What do I need to be successful?
Key Learnings
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Prepare for living in a new country by researching language, climate, living accommodations, social norms, etc.
Minimise culture shock by investing time to experience your new cultural surroundings and understand local customs.
Know how to present yourself in any situation in order to make positive impressions that help you stand out and build stronger professional relationships.
To give an effective presentation, there are three elements that you need to keep in mind: have a presentation plan, know your audience, and engage your audience.
Effective visual aids can help the audience remember your messages.
Visuals should be an aid to the presentation – not the focal point.
Improving your professional skills in different areas (attitude, behaviour and presentation) will strengthen your level of professionalism and make more positive impressions.
Professionalism takes effort, commitment, and application.
Left unresolved, personal conflict can seriously affect your performance on the field.
Once you know your own natural response and understand the style of the other person with whom you are in conflict, you can adjust your response in such a way that leads to resolution more quickly and effectively.

Using visual aids

Visuals should be an aid to the presentation – not the focal point. After all, if everything is on a slide, why not just hand it out and answer questions? If too much is on a slide, people will be reading, not listening. Write your presentation and see where a visual aid can add value.

Tips for effectively using visual aids:

  • Make sure everything is spelled correctly
  • If possible, practice using the visuals on site
  • Arrive early on the day of your presentation to have adequate time to set up your equipment and ensure that it works
  • Make sure your power pack is fully charged or that new batteries have been installed on your laptop
  • Bring duplicate copies of slides on a memory stick
  • Make sure your visuals can be seen from every seat
  • Keep the screen to your left - since we read from left to right, this makes it easier for the audience members to see
  • Be prepared to speak without visual aids, just in case something unexpected prevents you from using them

It is important to remember that visual aids should not replace your content. They are not supposed to be your presentation notes. Conversely, a visual aid is best used when it relates key points or concepts. Especially valuable are short statements or – better yet – graphics that help audience members remember and act on your messages.