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Articles from Gilda Bonanno | Selfgrowth.com
- 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: 1425(3 votes) - Cut Out Your Sloppy Language When Presenting - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2012 from Gilda BonannoLanguage is a tool that helps you communicate your message to your audience. Sloppy and imprecise language, however, can interfere with your communication. Here are six tips for eliminating sloppy language: 1. Mind your grammar You don't have to be a grammarian to follow basic grammar ...
Views: 1420(2 votes) - 7 Steps to Successful Storytelling in Your Presentations - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2012 from Gilda BonannoRelevant and engaging stories can be a compelling part of your presentation – whether you are presenting at a board meeting, an industry conference or an awards banquet. Here are 7 steps to follow to make your storytelling successful: 1. Pick a relevant story. Think about the story from ...
Views: 1416(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: 1391(2 votes) - 9 Tips for How to Present While Seated - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2012 from Gilda Bonanno"You can't start a fire sitting down" is an old cliché that I used in graduate school to explain to the supervising professor why I taught my American history class section standing up. (I also thought to myself, "it's harder for them to shoot a moving target.") The professor preferred that I ...
Views: 1365(2 votes) - 5 Reasons Why Presenters Won't Use a Micrphone - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2012 from Gilda BonannoOften, I have seen people refuse to use a microphone when they're presenting, whether at an office meeting, community event or industry conference. Yet, using a microphone correctly can make it easier for the audience to hear you and understand your message - which is the whole point of your ...
Views: 1358(2 votes) - 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: 1358(1 vote) - Answering Questions Without Losing Control of Your Time - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2012 from Gilda BonannoHave you ever seen a speaker run out of time because he or she spent too much time answering very basic or very advanced questions that were irrelevant to most of the audience? For example, a few years ago, I attended a presentation on using LinkedIn. The program description promised an ...
Views: 1354(1 vote) - 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: 1351(3 votes) - Self-Confidence is a Major Element of Success in Public Speaking Success - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2012 from Gilda BonannoSelf-confidence is a crucial element in public speaking success. You are not speaking just to hear yourself talk – you are speaking because you have something to say. Before you can command the attention of your audience, you have to believe that you have a message that is worth listening to ...
Views: 1350(1 vote) - Public Speaking Lessons From Teaching College History - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2012 from Gilda BonannoOne of my first jobs after graduate school was as an instructor at a community college. My course load included teaching American History 102 (1865-present) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:00-8:50 A.M. It was a required course for most of the 35 students and history was not their major. So ...
Views: 1327(2 votes) - 4 Presenter Mistakes to Avoid, Or Please Don't "Vomit" on Your Audience - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2012 from Gilda BonannoAt the end of my session at a conference, one of the audience members came up to tell me about a bad session she had attended. She said, "The presenter vomited his content on the audience. It was awful. I would have walked out if I wasn't sitting in the front row." That's pretty strong ...
Views: 1318(2 votes) - Public Speaking Tips From Chef Bobby Flay - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2012 from Gilda BonannoI'm a fan of the TV cooking competition, The Next Food Network Star, hosted by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. The winning chef gets his or her own cooking show on the Food Network. The show offers lesson not just about cooking, but also about presentation skills because the winning chef has to ...
Views: 1305(2 votes) - Empowering Successful Women to Develop Self-Confidence - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2012 from Gilda BonannoTwo of my current presentation skills coaching clients struggle with self-confidence. They are both talented, smart, successful professional women. One has a Ph.D. in Engineering and over 20 years of experience in the electronics industry and the other is a CEO of a highly successful company. ...
Views: 1285(2 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: 1283(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: 1273(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: 1265(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: 1227(3 votes) - One Easy Way to Present Better: Get Organized! - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2012 from Gilda BonannoOne of the easiest ways to be a better presenter is by organizing your content clearly and logically. It sounds so simple, yet many presenters don't organize their material; instead, they just throw everything at the audience, all jumbled together with no clear indication of how things relate ...
Views: 1224(2 votes) - Take Your Presentations from Okay to Outstanding - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2012 from Gilda BonannoEver feel like you're presenting on "auto-pilot"? Or like you've gotten to the point where you present okay, but still feel like you could do better? Here are four suggestions for taking your presentations from okay to outstanding, so you can really connect with the audience and convey ...
Views: 1167(2 votes) - Take the 6-Second Presentation Challenge - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2012 from Gilda BonannoDuring election season here in the U.S., one of my clients, the CEO of a nonprofit organization, was invited to film an endorsement for a candidate's television commercial. Her role was to introduce herself and her organization and explain why she supports the candidate. She was happy to ...
Views: 1162(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: 1151(2 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: 1115(2 votes) - 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: 1092(2 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: 1082(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: 1069(5 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: 954(2 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: 928(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: 915(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: 879(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: 862(1 vote) - 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: 819(2 votes) - 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: 807(2 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: 802(3 votes)