I want to start this off by asking to know what your greatest fear is, is it the fear of public speaking? If it is then I assure you it need not be! Public speaking is as natural as having a meal or going to the cinema to watch a movie! Do not say it is easy for me to say this because I have some experience in public speaking because the truth is that I have seen people overcome their fear of public speaking and go on to become great speakers. The truth is if you are interested in public speaking you must not let your fear get the better of you.
According to documented research and surveys carried out worldwide, the greatest fear that people have is the fear of public speaking and it ranks higher on many a list than the fear of death. It follows logically that if these same people had a chance to give a speech somewhere they would actually prefer to drop dead than give the speech. Funny is it not? The striking thing is that it is true!
Pericles, the great orator and statesman of ancient Greece said, "Those who can think, but cannot express what they think, place themselves at the level of those who cannot think." This just goes to show the importance of public speaking as a medium of communication as no one can tell what you know until you open your mouth to do the speaking.
So this brings us to the question, why are people so fearful of public speaking? I think the first major fear has to do with the fear of failure: fear of forgetting what they intend to say, fear of not having the audience accept them and what they have to say, fear of not believing in their ability to do a good job etc.
While I will not tell you that your fears are unfounded, I will only go on to say that you need not worry as every human being even the most experienced of public speakers has at least one fear or the other whether related to public speaking or not.
Here are some tips that might prove helpful:
Have a positive mindset -- There is nothing like being possessive of the right frame of mind for any task you want to embark on public speaking inclusive. If you can convince yourself of the fact that your audience wants you to succeed (this is why they came to listen to you in the first place!) then you are well on your way to success. When you desire to give your best having the right frame of mind, it enhances your confidence.
Prepare adequately -- There is no substitute for knowing your materials and making adequate preparations. A popular cliché goes thus, "Proper preparation prevents poor performance". This works in every facet of life public speaking inclusive.
Visualise success -- What you see in your mind will eventually become your reality so long as you take the right steps towards that reality. Imagine yourself being applauded at the end of your presentation and not being booed as a newbie might probably think will be the case. A proper mental picture will stimulate the creation of a physical picture!
Get to know your audience - My mentor Richie Dayo Johnson (RDJ) says, "A good speaker speaks to an audience about a subject matter and not about a subject matter to an audience". Trust me on this; these are two different things entirely. Knowing your audience is a topic on its own and is very critical to your success as a speaker.
Learn how to master your fear and let it work for you as you become the speaker you want to be!
Temiloluwa Awonbiogbon is a consummate Public Speaker and Master of Ceremonies.
He is President of Power Talk Services, a public speaking and talk services provider outfit headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. He believes that if talk is cheap, power talk is certainly not cheap.
"Whatever you do, give it your best shot as only the best is good enough" - Temiloluwa.
Check out his business website now, http://www.powertalkng.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Temiloluwa_Awonbiogbon
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
How to Improve Your Public Speaking in Five Minutes
If I could show you a simple skill that would double or triple your effectiveness at public speaking, would you use it?
Most people shun the spotlight and when they do present in front of others, they become nervous and ineffective. You can set yourself apart if you can stand in front of a group confidently and comfortably. While there are no shortcuts to effective public speaking skills, there is a simple tool that most books and courses on the subject miss. If you can learn this tool, the other pieces of the puzzle fit together much more smoothly.
Clearly define the purpose behind why you are speaking. Develop this before you work on any other part of the message and you will find that you will be a much more effective public speaker.
Most people get caught up in learning the delivery of the message or how to create the content. Both of these are important and deserve attention. However, a well-constructed message that is impeccably delivered doesn't help if it doesn't create the end result that you want. Rhetoric, the study of how to influence others through public speaking, is exactly that, the study of how to influence. If you don't create a change in your audience, you didn't deliver an effective presentation.
Uncovering the purpose of your message is relatively easy once you understand the importance of knowing the purpose. The key is to start from the end and work backwards. In your mind, fast forward to the end of your presentation. Imagine that it went perfectly and everyone in the audience received the message you wanted to communicate. If that should happen, what would you want them to do, think, or feel?
That's your purpose.
Write the purpose on the top of the page where you are writing the notes for your message - where you will be constantly reminded of it as you write your message. You can then work backwards in your mind from that endpoint to uncover what you had to say and how you had to say it. It becomes the guide that you can use to create the presentation. You'll know what you have to say in order to convey your purpose.
There isn't a right or wrong purpose, but it should involve some sort of change or commitment in your audience. Very few of us want to talk only to hear ourselves talk; we have a reason we are speaking in front of people. If you are in a sales presentation, your purpose could be the audience agreeing to select your product or service. If you are speaking at a city council meeting, it could be changing the mind of public officials on how they will vote. Or it could be influencing the other parents at a PTA meeting to start a recycling program. There are many different purposes; but the key is: know the reason why you are speaking, and what you want as the outcome.
While clarity of purpose isn't the only skill necessary for effective public speaking, it's one of the most important (and often one of the most neglected). Learn how to define the purpose of your message, and you will find questions about content and delivery become much simpler. It's easy to decide what to saywhat you want to convey. More importantly, when you are crystal-clear about why you are standing in front of your next audience you will find your confidence increase and you will be regarded as an excellent public speaker.
David J.P. Fisher is a business coach and president of RockStar Consulting, a personal development company dedicated to helping people become RockStars in their professional and personal lives. He can be contacted at dfish@rockstar-consulting.com or at http://rockstar-consulting.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_J.P._Fisher
Most people shun the spotlight and when they do present in front of others, they become nervous and ineffective. You can set yourself apart if you can stand in front of a group confidently and comfortably. While there are no shortcuts to effective public speaking skills, there is a simple tool that most books and courses on the subject miss. If you can learn this tool, the other pieces of the puzzle fit together much more smoothly.
Clearly define the purpose behind why you are speaking. Develop this before you work on any other part of the message and you will find that you will be a much more effective public speaker.
Most people get caught up in learning the delivery of the message or how to create the content. Both of these are important and deserve attention. However, a well-constructed message that is impeccably delivered doesn't help if it doesn't create the end result that you want. Rhetoric, the study of how to influence others through public speaking, is exactly that, the study of how to influence. If you don't create a change in your audience, you didn't deliver an effective presentation.
Uncovering the purpose of your message is relatively easy once you understand the importance of knowing the purpose. The key is to start from the end and work backwards. In your mind, fast forward to the end of your presentation. Imagine that it went perfectly and everyone in the audience received the message you wanted to communicate. If that should happen, what would you want them to do, think, or feel?
That's your purpose.
Write the purpose on the top of the page where you are writing the notes for your message - where you will be constantly reminded of it as you write your message. You can then work backwards in your mind from that endpoint to uncover what you had to say and how you had to say it. It becomes the guide that you can use to create the presentation. You'll know what you have to say in order to convey your purpose.
There isn't a right or wrong purpose, but it should involve some sort of change or commitment in your audience. Very few of us want to talk only to hear ourselves talk; we have a reason we are speaking in front of people. If you are in a sales presentation, your purpose could be the audience agreeing to select your product or service. If you are speaking at a city council meeting, it could be changing the mind of public officials on how they will vote. Or it could be influencing the other parents at a PTA meeting to start a recycling program. There are many different purposes; but the key is: know the reason why you are speaking, and what you want as the outcome.
While clarity of purpose isn't the only skill necessary for effective public speaking, it's one of the most important (and often one of the most neglected). Learn how to define the purpose of your message, and you will find questions about content and delivery become much simpler. It's easy to decide what to saywhat you want to convey. More importantly, when you are crystal-clear about why you are standing in front of your next audience you will find your confidence increase and you will be regarded as an excellent public speaker.
David J.P. Fisher is a business coach and president of RockStar Consulting, a personal development company dedicated to helping people become RockStars in their professional and personal lives. He can be contacted at dfish@rockstar-consulting.com or at http://rockstar-consulting.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_J.P._Fisher
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Effective Speaking - You Want People to Believe You? Be Specific!
If a friend says: "Yes, we must meet up again sometime, somewhere" you can be forgiven for doubting their sincerity! On the other hand, when a friend says, "Yes, we must meet up again. How about next Saturday at around 5 pm?" you know they genuinely would like to see you again, and soon!
What makes the difference? Specifics!
When a person makes a presentation and lacks specifics, it's not so much their sincerity which comes under question, it's their credibility!
When a speaker says things like:
"I read the other day that in New York, at least, I think it was New York. Or was it Washington? Anyway, I read that..."
can you really put confidence in the rest of the story?
Here then is an important ingredient towards establishing your credibility when making a presentation...
Get facts. For effective speaking - be specific!
"But They Won't Remember Anyway"
What? Did someone say, "What's the point of sweating over details when they probably won't remember them anyway?"
Whoever said that is missing the point.
Facts and specifics may or may not be remembered, but the very fact you stated them to back up your point indicates you have researched the material and know what you are talking about.
When referring to an event, how much better to state the day, month and year rather than, "some time ago".
When giving a report how much better to state the specific number, e.g. 3,192 rather than, "over three thousand."
Perception Counts
Carefully researched material containing specific details about events, places, times, numbers, add weight to the presentation and establish the speaker as an authority on the subject.
The perception of the speaker the audience is left with is POSITIVE.
They are far more likely to trust what you say through the rest of the presentation when you speak in specifics. Of course, a balance must be maintained. You can go overboard.
Introducing too many specifics and numbers will load the audience down making the presentation tiresome so be judicious in which facts and specifics you decide to relate.
Note: Mark Twain is quoted as humorously saying: "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." No, No!
Just remember when you use facts and specifics to make sure you get your facts right! In other words, use the facts in the way they were intended. If members of the audience know the facts, and see you are misusing them, your credibility is destroyed, once and for all!
So To Summarize...
To gain the respect and trust of your audience and establish your credibility as a speaker, use specifics in your information but be careful!
* Too many generalities and you lose credibility.
* Too many facts and specifics and the presentation becomes irritating and arduous.
Strike the balance and you have climbed another step towards effective speaking.
OK, so now you know the importance of being specific. But how do you get started? Is there a formula you can use to make a great introduction? Thankfully YES!
Click here now and download the FREE Special Report: "How To Start Your Presentation Brimming With Confidence Every Time!" http://www.vitalpresentationskills.com
Once you get your personal copy of this Special Report, be sure to look out for the GREAT START CHECKLIST on page 3.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_F._James
What makes the difference? Specifics!
When a person makes a presentation and lacks specifics, it's not so much their sincerity which comes under question, it's their credibility!
When a speaker says things like:
"I read the other day that in New York, at least, I think it was New York. Or was it Washington? Anyway, I read that..."
can you really put confidence in the rest of the story?
Here then is an important ingredient towards establishing your credibility when making a presentation...
Get facts. For effective speaking - be specific!
"But They Won't Remember Anyway"
What? Did someone say, "What's the point of sweating over details when they probably won't remember them anyway?"
Whoever said that is missing the point.
Facts and specifics may or may not be remembered, but the very fact you stated them to back up your point indicates you have researched the material and know what you are talking about.
When referring to an event, how much better to state the day, month and year rather than, "some time ago".
When giving a report how much better to state the specific number, e.g. 3,192 rather than, "over three thousand."
Perception Counts
Carefully researched material containing specific details about events, places, times, numbers, add weight to the presentation and establish the speaker as an authority on the subject.
The perception of the speaker the audience is left with is POSITIVE.
They are far more likely to trust what you say through the rest of the presentation when you speak in specifics. Of course, a balance must be maintained. You can go overboard.
Introducing too many specifics and numbers will load the audience down making the presentation tiresome so be judicious in which facts and specifics you decide to relate.
Note: Mark Twain is quoted as humorously saying: "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." No, No!
Just remember when you use facts and specifics to make sure you get your facts right! In other words, use the facts in the way they were intended. If members of the audience know the facts, and see you are misusing them, your credibility is destroyed, once and for all!
So To Summarize...
To gain the respect and trust of your audience and establish your credibility as a speaker, use specifics in your information but be careful!
* Too many generalities and you lose credibility.
* Too many facts and specifics and the presentation becomes irritating and arduous.
Strike the balance and you have climbed another step towards effective speaking.
OK, so now you know the importance of being specific. But how do you get started? Is there a formula you can use to make a great introduction? Thankfully YES!
Click here now and download the FREE Special Report: "How To Start Your Presentation Brimming With Confidence Every Time!" http://www.vitalpresentationskills.com
Once you get your personal copy of this Special Report, be sure to look out for the GREAT START CHECKLIST on page 3.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_F._James
Friday, June 4, 2010
What Could Chris Matthews Teach You About Speaking in Public?
If you've ever wished that there was a formula for giving the perfect speech, are you in luck! Chris Matthews is the host of a couple of TV shows including Hardball with Chris Matthews. He gets paid handsomely for the work that he does now, but he got his start as a humble political speechwriter. Based on all of that experience, he's come up with a way to give the perfect speech...
It's All In His Book
Chris has written a book called Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success. In this book he lays out his six-step program for creating the perfect speech.
* Step #1: Break The Ice - When you first take the stage, nobody knows who you are. The first thing that you need to do is to put your audience at ease. One of the best ways to do this is to make a small joke that is based on current events: the room is too cold, it's raining outside, the local sports team just won / lost. Whatever you say the purpose is to relax your audience and let them know that you are one of them.
* Step #2: Show Some Skin - Everyone in the audience didn't just show up there by accident. They are there for a reason - they want to hear what you are going to talk about. Give them a quick "tweet" about what you'll be talking about just to capture their attention.
* Step #3 - Share A Story: You need to be able to explain why YOU are up there on the stage. Tell the audience the story of how you were approached and asked to present. The purpose of telling this story is to get your audience to both settle down for your main speech while at the same time building excitement for what comes next.
* Step #4 - Let Them Have It With Both Barrels - Now is the time to give your audience what they came for: your & message and your content. You may be delivering a lot of information so be sure to break it up into bite sized pieces.
* Step #5 - Lighten Up: you've got to communicate to your audience that the real meat of your speech is now down. The best way to do this is to tell another story, but this time keep it light and make it fun.
* Step #6 - Launch Them: At the very end of your speech you want to get your audience excited about what they've learned from you. Revisit the reason that you were asked to speak and make sure that you leave them with clear direction on how they can use the information that you've given them.
What All Of This Means For You
OK, so I wasn't completely honest with you - there's no magic formula that will work for every speech. However, Chris Matthews does have a pretty good approach.
Taking the time to initially connect with your audience, telling stories, and then sharing the content that your audience desires is a powerful way to get your message across.
Chris' technique should give you a place to start the next time you have to create a speech. Use these six steps to giving a speech in order to truly connect with your audience.
Dr. Jim Anderson
http://www.TheAccidentalCommunicator.com
Do you give speeches today, but want to learn how be more effective? Dr. Jim Anderson believes that great business skills are no substitute for poor presentation skills. Dr. Anderson will share with you the knowledge that he has gained while working to improve the speaking ability of both individuals and teams of speakers for over 20 years. Learn the secrets of effective speakers and really connect with your audience during your next speech.
If you want to follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter, he can be found at:
http://twitter.com/drjimanderson
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jim_Anderson
It's All In His Book
Chris has written a book called Life's a Campaign: What Politics Has Taught Me About Friendship, Rivalry, Reputation, and Success. In this book he lays out his six-step program for creating the perfect speech.
* Step #1: Break The Ice - When you first take the stage, nobody knows who you are. The first thing that you need to do is to put your audience at ease. One of the best ways to do this is to make a small joke that is based on current events: the room is too cold, it's raining outside, the local sports team just won / lost. Whatever you say the purpose is to relax your audience and let them know that you are one of them.
* Step #2: Show Some Skin - Everyone in the audience didn't just show up there by accident. They are there for a reason - they want to hear what you are going to talk about. Give them a quick "tweet" about what you'll be talking about just to capture their attention.
* Step #3 - Share A Story: You need to be able to explain why YOU are up there on the stage. Tell the audience the story of how you were approached and asked to present. The purpose of telling this story is to get your audience to both settle down for your main speech while at the same time building excitement for what comes next.
* Step #4 - Let Them Have It With Both Barrels - Now is the time to give your audience what they came for: your & message and your content. You may be delivering a lot of information so be sure to break it up into bite sized pieces.
* Step #5 - Lighten Up: you've got to communicate to your audience that the real meat of your speech is now down. The best way to do this is to tell another story, but this time keep it light and make it fun.
* Step #6 - Launch Them: At the very end of your speech you want to get your audience excited about what they've learned from you. Revisit the reason that you were asked to speak and make sure that you leave them with clear direction on how they can use the information that you've given them.
What All Of This Means For You
OK, so I wasn't completely honest with you - there's no magic formula that will work for every speech. However, Chris Matthews does have a pretty good approach.
Taking the time to initially connect with your audience, telling stories, and then sharing the content that your audience desires is a powerful way to get your message across.
Chris' technique should give you a place to start the next time you have to create a speech. Use these six steps to giving a speech in order to truly connect with your audience.
Dr. Jim Anderson
http://www.TheAccidentalCommunicator.com
Do you give speeches today, but want to learn how be more effective? Dr. Jim Anderson believes that great business skills are no substitute for poor presentation skills. Dr. Anderson will share with you the knowledge that he has gained while working to improve the speaking ability of both individuals and teams of speakers for over 20 years. Learn the secrets of effective speakers and really connect with your audience during your next speech.
If you want to follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter, he can be found at:
http://twitter.com/drjimanderson
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jim_Anderson
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Public Speaking - Deer in the Headlights Moment!
Say you are called on to give an impromptu presentation in a meeting. The boss turns to you and says, "John, what are your thoughts on this new multimillion dollar initiative we're launching?" Suddenly, everyone turns to you. They're waiting for your response. The boss is waiting for your response. Everyone is waiting for your response to an opportunity you're not prepared for. What do you say?
As you rise from your chair, begin thinking in terms of past, present, future. Take a sip from your drink and stroke your chin twice to buy a little time (it's a good ideas to always carry a drink to a meeting just in case). Then, say something about the past, something about the present and something about the future... somehow linking the initiative to those three time frames.
Pause... look reflective, stroke your chin one more time and nod your head up and down... sit down and shut up! You risk spoiling your success if you begin rambling, blathering or offering any further explanation.
For example: "Prior to this significant and timely initiative that our wonderful boss has launched...blah...blah...blah. As we continue to roll out the various phases of the initiative, I expect...blah...blah...blah. Because of this initiative, our future will be much brighter...blah...blah...blah...bottom line impact...historical milestone......stellar leadership...blah...blah...blah!"
That's it! Past, present, future. People will come up after the meeting and comment on your brilliance and incredible ability to present things in such an orderly fashion. Give it a try.
Chris Crouch has spent years researching and studying both the mental and physical aspects of being more productive. He shares his discoveries through books, articles, presentations and training materials.
You can receive regular tips on how to live a more productive and joyful life by subscribing to Chris' blog at http://www.chriscrouch.com.
Visit http://www.dmetraining.com for additional resources on being more focused, organized and productive including Chris' books Getting Organized and Being Productive.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Crouch
As you rise from your chair, begin thinking in terms of past, present, future. Take a sip from your drink and stroke your chin twice to buy a little time (it's a good ideas to always carry a drink to a meeting just in case). Then, say something about the past, something about the present and something about the future... somehow linking the initiative to those three time frames.
Pause... look reflective, stroke your chin one more time and nod your head up and down... sit down and shut up! You risk spoiling your success if you begin rambling, blathering or offering any further explanation.
For example: "Prior to this significant and timely initiative that our wonderful boss has launched...blah...blah...blah. As we continue to roll out the various phases of the initiative, I expect...blah...blah...blah. Because of this initiative, our future will be much brighter...blah...blah...blah...bottom line impact...historical milestone......stellar leadership...blah...blah...blah!"
That's it! Past, present, future. People will come up after the meeting and comment on your brilliance and incredible ability to present things in such an orderly fashion. Give it a try.
Chris Crouch has spent years researching and studying both the mental and physical aspects of being more productive. He shares his discoveries through books, articles, presentations and training materials.
You can receive regular tips on how to live a more productive and joyful life by subscribing to Chris' blog at http://www.chriscrouch.com.
Visit http://www.dmetraining.com for additional resources on being more focused, organized and productive including Chris' books Getting Organized and Being Productive.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Crouch
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Get Rid of Public Speaking Fear by Using Humor in Your Speech
This is one of the most powerful ways of not only getting and keeping your audience's attention, but making a connection with your audience so that the effects of fear don't creep into your mind and ruin your speech.
How can you use humor in your speeches? One of the easiest and most effective ways to use humor in your speeches is to build the humor into your stories. There is already humor in your everyday life, in your experiences, and in the lessons that you have learned in your life - some of which you will be sharing with the audience. All you have to do is look for the humor and bring it out to get your audience's attention.
Many speakers assume that if you are using humor in a speech, then that means that you have to tell jokes during your speech. The truth is, telling jokes is not a good idea. Your audience will know that you are just telling jokes for the sole purpose of getting a laugh. If you do this, they will perceive you as being insincere, and will likely stop listening to what you are saying.
How can audiences tell when you are just using a joke solely as a means to get a laugh out of the audience? Quite simply, they can tell because if you are telling jokes, then you are hijacking your story. Telling jokes that have nothing to do with the story or the main point you are trying to get across diverts your audience's attention away from your speech.
The best humor will not only get your audience to laugh, it will also enhance your stories. If you are telling a story about an experience that you have had in your life for the purpose of making a point, stop and think about what that experience felt like. What did your surroundings look like? What was the irony in your situation that you can use as a bit of humor in your speech? Undoubtedly, if a story is important enough to share with your audience, it is because it stuck out in your mind. Use that mental picture to find the humor in that situation.
Many times, you don't even have to say anything at all to bring out the humor in a particular part of your speech. Your humor can come from your facial expressions, your hand gestures, and your posture - don't forget the importance of physical humor in your speech. This is particularly important because you can continue making your point without interrupting your speech to invoke some humor.
How can using humor in your speech help you to overcome the fear you may have of public speaking? Well, there are several ways that choosing humor can help you. First, using humor in your speech helps to disarm your audience - it dispels any negative expectations that your audience may have about listening to a public speaker, particularly if you are giving a speech to employees of a company, or other audience attendees that are there because they are required to be there, instead of being there by choice.
When you use humor in a speech by integrating it into your stories, you are helping people to realize that you are a speaker who is not only entertaining, but who has something to say that is relevant to their lives. Using humor in your own stories helps them to realize the humor in their own lives.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Severt
How can you use humor in your speeches? One of the easiest and most effective ways to use humor in your speeches is to build the humor into your stories. There is already humor in your everyday life, in your experiences, and in the lessons that you have learned in your life - some of which you will be sharing with the audience. All you have to do is look for the humor and bring it out to get your audience's attention.
Many speakers assume that if you are using humor in a speech, then that means that you have to tell jokes during your speech. The truth is, telling jokes is not a good idea. Your audience will know that you are just telling jokes for the sole purpose of getting a laugh. If you do this, they will perceive you as being insincere, and will likely stop listening to what you are saying.
How can audiences tell when you are just using a joke solely as a means to get a laugh out of the audience? Quite simply, they can tell because if you are telling jokes, then you are hijacking your story. Telling jokes that have nothing to do with the story or the main point you are trying to get across diverts your audience's attention away from your speech.
The best humor will not only get your audience to laugh, it will also enhance your stories. If you are telling a story about an experience that you have had in your life for the purpose of making a point, stop and think about what that experience felt like. What did your surroundings look like? What was the irony in your situation that you can use as a bit of humor in your speech? Undoubtedly, if a story is important enough to share with your audience, it is because it stuck out in your mind. Use that mental picture to find the humor in that situation.
Many times, you don't even have to say anything at all to bring out the humor in a particular part of your speech. Your humor can come from your facial expressions, your hand gestures, and your posture - don't forget the importance of physical humor in your speech. This is particularly important because you can continue making your point without interrupting your speech to invoke some humor.
How can using humor in your speech help you to overcome the fear you may have of public speaking? Well, there are several ways that choosing humor can help you. First, using humor in your speech helps to disarm your audience - it dispels any negative expectations that your audience may have about listening to a public speaker, particularly if you are giving a speech to employees of a company, or other audience attendees that are there because they are required to be there, instead of being there by choice.
When you use humor in a speech by integrating it into your stories, you are helping people to realize that you are a speaker who is not only entertaining, but who has something to say that is relevant to their lives. Using humor in your own stories helps them to realize the humor in their own lives.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Severt
Monday, May 31, 2010
Why Not Address Your Fears of Public Speaking Instead of Being Consumed by Them?
Yes, man's greatest fear is public speaking. The statistics tell us so. Instead of being part of those statistics, however, why not address those fears and learn how to put your nervousness to good use? Of course your first response is to question how that is possible. How do you take your nervousness and let it work for you and not against you?
The first thing you need to understand is that nervousness is a good thing. Many people are under the mistaken belief that they need to eliminate it - get rid of it. Instead, why not take your nervousness and allow it to heighten your senses, make you more alert and give you an edge? This is indeed what that rush of adrenaline does in the flight or fight mode. On stage or at the head of the boardroom table, those characteristics can make your delivery that much better.
The problem for most people is that they allow their nervousness to remain in control. If, on the other hand, you can make use of the marvelous benefits nervousness has to offer, your passion and your enthusiasm will take your delivery to heights unknown.
To gain this wonderful control, however, there are 5 things you must do:
1. Know your material both inside and out. That does not mean memorizing or reading your presentation. It means speaking it by...
2. Talking to your audience just as if you were having a conversation in your living room...
3. Making eye contact with those who have gone out of their way to listen to you...
4. Breathing as you speak and not waiting until you have totally run out of air...
5. Believing in yourself. (If you think you cannot do it, how successful do you think you will be?)
All 5 components are invaluable in dynamic public speaking and are the best means for gaining control over your nervousness and putting it to good use. One of the best ways to ensure success is to practice your delivery out loud. Incidentally, reading it over in your mind is not practicing.
Instead of allowing your fear to consume you, why not address your nervousness the next time you are scheduled to speak and discover just how great that rush of adrenaline really is!
The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, group and corporate training in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit her website at Voice Dynamic and watch as Nancy describes the best means of controlling nervousness in any form of public speaking.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Daniels
The first thing you need to understand is that nervousness is a good thing. Many people are under the mistaken belief that they need to eliminate it - get rid of it. Instead, why not take your nervousness and allow it to heighten your senses, make you more alert and give you an edge? This is indeed what that rush of adrenaline does in the flight or fight mode. On stage or at the head of the boardroom table, those characteristics can make your delivery that much better.
The problem for most people is that they allow their nervousness to remain in control. If, on the other hand, you can make use of the marvelous benefits nervousness has to offer, your passion and your enthusiasm will take your delivery to heights unknown.
To gain this wonderful control, however, there are 5 things you must do:
1. Know your material both inside and out. That does not mean memorizing or reading your presentation. It means speaking it by...
2. Talking to your audience just as if you were having a conversation in your living room...
3. Making eye contact with those who have gone out of their way to listen to you...
4. Breathing as you speak and not waiting until you have totally run out of air...
5. Believing in yourself. (If you think you cannot do it, how successful do you think you will be?)
All 5 components are invaluable in dynamic public speaking and are the best means for gaining control over your nervousness and putting it to good use. One of the best ways to ensure success is to practice your delivery out loud. Incidentally, reading it over in your mind is not practicing.
Instead of allowing your fear to consume you, why not address your nervousness the next time you are scheduled to speak and discover just how great that rush of adrenaline really is!
The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, group and corporate training in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit her website at Voice Dynamic and watch as Nancy describes the best means of controlling nervousness in any form of public speaking.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Daniels
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Some Help to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking
The fear of public speaking is a common one. It's often said that we fear speaking in public even more than we fear death. Trouble is, we often have to speak in public whether we like the idea or not. Whether it's a report at work, a speech at school or college, a Powerpoint presentation or simply standing up in front of a few people and talking, there's some niggle that creeps in to our subconscious which grows until it becomes a full blown phobia about speaking in public.
So, what can you do to conquer this fear?
You need to work on two levels - your rational, conscious, mind and your less rational, subconscious, mind.
The conscious mind is fairly easy. Just tell it that you're only speaking to a handful of people. More than a one-on-one conversation but not many more. You can likely rationalize this quite easily.
It's the subconscious mind that brings up more issues. The worry of making a mistake - don't panic about this, most of your audience will just be glad it's not them speaking. The worry of drying up mid way through your speech. All sorts of different visions race through our minds at the thought of this. Actors call it stage fright.
One of the best ways to confront your problem is to do as the saying says: "Feel your fear but do it anyway".
Yeah, right.
Back to the real world...
Start small. Move up from single conversations to a couple of people. Then three, and so on.
And train your subconscious mind to be less afraid, maybe by using a hypnosis MP3 to conquer public speaking fears.
For more help to conquer public speaking fear just click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Johnson
So, what can you do to conquer this fear?
You need to work on two levels - your rational, conscious, mind and your less rational, subconscious, mind.
The conscious mind is fairly easy. Just tell it that you're only speaking to a handful of people. More than a one-on-one conversation but not many more. You can likely rationalize this quite easily.
It's the subconscious mind that brings up more issues. The worry of making a mistake - don't panic about this, most of your audience will just be glad it's not them speaking. The worry of drying up mid way through your speech. All sorts of different visions race through our minds at the thought of this. Actors call it stage fright.
One of the best ways to confront your problem is to do as the saying says: "Feel your fear but do it anyway".
Yeah, right.
Back to the real world...
Start small. Move up from single conversations to a couple of people. Then three, and so on.
And train your subconscious mind to be less afraid, maybe by using a hypnosis MP3 to conquer public speaking fears.
For more help to conquer public speaking fear just click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Johnson
Friday, May 28, 2010
Get Rid of Public Speaking Fear by Practicing Your Speech Where You Can See It
By "practicing your speech where you can see it", what I mean is that you should choose a method of being able to actually see what is happening when you are delivering your speech. You should be able to notice your facial expressions and your body movements, so you can see not only the story you are telling with your words, but also the story that you are telling with your body.
For some, this means practicing a speech in front of a mirror. Many people prefer this "real-time" approach, because it gives them the opportunity to immediately notice and focus on weaker elements of their speech.
However, other people prefer to videotape themselves giving a speech, and then analyze the elements of the speech at a later time. Although this does not give you the advantage of being able to correct elements of your speech on the fly, it does give you the advantage of being able to distance yourself for a bit from your speech, and then come back later to analyze it when your mind is fresh. Also, videotaping your speech gives you the advantage of being able to review certain parts of your speech again and again, to determine exactly what is lacking.
So what does being able to see yourself practicing your speech have to do with overcoming your speaking fear? Well, simply put, it does two things: First, it helps you notice movements, "filler" language, facial expressions, and other elements of your speech that may be inconsistent with the message you seek to convey. Second, it helps to solidify what your perfect speech looks like in your mind, so that you will be able to recreate it for your audience.
In order to be more specific, lets examine both of these elements in a bit more detail:
Noticing Inconsistent Elements of Your Speech.
When you see yourself giving your speech, you will pick up on nuances of your speech that detract from your message, or are inconsistent with the crux of your speech. Often times, speakers do not realize how much their body language affects the content of their speeches. Unfortunately, even if you have written a flawless speech, if you are displaying body language that is distracting, you will find that you are "losing" your audience - and you probably wont even know why.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Severt
For some, this means practicing a speech in front of a mirror. Many people prefer this "real-time" approach, because it gives them the opportunity to immediately notice and focus on weaker elements of their speech.
However, other people prefer to videotape themselves giving a speech, and then analyze the elements of the speech at a later time. Although this does not give you the advantage of being able to correct elements of your speech on the fly, it does give you the advantage of being able to distance yourself for a bit from your speech, and then come back later to analyze it when your mind is fresh. Also, videotaping your speech gives you the advantage of being able to review certain parts of your speech again and again, to determine exactly what is lacking.
So what does being able to see yourself practicing your speech have to do with overcoming your speaking fear? Well, simply put, it does two things: First, it helps you notice movements, "filler" language, facial expressions, and other elements of your speech that may be inconsistent with the message you seek to convey. Second, it helps to solidify what your perfect speech looks like in your mind, so that you will be able to recreate it for your audience.
In order to be more specific, lets examine both of these elements in a bit more detail:
Noticing Inconsistent Elements of Your Speech.
When you see yourself giving your speech, you will pick up on nuances of your speech that detract from your message, or are inconsistent with the crux of your speech. Often times, speakers do not realize how much their body language affects the content of their speeches. Unfortunately, even if you have written a flawless speech, if you are displaying body language that is distracting, you will find that you are "losing" your audience - and you probably wont even know why.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Severt
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
3 Tips to Deliver a Better Presentation
Public speaking is something everyone has to face in his life time. No matter whether you have to speak at a wedding or in front of your boss. You need to be able to deliver a dazzling presentation.
In this article I want to present you some tips that you can use while speaking in front of an audience.
Preparation is one of the most important aspects of speaking in public. Not even World Champions of Public Speaking are able to pull off their great speeches without preparation.
There are several things you can do that will have a big impact on your speech:
* Outline your speech
* Familiarize yourself with the place at which you are going to hold your speech
* Hold your speech in front of friends
One thing I want to emphasize here is that the beginning of the speech is the most important part. If you lose your audience there then you will not be able to pull them back.
Make sure that you have something at the beginning of your speech which grabs your listeners' attention. It can be something very simple such as a story. You could use video among other things, just be creative.
Once you have hooked your listeners it will be a lot easier to make them listen to you and to achieve the results you want to achieve.
A backup plan is important especially if you rely heavily on technology such as Powerpoint or other things. If there is an overhead projector available then make sure to copy your presentation (or only the important parts of it) onto a transparency. It will be worth it when something stops working.
Also if you prepare yourself well then it should be easy for you to still hold a great presentation even though something might stop working.
Public speaking is important and there is nothing more important than learning from someone who has the experience and skills necessary to deliver a dazzling presentation.
If you want to improve public speaking skills then be sure to visit my website. Ultimately it will help you to become a better public speaker.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julius_Kuhn-Regnier
In this article I want to present you some tips that you can use while speaking in front of an audience.
Prepare Yourself
Preparation is one of the most important aspects of speaking in public. Not even World Champions of Public Speaking are able to pull off their great speeches without preparation.
There are several things you can do that will have a big impact on your speech:
* Outline your speech
* Familiarize yourself with the place at which you are going to hold your speech
* Hold your speech in front of friends
The Beginning
One thing I want to emphasize here is that the beginning of the speech is the most important part. If you lose your audience there then you will not be able to pull them back.
Make sure that you have something at the beginning of your speech which grabs your listeners' attention. It can be something very simple such as a story. You could use video among other things, just be creative.
Once you have hooked your listeners it will be a lot easier to make them listen to you and to achieve the results you want to achieve.
Backup Plan
A backup plan is important especially if you rely heavily on technology such as Powerpoint or other things. If there is an overhead projector available then make sure to copy your presentation (or only the important parts of it) onto a transparency. It will be worth it when something stops working.
Also if you prepare yourself well then it should be easy for you to still hold a great presentation even though something might stop working.
Public speaking is important and there is nothing more important than learning from someone who has the experience and skills necessary to deliver a dazzling presentation.
If you want to improve public speaking skills then be sure to visit my website. Ultimately it will help you to become a better public speaker.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julius_Kuhn-Regnier
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Exercising Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
If you want to improve your public speaking skills then it's essential to exercise.
It's important to know what you want to get out of your training. Do you want to be more confident? Do you want to create a better presentation? Ask yourself these questions.
Then write your goals down.
Thinking about doing some exercises is not enough. You actually have to go out and do it.
So stop thinking about doing it and start doing it.
Feedback is an important part of practicing. You will learn a lot faster if you have someone that gives you feedback as to how you are doing and what you should improve.
Be sure to pick someone that gives you genuine feedback. It's not going to help if your friends are telling you that you are doing everything right. Feedback is about criticizing that person.
Focus On Your Goals
It's important to know what you want to get out of your training. Do you want to be more confident? Do you want to create a better presentation? Ask yourself these questions.
Then write your goals down.
Just Do It
Thinking about doing some exercises is not enough. You actually have to go out and do it.
So stop thinking about doing it and start doing it.
Get Feedback
Feedback is an important part of practicing. You will learn a lot faster if you have someone that gives you feedback as to how you are doing and what you should improve.
Be sure to pick someone that gives you genuine feedback. It's not going to help if your friends are telling you that you are doing everything right. Feedback is about criticizing that person.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
How to Get Better at Public Speaking
Public speaking is the number one fear in the U.S.. Number two is death.
It's strange that people are more afraid of speaking in public then of death. There are definitely ways to overcome this fear, to get better at public speaking.
If you want to get better at this then it's definitely valuable to read books. Books can give you a tremendous amount of information about public speaking. In order to effectively learn from them you actually have to read a book. If you bought one then don't let it rest on your shelf. Start reading it.
Another thing that gets in your way of actually learning from books is not applying the material. The issue is a simple one. Books provide you with theoretical information. But in order to truly learn from books you need to apply this information.
You can do this by following exercises that are presented in the book or simply by using what you have learned on a daily basis.
Most of the people decide to take courses on public speaking instead of educating themselves through books. That's fine if you learn better that way.
There are lots of courses on improving your public speaking skills. Decide on one and then use all of the information that is given to you. Again if you don't invest any time in it then you will not gain anything from it. Apply the information that was given to you.
One of the best ways to get better in public speaking is to videotape yourself. A video of yourself makes your weak spots obvious and will help you to correct them, making you an even better public speaker.
If you can't record a video yourself then ask a friend to do so. It will help you tremendously.
It's strange that people are more afraid of speaking in public then of death. There are definitely ways to overcome this fear, to get better at public speaking.
Reading Books
If you want to get better at this then it's definitely valuable to read books. Books can give you a tremendous amount of information about public speaking. In order to effectively learn from them you actually have to read a book. If you bought one then don't let it rest on your shelf. Start reading it.
Another thing that gets in your way of actually learning from books is not applying the material. The issue is a simple one. Books provide you with theoretical information. But in order to truly learn from books you need to apply this information.
You can do this by following exercises that are presented in the book or simply by using what you have learned on a daily basis.
Taking Courses
Most of the people decide to take courses on public speaking instead of educating themselves through books. That's fine if you learn better that way.
There are lots of courses on improving your public speaking skills. Decide on one and then use all of the information that is given to you. Again if you don't invest any time in it then you will not gain anything from it. Apply the information that was given to you.
Videotape Yourself
One of the best ways to get better in public speaking is to videotape yourself. A video of yourself makes your weak spots obvious and will help you to correct them, making you an even better public speaker.
If you can't record a video yourself then ask a friend to do so. It will help you tremendously.
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