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article gives some good advice aimed at engaging learning audiences that is also useful for presentations in general

David Allen says work in the knowledge economy requires a new kind of mental calisthenics. Information management is not a science but an art -- a martial art -- and it's time to start training.

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James Waldroop and Timothy Butler, directors of the career center at Harvard Business School and authors of the book Maximum Success: Changing the 12 Behavior Patterns That Keep You From Getting Ahead, have identified the character traits that get in the way of success. Five listed in this article include:
1. The Impostor Syndrome (fears he/she doesn't belong in their current position)
2. The Meritocrat (won't accept that life isn't always fair)
3. The Hero (someone who constantly tries to do too much and push too hard)
4. The Peacekeeper (someone who sees herself as a diplomat, the glue that holds everything together)
5. The Procrastinator

Never confuse talking and communicating. A little self-examination about what you say - and how you say it - can mean the difference between a listener tuning you out and hanging on your every word.

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Article looks at Potentia International's unique "profiling" system, designed to help people answer major career questions: What type of work will allow me to make the greatest contribution? Which career path fits best with my values and aspirations? How can I grow as a person by developing my latent abilities? What kind of work will give me the most pleasure, unleash the most energy, and feel like fun? The sidebar offers a take-home test which is not too practical to do, but is interesting for the explanations provided.

"When we talk about thinking, we think that we know what we're talking about, but there are many different kinds of thinking. When I say people don't know how to think I mean they haven't been trained to think in different ways. The simplest distinction is between critical thinking and creative thinking. The most powerful thinkers are able to integrate those two modes. That's one distinguishing characteristic of great minds: they're able to look at issues from a critical perspective with logical arguments...No one helps us learn the skill of creative thinking: how to generate new ideas, how to be innovative, how to look at problems from different perspectives, how to get outside of one's habitual ways of considering issues - then to propose new possibilities."

What does it take to deliver a great presentation -- preparation, practice and passion. It takes dedication and hard work. The best speakers do their homework and use many of these 10 techniques.

Athletes and actors have known for years about the value of coaching in improving performance. Now more and more individuals are turning to coaches to help guide them through the increasing complications of day-to-day life and business.

How do you quickly establish yourself with those you lead? What do you do first? A Leadership Guide for new supervisors.

No-nonsense list of tips for better meetings.

Leading a successful company requires the perfect combination of wisdom, finesse, and guts—some people have it, some don't. Here's your chance to find out where you stand.

Article offers a look at what the author considers the Seven Deadly Speaking Sins:
1. Making assumptions
2. Presenting the wrong image
3. Lacking enthusiasm
4. Failing to prepare
5. Using poor visual aids
6. Giving a sales pitch
7. Relying on technical jargon

"Managers who coach their employees become known as good managers to work for, developers of talent, and achievers of business results. They also become better leaders in the process. The average manager, however, doesn't coach, believing it would take too much time or be a waste of effort. Such barriers, however are more psychological than real, and represent an expression of the status quo. The fact is that coaching managers behave differently, and that contributes to their brand. The bottom line: Since most managers don't coach, those who do actively help their employees learn and grow and have a competitive advantage, on that can enhance their careers."

If you want to fix your future, start by fixing yourself. In the face of war and recession, what the business world needs is less greed -- and more love. So says Yahoo senior executive Tim Sanders, who argues that now more than ever, the road to prosperity is paved with a commitment to generosity.

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You've handed out stacks of business cards, called all your contacts, and mailed reams of cover letters. Guess what, pal: So has everybody else. That's why we've asked the pros for networking tips and tricks that'll help you leave the name-tag-wearing, resumé-waving hordes in the dust.

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We tag along as an expert networker demonstrates the art of the schmooze.

Should you comment? If so, what should you say? About what should you be cautious?

Here's Fast Company's eight-point program for presentations guaranteed to keep your listeners on the edge of their seats.

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We all know it's true: Managing up is as important as managing down. That's especially true when you are starting a relationship with a new boss. HBS professor Michael Watkins discusses the importance of clearly defining goals with your superior.

"Winning communicators don't strive for perfection, they strive for connection."

Answer these five "yes or no" questions. Go with your first reaction.

1. Do you have anxiety about giving a speech or presentation?
2. Would you rather pass on the opportunity to make a speech?
3. Do you prefer to stay in the background?
4. Are you uncomfortable in front of large groups of people?
5. Would you like to gain communication confidence?

If you answered "yes" to one of these questions read on...

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What is success to you? HBS professor Howard Stevenson offers insights from research he and HBS senior research fellow Laura Nash are conducting on the meaning of success for high achievers.

This article discusses the nature and the reality of managerial jobs and how managers spend their time.

The findings of the study suggest that in general, significant improvements in the use of managerial time can be obtained by addressing the following issues at work:
- the management of meetings;
- the management of paper work/desk work activities;
- delegation and supervision;
- the management of fleeting contacts and interruptions.

Preparing for a speech - whether a keynote address, panel discussion, interview with the media, or presentation to the board of directors - can be done in five systematic steps.

Five rules for mapping information so others can find their way.

Data continuously flows into the modern business, but many managers fail to effectively communicate to the troops what quarterly updates, analyses, and division reports really mean to their work.

Frances Hesselbein (editor-in-chief of Leader to Leader) discusses a piece of advice she received years ago, "You have to carry a big basket to bring something home." In particular, she mentions four leadership imperatives -- innovation, inclusion, opportunity and equal access, and values-based management. Along with these, she reminds us that mission focus, the leadership essential, guides us in how we use what we have gathered in our baskets.

By engaging others in the innovation process, you'll emerge with superior results and stronger bonds between people.

This article examines problems many managers run into as they progress throughout their careers. The authors argue most of the problems are related to four fundamental dimensions of leadership (directional, Interpersonal, Personal and Implementational) and two primary skills (content and process). Read on for more...

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Though not specifically a management article, this piece takes a look at the role of luck in our lives. Specifically, read about the four kinds of luck and the five luck skills.

Wordiness results from many sources. Many of us have learned to pad our writing with all sorts of empty phrases to reach length requirements for academic writing. Wordiness also tends to occur when we're struggling to clarify our ideas or when we're tired and not thinking clearly. Regardless of the reason for padded writing, we can achieve concise writing if we incorporate several strategies during the writing process and if we're aware of the individual patterns of wordiness typical of our own writing.

Editor's Note: also check out
Conciseness: Methods of Eliminating Wordiness
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_concise.html