Any public speaking involves delivering information to people who are, in one way or another, waiting to get some information. This is a key reason why you should pay careful attention as you prepare to make your speech and as you plan to meet your audience.
Some people are naturals at public speaking and getting to audiences; (you may think of politicians or a good college professor you took some classes with), the fact of the matter is most people are not good at making speeches and the vast majority of people are terrified of delivering a speech. This should not discourage you in any way, since many experts have studied this and worked hard to help you to deal with these problems in speech making.
If you are at a point that you are going to deliver a speech, you probably are at a stage in your life where your thoughts are worth something to other people. This means that people want to get into your head and they appreciate your talent or skill in some particular field. The people that will listen to you have something to learn from you.
But you are not thinking of these people, are you? You are thinking of the few people that probably know more than you and will be in the crowd. This is a big mistake, first because you should think of the person that will profit from your knowledge and get to him, and second because you probably have something in you that will benefit even the ones that you fear.
The key to all this is simple--it is preparation! Yes, it is the most basic, banal and trivial thing, but it is the base of success in any field. Lets think about speech making preparation.
First think about your audience:
who is the average person coming to your speech?
what does he know?
what does he need to know?
what will inspire him and make him listen carefully to what you have to say?
and how will you get him to appreciate your speech?
It is not that difficult, it is actually good to start at this point, remember – people want to know what you are thinking, you just need to keep them interested.
Rehearse, practice the speech again, and again, and again. Obviously you don’t have all the time in the world to perfect it, but there is a value to this. Timing your speech, and pre setting spots in which you will change your tone, your speed and rhythm, will make you a better speaker and a better speech planner. So rehearse your speech and listen to yourself while doing it.
Start strong and confident. Talk about things you know so that no one can beat you or undermine you. Let the confidence and the experience shine through. People feel that, and if you do this right, you will own your audience.
Think about your entrance and the first 3 minutes of the speech. Pay attention to the way you walk in. Project confidence and calm, do not rush into anything, even if you are late or under a tight schedule. Do everything slowly and thoughtfully. Show the room that you are entering your speech zone and that no one is allowed in, they can sit and wait for a few seconds (which seem like hours) – its only a few seconds. Make sure you got the attention of the crowd, and start strong. Pick the words of your opening carefully, and trust yourself.
Good luck.
To your speaking success
Fran Watson
P.S. For more free speaking tips, click here
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Getting Along With Others
How To Get Along With People
1. Keep
skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it often counts more than what
you say.
2.
Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully, no
matter what it costs.
3.
Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and
encouraging word to or about somebody.
Praise good work, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed criticize helpfully, never
spitefully.
4.
Be interested in others; their pursuits, their work,
their homes and families. Make merry
with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel
that you regard him or her as a person of importance.
5.
Be cheerful.
Don’t burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches
and pains and small disappointments.
Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of a load.
6.
Keep an open mind.
Discuss but don’t argue. It is a
mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
7.
Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for
themselves. Refuse to talk of another’s
vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time and can be
extremely destructive.
8.
Be careful of another’s feelings. Wit and humour at the other person’s expense
are rarely worth it and may hurt when least expected.
9.
Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message
may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe
them. Disordered nerves and bad
digestion are a common cause of back-biting.
10. Don’t
be too anxious about the credit due you.
Do your best and be patient.
Forget about yourself and let others “remember”. Success is much sweeter that way.
To your communication success
P.S. For some free public speaking tips, Click here
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Three Easy Steps To Be Good In Public Speaking
Throughout the history of human civilization,
people have been expressing their confidence and strength, not only by force,
but also by the noble art of public speaking. The orators of ancient Greece
were highly respected and valued in the community. Likewise, today’s world
leaders are admired and esteemed when they have the power to address the public
with poise and conviction.
The
average person cringes at the idea of talking in front of an audience no matter how
big or small the size. Whether giving a toast at a wedding or delivering a
speech to a large assembly, most people make a big deal about public speaking
and try to avoid it as much as possible.
But public speaking should not cause
such a big fuss. Challenging as it may be, public speaking can be done with a
few simple guidelines.
Before Making The Speech: Preparation
Like any other endeavor, public speaking requires
careful preparation to be successful. Many people dream of having those
“inspired” spontaneous speeches seen in movies; however, such scenes rarely
happen in real life. Even the world’s most famous leaders prepare for public addresses, and most
even have teams to work on those plans.
In order to properly prepare for a speech, one should
know what the occasion the speech is for. The Gettysburg address would
definitely not be appropriate for a wedding; thus, a speech has to fit the
event it will be delivered to.
Second, one understand and know about the audience who will
witness the speech. An assembly of academics might not take a perky speaker
seriously; one should choose a suitable public speaking style and subject based on the audience.
A farmer’s
association would probably not be interested on a speech about the intricacies
of beadwork.
Making The Speech: Writing
Again, dazzling spontaneous speeches rarely
happen in real life. Most good speeches have been written before their
delivery. While many noted public figures have speech-writing committees, one
can create a good speech even without the help of a team of ghostwriters.
When writing for public speaking, one should
carefully organize the contents of the speech.
Begin
with a very strong introduction. It is important to catch the audience’s
attention early to prevent them from being bored easily.
Next, the body should
be purposeful. The contents of the speech should relate well and support each
other. Choose only 2 or 3 points and expand on them.
Lastly, one should make a conclusion
that sticks to the mind. No matter how stirring a speech is, it is useless if
the people forget it the instant they leave the gathering. Conclusions should
give a concise but memorable recap of the body of the speech.
The Actual Public Speaking: Delivery
This is the part most people are afraid of;
but when proper planning and writing is done well, the delivery should follow
easily.
One must decide whether to speak from memory or
to use notes. Beginners often benefit from a script or a guide, but when one
becomes more comfortable speaking in public, one can speak without notes.
Reading directly from a script can be quite boring for the audience; thus, it
is important to keep constant contact with them, raising your head and making eye contact.
Speaking from memory is quite
impressive, but if you are concerned about missing some parts of the speech, using notes can be a good compromise so long as one is able to expound
on the points well.
Learning More About Public Speaking
Several books and articles about the topic have been published
and they can well be accessed through the library or the bookstore. Many
companies offer public speaking training, and such services provide in-depth
courses that could help one speak well in public. There are also several
articles and courses available through the internet, some of them are even
posted for free.
Another option is Toastmasters, which is an organization designed to help you overcome your fears about public speaking by moving through a specially designed program manual. You also have an opportunity to develop Leadership skills by taking on roles within a meeting.
For more information on Toastmasters and to find a club near you, click here.
Public speaking is challenging, but can be a very worthwhile skill.
To your public speaking success
Fran Watson
P.S. Click here for some free public speaking tips
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Body Language - What Does Yours Say?
An article by my friend Marion Grobb Finkelstein
Your Body Talks ... Do You Know What It's Saying?
Gut feeling, intuition, hunches. Whatever we call it, we all have feelings about people we meet. Part of the information we're taking in that leads to such conclusions is body language. Whether we realize it or not, we both read and speak it -- some of us better than others.
The old 7/38/55 rule from Dr. Albert Mehrabian is often quoted. In his studies of the 1960s, this UCLA professor deduced that in face-to-face communications, 7% of the message is conveyed through words, 38% through voice and 55% through body. In the 1970s, Australian researcher and author Allan Pease concluded that body accounted for up to a whopping 80%! Even though some more recent research suggests that these percentages may be more equally distributed, the fact remains that our bodies most definitely talk. In fact, at times, they downright scream.
Have you ever seen a certain gesture and felt, for sure, that you knew what it meant? You might be mistaken.
© 2013 Marion Grobb Finkelstein\
Communication catalyst, author, professional speaker Marion Grobb Finkelstein teaches individuals and organizations across Canada and beyond, how to connect with clients, colleagues, employees and bosses, and how to handle workplace communication challenges to improve morale, confidence and productivity. Chat with her at www.facebook.com/MarionSpeaks and sign up for her FREE weekly "Marion's Communication Tips" at www.MarionSpeaks.com
Your Body Talks ... Do You Know What It's Saying?
The old 7/38/55 rule from Dr. Albert Mehrabian is often quoted. In his studies of the 1960s, this UCLA professor deduced that in face-to-face communications, 7% of the message is conveyed through words, 38% through voice and 55% through body. In the 1970s, Australian researcher and author Allan Pease concluded that body accounted for up to a whopping 80%! Even though some more recent research suggests that these percentages may be more equally distributed, the fact remains that our bodies most definitely talk. In fact, at times, they downright scream.
Have you ever seen a certain gesture and felt, for sure, that you knew what it meant? You might be mistaken.
Although it's tempting to witness one action, gesture or reaction and use that one thing to conclusively interpret someone's meaning, it is misleading to do so. Non-verbal communication is best read when using what I call, the "4 Key Cs":
- Context: Here's a news flash -- sometimes people cross their arms just because they're cold. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're closed to what you're saying. Work versus social environment also affects how we interact with others. Before you assess the body language, consider the context.
- Culture: Most countries represent a mix of ethnicities, backgrounds and cultures. Many of us celebrate that diversity. We are also exposed to it, due to work or private life, as we travel to other countries. A caution: gestures that are commonplace to us mean different things to others. For example, the A-OK sign in Japan is a symbol for coin money and in parts of Germany is an obscene gesture. Although eye contact is valued in mainstream North American culture, it is to be avoided in other cultures. Different cultures, different meanings.
- Clusters: As a rule of thumb, using clusters of three actions or gestures, versus just one, to suggest a certain meaning increases your chances of correctly interpreting the meaning. Reading non-verbal communications correctly requires us to refrain from stereotyping or drawing conclusions until we have enough evidence. And even at that, body language is just an indicator, simply one piece in the puzzle of understanding and reading each other correctly.
- Calibration: We all have certain physical actions and idiosyncrasies. Calibrating body signals against a certain individual allows for this fact. Perhaps someone is blinking all the time, not because they are speaking a mistruth or don't believe what you're saying - maybe they just have chronically itchy eyes. Gestures depend on the person.
Until next time, here's to ...
Better communication, better business, better life,
Marion Grobb Finkelstein
COMMUNICATION CATALYST
Keynote Speaker / Corporate Trainer / Author
Recipient of APEX "Award for Leadership in Service Innovation" Keynote Speaker / Corporate Trainer / Author
© 2013 Marion Grobb Finkelstein\
Communication catalyst, author, professional speaker Marion Grobb Finkelstein teaches individuals and organizations across Canada and beyond, how to connect with clients, colleagues, employees and bosses, and how to handle workplace communication challenges to improve morale, confidence and productivity. Chat with her at www.facebook.com/MarionSpeaks and sign up for her FREE weekly "Marion's Communication Tips" at www.MarionSpeaks.com
Friday, May 31, 2013
Presentations
To quote Mark Twain: “If you want me to give you a two-hour presentation, I am ready today. If you want only a five-minute speech, it will take me two weeks to prepare.”
The communicator's job is to make the important, interesting. John Howze
Remember that accomplished speakers set themselves up to deliver high-value information, not to convey detailed, pedestrian material that is best read in written format.
The shorter a presentation, the better it needs to be organized. Use the time-tested “power of three” – introduction, body and conclusion – to structure your talk. Schedule three minutes for the introduction, 12 for the body (with four minutes for each of your three core points), and three for the conclusion.
However long you’re scheduled to speak, you simply cannot go over your allotted time.
Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much. Robert Greenleaf
You can be a brilliant orator, but the moment you roll past your limit, your credibility begins to suffer. Today’s audiences, with busy work lives, have less tolerance for speakers who lack the discipline and manners to stop at the appointed time.
Rehearse your talk often enough so that if your presentation time is reduced for whatever reason (perhaps a technical malfunction at the venue), you can still deliver your material with confidence and clarity. It’s not about how long you speak. It’s about how well you connect
Jim Gray
Jim Gray is a speaker and communication skills coach in Toronto author of How Leaders Speak: Essential Rules for Engaging and Inspiring Others. Website: jimgray.ca.
Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933)
To your speaking success!!
Fran Watson
The communicator's job is to make the important, interesting. John Howze
Remember that accomplished speakers set themselves up to deliver high-value information, not to convey detailed, pedestrian material that is best read in written format.
The shorter a presentation, the better it needs to be organized. Use the time-tested “power of three” – introduction, body and conclusion – to structure your talk. Schedule three minutes for the introduction, 12 for the body (with four minutes for each of your three core points), and three for the conclusion.
However long you’re scheduled to speak, you simply cannot go over your allotted time.
Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much. Robert Greenleaf
You can be a brilliant orator, but the moment you roll past your limit, your credibility begins to suffer. Today’s audiences, with busy work lives, have less tolerance for speakers who lack the discipline and manners to stop at the appointed time.
Rehearse your talk often enough so that if your presentation time is reduced for whatever reason (perhaps a technical malfunction at the venue), you can still deliver your material with confidence and clarity. It’s not about how long you speak. It’s about how well you connect
Jim Gray
Jim Gray is a speaker and communication skills coach in Toronto author of How Leaders Speak: Essential Rules for Engaging and Inspiring Others. Website: jimgray.ca.
Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Calvin Coolidge (1872 - 1933)
To your speaking success!!
Fran Watson
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Assertive Communication
Communication is fundamental in our lives.
We communicate our thoughts and our feelings to family, friends, co-workers and
strangers every day. Effective communication allows us to build healthy
relationships in our private lives and healthy partnerships in our business
lives. Ineffective interaction leads to frustration, dysfunctional personal
relationships, stagnant organizations, and even war between countries.
Assertive
communication requires the effective use of all aspects of communication from
body language and symbols to persuasion and listening. Assertiveness is being able to state your
viewpoint without provoking another person.
Think about assertive communication as a two-way flow, an exchange of information. It is open, honest, direct, shows mutual respect, values the thoughts, ideas, opinions and feelings of the other person(s) and strives for a winning outcome for everyone involved.
When you communicate assertively, you are
expressing both positive and negative feelings – honestly and directly. You are acknowledging that you have the right
to be listened to and taken seriously, to say no without feeling guilty, to ask
for what you want, and to make mistakes.
You also recognize and acknowledge that the other person has identical
rights. The result is that your
relationships will become much more genuine, because you are communicating
honestly and openly.
What
holds many people back from communicating assertively is the fear of
displeasing others and of not being liked. By not speaking up for yourself, you may
avoid some immediate unpleasantness, however, you could also jeopardize the
relationship in the long run if you refuse to assert yourself and then feel
taken advantage of over and over again. When
this happens you become frustrated and unhappy with yourself, which reinforces
a poor self-image and makes it difficult to command respect from others.
Awareness of
yourself is a key part of learning to be assertive. You can start by asking yourself questions
such as: “What do I want to change?” and “How do I tell
the other person without blaming or attacking him or her?”
Assertive
communication uses a special technique known as “I-message”s to say how it is
for you. When you use an “I-message”, you state what you need clearly, directly
and specifically. You let others know
what you feel and think while being polite and firm.
For example, “I would like to discuss the
options in detail” instead of “Maybe there should be some discussion about the
options.” Or “I understand the Tuesday deadline is really important. However, as a result of the computer problems
we’ve had today, I won’t have it completed on schedule unless I have some
help. Which other staff would be able to
work on it with me?” It is helpful if you
can plan what you want to say before you say it. That way, you can avoid saying something you
might regret later.
Tips for Positive Communication
The key to communicating assertively is to
express yourself clearly, without blaming or judging the other person. One of the ways to learn how to do this is to
sign up with a local Toastmasters Club. As a club member you will learn how to
make your messages clear, complete and specific. You will learn how to plan what you want to
say before you say it. You will learn
how to ask the questions that will gain you the answers you need to make
effective decisions. You will learn how
to listen so that you can become genuinely interested in discussions and give
listeners or speakers your full attention without interrupting them. You will learn how to give effective
evaluations to demonstrate your comprehension of what has been said.
You will learn how to give feedback, by being
tactful, firm, and sensitive. You will
learn to focus on the behaviour or the specific task rather than on the person.
You will point out what worked well, suggest alternatives, and give any
additional feedback in private.
You will learn to invite feedback about
your own work and regard it as an opportunity to improve the quality of your work
and not as a personal attack. You will
learn to believe in yourself and value what you have to say. Your insights could benefit others.
To your communication success
Fran Watson
P.S. For more information click here
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Face Your Fears
"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES."
-, Nike ad |
Do you "feel the fear" when asked to do some Public Speaking?
Public Speaking is still one of our greatest fears and it turns grown men and women into nervous wrecks. The mere thought of it turns our tongue to cotton wool, causes our internal plumbing to act up and turns our knees to jelly.
Well, there's no need for all of this because help is at hand. All you need to remember are your P's and Q's.
Let's start with the P's
Preparation -
When you sit down to write what you're going to say, bear in mind who you'll be speaking to. Will they understand what you're talking about; will they understand the technical stuff and the jargon? If in doubt remember the old saying - "Keep It Simple Stupid".
Make sure that what you say has a beginning, middle and a conclusion. Think of some anecdotes that help reinforce your story. People think visually so paint verbal pictures for your audience. And always remember, people want to know what's in it for them - so make sure you tell them!
Place -
Have a look at the venue before the event if you can. It's not always possible, however, even if you get there half an hour before, you can check out where you'll be speaking. Stand at the point where you will deliver from, imagine where the audience will be and check that they can see and hear you. You may even wish to place a glass of water where you'll be able to find it.
Personal Preparation -
Before any Public Speaking event, think about what you are going to wear; when in doubt dress up rather than down. You can always take things off for a more casual look. Men could remove their jacket and their tie. Women could remove items of jewellery.
Part of your personal preparation should include some mouth and breathing exercises. Practise saying some tongue twisters to give your speaking muscles a good work out. Take a deep breath and expand your diaphragm. Then breathe out, counting at the same time; try and get up to fifty and not pass out.
As part of your personal preparation, write your own introduction. Write out exactly what you want someone to say about you, large font, double-spaced and ask the person introducing you to read it. Believe me they won't object and will probably be pleased and impressed.
Poise and Posture -
Whenever you're called to speak, stand up or walk to the front quickly and purposefully. Pull yourself up to your full height, stand tall and look like you own the place. Before you start to speak, pause, look round your audience and smile. You may even have to wait until the applause dies down. Remember, you want the audience to like you, so look likeable.
Pretend -
I'm suggesting you pretend you're not nervous because no doubt you will be. Nervousness is vital for speaking in public, it boosts your adrenaline, which makes your mind sharper and gives you energy. The trick is to keep your nerves to yourself. On no account tell your audience your nervous; you'll only scare the living daylights out of them if they think you're going to faint.
Some tricks for dealing with nerves are: Before you're called to speak, get lots of oxygen into your system, run on the spot and wave your arms about like a lunatic. It burns off the stress chemicals. Speak to members of your audience as they come in or at some time before you stand up. That tricks your brain into thinking you're talking to some friends.
Have a glass of water handy for that dry mouth. One word of warning - do not drink alcohol. It might give you "Dutch courage" but your audience will end up thinking you're speaking Dutch.
The Presentation -
Right from the start your delivery needs to grab their attention. Don't start by saying - "Good morning, my name is Fred Smith and I'm from Smith Associates." Even if your name is Smith, it's a real boring way to start a presentation. Far better to start with some interesting facts or an anecdote that's relevant to your presentation.
Look at the audience as individuals; it grabs their attention if they think you're talking to them personally and talk louder than you would normally do, it keeps the people in the front row awake and makes sure those at the back get the message. Funnily enough, it's also good for your nerves.
PowerPoint -
And for those of you who haven't heard of it, it's a software programme that's used to design stunning graphics and text for projection onto a screen. As a professional speaker, I'm not that struck on PowerPoint. I feel that too many speakers rely on it and it takes over the presentation. After all, you're the important factor here. If an audience is going to accept what you say then they need to see the whites of your eyes. There needs to be a big focus on you, not on the technology.
Use PowerPoint if you want but keep it to a minimum and make sure you're not just the person pushing the buttons. Why not get a bit clever at using the faithful old Flip Chart, lots of professionals do.
Passion -
This is what stops the audience in their tracks. This is what makes them want to employ you or to accept what you're proposing. Couple this with some energy, enthusiasm and emotion and you have the makings of a great public speaker.
Give your presentation a bit of oomph and don't start telling me - "I'm not that kind of person." There's no need to go over the top but you're doing a presentation to move people to action, not having a cosy little chat in your front room.
That's the P's finished, so let's look at the Q's.
Questions -
Decide when you're going to take them and tell people at the start. In a short speech it's best to take questions at the end. If you take them as you go then you may get waylaid and your timing will get knocked out.
Never - never - never finish with questions; far better to ask for questions five or ten minutes before the end. Deal with the questions and then summarise for a strong finish. Too many presentations finish on questions and the whole thing goes a bit flat.
When you're asked a question, repeat it to the whole audience and thank the questioner. It keeps everyone involved, it gives you time to think and it makes you look so clever and in control.
Quit -
Quit when you're ahead. Stick to the agreed time; if you're asked to speak for twenty minutes, speak for nineteen and the audience will love you for it. Remember, quality is not quantity. One of the most famous speeches ever - "The Gettysburg Address", by President Lincoln, was just over two minutes long.
Quit when you're ahead. Stick to the agreed time; if you're asked to speak for twenty minutes, speak for nineteen and the audience will love you for it. Remember, quality is not quantity. One of the most famous speeches ever - "The Gettysburg Address", by President Lincoln, was just over two minutes long.
Right, that's my cue to quit when I'm ahead. Now that you're armed with this information you too can minimise your fear of Public Speaking.
To your public speaking success
Fran Watson
P.S. For more tips on public speaking, Click here
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Giving A Toast
Whether giving a toast at a wedding or delivering a speech to a large
assembly, most people make a big deal about public speaking and try to avoid it
as much as possible. But public speaking should not cause such a big fuss.
Challenging as it may be, public speaking can be done with a few simple
guidelines.
Throughout the history of human civilization, people have been
expressing their confidence and strength, not only by force, but also by the
noble art of public speaking. The orators of ancient Greece were highly
respected and valued in the community. Likewise, today’s world leaders are
admired and esteemed when they have the power to address the public with poise
and conviction.
Like any
other endeavor, public speaking requires careful preparation to be successful.
Second, you
should think about the audience who will be listening to the speech. An
assembly of academics may not take a perky speaker seriously; you should
choose a suitable public speaking style based on the audience.
Third, think
about the content of the speech. A farmer’s association would usually
not be interested on a speech about the intricacies of beadwork.
When writing
your speech, you need to pay attention
to how you organize the contents of the speech.
Begin with a
very strong introduction to catch the audience’s attention early to prevent
them from being bored easily. Next, the body should be purposeful and the
contents of the speech should relate well and support each other. Lastly, one should
make a conclusion that sticks to the mind. No matter how stirring a speech is,
it is useless if the people forget it the instant they leave the gathering.
Conclusions should give a concise but memorable recap of the body.
Public
speaking is challenging, but can be a very worthwhile skill
To your speaking success
P.S. Check out my book Mastering Public Speaking - click here
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Dealing With Self-Induced Stress
Do you have just 2 minutes? That's all the time it takes to read the following article. But if you're really short on
time, just read the first paragraph. It summarizes the whole
text.
Enjoy!
Free article no. 134
DEALING WITH SELF-INDUCED STRESS
by J.A. Gamache
Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking
I learned an important lesson when I first presented my inspirational keynote entitled "Cross the line!". When striving for perfection, we can sometimes create our own stress.
After many years as an amateur speaker, I had accumulated enough material to give a strong sixty-minute speech.
One day, the president of a company saw my free presentation and was thrilled with it; so much so that he hired me on the spot to present it to his employees.
I was nervous. It was the first time I was being paid a professional speaking fee, so disappointing my client was out of the question! I interviewed him, adapted my presentation to his employees' needs, and then organized a rehearsal in front of a dozen people.
The rehearsal was a disaster! I was shaking like a leaf and my mouth ran dry. I had lost my usual stamina and was constantly looking at my notes because I was forgetting my text.
And the real presentation was only two days away!!!
Can you imagine how hard I worked over the next two days? I practiced my speech over and over again.
On the day of my presentation, just as I was announced to the audience, I realized that my notes were still in the car. Instead of panicking, I said to myself: "Tough luck. You know your text, and if you forget, you'll just improvise." So I went on stage.
That interior dialog was the turning point that made all the difference. Unlike rehearsal day, I didn't worry about being perfect, and most of my stress vanished away.
My speech was a success. Of course I forgot a small part of my text, but the audience couldn't tell. Having already put in all the hard work, I was able to relax on the floor and allow myself to perform without my notes.
This message is for perfectionists like me. Wanting to avoid mistakes at all costs during the performance may be the cause of your stress. It was a blessing that I forgot my notes that day. Instead of trying to be a flawless speaker, I was myself, and that made the day perfect!
Happy speech!
©MMXI J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.
To your successful speaking
Fran
P.S. Sign up for my free ezine and get 800 speech topics - Click here
------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or
in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:
This article was reproduced from "Speaking in Public with J.A.", a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com.
Enjoy!
Free article no. 134
DEALING WITH SELF-INDUCED STRESS
by J.A. Gamache
Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking
I learned an important lesson when I first presented my inspirational keynote entitled "Cross the line!". When striving for perfection, we can sometimes create our own stress.
After many years as an amateur speaker, I had accumulated enough material to give a strong sixty-minute speech.
One day, the president of a company saw my free presentation and was thrilled with it; so much so that he hired me on the spot to present it to his employees.
I was nervous. It was the first time I was being paid a professional speaking fee, so disappointing my client was out of the question! I interviewed him, adapted my presentation to his employees' needs, and then organized a rehearsal in front of a dozen people.
The rehearsal was a disaster! I was shaking like a leaf and my mouth ran dry. I had lost my usual stamina and was constantly looking at my notes because I was forgetting my text.
And the real presentation was only two days away!!!
Can you imagine how hard I worked over the next two days? I practiced my speech over and over again.
On the day of my presentation, just as I was announced to the audience, I realized that my notes were still in the car. Instead of panicking, I said to myself: "Tough luck. You know your text, and if you forget, you'll just improvise." So I went on stage.
That interior dialog was the turning point that made all the difference. Unlike rehearsal day, I didn't worry about being perfect, and most of my stress vanished away.
My speech was a success. Of course I forgot a small part of my text, but the audience couldn't tell. Having already put in all the hard work, I was able to relax on the floor and allow myself to perform without my notes.
This message is for perfectionists like me. Wanting to avoid mistakes at all costs during the performance may be the cause of your stress. It was a blessing that I forgot my notes that day. Instead of trying to be a flawless speaker, I was myself, and that made the day perfect!
Happy speech!
©MMXI J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com. All rights reserved.
To your successful speaking
Fran
P.S. Sign up for my free ezine and get 800 speech topics - Click here
------------------------------
PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO REPRODUCE THIS ARTICLE in whole or
in part if a copy of the reproduced text is sent to J.A. Gamache at info@jagamache.com after publication and also provided that this byline, including the following paragraph, appears along with the reproduced text:
This article was reproduced from "Speaking in Public with J.A.", a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Speech Contests
For Toastmasters spring and fall provide opportunities for speakers to compete against others in Speech Contests.
In the spring, the International Speech Contest draws in speakers from all over the world, competing in their districts and regions for the opportunity to compete at the conference in August and the chance to become the World Champion.
The other contests may end at the local District levels, but they too provide an opportunity for fun and competition as contestants share their funny stories in the Humorous Speech Contests or the Tall Tales Contests. They also develop their impromptu speaking skills in the Evaluation Contests and the Table Topics Contests.
Why would a person want to subject themselves to such a practice? Isn't it tough enough to get up in front of your fellow co-workers to give a presentation? Or in front of your local club?
They do it to grow, to enhance their skills.
People who participate in Toastmasters develop their confidence as they participate in weekly meetings, taking on the various roles of Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, Grammarian, Timer, Educational Tip, Ah Counter. Each time they speak at a meeting, or challenge themselves to present a speech, they grow.
When they want to challenge themselves further, they participate in contests - from club level, to area level, to division level, to district level, and in the case of the International Speech Contest, to the International level.
If you are thinking about developing your confidence and leadership skills, check out a Toastmasters Club near you. Who knows, you just might get hooked on speech contests and challenging yourself to grow.
To your speaking success
Fran
P.S.
More youtube videos on humourous speeches
In the spring, the International Speech Contest draws in speakers from all over the world, competing in their districts and regions for the opportunity to compete at the conference in August and the chance to become the World Champion.
The other contests may end at the local District levels, but they too provide an opportunity for fun and competition as contestants share their funny stories in the Humorous Speech Contests or the Tall Tales Contests. They also develop their impromptu speaking skills in the Evaluation Contests and the Table Topics Contests.
Why would a person want to subject themselves to such a practice? Isn't it tough enough to get up in front of your fellow co-workers to give a presentation? Or in front of your local club?
They do it to grow, to enhance their skills.
People who participate in Toastmasters develop their confidence as they participate in weekly meetings, taking on the various roles of Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, Grammarian, Timer, Educational Tip, Ah Counter. Each time they speak at a meeting, or challenge themselves to present a speech, they grow.
When they want to challenge themselves further, they participate in contests - from club level, to area level, to division level, to district level, and in the case of the International Speech Contest, to the International level.
If you are thinking about developing your confidence and leadership skills, check out a Toastmasters Club near you. Who knows, you just might get hooked on speech contests and challenging yourself to grow.
To your speaking success
Fran
P.S.
More youtube videos on humourous speeches
Monday, January 28, 2013
How Toastmasters Can Help
By Eric Monse (edited by Fran Watson)
I have a fear of public speaking. More precisely, I should describe it as a phobia.
I’m not really scared, I just react badly when I get up in front of a large group of people. My blood pressure starts to rise, my skin starts to get flush, and worst of all, I lose all ability to think on the fly.
I’m not so bad if I have something prepared, but God forbid if I have to think up something right then and there.
Learning to be a better public speaker is a great thing. But conquering this area of my life probably wouldn’t be enough for me to practice public speaking every other week.
I don’t make very many public speeches. But the benefits that I pickup with learning public speaking will help me in my every day life and in meeting new people.
People are attracted to the person up on the podium speaking to hundreds of people, whether he’s a preacher, a politician, or a professor. He is the one wielding control over the room and captivating the multitudes. True charisma is the ability to seduce thousands, not just one person.
Toastmasters is a worldwide nonprofit organization for the purpose of helping its members improve public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. Joining a Toastmasters club is one of the best things you can do to improve several aspects of your ability to meet new people.
I joined a club about three months ago and it has been a fantastic experience. The people there were skilled and knowledgeable and at the same time, they were warm, friendly and supportive in helping new people learn the ropes and pickup tips to improve.
Toastmasters grooms you to speak in front of large groups of people by critiquing or evaluating your public speaking.
They teach you to focus on things like your body language:
* Don’t rock back and forth when you speak.
* How to move comfortably around when you speak.
* The importance of making solid eye contact.
They also help you learn:
* Ways to vary your tone of voice.
* How to vary your pace but don’t speak too quickly.
Sound familiar? These are all things you should be focusing on when meeting new people.
You will also get critiqued on your language.
A member taking on the role of Grammarian will keep track of unnecessary words like: um, you know, and stuff, right, like, etc. That member will report towards the end of the meeting as to who used what "filler words" in order to help people improve their speaking. Eliminating riff raff from your vocabulary makes you a more effective and high-value communicator– exactly what you’re looking for when communicating with someone you are interested in.
Developing Leadership Skills
A little known fact is that one of the best aspects of Toastmasters is their focus on teaching leadership skills.
Everyone at a Toastmasters meeting is a volunteer. There are numerous roles at a meeting such as Toastmaster, Sergeant-At-Arms, Table Topics Chair, General Evaluator, Evaluator, Quizmaster, Gramarian, Joke/Word, Educational Tip, Speaker, Table Topics Speaker and Timer. During the meeting the person in each role gets up at the front of the room and conducts that part of the meeting and or gives reports about that part of the meeting.
The Grammarian is the person who listens and keeps track of vocabulary errors. The Timer keeps track of all the aspects of the meeting to ensure that everyone is on time. They will make note by use of cards or lights when the person reaches the minimum amount of time (green card), when they are close to their time (yellow card), and when their time is up at which time they will hold up a red card or turn on the red light to let the person speaking know that they should be wrapped up.
There are usually two or three people who give a 5-7 minute prepared speech at every meeting, and there are people designated to critique those speakers. These people are known as the Speech Evaluators. Those people get up in front of the room and speak for 2-3 minutes on what the speaker did well and some points for improvement.
During the Table Topics segment, members of the club who do not have a role will get an opportunity to present a 1-2 minute speech on the topic of the week. This way, a meeting will rarely pass when you would not get up and practice speaking.
Many of the members of Toastmasters are excellent speakers. They know how to captivate an audience. They are a diverse group of people and are varying ages as well. Some of them have been in Toastmasters for 20 years or more. The speeches they give are usually insightful and worth a listen, even if just to see how people can communicate.
At the same time, they provide an amazingly supportive environment for a new person to learn. These people know what it was like to have such a fear of public speaking. This makes it also easier to get up in front of a group like this and speak.
How Toastmasters Helped My Fear of Speaking to Strangers
When you’ve never done it before and you begin speaking with strangers, the anxiety can be nerve-wracking. It was an emotional roller-coaster ride for me when I started.
If I talked to three people, by the end of the night I would be drained. I felt like I’d been through an emotional heavyweight title match. However, as I talked to more new people, the fear and anxiety lessened. But Toastmasters helped out as well.
The fear of approaching people is very similar to that fear of getting up in front of a group of people and speaking. As I got more comfortable with one, I became more comfortable with the other as well.
There are thousands of Toastmasters clubs around the world. Different clubs meet at different times and for differing amounts of time. Some are breakfast clubs, some are lunch hour clubs, some are evening clubs, some are Saturday morning clubs. Some are advanced clubs, some are corporate clubs. There is a club for every need.
When you attend Toastmasters as a guest, you’ll be offered the opportunity to speak in their Table Topics impromptu section where you will speak for 1-2 minutes on a random topic. It’s a great exercise and it's good practice for speaking on the spot at work or at a cocktail party. The cost is minimal compared to the value you will receive. It varies from club to club, depending on the costs of the meeting place, but one fee will cover you for a year and you will receive a monthly Toastmasters magazine, your first two manuals - Competent Communicator and Competent Leader and when you have completed your first 10 speeches, you will also receive your first two Advanced manuals. The cost is usually less than a one day program and definitely less than a 4 day or 4 week program at a local college. Meetings are held weekly or bi-weekly. You also get educational materials and an opportunity to speak in the Speech Contests where you can get up in front of hundreds of people, not just the 15-25 people who attend at each meeting. They also try to set you up with a mentor to help you with your first few speeches, or as long as you need help.
Toastmasters is an excellent way to become more confident, and it will improve your social life and help you to feel more comfortable in social situations.
I have a fear of public speaking. More precisely, I should describe it as a phobia.
I’m not really scared, I just react badly when I get up in front of a large group of people. My blood pressure starts to rise, my skin starts to get flush, and worst of all, I lose all ability to think on the fly.
I’m not so bad if I have something prepared, but God forbid if I have to think up something right then and there.
Learning to be a better public speaker is a great thing. But conquering this area of my life probably wouldn’t be enough for me to practice public speaking every other week.
I don’t make very many public speeches. But the benefits that I pickup with learning public speaking will help me in my every day life and in meeting new people.
People are attracted to the person up on the podium speaking to hundreds of people, whether he’s a preacher, a politician, or a professor. He is the one wielding control over the room and captivating the multitudes. True charisma is the ability to seduce thousands, not just one person.
Toastmasters is a worldwide nonprofit organization for the purpose of helping its members improve public speaking, communication, and leadership skills. Joining a Toastmasters club is one of the best things you can do to improve several aspects of your ability to meet new people.
I joined a club about three months ago and it has been a fantastic experience. The people there were skilled and knowledgeable and at the same time, they were warm, friendly and supportive in helping new people learn the ropes and pickup tips to improve.
Toastmasters grooms you to speak in front of large groups of people by critiquing or evaluating your public speaking.
They teach you to focus on things like your body language:
* Don’t rock back and forth when you speak.
* How to move comfortably around when you speak.
* The importance of making solid eye contact.
They also help you learn:
* Ways to vary your tone of voice.
* How to vary your pace but don’t speak too quickly.
Sound familiar? These are all things you should be focusing on when meeting new people.
You will also get critiqued on your language.
A member taking on the role of Grammarian will keep track of unnecessary words like: um, you know, and stuff, right, like, etc. That member will report towards the end of the meeting as to who used what "filler words" in order to help people improve their speaking. Eliminating riff raff from your vocabulary makes you a more effective and high-value communicator– exactly what you’re looking for when communicating with someone you are interested in.
Developing Leadership Skills
A little known fact is that one of the best aspects of Toastmasters is their focus on teaching leadership skills.
Everyone at a Toastmasters meeting is a volunteer. There are numerous roles at a meeting such as Toastmaster, Sergeant-At-Arms, Table Topics Chair, General Evaluator, Evaluator, Quizmaster, Gramarian, Joke/Word, Educational Tip, Speaker, Table Topics Speaker and Timer. During the meeting the person in each role gets up at the front of the room and conducts that part of the meeting and or gives reports about that part of the meeting.
The Grammarian is the person who listens and keeps track of vocabulary errors. The Timer keeps track of all the aspects of the meeting to ensure that everyone is on time. They will make note by use of cards or lights when the person reaches the minimum amount of time (green card), when they are close to their time (yellow card), and when their time is up at which time they will hold up a red card or turn on the red light to let the person speaking know that they should be wrapped up.
There are usually two or three people who give a 5-7 minute prepared speech at every meeting, and there are people designated to critique those speakers. These people are known as the Speech Evaluators. Those people get up in front of the room and speak for 2-3 minutes on what the speaker did well and some points for improvement.
During the Table Topics segment, members of the club who do not have a role will get an opportunity to present a 1-2 minute speech on the topic of the week. This way, a meeting will rarely pass when you would not get up and practice speaking.
Many of the members of Toastmasters are excellent speakers. They know how to captivate an audience. They are a diverse group of people and are varying ages as well. Some of them have been in Toastmasters for 20 years or more. The speeches they give are usually insightful and worth a listen, even if just to see how people can communicate.
At the same time, they provide an amazingly supportive environment for a new person to learn. These people know what it was like to have such a fear of public speaking. This makes it also easier to get up in front of a group like this and speak.
How Toastmasters Helped My Fear of Speaking to Strangers
When you’ve never done it before and you begin speaking with strangers, the anxiety can be nerve-wracking. It was an emotional roller-coaster ride for me when I started.
If I talked to three people, by the end of the night I would be drained. I felt like I’d been through an emotional heavyweight title match. However, as I talked to more new people, the fear and anxiety lessened. But Toastmasters helped out as well.
The fear of approaching people is very similar to that fear of getting up in front of a group of people and speaking. As I got more comfortable with one, I became more comfortable with the other as well.
There are thousands of Toastmasters clubs around the world. Different clubs meet at different times and for differing amounts of time. Some are breakfast clubs, some are lunch hour clubs, some are evening clubs, some are Saturday morning clubs. Some are advanced clubs, some are corporate clubs. There is a club for every need.
When you attend Toastmasters as a guest, you’ll be offered the opportunity to speak in their Table Topics impromptu section where you will speak for 1-2 minutes on a random topic. It’s a great exercise and it's good practice for speaking on the spot at work or at a cocktail party. The cost is minimal compared to the value you will receive. It varies from club to club, depending on the costs of the meeting place, but one fee will cover you for a year and you will receive a monthly Toastmasters magazine, your first two manuals - Competent Communicator and Competent Leader and when you have completed your first 10 speeches, you will also receive your first two Advanced manuals. The cost is usually less than a one day program and definitely less than a 4 day or 4 week program at a local college. Meetings are held weekly or bi-weekly. You also get educational materials and an opportunity to speak in the Speech Contests where you can get up in front of hundreds of people, not just the 15-25 people who attend at each meeting. They also try to set you up with a mentor to help you with your first few speeches, or as long as you need help.
Toastmasters is an excellent way to become more confident, and it will improve your social life and help you to feel more comfortable in social situations.
************
I have been a Toastmasters member since 2002 and I have served in all of the Executive roles in my 3 clubs. I have also served as an Area Governor and a District Public Relations Officer. Toastmasters has made a big difference in how confident I am in speaking with minimal notice at various functions including a recent memorial service for a friend and fellow Toastmaster.
Why not check out a local Toastmasters Club? There is no cost to visit and you just might find out it isn't at all what you feared it would be. Tell them Fran Watson sent you!!
To your speaking success
Fran Watson
P.S. Get speaking topics and more speaking tips here
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Public Speaking Tips
Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can somehow become great. - Mark Twain
I found this recently in my collection of quotes and other interesting things. It was written by Christian D. Larson.
Promise Yourself:
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but in great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
As Jim Rohn said - "Look at each day as a chance to invest life into life. A chance to share your experience and deposit it into someone else's conscience. Each day is a chance to work miracles in the lives of others."
Ideas for speech topics are everywhere. Look around you and let your eyes rest on a number of different things. For each thing come up with two or three ways they can be used or how they impact your life. For instance, your kitchen table - what do you do at it besides eat? Is it a place for gathering family and friens to engage in conversation, games, puzzles, etc? What about your couch? A place to nap, watch tv, take the cushions off to build forts? You get the picture. Get creative and get speaking.
To your speaking success
Fran Watson
P.S. For more speaking tips, click here
I found this recently in my collection of quotes and other interesting things. It was written by Christian D. Larson.
Promise Yourself:
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words but in great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
As Jim Rohn said - "Look at each day as a chance to invest life into life. A chance to share your experience and deposit it into someone else's conscience. Each day is a chance to work miracles in the lives of others."
Ideas for speech topics are everywhere. Look around you and let your eyes rest on a number of different things. For each thing come up with two or three ways they can be used or how they impact your life. For instance, your kitchen table - what do you do at it besides eat? Is it a place for gathering family and friens to engage in conversation, games, puzzles, etc? What about your couch? A place to nap, watch tv, take the cushions off to build forts? You get the picture. Get creative and get speaking.
To your speaking success
Fran Watson
P.S. For more speaking tips, click here
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Distracted Listeners ?
This article was reproduced from "Speaking in Public with J.A.", a FREE electronic magazine authored by J.A. Gamache, International Inspirational Speaker. To subscribe to his FREE e-zine or to find out more about his presentations, visit: http://www.jagamache.com.
HOW TO RE-FOCUS THE ATTENTION OF DISTRACTED LISTENERS
by J.A. Gamache
Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking
Although you may be an energetic and interesting speaker, it's still normal to lose the attention of some of your listeners. To remedy this situation, plan to include in your presentation some attention-getting elements that will pull in absent-minded audience members. In other words, make your crowd react regularly. There are many ways to make a room react. I find that I can snap out of my daydreaming if a speaker uses one of the following methods:
1- LAUGHTER When I hear everyone laugh, I stop daydreaming and ask my neighbor what the speaker said. After that, I'm on the edge of my seat so I don't miss the next joke.
Since almost everyone likes to laugh, inject humour into your presentation when it's appropriate. The more laughter you get from your presentation, the more you motivate your audience to listen.
2- MOVEMENTS OF OTHER AUDIENCE MEMBERS When everyone around me starts to move, it obviously gets my attention. I ask my neighbor what's happening and the person explains that the speaker has asked everyone to participate to an activity. In spite of myself, my interest re-focuses on what's happening in the room. That's why professional speakers often ask audience members to shake hands and say something to their neighbor.
A participating audience is an attentive audience. Make it a habit to incorporate a strategy to refocus absent-minded listeners, and make them react regularly. An easy way is to have humorous moments in your speech and invite audience participation. These are all good methods to reclaim the audience's attention.
Happy speech! ©
MMXI J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com.
All rights reserved. ---------------------------------
To your speaking success!
Fran Watson
P.S. Sign up for some more speaking tips on my websitehere
HOW TO RE-FOCUS THE ATTENTION OF DISTRACTED LISTENERS
by J.A. Gamache
Third place Champion at the 2001 Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking
Although you may be an energetic and interesting speaker, it's still normal to lose the attention of some of your listeners. To remedy this situation, plan to include in your presentation some attention-getting elements that will pull in absent-minded audience members. In other words, make your crowd react regularly. There are many ways to make a room react. I find that I can snap out of my daydreaming if a speaker uses one of the following methods:
1- LAUGHTER When I hear everyone laugh, I stop daydreaming and ask my neighbor what the speaker said. After that, I'm on the edge of my seat so I don't miss the next joke.
Since almost everyone likes to laugh, inject humour into your presentation when it's appropriate. The more laughter you get from your presentation, the more you motivate your audience to listen.
2- MOVEMENTS OF OTHER AUDIENCE MEMBERS When everyone around me starts to move, it obviously gets my attention. I ask my neighbor what's happening and the person explains that the speaker has asked everyone to participate to an activity. In spite of myself, my interest re-focuses on what's happening in the room. That's why professional speakers often ask audience members to shake hands and say something to their neighbor.
A participating audience is an attentive audience. Make it a habit to incorporate a strategy to refocus absent-minded listeners, and make them react regularly. An easy way is to have humorous moments in your speech and invite audience participation. These are all good methods to reclaim the audience's attention.
Happy speech! ©
MMXI J.A. Gamache www.jagamache.com.
All rights reserved. ---------------------------------
To your speaking success!
Fran Watson
P.S. Sign up for some more speaking tips on my websitehere
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Public Speaking to Attract Clients?
For tips on public speaking, click here
How To Use Public Speaking To Attract Clients
When Robert Middleton moved his marketing consulting practice, Action Plan Marketing, to Palo Alto, California several years ago, he started his business from scratch. He had left his well-established client base several miles away and now had to find strategies to generate new clients.
Because Middleton had always spoken to promote his business, he turned to public speaking with a vengeance. He researched local organizations whose members comprised professional business owners, his target clientele. He called chambers of commerce, business groups and others likely to be interested in his three-hour marketing workshop.
Within a few months, Middleton had spoken at over a dozen organizations, establishing his reputation as a marketing expert for professional service firms. He quickly became a known entity, having personally introduced his business and credentials to hundreds of prospects.
Better yet, Middleton's speaking strategy helped him land all the business he could handle in a relatively short time period.
Over the course of sixteen talks, he averaged one new client each time.
Speaking Is Selling
Many business people never consider standing in the front of their buying public to share professional wisdom. If you're one of them, you're missing the boat.
Speaking is a marketing strategy you can immediately embrace to get in front of potential customers. Speaking puts you within handshaking distance of your best prospects, many times helping you close sales before you leave the room.
By speaking regularly you can end the uncertainty of knowing where your next client will come from. Speaking can help you reach dozens, and sometimes hundreds of your best prospects every time. Speakers report that speaking regularly continuously fills their prospect pipelines, ensuring a steady stream of new clients and customers.
Speaking is effective because it showcases your knowledge before groups of people who eagerly show up to hear it. Your prospects may tune out advertising, but they'll pay attention to your talk because it presents your knowledge in polished form to people who think it will help them.
Speaking gives you tremendous visibility and credibility that increases over time. Whenever you are in the front of a room, you get noticed. People will remember who you are and what your business does. The more people see you speak and see your business name, the more successful people think you are.
Speaking gives prospects a taste of what you offer in a non-threatening environment. When they are in a room full of people, they feel comfortable. There's safety in numbers. They do not feel the sales pressure of a one-on-one meeting. It's also low risk, as chances are, they didn't pay as much to hear you speak as it would cost to hire you.
Get On The Program
You don't have to be a seasoned speaker to put speaking to work for your business. If you're willing to speak for free, you'll find that there are more outlets available than you'll know what to do with.
"If you can get up there and do a decent job you will immediately position yourself as an expert in the minds of an audience," says business coach, author and professional speaker Caterina Rando. "You only have to be 'decent' to make an impact. Even though speaking can be scary at first, anybody can find groups to speak to and master the basics of giving a good speech."
Choose the right topics
Before you contact an organization about speaking, create sample talk descriptions with catchy titles. For example, a financial planner could avoid generic descriptions like "Planning Your Retirement," and use a more snappy title like "Enjoying Your Gold Years On A Champagne Budget".
Targeting speaking opportunities
Once you are clear about your topic and its benefit to the audience, make some calls and offer yourself as a speaker.
• Chambers of Commerce
• Service Clubs
• Industry Specific Associations
• University Extensions
• Professional Associations
Getting the most out of your speech
The promotional value of your talks goes beyond your time on the podium. Often, when you speak to a group, the group publicizes the event. Many people who do not attend the event will still read the information, or will hear about you from other attendees, and may give you a call.
Consistency is the big thing. Getting out there and speaking on a regular basis keeps your pipeline full of prospects. When you're done, put a follow up mechanism in place, even if it's a simple mailing or newsletter. If you keep in contact with people who've heard you speak, you get more long-term leverage from your efforts.
Steven Van Yoder is the author of Get Slightly Famous™. He teaches small business owners how to attract more business with less effort by becoming a mini-celebrity in your field. Visit GetSlightlyFamous.com to claim your free Slightly Famous Marketing Plan Workbook.
To your success in speaking!!
How To Use Public Speaking To Attract Clients
When Robert Middleton moved his marketing consulting practice, Action Plan Marketing, to Palo Alto, California several years ago, he started his business from scratch. He had left his well-established client base several miles away and now had to find strategies to generate new clients.
Because Middleton had always spoken to promote his business, he turned to public speaking with a vengeance. He researched local organizations whose members comprised professional business owners, his target clientele. He called chambers of commerce, business groups and others likely to be interested in his three-hour marketing workshop.
Within a few months, Middleton had spoken at over a dozen organizations, establishing his reputation as a marketing expert for professional service firms. He quickly became a known entity, having personally introduced his business and credentials to hundreds of prospects.
Better yet, Middleton's speaking strategy helped him land all the business he could handle in a relatively short time period.
Over the course of sixteen talks, he averaged one new client each time.
Speaking Is Selling
Many business people never consider standing in the front of their buying public to share professional wisdom. If you're one of them, you're missing the boat.
Speaking is a marketing strategy you can immediately embrace to get in front of potential customers. Speaking puts you within handshaking distance of your best prospects, many times helping you close sales before you leave the room.
By speaking regularly you can end the uncertainty of knowing where your next client will come from. Speaking can help you reach dozens, and sometimes hundreds of your best prospects every time. Speakers report that speaking regularly continuously fills their prospect pipelines, ensuring a steady stream of new clients and customers.
Speaking is effective because it showcases your knowledge before groups of people who eagerly show up to hear it. Your prospects may tune out advertising, but they'll pay attention to your talk because it presents your knowledge in polished form to people who think it will help them.
Speaking gives you tremendous visibility and credibility that increases over time. Whenever you are in the front of a room, you get noticed. People will remember who you are and what your business does. The more people see you speak and see your business name, the more successful people think you are.
Speaking gives prospects a taste of what you offer in a non-threatening environment. When they are in a room full of people, they feel comfortable. There's safety in numbers. They do not feel the sales pressure of a one-on-one meeting. It's also low risk, as chances are, they didn't pay as much to hear you speak as it would cost to hire you.
Get On The Program
You don't have to be a seasoned speaker to put speaking to work for your business. If you're willing to speak for free, you'll find that there are more outlets available than you'll know what to do with.
"If you can get up there and do a decent job you will immediately position yourself as an expert in the minds of an audience," says business coach, author and professional speaker Caterina Rando. "You only have to be 'decent' to make an impact. Even though speaking can be scary at first, anybody can find groups to speak to and master the basics of giving a good speech."
Choose the right topics
Before you contact an organization about speaking, create sample talk descriptions with catchy titles. For example, a financial planner could avoid generic descriptions like "Planning Your Retirement," and use a more snappy title like "Enjoying Your Gold Years On A Champagne Budget".
Targeting speaking opportunities
Once you are clear about your topic and its benefit to the audience, make some calls and offer yourself as a speaker.
• Chambers of Commerce
• Service Clubs
• Industry Specific Associations
• University Extensions
• Professional Associations
Getting the most out of your speech
The promotional value of your talks goes beyond your time on the podium. Often, when you speak to a group, the group publicizes the event. Many people who do not attend the event will still read the information, or will hear about you from other attendees, and may give you a call.
Consistency is the big thing. Getting out there and speaking on a regular basis keeps your pipeline full of prospects. When you're done, put a follow up mechanism in place, even if it's a simple mailing or newsletter. If you keep in contact with people who've heard you speak, you get more long-term leverage from your efforts.
Steven Van Yoder is the author of Get Slightly Famous™. He teaches small business owners how to attract more business with less effort by becoming a mini-celebrity in your field. Visit GetSlightlyFamous.com to claim your free Slightly Famous Marketing Plan Workbook.
To your success in speaking!!
Fran
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Thursday, January 3, 2013
How To Give A Presentation
Almost everyone feels a bit nervous about delivering a presentation before a group. It seems that some people would rather undergo a root canal than experience the anxiety of giving a speech. They must have a really good dentist!
If you can follow some basic guidelines for preparation and delivery, you can transform your nervousness into positive energy that will allow you to achieve the results you desire.
The secrets to successful presentations are simple and are based on common sense. Unfortunately, many people fail to discover these secrets.
Step One: Purpose
This first step is the most important step. You need to ask yourself some hard questions, such as:
* What’s the purpose of your presentation? Why this topic? Why you? There are many reasons to make a speech or announcement, and you need to clearly define your goal.
* Do you have to deliver bad news to your department?
* Do you require a decision from your superiors on a problematic business situation?
* Do you have a solution and want to convince people?
* Are you trying to sell a solution or product?
The reason you are giving your speech is to persuade your audience to buy into specific ideas. You must sufficiently inspire and motivate listeners to take action or give the green light to act on suggested solutions.
However, unless they believe they “own” the decision, they won’t act upon it. You need to lead your audience through the decision-making process so the audience members can go through it with you.
It’s critical to avoid spelling everything out for them. Let them “see” what the problems are and which decisions are needed. They will then be happy to engage in finding solutions and be enthusiastic about acting on them.
Step Two: Know Your Audience
Your audience includes those who may be influenced or affected by your proposal. Before you think about what to say, you must determine who your audience is and what they’ll need from you to buy into your argument. Always focus on your audience's interests.
Make sure you’re selling the benefits of your solution—not the features. For example, if your new program benefits the company by saving time and money, this is what you should emphasize. It will appeal to your audience much more than any discussion of actual program features.
Step Three: Structure Your Presentation
Most of the time, it’s a good idea to open with a story that reveals a picture of the problem at hand. Stories engage people, especially if they’re personal and real. They create an authentic connection and grab people’s attention. Remember: Your first 30 seconds are the most crucial.
Follow up your story with an honest analysis of the problem, and back it up with research statistics. The Internet makes this part of your task easy, but be cautious about spending too much time on stats.
Then, present the solution. This is the “good stuff,” as people want to know relief is in sight. Spell out the benefits to your audience.
Strengthening Your Presentation
Slides or PowerPoint graphics should supplement your talk and illustrate key points, not deliver the presentation for you. Don’t use graphics that contain every word you say, and never read directly off the screen. After all, if people can read the information, why do they need you?
Limit text to subheadings, which should be large enough to read from the back of the room. Don’t talk to the screen instead of your audience. And always be prepared for the possibility of a power or technological failure; bring handouts and have an alternative way to deliver your speech in case there’s no screen.
Managing Anxiety
Some experts suggest memorizing the first 60 seconds of your speech. If you do this, make sure it sounds natural and authentic. Because you’re likely to open with a personal story, introduce yourself and explain why your topic is so important to you. This makes the first 60 seconds sound natural, even if you memorize your text.
Don’t draw attention to your nervousness by telling your audience about it. You can share your feelings, but not your anxieties. Your goal is to present yourself authentically, as a real human being.
Don’t fidget or fiddle with your hair, clothes or body parts.
If you can follow some basic guidelines for preparation and delivery, you can transform your nervousness into positive energy that will allow you to achieve the results you desire.
The secrets to successful presentations are simple and are based on common sense. Unfortunately, many people fail to discover these secrets.
Step One: Purpose
This first step is the most important step. You need to ask yourself some hard questions, such as:
* What’s the purpose of your presentation? Why this topic? Why you? There are many reasons to make a speech or announcement, and you need to clearly define your goal.
* Do you have to deliver bad news to your department?
* Do you require a decision from your superiors on a problematic business situation?
* Do you have a solution and want to convince people?
* Are you trying to sell a solution or product?
The reason you are giving your speech is to persuade your audience to buy into specific ideas. You must sufficiently inspire and motivate listeners to take action or give the green light to act on suggested solutions.
However, unless they believe they “own” the decision, they won’t act upon it. You need to lead your audience through the decision-making process so the audience members can go through it with you.
It’s critical to avoid spelling everything out for them. Let them “see” what the problems are and which decisions are needed. They will then be happy to engage in finding solutions and be enthusiastic about acting on them.
Step Two: Know Your Audience
Your audience includes those who may be influenced or affected by your proposal. Before you think about what to say, you must determine who your audience is and what they’ll need from you to buy into your argument. Always focus on your audience's interests.
Make sure you’re selling the benefits of your solution—not the features. For example, if your new program benefits the company by saving time and money, this is what you should emphasize. It will appeal to your audience much more than any discussion of actual program features.
Step Three: Structure Your Presentation
Most of the time, it’s a good idea to open with a story that reveals a picture of the problem at hand. Stories engage people, especially if they’re personal and real. They create an authentic connection and grab people’s attention. Remember: Your first 30 seconds are the most crucial.
Follow up your story with an honest analysis of the problem, and back it up with research statistics. The Internet makes this part of your task easy, but be cautious about spending too much time on stats.
Then, present the solution. This is the “good stuff,” as people want to know relief is in sight. Spell out the benefits to your audience.
Strengthening Your Presentation
Slides or PowerPoint graphics should supplement your talk and illustrate key points, not deliver the presentation for you. Don’t use graphics that contain every word you say, and never read directly off the screen. After all, if people can read the information, why do they need you?
Limit text to subheadings, which should be large enough to read from the back of the room. Don’t talk to the screen instead of your audience. And always be prepared for the possibility of a power or technological failure; bring handouts and have an alternative way to deliver your speech in case there’s no screen.
Managing Anxiety
Some experts suggest memorizing the first 60 seconds of your speech. If you do this, make sure it sounds natural and authentic. Because you’re likely to open with a personal story, introduce yourself and explain why your topic is so important to you. This makes the first 60 seconds sound natural, even if you memorize your text.
Don’t draw attention to your nervousness by telling your audience about it. You can share your feelings, but not your anxieties. Your goal is to present yourself authentically, as a real human being.
Don’t fidget or fiddle with your hair, clothes or body parts.
Practice your speech in front of a mirror as often as you can, and minimize nervous tics by standing behind a lectern, if necessary.
Practice drawing a deep breath for instant relaxation. Take two or three deep breaths before you get up to speak.
To your success in speaking!
Fran
P.S. If you would like some more tips on public speaking, click here
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