Posts Tagged ‘Public Speaking’
A Key To Success In Business Speaking
A business speaker is only as good as his or her ability to design a speech and communicate effectively.
It can be wrong to believe an expert on business matters will also be an expert on delivering an effective speech.
Full-time, business speaker John Bell describes some of the techniques he uses that have resulted in delegates voting him ‘Speaker of the Year’ on so many occasions.
In this article John gives an overview of how a professional business speaker goes about creating order by giving a speech some sense of structure.
They may be confident, experiences business gurus, but stick them in front of an audience to speak and they may go to pieces.
I begin by stating a fact ~ the best business speakers are not born with an ability to give informative, memorable, and entertaining speeches.
The best learn the art of giving a business speech and then practise, practise and practise.
Here are my tips to a business speaker on structuring a business speech.
Determine what the title and objective of the business speech is to be. By way of example the title might be ‘Earning a Living as a Business Speaker’ and the aim to give delegates an understanding of the art and techniques used in the public speaking profession.
You can establish the objective as a business speaker by simply asking ‘by the end of my presentation what would you like delegates to do or what would you prefer them to be thinking?’
It’s also wise as a business speaker to know exactly how long your speech is expected to last in the event’s proceedings.
In preparation for the task ahead clear your desk of all clutter and you are already on the road to becoming a polished business speaker admired by many.
Use something similar to the Post-its that are available at most office supply stores and write the title and aim or objective of your business speech on two separate sheets and place them near the middle of your desk.
Carry out a brainstorming session by writing anything that comes to mind that is connected to your title or business speaker objectives onto additional Post-its and place them around your title and defined objective.
Once you have covered your desk you will then need to cull. Get rid of anything that is not central to the objectives of your presentation as a business speaker.
Take into account the amount of time that the event organisers have set aside for your speech, and the time allocated to you, the business speaker, at the end of your talk to take questions from the audience etc.
I work on the basis that each topic or issue I include as a business speaker will normally require around three minutes of time.
Establish order in your business speaker presentation by separating the Post-its and creating a beginning, middle and end in your speech. The beginning might be related to what existed prior to the production of the the amazing, new product, the middle a reference to the main advantages of the product, and the end perhaps some reference to the future benefits the delegates will achieve when they use the fantastic product.
Experienced business speakers have come to realise that an overview of their presentation assists an audience digest the business information being provided.
The conclusion provided by a business speaker usually consists of little more than a brief summary of the presentation and an equally short ‘thank you for listening’ comment or an ‘any questions in the time remaining?’ type statement.
Remember that important matters in your business speech may mean other less important material needs to be dropped. Quality business speakers know how to allocate time to talk topics.
Providing a sound platform for which to launch a business speech is a sure-fire way to gain the admiration of those who make up the audience.
Business speaker John Bell is one of the most popular speakers on the professional circuit. Working internationally, he offers his many clients an ‘all-in’ speaker fee. Visit his website to watch short show-reel videos of him performing, to better understand how he provides a ‘total satisfaction guarantee’ to his many clients.
Public Speaking With Purpose
There isn’t much difference between talking to just one person, to a small group, or to a wide audience. While you do have to talk a little louder with the latter, the kind of talk that usually goes on at a meeting does not deviate much, in essence, to the talk that goes on when you’re at a party. Therefore, if you’re asked to speak in front of a group, do not fret. Think of it as just having a conversation with one audience unit.
When you’re speaking to a group, you are speaking with a purpose. That is, you want your listeners and viewers to think, feel, and respond by doing something. Thus, public speaking is a responsibility.
But, before you balk at the thought of being ‘responsible’ for something, realize that being an influential speaker does not really require the knowledge of rocket science. You don’t have to memorize all the contents of the latest encyclopedia edition to hold influence over an audience.
What makes an influential and effective speaker?
- A good speaker has a sense of responsibility. Thus, he is careful with the things that come out of his mouth. He doesn’t bite more than he can chew; nor is the information he is supposed to impart spread thin.
- A good speaker is enthusiastic and alive. He is aware that he is speaking to a group of people with diverse interests and moods. He catches the audience’s attention by being himself, genuinely enthusiastic about the topic he is discussing.
- An influential speaker is one who keeps his head. He doesn’t let the opportunity to own the limelight as a chance to grandstand everyone else.
- An influential speaker has a sense of leadership. He speaks with authority, stands up straight, makes eye contact and speaks in a concise and straightforward manner. He injects humor into his speech, but doesn’t get carried away with just making small talk.
- A good speaker has a sense of time. He knows that the people had set aside a part of their lives to listen to what he has to say. He does not waste his and everybody else’s time by engaging in empty topics.
Of course, nobody is without fault. If you, as the speaker, make a mistake or give false information, acknowledge the error and make the correction right away. Don’t keep apologizing and get to the next point immediately after you’ve made the correction. Apologizing incessantly will not only make you look like a novice, but it will also reduce your credibility as an effective speechmaker. The more awkward you seem, your influence radar decreases.
When you are speaking in front of an audience, it means you have something substantial to say; that which will affect the people who listen to you. Do not waste this opportunity by beating around the bush.
The fact that you were given the chance to speak to a group means you already have some sort of influence on them because they were willing to set time aside for you. Take care of this gift very well. Yes, influence is not something you just impose on people. It is something you earn by gaining the confidence and respect of others.
HOW TO BE A PUBLIC SPEAKING SUPERSTAR: SPEAK OUT: Guide to Making Impressive Speeches http://tinyurl.com/c55xmm Kevin has written articles regarding health, self-motivation, public speaking and today’s environment. He speaks at business clubs regarding personal development. His website is: www-powerbooks.com
Public Speaking – Body Language And Gestures
When communicating, your body language (facial expressions, gestures, movement, eye contact and voice) should match your message. If there is a disconnect between what you say and your non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals.
Movement and gestures are key components of body language. Mark Brown, past World Champion of Public Speaking, once coached me: “Gilda, stand and deliver.” Rather than pacing aimlessly on stage, I should stand and deliver my message — and move with purpose.
Try this out yourself. Before you start to speak in front of a group, no matter how small or big, walk to where you’ll be standing with even, purposeful steps. Stand your ground and when you move – to the flipchart, to the other side of the room, into the audience – make it deliberate.
Here are other tips to help you use gestures and movement effectively:
How to Stand
• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees relaxed. Your weight should be evenly distributed on both feet. Avoid nervous pacing or shifting from one foot to the other.
• Stand up straight – you do not need to stand like a soldier at attention, but your shoulders should be back and your head held high so you can make eye contact. This posture conveys confidence and helps you breathe more fully.
• Don’t “hide” behind a desk, podium or flip chart.
What to Do With Your Hands
• Begin with your hands in the “neutral position,” hanging loosely at your sides, so they will be available for natural gestures
• Avoid hands in pockets since it can lead to a sloppier posture and slouching. You also may start jingling the change in your pocket without realizing it (yes, I’ve seen – and heard – it happen!).
• Empty your hands. If you must hold something (your notes or the PowerPoint remote), be aware of what you are doing. I’ve seen speakers unconsciously fold their notes into little squares – how’s that for distracting?
• Be aware of what your empty hands are doing – “washing” each other, grasping each other tightly, playing with your watch, etc.
• Don’t point at the audience. Yes, your mother was right – it’s not polite to point. Try an open-handed gesture instead.
How to Use Gestures
• Whether they come naturally to you or you have to work at them, gestures can help communicate your ideas and a little goes a long way.
• Use a variety of smooth, deliberate and natural gestures that support and visually illustrate your message.
• Use the “fisherman gesture.” Remember the fisherman telling the story “I caught a fish THIS big” with his arms open wide? That gesture is a visual clue to what his words are telling you.
• Use the “on the one hand… , on the other hand” gesture to show both sides of the issue.
Gestures and movement provide the visuals that accompany your words. Learning to use them effectively will help you convey your message with confidence and your audience will see your message instead of just hearing it.
Gilda Bonanno is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate professionals improve their communication and presentation skills. Get a FREE Report “6 Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking” when you subscribe to Gilda’s e-newsletter. http://www.gildabonanno.com
Public Speaking – Tips To Improve Your Speaking
Any public speaking involves delivering information to people who are, in one way or another, waiting to get some information. This is a key reason why you should pay careful attention as you prepare to make you speech and as you plan to meet your audience.
Some people are naturals at public speaking and getting to audiences, you may think of politicians or a good college professor you took some classes with, the fact of the matter is most people are not good at making speeches and the vast majority of people are terrified of delivering a speech. This should not discourage you in any way, since many experts have studied this and worked hard for you to deal with these problems in speech making.
If you are at a point that you are going to deliver a speech, you probably got to a stage in your life your thoughts are worth something to other people, this means that in principle, people want to get into your head and they appreciate your talent or skill in some particular field, the people that will listen to you have something to learn from you. But you are not thinking of these people, are you? You are thinking of the few people that probably know more than you and will be in the crowd. This is a big mistake, first because you should think of the person that will profit from your knowledge and get to him, and secondly because you have something in you that will benefit even the ones that you fear.
The key to all this is simple, its preparation, it’s the most basic, banal and trivial thing, but it is the base of any success in any field. Lets think about speech making preparation.
First think about your audience, who is the average person coming to your speech, what does he know, what does he need to know, what will inspire him and make him listen carefully to what you have to say, and how will you get him to appreciate your speech. It is not that difficult, its actually good to start at this point, remember – people want to know what you are thinking, you just need to keep them interested, and I am sure you got interesting thoughts.
Rehearse, this seems clear to me, practice the speech again, and again, and again. Obviously I know that you don’t have all the time in the world to perfect it, but, there is a value to this, timing your speech, and pre setting spots in which you know you need to change your tone, your speed and rhythm, will make you a better speaker and a better speech planner. So rehearse your speech and listen to yourself while doing it. Start strong, confident, talk about things you know no one can beat you or undermine you, let the confidence and the experience shine through, people feel that, and if you do this right, you will own your audience.
Think about your entrance and the first 3 minutes of the speech, pay attention to the way you walk in, project confidence and calm, do not rush into anything, even if you are late or under a tight schedule do everything slowly and thoughtfully, show the room that you are entering your speech zone and that no one is allowed in, they can sit and wait for a few seconds (which seem like hours) – its only a few seconds. Make sure you got the attention of the crowd, and start strong. Pick the words of your opening carefully, and trust yourself. The author Chris Williams manages the free Nigerian newspapers Online website which offers quick and easy access to all reputable online Nigerian newspapers plus facts about Nigeria online
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Public Speaking – A Very Powerful Tool
Those among us who learn and perfect the art of public speaking attain the means and the power to control and even suppress the rest of us.
This world is run by those who can express themselves better and convince his or her fellows that he or she has their interest at heart. If the masses listen and perceive that you understand and express their concern in a way they understand, they place the responsibility of determining their lives entirely on your hands. That is why the finest orators in our society are always leaders of different causes.
Essentially, public speaking is a process of speaking to a group using a creatively structured speech, a deliberate style and manner intended to subjectively inform on matters important to the speaker. If a public speaker can convince, interest and entertain the listeners in a way that influences their convictions and consequent decisions, that is successful public speaking.
Results of a public speech are always gauged by its influence on listeners and how effectively it coerces them to assume a particular course of action or behavior. Simply put, the essence of public speaking rests in controlling the behavior, beliefs and actions of the masses. Most leaders are voted into offices because their speeches best- expressed a message that resonated with the wishes of the masses.
Let’s get practical. The immediate former US president, George W. Bush, was voted back to the office because he successfully convinced the American voting public that the priority concern of their nation was to successfully wage an anti-terrorism campaign. When John McCain a fellow republican used an almost similar platform in the last general election, he lost. In fact, Obama is now the president because he successfully convinced the same voting public that war and vengeance was outdated and that America needed to spearhead peace initiatives even with known terrorist-harboring nations.
There you have it. It is never about the message. Never about the person. It is all about who uses the public forum successfully to convince, influence and then control the masses’ point of view. Power is granted to those who best use the tool of inspirational black speakers to express a message that the masses can feel have a meaning for them. Zander Smith
Site representative
Greatblackspeakers
Member of black motivational speaker group
Public Speaking – The Timeless Tenets
The history of public speaking is as old as that of mankind.
The advances of technology have only but increased the audience potential of orators but the art and structure of public speech remains persistently the same as that of old. Surprisingly, the art of public speaking has been developed and studied mostly at the level of politics. Public speaking is even today regarded as a means of communicating, influencing and controlling the masses by either the ruling classes or elites.
The pioneer scholastic work on the art of speaking was in Greece at around 1600AD. An elaborate set of principles was developed mainly drawn from the experience and practices of famous Greek orators at the time. Though these basic principles have been transformed over the years and modified to fit in with the times, the three fundamental tenets of public speaking remain solidly rooted in these pioneer principles.
The first tenet is oratory, and it refers to an ancient art of public speech. Oratory was practiced in Greece and Rome during their respective civilizations and studied as a component of rhetoric. This tenet has definite rules and models emphasized by the liberal arts since the Renaissance and Middle Ages. Oratory has significance in publics speaking because it constitutes the composition and delivery of speeches. The second tenet is that of using extra linguistic features other wise called gestures as accompaniment to speech. What a person says is equally important as what he does while doing it. Public speaking skills entail conscious use of facial expressions, hand movements, body postures and other gestures as accompaniments to the spoken message.
Control of the voice through intimate inflection is the other key tenet, which makes a public speaker either boring or interesting to listen to. How one combines the lows and the highs in the voice quality, the soft and the deep, the appeals and commands etc. determines the effect of public speech to the audience.
There are other key principles of public speaking and black motivational speakers that are included as additions of the basic three exemplified above. These include command of an impressive vocabulary inventory from which an appropriate register is handpicked with a precise and deliberate word choice, the relevant and sensitive use of humor in speech and the use of speaking notes as preferred over reading word-by-word speeches. Zander Smith
Site Representative
Great black speakers
Member of Great inspirational black speakers society
Public Speaking – Tips To Help You More Than Survive
The three greatest fears for humankind are Death, Tax Time and Public Speaking; but the greatest of these fears is Public Speaking. For some, the idea of standing up in front of a roomful of total strangers is worse than being audited; and for many, death itself would be preferable to having to speak publicly.
Maybe this has happened to you. Someone introduces you and you walk up to the podium. You look out on that sea of unfamiliar faces, and your heart starts to pound in your chest, your mouth goes dry, your palms begin to sweat and your stomach gives a lurch. You had a speech prepared, but every bit of information you had intended to share just flies out of your brain, like so many uncaged birds. The butterflies in your stomach have become iron pellets. And like a bad sitcom, everything goes into slow motion, and you imagine that the audience is now pointing at you and laughing.
Stop right there, take a deep breath and relax. Every public speaker has had a nerve- wracking experience at least once in his or her life. But it doesn’t have to be that bad, and there are several ways to make your next public speaking experience less stressful, maybe even fun. The good news is that public speaking isn’t fatal.
The first thing to ask yourself is to whom will you be speaking? Speaking to a convention of bankers or investors is completely different than speaking to a convention of say, meat packers, or giving a toast at a wedding. Know your audience. If you are giving a speech at a seminar, you have information to impart to your audience; they’re there because you can teach them something.
Once you’ve determined who your audience will be, it’s time to prepare your speech or presentation. The more you know about your topic and the better prepared you are, the less nervous you’ll be, so really get to know your material. Practice your speech or presentation in front of a mirror and pay attention to your body language.
Should you bring notes or depend on your memory? Because it is a stressful time, most speakers bring notes with them. How awful would it be to become so nervous, you forgot everything you were going to say, and you just stood there, trying desperately to remember your speech? Always take notes with you. But just use them as a guide; don’t recite from your notes, unless you’d like your audience to nap while you speak to them.
The first thirty seconds are the hardest to get through, but are of the greatest importance. In that first thirty seconds, you must grab your audience’s attention; get them interested in what you have to say. You’re probably asking, “How exactly do I do that?” Well, you could start with a joke, depending of course on your audience. Humor might not be appropriate for some gatherings. You could ask a provocative question, or quote a famous person.
Watch your body language. If you’re using a podium, stand naturally behind it; don’t grip the edges, as if you’re afraid of being blown off the dais. Place your notes on the podium, smile at the audience, and while maintaining eye contact, begin your speech or presentation. Hand gestures and facial expression are important. Moving about a little is okay, but try not to pace back and forth across the stage or dais. It can make your audience nervous.
Remember to take it easy and not rush through your presentation or speech, pause now and then, consult your notes when necessary and try to relax. Remind yourself to speak slowly and clearly, avoiding slang. Stick to your speech or presentation; try not to go off on tangents that are sure to confuse your audience.
Know when you’re done. Avoid rambling on, repeating yourself, or going off topic. Tell them what you need to tell them, give them the information they came to hear, then wrap it up. If you planned on a question and answer period, let them know you’re ready for their questions. When you’re done, say thank you and walk off the dais.
Dales Carnegie was quoted as saying that, “Great speakers are not born, they’re trained.” That means that, as with most things in life, preparation is the key. When you’re prepared, when all your ducks are in a row, and you feel like you know what you’re doing, you’ll be much less nervous.
So, walk up to that podium, look your audience in the eyes, smile, act like you own the place, and begin. You will survive; in fact, you will be good and interesting. You might even learn to enjoy the experience as a public speaker.
HOW TO BE A PUBLIC SPEAKING SUPERSTAR SPEAK OUT: Guide to Making Impressive Speeches http://tinyurl.com/c55xmm Kevin has written articles regarding health, self-motivation, public speaking and today’s environment. He speaks at business clubs regarding personal development. His website is: www-powerbooks.com
Anxiety Is Normal But Give A Powerful Presentation Anyway
Anxiety public speaking is normal and natural. Even the best speakers do have them each time before their speeches. But you need to harness the fear of speaking in order to give an impressive presentation or powerful speeches.
Here are ten useful tips on how to stand up before an audience to deliver that powerful speeches or give an impressive presentation.
1.Know your material inside out. Make sure you know the topic very well. Take time to research and have more than enough materials. Incorporate humor, personal anecdotes, popular quotes, relevant current topics or headlines into your presentation.
2.Practice. After having outlined your speech, rehearse out loud with your supporting visual aids at home. Check the timing of your presentation. Add or reduce some of content as necessary. Use certain keywords as your hook in your speech.
3.Standby humor. Or rather self-effacing humor. If you happen to make mistakes or goof up during your presentation, then use self-effacing humor to poke fun at your mistakes to divert or diffuse the situation.
4.Know your audience. Arrive earlier to greet some of the audience as they arrive. Exchange some pleasantries and get acquainted. You will be comfortable speaking to them later.
5.Know the venue well. Check out the place of your presentation. Walk around the room and familiarize with the place. Stand and look from different vantage points and make yourself feel at home, so to speak. Remember to check your equipment and visual aids.
6.Impactful introduction. Walk up, smile and begin your speech with a bang. It can be a current joke, a startling statistics, or other related and relevant materials. Make it short and punchy. As they say: Well begun is half done.
7.Move and Deliver. Don’t stand rooted to one spot. Move about and gesture with your hands if necessary and not forgetting your facial expressions. You don’t need to over dramatize. Remember to smile.
8.Cover up mistakes If you do make any boo-boo. Don’t panic and don’t apologize profusely. Stay calm and you make use one of your prepared self-effacing humor to control the situation.
9.Deliver the message. If you are well prepared, everything will fall in place as planned. Focus on the message of your speech. Talk to them as if you are sharing a conversation with friends. And before you know, it is over.
10.Learn from experience. As they say, if you want to learn how to dance, then you have to dance. Similarly with public speaking. Do it a few times, and you will find easier the following time around. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to giving that powerful speeches or an impressive presentation.
You can find out more about how to deliver effective communication skill and all about good presentation skills from Malcolm Dexter.
Public Speaking – The Key To Better Presentation
When I was in high school, I played clarinet in the school band. Every afternoon, I climbed up the hill from the bus stop carrying my clarinet case and every morning, I trudged back down the hill carrying my clarinet case, still unopened and untouched.
My performance on the clarinet failed to improve because merely carrying the clarinet was not enough to help improve my skill at playing it.
The same is true for presentations. When you’re preparing to speak to a group, no matter how small or large, it’s not enough to think about what you’re going to say or flip through your slides while you’re sitting at your desk. That doesn’t count as practice.
Practice means that you actually open your mouth and say the words out loud in as close to the real environment as possible. So, for example, if you’re going to stand while presenting, stand while practicing. If you’re going to present while sitting around a conference table, then practice while sitting around a conference table. The purpose of practice is to become comfortable enough with your material and the mechanics of presenting it in the environment that you will be able to deliver your presentation naturally and effectively.
You should practice going through your presentation at least a few times. Memorizing it may make you more anxious since you’ll be worried about forgetting the exact words you memorized. Instead, become familiar enough with your key ideas and message that you can use different words and phrases to express them each time you practice. If you choose to use notes, practice how to use them effectively without clinging to them or reading from them.
There are three major areas of content that you should focus on during your practice:
Introduction
This is your opportunity to engage the audience and also to build your confidence. You should be so comfortable with your introduction that you can deliver it effortlessly, with full eye contact, a strong voice and few pause words (like “um” or “ah”).
Transitions
Presenters often get lost between points or slides. You want to practice how you will move smoothly and logically from one idea to the next. Having a well-organized presentation makes transitions easier because you can say something like, “the second reason we need a new process for handling customer complaints is…” or “the next phase of the project involves testing the software against the requirements…”
Conclusion
This is your last chance to remind the audience of your message. Don’t just let your voice trail off with “well….. that’s it, I guess….” You should end with a powerful conclusion such as a call to action or a strong reiteration of your message and its importance to the audience.
I learned the hard way – it’s not enough to carry the clarinet around and think about practicing. To improve, you actually have to open the case and play it. So the next time you have to give a presentation, make the time to practice the right way by saying the words out loud in as close the real environment as possible. As a result, your actual delivery of it will be smooth and effective. Gilda Bonanno is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate professionals improve their communication and presentation skills.
Get a FREE Report “6 Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking” when you subscribe to Gilda’s e-newsletter. http://www.gildabonanno.com
Public Speaking – Speech Writing Tips
Speech Writing Tip
You need to know the audience.
One of the key speech writing tips is you need to know who your audience is. To relate to your audience, you need to know as much about the people in the audience. You must gather an audience analysis or demographic information.
Find out about the age, gender and occupations of the audience. Their background knowledge of the subject and their attitude towards the subject you are going to talk about. Plus the the size of the audience.
The more information you have, the more you can target your speech to reflect an audience’s interests. And that will increase the likelihood of them listening to you attentively. In another word, you have an effective speech. By having an audience analysis, you can tailored your message precisely to their needs and interests.
How to prepare a speech.
After knowing specifically who your audience will be, now you can prepare your public speaking outline better.
Firstly write down the objective or the statement of purpose for your speech. Do you want to inform, to persuade, to entertain, to recommend or what? Then do your required research thoroughly so that your speech is accurate and extensive.
After this, make an initial outline by organizing all the main points together. The outline must have an introduction, body of speech and conclusion. Fill it up with the key points.
Put your ideas in order so that one leads logically to the next. Write down the connecting thoughts as soon as you have them. Make sure the audience can see the main points clearly. Here coherence is crucial.
Don’t write it all out in elaborate complete sentences. Just jolt down the basic thoughts and the angle you want to approach your presentation.
Now it is time to decide the opening or introduction and the conclusion of your speech. Always have a powerful opening to grab your audience’s attention right away. Put extra time and effort to write out the opening and the closing of the speech. These two parts are very important. They have to be impactful, precise and arresting. Preferably, you write them out in full sentences and rehearse them well.
The body of the speech must have enough content with supporting facts and figures. Check the flow of your points and make sure they do not digress from the objective of your speech.
These are the main tips on speech writing tips. It is not difficult as many envisage it to be. Personally I find it easy, enjoyable, and educational at the same time. Most of what makes an effective speech is done before you ever stand up in front of an audience and open your mouth. Remember an effective speech has to be engaging, clear, concise and it has to be tailored to the audience. But the first vital strategy in making the oral presentation is gathering information about the audience you are going to address, then only you can achieve the desired objective of your oral presentation.
Malcolm Dexter can show you how to overcome the fear of public speaking phobia and many other tips on public speaking.