,

The Most Important Not-so-secret Secret to Successful Communication

OK. It’s not a secret. But there is a mystery to it, and today I have an answer.

Vince Lombardi is credited with saying, “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price. “ Lombardi is also credited with saying, “You play like you practice.” In the world of music, we are also told to practice. To quote composer Igor Stravinsky (in a post on the blog Six Minutes, called “Eight Faulty Speaker Assumptions”) , “Practice. If you don’t, someone else will.” So why is it, therefore, that so many business presenters and speakers don’t practice before important communications? Is it fear? Lack of time? Laziness?

=> http://bit.ly/mFPFrM

,

Use Stories to Persuade

When it comes to persuading others, rhetoric has its limits — it can sound didactic and boring. Stories are a much more effective way to convince others of your point of view. Here are three tips for shaping and telling a story that influences: http://bit.ly/mgKbX8

How to Improve Your Presentation Before You Say a Single Word

You have spent many hours, if not days, preparing to give a big presentation at a conference or event. You have researched your topic, you are confident that your material will be riveting to your audience. And you have put the hard yards in, having practiced with great diligence. Are you feeling ready? Are you good to go? Have you forgotten anything? Maybe.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to introduce…”. What happens next? Is there any chance you don’t know exactly how you will be introduced?

In my experience, far too many speakers at conferences and seminars fail to pay attention to this important part of their presentation. Does it matter? Does it affect the way an audience may perceive you and what you have to say? You bet it does, as Lucky Luc would say “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression”. So why leave the first impressions people have of you to chance?

You shouldn’t! Think of your introduction as a part of your presentation, part of the messages your audience will receive from you. More importantly, think of your introduction as an opportunity:

To set expectations (setting the stage)
To bolster your credibility as a speaker
To pique your audience’s interest in the theme you will address
To keep control of your message
Don’t get me wrong, there are many experienced conference comperes or MCs who will do a good job of pulling out a few nuggets from your bio and tying these into the topic you will speak on. But many don’t. And, in any case, you shouldn’t expect anyone who introduces you to know as much about you and your presentation as you do. And you certainly don’t want your introduction to be anything less than engaging – or worse still, boring. So what should you do?
Simple, always write your own introductions. Decide what you want to have said about you and your topic before you say a single word. Use your introduction to grab your audience’s attention and establish why they will want to listen to you. Be sure to keep your introduction short and focused on what your audience will really care about – i.e. how what you will say may help or benefit your audience. In other words, WIIFM (what’s in it for me).

The bottom line is – when it comes to your introduction, don’t gamble. All introductions are not equal. By writing your own introduction you will be doing the introducer and your audience a favour. Most people who have to introduce others will be delighted that you have made his/her job easier. Most comperes will be thrilled to have a script that reads well and makes them look good. And guess what? You’re off to a great start – first time, every time. Plan on it!

………………………………………………………………..

Further free tips on public speaking are available on: www.thereluctantspeakersclub.com

About the Author

Public Speaking Master, Eamonn O’Brien is the founder of The Reluctant Speakers Club and an internationally recognised speaker on communication skills. Based in Dublin, The Reluctant Speakers Club can help you to make the podium your friend in just a short time. To learn more, visit: http://www.thereluctantspeakersclub.com.

, , ,

Tell Powerful Stories with Pictures: A National Geographic Photographer Shares Tips for Speakers (WEBINAR)

with Dick Durrance

A speech or presentation is in part a visual experience for the audience. Some speakers avoid using A/V equipment, but many others find that adding a visual component helps their audience focus and learn.
It’s common advice today, for those who use media like PowerPoint or slides, that visuals should be *visual*—use more images on screen and fewer words.
But how do you select—or create—the best images? If you want to use photos, come learn from Dick Durrance, one of the world’s top photographers who now uses that background to add impact as a professional speaker.
Dick will show us what to look for in a picture—and how to take our own—to add power and depth to our message.

To illustrate his points, Dick will use more than 75 pictures created for National Geographic assignments, global advertising campaigns, the world’s great golf courses, and the national parks. He’ll show you how to better create or select photographs for your use.

The old adage is true: the right image instantly communicates much more than 1000 words. As a wordsmith, you carefully choose the right word to express your thoughts. In the same way, you want the images you use in your presentations, blogs, websites, ezines and other materials to perfectly complement your words.
The photos need to be *great* to accompany your stories and points—not just snapshots. You want images that enthrall your audience. Pictures you take yourself can be exactly what helps express your unique point or story, if they are done well.
However, you’re not a professional photographer. You need simple techniques to take excellent photos, without lugging around a heavy, expensive camera, full-sized tripod, and other burdensome equipment. You need to know how to take a great picture that doesn’t involve endless messing with F-stops and other technical issues. Fortunately, today’s digital cameras now take care of what used to be technical challenges.
Dick Durrance, professional speaker and former National Geographic staff photographer, will show you how to harness the power of the graphic elements in your pictures—light, line, shape, color, and texture—to better tell the story you are trying to share with your audiences without having to rely on sophisticated technical skills.

Hall of Fame speaker Ian Percy once wrote, “When your life flashes before your eyes, it’s pictures not words that flash by. Our life stories are always told in pictures.”
In this webinar, you will learn how to:
• Be clear in your mind on the story you’re trying to tell in the picture. You will see how to frame, crop, and use the basic graphic elements in the picture to lead the viewer’s eye to the most important point you are trying to make with the picture.
• Select the light (sunrise, bright midday, foggy, dusk, shadows) you need to set the tone for your picture
• Use color to evoke emotion and texture to add depth to a picture
• Shift the angle or perspective to create a much more dramatic and intriguing image
• Compose pictures that contain all of the elements that are essential to your story
• Be aware of what shapes draw one’s eye into the image

More information => http://bit.ly/j9Xa5R

,

Creative Presentation Agenda Examples

Is your audience getting lost during your big presentation? The issue might be in the clarity of your presentation agenda. Learn 5 creative ways to provide a clear and memorable agenda to your presentation. =>http://bit.ly/m0qjjN

, ,

Great wits say much in few words …

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld

,

Handling the Audience in Public Speaking

Audiences Are Your Friend

For the rank amateur to the ignorant professional, audiences create the same effect no matter how small they are to a speaker. Fear and anxiety.

From a single person to a crowd as big as the fans in the Super Bowl, speaking in front of a serious listening audience is the true test and baptism of fire.

Despite this, audiences are predictable. Audiences listen to you because they want to learn something from the speaker.

Following this logic, the speaker would do well to follow the strategy of making it informative as well as interesting to listeners to see your speech through till the end.

Here are some tips on how you can have the audience listen in rapt attention. http://bit.ly/bMXs4u

How To Use the Power of the Pause in Public Speaking

Learning how to use the power of the pause in public speaking can be one of the most effective skills an orator can acquire.

Pausing when giving a speaking presentation? Yes.

Pauses can be so powerful that some even give this advice–when you’ve no idea what to do, just pause and smile. Even if you’ve fully prepared and rehearsed, there are times when your mind will go blank up there. It happens to even the most seasoned of speakers. If and when it happens, just pause. Pausing will give a person authority, whereas stammering or apologizing will do quite the opposite.

It’s said that the North Vietnamese used the power of the pause as a tactic in the Paris peace negotiations. During the talks, they just kept nodding and smiling. They did this until the Americans gave in.

Can pausing really be that powerful?

Our instincts are all wrong. When we get nervous, the first thing we tend to do is speed up. The faster I talk, many assume, the more I’ll appear to have it together. But the opposite is true. Rushing through your presentation is a dead giveaway that you’re edgy, and often gives the impression that you’d rather not be there speaking in the first place. It’s a universal sign of nervousness and lack of confidence to talk in an exaggeratedly hurried manner. It’s the same with those “ah” and “uhm” filler words that many start throwing in. This makes an audience uncomfortable, and can make them feel like they are the cause of your suffering up there behind the microphone. This is a presentation that will not be remembered except for the negative feelings it created.

But this is where the pause can be useful. Instead of rushing to the next point or using that filler word, just pause. The audience will wonder what you’re going to do next. The trick, though, is to stay with your listeners.

But, you may ask, doesn’t pausing make the speaker look like he or she has forgotten what to say or has lost his or her train of thought? The answer: depends on how one goes about it. If you stare at the ceiling or at the floor, then yes, you’ll appear to be trying to gather your thoughts. But if you stay engaged, and that means looking at your audience and staying focused on the message, then pausing will add a dynamic and commanding element to your presentation.

Pausing creates moments of tension, anticipation, or excitement, depending on how they’re utilized. Pausing while presenting gives the impression that the speaker is confident, even if the speaker doesn’t feel that way. If you’re a person who starts talking faster when nervous, pausing can help you relax and catch your breath. Try it–just pause and breathe deeper.

I’ve personally used the Power of the Pause many times and each time I do I’m always a little amazed at how well it works. I like to use pauses right after a question. For example, I’ll ask the crowd, “Do you remember the numbers from last year?” Then I’ll pause and slowly look around. The audience stays with me, waiting for the answer. At those moments, I sometimes have more authority as a speaker then when I’m actually speaking! Most nervous speakers, especially those with less experience, will immediately answer their own question and ruin a nice moment like that. Once I personally discovered how powerful pausing can be, I’ve never gone away from it.

Remember that if anything, pausing allows a speaker to stop and think about what he or she is going to say next. No matter how much you practice and rehearse, there are times when the combination of adrenaline and nervousness makes you forget where you are. Nobody likes it when this happens, but again, it happens to everyone. If and when it does, pausing not only gives you a chance to think about your next thought (and glance at your notes if needed), but it also makes you appear to be in far more control than you may feel at the moment.

Pausing really works–practice it and utilize it.

Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He has a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.Libatique.com or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com

, , ,

How to conquer the fear of public speaking & other coronary threats

This book is an antacid for knots, butterflies and pains which often accompany public speaking efforts. Text includes personal prescriptions for confidence, success and happiness from Zig Ziglar, Erma Bombeck, Hugh Downs, Cary Grant, Ann Landers, Rod McKuen, Norman Vincent Peale and others. It tells how to eliminate anguish, frustration and embarrassment when speaking in public. This is a classic by an award-winning speaker and it gives step-by-step instructions for healthier self-esteem through better oral communications.
His favorite quote for those who are afraid to accept the challenges of public speaking came from former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

,

Design help for your PowerPoint slides

Are you looking for a pick-me-up fr your latest PowerPoint presentation? Looking for some design ideas that you haven’t seen before on everyone else’s presentations?

I find that looking at other original designs sparks my own creativity. And oftentimes that has a flow on effect on my presentation. If there is a different way of looking at the slide, then there may be a different way of looking at the point I’m making. Or maybe it just fires up the neurones in my brain and they produce new thoughts. I’m not sure how it works, but it does.

So go check out The PowerPoint Templates (ppt). They have downloadable templates. And yes this is an affilaite link so I will make a few cents if you buy a template. But you can choose the low cost ones, or even scrounge through the sidebar and find the free templates. Or maybe, like me, you will just get some creative inspiration from looking at the products. These are graphics designers working here, so the creativity should be evident!

And while you are prowling round the site, look into the articles and tutorials. There is some useful information there.

Have fun!

Public Speaking Tips – more hiding places for your notes

… and though there are only 4 they are highly ingenious and useful tips

=> http://bit.ly/lSVOjy

5 Resources that made me a better presenter

I wasn’t born a good presenter or presentation designer, and both of those skills I work on to improve daily. However, there were influences in my life that have brought me to where I am currently, and I wanted to both share them with you and encourage you to share your influences, inspirations, and resources that have helped you become a better presenter and presentation designer. => http://bit.ly/iIeaiR

, , ,

How to present data with visuals

Hans Rosling’s famous lectures combine enormous quantities of public data with a sport’s commentator’s style to reveal the story of the world’s past, present and future development. Now he explores stats in a way he has never done before – using augmented reality animation. In this spectacular section of ‘The Joy of Stats’ he tells the story of the world in 200 countries over 200 years using 120,000 numbers – in just four minutes. Plotting life expectancy against income for every country since 1810, Hans shows how the world we live in is radically different from the world most of us imagine.

, ,

Inspiration

No man not inspired can make a good speech without preparation ~
Daniel Webster

,

Let’s make a PowerPoint – Oh no!

“Let’s Make a Powerpoint”
At University, students get the opportunity to practice their presentation skills. I’ve been a part of these groups. The Professor announces, “Next week, each group will present their proposals”. And without fail, one of the team members will immediately turn to the rest of the group and say, “Great, let’s make our Powerpoint!”

What’s Wrong with this? => http://bit.ly/mxllVh

,

Putting Your Best Face Forward

Researchers who study how babies acquire language have demonstrated that babies begin learning very early which sounds are relevant to the language that surrounds them. Babies learn so early to categorize sounds, in fact, that infants being raised as bilingual can even differentiate between the sounds of two languages they have never before heard.

One theory of how babies recognize a sound as belonging to one language or another is that they are using not only their ears but their eyes to understand language. They pay attention to visual cues, to the movement of the face, especially the lips, as a person speaks.

The idea that visual information affects speech perception is not new and is probably something you’ve noticed. Watching a dubbed film, for example, presents a problem to most viewers at first because they cannot reconcile the sounds they are hearing with the shapes of the mouths speaking the film’s original language. Such incongruity makes words hard to understand. About 35 years ago, in fact, researchers Harry McGurk and John McDonald demonstrated that humans use both visual and auditory information in speech perception. For most of us, vision triumphs; what we see can alter what we hear.

It’s called the McGurk effect.

SPEAKING UP
What does the McGurk effect mean to you as a presenter? => http://bit.ly/kTRboF

3 Lessons for Public Speaking from the Japanese Tea Ceremony

When I was in Japan, I was fortunate enough to take part in a tea ceremony. I don’t think I understood much of what I was doing then, beyond experiencing the simplicity and elegance of the occasion. Recently, I ran across The Tea Ceremony, by Seno and Sendo Tanaka, and this beautiful book both brought back the memory and filled me in with many of the nuances I’d missed. It occurred to me that 3 concepts from the tea ceremony in particular have application to public speaking and are good advice for Western minds trying to improve their own – and their audience’s – experience. => http://bit.ly/jE108C

,

Public Speaking: The First Question You Need to Answer

The first question a presenter must answer involves the listening audience. The composition of a group influences what and how one prepares. Determining the makeup of an audience involves certain considerations that can be broken down into two categories: Demographics and Psychographics. “Demographics” help us define “age cells,” while “Psychographics” inform us about “type cells.”

Demographics. Initially, it is helpful to determine the demographic composite of the audience. We start by determining the average age of the crowd. Are there children? If so, what age? If they are teenagers, are they young teens (13-16) or older teens (17-19)? If we find they are young adults, are they 18-24, 25-34, etc.? Now let me explain why this demographic analysis is so important.

The age of an audience influences the type of language, examples, and illustrations presenters use. For example, if I were talking to a group of young adults 18-24 years old about recent changes in the music industry, it would be more effective to drop names such as “The All-American Rejects” and “Green Day” than “Chicago” and “The Beach Boys.” Talking about the former would help me sound relevant and credible, while using the latter would date me and make me sound out of touch.

The key is to know the demographic makeup of your listening audience. Some audiences are demographically narrow in scope, but most are not. Generally, you will find that audiences are comprised of mixed age groups, and knowing this will help you tailor your examples and illustrations to impact the larger segments within the group.

Psychographics. Determining the psychographic profile of the audience is imperative as well. As previously stated, psychographics refers to “type cells,” and all audiences are comprised of them. These cells inform us of the audience’s inclinations and preferences, which is helpful information when addressing a group. Below is a short list of potential “types” you might find in a particular audience:

Males or females

Blue-collar workers or professionals

Senior-level or junior-level managers

Managers or employees

Post-grad students or undergrad students

Wine drinkers or beer drinkers

Conservatives or Liberals

Religious or non-religious individuals

Doctors or lawyers

Teachers or students

Early adapters or late adopters

Animal lovers or hunters

Suffice it to say that the age and type of people in any given audience will greatly impact the way you prepare to speak to them. But while the audience’s profile will influence your method, it must never compromise or cause you to water-down your message. Instead, the core message simply needs to be packaged in terms relative to the audience at hand. Consequently, it is highly beneficial to know everything you can about the demographic and psychographic nature of the audience you will be addressing.

……………………………………….

Dr. Gary Rodriguez is President of LeaderMetrix http://www.leadermetrix.com and author of Purpose Centered Public Speaking http://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Centered-Public-Speaking-Purposeful-Presentations/dp/1450727085/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288971818&sr=8-1

Gary is committed to helping aspiring and active speakers improve their presentations skills. This is accomplished through Purpose Centered Public Speaking Workshop and personal one on one mentoring. He also offers a free public speaking phobia test and monthly newsletter to those who visit his website.

,

How to Increase Your Sales Even When You’re an Experienced Salesperson

I’m in the market for a new car. I want a small SUV in the Honda CR-V / Toyota RAV-4 class. I’ll use this car primarily for commuting and weekend errand running. Since I don’t see gas prices declining, I want a four cylinder with good gas mileage. Because I drive a car until it has 100,000 miles on it, I want it fully loaded with nearly every option available. I want something with cargo capacity so I’m looking at the small SUVs.

Yesterday I test drove an SUV in that class made by one of the smaller automakers. I walked in and said I wanted to look at their SUV. The salesman, about my own age (mid-okay-late 50s) was experienced.

Where He Failed

His first question: Do you know anything about the (Brand) experience? When I replied,”No,” he opened the hood and proceeded to discuss all the features and benefits of owning that vehicle and how it differs from the competition.

As I mentioned, this gentleman is an experienced salesman with years of experience. Yet, he made no attempt to identify my needs or why I was interested in that car.

Instead, he focused on the product, not my needs.

Read more … => http://bit.ly/e2snMD

, ,

Don’t Just Present: Inspire!

Everyone uses PowerPoint, but how effective is your presentation at meeting the goals you’ve outlined? A great presentation is more than just a slideshow–it’s about using PowerPoint to its maximum potential to get your message across to your audience. That’s the PowerPoint Predicament. Tom Bunzel reveals how to conceive, plan, develop, and deliver truly effective business, academic, and inspirational communications, not just PowerPoint slideshows.

Solving the PowerPoint Predicament: Using Digital Media for Effective Communication
by Tom Bunzel

=> http://bit.ly/hbkjFO

, , , ,

Frank Luntz on 5 Phrases that Maximize Results

I was asked to identify the five words or phrases that mattered more than any other. If I was limited to just five recommendations–and these phrases had to work in every aspect of life–what would I say?

=> http://bit.ly/gMK9Ts

,

Can’t-Live-Without Technology Tools for Speakers

Your life is complicated. You have your home life, office life, and travel life. How do you keep them all coordinated easily and with the least headaches? Simple things are daunting — like accessing files on your office computer while on the road; syncing key files with your smartphone, laptop, and office computer; and changing travel arrangements in seconds. . .from the plane.

Sam has researched and mastered important tech tools that every speaker needs to know about. He tells you how to get more out of your tools and introduces you to some amazing time and effort savers.

You will learn how to:

record teleseminars and key client interviews from your cellphone
access the Internet from anywhere
charge BOR sales through your smartphone
use headsets that are noise-canceling and with a mic for use with your phone
allow bureaus to see when you’re booked and where you’ll be
use simple apps to make your life easier

all the details => http://bit.ly/eWI5gh

,

How To Respond To Inevitable Distractions in Public Speaking

Adam Hochschild once said, “Work is hard. Distractions are plentiful. And time is short.”

This is the truth in public speaking.

One of the craziest situations I was in happened during a keynote talk I was giving in Chicago. There were five meeting rooms that had been partitioned out that held about 300 each. Each room had a wireless microphone system. About a minute into my presentation, the microphone from two rooms down somehow overlapped onto the frequency of mine, and we all started hearing the other speaker. He sounded as if he were right there with us.

Talk about a distraction that’s impossible to ignore! I didn’t even try. Rather than fight it or try to shout over it, I began having a “conversation” with the other speaker. He would ask his crowd in the other room, “Can everyone hear me okay?” and I would answer to mine, “Oh yes, we can hear you just fine.” I did my best to turn it into something amusing and entertaining, and got a few laughs for it. This went on for several minutes until the technical support guy hurried in and fixed things.

This is just one example of totally unexpected things that can happen in a presentation. A kneejerk reaction to something like this is to get upset or just walk off the stage in helplessness. But having had much mileage on stage, I knew to roll with it in a positive way. Had my reaction been negative, that would have stuck in the minds of the audience more than anything else. It would have made them feel uncomfortable for me, and the last thing you want as a presenter is an uncomfortable crowd trying to watch you.

Know that both big and small distractions will always exist under all circumstances. For your own sake, try not to be in constant pursuit of perfect conditions. And don’t make the even bigger mistake of trying to force the perfect set of circumstances. If you do, you’ll experience more disappointment and frustration than satisfaction. Yes, in time, you’ll run into those ideal situations where everything appears to go perfect, but they’re few and far between. It’s better to simply be prepared for what can and usually does happen, and to look at it as opportunities for growth and experience. This isn’t negative thinking, which is when anticipating what could happen creates unhealthy levels of fear or tension. This becomes detrimental to your performance. It’s also negative thinking to view potential mishaps as a burden, or some sort of affliction that comes with the territory. If you have to just “grin and bear it,” then you’re looking at it wrong.

Some people anticipate a negative reaction from themselves. A person will think, if this happens, I just know I’ll get so annoyed I won’t be able to continue. Or, if so and so interrupts me again, I’ll get angry and snap at her. If you think and do the action in advance mentally, you’re going down the road of self-fulfilled prophesy. If and when the time comes, you’ll respond just as you imagined. As far as your brain is concerned, you’ve already done it anyway, so it’s easier the “second” time (or third, or fourth, etc.). And in the end, if nothing happens, all you’ve accomplished is wasting mental bandwidth.

The more you learn to deal with distractions correctly, the more professional you’ll be as a communicator. Unfortunately, though, we often react inappropriately. We stop and get flustered when a noise or disruption happens, especially deliberately caused disruptions. But if we blow these things out of proportion, the incident will overshadow the rest of the presentation. That’s what people will remember long after the performance. People can forgive almost any blunder, whether caused by you or not, if you simply do your best and maintain a positive attitude.

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience, there are techniques you can employ that will make it seem as though you’ve been doing it for a long time.

Remain positive and professional.
If things go wrong, don’t go with them.
Prepare a good outline with keywords; they will help you keep focus.
Make sure you’ve done a little rehearsal, but not to where you’ve memorized. Distractions can mean the death of a memorized presentation because your brain, which was depending on things going in a certain order, will lock up.
Finally, remember the purpose of your message, the big picture. That’s what matters, so focus on that. By keeping your mind on what’s important, you can avoid “forgetting” what to do.
Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He has a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.Libatique.com or contact Kelly at: KellyLibatique@gmail.com

,

Engage your Audience when you speak

How do you make your presentation more interesting to your audience? Perhaps the most important technique is to include them when you speak. You can choose your words to engage your listeners — or leave them out. If you leave them out, boredom is the probable result. In this article, I’ll give you some specific techniques for crafting your content in a way that grabs the attention of your audience.

=> http://bit.ly/faXAd4

Public speaking tip – Make sure image and message support each other

My last tip was about being deliberate about creating an image.

The most powerful choice you will make is how you get that image to support your message – how you
put the two together.

It may be totally supportive, in that the image is unobtrusive; seamlessly part of the message and the complete package – an incredibly effective combination.

Or you may choose to create an edge, a mystique.

Your body language, your facial expression and gestures, your clothes and your grooming all need to work towards the impact you choose to make. And they will contribute as powerfully to the impact you choose to make as a person as they do to the impact you choose for your presentation to make.

This package, this combination of impact, message and image are what people take away from your
presentation. They are the wow you create. But the pivotal word, there, was “choose” – the impact you choose to make, the impact you choose for your presentation to make.

Whatever you may be trying to achieve, don’t let the impact of your presentation be an accident. Right from
the beginning, it needs to be part of the planning. When you are visualizing your production, toying with ideas
and possibilities and first drafts, make the impact of you as a person and of your performance an integral part of that process. Visualise it and work it into all aspects of your production planning.

Then you have the foundation for creating the “wow” factor.

Create Clear, Concise and Creative Keynotes:

Make Every Word Count

with Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Great speakers know how to make their presentations remembered and repeated. They craft their comments for the greatest impact. They edit to ensure they get their point across without being verbose and diluting the significance.

Many speakers use too many words and details, thereby reducing their influence. Do you say more than you need to? If so, how can you come across authentic, yet crisp? Notable, not forgettable. Memorable, not mediocre.
Patricia Fripp is the Queen of Succinct. Frippy equals pithy. Patricia believes a good speech is not a conversation. However, it needs to sound natural, not stiff, canned, or over-rehearsed. Listen in to what she means!

Hear Frippy’s best practices from 30 years of studying speaking skills.

You will learn to:
• Make your comments more specific and better edited
• Speak visually and with verbal punctuation
• Add impact with advice with high-price speech coaches
• Get your message remembered and repeated
• Fall in love with your content all over again.
________________________________________
All the details here => http://bit.ly/msQ1De

,

Remarks

There are remarks that sow and remarks that reap.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

Speaking Tools Beyond Your Equipment

When making a speech or presentation, a typical speaker usually has a number of tools to help convey their message. He or she may rely on laptops, projectors, PA systems, and so on, all in an effort to enhance the ability to communicate. The best speaking tools, however, can’t be found in electronic shops or purchased online. The greatest speaking tools are actually within the person speaking. Let’s take a look at three of these speaking tools, which you can also use yourself.

Knowledge Diversity

Knowing a little about things from various areas of discipline is a good speaking tool. A broad knowledge base allows speakers to connect their topics with concepts from other fields. In addition, using some ideas from varied fields can help establish the topic’s place within the body of knowledge, allowing deeper understanding for the audience. You can develop this speaking tool by reading literature from different, genres, areas of study, or level or expertise outside of your field.

Interaction

Another indispensable speaking tool is the ability to conduct dynamic discussions. Here, the audience members become active participants, not just passive onlookers. Interaction also helps identify how much the audience has understood the topic. Ask your audience questions that make them think, not just simply recall. Ask them what portion of your speech that are left unclear to them. Most of the time, the best way to make your audience understand what you are talking about is to tell a story. Also, let your audience ask questions and be sure to correctly answer them as well.

Familiarity and Mastery

A speaker’s mastery of his or her material is one of the most important speaking tools. Having good command of your topic improves credibility and audience impact. Without this, the whole speech or presentation ceases to exist, and what follows is just a recitation or reading of cue cards. You can develop this speaking tool through proper preparation. You do not need to have a Ph. D. in something just to talk about it; all you have to do is internalize the material well before schedule. It is important to understand-not memorize-the topic.

There you have it, three essential tools that every successful speaker needs. It really helps to have them available, sharpened, and polished when needed. Don’t worry about having the best equipment money can buy. The greatest speaking tools can and should be within you.

Author: Tamar Peters has over 23 years experience in the events and promotions industry and her passion to help as many people as possible to find financial freedom through knowledge, education and inspiration. Her main focus as part of Top Speaker Events is to deliver the highest standard speakers who offer real life changing content, opportunities and knowledge from all over the world.

,

The Gift of Laughter: Dialogues With Great Comedians

All you’ll ever need to know about the enjoyment, appreciation and art of performance humor. Patricia Fripp with Larry Wilde. Larry made publishing history as the author of the most popular humor series of all time. His 53 books have sold more than 12 million copies. The New York Times called him “America’s best-selling humorist.” 

In this one-of-a-kind album, you will learn the inside secrets of America’s greatest comedians … you can hear the collective wisdom of the people who defined American comedy. For the first time, you will learn the most fascinating, interesting, inside stories about how Larry convinced the great comedians to share their never-before-revealed views on making people laugh. => http://bit.ly/bQQFTS

,

Seven steps to more compelling presentations

Ensure your that audience is engaged and understands the ideas you are putting forward

By Fiona Collie

An engaging seminar presentation can be a powerful tool for building relationships with clients and prospects.

A successful presentation needs more than just great information, says Lisa Braithwaite, a public-speaking coach in Santa Barbara, Calif. “People want to relate to you,” she says. “They want to be able to trust you and they want to be able to have a relationship with you.”

To gain that trust and build relationships, follow these public-speaking tips:

, ,

A good introduction/opener

A good introduction to the delivery of your presentation is extremely important. The first minute or so sets the stage for the rest of your talk.

You should start with an upbeat, positive mood. The first impression you make lasts. You want to quickly gain the attention, interest, and respect of your audience. Your first words should be lively, interesting, clear, and simple.

read more => http://bit.ly/hYUrJe

, , ,

Thought for Thursday – don’t use words that are too big

Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say “infinitely” when you mean “very”; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. –C.S. Lewis 

Sunday’s sound-byte: How to Create Emmy-Worthy Presentations That Set You Apart from the Competition

Name the three best speakers you know.

Are *you* on your list? If not, are those other speakers better than you?

If you ask your clients to name the three best speakers they’ve had at their meetings, are you on *their* list?
Top speakers are continually looking for ways to be even better, to have more impact, and they have learned to look to show business performers for clues and techniques.

How do the skills of master performers translate to speakers? What do Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, and Jerry Seinfeld do in their performances that you can apply to your presentations?

Bill Stainton has won numerous Emmy awards. He knows what comedy and TV stars do to stay on top, and he’s going to share that knowledge with us.

Virtually all of the speakers who are making serious money in the speaking business have one thing in common: they are amazing on the platform! Everything else springs from that: referrals, spin-offs, product sales — everything. If you want to make it — really make it — as a speaker, you have to be as good as, or better than, the best. Bill will share the secrets he’s learned from the people who have really made it in comedy and television, and translate those secrets directly to the world of speaking.

You will learn:

• How to structure your presentation for maximum engagement
• How to utilize predictable unpredictability to keep your audiences awake and interested
• A simple rule to help you plan your openings and closings
• How to use the secrets of comedy writers to make your speeches and stories come alive
• How to rehearse properly (most speakers don’t!) to set you apart from the competition

more information here … http://bit.ly/i9AeFR

,

Presentations – The Single Most Powerful PowerPoint Slide You Can Use

 PowerPoint problems run rampant in presentations, from busy, overdone slides that are impossible to read to poor usage where the speaker talks
 
 to the slide or blocks the screen. While there are lots of ways to improve slide quality and enhance PowerPoint usage, there is one little known, but powerful, strategy that can improve any PowerPoint presentation and put the focus more on the speaker, where it belongs. 

=> http://bit.ly/eRhWK3

Tuesday’s tip for public speaking success – creating the image

Last week I posted about defining the wow – the impact you want your presentation to make. And part of that definition has to be what you want your audience to remember of you. What image do you want them to take with them?

Everything the audience sees needs to reinforce that image – clothes, facial expression, stance and gesture. At its most basic this means projecting confidence and sincerity. Unless you decide otherwise, the audience needs to know that you are comfortable with your message and believe in it.

If you are also using this presentation to present yourself as the face of your business, or as a candidate for a position, then take that into account as well. You need to be seen as trustworthy, competent, at ease with your material.

10 Tips for Giving a Great Keynote

Actors want to direct. Directors want to produce. And consultants want to be kick ass speakers. And why not? The pay is good. It doesn’t take much time. And it’s a lot less heavy lifting than most consulting gigs.

Easier said that done, however. Delivering a kick ass kick ass is not as easy as it looks. If you want to get into the game, begin by reviewing the following guidelines to see if you have what it takes.

http://bit.ly/g3pH27

, ,

Your weekend read – Use visual stories to connect with your audience – Resonate

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

by Nancy Duarte

Reveals the underlying story form of all great presentations that will not only create impact, but will move people to action

Presentations are meant to inform, inspire, and persuade audiences. So why then do so many audiences leave feeling like they’ve wasted their time? All too often, presentations don’t resonate with the audience and move them to transformative action.

Just as the author’s first book helped presenters become visual communicators, Resonate helps you make a strong connection with your audience and lead them to purposeful action. The author’s approach is simple: building a presentation today is a bit like writing a documentary. Using this approach, you’ll convey your content with passion, persuasion, and impact.

  • Author has a proven track record, including having created the slides in Al Gore’s Oscar-winning An Inconvenient Truth
  • Focuses on content development methodologies that are not only fundamental but will move people to action
  • Upends the usual paradigm by making the audience the hero and the presenter the mentor
  • Shows how to use story techniques of conflict and resolution

Presentations don’t have to be boring ordeals. You can make them fun, exciting, and full of meaning. Leave your audiences energized and ready to take action with Resonate.

, ,

Public Speaking tip – Define your image

When you first begin to prepare your presentation, you defined an image that you wanted to present. “What do I want them to remember of me?”

Who are you? How will you be remembered after this presentation?

Everything the audience sees needs to reinforce that image – clothes, facial expression, stance and gesture.

At its most basic this means projecting confidence and sincerity. Unless you decide otherwise, the audience needs to know that you are comfortable with your message and that you believe in it.

If you are also using this presentation to present yourself as the face of your business, or as a candidate for a position, then take that into account as well. You need to be seen as trustworthy, competent, at ease with your material.

,

The Sales Presentation

Volumes have been written about the skills needed for successful sales presentations. Advice abounds about how to present benefits, not features; how to conduct product demos; how to use influencing techniques; how to establish rapport; how to close; and more.
Top sales performers embrace not only these sales skills but, most importantly, this fundamental of effective presenting: focus on the audience. They are clear that a sales presentation should be a dialogue between salesperson and audience. Most sales presentations typically involve small enough numbers of people to facilitate this.

more => http://bit.ly/g8lwH7

,

Quotation

Laurence Clarke Powell said … “Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow…”

The Power of Pauses

Public speaking is just that – speaking, right?

And we focus on what we will say and how we will say it; on how we will stand and how we will move and how we will use eye contact, but always we focus on the saying – the speaking.

Sometimes we forget the value of silence.

Maybe it’s because we have had drummed into us the dreadful crime of using an um or an ah, or a y’know to fill the silence while we think. So we focus on fluency, on continuing to talk, and on the next point and the next … to the conclusion.

And sometimes, in the midst of all that focus, we forget the power of the pause.

…

the power of the pause!

It can refocus audience attention. (Remember how it felt in school when suddenly you noticed that the room was silent and the teacher was looking at you?!)

At the least it interrupts the flow of that continuous speech we were using so that that audience attention is refocused on what we have to say next.

A pause will then add power to your next point … because that attention is so newly focussed.

A pause will build your confidence, simply because of the power, but also because you had the gumption to stop the flow of speech.

If it is a pause to let you think, then the audience should recognise that and value that you are giving your best to your presentation.

A pause is a powerful way to change tack. You can change from a supercharged, rapid fire delivery style to one that is quieter, slower, more reflective. Again the power is in the change of attention, and in the fact that you have given your audience variety. But the pause has also allowed you to add power to the change of direction.

For all of these reasons … and there are many more … you take your public speaking to a higher level when you use the power of the pause.

,

6 Techniques to Make Your Presentation Unforgettable

It’s great to find yourself at the front of the room, speaking clearly, shuffling confidently through your perfectly-chosen slides, seeing looks on the faces of your audience members that seem to say “Yes, I am listening. No, I cannot turn away.”

If only it was always that easy…

It can be helpful to think about attention in terms of presentations in three ways …=> http://bit.ly/9XkHuQ

Are your messages being heard?

From Kevin Leahy …

Here are some of his suggestions for improving front-line communications and building rapport and trust.

… and there are – seven of them – all very relevant to communication, and just as applicable to public speaking

Read the article here => http://nyti.ms/hzsS5J

, ,

How Moses Can Help Speakers Wrap Things Up Successfully

The voice of authority is one that any audience will respond to. However, all too often you and I just don’t represent enough of an authority figure to command that level of respect from an audience that didn’t know us before we started to speak to them. If we want to wrap up our speech in a way that will leave a lasting impression with our audience, we need to find a way to use a voice of authority to deliver our last few words to them…

Bring In Moses

It really doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are (or for that matter, what the religious beliefs of the members of your audience are). That’s because everyone knows the story of Moses: he went up the mountain, got some instructions on how to live his life, and came back down with the 10 commandments written on two stone tablets.

What this means for you as a speaker is that your audience is already primed and ready to “receive” 10 commandments from you – and they will instantly associate them with the story of Moses. In fact, they may even start to treat you as if you were Moses and the “10 commandments” that you are presenting to them will be treated as if they come from a higher power.

No matter how this unfolds, presenting your closing points in the form of 10 concise statements makes them very easy to both understand and remember. What you are doing is making it easy for your audience to grasp your main points and to remember them long after your speech is over.

Use An Authoritative Quote To Close

Often times there is a single individual who is associated with the topic that we are talking about. If we’re talking about people getting along, Gandhi or Dr. Martin Luther King comes to mind. If it were about space travel then Neil Armstrong would be one of the first people that we’d think about.

Since your audience already knows about this person and the fact that they are somehow a figure of authority in regards to the topic that you are talking about, why not invite them to say a few words during the closing of your speech.

By taking the time to research your subject area and to identify the individuals who are the authority figures for that area, you are already well on your way to winning your audience over. Now take the time to study the quotes that those important figures have made – which one most closely aligns with the closing message that you want to leave with your audience?

When you use a quote from an authority figure, for a brief moment it is as if that person was in the room. With a little luck and if you’ve selected the right quote, then it will also appear as though they are endorsing or echoing what you’ve just said. This is what it takes to make sure that your message makes a lasting impact on your audience.

What All Of This Means For You

No matter how fantastic the opening of your speech is or how many powerful points you made during the body of your speech, it’s really how you go about closing the speech that will make the difference. Now you have two more ways to do this well.

Using the 10 Commandments closing technique allows you to boil down the main points in your speech into “10 commandments”. Your audience will recognize this format and will treat it with additional respect. You can also use authoritative quotes as a way to include an authoritative figure in your closing and make it appear as though they endorse the points that you have made.

In order for your speech’s closing to make an impact on your audience, it must have authority. No matter if you choose to create your own 10 commandments or if you invite a respected figure to provide a quote for you to use, adding this kind of authority to your closing will ensure that you end your speech on a high note.

Dr. Jim Anderson
http://www.blueelephantconsulting.com/

Your Source For Real World Public Speaking Skills™

Do you give speeches today, but want to learn how be more effective? Dr. Jim Anderson believes that great business skills are no substitute for poor presentation skills. Dr. Anderson will share with you the knowledge that he has gained while working to improve the speaking ability of both individuals and teams of speakers for over 20 years. Learn the secrets of effective speakers and really connect with your audience during your next speech.

If you want to follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter, he can be found at: http://twitter.com/drjimanderson

, , ,

The zen of speech?

It is with words as with sunbeams, the more they are condensed, the deeper they burn

–Robert Southey

, ,

Public Speaking – Research first – Audience as well as content

Everything that you say or do in your presentation has to be geared to your audience… what you want them to do or think at the end, what they will be receptive to, what their triggers are, the language that they will respond to.

So in researching that presentation to write it, or prepare it, you will also need to research the audience.

Find out as much as you can – their age range, gender, income levels, dreams, needs, wants, culture.

You can gain much from a registration form.

You can ask the event manager.

In your preparation routine, you can mingle with them before your speech.

Then you can use that information in constructing your speech. If you need to persuade, for example, you can use your knowledge of their interests and dreams.

You will choose language that they understand, and that is not irritating or offensive to them, and subject matter to suit that audience – themes, supports, anecdotes all will be tailored to them.

I’m not sure whether researching the audience is more important than researching content. What do you think?

I do know that for the content to be effective, the research you do on your audience will be vital.

10 Essential steps to communicate effectively as a Speaker

Being able to communicate effectively through words has been a much-coveted secret for centuries.

Take the blarney stone in Ireland, for example. The blarney stone is part of the Blarney castle in Ireland and it is tradition that those who kiss this stone are given the gift of the gab. If you want to have the gift of the gab but kissing the blarney stone is out of the question, maybe you could benefit from the 10 basics of communication and public speaking.

=> http://bit.ly/hHWTjX

Happy New Year

Hello,

I hope you are loving this time of year. I guess there are as many reasons as there are individuals of us. Maybe it’s time off work. Maybe it’s time with family. Maybe it’s just the sense of community that is generated by a shared holiday.

I think all of those apply to me. It is also a time of year I can reflect on the year just gone – what worked and what didn’t, and what to do next. I have always loved the sense of a new journal, a new slate, a clean page that comes with a new calendar.

There is such hope for better things, a better person, better times.

I have put together a page again this year of ideas, resources and inspirations for the new year and for your planning.

You can visit it at http://bit.ly/g7ApeP

And finally this post brings my best wishes to you and yours for exciting new challenges in the new year and for times of peace and prosperity.

Cheers!

Bronwyn