more calories digesting protein than a slice of bread.  Eating protein will also prevent your blood sugar from spiking and causing your body to store calories.

Eat several small meals throughout the day:  Women’s bodies are built to outsmart starvation, so your metabolism shuts down after a few hours without food.  Eating every few hours will keep your metabolism elevated.  Eating well balanced small meals throughout the day that contain protein, carbohydrates and fat will optimize your metabolism.

Fat free isn’t always the answer: Your body needs fat to function properly; without proper dietary intake it will try to hold on to existing fat to stay alive.  Biochemically, you need to be taking in good quality fat in order to burn fat.

Burn more calories with cardio: Challenge yourself to burn a few extra calories every day.  Go for a walk, hop on your bike or hit an aerobics class.  20 minutes a day can go a long way!

Increase your resting metabolism with weight training: Not only will muscle conditioning make you leaner, but the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest.  Muscle requires more energy than fat so consider moderate weight conditioning 2-3 times per week.

Drink your water: Thirst is an inefficient signal in the body.  You are usually dehydrated by the time you feel thirsty.  Your body needs water to function optimally so keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day.

Have a tip, question, comment -post here!

By Kena Paranjape

Contrary to popular belief, a suit is not always the best wardrobe choice for an interview. If you work, or want to work, in a creative field (fashion, public relations or graphic design are good examples), your choice of outfit can play a key role in getting you the job (or not!).

Imagine you are sitting in the office of the hiring manager trying to sell them on your creative abilities, your experience and your strengths. If you are wearing a buttoned up, conservative suit, your image will not correspond to your words. You want to sell them on YOU – the full package including your style, personality, business savvy and skills.

The key to mastering an outfit appropriate for a creative job is to ensure it conveys your personal style while also remaining polished. Keep either your top or bottom classic, and add personality through colour and accessories. The outfits below are a good place to start.

1. Printed wrap dress, heels and a great bag

2. Wide leg trousers and a silk blouse

3. Pencil skirt, a crisp white shirt and a bold necklace

Creative Job Interview by kena_p featuring Marc by Marc Jacobs blouses

Before heading to any interview, check with the human resources department directly on what would be appropriate. It is in their best interests to help you succeed in the interview. Even better, connect with an employee who can give you insider tips on dress code and style within the company. Finally, whatever you choose to wear, make sure you feel both fabulous and comfortable in it so that your personality and skills shine brighter than your outfit!

Have a tip or question? Post Here.

By Johanna Pigeon

Today’s current real estate market conditions may very well present that perfect opportunity for you to move on up!   Love your “starter” home but feel the need for bigger space…getting married, having your first child, craving for that garage parking or simply inching closer to your “dream home”?  With mortgage rates so low you may be pleasantly surprised what you can afford.  By using the equity in your current home, your carrying costs may not be much large than what you’re use to paying! 

Entry level homes are still in demand as first-time buyers are on the prowl… your home may be in their sights!  Depending on where the next home you intend on purchasing is located, that area may have had a more substantial price adjustment over the last few months.  Perfect timing!! 

Sell first or buy first?!  Ah yes…what to do!  Arm yourself with as much information as possible.  Every situation is different! 

Have an in depth conversation with your chosen Real Estate Salesperson to determine the current market value of your existing home (most will be more than pleased to give you a complimentary evaluation). They will also educate you on local market activity and help factor in related costs. 

Contact your bank or mortgage broker and find out how much they will lend you for the next home. Go over different scenarios with them so there are no surprises!  Are you able to carry both properties if your home does not sell in time?  Are there large penalties to be paid in order to discharge the mortgage on closing if you have not yet purchased? 

Being well informed makes for good decision making.

Good luck!

By Amanda Laird

One of my favorite sayings in life is “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  It doesn’t get much cheesier than that, but it’s true – in all facets of your life; work, fitness, and yes, even in the kitchen. 

It’s happened to all of us; you want a home-cooked meal and you’ve found the perfect recipe for dinner.  Only once you’re in the kitchen you don’t have a key ingredient.  Or two.  Or five.  So instead of your delicious home-cooked meal, you turn to a TV dinner or take-out, again.

The key to sticking to making home-cooked meals that are healthy and easy is making sure your pantry is well stocked.  Having some key ingredients on hand means that a delicious dinner is never far away.  Just add fresh produce.

Salt & Pepper More specifically, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.  These are basic flavours, essential to almost everything you cook.

Oils You want to keep a couple different types of oil in your pantry; olive oil for flavour and a vegetable oil such as canola.  Canola has a higher smoking point and is better for frying.

Vinegar Balsamic is a good place to start.  Red or white wine vinegar, apple cider or rice wine vinegar if you like Asian flavours are also good choices. 

Stock Chicken or vegetable stock can instantly perk up rice, potatoes, even scrambled eggs.  Buy low-sodium versions in shelf-stable tetra packs to keep on hand.

Dried pasta Have a couple different lengths in your pantry; some long and some short.  This little guide can help you match the appropriate sauce to the size and shape of your pasta.  You might also want to keep a bag of ravioli or tortellini in the fridge or freezer for something a little more substantial.

Canned tomatoes Whole tomatoes are probably the most versatile to keep on hand.  You can chop them up if you need to or keep them whole if that’s what a recipe calls for.  Canned tomatoes and their liquid can add flavour to sauces, soups, and chillis, just to name a few.

Rice Brown rice is good for you and it makes for an easy side dish or accompaniment to a quick stir-fry.  Use stock instead of water for extra flavour.  You might also want to keep basmati rice for Indian flavours, or Arborio rice if you like risotto. 

Beans  An affordable and easy protein, keep canned or dried beans on hand to add to soups, toss over salads or mix in to rice.  Keep in mind that dried beans need to be soaked overnight before use.

Herbs & Spices Curry powder, cayenne pepper, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon…  Whatever flavours you like and match with your style of cooking. 

Other good things to have on hand Dijon mustard, frozen vegetables like peas and spinach, soy sauce, canned tuna packed in water, honey, your favorite cheese, bacon,  grains like couscous or bulgar, and a couple bottles of wine.

Have a tip you would like to share? Post Here!