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Articles from Gilda Bonanno | Selfgrowth.com
- Public Speaking - 5 Frequently Asked Questions about How to Use Eye Contact - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gilda Bonanno1) Why should I use eye contact? It helps you connect to the audience, no matter how big or small. Whether you're speaking to an audience of four or four thousand, it can help to create a one-on-one communication experience for each audience member. It also demonstrates your confidence and ...
Views: 1341(1 vote) - You Can Get Better at Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2009 from Gilda BonannoAs a presentation skills coach and trainer, I have had the opportunity to observe presentations by many people from all backgrounds and walks of life. It is my firm belief - and experience has not contradicted me - that while some people are more naturally comfortable with public speaking, ...
Views: 1065(2 votes) - Public Speaking - Six Tips for Handling Questions with Ease - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoOften once you're finished delivering a presentation, the audience will ask questions. This question-and-answer time is still part of your presentation and you can prepare for it in the same way that you prepared for the rest of the presentation. Handled appropriately, questions give you a ...
Views: 1363(2 votes) - Cut Out These Cliches, Overused Expressions & Tired Words - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoIs your communication full of clichés and tired old expressions? In public speaking, frequently using phrases like "you know" and "see what I mean" can be just as distracting to your listeners as frequently using filler words like "um" and "ah." These tired and overused words and phrases ...
Views: 3826(3 votes) - Public Speaking - Face Your Fears - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoIf you're like most people on the planet, you have fears. And like many people, you may be afraid of speaking in public. Whether it's a mind-numbing, knee-knocking, stomach-churning fear, or a milder, less invasive, I'd-rather-not-be-doing-this fear, it can get in the way of your professional ...
Views: 1327(3 votes) - How to Get Introduced When Speaking: 6 Tips for an Informative and Effective Introduction - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2009 from Gilda BonannoWhen you have to speak to a crowd, how should you handle getting introduced? 1. Write your own introduction. Think about which of your many credentials or past experience examples will be most relevant to this particular audience. For example, I'm speaking at a Project Management Conference ...
Views: 1397(3 votes) - Visualization & Successful Presentations - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2009 from Gilda BonannoWhen I train groups or coach individuals in presentation skills, I encourage them to drown out the negative voices in their heads with a positive mantra and visualize themselves successfully giving an effective presentation. The power of visualization has long been used by top athletes to ...
Views: 1057(3 votes) - Questions to Ask When You're Presenting - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2009 from Gilda BonannoLately, I've been hearing from a lot of people who have been asked to present at a meeting for a different department or group. Essentially, they're told (by phone or email), "be there at 1 pm to talk for a few minutes about your project." That's not enough information. If you're asked ...
Views: 1046(5 votes) - How to Listen & Not Interrupt - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2009 from Gilda BonannoA reader emailed me with a question: "You give points on being a good listener. I try, but I find myself at times interrupting because I'm so afraid I'm going to forget what I have to say. I've been told to keep a pen and paper handy to jot down what I want to say once the speaker has finished. ...
Views: 11204(14 votes) - Communicating a Change in Your Project's Go-Live Date - by Submitted on May 11, 2009 from Gilda BonannoYour project go-live date has changed – now what? Regardless of the reasons for the change (and let's face it, "the date has changed" usually is interpreted as "the date has slipped"), there are six steps you should take when communicating a change in your project's go-live date: 1. Consider ...
Views: 3843(2 votes) - How to Speak Up in a Crowd - by Submitted on May 11, 2009 from Gilda BonannoA class participant recently emailed me with a question: "What if you find yourself in a discussion with quite a few people at a social gathering and you have an important point to make, but feel intimated by those around you? I find I get all tongue twisted and the words do not come out the way ...
Views: 2250(3 votes) - Public Speaking - Overcome Your Fear - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoI recently heard from a small business owner who wrote, "I am one of those people who hate standing in front of an audience… I am finding that my fearfulness is preventing me from marketing my business the way I want to; for example, I avoid going to business association meetings where I have to ...
Views: 1476(3 votes) - Keeping Your Voice Strong While Presenting - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2009 from Gilda BonannoSometimes when you're presenting, introducing yourself or answering questions in front of a group, your voice trails off at the end of the sentence. Your audience can't understand the last part of your sentence and you may sound nervous and unprepared. Here are four tips for keeping your voice ...
Views: 1426(3 votes) - Meetings That Work - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2009 from Gilda Bonanno"A meeting is a place where people take minutes and waste hours." Is this statement true of your meetings? Here are four tips for running meetings that are more productive and don't waste hours: 1. Have a Purpose for Meeting "We always meet every Thursday at 4" is not a sufficient reason to ...
Views: 781(3 votes) - Using a Microphone Like a Pro - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2009 from Gilda BonannoIf you have the option of using a microphone for your next presentation, use it. You will be able to speak at your normal volume while also allowing the audience to hear you without difficulty. Here are five tips on how to use a microphone effectively, without it being distracting: ...
Views: 908(2 votes) - Networking at Holiday Parties - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2009 from Gilda Bonanno'Tis the season for holiday parties! Whether you're looking for a job or just looking to make contacts in your field, holiday parties are a great way to build your professional network. And networking is really just another form of communication - so here are five guidelines for how to ...
Views: 898(3 votes) - Declutter Your Presentation - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2009 from Gilda BonannoA cluttered home or office can overwhelm you and make it difficult for you to find anything. Likewise, a cluttered presentation can overwhelm your audience and make it difficult for them to find your message. Here's how to cut out the clutter in your presentation so your message is easy to ...
Views: 852(3 votes) - When Presenting, Give Signs Like Nature - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2008 from Gilda BonannoHere in the New England region of the United States, autumn has arrived and winter is not too far behind. How do I know? The leaves have turned from green to gold and red, there is frost on the grass in the morning and the days are getting shorter. Nature gives clues that signal the end of one ...
Views: 847(1 vote) - Think of Yourself as a Speaker - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2008 from Gilda BonannoOften, people tell me, "I'm not a speaker so I don't have to think about presentation skills." I disagree. I think we are all speakers – yes, even you. Whether you talk to a small or large audience or in a corporate, academic or community setting, you are a speaker. If you give an update ...
Views: 785(2 votes) - Public Speaking - Practice, Practice, Practice - by Submitted on Oct 03, 2008 from Gilda BonannoWhen I was in high school, I played clarinet in the school band. Every afternoon, I climbed up the hill from the bus stop carrying my clarinet case and every morning, I trudged back down the hill carrying my clarinet case, still unopened and untouched. My performance on the clarinet failed ...
Views: 933(2 votes) - Body Language - Gestures And Movement - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2008 from Gilda BonannoWhen communicating, your body language (facial expressions, gestures, movement, eye contact and voice) should match your message. If there is a disconnect between what you say and your non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals. Movement and gestures are key ...
Views: 9611(3 votes) - 5 More Ways To Be A Better Listener - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2008 from Gilda BonannoListening is a crucial skill for success in business and in life. If we listen to others, we show them respect, we learn to understand their points of view and we help to build our relationships. Here are 5 more ways to improve your listening skills: 1. Show empathy. Empathy means that ...
Views: 1194(3 votes) - 5 Ways To Be A Better Listener - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2008 from Gilda BonannoListening is a crucial skill for professional and personal success. Yet it seems like such a basic skill - we all know how to listen, right? But although this skill is basic in theory, it's difficult to execute. Yes, everyone can listen, but how many people can listen well? Communication is ...
Views: 2376(4 votes) - Think On Your Feet - And Watch Out For The Wasp! - by Submitted on Jul 11, 2008 from Gilda BonannoRecently, I was scheduled to speak about "Thinking on Your Feet" to a group of 50 administrative professionals, in honor of Administrative Professionals Day. I was well-prepared; I had interviewed several people from the audience over the phone and I had my notes, timer and driving directions ...
Views: 1099(2 votes) - Public Speaking - Know Your Audience - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gilda BonannoThe number one rule of successful presentation preparation is to know your audience. Here are some tips to consider when you're thinking about how to connect to your audience, whether it's an audience of 1 or 100: • Know what's playing on station WIIFM. That's the station the people in ...
Views: 1243(3 votes) - Non-Verbal Communications Matter - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoWhen you meet someone or present to an audience, do your words match your non-verbal communications? If there is a disconnect between verbal and non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals. Studies show that more than 90% of our communication is non-verbal. ...
Views: 2557(3 votes) - Public Speaking - Using Improv Comedy's "Half-Life" Technique to Speak Within Your Time Limit - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2009 from Gilda BonannoHave you ever seen a speaker go over the allotted time limit? Or rush through the material when they realized they were running out of time? What was your reaction to that speaker? Were you impressed? I've seen speakers go over the time limit by five, ten or fifteen minutes and then look ...
Views: 1921(2 votes) - Public Speaking - What's Your Point? - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Gilda BonannoHow many times have you sat through a presentation, only to walk out wondering "what was the point of that?!" Whether it was a one-minute presentation or one hour, if the audience doesn't know what the point was, then the presentation was not successful. Here are some things you can do to ensure ...
Views: 798(2 votes) - "The Eyes Have It": Using Eye Contact - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoWhether you're speaking to an audience of one or many, it's important to make eye contact in order to connect. Eye contact demonstrates your willingness to connect to the audience on a personal level. It also shows that you are confident and proves that the information resides in your head, ...
Views: 2155(5 votes) - Choose Million-Dollar Words - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2008 from Gilda BonannoWhen you're preparing and practicing a presentation, your word choice matters. If your words are weak or unclear, they can interfere with your ability to communicate your message effectively to your audience. To be an effective presenter, you should choose what I call "million-dollar words" - ...
Views: 1264(1 vote) - Voice Power - Part II - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2008 from Gilda BonannoThis is the second article of a two-part series on using the power of your voice to convey meaning and emotion to your audience. Along with eye contact, gestures, movement and facial expression, your voice is a key component of non-verbal communications. Your voice has an incredible range and ...
Views: 1248(2 votes) - Voice Power in Public Speaking - Speak Loudly and Slowly Enough - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoA key component of non-verbal communications is your voice. Along with eye contact, gestures, movement and facial expression, your voice can communicate meaning and help your audience focus on your message. Your voice has an incredible range and ability to convey meaning and emotion, yet ...
Views: 3049(2 votes) - Public Speaking Fear? Drown Out That Negative Voice In Your Head! - by Submitted on Jul 07, 2008 from Gilda BonannoIf your stomach churns just at the thought of speaking in front of a group of people, you're not alone. In fact, Americans rate public speaking as their number one fear - even ahead of death (hence the old joke that you would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy)! Think about what's ...
Views: 1134(2 votes) - Cut Out Your Filler Words - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Gilda BonannoFiller words include "um," "ah," and words such as "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as a verbal bridge to the next word. These words just fill in space while you remember or think of something to say next. Rather than being effective bridges, they are roadblocks, distracting the ...
Views: 3175(3 votes)