Tyneside Speakers Club

Archive for the ‘Public Speaking General’ Category

No Rambling Allowed In Public Speaking

For many people, getting through one's speech or presentation as quickly as possible seems to be the objective when faced with the horror of addressing an audience.  While they may have planned on 20 minutes for their presentation, once they begin, they are off to the races and manage to spit it out in 10!  

On the opposite side of that coin, however, are those who ramble; and, while the ramblers are a minority, they are out there.   If you have a tendency to go on and on aimlessly, you must put an end to that quirk.   Rambling is akin to a neon light advertising poor organizational skills within your presentation.  And, while some in your audience may enjoy a good ramble, there are many more who would prefer that you get to the point.   

Rambling generally occurs once the speaker becomes comfortable; but, it can also happen to those who are extremely nervous.  Nervousness is like a wild animal that needs to be tamed.  Because most are unable to control the beast, they are not in control of what comes out of their mouth.  We in the audience can hear and see it in the presenter:  quivering voice in which one's pitch continues to rise, uncontrollable speed, and hands that shake as well as the lips.  For the ramblers, the problem is that their thoughts are scattered and they are unable to keep to their outline or their script. 

How do you solve the problem of rambling?

1.  Practice your material out loud daily.  This means that you must know your material by means of opening, development (2-5 subtopics), and closing.  When you practice, work on it in sections.  Then when you are in the shower or driving to work or walking the dog, for example, go through each section individually.  This advice is very similar to learning a piece of music which can also be broken down into sections. If you make a mistake in a particular section, you don't practice the entire piece over and over, you practice the one area that is giving you trouble.  The learning of your presentation is very similar:  break it down into sections and learn each section as a whole.

2.  Stick to your Script.  While rambling is most uncommon in a speech in which you are ‘reading' words that you have formalized in a particular fashion, it is certainly more often heard in a presentation in which you are speaking around ideas and thoughts.  [By the way, if you are reading your presentation, you just failed the course.  Your audience didn't come to hear you read to them! It is called public speaking for a reason.]

3.  Watch your anecdotes.  Anecdotes, those wonderful stories which add interest and credibility to you as a speaker, can be dangerous.  It is best to have your anecdotes firmly ensconced in your script; however, you may find that you want to add some additional material because of your audience.  This is where the danger lies.  Audiences vary as much as speakers; and, you may have an exceptionally receptive audience which can move you to want to add more material.  The problem is two-fold:  by adding more material, you are a) lengthening your presentation and b) taking the chance of losing your place.  Suffice it to say that you are being led off track.  And, getting back on track can be a nightmare. 

 It is always better to say too little than to say too much; so stop the rambling and stick to your script.  You audience will thank you. 

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/public-speaking-articles/no-rambling-allowed-in-public-speaking-806359.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #806359)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Nancy Daniels – About the Author:

 

 

The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels is a voice specialist and president of Voice Dynamic. Offering corporate and 2-day workshops throughout the US and Canada, Daniels launched Voicing It! in April of 2006, the only video training course on voice improvement. Visit Voice Dynamic and watch Nancy as she discusses Your Least Developed Tool!

Presentation Power

Copyright (c) 2008 Drew Stevens PhD

One of the most daunting experiences for business professionals is facilitating a business meeting. Many would rather fake death rather than give a presentation. In recent conversations with clients I took note that meetings increased by over 40%. To that end, there is a compelling need to discover your strengths so that you structure, operate and facilitate a productive meeting.

Before you coordinate any meeting it is vital to ask three questions:
1) why is the meeting necessary
2) who will attend
3) what is the intended outcome?

Meetings today are run too haphazardly and without purpose. Productive meetings most have aim. Think of your meeting as the tip of an arrow, the more the focus, the more effective.

Meetings revolve around four success factors. These foundational techniques will assist to frame your message for clarity. Ensure your message is pithy and can evoke the required audience interaction and action.

Audience Analysis

Audience demographics are helpful in building reciprocal programs. First, your success is contingent upon providing an articulate message. Your audience must not only understand but internalize content. It is vital to hone in on behavior, communication style and listening habits so that words delivered are word received.

Second, it is your job as facilitator to know whom you are speaking. Ensure that your messages are delivered to the proper person.

Create the Message

Agenda. Create a pithy articulate message with the use of an agenda. Always use an agenda. Ensure success with a listing of no more than three to four topics per meeting. How many meetings have you attended where 10 plus items were listed? The best meetings are short and time bound.

PowerPoint. Refrain from the senseless overuse of PowerPoint. Use slides only when required. Too many facilitators use this tool as a crutch, my advice lose it and be free! Have a conversation not a rehearsed lecture.

Create an outline. A rule exists that states tell them what you will tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them. This simple three-step method ensures focus for your agenda and does not allow you to stray. Within each point you might include statistics, charts, testimonials and other useful data for backup. One you conclude each point offer a short summary as you transition to your next point.

Tools. A number of people that attend meetings are visual and typically need to ?see? information. When appropriate offer handouts and overhead visuals to keep them engaged.

Summary. When you complete your presentation ensure success with a summary. Take your entire presentation and divide into learning points or objectives. Participants tend to recall three items rather than a long list.

Create the Action

Numerous meetings end without proper action steps. Ensure success by holding people accountable for activities. This includes post meeting too.

Follow Up

It is appalling how many meetings run without proper follow-up. While actionable items are required, people frequently forget about required tasks, it is imperative that project reports and milestones are established to complete tasks related to the meeting.

Simple Rules and Techniques

There is a rule for presentations known as ?3S?. This acronym is best known for the following: Simple, Sequential, Specific. Similar to the KISS method, the 3S rule ensures productivity by relating simple information in a sequential format for participants. Even if the presentation requires intense content, it is best to separate data categorically or by topic. Participants loathe large amounts of data and placing it into smaller bites enables better recall.

Lessons learned from 27 years on the platform

Match your presentation to your audience. Know in advance who will be in attendance.

Encourage interaction. Adults desire to be part of the session, most learning theory supports this.

Eliminate the podium. Have a conversation not a lecture. Provide examples from the real world. People will trust you if you make the information relevant.

When possible, provide breaks throughout the session. Lengthy sessions require breaks every 75 to 90 minutes.

Keep the session moving. This requires a good agenda, time limits and if necessary a time keeper.

Additional Do?s and Don?t?s

Do?s

? Arrive early

? Test equipment

? Get beverages

? Know Culture,Gender,Generation

Don'ts

? Arrive on time

? Not prepare your presentation

? Use visual aids as a crutch

? Use jokes

? Use platform for own gain

Presentations are not as difficult as they seem. They do require a structured framework to ensure success and productivity. If you consider a presentation as no more than a structured conversation then fear is eliminated. Further, if you engage your participants while also providing accountables there is more inclination for a successful meeting. Place some of these ideas into your next meeting and immediately notice the change you want to see!

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/presentation-power-414178.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #414178)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Drew Stevens – About the Author:

 

Drew Stevens PhD assists organizations to dramatically accelerate business growth. He is the author of seven books including Split Second Selling and Split Second Customer Service and Little Book of Hope. Dr. Drew is a thought leader on sales and customer service issues. He can be reached at http://www.gettingtothefinishline.com
Obtain a FREE White Paper on Sales Effectivenes – !0 Rules for Selling Success. Email Drew at info@gettingtothefinishline.com

Public Speaking – The Art of Storytelling

Stories are used in public speaking to get and keep the audience attention, to illustrate and to prove a point. They can also be used as the sole basis of a speech for entertaining purposes.

Good stories told in public speaking have certain characteristics and share many of the same qualities found within a good literature. There are additional requirements that the effective public speaker includes in their delivery so that the stories will support their speech.

1. Interesting Stories

A good quality story can overcome many of the short-comings in the telling of it. But no amount of techniques can save a dully story. An interesting story will include conflict, drama and suspense.

2. Elements of a Good Story

Like a good short story in the literary world, the public speaking story includes interesting characters, a setting, plot and a climax. Concern and tension are used by the speaker to build up the suspense until the outcome is explained and the audience moves from expectation to relief. A technique to build up suspense is to tell part of the story early on in the speech and then to interrupt the story delay the conclusion until the latter part of the speech.

3. Drama

Create the feeling you want to convey through your tone of voice, facial expressions, choice of words, body language, and speed of delivery. For example, if you are discussing confidence, you will want to speak with confidence to convey this feeling.

4. Choose your language

Use words that will create vivid pictures in the mind of the audience. Choose the words that will paint pictures in the mind of your listeners, for example saying "I stood there open-mouthed" creates a specific image, compare this with the expression "I was surprised" that leaves the canvas blank.

Other techniques to use are similes, exaggerations (for effect only). Choose the words with care and use to season and support your story, not to mislead your listeners

5. Order of Story

Take time to think through what is the best order to tell the story . The most straightforward way is to tell the story in that the events occurred. An alternative to consider is to use flashbacks. The storytelling begins towards the end of the story to get the audience's attention and flashbacks to the beginning of the story are used to create suspense and tension.

6. Self Explanatory

The story must be clear and told in a way that it is obvious to the listener what is being illustrated or the point that is being made. There should be no need to explain the outcome.

7. Right Size

The story should be the length required to tell it adequately. Too long and it can bore your listeners with too much detail. Keep the pace that the events happening quickly enough so the audience maintains interest. You can slow down the delivery to increase suspense but ensure the pace is quick enough so as not to lose the audience.

8. Relevant

The content of the story needs to be related to the speech and the message, an unrelated story will take away from your message and reduce the effectiveness of the speech because it may confuse your audience.

Stories give context to the information being provided in your speech. People enjoy stories because they can visualize the events as they unfold. Because your audience will listen and enjoy stories, you will discover that by using the art of storytelling in public speaking you can get and hold their attention easily and quickly.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/public-speaking-the-art-of-storytelling-921446.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #921446)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Edward Hope – About the Author:

 

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 Short Guide to Effective Public Speaking

''DESTROY ALL THE MISCONCEPTIONS, INSECURITIES, FEARS,
SCATTERED THOUGHTS AND ALL CONFUSIONS THAT ARE
PREVENTING YOU FROM SPEAKING IN PUBLIC WITH CONFIDENCE''

 

 

What is Public Speaking?

Public speaking is an important skill in communicating knowledge and expressing ideas to groups of people. It is a primary medium for presenting and selling your products and ideas. Delivering an effective presentation to 20 or to 200 people is difficult.

Why is it compulsory to be a Good Speaker?

There is need for people who can effectively make presentations and speak to others. Your knowledge and skills in this area can help advance your career or improve your business. Also, if you are good or really enjoy public speaking, you may even choose speaking as a profession.

How to become world's Best Speaker?

Effective public speaking can be developed by joining a club such as Rostrum, Toastmasters International, Association of Speakers Clubs (ASC), in which members are assigned exercises to improve their speaking skills. Members learn by observation and practice, and hone their skills by listening to constructive suggestions followed by new public speaking exercises. These include——

-Effective opening & closing
-The use of gestures
-Voice modulation
-Vocabulary, register, word choice
-Speaking notes
-Using humor
-Developing a relationship with the audience
-Body Language
-Dressing Sense

What's the Solution for Public Speaking problem?

Institutes like 'Anurag Aggarwal Institute of public speaking' help to improve public speaking skills after receiving professional training and developing one's ability to speak well.

One never becomes a “perfect” speaker; developing public speaking skills is a life-long experience. But 'Anurag Aggarwal Institute of public speaking' will get you started in becoming the speaker you want to be and the speaker your audience wants to hear.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/career-management-articles/a-short-guide-to-effective-public-speaking-1685378.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #1685378)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Anurag Aggarwal – About the Author:

 

The name 'ANURAG AGGARWAL' needs neither a prologue nor an epilogue. A successful motivator, an enthusiastic trainer and an experienced counselor, he is the efficient stalwart of the 'ANURAG AGGARWAL INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SPEAKING'A post graduate in commerce from DelhiUniversity, he successfully ran a business enterprise for almost 14 years. He has been trained by the trainers of the Dale Carnegie Institute of Public Speaking, USA. He has successfully graduated from courses like TMI (Denmark) and Train the Trainer course by Steven Covey……….. CONTACT INFORMATION—— Branches : Kamla Nagar, South Delhi, CP…………. Website : http://AnuragAggarwal.com/………….. Email ID : Anurag_AAIPS@yahoo.com…………….. Mobile no : 9582121300…………….

Public Speaking skill

Jerry Seinfeld said, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. That would mean at a funeral, people are five times more likely to want to be in the casket than giving the eulogy."

Speaking in public is often cited as the number one fear of adults.

People get a perception about how competent you are by how you present yourself when you stand and speak in front of public. A person who is confident in front of a group gives off an air of competence, whereas a person who fumbles might leave a negative impression in the audience.

Self-confidence is the basic foundation towards public speaking. But how can you look and feel confident when faced with the challenge of giving a presentation or speech to a large number of people?

No one is born as an excellent public speaker. Most of the famous speakers have gone through the same experience what you have when doing first speech. What made them successful is their effort in preparing and practising.

If you deliver a good speech, you become lovable to audience. And, to be capable you have to learn the skill of doing it and master it. When you feel that you are Lovable and Capable, your self esteem will rise and become confident. Your feelings and confidence are connected. If you feel confident it will show and the reaction you get from your audience will be a positive boost to your self esteem which will spur you on to success.

Preparation is most important in public speaking. It means getting all information such as, who is your audience and what is you are going to talk about, where and how long your speech going to be, what message your audience must take away from you and your Key points what your audience should remember at end of your speech.

Story telling is an excellent tool in public speaking. Stories build rapport with your audience and gain credibility. Audience will remember your stories longer than your key points of your speech. You must be able to connect your key points to the story and deliver it. Your audience will love your stories and remember your key points.

Tell your personnel experiences and avoid white lies. Be prepared to inject relevant story at appropriate part of your speech. Let your audience see you and your enthusiasm, and you will have a great speaking performance.

Dale Carnegie said, “There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.”

Anil

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/public-speaking-articles/public-speaking-skill-1449337.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #1449337)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Anil – About the Author:

 

I believe in success principles and attracting what I want in life. My life is an example of how law of attraction works. I do enjoy motivating and help others to discover their potential. I am a blessed father of two beautiful daughters. I am living in Singapore with my wife and children.

http://www.yoursuccesshub.com http://www.mranil.com

Ten Top Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking

As a writer, teacher, attorney, and business owner, I can tell you that people will judge you by what you say and how you say it. When you are invited to present a speech at a professional convention or conference, you must take care to present yourself well in your speech. We can all improve our public speaking by learning a few simple techniques which can help prepare us to speak confidently in public. Surveys of Americans have shown that people are most afraid of public speaking; death ranks a mere number two. But you can rein in your fear and speak with confidence if you read on and do your homework.

This article shares with you the ten top ways that you can use today to improve your public speaking.

Top Tip #1: Plan your speech.

Planning plays an important role in all of your communications. In public speaking especially, you should follow the formal research and preparation which an outline requires. This process and its result will keep you organized and flowing in your presentation. This first tip is actually a bundle of tips.

Here’s how to get started and do the outline:

First, ask yourself: Who is my audience?

Assuming this will be your professional group, your colleagues will require a different style and approach than another group. A group of potential customers, for example, will probably need more information about what services your company provides and how you can help them fulfill their needs. On the other hand, your colleagues will want to know your particular expertise and how you go about satisfying customer needs.

 

Direct all of the ideas and examples toward the audience’s interests and needs.

 

Second, ask yourself: How do I narrow the topic?

For a presentation to your professional group, you will often be invited to speak in a general area which the coordinators feel is needed for the theme of the conference. Be sure to get the brochure and look at the advertisements so that you know what the theme is! Look at the other topics included in the brochure. How does your area fit in? Your topic should, if at all possible, be related to a “hot topic” in your field. You will know what those are from your professional
publications and  journals. If you don’t get them, go on-line and do your research.

Think of an interesting twist on a subject of high interest in the field. Everyone says, “Don’t reinvent the wheel,” but what if the right approach to a problem in your field is, “Reinvent your own wheel,” or, as Bruce Springsteen says, “Sometimes you just have to write your own narrative!” You may wind up with a highly creative wheel that spins faster than all the others.

Third, do the outline:

All presentations have big ideas and little ones, categories and details, main ideas and examples. Pick the style you like and go with that. The top communicators in all of history tell stories. Once you have the big ideas and categories outlined, tell stories for the examples and details—it is a great educator’s tool. Look back at what we have studied so far for a good example. The big idea: Plan your speech. The details of how to plan your speech: a)
know your audience b) narrow your topic c) do the outline of big ideas (the I, II, III’s) and the examples (A,B.C under each).

Here’s another good example. In my series of e-books about learning the principles of success by studying the biographies of successful people, I am currently planning the fourth book in the series. The working title is Success Stories IV: Second Winds and Success on the Rebound. The big idea is in the title and the stories will be the examples. I have begun to make the outline of
stories I will tell which exemplify the principles explained in the first book in the series and which show second starts and careers.

There are so many stories out there that give us tremendous hope for the future and for what we can do even late in life to improve the world we live in that the hardest part is selecting the best examples I can find for the principles to be learned. I have four selected so far. The most thrilling I have found (because I didn’t recall ever knowing the latter part of this story) is the story of Alexander Graham Bell. We all know him as the inventor of the telephone and how that invention changed our lives forever. But did you know that his true calling was to teach the deaf how to speak? Did you know that Helen Keller’s parents were referred to him by a medical specialist when they were looking for a teacher for Helen? Bell took the wealth earned by his hard scientific work and put it to good use to improve the lives of the deaf. And he recommended Anne Sullivan to Helen Keller’s parents, giving birth to “The Miracle Worker.” The invisible hands of providence were working there for sure.

A story about a real life person like that is so gripping that it teaches us a lot about possibilities and dreams and changing lives. It tells a lot about how you can get a second wind in life, a second chance to do the things that are really important to you and that you know in your heart and soul you are called to do.

Whatever your field is, you will have case studies and role models in your patients, customers, vendors, employees, colleagues, students, and assistants. Think about their stories and tell them in appropriate places in your outlined presentation.

Other benefits of using an outline are that you won’t be tempted to read it because it will just highlight the main ideas and also your speech will have a logical, well-organized flow.  Everyone has heard a speech where the speaker seems to be jumping back and forth,  skipping main transitions, and just generally not doing a very organized pesentation of the material. It’s no fun for the audience to try to keep up and figure out where the speaker should be. Always plan your material so that the organization provides a framework for the ideas. Your speaking will be greatly enhanced and more readily received. And your audience will love you for it!

Top Tip # 2: Select your words carefully.

In this day and age, we are plagued by the imprecise use of language. I think it has to do with all the cyber world speed junkies all around us! Do your homework and you will soon discover that you are able to communicate your ideas far more effectively and easily than you may have thought. Remember that words have both a dictionary definition as well as a connotation—the feeling or implication of a word is key to its proper use. Don’t use the word “cry” when you really mean “howl;” don’t use “request” when you mean “plead;” don’t use “happy” when you really mean “ecstatic.” Pay attention to the words you use and where you use them. You can make your speech far more accurate and effective by selecting the correct words. Besides that, you can make your public speaking far more compelling by using active verbs and nouns and descriptions which really tell a story in a more fascinating way.

Say what you mean, and mean what you say!

Top Tip # 3: Avoid slang and jargon.

Avoiding slang and jargon is very important in making yourself clear to your listeners. Slang is almost useless outside the forums where the teenagers hang out. Unless you work at the mall selling t-shirts, drop the slang out of your speech habits. Slang has the hallmarks of imprecise speech. One kid will say it and then they will all pick up on it. If you are a parent, you will know that slang is basically coded speech. In other words, the kids don’t necessarily want you to know what they mean. If you feel it helps you in communicating with your
teenagers, by all means, that may be a context in which you may want to use their language. But be careful that slang does not infiltrate your every day speech at work.

Jargon is that particular set of words which has special meaning for a professional or business group. Lawyers are particular bad about using jargon—as a lawyer, I hear it every day. Many states have even passed “Plain Language” laws to require lawyers to speak and write clearly and plainly about what they mean. So much of the jargon that lawyers use relates to old formalities. I have noted that certain clients will want to impress us with their ability to sprinkle their communications with us with “whereas” and "hereinbefore”! I avoid that type of stilted speech as much as possible.

There may be legal documents which require the use of “terms of art” which have special legal meanings, but for everyday speech and communications, I have found that they can be avoided entirely! If you really understand a word and its usage, you can speak it plainly. Other professions also have problems with jargon. Think about the explosion of e-terms we have to live with today. It’s not a book, it’s an “ebook;” it’s not just commerce, it’s “e-commerce;” not just marketing, it’s “emarketing.” These words are everywhere now, and you probably get them every day in your e-mail box. They are so common these days that many of us are just dropping the hyphen and using the “e” as a full suffix! That saves time typing on the keyboard.  Send me an email. Write an ebook. You will see them both ways for a while, but then the hyphen will disappear. What you should do is try to cut down on the jargon as much as possible. For clarity’s sake, you should try to avoid jargon in your speech with people outside your field.

Top Tip # 4: Avoid verbal stalling mechanisms.

Ask someone who loves you whether you are using annoying stalling mechanisms when you speak. Go ahead. You need to know the truth. Maybe it’s only sometimes, like when you don’t jot down notes before making that phone call. But if you focus on this tip for a day, I promise you that you will discover the times and places and circumstances in which you are likely to falter in your speech.

“Ah…,” “Ummm…,” “Hm…” We’ve all heard them and we’ve all used them. These are verbal tics which we need to avoid as much as possible. If you have planned your speech, you will be able to overcome this obstacle. If you feel an “Um” coming on, that is the time to glance down out your cleverly devised outline and move on to the next idea or example. I always hold a pen up there at the podium. It is easy and effective to check off each point as you go.

At times it is appropriate to insert a dramatic pause, or take a sip of the discreetly placed glass of water, or have handy a verbal cue to yourself— “Does anyone have any questions before I go on to the next point?” or make a short announcement to the audience: “Remember if you have questions please write them down on the question card distributed with your materials (or outline) and
someone will come around to pick them up.” This type of transition works every time.

Top Tip # 5: Practice your speech. Out loud.

Trial lawyers, orators and teachers will all tell you that practice, practice, practice is the best method to achieve success with the spoken word. Listen, the spoken word has been every bit as powerful as the written word in the history of the world from the very beginning. God said, “Let there be light,” and it was so. For people, practice is key. From the beginning of this country, the spoken word has held great power:

John Adams said, “Let me have a country—a free country!” and it was so. Well, after convincing the other colonies that independence was right and just and necessary, and after a major war in which a ragtag army took down a king and the most powerful empire in the world at that time, then it was so. Now, John Adams knew well the power of practice in public speaking and the human need of it. He would write out his closing arguments and arguments to Congress, and let his wife Abigail read them and give her criticisms, many of which he took to heart. After those planning stages, he would practice and practice the speech out loud.

Henry Clay, who later became the great orator and politician of Kentucky, would practice speeches in the barn and in the woods as a young farm boy. They called Clay the “American Demosthenes.” Demosthenes was the great Greek orator of ancient times, who stuttered as a child. He overcame his stuttering by practicing speeches out loud in private every day. The spoken words of these speakers have changed their countries and the world forever in these instances.  We may be surprised at the many opportunities we ourselves have to change the world around us and help other people, if we practice our speech to make it more effective.

What causes do you care about in the world? You can make a difference with your speech. You can inspire colleagues, salesmen, volunteers and workers. You can get people to do the best job they can, or to make more sales, or to give the best services available in your field, or to donate money and goods to a worthy cause. You can help where no one else has. Whenever you have those opportunities, use them well. Remember the importance of your presentation. And practice beforehand.

Top Tip # 6: Relate to your audience.

This tip is really something that brings together many of the other principles in improving your public speaking. As you plan the speech, the needs of the audience play an important role in what you say. You want to gauge the level of your audience’s understanding, interests, education, and attitude at the beginning of planning your speech.

But this relating to your audience is the hard part–when you stand up to speak to an audience. Walk to the podium. Take a deep breath. Look at the people. Maintain your eye contact. Smile. Perhaps you have had an introduction of some sort. The first words out of your mouth should be to your host and to your audience. “Thank you for that kind introduction. And thanks to all of you for coming here today. I am very pleased to be here to speak to you about…(your topic).” Take another deep breath, and then start into your outline. By the time you get into your speech or presentation, the material takes over. If you have prepared the material well, your speech will go well.

Remember, too, that in almost every case, your audience is routing for you. They came to hear you speak. They came to get information, facts, tips, whatever your experience and expertise can help them with. They are rarely thinking directly about you. They are thinking about the next client or
customer or contract. They are wondering if you will deliver to them something helpful to them in their field or business. That is where you can relate to them best. Deliver what they came to get.

During your speech, respond to your audience. When you look at their faces, do they look confused or do they occasionally nod their heads and appear to be right with you? Even if you have a strict time limit, it may be appropriate to say, “I’ll come back to that at the end,” or “Remember if you have questions…,” or “Let me explain that a little more.” You cannot say everything you need to about a subject because in most cases, the subject is too broad, so that some follow up communication may be necessary.

Top Tip # 7: Relax and be yourself.

People get nervous about public speaking because most of us do not do it every day. Unless you have had the experience of being a teacher or a trial lawyer, or a judge, public speaking is probably not part of your daily or even weekly or monthly routine. That makes it hard for most people to speak in their normal way or use their normal gestures. You can get past this type of nervousness by remembering you were invited to speak and most of the
people in the room came to hear you speak. You! Not some fancy professor at an ivy league school, or some Academy Award-winning actor, or some celebrity. When you think about it, you can only be you, and that is the best thing you can be! Don’t put on last minute airs that don’t suit you.

Top Tip # 8: Remember: They are watching you!

I know you are asking yourself, “Well, how can I relax and be myself if I have to remember they are watching me?!” Good point, but you want to be your best public self while you are up there in the front of the room. When you are called upon to give a professional presentation to your colleagues or a marketing proposal to potential customers or referral sources, your best public self should be ready to perform.

Here are the details, some “do’s” and “don’ts”:

Stand tall with good posture.

Say a prayer.

Don’t scratch your nose unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Try not to fidget or shuffle papers.

If your knees shake, try squeezing your toes in your shoes.

Find a friendly, receptive face in the audience.

Try not to fuss with your hair (brush it back beforehand)

Stay focused on your topic.

Respond to cues from the audience.

Top Tip # 9: Use Humor Wisely.

Humor is good, but not everyone can pull it off. If you are good with telling a joke or have a quick wit, and humor fits in with your style and the topic of your speech, by all means, entertain. There are only extremely rare occasions when wit is completely not appropriate, and those should be obvious to you. However, there are also topics and types of humor that must be avoided always: nothing mean-spirited or that mocks or that causes discomfort or embarrassment
should ever be considered humor. Ask for someone’s opinion before putting humorous comments or stories in your public speaking. (As a substitute, find inspiring quotations to include.)

Top Tip # 10: Have Confidence.

Public speaking is really all about confidence—in yourself, in your purpose, and in your preparation. Very often, confidence grows with practice and with preparation. But even great orators and speakers who have been giving speeches for many years admit to feeling nervous before a speech.

You should have confidence in this fact: When you love the work that you do or the cause that you support or the mission that you have been called to do, that is your confidence. That is your true foundation. You should always remember that those invisible hands of fate have placed you in a particular room, on a particular day, with a particular audience for a particular reason.

Picture your success in your mind and you will have confidence. See yourself confidently presenting your speech. Hear the applause. Think positively about the outcome. Your dream of successful public speaking, with the proper preparation, will come true.

 

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/presentation-articles/ten-top-tips-to-improve-your-public-speaking-560224.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #560224)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Celia Ann Rooney – About the Author:

 

Celia Ann Rooney is a writer, teacher and attorney in Philadelphia and is co-founder and chief financial officer of A New Success, LLC. She is the author of a series of e-books devoted to self improvement and learning the principles of success through study of the life stories of famous people, including Success StoriesSuccess Stories II: Early Risers and Late BloomersSuccess Stories III:Success in Hard Times. Her books and articles are available on the website:www.anewsuccess.com. You may contact her at:crooney@anewsuccess.com: the Art and Science of Success.

The Internets Funny Business!

It happens every day, everyday I receive 200 to 300 emails from brave internet business people with another amaising offer.
Each offer has a believable story of a guy or girl who just made millions overnight, doing a system that takes just a minute, and before you know it, you have millions of products on your desktop, makeing exactly zero $ or Rands or Pounds.

Each Guru however has free bonuses and each one is about to change your life, STOP, why on earth am I buying stuff that changes my life? I have a house thats lovely, a wife thats incredible, a business thats my own and off course, I have health and a very solid income.

So it was that very experience that lead me to develop, a newsletter for prople who love their lives who find the life they living fullfilling and celebratory! It is easily found at http://www.comedyshop.co.za and it is the Newsletter made up of top South African Comedians. The newsletter offers links to top comedy retail services, details on our comedic stars, showw details and even recourses for those ywho need joke books and public speaking advice and assistance.

In short "The Comedy Shop" is the resource that keeps our local and international audiences informed and involved in the most progressive entertainment company in South Africa. The Comedy Shop is South Africas only comedy specialist and offers a second website for specialist launches and product details which is found at http://www.powercomedy.com. The launch of this program began in December 2006 and by the first of January had generated massive opt in with over 6000 subscribers all bellowing for the first of the series, which is proudly produced today!

So the result is that all the Guru`s are subscribing to find out what the internets official funny business is up to, and they are rather disturbed that the company has offered no special bonuses, funny guarentees or solicited testamonials, no just information on South Africas Stand Up Comedy comunity.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-internets-funny-business-87716.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #87716)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Alistair Plint – About the Author:

 

Fear of Public Speaking Help with EFT

Greater than the fear of death is the fear of public speaking. The physiological responses to speaking in public can be overwhelming. Many of my client’s describe the fear of public speaking as terrifying and traumatic. The fear of public speaking can also include, fear of being judged, fear of being embarrassed, fear of being humiliated, fear of being discovered, fear of looking incompetent, and fear of making a mistake.

EFT is one of the most effective tools that I have found to help deal with emotions, self-limiting beliefs, physiological responses, obstacles, triggers, and concerns that most fearful public speakers deal with.

EFT was founded by Gary Craig, a Stanford Engineer, Ordained Minister and Personal Performance Coach. You can download a free how-to manual from his website (www.emofree.com).

EFT is simply emotional acupuncture without the needles. Our bodies are made up of subtle energies. When negative emotions are present, it's simply a disruption of the bodies energy system. With EFT you stimulate certain meridian points by tapping on them, and it tends to balance the energy flow in our body. EFT is simple to learn, gentle and easy to use, can be used anywhere, only take minutes, and has such great results.

Here are the EFT basic steps for Fear of Public Speaking:

1. Write down all self-limiting beliefs, fears, emotions, physiological responses, triggers, and concerns you have about public speaking? (I’m afraid that I will look nervous when I speak in public)

2. Evaluate the intensity level of each issue or emotion on a 1 to 10 scale (10 being the most). (Fear – 8, My rapid heartbeat – 9)

3. Set up the affirmation and reminder phrase starting with the most intense issue first.

Affirmation – Even though I get nervous when I speak in public, I deeply and completely accept myself, or Even though my heart beats 100 miles per hour when I speak in public, I deeply and completely accept myself.
Reminder phrase – My nervous feeling about public speaking, or My pounding heart

4. Begin tapping lightly on the following meridian points on one side of your body using your index finger and middle finger with either hand, as you speak the phrases out loud. (To view a chart of the tapping points go to www.mindbodytapping.com)

Karate Chop – "Even though I feel nervous when I speak in public, I deeply and completely accept myself." (Repeat 3 times). Eye Brow (Beginning of your eye brow near the top of your nose) – "My nervous feeling" Side of the eye – "Everyone is watching me" Below the eye – "Nervous about making a mistake" Under the nose – "What if someone notices that I’m nervous" Middle of the chin – "My nervous rapid heartbeat" Under the collarbone – "Nervous about embarrassing myself" Under the armpit – "Nervous about losing my bearings" Top of the head – "What If my nervous feeling spreads through my body "

 

5. Take a deep breath.

6. Re-evaluate the intensity level of the issue using the 1 to 10 scale.

7. Tap a second round (Continue tapping as many rounds as you need to reduce the intensity level of the issue below a 3).

8. Move onto the next emotion or issue starting with the Evaluation #2.

9. Continue working through all of your doubts, emotions, self-limiting beliefs, physiological responses, obstacles, triggers, and concerns.

10. Tap using EFT at least twice each day working through all of your issues in the past, present, and future.

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/fear-of-public-speaking-help-with-eft-964418.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #964418)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Darren Hiller – About the Author:

 

Darren Hiller is a Board Certified Consulting Hypnotist and EFT & NLP Practitioner. He has a private practice in Dallas, TX. www.darrenhiller.com
www.mindbodytapping.com

Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

If the thought of public speaking makes you start to shake and sweat. You are not alone. The fear of public speaking and presenting to groups is regularly voted the number one fear when surveys are carried out to determine people's number one fear.

The fear of public speaking is a learned response because we are not born with it. Because it has been learned, it can be unlearned and many people overcome the fear of public speaking and go on to become effective speakers. There are a number of reasons why people face their fear and overcome the shakes:-

- Their job demands it

- To promote their business

- To develop self confidence in themselves

- They like a challenge

- Confident speaking is a great way to get noticed at work

- Speakers are leaders

- Successful executives use the same skills as those used in public speaking

- To promote a cause or club they believe in

To overcome the fear of public speaking apply the following 5 "P's"

1. Preparation

Prepare thoroughly for your speaking engagement. Firstly understand your audience and what they expect. Who are they, their age etc? This will help when choosing your subject. Meet some of them beforehand it is easier to deliver a speech to people beforehand.

Choose a subject that will interest your audience and will be worthwhile to them. Research your topic thoroughly. Your primary source should be your own personal experience and after that read up on topic. Thorough research will make writing and preparing your speech easier. When you are starting out it is easier to write the speech out word for word. If you are going to read your speech, ensure it is written in spoken English.

The more thoroughly you are prepared the more self-confident you will feel. .

2. Passion

Choose a topic that you are interested in and will interest your audience. Your enthusiasm for the subject you are presenting will make it easier for you to speak on the topic and that enthusiasm is contagious. Also, you will have talked about this topic before and when you are presenting you will merely be extending the conversation.

3. Positive

Envision a positive outcome. Create a vivid picture in your mind of a successful speech and keep focussed on it. Just before you go on stage to present take several deep breaths to calm the nerves and really go overboard on your positive self-talk. Tell yourself how great you are. Your audience will respond well to your positive demeanour as you approach the stage and begin to speak.

4. Practice

Practice is of prime importance in building confidence. Practice as often as you can in front of a mirror and in front of your family and friends. Re-write your speech to make it easier to read and to make it more conversational. If you are going to be reading your speech, practice the tone and pace of your speaking. Lift your eyes up from the page. Practice until you are comfortable with the speech.

If possible have a dry run in the room you are going to deliver your speech. This will help your nerves because when you start speaking it will be in familiar surroundings. It will also have given you chance to address any issues with the facilities and the room.

5. Persistence

After you have taken your first step, the best way to overcome public speaking fear is to keep on doing it. George Bernard Shaw used this method to overcome his public speaking fear. To improve on his method, develop a short speech and deliver it frequently.

There are groups and organisations that meet every week that are ideal places to practice, e.g PTA meetings.

The advantages of public speaking to organisations and to the individual make it worthwhile making the plunge to overcome the fear of public speaking. The skills and techniques learnt are the same as those needed to be a successful executive.

In summary the fear of public speaking is a normal fear, but it has been learned and can be overcome by using the 5 "P"s. The rewards are there to be claimed by you in taking the steps to benefit your audience

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/writing-articles/tips-to-overcome-your-fear-of-public-speaking-886838.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #886838)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! Edward Hope – About the Author:

 

Put confidence into your public speaking and conversation with "The Art of Great Conversation." To claim your free preview visit http://www.SelfConfidentSpeaking.com

Public Speaking Help – 3 easy tips you can pick up  

Having to wonder how to perform well in Public Speaking? Envy those people up on the stage that can speak well and attract other people's attention? Or perhaps you tried public speaking before, but instead of delivering information to your speakers, you turned out to be a comedian. Looking for remedies to solve your problems? Not to worry, I can provide you with the Public Speaking Help you need. All you have to do is to remember these 3 tips.

<b>Public Speaking Help Number 1.</b>

<u>Draft your speech</u>

Pick a topic that you are interested in. Because you are sharing with your audience, you have to know and understand what you are going to say. If you pick on something you don't know or are not interested in, it will be harder for you to speak well. Get an idea on what to say. Try to use humor, personal stories and conversational language, but not too much – that way you won't easily forget what you want to say. From here, you can draft out your speech.

Correct any part of the speech if you think it sounds informal. Put what you have to say in a logical sequence. Make it simple and sweet. Ensure your speech is captivating to your audience and worth their time and attention. Never say irrelevant things to confuse your audience. Once they feel that way, they'll lose interest in your speech.

<b>Public Speaking Help Number 2</b>

<u>Practice, practice, practice</u>

Rehearse your speech at home or where you can be at ease and comfort. For example, you can practice in front of a mirror, your family, friends or colleagues. Ask them for feedbacks on how they think you can improve on. 

Videotape your presentation and analyze it. Know what your strengths and weaknesses are. Speak slowly and clearly, show appropriate emotions and feelings relating to your topic. Emphasize your main points during your presentation. Vary the tone of your voice and ensure your voice is loud enough to project to the back of the room.

<b>Public Speaking Help Number 3</b>

<u>Know your audience</u>

Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers. Present the desired image to your audience. Look pleasant, enthusiastic, confident, proud, but not arrogant. Make eye contact with them as you greet them. Show them you are friendly and at the same time comfortable. The body language and impression that you give to your audience will make them more interested in your speech.

 

With these, I hope you can turn your next presentation into your best.

 

Good luck,

MJ

Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/public-speaking-articles/public-speaking-help-3-easy-tips-you-can-pick-up-2430248.html"

(ArticlesBase SC #2430248)

Liked this article? Click here to publish it on your website or blog, it's free and easy! MJ Tee – About the Author:

 

 

MJ is a young enthusiast and expert in public speaking. Helping and supporting others gain confidence to speak out is his passion.

 

To find out about courses to overcome your public speaking fear, visit <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);" href="http://www.publicspeakinghelp.jjtipbits.com">http://www.publicspeakinghelp.jjtipbits.com</a>