Archive for Public Speaking Trainer St. Louis

"No Sweat PUblic Speaking" - Spare Tire

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Murphy, of Murphy’s Law, 

always seems to be lurking around the corner, waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim.  That casualty could be you!

Always be prepared for anything and everything you can control.

If the computer crashes, projector dies, or sound system goes silent, you must still present your material!  There are people in the audience who came to learn something.  It’s your presentation and your responsibility they don’t leave disappointed.

Be sure your “trunk” is well equipped for all contingencies.
If I’m using slides, I backup my presentation on a USB flash drive.  Because I use a mac, my slideshows are made with iWork Keynote software.  I export copies to PowerPoint and convert, also, to PDFs.  The PDF conversion is done because they work when versions of PowerPoint and Keynote are not the versions on a backup computer.

I also print a copy of my slideshow in Light Table view, which allows Read More→

Did you like this? Share it:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It’s That Time of the Year!
Here are My 2012 Resolutions.
What are Yours?

#1.  Prepare and Practice for each Presentation
even if I’ve given it 100+ times.

  • It might be the umpteenth time I’ve delivered it, but it’s the first time most of the audience have heard it.
  • The size of the audience doesn’t matter.  I should always give my best.
  • “Practice makes perfect.”  No!
  • “Perfect Practice makes Perfect.” – No such thing!
  • The one I subscribe to is: “The road to perfection never ends!”

#2.  Regularly Refresh and Update my Content and Delivery.

  • The only constant is Change.  I’ll continue to practice Kaizen, the Japanese word that means continuous improvement.

#3.  Get Out of my Comfort Zone with Content and Delivery.

  • When we Get Out of our Comfort Zone – our Comfort Zone becomes Larger!

#4.  Study, Study, and Study more about my subject of Expertise,
the Art & Science of Public Speaking/Presenting.

  • I always learn new things from the blogs, articles, books and videos I seek out on public speaking/presentations.

#5.  Continue to regularly Write a New Post with great Content
and to place the Audio in each Post.

  • The combination of Written Post + Audio Post has made me a better writer and a better speaker.

#6.  Take just about every opportunity I can to Speak.  Paid and Fee Waived. Read More→

Did you like this? Share it:

"No Sweat" Public Speaking - No App For That!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

You Gotta Do It Yourself!. . .and 
You Should Want To!

There’s NO App to download that will make you a Great Speaker and lessen the Fear of Public Speaking.

Because of the Fear of Public Speaking, many in leadership positions pass on taking and making Speaking Opportunities and delegate the task to others.  That’s Nuts!

You should not hand a Speaking Opportunity off to someone else. Steve Jobs never did, and it’s one of the reasons Apple grew to be one of the most successful and innovative companies ever.

What would you think of a President, Prime Minister, or any leader of a country handing
off their annual “State of the Union Address’ to others?  It would not be seen as a positive move, would it?

Leadership is executed through superb communications!

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know My Mantra:
Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities!
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities!
Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities!

Those who present well are perceived as Experts. Perception is reality, and Read More→

Did you like this? Share it:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Verbal Communication

Have you ever watched a Professional Mime? They speak no words, but communicate very well, don’t they!

If they were to use their voice, their NonVerbal Communication: eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and body movements, would outweigh their spoken words.

Our NonVerbal Communication carries more weight than the words we say and how we say them.

Example: The speaker on the podium says, “I’m very excited to be speaking to this group today.”  At the same time, he is yawning, not giving eye contact to anyone in the audience, and continually looking at his watch.  What’s the message he’s sending?

Everything in the Delivery of our presentation must be in sync, else the audience will believe what they “See.”

While we can consciously use our NonVerbal Communication Skills to emphasize parts of our presentation, it’s important to remember that we exhibit involuntary NonVerbal Communication, also. Read More→

Did you like this? Share it:

“If it’s Sunday, it’s Meet the Press.”

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

This is how David Gregory, the moderator of the the longest-running television series in American broadcasting, signs off each Sunday morning.

Tim Russert, the previous host, and all hosts before him, signed off with the same words.  It’s part of this weekly television news/interview program’s Branding.

Branding yourself and company in several ways, so others know who you are and what you do, should be part of your marketing strategy.  Using it in your Closing can be particularly effective.  This is because of the Law of Primacy and Recency which says, “The last thing the audience sees and hears will be the first thing they will remember.”

If you’re a fan of the great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, you know his presentations always closed with his Branded Tag Line, “I will see You - At The Top!”

My good friend and internet marketing expert Russ Henneberry blogs on the site,
Tiny Business, Mighty Profits.  He closes and Brands his presentations with the statement, “Starting tomorrow, do the things we worked on today, and Your Tiny Business will have - Mighty  Profits!”

If you hear the phrase, “It just works!” you associate it with Steve Jobs.  Another of his favorites was, “And one more thing!”  Combine those statements with a black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, and white sneakers and you have the Brand, Steve Jobs!
That Brand was, and will forever be, associated with the bigger Brand, Apple.

I’ve worked very hard on my “No Sweat!” Brand: Read More→

Did you like this? Share it:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Really?

I’ve sometimes heard this from executives, business owners, and other professionals.

It’s all about how you define the word “Presentations,” isn’t it?

Here are some questions for them:

  • Does anyone ever talk to a prospect?
  • Does anyone ever talk to a client?
  • Do you have salespeople?
  • Does anyone work in customer service?
  • Do co-workers ever discuss the opportunities and challenges of their job?
  • Do co-workers ever discuss the opportunities and challenges of the company?
  • Does anyone ever attend networking events?
  • Does everyone have an elevator speech in case someone asks them what they do and where they work?
  • Are there ever company meetings?
  • Does anyone ever attend trade shows or conventions?
  • Do you ever have a booth at one?
  • Do teams ever meet?
  • Do you ever have vistors?
  • Does anyone ever visit other companies.
  • Do you ever have an Open House for clients and prospects?
  • Does anyone ever interview job candidates and/or suppliers?
  • Here are some more questions:

    • Do you believe Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities? Read More→
    Did you like this? Share it:

    "No Sweat Public Speaking!" The Last Thing. . .

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    The First Thing the Audience
    will Remember!

    The Law of Primacy and Recency states:
    The First and Last Things your audience hears
    and sees, will probably be remembered more
    than anything else in your presentation.

    Of the two, the Closing will be better recalled.

    Knowing that Law is important for several reasons.

    • It’s why speakers should have a Strong Opening
      and a
       Strong Closing!
    • The Opening should grab the attention of the audience and make them desire to hear more.
    • Example:
    • “Picture this!  Friday is our annual Open House and the president of the company wants each department to give a fifteen minute presentation.  I have you scheduled for 1:15 – right after lunch!”
  • After your Opening grabs the attention of the audience, give them an agenda of how your presentation will proceed.  This is important because Read More→
  • Did you like this? Share it:

    "No Sweat Public Speaking!" Lectern

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    Business, Career, and
    Leadership Opportunities!

    One comment I regularly hear is:
    “Fred, Your mantra, “Speaking Opportunities are Business, Career, and Leadership Opportunities,” gets my attention.  You’ve convinced me!”

    Here’s my challenge: “Where do I find those Speaking Opportunities?”

    Great question!

    Unless you have a topic and reputation that people must seek you out, it’s up to You
    to find those valuable Speaking Opportunities.

    For the most part, these will be unpaid.  Take my friend, Lois Creamer’s advice, and don’t say you’ll speak for Free.  Instead, say you will waive your usual fee for this particular group.  That’s OK when you’re starting out and/or if you want to increase your exposure and build your reputation as a Expert.  Remember: Really good speakers are perceived as Experts.  Perception is reality and people like to work with Experts.

    Comment, please, which ones have worked for you!  Feel free to add some, also!
    Here’s are some possibilities.

    Speaking Opportunities can be found at:

    Did you like this? Share it:
    Comments (9)

    The Doors of Opportunity!

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    "No Sweat Public Speaking!" Key to Door of OpportunityOpportunity is waiting!

    On the other side of that door is Lots of it!
    How do we unlock and open it?

    Speak!

    Public Speaking/Presenting
    is the Key to opening the
    Doors of Opportunity!

    Here’s why:
    We perceive really good speakers as Experts!

    Perception is reality, and we like to work with Experts.

    The Research Shows:
       •  Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities!
       •  Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities!
       •  Speaking Opportunities are Leadership Opportunities!

    The people who take and make Speaking Opportunities grow the perception they are Experts. They grow their businesses, careers, and leadership possibilities.

    Think of great business and political leaders.  Many attained their positions because of their great Read More→

    Did you like this? Share it:
    Comments (2)

    Read them – Study them – Don’t do them!

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

     If you’re a speaker there are certain things you should do, and should not do.  Here are 11 Definite Don’ts!

    1. Don’t  ”Wing it.”
    1. Your non-effort will show.
    2. You’ll embarrass yourself and waste the time of your audience.  They came to learn something from your talk.
    3. It is your responsibility they leave the room knowing more about your subject than they did when they entered.
    4. Prepare and practice your presentation as if it were very important – because it is!
  • Don’t think the speech is about You.  It’s not.
    1. It is, and always should be, about the Audience!
    1. Being Audience Centered is one of the
      Laws of Presentation.
  • Focusing on the Audience, and not you, will raise the quality of your presentation and lower your anxiety.
  • Don’t give the same speech to all audiences. Read More→
  • Did you like this? Share it:
    
    Featured Author in St Louis on Gig Salad

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner