Tag Archive for: public speaking

Does being afraid that you cannot effectively field questions by the audience keep you from accepting opportunities for public speaking? You are not alone; believing you will look like a dummy and lose your credibility (or the sale) for not knowing an answer can be overwhelming.

Growing beyond this concern starts with a look at this possibility from your audience's perspective. The audience has arrived because it has all ready been determined that you are credible and know what you are taking about. Agree with the person who gave you the nod to speak to this group.

Agreement is powerful and a two-edged sword. Two or more people who believe presenter may get themselves in trouble must be avoided at all costs so tell those close to you who are concerned to hush. Remember the audience is not thinking in this vein. These opposing actions can create a perfect storm. Did you see the movie? This is not a good thing.

Managing the, "I don't know" scenario is the same on and off the platform. You have a few ways to handle this.

1. Get Real and Plan: While planning the presentation play devil's advocate by intentionally trying to stump yourself. Looking at the presentation in an attempt to pick it apart is a best practice and is a terrific way to ward off a potentially uncomfortable scenario. If while asking tough questions about your material you may discover a key point that needs to be added to the body of the presentation. If so, add it.

If what you discover is important and should be the pivotal point of the presentation, then rewrite the introduction and work it into the body and the conclusion. Your opening statements should be statement with a promise of sorts to prove your statement and therefore must be within the body and the conclusion of the presentation.

By the way, the trick of speaking well into the Q&A session to avoid questions is not unprofessional nor does it work.

2. Be Real and Fess Up: It is going to happen you know - getting stumped. If you are not Elvis and have, "left the building" someone, at some point, will approach and leave you speechless. Whether this happens from the platform or one-on-one after the presentation - your answer can be the same, "Good Question. And, (pause) I do not know. I will, however, quickly research that answer after we are finished here or if you would prefer, leave your contact information (eMail) with ____________ (name your host) I will get back with you before day's end." If you are stumped during the presentation you may also add, "Is anyone in the audience know the answer or this question?" As always be sure all members of the audience can hear the question and the answer to every question.

Warning: Not following up with an answer will cost your credibility, the sale, or both.

3. Be Professional and Network: As an ongoing practice, surround yourself with people who know more than you so you may call upon to help you with the answer (and more). Dr. Ted Becker, one of two people in history who have a PhD in human performance said, "It is important to be the dummy of the group. The only way there is up." Surprisingly, knowledgeable people often cannot find a person in to mentor. Recently, Karen Timmons with Dell, Inc. said, "It is not a crime to not know the answer. It is, however, a crime to not know who does."

Consider this incident:

Lat week I was in the exam room with my doctor when he took his cell phone from his pocket and searched for the answer to my question. This was blatant evidence that my doctor doesn't know all things medical. This came as no surprise to me as even the best cannot answer all things. Nor is it reasonable to think so. (Your audience knows this.) In my mind my doctor's credibility actually increased as it appeared that my question and I were important to him.

Get Real. Be Real. Be a Professional.

Be Not Afraid.

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Kathryn is owner of Write Speak Transcribe Business Services
Kathryn has been a freelance writer for fifteen years and a Food Service Management Specialist for eighteen years.
She is a dynamic speaker who provides her client's end users with a presentation that yields responses like, "Thanks for telling me that!" and "Where do I sign?" She specializes in providing her client's an opportunity to contribute to their customer's knowledge base in a particular area -- a customer enlightenment that oft times is not sales related yet produces an increase in the bottom line of those who utilize her.
Timely and accurate transcription services are managed by Kathryn's mother, Onita Walker. Onita types 120 words a minute with accurate spelling and punctuation and has 40 years experience transcribing confidential conversations in the field of law.
Words are powerful and words are our passion.
Kathryn
Cell (928) 713-1812
Web: http://www.writespeaktranscribe.com
Email: kathryncrew@cableone.net
Email: Onita@cableone.net

Enthralling speakers interweave captivating stories into their key points.

What are the nuances that distinguish an entrancing story from a boring one?

How can you craft your stories to make your points — and you — more memorable?

Three master storytellers tell their secrets to ensuring stories are memorable and engaging. Each has a different slant on the topic so hear their ideas and adapt them to your style.

These questions and many more will be answered in this trio of teleseminar recordings.
• “Digging for the Treasures in Your Stories” with Emory Austin, CSP, CPAE
• “Add Oomph to Your Stories by Bringing the Characters Alive” with Jon Schwartz, a.k.a. Vinny Verelli
• “Creating Emotional Triggers to Make Your Stories Memorable” with Doug Stevenson
Special price! Get all three programs, in MP3 format, for only $34. Order now.

You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.
John Ford

Do you really believe that 'old saying' that public speaking is the no. 1 fear in life? Is that what is holding you back in your business - the fear of speaking in front of people?

Well, you need to get over that - and quickly! Public speaking is the BEST way to get out there, tell your story and help to make a difference in the world.

Not sure where or how to begin? Here are a few tips for you.

1. Decide what you are going to talk about. Sounds like a good idea, right? But, for many of you, this is THE biggest barrier/stumbling block. "What do I have to say?" Here's my tip: ideally, you are in business because you have a passion about what you do - so, think about a simple coffee date with me - if we were to sit down for just 15 minutes and you had the chance to share 3-5 tips with me about the work you do (the transformation you provide) - what would you tell me? What would be your best piece of advice? You want to help me, right? Find out what my 'pain' (need) is - and then share your solution! It's really that simple. All you need to do is focus on 3-5 tips.

2. Then, you want to expand on those 3-5 tips. Just write out a few more details about each tip - keep it simple - keep it focused - and keep it end-result oriented.

3. Create a one-page profile - it's called a 'speaker one-sheet'. On that sheet, write an overview of what it is you have to offer - include some professional photos (and please, DO make the investment and get some professional photos done!) - and list a few titles of the topics you can speak about.

4. Now you need to identify the 'stages' you want to speak on. - Who is your audience? Who needs to hear your message? Where are they? If public speaking is a whole new experience for you, start local. Look at a 10-mile radius around where you live - the opportunities are right there! So, make a list and start making contact.

5. Ok - take a deep breath now - because the next step is TO GET ON THE PHONE! People who are looking for speakers aren't just going to show up at your door. Seriously. You need to get on the phone and start marketing yourself - take another deep breath. There are organizations that are looking for speakers all the time!

6. Set a goal! Plan to be speaking in front of a group at least 2-3 times a month. That is how you will build your confidence, create more awareness about you and the work you do and get to a level where you can grow your business very quickly.

7. Be prepared when you get to your speaking engagement. You want to have lots of business cards, have a method for follow-up (sign-up sheets so people will get to your website so you can capture names/e-mail addresses and grow your list), have a free give-away, get photos of you speaking, ask for testimonials, and so much more.

SPEAKING IS SERIOUS BUSINESS

I've only covered the tip of the ice burg here when it comes to public speaking as a way to grow your business. It is an essential skill to becoming a wealthy woman leader - and to making a huge difference in the world.

Just like any other business skill, public speaking can be mastered. There is lots of information available to learn more about this and I highly encourage you to begin today. Get a coach (me!), take a class, read a book, observe other highly experienced speakers,...and just get out there and do it!

It is said that public speaking is the #1 fear in life - I say it is the #1 business skill you need to master in order to grow your business, attract more clients, make more money and make a difference in the world.

This is a month of celebration for me. It is a milestone in my life as I turn 60 - and celebrate the successful and inspiring woman that I have become. I intend to continue for many years yet - I have a lot of work to do - there are many wealthy women leaders waiting to evolve and I know I am just one woman who can help to make that happen!

SO? What are you waiting for - want to reach people? Get out there and start talking!

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Pat Mussieux is fast becoming regarded as a highly valued Canadian mentor for women entrepreneurs taking her own business from zero to a multiple 6-figure home-based business in less than 4 years. Much of her success can be attributed to her expertise in marketing, mindset and money!
Pat Mussieux is a business coach, author, speaker and radio host. You can reach her at http://www.wealthywomenleaders.com

Many, many people say they make money—good money—from their website. But yours has few visitors or low conversions to paying customers. How do those folks get people to 1) come to their site, and 2) buy from them?
There are proven ways to get more traffic and then convert that traffic into buyers. These three recordings will help you understand the secrets that are specific to the speaking, training and consulting business.
• “How to Build a High-Traffic Website and Convert That Traffic to Sales!” with Tom Gray
• “Get New Sales by Mastering AdWords: How to Turn Clicks into Cash” with Howie Jacobson, PhD
• “Cutting-Edge Revenue-Generating Technology Tips” with Terry Brock, CSP, CPAE

=> http://bit.ly/pXjXgc

Giving presentations can be a complete and utter thrill. Too bad attending them can be a complete and utter bore. If you are on the giving side, I want to offer you up a collection of my best presentation tricks to date.

http://bit.ly/pSraGq

So what do you think is the biggest mistake in sales presentations?

* Selling features instead of benefits?

* Talking too much and not listening?

* Not knowing the product?

In a recent presentation, Ron Karr, of Karr Associates, Inc. and author of Lead, Sell or Get Out of the Way,asked the audience, “What are you selling?” People responded by calling out their products and services. Ron went on to say that one of the biggest mistakes in sales is selling the “how” instead of the “what.”

“You’re selling outcomes!,” declared Ron. He challenged the audience to get clear about the outcomes their audience or clients receive from them. The outcome he presents to his audience is to “sell more in less time.” He went on to explain, “Most poeple spend 70% of their time talking about what they do when they should be spending 60% of their time in first impressions and qualifying.

As with all presentations, it first begins with mindset. How do you think of yourself in relation to your audience? Are you an expert? A peer? A trusted advisor? Ron recommended that people begin to position themselves as a resource. Selling is self-focused but a resource is customer-focused. Too often, sales professionals forget this valuable concept. People don’t buy unless they have a need or desire. Your job is to develop trust and solve their problems.

Whether you’re selling a product, or giving a status update, good presenters live by WIIFM-What’s in it for me? They know that the audience cares only about one thing-their own self interests. In other words, it’s all about outcomes.

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Diane DiResta is a speaking strategist and president of DiResta Communications, Inc., a New York City consultancy serving business leaders who want to communicate with greater impact – whether face-to-face, in front of a crowd or from an electronic platform. DiResta is the author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message with Power, Punch, and Pizzazz, an Amazon.com category best-seller and widely-used text in college business communication courses. Blog: businesspresentations.blogspot.com
For a free newsletter and audio course visit http://www.diresta.com

Be authentic. Be transparent. Be real. Wherever you're speaking, you know this is what your listener is craving. Everybody's fed up with deceit and phoniness. They want to hear the truth, and they want to believe what you're saying.

On the surface, this seems simple enough. Like you just leave out any lies - right? Actually, there's more to it that. When you want to thoroughly communicate your truth to an audience, there's one main thing you need to remember: be yourself.

Be The Real You
People crave connection. When they listen to you, they want to feel like you're talking directly to them. They want to feel like you know them. And the only way they're going to feel like that is if you come across as the real you. Like what you see is what you get.

We've all heard people proclaiming their own authenticity, but we feel like we really have no idea who they are. So it's not about telling people how authentic you are. It's about showing them.

And it's not about disclosing all your personal, private information. In fact, that can backfire on your purpose to engage people. Because unless you're performing a one-woman show, nobody's that interested in you. Hope that doesn't burst your bubble, but it's true.

They came to hear the information you have to offer. But they want to hear it from somebody they feel like they know. Someone they can trust. Somebody real.

The Secret: Relax
The best way to let them see the authentic you is to relax when you're speaking. Whether you're talking from the stage, speaking on a teleseminar, or presenting to your MasterMind group, people will connect with your message when you're relaxed in your delivery. Being relaxed is what allows you to use your own language, to be who you really are everyday. And that's what your audience wants.

So do what you need to do to help yourself relax when you're speaking. Use a rapid-change tool like EFT tapping to eliminate whatever has you tense. And then go be your authentic self for your audience. You'll be amazed at how they'll connect with you and your message.

Now you know the secret to truly being authentic when you're speaking in public. When you want to thoroughly communicate your truth to an audience, any audience, the one thing you must do is to completely be yourself.

And to help you relax when you're speaking, claim your free Stress-Free Speaking Starter Kit when you go to http://SpeakingMadeFearless.com.

Just fill in your name and best email to get your free Stress-Free Speaking Guide, Checklist, and Fearless Speaking Audio recording.

From Janet Hilts, stress-free speaking coach, specializing in helping motivated people like you get comfortable speaking in any setting.

Find out more at http://www.SpeakingMadeFearless.com.

The greatest asset any speaker can have is ENERGY. Energy comes in many colours and hues, from a whisper to a shout. Some will define energy as passion, enthusiasm or "fire in the belly." With this fire, even a trivial message becomes compelling; without it, the most powerful message will fall unheard. We say "fire your purpose with passion. Run it through your principle-filter. Prepare. Practice. Then, present. The result will be enormous POWER." => http://bit.ly/oh5lpD