Archive for Overcoming the fear of public speaking
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→
I Get Ideas for My Presentations,
But Forget Them!
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Use a Digital Recorder to
Capture those thoughts ‘In the Moment!’
None of us have the great memories we wish we had.
We’re exercising, walking, driving or maybe just sitting at a coffee shop and an idea for a speech, or a story to make a point in one, comes to us. We don’t have a pen or paper handy, but we mentally promise ourselves to start working on it when we have the opportunity. Many times that doesn’t happen because we forget that great idea – Bummer!
Yoga teaches to be ‘Always present and In the Moment’. This makes great sense for speakers because what’s happening NOW might be potential material for a new presentation or a delivery technique to add to a speech already in your ‘portfolio’.
Great speakers always update their material and consider all the speeches and techniques they ‘own’ to be works in progress.
Too many ideas have gone unused because they haven’t been ‘recorded’ for future use. 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→
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→
You’re Scheduled to Speak at 10:00
Arrive at 8:00!
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Seriously,
there are Lots of reasons to arrive that early!
We all know that ‘Stuff’ happens.
Arriving early, some may say very early, is not an option for the speaker who is on top of his/her game.
It’s your presentation, and your responsibility to yourself and those who will be attending, to do the best you can to make sure Where you are speaking is ready for You and the Audience!
Here is a list of things that need to be checked on, plus a few other reasons to arrive early, that will go a long way towards a delivering a better, less stressful presentation. Read More→
Presentation Tip # 2
Use a Mind Map
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Ever looked at your notes when giving a presentation
and everything is a BIG BLUR?
Not much fun when this happens, is it?
Nervous or not, reading notes at the lectern is often a tough thing to do.
Click for link to Master Mind Mapper
Reading black text on a white background doesn’t stimulate our minds as quickly as looking at images do. This is one reason a Mind Map is the perfect tool to use for delivering your presentation. (It’s also great for developing and practicing that speech!)
Mind Maps can be customized to meet your specific needs. They generally use pictures, symbols and colors that trigger associations in our brain so we can ‘tell’ our speech vs ‘read’ it. This invariably makes for a better, and more natural presentation.
Rather then having either a stack of index cards (if you do this, be certain they are numbered) or several sheets of paper to look at, you can have one Mind Map. Read More→
The Fear of Public Speaking
How to Lessen It
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First of all, You are not alone …
There is comfort in numbers.
Public Speaking, in survey after survey, has been shown to be most people’s greatest fear. Some fear it more than dying!
It’s a natural fear to have. You are standing, alone, in front of people who are fixated on you!
YIKES!
Who wouldn’t be a bit uneasy in a situation like this? So, it’s normal to have anxiety. There’s nothing wrong with you.
Here are things that can be done to ease this fear. Read More→
Brand Yourself: One Way -
Have a Signature Closing!
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I have a ‘Challenge – and a Prediction’ for You!
If you’re a fan of Zig Ziglar, the famous motivational speaker from Yazoo City, Mississippi (he mentioned it often, and sadly, the location of a recent deadly tornado) you’re familiar with his signature close. It was always, “And I will see You At the Top!”
This was the title of Zig’s first book, and something he was always able to tie in with his speeches. Because they were motivational and self-help in nature, this Signature Close made sense to his audiences.
It was always the final statement in a great speech, and left the attendees feeling that, yes, they too, can ‘Make it to the Top!’
Bottom line, if you hear the phrase, “See you at the Top!”, you think of Zig Ziglar. Great job of branding!
When I was in Toastmasters, and after delivering many speeches, I developed the signature close that Read More→
EVERYTHING Must Be In SYNC!
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If You Want Your Audience to “Get It!”,
EVERYTHING Must Deliver the
Same Message.
Otherwise, you’re sending mixed messages.
The audience will be confused, and they won’t receive the information you’re presenting the way you intended.
If there is a disconnect between the words spoken and the way the speech is delivered, it will be the message delivered via Read More→
