Dec
22
Kevin Sinclair wrote:
When you think about it, there really is so much to learn about the art of communication and conversation. Although, it is your throat and mouth that are making the sounds and movements, it’s you brain that is working twice as hard to communicate your knowledge.
The first step in learning to communicate effectively is by knowing the person you are closest to: yourself.
1. Know What You are Talking About
To be an effective speaker, educate yourself about the subject being discussed and practice what you have learned. We all have limitations, but that does not mean that you cannot learn to keep up with others and share what they know.
2. Listening
Asking questions is important, but so is listening. Oftentimes, just listening to the sound of you own voice will teach us to be somewhat more confident in ourselves and then we feel that we can talk about things we believe in with conviction.
3. Humility
No one is perfect, we all make mistakes from time to time, maybe slur our words or stutter. Maybe we mispronounce certain words although we know the meaning of the word that we are trying to say; we just rarely use it only to impress others. So if you are speaking to a group, do not be shy or afraid, ask them if you are saying the word properly. With any luck, they too will be unsure and you can just make a joke out of it. A little added humor never hurts; just make sure that it is tasteful.
4. Eye Contact
It is important to stay focused on your subject when talking to a group of people or in a meeting. Make eye contact with each individual, but do not linger, even though he or she may be gorgeous.
5. Humor
A little humor will go a long way in lifting the tension or boredom in a room when making a speech. This way, you will get the attention of the majority of the crowd and they will feel that you are down to earth and approachable.
6. You are No Different Than They are So Mingle a Little
Interact and mingle with other people. You will likely get some new ideas, as well as, learning a little bit about what makes people who they are.
7. Hear Yourself
Admit it, there are times when you sing in the shower. We all do it! Try practicing your speech in front of the mirror, this gives you the opportunity to hear the sound of your own voice and can help you correct the stress areas of your pitch. While you’re at it you can get spruced up.
8. Present Yourself with a Smile
Much like eye contact, a smile says it all. There is not any point in frowning or grimacing in a gathering or meeting, unless you are at a wake. You can express yourself better when you smile.
9. Have a Role Model
There is probably one or two people in your life you have listened to when they are presenting a speech at a public gathering or maybe in church. Take a mental note of how they emphasize themselves when they are talking. This may help you once you take center stage.
10. Preparation
Rather than being in a hurried panic and just scribbling down notes, it is best to be prepared. Know what you want to say, have a good set of notes available, just in case you need to take a peek. More importantly, be sure that you feel comfortable with what you are going to be talking about. After all, you do not want to be a nervous wreck and fall to pieces during your presentation.
And that about wraps it up. You can improve your communication skills by putting any of the above steps into action when it comes to private or public speaking. It also doesn’t hurt to just be with people and to listen how they make conversations and meetings far more enjoyable as well as educational.
Dec
13
Andrew Rondeau wrote:
Public speaking ranks right up there with death in terms of the things we are terribly afraid to do. Whether it’s the fear of being watched closely by others, or the insecurity and self-conscious feeling of slipping up during the presentation, these six tips will help you give a polished, professional speech that you (and your audience) can be proud of!
1. Know your audience.
This is the single best piece of advice for delivering a presentation that really hits home.
What are their interests?
Their backgrounds?
Why are they coming to hear you speak or present?
What ideas do you have to share with them?
Approaching your speech as more of a “me-to-you” discussion rather than a full-blown broadcast will make it more manageable (and less stressful) and easier on you.
2. What do you want your audience to do as a result of your speech?
What’s really at the heart of your presentation?
By concentrating on the “end result” rather than slogging through the beginning, you can create a powerful punch that drives home your message instead of rambling on and losing your audience’s interest (or missing the point entirely!)
3. Share a story.
In public speaking circles, this is called a “hook” – something that gets your audience’s attention and makes them sit up and listen.
Start off by asking questions or sharing an experience you had.
People like to be active, rather than passive listeners.
By giving them something that they can identify with, you’ll find that these people are, in essence – just like you! And that makes giving a presentation a whole lot easier.
Just be sure your story has a beginning, a point, and an ending. There’s nothing quite as bad as telling a story to an engaged audience and then forgetting why you told it!
4. If you’re selling a product, focus on the benefits instead of the features.
People would much rather hear WHAT a product can do for them than HOW it does it.
Narrow down your product’s features until you get to the core of how it solves a problem. If you need help with figuring out the difference between a feature and a benefit, ask yourself “So What?”
For example, if you’re selling a vacuum cleaner that has a hypoallergenic filter, put yourself in the customer’s shoes and ask yourself “so what?” The answer would be something like, “It picks up dust, mold and pet dander”. Again, “so what?” Answer, “You’ll feel relief from runny nose and sneezing plus itchy, water eyes.” Now THAT’s a benefit!
5. Don’t lean too heavily on media to make your message clear.
PowerPoint presentations are great for making specific points, but they can be overwhelming – or downright boring.
Instead, give your audience something to DO by providing them with fill-in-the-blank flip charts or “team activities”. These help reinforce and emphasize your message in ways that a computer presentation simply cannot.
6. Above all, make sure your speech ends in a way that reiterates the beginning.
Too often, speakers get carried away with the details and leave their audiences asking, “What was the point of all that?”
People naturally digest information in “chunks”, so focus on the big picture rather than all the pieces.
If the details are just as important, save it for an after-speech handout that the audience can take with them and read over at their leisure.
If you keep these six tips in mind, you’ll not only have an easier time overcoming your fear of public speaking, but you’ll have a very appreciative audience who will in turn be more receptive and eager to try your product or service.
Go get ‘em!
Dec
12
Andrew Rondeau wrote:
The day arrives when you are going to publicly speak.
You are ready.
Or are you…
…Nervous?
…Anxious?
…Terrified?
…Excited?
Maybe all of the above?
You’ve been in that situation before, haven’t you?
You arrived at the venue on time in order to prepare.
You are happy with the visual aids, props, room and room layout.
You have checked how to use the equipment.
You have completed all the planning and preparation required.
You have learned and practised the presentation/speech numerous times, (not too well or it may come across as though you are reading it!!!).
You have made sure you are dressed and groomed appropriately and in keeping with the audience’s expectations.
Your notes are all in order.
You are ready to vary the tone of your voice, to lift the energy and inspire your audience.
You are focused on what the audience wants and expects.
But….
…are you ready?
You are still not confident, are you?
It happens to us all.
We are fully prepared but “just not confident enough”.
So how do you boost your confidence?
Think about an event in the past where you did something, which worked out absolutely fantastic for you.
Imagine stepping onto the stage just as confident when you were promoted or just finished a 10 mile run or asked someone out on a date and they said ‘yes’ or receiving great feedback from your boss’s boss.
Well you can and all it takes is practice.
This is an exercise I learned from Dr Richard Bandler, the co-founder of NLP, which all super successful individuals use.
Know it…use it…and you could be like them.
Try this 5-minute exercise:
· Imagine a time when you were super-confident
· Remind yourself what happened
· What were people saying to you?
· How did you feel?
· What did you see?
· Was there any particular sounds or smells?
· Are you painting the picture of when you felt super-confident?
· Make the picture really bright and big
How do you feel right now?
More confident then you did 5 minutes ago?
Most probably.
By remembering past experiences and allowing the feelings to spread all over you, you are telling you brain that the experience is happening right now – in this moment.
This is a simple exercise to boost your confidence.
Complete the exercise the next time you are about to step onto the stage.
Be calm, walk on the stage or to the meeting with your head held high and make sure you are smiling.
Now deliver magnificently.
Dec
07
Sandra Clair wrote:
You see them at podiums in the workplace and on television. They make you laugh, cry and think. They dispense information that you may find valuable and useful. Then, all of a sudden, your boss is in your office, asking you to present the results of your latest marketing campaign or teach a class on the new technology that your office is implementing. As you are sitting at your desk, you can feel the sweat coming, and your palms become clammy. What is it about public speaking that makes so many of us shiver with trepidation? Getting over your fear of standing in front of a roomful of people is the first step in effective public speaking. And the best way to overcome that fear is to learn some techniques in effective public speaking that will give you the confidence to approach that podium with style.
Are you Talking to Me?
The first step in effective public speaking is to know your audience. You want to tailor your speech to the needs of the people you are speaking to by evaluating the age, interests and experience level of your crowd. This will help you to know what type of vocabulary to use, if you are safe to throw out technical terminology and whether or not to use industry jargon. Once you have a good idea of who you are talking to, you want to find a way to grab the attention of your audience in the first few minutes of your speech. This can be done through the use of a personal anecdote, a remarkable fact or statistic, or by asking a question. You can also open your speech with humor, but make sure that you are comfortable with joke telling before you attempt this approach. Once you have the undivided attention of your audience, you are on your way to effective public speaking.
Organization is the next step to effective public speaking, and is primarily accomplished before you ever set foot on the stage. As you plan out the main points of what you want to convey in your speech, keep the number of these to three at the most. Under those three main headings, select three or four pieces of support for your points, which may include testimonials, facts and statistics or visual aids. Make up notes for yourself that will either include a formal outline of all of the topics that you want to cover or some sort of diagram that will help you remember everything that you want to say. Most public speakers find that putting this information onto note cards will offer the greatest assistance when you are standing in front of the crowd.
Another important factor to consider in effective public speaking is how to personalize your speech to make it more interesting to your audience. This can be done through the use of personal anecdotes, whether your own or someone else’s (with permission, of course!). By telling a brief story or two, you bring the information home to your audience, which is a key in effective public speaking. You can also include audience participation in your speech to help personalize the information. The most common use of this tool is by asking your audience questions and asking for a raise of hands as a response. Including your audience in your speech is another key to effective public speaking.
It is also a good idea to use visual aids that can run the gamut from a dry erase board to a power point presentation. Make sure that any technical equipment that you use for your speech is tested thoroughly beforehand, so that you don’t have to worry about glitches when you are on stage. You will also want to make sure that your visual aids are easy to see, and even simpler to understand. Otherwise, you will only serve to confuse your audience, instead of effectively illustrating your key points. If your room is going to be large, handouts can also provide a handy visual for effective public speaking.
Finally, end your speech on a positive, thoughtful note. Effective public speaking is all about engaging your audience and leaving them with information to chew on. If you can successfully get your crowd to think, you have done your job well.
Dec
04
Sandra Clair wrote:
Are you ready for a pop quiz? Define glossophobia. If you are thinking that this word means an intense fear of something, you are halfway there. Glossophobia is an acute fear of public speaking. Now raise your hand if you suffer from glossophobia. Chances are, your hand is high in the air right about now. Statistics have shown that public speaking phobia is right up there with a fear of snakes and death. It is clear that public speaking sends many to the depths of terror, but the good news is that there are methods that you can employ to overcome your public speaking phobia.
The first question to address when confronting a public speaking phobia is why the fear exists in the first place. For most folks, the thought of standing in front of a group of people makes them worry about how they will be perceived by the crowd. No one wants to be laughed at or seen as foolish, and putting yourself in the public eye seems to increase the odds of that occurring. You may be concerned that you will forget what to say, or that you will stumble over your words. If you suffer from this kind of fear of public speaking, here are a few tips to help you overcome them.
How to See your Audience
There is an age-old piece of advice that suggests you will be less nervous before a crowd if you imagine the people in the audience in their underwear. Most public speakers will probably agree that this is not the most effective way to approach an audience calmly and professionally. Perhaps a better method is to ponder the fact that these folks want to see you succeed in your public speaking endeavor as much as you do. Think of the group as pulling for you, and you will have a much better chance of connecting with your crowd. It also helps to count to ten once you approach the podium, and before you start speaking. This will give your audience a chance to prepare for what you have to say, and will allow you to take control of the room. Once you begin speaking, smile and make eye contact with your group to get them to respond to you with interest and enthusiasm. It may not be an easy task if your knees are knocking below, but it will help you to relax a bit and gain some confidence before beginning your speech.
Of course, overcoming a public speaking phobia begins before you ever enter the auditorium. If you have prepared your speech thoroughly, and researched the room that you will be speaking in, the crowd that you will be talking to and the resources that you will be utilizing, you will naturally approach the event with a great deal more confidence. It also helps to practice your speech a number of times before the big day. Don’t rely only on the mirror for your practice time either (although this is one good technique). Practice in front of your family and friends, and allow them to offer constructive feedback to help you improve. This exercise will greatly help you to get past your public speaking phobia.
Finally, remember that many people suffer from the same public speaking phobia that you are experiencing. Even some famous performers still have to grapple with stage fright before a performance. Knowing that you are not alone in your fear will be a great help in overcoming your public speaking phobia. And once you have delivered a few of these speeches, the process will most definitely become much easier. Practice makes perfect or at least less fearful.
Jul
12
Kevin Sinclair wrote:
A majority of people tend to believe that parts of life are naturally stressful. If truth be told, most of us have in actual fact been educated to believe that life on the whole is stressful. In order to enable us to deal with stress in an effective manner, it is first necessary to understand that life itself is NOT naturally stressful. It has been learned, by thousands of people, to speak in front of groups with very little or no stress at all. In the first instance many of these people were terrified of doing this.
Many people experience panic, with shaking knees, trembling voices, and their thoughts becoming a mass of jumble just at the thought of speaking in public. However, this fear has been eliminated by many people. It is important to remember that you are no more or no less than any of them. If others can do it with confidence, then why can’t you? All that you need is the correct guiding principles, along with the correct understanding and the correct plan of action, to be able to speak in public comfortably and with confidence.
Many of us have seen public speakers and thought “There’s no way I could do that. I am just not that smart, witty, entertaining, calm, polished - or whatever.” Well, let me tell you that you do not need to be fantastic or perfect in order to succeed. Public speaking is not about being brilliant. Mistakes can be made. Your tongue can become tied, or you could even forget entire parts of your speech and still give a successful speech.
Everything depends upon your, and your audiences, definition of success. Having the understanding that your audience does NOT expect perfection is one of the biggest secrets to successful public speaking. Giving your audience something of value is the essence of public speaking. There really is nothing more to it. If your audience walks away feeling better about themselves, then they will consider that their time with you was worthwhile.
When speakers convey, people remember very little about the facts or information that the speaker has outlined. Therefore, it is imperative not to overload your audience with unnecessary facts and details. Simple information will suffice in giving them what they want so that they can walk away with one or two key points that are significant to them.
This may sound absurd, but you will succeed as a public speaker if you simply address your audience with a little knowledge and remember to be yourself. It really is as simple as that. Of course, a little practice is required. However, the best way to succeed is to enter the arena time and time again and you will quickly have all of the confidence that you need.
Mar
31
Joseph J. Wood wrote:
With the information age upon us, and immense knowledge being constantly shared, people are being asked more frequently to address public audiences. The need to define study tips on public speaking is rapidly growing. More and more people are standing in front of their audiences with nothing to say, or it seems that way. These following tips on public speaking will show you why it is important to target you message to an audience that will enjoy it.
1)Know the needs of your audience, and make sure your content is matched to those needs. Know you strongest and weakest points and emphasize your strongest during your presentation. Your audience needs to see you as a professional speaker that has studied the tips on public speaking. You will grab your audience’s attention if you come across as actually knowing your subject.
2)Body Language is very important. Stand, walk around a bit, use appropriate hand gestures or facial expressions. This is much preferred to sitting down during your presentation. Be careful here, you do not want to look silly. Practice in front of a spouse, co-worker or friend, and act natural. If you look nervous, this will greatly affect your body language. Relax and stay calm. The reflection of your body language that you are displaying will be shown in your audience’s reaction to your presentation.
3)Pause - You need to give your audience and yourself time to reflect on a point you just made. Don’t rush through your presentation and leave you audience and yourself out of breath. A slow and steady pace, with appropriate pauses will make you seem relaxed and your audience is be relaxed.
4)Do not read from notes for any lengthy period of time. It is quite acceptable to glance at your notes, but do not read them. This will bore you audience and they will loose attention really fast. Once you have lost the attention of your audience, it is very difficult to get them back.
5)Speak with conviction. The most important of the tips on public speaking. Do you believe what you are saying? If you do not, your audience will not. You need to persuade you audience and to do this, you must believe in your material. If you actually believe in your material and portray this to your audience, they will begin to believe in your material. This will be a successful presentation.
6)Add Humor whenever possible. Make sure what you are saying is actually funny, not just for you, for others as well. There is nothing worse in a presentation that a bad joke. Make sure your humor is absolutely politically correct. The last thing you want is to offend your audience.
7)STOP - Yes, know when to stop. Time your presentation when you are practicing. When you end, summarize you main points. Terminate you presentation with an interesting remark or punch line. If things were going good in your presentation, then you notice your audience wandering, then you know you have good to long. End it quickly.
Using these seven secret tips on public speaking will greatly increase the changes of you having a successful public speaking experience. There are many more secrets not addressed here, but theses seven are an excellent place to start. By targeting you message to the correct audience and implementing these tips on public speaking in your next address, you will become a speaker that audience’s look forward to hear.
Dec
06
David Portney wrote:
Public speaking training really is the best way to get up to speed quickly if you’re a beginner or polish and advance your skills if you already have some experience.
Even if you have a lot of experience, attending a high quality speaking training allows you to sharpen your ability and get to an even higher level of skill.
But no matter what your level of experience – rank beginner, seasoned pro, or somewhere in between, choosing a good speaking training is more than a syllabus or a course outline:
It’s the trainer that will ultimately make all the difference in the world.
Here are some key considerations when evaluating a public speaking training trainer:
The “prima donna star speaker”: just because someone has been successfully speaking for many years doesn’t mean they can teach YOU how to be a successful speaking professional. Look for a trainer that not only is a successful speaker, but already has a long track record of training adults – this means they can actually impart and transfer skills to you.
The “flunky trainer”: many training companies have people with impressive credentials, but when you arrive at the training they only make a token appearance and then pass you off to be trained by some inexperienced “flunky”. Don’t fall into this trap, ask ahead of time exactly who will be conducting the majority of the training. Don’t settle for less than the top person conducting at least 80% of the training.
Quality feedback: look for a speaking training where you’ll receive a lot of feedback. It’s not enough to just get up and speak using the skills you learn, you have be shaped and molded by the trainer. The best trainings will also allow feedback from the other students – but be careful here because that feedback should not be “just whatever they want to say” – it should be structured by the trainer or else it’s practically useless feedback.
Variety of skills: a good speaking training will cover presentation design and delivery. But the best speaking training will also cover seminar logistics, handling difficult audience members, and the “business of speaking”. Look for a well-rounded course that goes beyond just design and delivery.
Summary and super-important bonus tip:
When choosing a speaking training, it’s important to evaluate not just the subject matter covered, but more importantly the actual trainer. Here’s a super-important tip most trainers either don’t know or won’t tell you: when you train with a trainer, you absorb their beliefs so it’s critical to find a trainer with a high degree of integrity and who “walks their talk”. Look for a trainer that designs and delivers the entire training personally, and who has a proven track record for both successful speaking but also training others to be successful.
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