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Outline Essay Useful Tool For Speeches

Writing an essay, taking a pop quiz, and giving a speech probably are three of the tasks students dread most. Speaking in public terrifies many people of all ages. Adolescents are not immune. It doesn’t matter that they may be speaking only to their closest friends; most students feel very nervous because peer pressure is so intense. Usually there are a few students who delight at being given a chance to address their classmates. Over time with practice, the rest can learn to enjoy making oral presentations. They simply need to learn a few secrets.

The steps involved in writing a good essay are the same as those used to prepare a good speech. Both require the student first to organize his ideas and then to present them systematically. This helps readers and listeners to understand his line of reasoning.

Secret #1 is to write an “outline essay.”

The first sentence answers the question, or makes a general statement. Each of the following sentences expresses a single reason or argument to support the first sentence. Think of these sentences as “bullet points;” students will elaborate on these points with facts and details in subsequent paragraphs. The last sentence offers a preliminary conclusion.

The “outline essay” becomes the first paragraph of the paper. It provides an overview of what the student is going to tell the reader. Then he actually tells him in the paragraphs that follow. Finally, he uses the final paragraph to remind the reader what he was told. The “outline essay” provides the student with a road map for presenting his ideas in an orderly manner.

The outline essay also can function as a “crib sheet” for presenting the essay’s content orally to the student’s classmates. So what? How does this make it any easier to stand up in front of the class and give a speech?

Here is secret #2: It is not necessary to memorize every sentence in the essay.

The other people in the class won’t have a copy of the essay in front of them. They don’t know what the student wrote. It won’t matter if he leaves out a few minor details. All that matters is presenting the ideas in a logical sequence to make it easy for classmates to understand them. Think about it: What do folks fear most about giving a speech?

A) They are afraid of appearing foolish.
B) They are afraid of losing their train of thought.

No one enjoys listening to someone reading a speech word for word. It sounds awkward and stilted. More important, it prevents the speaker from making eye contact with individuals in the audience. A relaxed speaker can use vocal tones and voice inflections to add another dimension to the content of a paper, causing it to be even more persuasive.

Accomplished public speakers always know their material well, yet they present it as if they were merely having a conversation with the audience. After writing the essay itself, a student should be familiar with its content. It should be fairly easy to address his or her classmates about the essay’s topic, referring to the outline essay occasionally to stay on track. Giving a speech provides students with a taste of what it’s like to be in “Show Biz.” The fear of ridicule is offset by the delicious sense of power that comes from delivering a speech, which is well received by the audience. Presenting an essay orally to classmates is excellent training for becoming a competent public speaker. This skill can be useful to students for the rest of their lives..

Michael Strong created the ColorCode System to teach his daughters afflicted with A.D.D. how to write an essay. By demonstrating visually the format of a properly structured essay, the ColorCode System enabled his daughters to grasp this important concept in less than 30 minutes. The pattern of the colors helped them think logically and organize their ideas. They used those ideas to write an outline essay, which became the first paragraph. By following the format illustrated in the color-coded sample essay, they learned how to present their ideas systematically for every essay assignment, regardless of topic. They began writing good essays and getting better grades. Both daughters gained admission to their “first choice” college. You can learn more about the ColorCode System at http://essaywritesystem.com

Michael Strong earned a Diplome from the University of Lyon, France; a B.A. in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During the ’60s, he served as a Page Boy in the British Merchant Marine, a Private 1st Class in the US Marine Corps and a Midshipman at the US Naval Academy. During the ’70s, he taught school; opened Town Hall – the legendary Chapel Hill nightclub; managed Brice Street Band and ran the UNC Campus Mail Service. From 1983 until he retired in April 2009, he worked as a stockbroker and as a Certified Financial Planner. He and his wife Nancy have been married 38 years and live on 12 wooded acres 5 miles south of Chapel Hill NC.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Public Speaking

Some speaking sins, like the occasional “ah” or “um”, will not doom your presentation. With good content, you can earn forgiveness from the audience for those sins.

Other speaking sins are so grave that when you commit them, your speech or presentation is certain to fail. This article reveals the seven deadly sins of public speaking.

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/2009/09/21/7-deadly-sins-public-speaking/

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10 Ways to End Your Speech with a Bang

by Peter Jeff

End your speech with an attitude, not a platitude.

Instead of firing off a perfunctory “thank you,” consider launching fireworks of final passionate thoughts from the podium.

http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/10-ways-to-end-your-speech/

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Creating Distinction in the Speaking Industry:How to Make the Marketplace Irrelevant


 with Scott McKain, CSP, CPAE


Scott McKainWhat if you could find a way to make the fluctuations in the economy have a less-than-significant impact on your speaking business? What if there was a way that you could stand out and move up, even while others are facing difficult times? What does it take to differentiate yourself, so you become a “movie star” of speakers, rather than merely one of the pack?

We’ll look at the three “Destroyers of Differentiation” and the three levels of recognition and why you want to avoid the first two.

Scott McKain, CSP, CPAE has been studying what makes some professionals stand out — while others are adrift on a “sea of sameness.” He’ll take the findings from his new Amazon.com and 800-CEO-READ bestseller, Collapse of Distinction: Stand Out & Move Up While Your Competition Fails, and apply it directly and specifically to speakers. Add this to the fact that Scott was the first speaker to center his business on using the entertainment industry as the metaphor for every profession — his “ALL Business is Show Business” dates back to the early-1980s! — and you will discover what it takes to attain a level of distinction beyond your current position.

You’ll learn:

  • the Three Destroyers of Differentiation — the dangerous elements common in every speaker’s business that pull you back to the undifferentiated pack like a magnet.
  • why Level One is the WORST place for any speaker to be — constant fee pressure, difficult clients, endless prospecting — and how to escape.
  • why Level Two is where many speakers settle — a lot better than lower; infinitely less rewarding than the top.
  • how Level One speakers transcend transaction and build lasting careers. Ever wonder why the same speakers are the “superstars” at NSA? Here’s the answer…
  • the four steps you MUST take — and take in a specific order — that will make you stand out and move up, even during a challenging economy and a difficult time in the meetings industry.
  • how to create a place for yourself at the absolute top of the profession!


Register or order the CD or MP3 recording. Note: people who register for the teleseminar will get the MP3 recording of the session for free.

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Advice for speakers and presenters – 7 ways to turn a free gig into a financial windfall

You’ve been asked to speak for an audience. However, the event organizer or meeting planner tells you they can’t pay you. Your heart sinks knowing that speaking for free will cost you in the long run. You think of all the expenses you’ll incur  gas, parking, photocopying materials, babysitter  and speaking for free means you won’t be reimbursed for these incidental costs.Although a free gig can eat into your bottom line, you don’t need to refuse it altogether. If you’re still building your expertise, free gigs can help you to refine your message and try out new concepts on an eager audience.

The only way you can make money if you’re speaking for free, is to sell something. You just have to. Otherwise, known as back of the room (BOR) sales, here are some tips for ensuring that you rake in the cash even if you’re speaking for free.

Really Effective Communication begins with “S

Ï just came across this via a tweet from @PresentingPower.
The Four-S Method of Really Effective Communication


from John C. Maxwell – Simplify, See the person, Show the Truth and Seek response.

You can read the details here

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Reconsidering PowerPoint

From David Feith at the Wall Street Journal

Speaking Truth to PowerPoint

Dunkin’ Donuts insists that “America runs on Dunkin’.” Actually, America runs on PowerPoint. Slide, by slide, by slide.

But maybe we shouldn’t. Maybe—while we reconsider how we bank, manufacture cars, emit carbon and visit the doctor—we should also rethink how we PowerPoint. Maybe cutting the cord is change you can believe in.

Read more …>

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Connecting with your audience

Tim Wilson makes a short but very valid point about the questions to ask while speaking so that you can connect with the audience.

http://speakingquicktips.blogspot.com/2008/07/power-of-moment.html

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Ums and Ahs

From Jeff Bailey at Wired Presentations …

I have a friend who is a world class rifle shooter. He even represents the USA in international competition. I would trust him to shoot a quarter out of my hand at a hundred yards. If my life depended on a rifle shot I would want him to take that shot. That being said, he will occasionally miss. Not by much but his standards are very high; he aims for perfection.

If you want to perfect your public speaking skills then you have to treat ums and ahs the same way that my friend treats his occasional miss.

>>>

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Presentation Mistakes: The View From the Audience

I routinely do presentations and thought many of the things I do and know about presenting to an audience were simply common sense.

However, sitting in workshops over a three-day conference gave me the perspective of a participant. It appears that many of the common sense things that I do and know are not so common sense.

How many ways can someone screw up a presentation?

From the back row, let me count the ways!

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How to Add Power or Humor with the Rule of Three

Rule of Three Speech WritingIn the first two articles of this series, we learned how using the rule of three can improve your speeches by [1] writing triads of words, phrases, and sentences and [2] by applying three-part speech outlines.

In this article, you will learn how adding an unexpected twist to the third element can add power or humor to your speech.

Rule of Three + Unexpected Twist = Speech Gold >>>

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Lost in Translation – Tips For Ensuring Your Audience Understands Your Message

[ By Stephanie Leibowitz]

When we travel to another country and do not know the local language or have only rudimentary foreign language skills, we expect that some of what we say may not be understood by the other party (the native speaker). We are prepared for potential misunderstandings and may even see these exchanges as a source of humorous anecdotes with which to amuse our friends, families, and colleagues upon our return to familiar ground (literally and figuratively).

However, it’s no laughing matter if your prospects/clients, colleagues and employees, strategic partners, or other important stakeholders and constituencies don’t fully understand or misunderstand what you want and need them to know. This is particularly critical in today’s multicultural work environments and global marketplace. A dictionary will give a word’s definition (and a Thesaurus will give you synonyms), but your ability to communicate successfully also depends on the nuances to word usage that can mean the difference between getting your point understood and creating a communication blunder with tangible negative consequences. We sometimes mistakenly assume that two parties who ‘speak the same language’ – that is both parties are native speakers of the same language, such as English – receive the same message when they hear/read the same word(s). Experience shows that if you ask your management team, staff, and clients to define familiar terms such as leadership, value, planning, strategic, communication, and performance, you will get responses that vary greatly, not in the literal sense, but in the interpretive sense. Context and perspective act as translation filters and these filters determine whether our intention has been communicated in addition to any facts.

Here are a few tips to ensure that your intended messages are received:

• Understand your audience’s perspective on the topic. This helps you identify what part of what you want to communicate will be perceived as most important / of interest, the level of detail you will be expected to provide, and what you want the recipient to do with the information (read and file for future reference vs. take specific action).

• Understand the cultures of your external audience’s organizations. This gives you clues about preferred communication styles as well as how they speak about their organizations. You want to mirror that.

• Know your audience’s preferred vehicle for receiving communication as well as what you have determined to be the most effective one (defined as more people understand your message, less or no need for repeat communication and clarifications).

• Clearly communicate what you mean when you use a specific term or phrase. For example, when you tell others that the goal is “effective communication” or “sound financial performance”, it is up to you to define what behaviors demonstrate this, quantitative and/or qualitative examples of what these look and sound like.

• Speak/write using simple words. Avoid jargon, abbreviations, and acronyms. The same acronyms/abbreviations can mean very different things to different groups. I’m sure you’ve conducted an internet search on an acronym only to find many results that are not the one you expected.

Remember to start by asking “Why is it important that I communicate this particular content to this specific audience?” When you communicate with purpose and clarity, your audience won’t need a translator.

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How to beome a great speaker (with no stress)

We have all heard that famous statistic, the one that claims the number one fear people have is public speaking, number two is death. Seinfeld had a joke about this stat, he said apparently if people are at a funeral they would rather be in the coffin than be giving the eulogy. If that statistic is accepted as fact, Seinfeld’s joke, while ridiculous sounding, would be technically correct. What is wrong with this scenario?

Would people really rather be dead than speak in public? Why? Well I am here to tell you that speaking in public is nothing to be afraid of; I do it all the time. Like most things in life, the more you speak in public, the less nervous you become when you do it. Unfortunately, most people choose to avoid giving speeches so vehemently that they will never do it enough to become comfortable with it.

So for all of those people out there who avoid speaking in public like, well, death, I am here to tell you how to breeze through any public speaking engagement and come out the other end as a hit public speaker, with as little stress as possible.  >>>

Use public speaking skills to ace your job interview

0615JOBFRONT2col%28c%29interview.jpg
To have a successful job interview, you’ll want to appear poised, calm and confident.

By Lucy Cohen Blatter

As CEO of Media Training Worldwide, TJ Walker coaches clients on how to speak to live audiences and the media.

Those same skills apply to job interviews, Walker said. “You want to look comfortable and relaxed. You want to be understood and, most importantly, you want your message remembered. You also want people to take action as a result.”
Here are his tips:  >>>

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Why NOT start a speech with “Good evening”

— Mariah Burton Nelson (Mariah@MariahBurtonNelson.com)

What does the audience hear when the speaker says “Good evening”?

“Blah, blah, blah.”

If the speaker then proceeds to thank the introducer, the committee, the… see what I mean? I don’t even want to finish that sentence, because I’m going to lose your attention — just as you will lose the audience’s attention if you drone on and on, thanking people.

I call this the Blah Blah Blah Opener. The audience has sat through this opening so many times, they literally won’t hear you; they’ll just wait (if you’re lucky) for something more substantial to come along.

Don’t bore your audience to death before you’ve even hinted at your main point. Did Abraham Lincoln open with, “Greetings ladies and gentlemen. I’m so glad to be here in Gettysburg”? No.
He dove right in: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” How can you not keep listening after that?

I know: You want to — and need to — thank people. But you can thank people toward the end of the speech, when the audience has already enjoyed a rousing call to action, or a poignant story, or an intriguing new theory, or whatever the speech is intended to convey. At that point, a few “thank-you’s” don’t detract from anything, because the “anything” is almost over.

How, then, should you open a speech, if not with “Good evening. I’m so glad to be here in ______, and I’d like to thank blah blah blah”? Say something interesting instead! Make a provocative statement. Challenge the audience to think about, or do, something new. Promise them you’ll soon reveal the answer to some mystery — or otherwise build suspense. Tell a lighthearted story about someone the audience knows well. Describe your morning — if you can make it funny and relevant. Ask a question — a real question that you’re curious to see how the audience will answer, so you can get to know them better.

All of these openings will immediately signal the audience that you’re NOT going to be a typical boring speaker, and that they’re in for a treat.

“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here,” said Lincoln at the dedication of that Gettysburg battlefield. As it turns out, he was wrong about the world forgetting what he said. We do remember. Good thing he didn’t start with a Blah Blah Blah Opener or the audience might never have heard the rest!

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Use visual Aids in your next presentation

Why should you use visual aids?  >>>>

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Get Your Audiences Involved and Get More Business

with Karen Lawson, Ph.D., CSP
Karen LawsonToday’s audiences are different. Conditioned by their experiences in school and corporate training programs, they expect a presentation to be a learning experience, and they expect learning experiences to be active. Contemporary audiences are greatly influenced by computer games and simulations as well as videos and television. With a multitude of options at their fingertips, people are less tolerant of limited programming options. They want to be wowed by both quality content and quality entertainment, and it’s incumbent on us as speakers to deliver.

Your goal is to connect with your audience, and one of the most effective ways to do this is to get them involved. Audience involvement requires a different approach. Sometimes speakers prefer to simply stand before an audience and deliver their message. The ability to actively involve the audience requires a different skill set that many speakers have not as yet mastered. They may want to, but don’t know how.

Karen Lawson, Ph.D., CSP will share her practical, how-to approach to using interactive methods to increase audience impact and ensure speaker success whether an individual is delivering a keynote speech, making a sales presentation, or conducting a seminar or training session.

You will learn to:

  • Identify trends, influences, and considerations that shape demand for interactive speaking
  • Use specific interactive techniques to increase audience participation
  • Adapt interactive techniques to “dry” topics
  • Adapt existing material to a more interactive style
  • Identify sources for interactive techniques

Register (the date of the seminar is Tuesday, June 9) or order the CD or MP3 recording. Note: people who register for the teleseminar will get the MP3 recording of the session for free.

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Powerpoint tips

The Presenter Center has a myriad useful PowerPoint tips.

This is just one …

Text and Graphics shouldn’t compete for attention
Dont_Compete.JPGKeep text and graphics separated.  Text that is placed on top of graphics appears cluttered, busy, and competes for attention.  Click for makeover.
Read more… [Text and Graphics shouldn’t compete for attention]

Thanks OliviaMitchell

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The Tipping Point

This was the start of a nightmare. A painstaking presentation was taking place. I was trying everything known to man to stay awake. For 5 minutes I scrolled through my blackberry looking for distractions. When that proved to be futile I began thumbing through my notebook looking for an interesting story or factoid. In a last ditch effort to show respect and stay awake I vigorously rubbed my eyes. This didn’t work either. With each stroke I moved closer and closer to unconsciousness.

My search for a jolt of life was failing miserably. There were no signs that the presentation was ending. After 10 minutes of fighting I succumbed to the twin towers of boredom and sleep. Just as my face grazed the surface the speaker brought his presentation to a close. Applause from my fellow audience members brought me back to life. Relieved, I stood up and quickly left the room.

Boredom is rampant in the public speaking world. Look around you at your next conference or meeting. You’re bound to see people fighting sleep, playing with their phone, or drawing in a notebook.

As a communicator you don’t have to be boring (it may seem like a rule but trust me it is not). Grabbing the audience’s attention as soon as possible will ensure that you are not boring.

Once you reach the Tipping Point the audience is fully engaged for the duration of your speech. That is why this concept is so important. Reaching this point as soon as possible should be your goal in each presentation.

If you understand the concept of the Tipping Point in public speaking you can use it to maximize your effectiveness. In public speaking the Tipping Point is defined as:
“the point in which you gain the audience’s attention and they begin actively absorbing your information”

There are 2 key takeaways from this definition:

  1. Gaining the audience’s attention
  2. Active absorption of your information

Gaining the Audience’s Attention
To take full advantage of the Tipping Point you need to gain the audience’s attention quickly. An ear catching introduction is the best tool in this scenario. Since most people use normal speaking patterns this is not a difficult thing to do.Here are some of my favorite tactics for gaining audience attention:

  1. Start with a thought provoking question (How many of you have heard of ……?)
  2. Quote an uncommon statistic
  3. Engage a respected audience member in conversation (CEO, VP, President, Leader, etc)
  4. Make a definitive ear catching statement (this was the start of a nightmare).

Certain extreme cases (eulogies, statistical deep dives, fact only information exchanges etc) may not seem like the place for one of these openings. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Dry scenarios like these need some spice to keep people engaged and following the message.

Active Information Absorption

When an audience is actively involved in your presentation you will know. There really is no mistaking it. People take notes, ask questions, and focus all their attention on you when they are actively involved.

When you see this you will know that you have reached the tipping point. It is nearly impossible to negate the effects of the Tipping Point once you have reached it in a speech. You have to make a colossal mistake, and we both know you won’t do that.

Conclusion

The war on boredom in public speaking is an ongoing struggle. Many people fight for the rights of boring speeches. Don’t be one of them.

A bored audience is much less likely to absorb information than an involved one. Do your part in fighting boredom by getting to the Tipping Point with your audience as soon as possible.

Prove your merit at the beginning of your speech and ears will open immediately. When they do, use what you know about the tipping point to keep them engaged and informed until you are done.

Marcus Antuan Smith is a creative force in the public speaking world who strives to meet the needs of each and every client. His experience as the Toastmasters President at a fortune 15 company will prove invaluable to you.

Go to his website, http://www.marcusasmith.com for more information.

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Keeping audience attention? – try interaction

From Nick Morgan a great article on

How to interact with an audience — 7 questions to get you started

Audiences today expect to have a conversation with speakers, and they crave real connection with successful speakers.  The best way to ensure that these good things happen during your presentations is to involve your audiences throughout.

But that takes some art.  How do you think about it?  How do you avoid the lame arrangement of too many presentations where the speaker drones on for 45 minutes, then stops and says, “Any questions?”  As the audience shakes itself awake, and starts wondering if it does in fact have any questions, the speaker stands there for what seems like an eternity, then gives up and concludes that no one cares.

How do you avoid this dysfunctional state of affairs?  How can you involve audiences in your presentations?

Following are a series of questions to ask the audience, in order to start connecting with them

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Magnify your punch lines

— John Kinde (JohnKinde@HumorPower.com)

The key is in the delivery. It’s what you do.

In the business of delivering your humor, there is a technique referred to as a “take.” A take is your physical response to a joke. For example, you may deliver a joke and then raise your eyebrows. Or tilt your head. Or open your eyes wide. Facial expressions are some of the most popular takes.

Using a take is like putting an exclamation point at the end of your humor line. It helps you drive home the humor. It signals the audience to realize, “Hey, this is supposed to be funny!”

There are a couple of approaches to using takes. One way is to look for a different physical delivery technique for every punch line. This can make the talk more interesting for you. And this can add a colorful variety to your speech. We also know from the acting business that it is easier to remember lines if they are linked to a physical action. So your jokes will be easier to remember, each linked to a different take.

Another approach is to use the same take for each punch line. This conditions the audience to laugh. Two classic comedians used repetitive takes which became signatures: George Burns’ puff on the cigar and Rodney Dangerfield’s tug of the necktie. They were sending signals to the audience that it was time to laugh.

You will find that even small takes can produce good results. Just a small wink might just be what you need to get the laughs. Experiment and have fun.

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Public Speaking – Tips on Selecting the Type of Speech to Use

There are two types of speeches used in public speaking, either you are “selling” something or you are “telling” something. The type of speech you select will depend on the reason you are presenting, and the nature of your audience.

In public speaking selecting the right type of speech will increase the effectiveness of your speech. The purpose of your speech can range from enjoyment to convincing the audience to take a certain action. How much the audience knows about your topic and their attitude towards it, also needs to be considered when selecting the type of speech you will deliver.   … more

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Public Speaking – 3 Ways to Get Them to SEE Your Speech


Patricia Fripp once said to me, “Craig, people will not remember what you say as much as they will remember what they see when you say it.” In other words, we have to make our speeches very visual in order to have the deepest impact. Here are 4 ways to accomplish this:

How do you know when you’ve prepared enough for a really important presentation?

memorize_forget_pianoEvery now and then you will have a really important presentation and you might invest a lot of time into it, more than usual. You want to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. So, how do you know when you’ve practiced enough? When do you know you’re good enough? >>>

Clean the Wax from Your Words – Using Effective Language for Public Speaking

In ancient days, Roman sculptors sometimes sought to conceal surface cracks in a statue with the aid of melted beeswax. A buyer, deceived into believing that he was purchasing a flawless piece of marble, would place such a statue proudly in his atrium. A few weeks later the beeswax would dry out, crumble away, and leave the original cracks exposed. This trickery became so prevalent, reputable sculptors began to guarantee their works as sine cera — which means, in Latin, without wax.

more…

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Speech triage — 5 questions to ask yourself to prepare a presentation quickly

Here’s a quick and effective method for preparing a presentation when you’re under the gun and can’t spend a lot of time brainstorming.  Ask yourself the following 5 questions: >>>

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Top Ten Rules for Effective Presentations

I am of the belief that the majority of people can improve their presentations dramatically by focusing on eliminating bad habits and presentation skills more than seeking to add anything on. How often have you come out of a seminar and overheard someone say, “Wow, she was great! Did you see how effectively she used her hand gestures?” That said, here are some ideas to help you become a better speaker. >>>

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Preparing to speak – Is it possible to have too much knowledge?

PRESENTATION TIP: THE CURSE OF KNOWLEDGE

Are you afflicted by the curse of knowledge?

No, this isn’t the latest bit of Harry Potter wizardry. It’s a phenomenom that many presenters suffer from, to the detriment of their audiences.

Popularized in Chip and Dan Heath’s book, Made to Stick, the curse of knowledge is when you can’t remember what it was like not to know the things you now know.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR AUDIENCE?

… more

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10 Public Speaking Delivery Tools That Will Keep Your Audience Hooked


Here are 10 speech delivery tips you can use to have a deep impact on your audience.

http://adjix.com/2pfg

Dealing With Presentation disasters


Most presentation disasters are not fatal; they can be resolved comfortably if you

1. Keep smiling

2. Know exactly what you want the decision maker to do (your main point)

… more

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Resolution of pictures in powerpoint

What Size Pictures Should I Use?

Those of us who include a lot of pictures in slide shows (hopefully everyone in the near future) need to think about the resolution of those pictures. Resolution, in a digital image context, is basically synonymous with quality. The higher your picture’s resolution, the higher its quality—in other words, the better it will look when printed or displayed. A high-resolution picture looks crisp and clear. A very low-resolution picture might look fuzzy or blurred.  … more

What do public speaking and billiards have in common?

Quite a lot according to David Meerman Scott.  Read more at his blog

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Improve your Public Speaking – 4 Tips for Using Evidence

Many tools can be implemented for success in delivering your speech, whether you are giving a speech to a public audience, talking with members of a company board meeting, or simply offering a sales presentation. Such tools comprise explaining detailed examples, designing statistical charts, in addition to providing influencing testimony. Below, we will add another public speaking skill to the list and explain four special tips for using “evidence” in a influential speech.

more …

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Can colour-blind people see your slides?

 Vischeck, checks your slides (or other visual work) to make sure that color-blind people can actually see it. From the website:

Many pictures, documents and web pages are hard for color blind people to read because the people who designed them didn’t think about the problem. Vischeck lets them check their work for color blind visibility. It is also interesting to anyone who is just plain curious about what the world looks like if you’re color blind.

One in 20 people have some form of color blindness, and the problem is most acute with shades of red and green, so think of this as a way of ensuring that your audience has a fighting chance to pay attention to your slides.

 

Dear Speakers

Getting up on stage and speaking is a difficult and demanding thing to do. It’s natural to be nervous and for that nervousness to show. It’s also hard to know how what you are doing up there on stage is perceived by the audience. There are things that speakers do that feel good to them, but which are not actually great for the audience. … more >>

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The two elements of a great presenter

1. Respect (from the audience)
2. Love (to the audience)

There are no doubt important evolutionary reasons why this is true, but in my experience, every great presenter earns the respect of the audience (through her appearance, reputation, posture, voice, slides, introduction, etc.) and captures the attention of the audience by sending them love.

more….

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How to improve your slides with the rule of thirds

Designing attractive slide visuals does not need to be a painful task. You don’t need to hire a design firm. You don’t need loads of expensive software.

You can design attractive visuals by following simple guidelines. One of these simple guidelines is the Rule of Thirds — a composition technique borrowed from photography and other visual arts that works wonderfully in PowerPoint.

In this article, you will learn:

* What is the Rule of Thirds?

* How do photographers use the Rule of Thirds?

* How can you apply the Rule of Thirds to Your PowerPoint slides?

Read on …

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Repackaging Your Content: Using New Media for SEO, Thought Leadership and Sales

with Albert Maruggi

Speakers, consultants and trainers are constantly creating content.

PowerPoint presentations, speeches, videos, demos.

You’re constantly sharing information online and off. But are you getting as much mileage as you can out of that content?

This teleseminar will help you think about new ways to publish, share and promote your content, your ideas and yourself.

Social media tools are inherently search engine-friendly and help you reach more people. Learn how the power of the Web can highlight the value you provide and solidify your standing as a thought leader in your niche. What would you be able to accomplish with more eyes and ears on more of your content?

You will learn how to:

Put your content in front of more eyeballs by making it “social,” findable and shareable

Use your content to squeeze out more “Google juice”

Benefit from thinking like a journalist

Get started on making valuable connections on the Web

Find influencers and potential clients online

Register or pre-order the CD or MP3 recording. Note our new policy: people who register for the teleseminar will get the MP3 recording of the session for free.

Special Limited-Time Offer:
If you want more information on using social media to promote your business, we suggest the MP3 recordings of two earlier programs to complement Albert’s program:

“Discover New Internet Publicity Strategies to Sell More Products and Get More Engagements” with Dan Janal

“Use Social Media Marketing to Grow Your Speaking & Consulting Business” with Ford Saeks

With your order of Albert’s teleseminar, CD or MP3, at checkout you will be offered these recordings.

SpeakerRate lets speakers get honest feedback

The tech event season is beginning to heat up. If you’re a speaker, you know that standing in front of a crowd isn’t half as hard as getting critical feedback on your talks. People who disliked it will generally remain silent or opt for a snarky tweet or two. Those close to you will tell you “You did great!” no matter how poorly you performed. Getting the feedback you need to improve can be the most difficult part of the whole process. Until now. Meet SpeakerRate.

SpeakerRate is designed to help you promote the talks you’re giving – and get that critical feedback you’re seeking.

Preparing for your presentation

 

There are so many ways a room and its set-up can affect yur presentation. It is so important to make sure it works for you – your position, the audience’s position, the equipment, the sound, the heating … Graham Jones used this great example in his tip : Check the room layout for presentations
I was at a meeting the other day when a woman was invited to speak. She stayed where she was in the room to deliver her five minute talk. However, this meant that some people in the room couldn’t see her; others couldn’t hear her. As a result, about half her audience had five minutes of their time wasted. She also wasted much of her time because she didn’t get her message across to half the room.

Where you sit, where you look and how the audience feels is dependent upon room layout. You need to seriously consider all the options before you talk. Get the room layout right and your presentation will be much better. What this means is you should never accept the room as it is – unless it is perfect for you and your audience. Almost every room needs changing in some way so that the audience gains the best from you.

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Use your voice to get results

This is the key to using the power of your voice.

The best things to learn are

• The one mistake even professional singers make that drains the power from their voice… and the secret pencil trick that shortcuts your way to a voice that commands respect.

• How to master your natural voice in the shortest time possible… while you improve your level of communication with everyone you meet! (You’ll learn everything those stars paid thousands of dollars for!)

• Why “beginners” are able to use these simple techniques to quickly surpass more experienced professionals… even if you sound like the Wicked Witch of the West!

• How an ordinary pillow helped all-pro linebacker Dick Butkus transform from football star to television analyst. (Not one voice coach in a thousand even suspects the power of this simple technique!)

• A stunning secret revealed by singer Mel Torme which offers an insight into his lifetime success.

• How to instantly diagnose mistakes in your voice — so you’ll never have a communication problem again. No one will ever mistake what you are saying.

• How Lucie Arnaz overcame an allergic reaction that inflamed her vocal folds and used an instant mind-body secret to sing like a nightingale!

• How you can dictate your own identity to the world – as you want it to be – and not have it dictated to you!

“My Name Is Bond – James Bond” – “Arthur Joseph started as a teacher of mine years ago. Over these years, he has become a good friend whose teachings of Vocal Awareness have become a constant in my life. He enlightens with compassion and understanding of the human spirit and above all else, it works.” – Pierce Brosnan, Actor

Isn’t it frustrating? You speak as clear as a bell and people misunderstand what you say. Even worse, people misjudge you for no apparent reason!

People spend thousands on Lasik surgery to improve their eyes, tens of thousands to change their nose, cheeks, and chest, yet not a penny to change the way they sound. But for the first time ever…

You can use the Vocal Power Course. Get the information now.  (and yes, the link is now working!!)

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Public speaking: A cheap, effective marketing tool

Are you looking for a marketing tool that is both effective and inexpensive? Then pull out your microphone and do some speaking! Why should you consider ‘public speaking’ as a way to obtain new customers? Because it doesn’t cost anything, except your time, and it is effective.

http://adjix.com/4q58

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Help For Public-Speaking Anxiety

 

Fear of public speaking strikes some people harder — and differently — than others, according to a new study.

The study shows that those who suffer most over speaking in public get more anxious, not less anxious, as their presentation gets under way. And when it’s over, instead of feeling relief, they feel even more anxious.

… more

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Creating effective backgrounds in PowerPoint

To create effective backgrounds in PowerPoint is one of the most challenging tasks for a presenter, as balancing visual impact, layout balance, properly matching colors while keeping great legibility is nothing that I would consider easy. Article continues

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Opening your presentations

Bert Decker has a great post he has called “Six Do’s to Open Your Presentations”.  Very useful tips and his message is to “take advantage of your opening.” Well worth reading

http://adjix.com/4bx3

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The Power of Silence

Want more impact?

Want to heighten the suspense?

Want focused attention?

Practise your pauses! 

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So time is the reason for death by powerpoint?

When it comes to bad PowerPoint presentations, most people love to blame the tool or software. However, it’s interesting that many other people can use the same tool and achieve completely different results.

You might be able to rack up the different outcomes to a person’s experience and expertise, but I believe all ‘PowerPoint evil’ can be traced back to the simple issue of time – and how we manage it or choose to spend it.

http://adjix.com/7rsp