Tag Archive for: public speaking

Secrets To Sizzling Seminar Presentation

In an arena where there is a surfeit of presenters you need to hone your skills and develop techniques that will take you into the realm of presenter extraordinaire. To break into that rare sphere where the population of speakers, seminar leaders, teleseminar and webinar presenters have their audiences figuratively eating out of the palms of their hands, hanging onto their every word, and wanting more; you have to ramp up your game. You have to muster all the skills at your disposal and then some. If you have been yearning to raise the ante and deliver speeches or seminars that resonate with your audiences; get top billing and higher fees; you need to put more punch into your presentations.

Here are some suggestions that will help you to present with greater panache -

Do your homework. Research your audience, find out what they need to hear, what they need to know, what pushes their buttons then offer information that is pertinent, current and specific to the particular group of people with whom you will be interacting.

Learn all you can about the venue, visit it if possible. Find out the numbers expected, the seating arrangement, the type of microphone available; what type the audio visuals will be at your disposal; whether copies of your handout will be made ahead of time or if you have to bring those yourself.

Understand why you were hired. Be clear about the objectives and the reason you were hired; possibly are you were hired to educate, motivate, sell to, solve problems and possibly all of the above. Craft your message to address the issue or issues as they were laid out to you.

Know your Key Message and stay with the theme of your message, do not wander off topic; you are there for a purpose, understand the purpose and speak to the purpose.

Customize your presentation to each and every audience; one speech does not fit every audience. Always remember that each audience is different, as is the venue, caliber and expectation of those in attendance.

Bond with your audience, the earlier you do that the more successful you will be. One way of doing that is arriving before your scheduled time and talking with some of the participants, that way you get a feel of the audience and they feel comfortable with you and your style.

Treat your audience with respect, they are not infants; do not treat them as such. Interact with them, involve them. You may disagree with someone's point of view, but do not argue with anyone. Respect their point and say so.

Add humor where appropriate and present with passion. Speak in language that they understand, if they do not understand what you are saying you will lose them.

Get your facts straight; do not depend on hearsay or old stats. Be willing to listen, you may learn something new. Answer questions to the best of your ability, and if you do not know the answer, be honest about it. You will score high points if you sent the answer to the question asked, within twenty four hours of making your presentation.

Dress appropriately. They hired a professional and expect to see and hear a professional. Dress and behave like one.

A smooth, professional presentation that offers solutions and answers the questions implied and those directly asked; that is delivered with passion and honesty will assist in propelling you into that category of extraordinary presenter.

Joanna Parris is a leading expert when it comes to good manners and proper etiquette. She is a speaker, an author and offers training programs and interactive workshops for anyone needing to enhance their image and etiquette. Joanna can be reached at joanna@bossselfpro.com

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How to be a Great Emcee

I’ve been an emcee for a few gigs — and being a female doesn’t always put me as a first choice in the stereotyping! I do wear a black tuxedo (women’s style — classy) with red bow tie and cummerbund, with heels.

Tips:

Look the part to begin with! (whether male or female) — it ADDS to the show ambiance.
Interview people in the audience about this event — that night — they are already there — dressed up and ready to have fun! I did this at a large retirement roast for the big wig. During the happy hour, I walked around and interviewed his friends and colleagues, asking: "If you could describe Greg in one word, what would it be?" People loved it — got them in the mood for the event — and were thrilled how those words (quoting the individuals) were used throughout the presentation and introductions.
What doesn’t work? Like ANY presentation, to show up unprepared — either by not knowing your subject (or roastee), your audience, or not knowing your material!

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I speak on humor and I often do "master of ceremony-ing". I have found several things that work well:

Research all of the people/programs you will introduce. Find out anything you can so that your introduction is not canned but sounds more like you know the people well.
Plan to use humor and interesting comments as segues from one person/program to the next. I have a database of jokes/stories/quotes and I find the ones that fit with the topic or person that I am introducing and then use it as a segue.
Comment on what just happened. Nothing is worse than for something to happen on stage and the emcee goes right on with the next introduction as if he/she missed the point. I make it a rule to find something humorous or meaningful about the previous person/event when I come back on stage and I use that to begin my transition to the next introduction.
Keep it short. If the emcee takes too much time, it takes the focus away from the event. That doesn’t mean that the emcee can’t be funny and meaningful but it should always support the main event.

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Most speakers’ calendars are pretty empty around the holidays while mine is fully booked because I emcee corporate holiday parties earning as much or more than I usually earn for a keynote speech.

I believe that the job of the emcee is to be “invisible.” We should make everyone else the “stars,” make the event fun and keep the program on schedule. Know your audience and be as helpful as possible to the company you are working for.

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Probably the biggest tip for emcees is to tell the client that as emcee, during the event, you will only answer to one person and you will only make changes in the program if that one person approves. This reduces confusion and makes life a lot easier for the emcee. Every single emcee program I have done has gone smoothly as a result.

These tips and many others are included in the booklet “How to Be a Great Emcee,” available for download for only $4.95.

These tips have been collected from top professional speakers who know how to run a meeting successfully.

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Remember To Use The “Rule of Three” When You Speak

The Magic of Three

The number three is a magical number in the English language. We see it in movie titles as in "The Three Stooges, The Three Musketeers and The Three Amigos," we see it as far back as being the most famous phrase in the Unites States declaration of independence - "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness", and we see it by speakers and comedians all across America.

I don't know why this is so. We can theorize the reason for this phenomenon from today till tomorrow, and in fact some people have, but my philosophy is, "if something works - just go with it!" Why spend your energy trying to figure out the "why" of it when you can just be in the "now" and just go with it. If it is good for our founding forefathers, if it is good for Hollywood, then it is good for me - You see, there is the rule of three in action!

In speaking, the "rule of three" is mostly used to create humor. When comedians create their humor, they use what is called the "set up - punch". Comedians use this set up-punch formula to get every one of their laughs. Comedians don't always need to use the rule of three, they are so good at creating humor that they don't always need to rely it, but for the rest of us speakers, using the rule of three is a technique that we should always use, and that if done right, can almost guarantee a laugh from the audience.

The psychology of the Set up-Punch Formula

What is the comedian's secret to getting a laugh from the audience? Comedians are not psychologists, but they know how the human minds works - at least when it comes to getting a laugh. Comedians know three things about the human mind very well when it comes to humor.

1. That a "Spontaneous shift" is the key.

2. That proper timing is crucial

3. That the content must be appropriate for the audience

Spontaneous shift

So what is a spontaneous shift? A spontaneous shift is when the speaker puts the audience on one track. The speaker fills up the mind of their audience with a vivid picture of one particular thought or idea and just at the point when the audience is expecting to continue on that track, the speaker suddenly puts them on a totally different track and Walla a laugh occurs!

The key here is spontaneous. From the speakers perspective, it may not seem spontaneous, because the speakers is prepared and knows what he or she is planning to say. However, from the perspective of the audience it definitely comes across as spontaneous. How many times have you had conversations with friends or family and laughs seemed to easily flow. If you think about it, you will probably realize that the instant the laugh occurred, someone said something spontaneous and which also put everyone else's thoughts on another track.

Proper Timing

Putting your audience on another thought track is not enough. You also need to have your timing down in order to make an impact and receive a laugh. Your punch line needs to come immediately after the set up. If you wait too long, you will lose the impact potential of your punch line.

When using the rule of three, you are essentially doing the same thing as what comedians do with their set-punch in their comedy routines, but your set up will be a bit longer.

The rule of Three in Action

A friend of mine and fellow speaker, Marry Cheyne, had used the rule of three extremely well when she delivered her speech "Nelly" at the Toastmasters 2009 international convention. She gave some background about how challenging and uncomfortable it was for her to come to Australia as a 7 year old Chinese. She then said, "I was so uncomfortable that I felt like a fish out of water, like a bird out of its nest, like a "guest (pause) at a toastmasters meeting." The last line, "like a guest at a toastmasters meeting" was the punch line. The other two lines were the set up for her punch line.

The background story gave the audience the "thought track" of her being uncomfortable, The first two lines went along that track - uncomfortable like a fish out of water, uncomfortable like a bird out of its nest and then she throws the twist - Like a guest (she pauses) and then says "at a toastmasters meeting". The audience was expecting her to stay serious, but she doesn't. She spontaneously puts their thought on another track and walla she gets a laugh!

The Rule of Three must be Adaptable to Your Audience

When coming up with the right content for the rule of three, make sure your content is applicable to your audience. When Marry came up with her content, she knew who her audience was. It was a room full of fellow toastmasters. So everyone in her audience knew how uncomfortable a guest at a toastmasters club meeting feels, because at one time or another everyone was a guest before they became a member. That is why it was funny to that audience. Her line would not have been funny to a group of people no affiliated with toastmasters and surely she would not have used it. So always make sure that your content is appropriate to your audience. Enjoy tinkering with "the rule of three" for your next speech!

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Lewis Roth helps speakers build a presentation that is memorable and keeps their audience members on the edge of their seats. Lewis is an award winning speaker, certified world class speech coach, keynote speaker and presentation skills trainer. To receive his free audio download, please visit http://www.hightouchspeaking.com

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Amy Tan on Creativity

From the public speaking ezine this week - you can access it here => http://bit.ly/cQBbVn until 9th June.

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The Most Important Not-so-secret Secret to Successful Communication

OK. It’s not a secret. But there is a mystery to it, and today I have an answer.

Vince Lombardi is credited with saying, “The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price. “ Lombardi is also credited with saying, “You play like you practice.” In the world of music, we are also told to practice. To quote composer Igor Stravinsky (in a post on the blog Six Minutes, called “Eight Faulty Speaker Assumptions”) , “Practice. If you don’t, someone else will.” So why is it, therefore, that so many business presenters and speakers don’t practice before important communications? Is it fear? Lack of time? Laziness?

=> http://bit.ly/mFPFrM

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Creative Presentation Agenda Examples

Is your audience getting lost during your big presentation? The issue might be in the clarity of your presentation agenda. Learn 5 creative ways to provide a clear and memorable agenda to your presentation. =>http://bit.ly/m0qjjN

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Great wits say much in few words …

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld

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Handling the Audience in Public Speaking

Audiences Are Your Friend

For the rank amateur to the ignorant professional, audiences create the same effect no matter how small they are to a speaker. Fear and anxiety.

From a single person to a crowd as big as the fans in the Super Bowl, speaking in front of a serious listening audience is the true test and baptism of fire.

Despite this, audiences are predictable. Audiences listen to you because they want to learn something from the speaker.

Following this logic, the speaker would do well to follow the strategy of making it informative as well as interesting to listeners to see your speech through till the end.

Here are some tips on how you can have the audience listen in rapt attention. http://bit.ly/bMXs4u

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How to conquer the fear of public speaking & other coronary threats

This book is an antacid for knots, butterflies and pains which often accompany public speaking efforts. Text includes personal prescriptions for confidence, success and happiness from Zig Ziglar, Erma Bombeck, Hugh Downs, Cary Grant, Ann Landers, Rod McKuen, Norman Vincent Peale and others. It tells how to eliminate anguish, frustration and embarrassment when speaking in public. This is a classic by an award-winning speaker and it gives step-by-step instructions for healthier self-esteem through better oral communications.
His favorite quote for those who are afraid to accept the challenges of public speaking came from former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

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Design help for your PowerPoint slides

Are you looking for a pick-me-up fr your latest PowerPoint presentation? Looking for some design ideas that you haven't seen before on everyone else's presentations?

I find that looking at other original designs sparks my own creativity. And oftentimes that has a flow on effect on my presentation. If there is a different way of looking at the slide, then there may be a different way of looking at the point I'm making. Or maybe it just fires up the neurones in my brain and they produce new thoughts. I'm not sure how it works, but it does.

So go check out The PowerPoint Templates (ppt). They have downloadable templates. And yes this is an affilaite link so I will make a few cents if you buy a template. But you can choose the low cost ones, or even scrounge through the sidebar and find the free templates. Or maybe, like me, you will just get some creative inspiration from looking at the products. These are graphics designers working here, so the creativity should be evident!

And while you are prowling round the site, look into the articles and tutorials. There is some useful information there.

Have fun!