Category Archives: Presentation

Dec 22 5 comments
Presentation

How to Find Lucrative Public Speaking Jobs

SIMON GARMAH wrote:


Public speaking jobs are one kind of the top paying careers as it is outlined in the famous book”top 1000 paying jobs”.the pay could go anywhere between 1000 $ to 50.000 $ or more depending on the duration as well as the amount of work put into the process of the preparation of a given speaking event.It depends also on the importance of the content of the presentation itself.

Because I know the reason why you are here,I’m writing this article to help you to get yourself into the right track in your mission of finding lucrative public speaking jobs.The first thing to consider is to identify the field or the niche you are into and then look at related organizations,companies,associations…etc.Do your homework by contacting each one of the organizations that you found and see if they are looking for public speakers.Here’s a little secret of mine:Start with volunteer works with small businesses,non profit organization,universities and even libraries.The point here is to get noticed,Proclaim your expertise as a brilliant public speaker.Believe me,you will get an unbelievable exposure.Just start small and with determination and good faith,you will get the job of your dreams.

 

Another place to look for public speaking jobs is the internet,as you may notice,the internet now is playing an integral part in finding and location jobs online,so a quick search is sufficient to find great jobs opportunities.Try typing something like”speaker wanted+your niche” or something similar.You should find what you want.for example,contact information of organizations,conferences…etc.

Last and not least,and actually the most important places to go are directories.There are basically three main directories that will incredibly facilitate your research:The directory of association meeting planners,the directory of corporate meeting planners and the national trade and professional association directory.

 

These are the quickest and the most cost effective ways to locate great public speaking jobs.So far,I hope that you found something that interested you in this little article.Good luck and thank you for taking time to read this piece of information.



Dec 22 4 comments
Presentation

Tips for Overcoming your Fear of Public Speaking (part 1)

Brian Toppin wrote:


Too often we make things bigger than they have to be, and that’s definitely the case with public speaking. It is still rated as the number one fear for North Americans, and many others around the world. That reputation has also fed this phobia to keep it at the top of the list.

From personal experience, here are a few aspects that contributed to my fear of public speaking:

• I didn’t want to sound like an idiot in front of other people.

• I convinced myself that I would forget everything I’d have to say once I got in front of my audience.

Today I love speaking in front of people, and it doesn’t matter the size of the crowd. Let me share with you a few tips I’ve learnt to help you conquer your fear of public speaking.

Preparation of Talk

Benjamin Franklin said, “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail”. When giving a “talk” (that’s how I like to refer to speeches of any kind) I prepare well in advanced for it. Even if you do not have the luxury of time there is a framework you can use to prepare your talk. Just like writing an essay, build an outline of your talk using the titles of Introduction, Main Body, and Conclusion. “Tell ‘em what you’re gonna say, say it, and tell ‘em what you said”, as the old adage goes, it’s just that simple.

In the Dale Carnegie course “Breakthrough to Success” I learnt to use plain language that everyone can understand. Many people feel the need to include big words or technical jargon to make their talk more impressive, but it doesn’t.

I was also encouraged to never write out my whole talk. Instead I remembered three or four key points that my talk was built around. This took a lot of the pressure off of me as I didn’t have to memorize every word and every line.

Each point was illustrated with a story that acted as an anchor in the audience’s mind and makes the talk extremely effective. Think about it, when you listen to someone give a “speech” to you what stood out in your mind. Aren’t memorable speeches covered with analogies, and stories that touch different emotions within us? Use the stories and analogies as bridges in your mind to connect you from one point to the next.

A key point to remember as well is no one knows every word you are going to say, so if you get stuck, draw a blank, or missed something just move on and no one will know. Don’t apologize either. Apologizing for missing something makes the situation more awkward for you and your audience.

Practice, Practice, Practice

It is how the good become great, and a few of the greats become legendary by practicing as much as possible. Knowing your material and practicing delivering it numerous times alleviates the majority of fear built up inside. I used many opportunities while I’m alone to go over my talk. It doesn’t have to be from start to finish every time, but it helps cement the points of your talk in your head. So when I’m driving, in the shower, or at my desk and I know I’m alone I just go over my talk. As time drew closer to delivering my talk I would then start timing it. It is difficult at first, but once you persevere the timing becomes easier, and it’s almost as if you have a countdown timer in your head. A small suggestion is if it’s a fifteen-minute talk you have to give, practice to finish 30 seconds or a minute earlier. No one likes to listen to a person that rambles on, and if your audience knows you allotted time, they’ll be checking their watches.

In part two of How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking And How You Can Too, I will discuss finding your authentic voice and delivery style for giving your talk. For now, remember these three points: one) it’s just a talk not a speech, two) write out three or four points you want your audience to remember, anchor them with stories and analogies that also act as bridges from one point to another, and three) practice, practice, practice!!



Dec 20 5 comments
Presentation

Why Public Speaking is not Acting

Nancy Daniels wrote:


Having read Jane Andrew’s article entitled Public Speaking is Acting, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why the best public speakers are not acting:  they are communicating.  

Acting requires memorization of a script that has been marked by the actor; i.e., pause here, smile there, increase your volume, etc.  In teaching public speaking, I emphasize not marking the script because I don’t want a rote delivery.

The beauty of public speaking is that your audience often determines how your material will flow; and, good public speakers know how to work with good audiences.  Anecdotes or jokes may be added on the spur if the audience is highly receptive; whereas, if the audience is unresponsive, many speakers will drop some material and move in a different direction.

In that respect, good public speakers are thinking throughout their entire delivery because they are communicating.  They are not trying to be someone other than themselves.  They understand and value their own individuality.  And, they talk to their audience just as if they were having a conversation in their living room. 

Actors, on the other hand, are portraying a character other than themselves with material that is memorized.  Whether their audience is laughing, smiling, or hissing, their lines will not change.

My advice?

1.  Never mark your script and forget the smiley faces.  While I advocate smiling during a presentation, I want you to smile because of the moment.  Let it come naturally.

2.  Do not memorize your presentation.  Should you forget where you are, you are lost.

3.  Do not read your presentation.  You’re not at Barnes and Noble giving a reading.  Your audience came to hear you speak to them, not read.

4.  Practice your presentation OUT LOUD in the days before you are scheduled to speak so that you know, and are comfortable with, your material.

Actors are on stage for the purpose of entertaining an audience; and, while it is hopeful that good presentations are entertaining, the focus of public speaking should always be communication.



Dec 20 1 comments
Presentation

Public Speaking Training on How to Write a Persuasive Speech

David Portney wrote:


A persuasive speech is actually very simple to create and deliver.

If you want to write a persuasive speech, this article is going to give you the tools you need to persuade any audience or group.

Here are the major elements you must incorporate into your speech if you want to persuade any group:

PAIN

A persuasive speech paints a picture and tells a story – a story of pain. Pain that your group wants to avoid at all costs. Pain they can relate to. Pain such as fear of present or future loss. Pinpoint your groups’ fears before you start writing your speech. Do whatever you have to do to get 100% clear about their fears and pain. Incorporate that into your speech and make them feel that pain and fear. Telling stories is the easiest way to accomplish this in your speech.

PROOF

Any persuasive speech is going to provide irrefutable proof that what’s being said is 100% true. Look for facts, data and statistics that support what you’re saying. The more authoritative the source of those facts data and statistics is the more persuaded your group will be. Find facts data and statistics that come from well respected organizations such as governmental, trade groups, and industry associations.

AUTHORITY

The great thing about using authority to persuade people is that this doesn’t have to be your authority! Borrow authority from others by quoting experts by name and their expertise will be transferred over to you. Why? Because the group is convinced that you’ve done your research and you know your stuff. If you have expertise and authority, you can stand on your own, but you can also enhance your authority – and therefore your ability to persuade – by quoting other experts and authorities as well.

TESTIMONIALS

Testimonials are one of the most persuasive tools you can use. Social Psychologists call this “social proof” and their research shows that people are strongly influenced by what other people think, feel, and do. Read testimonials from people, but be sure to get their permission first. Video testimonials are even stronger and are easily incorporated into a PowerPoint presentation.

SUMMARY AND SUPER-IMPORTANT BONUS TIP:

A persuasive speech will incorporate the elements of pain, proof, authority, and testimonials so simply weave these elements into various places of your speech. But before you sit down to create your persuasive speech, be clear about what you want to accomplish in the first place!-then just work backwards from there. In other words, what exactly are you trying to persuade your group to do? Are you trying to win their hearts? Win their minds? Win their wallets? Whatever it is, you must be crystal clear about this before you create your persuasive speech.

Sign up right now for free weekly public speaking training at http://www.bestpublicspeakingtraining.com



Dec 20 0 comments
Presentation

Public Speaking Topics: How to Go Through Choosing Great Topics

SIMON GARMAH wrote:


One of the first questions that come to your mind when deciding to make a presentation is: What are the public speaking topics that I have to choose from? What is the public speaking topic that will impress my audience the most?

First of all, going through the process of choosing a great topic could be an enjoyable experience. Looking for topics that you are passionate about could be even more enjoyable. Once you decide what your public speaking topic is.Then, go and do your homework. There are a lot of information sources as you know, but the best one is “libraries» as you will find reliable as well as credible books and documents. This is of course is very important when you have a topic related to human sciences,history,education,business…etc.However,If your presentation revolves around a current and up-to-date issue. Then Libraries are not the suitable source. The internet however is the place to get information from as it contains the most current topics and issues all over the world.

 

It is extremely important to consider you audience’s interests when looking for a topic. In other words, is your topic suitable for them? Does it interest them? Does is meet their expectations vis-à-vis your presentation?

 

You really need to be careful when researching your topic, make sure that it goes hand in hand with what they expect out of your presentation. Make sure to come up with a topic that interests both you and them. If you do so, then expect to have a promising as well as a fulfilling presentation.I hope this article was helpful to you.There  are a lot of information that you can learn about public speaking topics in general.What are you waiting here? Go and make look for one.



Dec 20 0 comments
Presentation

Public Speaking Tips

Syed Muzaffar Aqleem Tirmizi wrote:


I was going through different surveys over the internet and came across what people fear the most. Ironically I was surprised about the findings. The first one was the fear of dying and the other one was public speaking.

For one reason or the other people have the fear of speaking in public, saying what’s on their mind. The funny part is that they fear to stand in front of an audience for a while whereas the though of standing their and giving a long speech is next to impossible.

Here today I will share with you how you could overcome this fear and speak with more confidence in public.

Prepare yourself:

The first and most important thing is to preparing yourself for the topic. Have a good night sleep before the day of the speech. If you have not rested properly then your tiredness will show and will be an immediate failure in making a proper impression over the audience. If you are tired then your mind will not be able to function as sharply as it should while giving the presentation or speech. Cover all the aspects rehearse a lot. For the speech you need to have the confidence in your mind that it’s not a big deal, prepare yourself physically and psychologically as well. Have good food, do not go hungry to a speech and do not also go too full. This will influence your concentration as well.

On the same lines you need to be well prepared on the topic that you would be presenting. You need to consider the fact that the time of the audience is important as well so provide them with something worthy of their time. A research showed and is a matter of fact you are more confident when you have a command on the subject or at least know what you are talking about. So do your homework and prepare your subject of discussion.

Rehearse a few times:

Before delivering the speech you need to go through all the content in detail and see how you deliver everything. Even the best speakers in the history have been known to practice a number of times privately before delivering their speeches in front of an audience. If you can make a video of your performance do that, as this will give you precise information about the mistakes and will also guide you about your body postures and gestures. Give you an idea what are the mistakes and how to improve it. This is a really powerful technique if employed effectively could do miracles.

Dress accordingly:

First impression always ensures weather your audience will be compelled to take you seriously or not. If you look too casual or too formal for the speech it will give an amateurish expression to the audience. Knowing your audience, knowing your subject will help you to weigh what would be the proper attire for the speech.

Be focused and Natural:

During the speech two most vital things to keep in mind is to stay focused and be as natural as you can. Do not pretend to be like someone else. Maintain your original style which you have practiced during your rehearsals and perfected. Have the self confidence that you are the one on stage and everyone is down their in front of you listening. Feel your power. Feel the power of every word that comes out of your mouth. Have the belief that what you are saying is going to make a difference or is worth listening.

Have the right frame of mind:

To be a confident speaker you need to know that you are a confident speaker. This self realization will lead in development of the confidence that you are searching from within. If you have all the negative thoughts in your mind that it’s not going to go well or how you perform then most likely you will end up performing not up to the mark. However, if you have the optimistic attitude that everything will go well and you will come out a winner and even while you are speaking to people act as if you are a winner already. This will give you the right confidence that you are looking for and eventually will shine out in front of everyone too.

Keep these pointers in your mind before giving the speech and prepare yourself to be the confident speaker which you never thought you could be.



Dec 20 0 comments
Presentation

The Secrets of Public Speaking - Follow These 10 Simple Tips

Andrew Rondeau wrote:


Is there anything more terrifying than facing an audience of strangers and knowing you have to deliver an entertaining and informative speech?

OK, some people thrive on this type of challenge! But the vast majority of us are at least a little nervous every time we have to speak publicly. In fact, fear of public speaking is probably one of the most universal fears throughout all walks of life.

Thankfully, public speaking is a fear that can easily be overcome with a little practice and the right approach. You can use the tips below to improve your public speaking skills.

1. Be prepared and practice.

The more you know what you want to say, the better you’ll get at it. First, brainstorm the topic of your speech and research it, if you need to. Write down all the points you want to make and then organize them into an outline. Fill in the details. Once you have the essential content of your speech written (at least in your head), transfer your main ideas to index cards. Write the main idea in dark ink on the front of the card, and if you think you’ll need cues, write them on the back of the card in pencil. Then, practice your speech out loud at least 3 to 5 times. If you can, practice it in front of a friend or family member and ask them for feedback and if that’s not possible, at least practice in front of a mirror. Do it until you can talk naturally, with only a glance at your cards. Don’t ever read your speech word for word!

2. Know your audience.

The better you know your audience, the easier it will be to connect to them as you speak. When you are able to make that connection, you’ll hold their attention. And seeing that you’re doing so will increase your confidence and comfort level, making it even easier for you to speak well. So, find out everything you can about the people you’ll be speaking to. Know what their “hot topics” are, inside jokes and so on. The more you know about what makes them tick and what interests them, the better speech you’ll be able to give.

3. Dress the part.

When you’re standing up in front of an audience, all eyes are on you. Like it or not, your image is important in this situation. So, dress to impress this particular audience. If you know your audience well (see #2), then you’ll have an idea how to dress. For example, you might dress in a conservative navy suit if you’re speaking to a group of bankers, but in a more casual, fashionable outfit when the audience consists of artists and designers.

4. Pay attention to the old KISS principle, that is, Keep It Short and Simple.

The key is to get your points across as quickly as possible. Don’t beat around the bush or try to impress with complex metaphors. Stories, however, can be a powerful public speaking tool, especially when they contain at least a hint of humor. But again, keep them short and on point. Shorter messages leave the impression of a savvy, smart speaker. They’re also easier for your audience to remember.

5. Speak clearly and at just the right tempo.

The mark of an inexperienced, uncomfortable public speaker is someone who speaks all in a rush, slurring words in her desire to get it over with. Don’t be this kind of speaker if you want to hold your audience’s attention. On the other hand, don’t speak so slowly your audience’s minds start to wander.

6. Use visual aids to illustrate your points.

Many people will understand your message more clearly when it is more visual. What we see often leaves a more lasting impression than what we hear. You can use slides, photographs, PowerPoint presentations, or even a simple whiteboard to add visual cues to your speech. One caution though—don’t turn your back on your audience as you use your visual aid, and don’t turn the lights on low for long periods, or you might be surprised to look up and see they are all sleeping!

7. Interact with your audience.

Lectures will rarely have the same impact on an audience that an open discussion will. Look for opportunities to involve your audience in what you are speaking about. Ask for validation of points you are making (”Am I right?” “Has that ever happened to you?”) or allow time for questions. Also, make sure to establish eye contact with your audience—and keep it—throughout your speech.

8. Speak with sincerity and passion.

You want to leave a lasting impression with the audience about your speech topic. So be sure you are true to yourself and your topic as you speak and don’t be afraid to inject passion and enthusiasm into the speech as well.

9. Come out from behind the podium.

You’ll project confidence and a sense of comfort when you have the courage to let go of the podium and stand in front of your audience with nothing to “protect” you. As you speak, you can walk back and forth across the stage, making eye contact with different people. Some speakers even walk out into the audience to get “up close and personal.” Be respectful of people’s personal space, though, if you decide to do this. You don’t want to be perceived as threatening or overbearing.

10. Close your speech in a memorable way.

Give your audience something to think about as you finish up your speech. Certainly, it’s a good idea to summarize your main points one more time, but then finish up with an inspiring story or quote, or leave them with a thought-provoking question.

Public speaking is an essential life skill that every person should strive to master. The ability to speak confidently in public will serve you in every part of your life, whether you are sharing opinions in a small group or delivering a planned speech in front of a group of hundreds.



Dec 18 0 comments
Presentation

10 Ways to Reduce the Fear of Public Speaking

Julie Hanson wrote:


1. There are many people who are scared of public speaking. In my opinion you need to prepare fully for the presentation or speech. Make sure you know what you’re going to say well in advance. You should never ‘wing it’ and believe that something useful will come out of your mouth! Normally it doesn’t unless you’re very confident.

2. Print out your speech or presentation and write notes beforehand. If you are giving a presentation then write notes alongside the slide pictures. Don’t write too much though or you’ll get confused and lose track. Just make some brief bullet points that you can follow and refer back to during the presentation.

3. Practice, practice, practice in front of whoever you can: the dog, cat, the mirror or your spouse (if you have the nerve). This may seem quite daunting and sometimes giving the presentation or speech in front of one person at home is worse than a room full of people. But it will give you more confidence.

4. Join a Network Marketing company to increase your chances to give a presentation. When you join a company you are given the opportunity to present in front just a few people at first, then the audience size will increase as will your confidence. This may seem scary but you need to confront your fear to eliminate it.

5. Ask for positive feedback or constructive criticism during your preparation. Remember, whatever the feedback, don’t take it personally. This feedback is for your benefit to perfect your speech. The more feedback you can get about the speech itself or the way you are delivering it then the better you will be on the day.

6. Punctuality is key. Turn up early for the presentation. Don’t turn up 5 minutes before or even worse, don’t turn up late! You will get very flustered and this will increase the nerves that you might be feeling. This will come across in the presentation to the audience too.

7. To get you through the presentation imagine the audience is naked! This thought has kept me amused throughout a lot of my presentations that I have given! Also remember that the audience has come along to hear what you have to say. They are not sitting waiting for you to slip up or to make a mistake. So think positively and enjoy yourself! The audience won’t know if you’re nervous, they won’t be able to see your hands shaking!

8. To deliver a good presentation you really need to know your subject matter. Make sure you have done your research and know what you’re talking about. You will then find it easy to deliver the presentation. It also helps if you enjoy your subject matter. Sometimes this is not easy if it is a presentation that you have been forced to do, but if you make it enjoyable you’ll be more enthusiastic.

9. Get a mentor to help with your presentation skills. Again you could join a Network Marketing company. They have mentors with many years of experience of presenting to huge audiences, sometimes even thousands. They will be very open to helping you to improve your skills. I have had a lot of free training during my time in a network marketing company and this has helped me to overcome my fear.

10. Turn public speaking into a hobby, join a local amateur dramatics society to practice speaking in public. This will increase your confidence whilst you’re having fun. Playing a character may help to reduce your fear of being on stage. You could also join your local Toastmaster’s Association where you can practice speaking in public regularly.



Dec 16 0 comments
Presentation

Better Public Speaking

sheila Mulrennan wrote:


Think of the last really memorable talk or presentation that you attended. Now, was that easy to do, or did you really have to rack your brains to remember one? Sadly, too many presentations are easy to forget. And that’s a big problem because the only reason the presenter gave the talk was to communicate something to you.

However, there are four basic things that you can do to ensure that your verbal messages are understood - and remembered - time and time again.

Although somewhat obvious and deceptively simple, these are:

Understand the purpose of the presentation

Keep the message clear and concise

Be prepared

Be vivid when delivering the message

Understand what you want to achieve:

Before you start working on your talk or presentation, it’s essential that you really understand what you want to say, who you want to tell and why they might want to listen. To do this, ask yourself: Who? What? How? When? Where? Why?

Who are you speaking to? What are their interests, beliefs and values? What do they share in common with others; how are they unique?

What message do you wish to convey? One way of answering this question is to ask yourself about the ‘success criteria’. How do you know if and when you have successfully communicated what you have in mind?

How can you best put across your message? Language is most important here, as are non verbal cues such as body language and expressions. Choose your words and non verbal cues while keeping your audience in mind. Plan a beginning, middle and end. If time and place allow, consider and prepare audio-visual aids.

When? Timing is important here. Develop a sense of timing, so that your contributions are seen and heard as relevant to the issue or matter at hand. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

Where? What is the physical context of the communication in mind? You may have time to visit the venue, for example, and rearrange the furniture. Check for availability and visibility if you are using audio or visual aids.

Why? In order to convert hearers into listeners, you need to know why they should listen to you – and tell them if necessary.

The Importance of Simplicity:

When it comes to wording your message, less is more. You’re giving your audience headlines, too much information will overload and bore your listeners.. They are not expecting to become experts on the subject as a result of hearing your presentation, therefore simplicity is best.

If you’re using slides, limit the content of each one to a few bullet points, a single statement or a very simple diagram.

Preparation:

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. In fact, it is the most important factor in determining your communication successes. When possible, set meeting times and speaking and presentation times well in advance, thus allowing yourself the time you need to prepare your communications. Each minute of a presentation deserves thirty minutes preparation.

Of course, not all communications can be scheduled. In this case, preparation may mean having a good, thorough understanding of the office goings-on, enabling you to communicate with the knowledge you need to be effective, both through verbal and written communications

Successful Delivery:

The manner in which you deliver your speech or presentation has a lasting impact on your audience. Again, preparation is paramount here, in order to hold the listeners attention. Some useful tips for keeping your presentation vivid include:

Use examples to bring your points to life

Keep your body language up-beat - don’t stay stuck behind a rostrum

Don’t talk to fast. Less is more here too. Pauses are effective.

Use a variety of tones of voice

Use visual aids.

Presentations and public speaking, although daunting, can be a very enjoyable, rewarding experience, once adequate time is taken to prepare and rehearse them. An enthusiastic speaker who is confident with their material will make a lasting memorable impression on their audience.



Dec 15 0 comments
Presentation

The Art of Public Speaking: How to Influence Your Audience

SIMON GARMAH wrote:


 Public speaking or speech-making is one of the many things that is most commonly feared tasks as it requires to stand up in front of strange people trying to convince them to make a purchase if you are in the marketing arena, or simply adding something to their knowledge in a given area.Actually, there are many factors involved in determining the amount of success you receive out of performing such task. Looking comfortable, confident and relaxed are among these factors, though it’s a bit hard to achieve theses characteristics at the podium, but it’s always possible with an on-going rehearsal. The following are down-to-earth and easy-to-implement techniques that can maximize your potential to an incredibly public speaking performance:

1)     Devote some time to understand the nature of your audience. what make them want to attend and listen to whatever you have to say, what are their expectations, hopes and the result that they reap out of their attendance. It should not escape your notice the importance of learning about their background about the subject matter so as to eliminate all what they know for time’s sake.

2)     When you first stand be sure that you are projecting high self-confidence and relaxation. Connect with the audience with strong eye contact and a genuine smile, now start talk in a strong manner.

3)     I cannot stress enough the importance of eye contact and its magical influence upon the audience and the way they respond and listen to you as well as their feeling of being a part of the performance and the success you are building.

4)     Make certain that the listeners are attentive that the speech is coming to an end, this could be achieved through changing your voice to a minimal level, this will enable the audience to notice that you are making your last statement. this is of course very important unless you wish to be faced by a period of silence once you finish your speech.