Archive for Communication
BLOG!
It will make you a Better Speaker!
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Blogging (Writing) and Speaking Go Hand-in-Glove.
They are both communication skills a speaker needs to continually sharpen.
Writing is a great way to develop, and make better, the content of your presentations.
The analogy is: “If you really want to learn about a subject – Teach It!
The same holds true for blogging.
I know the subject of Public Speaking and Presentations. I’m an expert in this field. I’ve practiced and studied it for years. However, each and every time I write a new blog Post, I add Read More→
Be ‘The Man in the Arena’!
TR’s Famous Speech – A Great Lesson!
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Be In the Arena – Not in the Crowd!
So you give your speech and stumble – BIG DEAL!
Remember what TR said . . .
It’s been a bit over 100 years since President Teddy Roosevelt gave his ‘Arena Speech’, but the message rings as true today as it did then.
The essence of that quote, from the longer talk Roosevelt gave that day (one of my favorites and placed at the end of this blog post), is that it is
far better to have tried and failed, then to have not tried at all.
The ‘crowd in the arena’ watches the battle, but doesn’t benefit as much as the individual actually in the arena – or at the lectern!
Those words are still a great reminder for anyone who needs to remember that life is full of Read More→
The ‘Show-Before-The-Show’
Warm up the Audience Before the Emcee Speaks!
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This does it for My audiences! What do You do?
This Slide Show and Music will be playing when people enter the room I’ll be speaking in.
What effect do you think it has on them? My thoughts are that it reminds many of them why they chose to attend. It preps them for the information I’m going to deliver. Read More→
Name Tags
Insist on Them For EVERYONE!
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Do YOU always remember people’s names?
I don’t, and bet you don’t either!
All of us have had this experience:
You’re at a networking event, business show or merely shopping in the grocery store and spot someone you ‘know’. You ‘know’ them, but at that moment, have a brain cramp, and can’t recall their name. Then, like I’ve done, you start to panic because they are headed in your direction. It’s even worse if you, or they, are with someone. You know you’ll be expected to introduce everyone to each other – YIKES!
This wouldn’t be a problem if you, and ‘the person you know’ were: in the military, a first responder, hospital employee or a number of other occupations. This is because they all wear NAME TAGS. If you’ve ever attended a Trade Show, you’ve worn a Name Tag, and know the benefits they offer. Read More→
Connect with Your Audience Emotionally
and You’ve Got Them!
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“I’m a Failure!” is a great example.
Read on!
My good friend and internet mentor, Russ Henneberry, is an internet expert.
Russ Henneberry
He develops, and helps others develop: web sites, blogs, email marketing campaigns, social media campaigns, and many other things related to internet marketing. He really knows his stuff!
Russ holds a monthly MeetUp named, TINY BUSINESS, MIGHTY PROFITS and has established himself as an authority in this area. Part of his plan for ‘proving his status as an expert’ is the speaking he does at the MeetUps. They are so well attended, he’ll probably need the seating the Fox Theatre in St. Louis affords in the near future.
From the get-go, Russ connected with his audience on an emotional level.
At his first MeetUp, he announced we would go around the room and give everyone an opportunity to introduce themselves with their elevator speech. Russ then said, “I’ll go first.”
Here’s what he said:
“I’m an entrepreneur, teacher, son, father, husband, and . . . I’m a Failure.” Read More→
Nine Ways to Guarantee
Your Presentation BOMBS!
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If You Absolutely Want to BOMB!
- Don’t practice your presentation.
- You’ve given it before – no big deal.
- Don’t visit the facility before your talk.
- Don’t find out what style of seating is in place and don’t rearrange if not best for you.
- Don’t check the lighting; natural or in-room.
- Don’t find out where the temperature controls are located or who to call to adjust heating and cooling. Read More→
OK. They asked me to Speak.
What do I talk about?
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Start with Passion and Knowledge . . .
You first choice is to have the opportunitiy to talk about a subject you are passionate about. Ideally, it’s also a subject about which you possess a high degree of knowledge .
It might be work, family, or health related. The topic could be a personal hobby, charitable cause, or lifetime goal.
If it’s something you’re enthusiastic about, it’s much easier to prepare, practice and deliver that talk. You already ‘know the stuff’, so getting the latest information (you always have up-to-date material, don’t you?) isn’t a great challenge. You know how, when and where to look.
Injecting emotion into the talk won’t be an effort, either, because Read More→
Time to Hit the Refresh Button?
Posted by: | CommentsYour Introduction, Opening, Speech, Closing -
Is it time to Update Them?
One of the only things in life that’s certain is – Change.
And if you’re not continually updating and changing your Introduction, Opening, The Body of your Speech and Closing on a regular basis, they will
get stale and lose the impact it initially had.
Some of the information you’re delivering may be really old and out of date – not a good way to build trust and credibility with audiences!
Language evolves, also. Verbiage that was ‘on the mark’ when presented years ago, may now come across like a lady wearing a poodle skirt, saddle shoes and sporting a beehive hairdo. (Some of you are going to have to google those items!) Read More→
Speech Content – Part #5
The Conclusion
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Two Elements Here:
Tell them what you told them.
Close your speech.
One of the ways to reinforce a message with the goal of the audience ‘Getting It!’ is to repeat that message.
This is why the first part of the Conclusion is to ‘Tell them what you told them.” Restate, in a slightly different manner, the main points of the message you want the audience to take away.
Repetition is one of the best ways to Read More→
Speech Content – Part #1
The Title
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Think of your Speech Title as if it were the Title of a Book;
displayed on a shelf at
Barnes & Noble.
When someone is eyeing the selection on the shelves in the section where they have an interest, yours should jump out at them!
The Title should jump out so much that the person actually takes the book from the shelf, reads the back cover, and opens it to read the front and back flaps.
After “investigating” the book (i.e., your speech) because the title grabbed their attention, they “buy” it; that is, they come to see you speak because they want to learn more!
Unless you’ve given this lots and lots of thought, pencil the title to your speech in. Remember, this must Read More→
