Eye contact with your audience is vital because it reinforces your sincerity.
If you are nervous, choose the most responsive, supportive faces.
If the audience is large, focus on three or four people and making eye contact with them.
One of the ways you can market your product or service is through public speaking.
For instance, you'll often see financial seminars advertised in your local newspaper. The ads invite you to come for a lunch or evening seminar ... typically just an hour or two ... on a topic like estate planning, retirement planning, or mutual fund investing.
The seminar, sponsored by a local brokerage, financial planner, or other financial services firm, is free.
So how do they make money? By converting some of the attendees into paid clients for whom they manage money, prepare estate plans, or provide other financial services.
This "give a free talk" strategy can work in many fields and venues.
Read more => http://bit.ly/cMqUU1
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
Visualisation is a very useful tool in preparing for a presentation.
Visualise the feelings you have as you present. They will help you prepare for passion. They will also let you know if you are being authentic.
Visualise the audience – who they are, what they are thinking, how they are responding. Everything about your speech has to be geared to those things.
Visualise the audience members as they stand to leave. What are they thinking now? What will they do in response to you presentation? And you will know, very simply, the core message of your speech.
The answers to all of these will guide you as you work through preparing your speech.
There are many things you can do before your speech to calm nerves. Obviously being prepared is one, and another is a set of things that make up a routine to go through beforehand.
Before you make your presentation, if at all possible, arrive at the venue early and make it your own. Walk the walk you will make to the stage or lectern. Walk around the room and make yourself comfortable with your surroundings. Feel comfortable with those surroundings ... feel confident walking, standing, looking.
When you come back to actually present, that feeling should still be there and you can harness and use it to present with confidence.
Learning Styles: What every presenter ought to knowby OLIVIA MITCHELL
<blockquote>Before Copernicus we believed that the the earth was the center of the universe and that the sun revolved around the earth. That’s what it looked like and it made sense. But science showed us that it’s not the case.
Today, many people believe in learning styles theory. At face value it makes sense and it’s easy to make your own experiences fit with the theory. But science does not back-up learning styles theory.</blockquote>
... read more for the evidence and what Olivia suggests in response.
Get the link from this blog post at the Pivotal Public Speaking blog
The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you've got it made.
--Jean Giraudoux
Kate started out with a powerful quotation ....
“The highest-paid person in the first half of the next century will be the ‘storyteller.’ The value of products will depend on the story they tell. Nike and many other global companies are already mainly storytellers. That is where the money is — even today.” -Rolf Jensen, futurist and author of The Dream Society
She makes the point
Not all stories are created equal. A good story is indeed powerful, but what many people call stories are not complete. They are just reports or facts. Many are just set ups for the real story. So what makes a good story good and also useful?
• Get the whole story
• Evoke an emotional response
• Deliver it well
Get all the details here http://bit.ly/c1M8q5
From some old notes of mine - old yes, but still very relevant!!
From Barksblog
I caught part of C-SPAN's Washington Journal this morning while on the exercise bike at the gym. As usual, the sound was muted and the closed caption was on.
As a result, I couldn't hear the guests, one of whom was Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review. Watching video with no sound is a great way to assess body language. I ask myself, is this someone I would listen to? In Lowry's case, the answer was yes.
He appeared engaged and engaging. And there was one particular eye movement he has evidently mastered that takes much practice for most people (TV news anchors included). When he referenced his notes, he did not lower his head. Rather, he cast only his eyes down, and then only briefly. This gives the illusion of not breaking eye contact since the full face is still visible to viewers.
Try it, It is a subtle move, but nonetheless not easy to execute. But if you spend any amount of time on television, it is a tactic worth placing in your arsenal.
Enthusiasm is a necessary qualification for effective speaking. When you show enthusiasm it is contagious. The enjoyment and knowledge that is demonstrated for your subject will result in increased listener enjoyment and your speech being more convincing.
For public speaking, the enthusiasm required, as described by Coleman Cox, "is inspired by reason, controlled by caution, sound in theory, and practical in application, reflects confidence, spreads good cheer, raises morale, inspires associates, arouses loyalty and laughs at adversity."
Enthusiasm in public speaking is about being passionate about the subject of your speech and being able to convey it to others. The enthusiasm must be demonstrated in your tome of voice, body language, gestures and facial expressions to transfer it to your audience. The feeling of excitement must come through as you deliver.
Some people are naturally enthusiastic and they are that way because they have developed the necessary habits. You must want to be enthusiastic to become enthusiastic.
Frank Bettger author of "How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling" attributes his success to enthusiasm. His advice is "act enthusiastically and you'll be enthusiastic." By acting on his own advice he put his "heart" into selling and went from failure to the top of his field for several years.
If you are not naturally enthusiastic, it can be created as a result of your attitude and enjoyment of the topic or by believing in a cause. By taking the time to apply the following it is possible to develop enthusiasm:
1. Choosing a positive optimistic nature and attitude
2. By putting your whole heart and soul into every you do
3. Do not let criticism put you off your stride
4. Develop a burning desire in your subject by thinking about it and living it everyday.
5. Have an active interest in people
6. Spend your time with people who are genuinely enthusiastic. Their positive emotions will "rub off" onto you.
Unless you want to be enthusiastic you will never be enthusiastic. If you are ashamed of the topic, or dislike it you will not be able to develop enthusiasm for it. Genuine enthusiasm only comes from something you believe in or enjoy.
One of the factors that contributed to the late John F. Kennedy's speaking success was the enthusiasm he displayed when delivering his speech. Sure, he had good speechwriters but without his enthusiasm the speeches would not have been nearly as effective. A person conveying their speech in a monotone voice, boring and steady manner will not be as effective at getting their message across.
An enthusiastic delivery can overcome other shortcomings in your presentation. Where you are not naturally enthusiastic it can be developed provide you choose to be. By being genuinely enthusiastic and combined with preparation and knowledge your public speaking will be more confident and effective.
For public speaking, the enthusiasm required, as described by Coleman Cox, "is inspired by reason, controlled by caution, sound in theory, and practical in application, reflects confidence, spreads good cheer, raises morale, inspires associates, arouses loyalty and laughs at adversity."
Enthusiasm in public speaking is about being passionate about the subject of your speech and being able to convey it to others. The enthusiasm must be demonstrated in your tome of voice, body language, gestures and facial expressions to transfer it to your audience. The feeling of excitement must come through as you deliver.
Some people are naturally enthusiastic and they are that way because they have developed the necessary habits. You must want to be enthusiastic to become enthusiastic.
Frank Bettger author of "How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling" attributes his success to enthusiasm. His advice is "act enthusiastically and you'll be enthusiastic." By acting on his own advice he put his "heart" into selling and went from failure to the top of his field for several years.
If you are not naturally enthusiastic, it can be created as a result of your attitude and enjoyment of the topic or by believing in a cause. By taking the time to apply the following it is possible to develop enthusiasm:
1. Choosing a positive optimistic nature and attitude
2. By putting your whole heart and soul into every you do
3. Do not let criticism put you off your stride
4. Develop a burning desire in your subject by thinking about it and living it everyday.
5. Have an active interest in people
6. Spend your time with people who are genuinely enthusiastic. Their positive emotions will "rub off" onto you.
Unless you want to be enthusiastic you will never be enthusiastic. If you are ashamed of the topic, or dislike it you will not be able to develop enthusiasm for it. Genuine enthusiasm only comes from something you believe in or enjoy.
One of the factors that contributed to the late John F. Kennedy's speaking success was the enthusiasm he displayed when delivering his speech. Sure, he had good speechwriters but without his enthusiasm the speeches would not have been nearly as effective. A person conveying their speech in a monotone voice, boring and steady manner will not be as effective at getting their message across.
An enthusiastic delivery can overcome other shortcomings in your presentation. Where you are not naturally enthusiastic it can be developed provide you choose to be. By being genuinely enthusiastic and combined with preparation and knowledge your public speaking will be more confident and effective.
Be more effective in your public speaking and conversation with "The Art of Great Conversation." To claim your free preview visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com
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 ..."