Archive for presentation skills
Lessons from a Street Performer
Posted by: | CommentsThis one was O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G!
I was in Boston last week and had an opportunity to do some sightseeing.
Around the famous Faneuil Hall Marketplace there were several street performers.
They’re mostly very good.
One was O-U-T-S-T-A-N-D-I-N-G!
The Content of his performance was juggling.
The Great Delivery was what set him apart from the majority of street performers.
I was reminded of Delivery Lessons all great speakers should emulate.
Here they are: 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→
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→
Here’s how an EXPERT uses PowerPoint
Posted by: | CommentsI used to be the Poster Boy for very b-a-a-a-d PowerPoint/Keynote presentations.
If there were 20 slide transitions available – I’d use 19 of them.
If there were 15 build-ins and build-outs within those slides available – I’d use 14 of them.
I would use 8 different fonts and put them into all different colors, plus make some bold, italic, strikethrough, underlined, and subscript others. Whatever cool thing was available – I used it!
Garr Reynolds is a guru of Presentations. His book, Presentation Zen, was a real eye opener for me.
This video of a presentation at Google, at 72 minutes, is a long one – and worth every second!
Enjoy!
Here’s a Question for You . . .
When is the Best Time to Answer Questions?
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It’s Not the Last Thing to Do
First of all, you may not have a Question and Answer Session as part of your presentation. It may not be necessary or appropriate.
Possibly, the answer to any questions the audience might have is to see you after the talk, or email you their questions. This should come with the disclaimer that you will attempt to answer as many as is reasonably possible.
You may be delivering the type of talk that is continually interactive with the audience. Often, workshops fall into this type of presentation.
Time management is extremely important in any presentation. Taking and answering questions takes time management to a higher level. There is usually a specific amount of material to be covered. Long questions and long answers Read More→
PowerPoint / Keynote Presentations
Posted by: | CommentsYOU Supply the Text!
If I project the slide on the right onto a screen, and at the same time say, “It’s time for you to leave!” – You ‘Get It!’
The slide, showing a door opening with an EXIT Sign above , is clean and simple. My verbiage supplies the text - keeping the slide, and hence the message, clean and simple!
There is no need to have text, stating what I just said; flying, dropping or twisting in from one, two or more angles! This only confuses the audience. It actually lessens the understanding.
YOU are the star of your presentation - Not the slides! Read More→
Site Map
Posted by: | CommentsI want them to Remember my speech
Posted by: | CommentsProven ways to get your points across and for the audience to remember your message.
Primacy and Recency
People will better remember the first and last things you say.
This is why it is so important to have a strong opening and strong closing to your speech.
Repetition
Repeat – Repeat – Repeat
The more often we hear something the more likely we’ll remember it.
Constant and consistent reinforcement is important.
Something Unusual
If it’s out of the ordinary, we’re more likely to recall it.
Example:
I once saw someone give a speech about management and labor.
The speaker wore a two brimmed baseball cap, with one brim white (management) and the other brim blue (labor). When he was speaking as the manager, he had the white brim facing forward. When speaking as the labor person, the blue brim faced forward.
This speech was probably 25 years ago, but I still remember it because the speaker used – Something Unusual!
About the Author:
Fred E. Miller coaches, speaks and writes about Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
Speech Content – Part #2
Why Write Your Own Introduction
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The Introduction is an integral part of your speech!
It should not be taken casually. It’s importance, however, is often overlooked. The introduction sets the stage for your opening and your speech.
An Introduction should answer three questions.
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- Why this Subject?
- Why this Speaker?
- Why Now?
Why this subject should be something of relevance and interest to the audience.
Why this speaker should give your credentials.
It may include education, work experience, life experience, awards, and other accomplishments that give you the authority to speak on this subject.
Why now should finalize in your audience’s mind why they will benefit from your message now.
Not only should you write your own introduction, but it is important to get it into the hands of the person who will be introducing you a reasonable time before your speech.
The introduction should be in large type with any specifics to presenting it clearly noted. (Like P-a-u-s-e)
Review, and even coach the master of ceremonies prior to his presenting you.
One last tip, if you’ve mailed, emailed or FAXed the intro – bring another copy or two just in case!
About the Author:
Fred E. Miller coaches, speaks and writes about Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
