We have all heard that famous statistic, the one that claims the number one fear people have is public speaking, number two is death. Seinfeld had a joke about this stat, he said apparently if people are at a funeral they would rather be in the coffin than be giving the eulogy. If that statistic is accepted as fact, Seinfeld’s joke, while ridiculous sounding, would be technically correct. What is wrong with this scenario?
Would people really rather be dead than speak in public? Why? Well I am here to tell you that speaking in public is nothing to be afraid of; I do it all the time. Like most things in life, the more you speak in public, the less nervous you become when you do it. Unfortunately, most people choose to avoid giving speeches so vehemently that they will never do it enough to become comfortable with it.
So for all of those people out there who avoid speaking in public like, well, death, I am here to tell you how to breeze through any public speaking engagement and come out the other end as a hit public speaker, with as little stress as possible. >>>
To have a successful job interview, you’ll want to appear poised, calm and confident.
By Lucy Cohen Blatter
As CEO of Media Training Worldwide, TJ Walker coaches clients on how to speak to live audiences and the media.
Those same skills apply to job interviews, Walker said. “You want to look comfortable and relaxed. You want to be understood and, most importantly, you want your message remembered. You also want people to take action as a result.”
Here are his tips: >>>
— Mariah Burton Nelson (Mariah@MariahBurtonNelson.com)
What does the audience hear when the speaker says “Good evening”?
“Blah, blah, blah.”
If the speaker then proceeds to thank the introducer, the committee, the… see what I mean? I don’t even want to finish that sentence, because I’m going to lose your attention — just as you will lose the audience’s attention if you drone on and on, thanking people.
I call this the Blah Blah Blah Opener. The audience has sat through this opening so many times, they literally won’t hear you; they’ll just wait (if you’re lucky) for something more substantial to come along.
Don’t bore your audience to death before you’ve even hinted at your main point. Did Abraham Lincoln open with, “Greetings ladies and gentlemen. I’m so glad to be here in Gettysburg”? No.
He dove right in: “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” How can you not keep listening after that?
I know: You want to — and need to — thank people. But you can thank people toward the end of the speech, when the audience has already enjoyed a rousing call to action, or a poignant story, or an intriguing new theory, or whatever the speech is intended to convey. At that point, a few “thank-you’s” don’t detract from anything, because the “anything” is almost over.
How, then, should you open a speech, if not with “Good evening. I’m so glad to be here in ______, and I’d like to thank blah blah blah”? Say something interesting instead! Make a provocative statement. Challenge the audience to think about, or do, something new. Promise them you’ll soon reveal the answer to some mystery — or otherwise build suspense. Tell a lighthearted story about someone the audience knows well. Describe your morning — if you can make it funny and relevant. Ask a question — a real question that you’re curious to see how the audience will answer, so you can get to know them better.
All of these openings will immediately signal the audience that you’re NOT going to be a typical boring speaker, and that they’re in for a treat.
“The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here,” said Lincoln at the dedication of that Gettysburg battlefield. As it turns out, he was wrong about the world forgetting what he said. We do remember. Good thing he didn’t start with a Blah Blah Blah Opener or the audience might never have heard the rest!
with Karen Lawson, Ph.D., CSP
Today’s audiences are different. Conditioned by their experiences in school and corporate training programs, they expect a presentation to be a learning experience, and they expect learning experiences to be active. Contemporary audiences are greatly influenced by computer games and simulations as well as videos and television. With a multitude of options at their fingertips, people are less tolerant of limited programming options. They want to be wowed by both quality content and quality entertainment, and it’s incumbent on us as speakers to deliver.
Your goal is to connect with your audience, and one of the most effective ways to do this is to get them involved. Audience involvement requires a different approach. Sometimes speakers prefer to simply stand before an audience and deliver their message. The ability to actively involve the audience requires a different skill set that many speakers have not as yet mastered. They may want to, but don’t know how.
Karen Lawson, Ph.D., CSP will share her practical, how-to approach to using interactive methods to increase audience impact and ensure speaker success whether an individual is delivering a keynote speech, making a sales presentation, or conducting a seminar or training session.
You will learn to:
- Identify trends, influences, and considerations that shape demand for interactive speaking
- Use specific interactive techniques to increase audience participation
- Adapt interactive techniques to “dry” topics
- Adapt existing material to a more interactive style
- Identify sources for interactive techniques
Register (the date of the seminar is Tuesday, June 9) or order the CD or MP3 recording. Note: people who register for the teleseminar will get the MP3 recording of the session for free.
The Presenter Center has a myriad useful PowerPoint tips.
This is just one …
| Text and Graphics shouldn’t compete for attention |
|
||
| Read more… [Text and Graphics shouldn’t compete for attention] | ||
Keep text and graphics separated. Text that is placed on top of graphics appears cluttered, busy, and competes for attention. Click for makeover.Thanks OliviaMitchell
This was the start of a nightmare. A painstaking presentation was taking place. I was trying everything known to man to stay awake. For 5 minutes I scrolled through my blackberry looking for distractions. When that proved to be futile I began thumbing through my notebook looking for an interesting story or factoid. In a last ditch effort to show respect and stay awake I vigorously rubbed my eyes. This didn’t work either. With each stroke I moved closer and closer to unconsciousness.
My search for a jolt of life was failing miserably. There were no signs that the presentation was ending. After 10 minutes of fighting I succumbed to the twin towers of boredom and sleep. Just as my face grazed the surface the speaker brought his presentation to a close. Applause from my fellow audience members brought me back to life. Relieved, I stood up and quickly left the room.
Boredom is rampant in the public speaking world. Look around you at your next conference or meeting. You’re bound to see people fighting sleep, playing with their phone, or drawing in a notebook.
As a communicator you don’t have to be boring (it may seem like a rule but trust me it is not). Grabbing the audience’s attention as soon as possible will ensure that you are not boring.
Once you reach the Tipping Point the audience is fully engaged for the duration of your speech. That is why this concept is so important. Reaching this point as soon as possible should be your goal in each presentation.
If you understand the concept of the Tipping Point in public speaking you can use it to maximize your effectiveness. In public speaking the Tipping Point is defined as:
“the point in which you gain the audience’s attention and they begin actively absorbing your information”
There are 2 key takeaways from this definition:
- Gaining the audience’s attention
- Active absorption of your information
Gaining the Audience’s Attention
To take full advantage of the Tipping Point you need to gain the audience’s attention quickly. An ear catching introduction is the best tool in this scenario. Since most people use normal speaking patterns this is not a difficult thing to do.Here are some of my favorite tactics for gaining audience attention:
- Start with a thought provoking question (How many of you have heard of ……?)
- Quote an uncommon statistic
- Engage a respected audience member in conversation (CEO, VP, President, Leader, etc)
- Make a definitive ear catching statement (this was the start of a nightmare).
Certain extreme cases (eulogies, statistical deep dives, fact only information exchanges etc) may not seem like the place for one of these openings. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Dry scenarios like these need some spice to keep people engaged and following the message.
Active Information Absorption
When an audience is actively involved in your presentation you will know. There really is no mistaking it. People take notes, ask questions, and focus all their attention on you when they are actively involved.
When you see this you will know that you have reached the tipping point. It is nearly impossible to negate the effects of the Tipping Point once you have reached it in a speech. You have to make a colossal mistake, and we both know you won’t do that.
Conclusion
The war on boredom in public speaking is an ongoing struggle. Many people fight for the rights of boring speeches. Don’t be one of them.
A bored audience is much less likely to absorb information than an involved one. Do your part in fighting boredom by getting to the Tipping Point with your audience as soon as possible.
Prove your merit at the beginning of your speech and ears will open immediately. When they do, use what you know about the tipping point to keep them engaged and informed until you are done.
Marcus Antuan Smith is a creative force in the public speaking world who strives to meet the needs of each and every client. His experience as the Toastmasters President at a fortune 15 company will prove invaluable to you.
Go to his website, http://www.marcusasmith.com for more information.
From Nick Morgan a great article on
How to interact with an audience — 7 questions to get you started
Audiences today expect to have a conversation with speakers, and they crave real connection with successful speakers. The best way to ensure that these good things happen during your presentations is to involve your audiences throughout.
But that takes some art. How do you think about it? How do you avoid the lame arrangement of too many presentations where the speaker drones on for 45 minutes, then stops and says, “Any questions?” As the audience shakes itself awake, and starts wondering if it does in fact have any questions, the speaker stands there for what seems like an eternity, then gives up and concludes that no one cares.
How do you avoid this dysfunctional state of affairs? How can you involve audiences in your presentations?
Following are a series of questions to ask the audience, in order to start connecting with them
— John Kinde (JohnKinde@HumorPower.com)
The key is in the delivery. It’s what you do.
In the business of delivering your humor, there is a technique referred to as a “take.” A take is your physical response to a joke. For example, you may deliver a joke and then raise your eyebrows. Or tilt your head. Or open your eyes wide. Facial expressions are some of the most popular takes.
Using a take is like putting an exclamation point at the end of your humor line. It helps you drive home the humor. It signals the audience to realize, “Hey, this is supposed to be funny!”
There are a couple of approaches to using takes. One way is to look for a different physical delivery technique for every punch line. This can make the talk more interesting for you. And this can add a colorful variety to your speech. We also know from the acting business that it is easier to remember lines if they are linked to a physical action. So your jokes will be easier to remember, each linked to a different take.
Another approach is to use the same take for each punch line. This conditions the audience to laugh. Two classic comedians used repetitive takes which became signatures: George Burns’ puff on the cigar and Rodney Dangerfield’s tug of the necktie. They were sending signals to the audience that it was time to laugh.
You will find that even small takes can produce good results. Just a small wink might just be what you need to get the laughs. Experiment and have fun.
There are two types of speeches used in public speaking, either you are “selling” something or you are “telling” something. The type of speech you select will depend on the reason you are presenting, and the nature of your audience.
In public speaking selecting the right type of speech will increase the effectiveness of your speech. The purpose of your speech can range from enjoyment to convincing the audience to take a certain action. How much the audience knows about your topic and their attitude towards it, also needs to be considered when selecting the type of speech you will deliver. … more