,

Public Speaking – Using Your Voice With Power and Impact

In case you were thinking of just getting on with it, here are three really good reasons why you should think carefully about your voice and how to make full use of it when you speak in public:

1. Audiences are more inclined to listen to an interesting voice, hence the use of actors in voiceovers. And they will stop listening if they struggle with the audibility of a presenter.
2. Just as with visual stimulation, auditory stimulation has a huge influence, much of it subconscious, on how an audience responds to the speaker and interprets the meaning in the message.
3. Public speaking is a physical pastime just like sport. The more you do it the better you should be. The more coaching and practice you have the better you will definitely be….and with greater power and stamina. And if you fail to warm up first you may well strain yourself!

Coaching your voice

o Sing in the shower. Give your lungs and larynx a good work out it will also add power to your voice.
o Practice your scales. Go through each of the vowels moving up and down to retain comfortable use at high and low levels. Humming will get you to feel your comfortable vocal range
o Read out loud. Children’s story books are great to practice dramatised delivery of words and comfortable regulated breathing.

Posture

o Correct posture will result in a relaxed upper body which will mean better breathing and better voice power. It is that simple.
o Stand upright and straight with shoulders back and chin gently lifted.
o Centre yourself and turn from the hips 45%s left and right.
o Practice lifting and rolling the shoulders to relax them.
o Imagine you are balancing a book on top of your head
o Tilt the head up it helps relax the jaw
o Relax yourself physically, loosen the jaw to relax the throat, and release the tension from your shoulders and neck and improve resonance.

Breathing Control

o Good breathing creates resonance which creates vocal power. Trying to squeeze power from the throat or unnaturally lowering the voice in a growl will strain your voice.
o Practice breathing evenly from the diaphragm and not the chest. It frees up the chest to add sound capacity and resonance. And it gives greater stamina.
o As a breathing stamina exercise, inhale counting to 5, hold and exhale counting to 5, and repeat increasing the count up to 10
o Practice speaking within your vocal range and diaphragm capacity to develop a powerful voice not a strained voice that is forced from the throat. When you speak, leave something in reserve on the out-breath.

Nurturing your voice

o The dreaded “gruffness” is nearly always due to digestive mucous in the tubes caused by eating too late or food that is too rich. So avoid both.
o Avoid coffee and chocolate, these dehydrate you.
o Lubricate your throat. Warm water with lemon is highly recommended.
o If you need to clear your throat cough quietly rather than “slap” the vocal chords

Projecting your voice

o Enunciate. Open your mouth and project the words. Speak as if you want to be lip read.
o Smile as you speak!
o Aim your voice to the last row in the audience. Keep your chin up.

Emphasise through Pace

o Maintain attention and emphasise meaning by increasing pace when talking about up-beat, new, exciting things.
o Encourage the audience to agree and to accept your point by increasing pace.
o Slow down when emphasising seriousness, concerns, or when asking the audience to think hard about something

Emphasise through Pitch and Modulation

o Add interest and meaning with high pitch to emphasise excitement, surprise, belief in what you are saying.
o Use low pitch to emphasise seriousness and concern, and when you are being reflective.
o Move from low and high pitch to stress changes in mood and lead audience thinking.
o Questions end on a high pitch and statements end on a low pitch.
o Use following silence to dramatically emphasise the point just made. Use it to encourage the audience to reflect and consider. Use it to indicate a change in direction in a presentation. And use it to take a sip of water!

All of these tips will add power and impact to your presentation delivery. Practice them regularly so that they become natural habits and the more powerfully persuasive you will be.

Bob Howard-Spink is a partner in Persuadability. For more advice and free tips on how to present your messages with persuasive language and compelling images please visit us at http://persuadability.co.uk.

The Ten Commandments of Speaking according to TED

You probably already love the TED talks and been inspired by them.  I have been made to think outside the square, entertained, concerned and so much more.

And any presenter that can do that must be a source of learnings for other presenters.

Interesting then, to discover the “Ten Commandments” for TED presenters.

Yes please … “End your talk on time” and “Rehearse your speech”  …

But the first and best … “Dream Big”

You can read them here …

, , ,

This week’s quotation about speech

Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead: therefore we must learn both arts.

Thomas Carlisle  ~

, , ,

Top Ten Mistakes – Visual Aids

Love this article.

If you are up against entrenched insistence on death by PowerPoint, this could be a good place to start the conversion.  (Especially if the insistence is your own!!)

,

How to Build a High-Traffic Website and Convert That Traffic to Sales!


with Tom Gray

Why is it that speakers spend days, months, and years crafting and polishing their platform presentations but balk at spending 30 minutes polishing their web, blog, and newsletter content? Yet time consistently spent on the latter can be crucial in getting to do more of the former.

Do not attend/listen to this seminar if you have all the web traffic, blog readers and ezine subscribers that you can handle buying more of your services and traffic than you have available. However, if you would like to increase your traffic and monetization, invest an hour and find out what you’re missing.

In other words, if your web presence more closely resembles a Field of Pipe Dreams (if you build it, they most likely won’t come and if they do show up, they won’t buy any popcorn) than a Field of Dreams (bleachers are packed and the concession stand is humming), you’ll benefit from this fast-paced, overly informative hour.

We’ll cover key topics:

  • Content is king but the natives are restless, or “I have a back button and I know how to use it!” Offer the right content to attract and engage your audience and keep them coming back.
  • If you don’t ask, they won’t buy. Effectively merchandising your site.
  • What you don’t measure, you can’t improve. Why Google Analytics is your best friend and the critical metrics that really matter.
  • Plan your work and work your plan, using editorial calendars and other tools to deliver consistent, persistent messages to your target audiences.
  • Why your blog should be the flagship of your social networking strategy.
  • Why “give to get” is food for business.
  • SEO for dummies and professional speakers/trainers/consultants too!

More information >>>

The #1 Secret for Great Public Speaking That Is Seldom – If Ever – Discussed

So many articles, books, programs and CDs on presentation skills cover all aspects on the creation and delivery of your script. They may be discussing nervousness and how to conquer your fears, giving advice on dynamic public speaking, or talking about the value of your audience. Yet never have I seen anything regarding this, truly the most important secret if you want to capture your listeners’ attention and keep them captivated throughout. It is something we just don’t think about.

Yes, I want you to be emotional in speaking, making eye contact with your audience. You should be breathing throughout and pausing for effect. Believing in yourself is part of the quotient as well as knowing your material thoroughly. But all of this advice still doesn’t cover the #1 secret that can make or break a career in public speaking.

Recently I had the opportunity to hear as well as speak to James Malinchak, considered to be the top Big Money Speaker trainer in the world. As his audience watched him on stage, the number one thought that came to my mind was his likeability. He enjoys sharing with his audience; he is funny; and, he laughs throughout his delivery. He is likeable.

How likeable are you when giving a speech or presentation? This may seem like an odd question, but it really isn’t. Those who are truly great at public speaking have that quality about them. The audience enjoys listening to them and watching them. What is fascinating about this particular characteristic is that you do not have to be famous to be liked when presenting.

The ability to be liked, however, is not possible if you do not like yourself, enjoy presenting, and truly want to share your knowledge with your audience. Being able to laugh as you express your thoughts is more valuable than you may think.

When I gave my mother’s eulogy some years ago, I didn’t dwell on the negative but pushed for the positive and my audience enjoyed listening to me describe my mom. I smiled; I laughed; I shared; and, I cried.

If you are not happy with yourself, knowledgeable about your material, and confident in your ability to express yourself, why would you expect your audience to want to listen to you? Wanting to share your knowledge is only one factor in achieving success on the stage. You must enjoy it. It is then that your audience will be captivated and enjoy listening to you.

The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. To see how voice training can improve your life, both professionally and personally, visit Voice Dynamic or watch a brief video as The Voice Lady describesDynamic Public Speaking.

,

The Kindle – a public speaking tool

What an interesting idea.

I have just caught up with Denise’s article on using the Kindle as a speaking tool – you can use it for readable notes, to store multiple speeches and ideas for even more, and to hear your speeches, amongst other things.

What a classic example of thinking outside the box … or maybe using the box to think … (ouch!) I’m not sure, but an idea worth thinking about and trying out in practice, of that I am sure.

Have you used a Kindle this way?

, ,

Tip: You and your visuals

Using visuals of any sort in a presentation has to be as unobtrusive as possible.

The first step here is being prepared.

If you can practice beforehand, do so.

Organise physical objects so that you can reach them when they are needed, without having to search, and without having to fumble. This may mean arranging them in the order in which they will be presented. It may mean practising the presentation so that you know automatically where to reach for something. This can apply to objects you want to display, the remote control for projecting equipment, the pens for flip charts or overhead projectors or a whiteboard, or to slides or overhead transparencies.

During these practice sessions, work out how you will move around the visual supports and equipment. Where will you place the objects you want to pick up – on a table, or another piece of furniture? Where will this, or the equipment, be so that you can move around it and communicate most easily with your audience – in front of you, beside or behind you? Always consider the least distracting way of accessing your material and the greatest ease of movement.

If you are using projection equipment, visualise its placement. Think about how you will work with the laptop or the overhead projector – standing beside, or behind? Do you want your silhouette projected on the screen as well as your visuals? Walking in front of the screen will also obscure them.

If you cannot organise the positioning of your equipment, then try to become familiar with it before the presentation and then visualise how you will use it best.

, , ,

Today’s quote about public speaking

~ A speech is like a love affair. Any fool can start it, but to end it requires considerable skill.

Lord Mansfield

,

5 Myths About Public Speaking That Are Limiting Your Growth

Public Speaking has been my personal development path to phenomenal growth for more than twenty years now. I am not alone. There are millions of people all over the world who engage in some form of speaking to the public every day as a means of earning income and most of them enjoy it.

Yet I continue to hear such utter rubbish about this activity from normally intelligent members of this place called earth. It makes me sad that they would just embrace this information, internalize it and let it take them to a place where they are ever so happy to be afraid of public speaking.

Are you holding any of these myths in your mind? Then you are certainly limiting your own growth and getting in the way of your best fabulous life! What if these myths did not exist for you? Can you imagine how free and exciting your journey through life could be?

Well, today I’m starting your new journey with you. I will debunk five of your myths for you and you will begin to accept that yes you can stand up and speak before an audience and sit down and smile.

Myth # 1 – Public speaking is a gift that you’re born with

Fact:

It is the skill of expressing your thoughts, convictions and ideas in an orderly manner, to an audience, so as to interest and convince them about a particular subject.

Notice first of all, that it is a skill. This means that it can be acquired and with practice, it can be improved. Practice is the key activity here. Can you imagine reading every book you can about swimming and then expecting to represent your country at the Olympics? Well you can’t read about speaking to an audience and expect to be good at it either. You have to acquire and practice the skill.

Myth # 2 – Speaking in public is so stressful

Fact:

Speaking in public is no more stressful than anything else you do in life. Like everything else it’s your interpretation of the circumstances that makes it so. Thousands of people who were initially terrified of speaking to an audience (like me!) have learnt to eliminate or reduce this fear. With the right approach and practice, you can too.

Myth # 3 – You have to be brilliant to succeed as a Public Speaker

Fact:

Who ever told you that? I am living proof that that’s not true. The essence of making presentations is that your audience walks away with something of value. You don’t necessarily have to be brilliant, witty or perfect to deliver a presentation. Admittedly, these things help, especially if you want to make a career of speaking to people. Essentially what you need is to be clear on your purpose for speaking and that it adds value to your audience.

Myth # 4 – You have to have lots of information in your speech.

Fact:

All you need is two or three main points. Research shows that people remember very few of the mountain of facts that some (inexperienced) speakers throw at them. Your audience basically wants to walk away with one or two main points that have meaning for them, so the degree of complexity that we think is necessary, is not.

Myth # 5 – Every time you make a presentation in public something “bad” is sure to happen.

Fact:

I know that the belief that something awful, terrible or publicly humiliating will happen to you when you speak in public is at the source of many public speaking fears. This is simply not true. Think about all the presentations you have seen. How many times did something “bad” happen? Why should it happen to you? Moreover, everything “bad” that happens can be used to your advantage. For example, if the microphone does not work, this should give you a chance to get closer to your audience.

There you have it! Five myths about public speaking that were holding you back and they came with five facts that will take you forward. Now every time these fears come up immediately focus on the facts, acquire the skill and step out there and speak.

My training in public speaking spans twenty years and include training and coaching thousands of people to achieve their public speaking goals. Before your next speech, download my Basic Steps to Public Speaking Handbook from the Purchase Zone at http://www.itds-training.com so that you can stand up and speak and sit down and smile.
, ,

Beyond the Speech: How to Dramatically Increase Your Clients’ Results and Your Income

You know in your heart that a one-hour — or even a one-day — presentation rarely creates long-term change. Yet you don’t know how to create a system (which could include books, tapes, DVDs, software, workbook, coaching) that will truly help people make lasting changes — and compensate you well. Bill faced this same dilemma and knew he wanted to make a bigger difference in his audience’s lives beyond a one-hour or one-day program. He’ll share his decisions along the way and how you can take your content and create an ongoing system. Bill’s business generates well over $3 million annually thanks to these strategies that could help you move to a higher level, too.

Warning: this program is for professionals who really care about making a difference in others’ lives — or as Bill puts it, “this is for people who give a crap that someone does something with their content!”

You will learn:

  • What kind of content lends itself to an ongoing system
  • The questions to ask yourself to determine what kind of system will work for your material
  • How to sell a systems-approach before or after a one-time presentation
  • The pros and cons of having a system to implement
  • How other staff can support the users to get results
  • How having a system expands your revenue and personal satisfaction — and determining if is it worth the trouble

Details are here

, , ,

How to include pictures in presentations

I’ve just discovered this article at Microsoft Office. What a treasure trove they have there.

This one, by Robert Lane and Andre Vlcek is called Speaking Visually: Eight Roles Pictures Play in Presentation.

Including pictures in presentations is a simple and powerful way of expanding your expressive potential as a speaker. Pictures communicate at levels beyond the descriptive possibilities of words and bathe the brain in much desired visual stimulation. At the same time, not all pictures are created equally. Choosing the right images, and using them in the right ways, can greatly impact your effectiveness.

… and there are some powerful examples.  This one under the heading “Getting Attention”.

Eight Roles Pictures Play in Presentation

,

Tip: Walking

How you walk during a presentation can be used as a powerful support fro your message.

If you are a passionate speaker who simply cannot stand still, then generally, this will support the passion of your message. Walking can certainly give the impression of enthusiasm and energy. Try to use standing still to give the same sort of impact that a pause in the middle of rapid speech would give.

If you choose to move or change position just to provide relief because you think your speech is boring; be careful. It may be that your movement will have more impact than your message. Timing can help. Change position with a new idea or with a new visual support. Try to make all of your body language work with the movement. If, for example, you want to walk to give the impression of thinking of a new idea, then set your hand up to your face to indicate thoughtfulness, and speak slowly or stop speaking altogether.

, ,

To read: another amazing Dale Carnegie book on public speaking


How to Develop Self-Confidence And
Influence people with public speaking

Dale Carnegie


“this book contains brilliant depth.”


“This book pulled my experiences together, and showed me how to make better use of preparation and presentation techniques. Carnegie addresses the whole person, and radiates an interest in people and their goals.”


“I am sure the book can be of help to the novice as for the expert speaker alike.”

,

Public speaking is really a one to one communication

Ermest writes …

Public speaking and fear have something in common. For many, one thought of having to go up on stage and speak in front of a crowd of people is enough to bring out the critters of fear – butterflies in the stomach, faster heart rate, unwelcome physiological changes etc.. We have this scary picture inside our head of standing in front of a crowd of strangers, frozen. What we fail to realise is that public speaking is really a one to one communication. Just like when you speak with your friend or family member. The only exception is that you have more ears & eyes to connect with.

What follows in his article, Speak like a pro – what I learnt at a public speaking boot camp, is gold. There are several incredibly useful techniques. The two I enjoyed most were Raise your hand up to engage the crowd and Anchor objects associated to your story, but there is so much more.

,

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.

, ,

Public Speaking – One Easy Way to Present Better – Get Organized!

One of the easiest ways to be a better presenter is by organizing your content clearly and logically. It sounds so simple, yet many presenters don’t organize their material; instead, they just throw everything at the audience, all jumbled together with no clear indication of how things relate to each other or to the overall message. Then the audience is stuck with the messy task of figuring it out.

As a presenter, your goal should be to make it easy for the audience to understand your content. Here are four ways for you to create a presentation that is clear and organized:

HAVE AN OVERALL MESSAGE
The message is the one thing that you want the audience to remember from your presentation. It’s the point or the takeaway. Every statistic, story and slide that you use should relate to and support your message. If it doesn’t, cut it out. Sure, you can have extra material in your notes or in handouts, but don’t clutter your presentation with it; extraneous material distracts from your message. And if you’re not clear what your message is, you’re not ready to present

USE AN INTRODUCTION, BODY AND CONCLUSION
You may remember this outline form from writing essays in English class. It’s an easy and effective way to ensure that your presentation has a beginning, middle and end. This outline is also known as “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them.” In the introduction, capture the audience’s attention, introduce your overall message and remind them how long you’re going to speak. In the body or main part of your presentation, include your supporting points – examples, data, etc. In the conclusion, summarize your points, give one final reminder of your message and explain any expected follow-up actions from you or the audience.

HAVE AN OVERALL ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE
The overall organizing principle is the link which ties all your points together. For example, you might present a specific number of points: three goals the team has achieved, four major project risks or three reasons you outperform your competitors. Or, you could present a timeline of events, debunk myths about your topic or present a series of dos and don’ts. It helps you focus and sets the audience’s expectations for what comes next. And sometimes, you can even include the organizing principle in the title of your presentation. For example, the title of my upcoming presentation at the National Speakers Association annual convention is “Improv Comedy Rules! Applying the Five Rules of Improv Comedy to Make Your Presentations More Powerful and Engaging.”

BE THE GPS AND ROADSIGNS
When you’re driving someplace unfamiliar, how do you know how far you’ve come or if you’re going in the right direction? The road signs and your GPS (Global Positioning System) tell you how far you’ve traveled and how many more miles or kilometers you have to go before you reach the end of your journey.
When you’re presenting, you have to be the GPS and the road signs for your audience, especially at the intersections and transitions between points where they can get lost. One sentence is all it takes to get the audience safely from one point or section of your presentation to the next. For example, you might say, “The fourth and final major project risk is…” or “Now that I’ve summarized the history of the company from our founding to the initial public offering in 2003, let’s look at what has happened since 2003.”

Following these four tips will help you create a presentation that is clear and organized. Your audience will be grateful for the clarity – and a grateful audience is more likely to understand and remember your message. If you do nothing differently other than organize your presentation, you will still be a better presenter!

To get more tips you can use immediately to improve your presentation skills, sign up for Gilda Bonanno’s free twice-monthly e-newsletter by visitinghttp://gildabonanno.com/newsletter.aspx and entering your email address.
You’ll also receive a FREE Special Report, “Six Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking, So Your Presentation Sparkles.”
Gilda Bonanno is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps people from all walks of life improve their communication and presentation skills. Copyright (c) 2010
, ,

Let Me Illustrate My Point:Illuminating Your Presentations with Simple Drawings

Even if you’re severely artistically challenged, you can add content and excitement to your presentations by creating wonderful, memorable cartoons in real time. Anyone can do it and Mike will show you how.

Why create your own cartoons instead of using clip art? Because you can make them appear as your audience watches. You can customize them specifically to your audience’s industry or application and you can draw them in response to audience input and feedback. You will stand out as not showing overused “bean” people or other clip art some audiences consider hokey. The result: an audience that is engaged, informed and entertained.

Mike will walk you through some simple images and have you draw along with him real-time. He’ll show you easy-to-draw people (not stick figures) and how to adjust their facial expressions to match the emotion you want to convey. You’ll draw as he demonstrates so you walk away with new tools to integrate your drawings into keynotes, trainings, facilitations, and even webinars.

In this webinar you’ll learn how to:

  • visually represent concepts such as leadership, cutomer-centric, diversity, and empowerment
  • integrate industry jargon, keywords, and cliches to make your points visually
  • use visual humor to surprise and delight your audiences
  • apply these cartoons to sales, marketing, production, HR, customer service, finance
  • enhance your audience’s problem-solving skills by helping them change perspective — literally!
  • draw simple cartoons to help people/groups communicate better with each other
  • utilize these techniques to break down rigid thinking and bad assumptions
  • access a $100 tool for you to draw on your PowerPoint slides

Special note: To view this webinar, you’ll need to be in front of an Internet-connected computer. You don’t need anything else but a pad and pencil to draw along with Mike.

More information?  Click here

A Short Guide to Effective Public Speaking


Delivering an effective presentation to 20 or to 200 people is difficult. Because listeners have better access to information since the internet became commonplace, audiences expect more content from speakers today. In addition, because of the entertainment slant of most media today, audiences want a presentation delivered with animation, humour, and pizzazz.

If you would rather spend your time preparing your content than reading a book on public speaking, this is an article especially for you! From my experiences in delivering over l500 speeches during the past 20 years, here is a quick guide to giving an effective and interesting presentation your very first time.

Read more in Pivotal Magazine

,

Tip: Natural gestures

Natural gestures are basically the aim for any public speaker.

If you are not a natural gesturer, it may be that with enough practice, you can develp gestures.

Nevertheless if you speak with passion – for your subject and for your audience’s outcomes – your body will support your message.  Even if you make no gestures, your stance, your facial expressions and your eye contact, will work powerfully to support that passion and your message.

It is necessary, however, to be aware if you are repeating the same gesture many times.  It may add emphasis the first time, but after that it will distract.  Watch television journalists and sooner or later you will notice this.

Be aware of your gestures, when you practise your speaking, until you are comfortable that they are natural, and not distracting, and then forget about them.  Work instead on your message, your enthusiasm and the outcomes you want.

,

Today’s quote about public speaking

Publius Terentius Afer said:  “In fact, nothing is said that has not been said before.”

Hmmm.  Have we learnt nothing new to communicate?

Or is communication more about what is of relevance in the new things we learn?  I would like to think that we are continually learning new things as a species.

And yet our basic conditions of existence and operation tend to remain the same.  And yes, we tend to say the same things about them.  The successful public speaker is the one who can put a new spotlight on things, find new words …  and ways of saying …. those old things so that we are reminded of them, how they operate, and how we can look at them in a better light… and use them to be better at this existence and this operation.

So, Publius Terentius Afer, I would like to think that you are wrong in some ways.  But thank you for the reminder that our creativity is just so vital if we are to create new speeches and presentations.

,

Thought for the Day

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”

Edward Abbey

, ,

Give your audience something to flip over

Give Participants Something to Flip Over

Let me start off by saying that I do NOT like toys or other distractions in training. I’m NOT one to provide little widgets to keep participants’ hands occupied or provide cutesy pens or such trinkets. I’ve always viewed them as distractions that shouldn’t be necessary if your training is engaging and relevant. I recently “discovered” a technique that simultaneously:

  • Provides motivational, upbeat phrases for participants
  • Reinforces key concepts
  • Ensures that everyone is paying attention and following along
  • Allows the instructor to tell whether each participant grasps the concept

http://bit.ly/9qWIw5

, ,

Prepare for new or unpredictable speaking situations

Would you like to feel safe and centered, no matter what is about to happen, no matter what the audience throws at yourself, no matter what you do? Give yourself the advantage of preparation.

Would you like to:

  • Feel competent in uncertain situations?
  • Handle unpredictability with comfort?
  • Reduce the fluster or paralysis brought on by some events?
  • Stay centered during new experiences?
  • Optimize your preparation for performance?
  • Go with life’s natural flow?

If you would like to have the preparedness advantage, then Preparing for Uncertainty is sure to excite you.

Mastering the art of public speaking

A very workman-like article this. Yes it covers many of the success basics for public speaking.

Is public speaking an art, by the way? I like the fact that creativity is so vital, so I guess I’ll agree, but there is a certain amount of science in it, as this article seems to suggest in many ways.

But what I like is the last point….

… and it can be such a challenge to be yourself in public speaking. If confidence and self esteem are low, then the challenge is huge, and the temptation equally huge to be someone else!

Speaking science: Boost your memory by talking out loud

A good memory can be a great gift, whether you’re a new speaker trying to remember your core message or recall the punch line of a joke. Looking for a way to plant those key points firmly in your head? Say them out loud.

Read more ...

,

Improving the voice starts with the breath

The voice is the richest, most versatile communication tool we possess.  It is also the most overlooked and underrated in terms of the attention  we give it when thinking of our presentation skills. Most people take  their voices entirely for granted. Ninety percent of Americans have  never taken a course in singing, breathing, enunciation or any other subject that would improve their vocal skills. That’s a shame, because  just a little time and effort can bring valuable rewards.

Find out how in Pivotal Magazine…
 

,

The value of “delivery”…

“It is delivery that makes the orators success.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

,

How to banish impromptu speaking blues

… the ability to almost immediately summon up a well-crafted speech from thin air can be learnt. With confidence arising from the practice of a few simple skills you’ll soon be an accomplished impromptu speaker whatever the occasion. Here’s how.

, , ,

Unforgettable Presentations: Using Prezi to Create Stand-Out Speeches

with Angelie Agarwal

At conferences, conventions and management/sales meetings, speaker after speaker shows PowerPoint or Keynote slides to illustrate their points. No matter how beautiful the backgrounds or images, they are pretty much same old/same old. Even the professional speakers’ visuals don’t stand out that much from the rest.

But there’s a new presentation tool in town and it’s blowing away the tried-and-true old slides. In fact, it’s a favorite tool of TED presenters who have entranced their audiences.

What is it? It’s Prezi — a new tool for creating presentation visuals that can lead you to a whole new way of thinking about your talks. It can help create better narratives and more persuasive presentations — what every professional presenter craves.

Angelie Agarwal, chief evangelist for Prezi, will show us how to integrate this new tool into our presentations to stand out among the other speakers on the program — or our competition. This special webinar will discuss how professional speakers, trainers and consultants can use this tool to create truly unforgettable presentations.

You’ll learn:
• how Prezi is very different from digital slide programs
• how you can use this tool to cement your uniqueness
• how Prezi helps you become a more persuasive presenter
• how to get started with the basics
• tips and tricks for advanced speakers on presenting in Prezi

Get more information here …

,

Public Speaking Will Be Your Most Important Skill in the Future

The days of the shrinking violets are over. The world is changing, and there is no longer a future for people who are unable to promote themselves and sell their services and skills.

As the economy changes and hopefully eventually shakes off the current recession, one thing that is not going to come back will be jobs. 9.5 million unemployed in the USA alone or 10% of the work force.

What does that mean to the man in the street? It means that no longer will you be able to send in a resume, twiddle your thumbs through an interview and start work the next week.

What will you need to do? If you hope to find a job, you will need to be dynamic in your presentation of yourself and your skills. You will be competing with many applicants and you have to stand out.

If you can’t find a job because there are none, for instance in the motor manufacturing sector in the US, then you will need to offer your skills as a freelancer or consultant and your success will depend on how you can present yourself.

One thing is for sure. Shy and retiring isn’t going to do it for you. And it needn’t be so. Presenting yourself in public, or also known as public speaking, can be learnt. This is not a skill that you are born with and that only a rare number of people have. Nobody is born cowering in the corner too shy to speak up.

Do you know many kids who are not noisy, brash and in your face? Would you feel comfortable about presenting yourself in a job interview situation or talking to a group of people, where you wanted them to sit up and listen to you and take you seriously?

Public speaking is a skill that you can acquire.

This will be of huge importance to you. You need these skills applying for a job. You need them when trying to grow your business if there are no jobs available. If you are thinking of starting an internet marketing business, you should include video presentations and podcasts as part of your marketing mix.

In fact, there is really no situation in your life where you don’t present yourself and where you don’t need some strong public speaking skills. It’s a misunderstood discipline mostly, as people tend to think of public speaking involving a microphone, huge auditorium and loads of people.

Not so. Your public speaking skills are of great use in countless situations. And as formal employment goes out of the window, more and more people will have to rely on their public speaking skills to further their careers and businesses.

Michael Lee
Download an amazing FREE report that reveals the simple steps to deliver a dazzling presentation and get a standing ovation every time at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/dazzling.htm

,

Public Speaking Guide – Leave Your Best Impression With Your Audience Every Time

Regardless of how experienced you are as a speaker, the thought of how the audience will think about you will have surely crossed your mind many times. If you are always worried about what your audience thinks about your speech, here is a short public speaking guide to guarantee a good impression amongst your audience.

1. Refrain from reading notes

It is acceptable to glance at your notes infrequently, but not all the time. When speaking, always make sincere eye contact with your audience. Ensure them that THEY are the most important people during your speech. Speak out loud and clear. Sound confident. Do not mumble. If you made an error, correct it, and continue. Don’t apologize profusely; the audience probably will not notice it.

2. Pause and relax

Allow yourself and your audience a little time to reflect and think. When shifting from point to point in your speech, your audiences probably need time to digest whatever is being said. Don’t race through your presentation and leave your audience, as well as yourself, feeling out of breath. While giving time to your audience, maintain your smile. Before you start again, count to three. (“One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform your nervous energy into enthusiasm.

3. Communicate with your audience

The key to a successful speech, or in fact, any presentation is to communicate ideas to your audience. If what you prepared beforehand seems to be misaligned with the audience expectation, do not hesitate to make improvements on the spot. If you find out mid-way that your audience are interested in politics, mix some of them in it. If they are interested in finance, use currency as an analogy. Be prepared to make changes, or even simplify your speech. Ultimately, you want your audience to understand you and your ideas.

Applying the subtle techniques in this short public speaking guide will transform your audiences’ impression of you. Practice them constantly to bring out the best in you and your presentation.

Good luck,
MJ

MJ is a young enthusiast and expert in public speaking. Helping and supporting others in gaining confidence to speak out is his passion.

Visit http://www.publicspeakinghelp.jjtipbits.com now to experience learning from a World champion.

Today’s sound byte: The Seven Principles of Public Speaking

by Richard Zeoli

This engaging audio program is like having your very own public speaking coach to guide you, motivate you, and inspire you to unleash your potential, and achieve results! This exceptional audio program will teach you the skills to present your product, your service, and yourself with confidence before a crowd of any size – whether five people in a company boardroom or 5,000 people in a crowded arena.

, , ,

Tip:

When you are making a speech or presentation, you need to be aware that your gestures can support or detract from your message.

Learn to become aware of what your hands are doing while you speak.

If necessary, make yourself hold them still.

Many people have habits that are terribly distracting and yet they aren’t aware of what they are doing. They click or twiddle a pen, play with their hair or their clothes, hold a microphone with fingers unconsciously making a rude gesture, take glasses on and off, put hands in pockets and take them out.

All of these things are not necessarily detrimental in themselves, if the audience is absolutely focused on the speaker and the message. But if there is any reason for the audience’s attention to stray (and we all have short attention spans) then they will become fascinated, at best, and possibly annoyed at whatever it is that the speaker is doing with their hands.

,

Ah … the temptation!

Today’s quote about public speaking – well conversation, really, but it applies as well … don’t you think?

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right place but to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

— Dorothy Nevill

,

Three essential body language tips

People can get obsessed by trying to look convincing or slick, and neglect the content of their presentation. They perform all the textbook hand gestures, and what comes out of their mouths doesn’t match up. …
Here are the 3 biggest body language presentation pitfalls, and what you can do to avoid them:

http://bit.ly/cTaUCx

, ,

Putting the Power in your PowerPoint

This is a 13-Page eBook

The use of PowerPoint as a presentation tool is well acknowledged and accepted. However, Fripp and Prost believe it is frequently used as a crutch that often distracts your audience from the main messages of your presentation. If you are using PowerPoint®, why not learn the “inside secrets” of doing it the right way?

Get the eBook here

, ,

Public Speaking Tip – For Confidence in public speaking, be prepared

This is one of the most powerful sources of confidence – knowing that you are prepared.  During the nervous stages, you can continually reassure yourself that you are prepared and can visualise all the aspects of the successful presentation that you have prepared.  As far as I am concerned, this will provide the major part of your confidence.

,

This week’s quote about public speaking

The eloquent man is he who is no beautiful speaker, but who is inwardly and desperately drunk with a certain belief.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson

Want to be more persuasive?

I started out my legal career as a litigator. For years I read every book I could find on trial practice and technique. One message kept coming to me loud and clear: to be effective in a courtroom, you need to prepare … and then prepare again.

Read more in Pivotal Magazine

, ,

How to Produce Profitable Public Seminars

Can you still make money by selling seats at public seminars? Or is it one of the easiest ways to lose your shirt? Yes, and yes.

Public seminars are a fantastic way not only to make good money, but also to have potential clients preview you, and build your list of fans. Yet there are pitfalls you must avoid or you will be lamenting paying the hotel’s non-refundable deposit. Monica will share her secrets on making sure that all the are bases covered before you begin. If producing profitable public seminars is a goal for you, this session will provide invaluable learning, tips, and tricks of the trade. Plus, you may even learn a few things to avoid at all costs!

What you will learn:
• What decisions have to be made BEFORE you market
• From what sources to get your revenue
• How to cut your expenses
• Other benefits public seminars can provide you
• Common fears and how to overcome them

Click here for all the details …

, , ,

What not to do with your PowerPoint

the team at m62 make some good points …

Presenters are beginning to realise that their presentations don’t have to be boring, and it is inspiring to see that people are moving away from bullet points to more engaging visuals. Audiences are now demanding more, and presenters are rising to meet this.

Unfortunately however, a large number of presenters feel that the small improvements they have made to their slides are sufficient, failing to realise that there is so much more that can be done with them. And so we see the same mistakes made time and time again – without the presenters realising that they’re doing wrong.

and the article goes on to list 7 major mistakes made in powerpoint presentations and how to avoid them.

, , ,

Who needs a book on public speaking?

Tim Ferriss replies to the question: What books should I read to learn how to get good at public speaking? … in five minutes. This is practical advice, worth reading.

Not sure about the diet coke!!

http://bit.ly/9TSu3e

What should you do when the fire alarm rings during your presentation?

Jason writes:

About eight minutes into my breakfast presentation to the local chamber of commerce at a fancy restaurant the fire alarm rang. The alarm was annoyingly loud so naturally I stopped speaking and forced a smile.

You can imagine my first thoughts. They were angry selfish thoughts. Why now? Why me? However I did not convey those thoughts on my face.

But the whole blog post is full of ideas, so that if it happens to you, you will be prepared. Read it here

, ,

Speech Content #1 – The Title

Think of your Speech Title as if it were the Title of a Book Display on a shelf at Barnes & Noble.

When someone is eyeing the selections on the shelf where they have an interest, yours should jump out at them!

The Title should jump out so much that the person actually takes the book from the shelf, reads the back cover, and opens it to read the front and back flaps.

After “investigating” the book (i.e., your speech) because the title grabbed their attention, they “buy” it; that is, they come to see you speak because they want to learn more!

Unless you’ve given this lots and lots of thought, pencil the title to your speech in. Remember, this must be something that will make people want to come and see you speak.

The Title of your Speech is your: newspaper headline, title on the spine of your book, and the verbiage in the ‘Subject Line’ of your most important email, all rolled up in one.

Just like the title of a new movie might get you to go online and look at the trailers, your speech title needs more consideration than many people think.

Editors know if the Headline of a newspaper article doesn’t get your attention, you probably won’t read the article. Likewise, the Subject Line of an email that doesn’t immediately grab the recipient’s attention, might be deleted without opening it.

Until someone quotes you on national television or radio program, a great title that draws people to your presentation wanting to know more, is your best chance at filling the auditorium.

Realistically, you may have been assigned, or asked to do this talk by your boss or other official. Still, give it the thought it deserves. It may be after completing the development of your speech that the ‘Ah Hah!’ title will come to you.

You want the title to whet the appetite of the person who sees it. Whet it enough for them to want to know more, to see if it’s something they could benefit from.

You may even find it’s easiest to write your speech first, and then come up with a title. Have several titles in mind and bounce them off friends and family before deciding on one

The same holds true for a subtitle. It explains more about the contents and goals of the speech, and is an integral and important part of the title.

The Title is an integral part of your Speech.  Give it the same thorough thought and attention all the other parts and elements of your speech are getting.   Then the Title will fill the seats in the audience!

Fred E. Miller is a speaker, coach and author.     His book, to be released later this year, is: “NO Sweat Public Speaking!” How to Develop, Practice, and Deliver a ‘Knock Your Socks Of!’ Speech with NO Sweat!
, ,

Busting the Mehrabian myth

Can words really account for only 7 percent of the meaning of a spoken message? This short video animation puts ‘Mehrabian’s rule’ under the magnifying glass and shows why it can’t be true

The Power of Your Speech

Language expert Wilfred Funk was one of the first to study highly successful men and women to determine what they have in common. What he discovered was that they all have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Since then, many studies have shown the same thing. In fact, members of the “speaking” professions – lawyers, politicians, professional speakers, salespeople, and entertainers – are among the highest paid. There appears to be a high correlation between word power and earning power. The ability to speak, to persuade, and to keep an audience’s attention is well rewarded.

What about you? Have you been sabotaging your own success because you feel that speaking in front of a group is something you would rather die than do? If so, it is time to do yourself a favour and learn the skills that can change your life.

Read more in Pivotal Magazine

, , ,

What now … Death by Flickr Musak?

This great post from Olivia Mitchell

Are your slides ‘Visual Musak’?

I saw very few bullet-point presentations at the SXSW conference. Yay! But I did see a disturbing trend – the overuse of flickr photos and other interesting images. These photos sometimes feature stunning photography, they’re quirky and interesting. The problem is …

…. http://bit.ly/beAIHa