NO SWEAT Public Speaking Blog

To Know! When people come to see and hear a speaker, they are investing: Time Money – Their own, or someone else’s. Opportunity Cost – They could be doing something else with their time rather than attending the event. It is imperative the audience knows WHY: This speaker was chosen to make a presentation on this topic. The Speaker’s Bio, if there is one in a promotional piece or announcement, usually does a poor job informing the audience why the speaker was chosen. Unfortu

Why should you consider using Slides in your presentations? Slides are a prop. People attending your talk will look and listen to you and see your props. These can increase the quality of your presentation and reach your goal of having the audience GET IT! Here’s why: Your audience has three main styles of learning. • Visual – Seeing something. • Auditory – Hearing something. • Kinesthetic – Doing something. We use all three to different degrees. Nothing is good or bad. It i

It’s That Time of the Year! Here are My 2016 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

Presented Before Each Presentation! The question sometimes arises, “Why is this person making a presentation? What is their expertise? What education and experience gives them the right to talk on this topic?” They want to know your Credentials! Many people know a little bit about a lot of topics, but have in-depth knowledge and expertise in only a few subjects. Would you prefer to listen to a presentation on flight from ‘The Miracle on the Hudson’ airline captain, “Sully” Su

When was Your Presentation last update d? You If it’s been awhile – Keep reading! Doing a Presentation Makeover makes sense if: The ...

Publisher Ron Ameln Interviews me at the SBM Business Expo Small Business Monthly runs the St. Louis area’s largest Business Conference and Expo twice a year. Ron was kind enough to buttonhole me and tape this interview about the publication of my book, “No Sweat Public Speaking!” Their publication is the premier business publication in the greater St. Louis area targeting the majority of today’s businesses. Here’s the Transcript Ron: Hi, I’m Ron Ameln from the St. Louis

Glossophobia 11 Nuggets to Neutralize the Fear of Public Speaking – NOW! is the Fear of Public Speaking. The word comes from the Greek glossa, meaning tongue and phobus, fear or dread. The Bad News This fear can negatively affect your personal and professional life. Passing on opportunities to make presentations puts you behind others who accept that challenge. We perceive really great speakers to be Experts. Perception is reality, and we prefer to work with Experts. You d

“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

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,

My Presentation Was So Good, There Are No Questions – Correct? Photo Credit – Michael Elliott Don’t bet on it! Many people are shy, and your audience may be full of people who want to ask something, but don’t want to be the first to raise their hand. Some are concerned about asking a question that you covered well, and they might embarrass themselves if they ask. Solution: Ask the first question yourself! Here’s some verbiage I’ve used: (You’ll have to adapt this to the sub

Move Your Body – Deliver a Message! Picture this: The six foot, five inch, python armed bar bouncer just spotted someone in the club he ejected the previous night. The baby-faced kid had shown a counterfeit ID while trying to purchase a beer. Now that same ‘punk’ was holding a Bud Light up to his mouth. How do you picture the bouncer’s body movement as he clears a way for himself through the crowded bar and heads towards the underage drinker? If the kid sees the bouncer

YOU Supply the Text! If I’m using a PowerPoint / Keynote Presentation and 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 ang