From the Office of the Prime Minister (Republic of Uganda), enthusiastic Nelson Nshekanabo says: “That’s the best course I’ve ever had. Everyone in the business of selling must have that skill.“
Nelson Nshekanabo
Have you ever come close to getting something you badly needed, only to be thrown out of favour by a lack of “just one” document or “just one” mark or “just one” skill? Probably you said, “These people are not serious. Just one like this and they deny me the opportunity?” Oh yes. One is big enough when it is what really matters. Here is the serious matter: Many people KNOW, but they do not know HOW to – and often that’s the only missing link between them and their much-coveted success in any given field of their pursuit!
John Ruskin rightly defined skill as “the unified force of experience, intellect and passion in their operation.” Now imagine the result of “just one skill” if it comes as a unified force not of just anything but of experience, intellect and passion – all in active motion! That one skill can catapult you to great heights in personal and professional life.
Two days ago, I was hosted on NTV Uganda for the fourth time in 23 days. During the very inspiring program (according to the many responses across the country and abroad), I shared the major 4 skills that EVERYONE everywhere must acquire regardless of their field of endeavour, dream or purpose on earth:
- Leadership skills
- Selling (and marketing) skills
- Basic Accounting skills
- Communication and/or Public Speaking skills
This sparked off a very deep and engaging discussion on social media as many people got in touch with me to ask many questions in this line. That last one above is what I would want to throw a challenge on in this post.
For example:
- Have you ever seen someone ‘ambushed’ to give a vote of thanks at a simple function and instead of telling people to clap their hands he starts to clap his/her knees due to invisible butterflies of anxiety, fear and worry?
- How about someone speaking for 5 minutes but you can’t really get any specific point they’re addressing?
- Then think of that CEO who addresses the Board of Directors and in the fourth minute, they are interrupting to either say, “Your points are unclear” or “We realize you were not prepared for this meeting. It is better we call it off”?
- What about the salesman who addresses a team of prospects in an organization and three voices at random say, “Raise your voice please” or “You are speaking very fast”?
- Have you ever seen those whose speeches are sleeping pills and yawn-inducing tablets to their audience? Am I talking about you?
Your success is a skill away! Effective speaking and presentation in public can give you a great thrust to many opportunities that flashing your sleek PhD Certificate won’t manage to offer you at all. This is why one of the programs I have committed myself to offer leaders is in Public Speaking and Presentation Mastery. See what my friend wrote to me while on an international assignment:
“I have just finished a powerful presentation to representatives from 15 countries in Europe, Asia and North America on Social Contracting here in Istanbul… It was so fabulous…! It is you Samuel A. Bakutana who equipped me with this speaking tool… I now don’t feel challenged when such happens, after my thorough preparation. Now I almost spend sleepless nights – gladly, doing my rehearsals, and ensuring I am just perfect.”
Kange Sophie, Programs Coordinator – Capacity Development, Uganda National NGO Forum
You know, it is one thing to say whatever we want about our leadership, our brand, our service, and another thing for those we lead, those who watch us, those who consume our service, to agree with us. We have always been warned against always rushing to believe our own propaganda! And this applies to your ability, your capacity, your performance. You may say, “I am very good. I can speak well. I do not have any challenge.” But can the people who have been in your audiences agree with you? Are you really, really sure?
Today, on my Facebook page, I challenged myself and others that we need to listen to those we lead, those we serve, those we speak to! Let us know what they are saying about what we do, how we do it and how we relate with them — and then make any course corrections necessary. Remember, your success is a skill away.
In that regard, I will use this post to appreciate the genuine, truthful and heartfelt recommendations of the Public Speaking Course (6th intake in Kampala going to run from 13th – 18th February 2017) from a number of graduates: tes Valerie Komwaka Mitala,
> Kyambogo University Masters in Vocation Pedagogy (MVP) Project Administrator Charity Byarugaba says: “It is a great course indeed.”
> UHMG’s Governance and Human Resource Director Valerie Komwaka Mitala says, “I salute you, Prof. Samuel A. Bakutana!”
> Performance artist Anna Nakiyemba says, “You can’t afford to miss. Missing shouldn’t be any of your options at all. This training is truly life-changing. It worked for me, and I know that it will for you. There is a lot to learn.”
Today, identify your KILL-GAP and fill it. Ask yourself the following:
- What is the “just one” skill I need so as to achieve my major aspirations?
- Where best and from who can I learn it? (NB: Go to the best in that field and learn from them. Rats can’t teach how to fly! For Leadership and Public Speaking, you already know where to go to. Come to me!)
- Have a plan of action and decide when to start acquiring it.
- Go and begin. Great people did not begin because they were great; instead they became great because they began.
Let us live, love and lead. It is time to stand up, speak up and stand out. Like I always say, #YouWillManage. Maximize all opportunities to speak powerfully, sell effectively, and lead successfully. Yes, #YouWillManage (I hope you have already secured your copies of my latest book “YOU WILL MANAGE: The 7 Keys to a Life of Perpetual Victory, Unstoppable Success and Doing Impossibilities.”)
| Live | Love | Lead |
