Public Speaking Tips Online

Dharmendra,

You are correct. Everything matters but having a passion is the bottom line. The other day I heard a ‘professional’ speaker admit that he was bored during his last presentation. That told me a lot about this young man. If one is ever bored making a presentation, one is not communicating with the audience.

Some speakers are so ‘overwhelmed’ with themselves — what they are saying and how they are saying it — that they forget the 3rd most important element in public speaking: their audience. Good public speaking means communicating with those who have gone out of their way to hear you. This young speaker was obviously not doing that. Not knowing this man, I question if he delivers a memorized script. If so, he has every right to be bored.

Do you think it is better to be yourself, try to be like someone you admire, or try to be different than yourself in public speaking?

I would love to hear your comments,

Nancy

What You Can Learn from Clint Eastwood to Improve Your Presentation Skills

Actors wow us, amaze us, and inspire us but one, in particular, displays a level of confidence that I would wish for all in public speaking. The actor I am referring to is Clint Eastwood. In all the roles he plays, he never doubts himself. It is that level of belief in yourself and your abilities which you need in order to wow, amaze, and inspire your audience.

Fear of failure, fear of looking foolish, or fear of forgetting your material are the 3 main reasons many people approach the lectern with such trepidation. With that fear comes a lack of confidence that is formidable. Having little or no confidence in your abilities is the 1st step towards disaster.

With all the advice I give in public speaking, of the most important things I stress is to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in your abilities to deliver a successful presentation, why should anyone else?

Building that confidence, however, takes work.

1. You must know your material inside and out which means you must practice it out loud;
2. You must learn to breathe with the support of your diaphragm, the best means of controlling nervousness in any form of public speaking;
3. You must talk to your audience and not at them just as if you were holding a conversation in your living room; and,
4. You must speak from your heart. Use your head; but learn to speak with color, with life, with emotion.

If you can accomplish these 4 requirements, you will sound more confident, you will look more confident and you will feel more confident. It is this confidence that will ‘allow’ you to believe in yourself. Not that you are going to give a perfect presentation, but, rather that you will deliver an excellent presentation. Perfection does not allow for mistakes; excellence does.

Bear in mind that everyone in the business, be it public speaking, acting, broadcasting, etc., makes occasional mistakes. It is unavoidable in a live venue. But they do not dwell on the error. Instead, they fix it (if possible) and move on. [If you are looking for perfection in your delivery skills, then you will lose the battle – do not seek something that is unattainable. Perfection in any live performance is subjective.]

The next time you are scheduled to address an audience, approach the lectern knowing that you will do the best job that you can and then do it. Go ahead – make their day!

Nancy

To Memorize Or Not

What is your approach to delivering a presentation? Do you think it is good to memorize your speech or presentation?

I would to hear your comments as I’m in the midst of a ‘debate’ with a woman who is an actress and teaches public speaking as well.

Let me hear your thoughts,

Nancy

What Distinguishes a Good Presentation from One that is Energizing?

Imagine you have just spoken for 10 minutes or 40 minutes about your business, an idea, your book or your products and you are receiving good applause. Yes, you just gave a good presentation. My question to you is whether your good presentation was electrifying? What is the difference? Many people are good at public speaking; not quite as many are electrifying.

Those who can compel their audience, who can immerse their listeners with their words in such a way that their listeners lose all track of time and are sorry to see the presentation end, captivate. Do you captivate when you speak?

Internationally renowned speaker, writer, and salesperson, Zig Ziglar energizes and electrifies his audience. He has a magic that is tough to compete with. His stories grab you every time. When given the opportunity to listen to this man speak, I am always saddened to see it end. That is a gift.

So what does Ziglar do so well? He is a masterful storyteller. In addition, he uses his Southern drawl to grab you and to hold on to you. In truth, Mr. Ziglar’s success is not based on his ‘Secrets for Closing the Sale’ as much as his success is based on his marvelous stories and his use of language in telling them.

Speakers who captivate move their audiences to action. They make you want to get up and do it, buy it, try it or use it. They are excellent salespeople because they can make you wonder how you managed to live without it.

When you speak to an audience, can you call them to action? Are you stories well-told and interesting, providing good evidentiary outcomes? Your audience needs to know not only that your product, your service, your idea, or your book is the best but why it is the best. Just because you say so doesn’t make it so. Telling stories about others who have used your product, or your service, or your idea and have been successful is the proof.

Don’t settle for being a good speaker. Next time you are scheduled to speak, energize, electrify and captivate your audience and just watch the results!