Having a friendly chat with a colleague before a big presentation or test may be a good strategy. A recent study found that pleasant social interactions help people perform better on cognitive tasks.
The truly successful speaker understands the power of story. Most speeches or presentations overflow with facts, figures and information. We're bombarded with data.
But before your audience can believe in your facts, they need to believe in you. Telling stories is a good way of helping your audience get to know you - which is the first step towards believing you.
Stories don't have to be long. Just make sure the anecdote or story is simple, clear and relevant. (And won't alienate any group within your audience). Stories:
• are a good way of engaging the audience;
• let the audience know you can be trusted;
• give structure to information and make data memorable;
• help keep the audience constantly engaged;
• are a wonderful teaching tool;
• touch us in a way facts don't.
Parkinson's Disease is a fact. Actor Michael J. Fox's struggle with Parkinson's Disease is a story that drives medical research, agitates for political change, and has people reaching into wallets and purses to finance the search for a cure.
Try to tell a story at least every 5 minutes in your speech or presentation.
Even accountants have stories
I worked with one group who said: "We are accountants. We don't have stories." Believe me, even accountants have stories. Anyone who achieves a personal or professional goal, but has to overcome difficulties to do it, has a story. Because at the heart of story is a character confronting difficulties to achieve something worthwhile.
Put a human face on your data. Convert your facts and figures into a story people will remember and your audience will hang on to every word you say.
Facts tell - but stories sell.
Neil Everton is a media skills trainer and presentation skills coach with Podium Media & Communications Coaching
Michael Hyatt writes that he has spoken publicly about a dozen times in the last three weeks. Because this is more than usual, he has begun to notice a pattern in his psychological state as he goes through the speaking cycle.
He goes on to list 10 stages that seem to apply to each speaking situation. I have to agree that it is heartening to know that the less comfortable stages are "normal" for you and that they have their part to play in a successful presentation.
And I think I have quite a few stages in common with him, but not all.
What about You?
... Your Own Self-Selling Book or Booklet
with Gordon Burgett
To regularly earn many thousands of dollars from speeches or seminars, invest a few hundred dollars now — once — and create a surefire selling tool that you can send to every booker in your universe. Build a book or booklet from something you uniquely know — solve a gnarly problem, retool a case study, explain a process that works — so the booker sees your brilliance, wit, and special insight and can hire you for a related presentation you want to give!
Best yet, you needn’t pay a penny to publish your gem in either bound or digital format, and it can be yours in minutes or days. It can also be an income source forever!
Gordon will explain the step-by-step process in this teleseminar and accompanying workbook. He will also include two digital examples (of a dozen such tools he has successfully used in the past 25 years) that you can download to get started.
You will learn:
• how to strategize your speech-marketing campaign, and what singular tool will distinguish you from others seeking that booking
• the contact letter, flyer, and “kit” components you will have digitally accessible to accompany your new speech-marketing book or booklet
• what the new tool must do to positively persuade the programmer that you are the person to pick, and to whom it should be sent for maximum effectiveness
• where you can send the tool to get it published free and fast, looking the way you want, both bound and digitally downloadable!
• how you can later (or simultaneously) re-publish that core book or booklet in-house as often as you wish without rights problems or ISBN issues
Speaking and making presentations that form memorable experiences, entertain and convey a high impact message can be a very profitable way to grow your business. In fact, public speaking is very comfortable for most lawyers. Like opera singers, many of us love to hear the sound of our voice. Whether it’s summing up to a jury or arguing a case before the Supreme Court, many lawyers are born speakers. Not only will speaking demonstrate your knowledge and expertise, but it will also allow you to develop an emotional bond with your audience. Speaking offers prestige, credibility, visibility, and can be a lot of fun.
Listen to Steve Markman tell you how to do it...Download steve_markman.mp3
Posted this on the Pivotal Public speaking blog ...
Love this, Tim ...
I’m sorry but I’m starting to get frustrated. And I’m due for a rant anyway.
If you are making these mistakes in your presentations then you’d better stop. Or I’m going to walk out. Quietly so you won’t see me.
Or I’ll just slowly stop listening.
Until all I hear is a soft buzzing of the audio equipment in the back. And the sound of a few chairs squeaking due to other uneasy victims being sucked into the vortex.
I do a lot of presentations and I’m not here to say that I am a big-time speaker. With the best slides and the A-list type content.
Someday Perhaps.
But I am watching you. To see what I can learn from you.
And lately I have been watching a lot of presentations. Great for me actually. To compare the good, the bad and the ugly. And to push myself to get better.
So I’ve picked three mistakes that I’ve seen over the past weeks. Some at a few big events (hint, I am writing from Las Vegas. Attending the Blog World Expo). As they happen, these mistakes feel like a slowly building stomach sickness. But more than that? I feel really frustrated. That quality speakers would make these mistakes:
So you have to give a speech! It could be for a friend's wedding, for an eulogy, or a presentation at work. No matter what the reason if you are not used to public speaking your first thought might be "how can I get out of it." But don't panic as I can help you overcome your fears with organizing a speech.
A good speech that you are complemented on is great for your self-esteem. Good preparation and practice at least twenty times is the key to success and helps deal with nervousness.
I have been public speaking since 2006 and can help you get organized. Here is what I do when organizing a speech. => http://bit.ly/aZbSc2
Love this, Tim ...
I’m sorry but I’m starting to get frustrated. And I’m due for a rant anyway.
If you are making these mistakes in your presentations then you’d better stop. Or I’m going to walk out. Quietly so you won’t see me.
Or I’ll just slowly stop listening.
Until all I hear is a soft buzzing of the audio equipment in the back. And the sound of a few chairs squeaking due to other uneasy victims being sucked into the vortex.
I do a lot of presentations and I’m not here to say that I am a big-time speaker. With the best slides and the A-list type content.
Someday Perhaps.
But I am watching you. To see what I can learn from you.
And lately I have been watching a lot of presentations. Great for me actually. To compare the good, the bad and the ugly. And to push myself to get better.
So I’ve picked three mistakes that I’ve seen over the past weeks. Some at a few big events (hint, I am writing from Las Vegas. Attending the Blog World Expo). As they happen, these mistakes feel like a slowly building stomach sickness. But more than that? I feel really frustrated. That quality speakers would make these mistakes:
Can words really account for only 7 percent of the meaning of a spoken message? This short video animation puts 'Mehrabian's rule' under the magnifying glass and shows why it can't be true
So you have to give a speech! It could be for a friend's wedding, for an eulogy, or a presentation at work. No matter what the reason if you are not used to public speaking your first thought might be "how can I get out of it." But don't panic as I can help you overcome your fears with organizing a speech.
A good speech that you are complemented on is great for your self-esteem. Good preparation and practice at least twenty times is the key to success and helps deal with nervousness.
I have been public speaking since 2006 and can help you get organized. Here is what I do when organizing a speech.
All speeches have five essential steps in the following order.
1. A Goal
A goal is essential for organizing a speech. It is never part of the speech but is a guide to organizing a clear and meaningful message. Discussing everything possible about a subject is usually impossible because of time constraints and of not overwhelming your audience with information.
A goal therefore contains only one idea that specifies the speech's purpose. It maybe to persuade, entertain or inform.
Here is an example of an effective speech goal for a Best Man speech.
"I want my audience to know the three reasons why John and Emma are the perfect couple."
2. The Preview Statement
The preview statement is a direct result of the speech Goal. The Preview Statement should be one complete sentence that highlights the three or four things you want to say about a particular topic. Your preview statement lets the audience know what is coming in the speech.
An example for the best Man speech would be:
"The three reasons John and Emma are the perfect couple is because they love each other, they laugh with each other and they learn from each other."
This will be the last sentence of your introduction which I will discuss in step 4.
3. Main Points
The main points make up the bulk of your speech. Your main points should be consistent with your preview statement and be in the same order because your audience now has an expectation about what you will say.
Your first main point is "they love each other." You can then fill in the reasons, examples or stories.
Your second main point is "they laugh with each other." You could tell a funny story or something funny that might have happened.
Your third main point is that "they learn from each other." You could explain how much they have changed and grown since meeting.
4. Introduction
Many people think that writing an introduction is the first step to planning a speech. This is not true. The reason I have put it at number four is because it is important to know what the speech is about before you tackle the introduction.
An introduction must grab the audience attention and make sense with the rest of the speech and should set a tone. Is it funny, somber, serious or urgent? It can come in many forms: a story, a joke, or even a song. Use your preview statement as the last sentence to lead into your main body content as mentioned in number two.
5. Conclusion
The conclusion, in part, is a repeat of your preview statement. So you could start the conclusion by saying the example from the best man's speech as follows:So "The three reasons John and Emma are the perfect couple is because they love each other, they laugh with each other and they learn from each other."
This will let the audience know the speech is ending. You can then give a brief outline of the body of the speech to complete the conclusion.
Organizing a speech helps your audience follow your message and they will walk away remembering your key points. It is also great for self-confidence. You can do it!
Terry Luffman is the creator of Get Self Improvement. Visit My Site to find out more information and articles on Self Improvement and Overcoming Fears that will help you with giving a speech.
A 10-Year-Old’s Marching Orders for the Upcoming School Year
" ... kids function best when they're real clear about exactly what's expected of them ..."