What an interesting idea.
I have just caught up with Denise's article on using the Kindle as a speaking tool - you can use it for readable notes, to store multiple speeches and ideas for even more, and to hear your speeches, amongst other things.
What a classic example of thinking outside the box ... or maybe using the box to think ... (ouch!) I'm not sure, but an idea worth thinking about and trying out in practice, of that I am sure.
Have you used a Kindle this way?
Using visuals of any sort in a presentation has to be as unobtrusive as possible.
The first step here is being prepared.
If you can practice beforehand, do so.
Organise physical objects so that you can reach them when they are needed, without having to search, and without having to fumble. This may mean arranging them in the order in which they will be presented. It may mean practising the presentation so that you know automatically where to reach for something. This can apply to objects you want to display, the remote control for projecting equipment, the pens for flip charts or overhead projectors or a whiteboard, or to slides or overhead transparencies.
During these practice sessions, work out how you will move around the visual supports and equipment. Where will you place the objects you want to pick up – on a table, or another piece of furniture? Where will this, or the equipment, be so that you can move around it and communicate most easily with your audience – in front of you, beside or behind you? Always consider the least distracting way of accessing your material and the greatest ease of movement.
If you are using projection equipment, visualise its placement. Think about how you will work with the laptop or the overhead projector – standing beside, or behind? Do you want your silhouette projected on the screen as well as your visuals? Walking in front of the screen will also obscure them.
If you cannot organise the positioning of your equipment, then try to become familiar with it before the presentation and then visualise how you will use it best.
~ A speech is like a love affair. Any fool can start it, but to end it requires considerable skill.
Lord Mansfield
Public Speaking has been my personal development path to phenomenal growth for more than twenty years now. I am not alone. There are millions of people all over the world who engage in some form of speaking to the public every day as a means of earning income and most of them enjoy it.
Yet I continue to hear such utter rubbish about this activity from normally intelligent members of this place called earth. It makes me sad that they would just embrace this information, internalize it and let it take them to a place where they are ever so happy to be afraid of public speaking.
Are you holding any of these myths in your mind? Then you are certainly limiting your own growth and getting in the way of your best fabulous life! What if these myths did not exist for you? Can you imagine how free and exciting your journey through life could be?
Well, today I'm starting your new journey with you. I will debunk five of your myths for you and you will begin to accept that yes you can stand up and speak before an audience and sit down and smile.
Myth # 1 - Public speaking is a gift that you're born with
Fact:
It is the skill of expressing your thoughts, convictions and ideas in an orderly manner, to an audience, so as to interest and convince them about a particular subject.
Notice first of all, that it is a skill. This means that it can be acquired and with practice, it can be improved. Practice is the key activity here. Can you imagine reading every book you can about swimming and then expecting to represent your country at the Olympics? Well you can't read about speaking to an audience and expect to be good at it either. You have to acquire and practice the skill.
Myth # 2 - Speaking in public is so stressful
Fact:
Speaking in public is no more stressful than anything else you do in life. Like everything else it's your interpretation of the circumstances that makes it so. Thousands of people who were initially terrified of speaking to an audience (like me!) have learnt to eliminate or reduce this fear. With the right approach and practice, you can too.
Myth # 3 - You have to be brilliant to succeed as a Public Speaker
Fact:
Who ever told you that? I am living proof that that's not true. The essence of making presentations is that your audience walks away with something of value. You don't necessarily have to be brilliant, witty or perfect to deliver a presentation. Admittedly, these things help, especially if you want to make a career of speaking to people. Essentially what you need is to be clear on your purpose for speaking and that it adds value to your audience.
Myth # 4 - You have to have lots of information in your speech.
Fact:
All you need is two or three main points. Research shows that people remember very few of the mountain of facts that some (inexperienced) speakers throw at them. Your audience basically wants to walk away with one or two main points that have meaning for them, so the degree of complexity that we think is necessary, is not.
Myth # 5 - Every time you make a presentation in public something "bad" is sure to happen.
Fact:
I know that the belief that something awful, terrible or publicly humiliating will happen to you when you speak in public is at the source of many public speaking fears. This is simply not true. Think about all the presentations you have seen. How many times did something "bad" happen? Why should it happen to you? Moreover, everything "bad" that happens can be used to your advantage. For example, if the microphone does not work, this should give you a chance to get closer to your audience.
There you have it! Five myths about public speaking that were holding you back and they came with five facts that will take you forward. Now every time these fears come up immediately focus on the facts, acquire the skill and step out there and speak.
You know in your heart that a one-hour -- or even a one-day -- presentation rarely creates long-term change. Yet you don't know how to create a system (which could include books, tapes, DVDs, software, workbook, coaching) that will truly help people make lasting changes -- and compensate you well. Bill faced this same dilemma and knew he wanted to make a bigger difference in his audience's lives beyond a one-hour or one-day program. He'll share his decisions along the way and how you can take your content and create an ongoing system. Bill's business generates well over $3 million annually thanks to these strategies that could help you move to a higher level, too.
Warning: this program is for professionals who really care about making a difference in others' lives -- or as Bill puts it, "this is for people who give a crap that someone does something with their content!"
You will learn:
Details are here
I've just discovered this article at Microsoft Office. What a treasure trove they have there.
This one, by Robert Lane and Andre Vlcek is called Speaking Visually: Eight Roles Pictures Play in Presentation.
Including pictures in presentations is a simple and powerful way of expanding your expressive potential as a speaker. Pictures communicate at levels beyond the descriptive possibilities of words and bathe the brain in much desired visual stimulation. At the same time, not all pictures are created equally. Choosing the right images, and using them in the right ways, can greatly impact your effectiveness.
... and there are some powerful examples. This one under the heading "Getting Attention".
While writing a speech, you would think, would involve a pen and paper, or maybe a word processor. But one very vital aspect of writing a speech his visualisation. Visualisation is an incredibly useful tool. You can visualise the feelings you have as you present. Visualise your surroundings and how they work for you. Visualise the audience – who they are, what they are thinking, how they are responding. Visualise them as they stand to leave. What are they thinking now? What will they do in response to you presentation?
All of those things will provide the criteria you need when you are choosing the words to say, the structure of your speech, the language you use and the stories you tell.
How to Develop Self-Confidence And
Influence people with public speaking
Dale Carnegie
"this book contains brilliant depth."
"This book pulled my experiences together, and showed me how to make better use of preparation and presentation techniques. Carnegie addresses the whole person, and radiates an interest in people and their goals."
"I am sure the book can be of help to the novice as for the expert speaker alike."
Ermest writes ...
Public speaking and fear have something in common. For many, one thought of having to go up on stage and speak in front of a crowd of people is enough to bring out the critters of fear – butterflies in the stomach, faster heart rate, unwelcome physiological changes etc.. We have this scary picture inside our head of standing in front of a crowd of strangers, frozen. What we fail to realise is that public speaking is really a one to one communication. Just like when you speak with your friend or family member. The only exception is that you have more ears & eyes to connect with.
What follows in his article, Speak like a pro – what I learnt at a public speaking boot camp, is gold. There are several incredibly useful techniques. The two I enjoyed most were Raise your hand up to engage the crowd and Anchor objects associated to your story, but there is so much more.
