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I have an entrepreneur friend who is an engaging speaker. He always gets high marks on audience evaluations.
On stage, he comes off as quite confident. Watching him, you’d think he was loaded with self-esteem.
In fact, the opposite is true. And at a recent presentation, he let his audience ... Views: 2423
I couldn’t believe I was going to open my presentation with that joke. Me, of all people! Yet, there I was. With my heart pounding in anticipation… I was about to bound onto the platform and speak in front of over 250 people…
Not only that, I was going to open my presentation with a bit I ... Views: 3179
A surprising number of people suffer vocal abuse and are unaware that it is a problem which will not go away on its own. There are no drugs or medicines a doctor can prescribe that will end your suffering because the abuse is being caused by misplacement and/or overuse of your speaking voice. ... Views: 2849
I met a website designer named Donna at a business expo who had a wonderful, eye-catching display that was drawing large crowds of visitors. Unfortunately for Donna, she lost her voice after having spoken to perspective clients for only 1 hour. It was 10 o’clock in the morning and the expo was ... Views: 2919
Definitely the biggest day of the year when it comes to sporting events in America, Sunday’s Super Bowl game will result in thousands of injuries for fans that most will not take seriously. No, it is not overeating, gastric reflux, or drunken stupors. It does not involve your legs, your arms ... Views: 2257
“There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience”- Alexander Gregg
The ability to speak well does not ensure that you will become a great leader. It ... Views: 1596
There is no doubt that public speaking is a battle, a battle often lost because the speaker is trying to be something or someone he is not. What is interesting about public speaking is that you stand a much better chance of winning the battle if you would stop trying to impress your audience. ... Views: 2431
At 10, Dalton Sherman is a speech-making pro. Since winning a big oratory competition in Dallas, he has spoken at numerous churches and events all over Dallas. He was keynote speaker at an educational conference for 20,000 people on 25 August 2008.
“He has the ‘it’ factor,” said Dawn ... Views: 4537
From Paper to Podium: Rehearse your way to prime time
Think back to the last conference you attended. While an event’s keynote or session speakers may be subject matter experts, most are not professional speakers. If you’ve ever wondered what makes one presenter sparkle while others fall ... Views: 1187
Recently, I read an article about improving your voice in 7 days. While I do not agree with the writer’s suggestions or methodology, the truth is that you can actually find your ‘real’ voice in about 1 hour. Admittedly, your ‘real’ voice will not be a habit in only 60 minutes, but one of the ... Views: 9996
You may already be familiar with the term, “sound bite:”
A sound bite is a phrase that can be pulled intact from an original broadcast and re-used in another venue. So what is the value of a good sound bite? Let’s assume that a good sound bite is about 30 seconds long. We know that 30 ... Views: 1497
When you've giving a presentation, your words can affect your ability to communicate your message to your audience. If you want to be a more effective presenter, avoid these four types of words:
FILLER WORDS
Filler words are words such as "um," "ah," "like," "so," and "ok," which are used ... Views: 5604
Non-verbal communication, or body language, is an important part of public speaking. Your body language includes your posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and voice. At the very least, your body language should not distract the audience and with a little practice, it ... Views: 5729
1) 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
When someone looks at you, your visual image is obviously the first thing they see. And, that image has an impact on the other person – your attire, your figure, your face, your hair – everything that is presenting the picture of you. But what happens when you open your mouth to speak? ... Views: 3692
A few years ago, my son’s 7th grade teacher had the strange ability to increase the volume of her voice by means of her nose. While I have worked with thousands of people in voice and presentation skills, this particular ‘skill’ is something I had never heard before and haven’t heard since. ... Views: 4041
When you think of Fran Drescher in her role as The Nanny, what thought first comes to mind? Her beauty or her nasal voice? For many people, their first thought is her whiny voice which, over time, can be quite annoying, even nerve-wracking, for her listeners. While Drescher’s infamous sound ... Views: 4278
Extract from one of my Master of Ceremonies notes, April 2009:
“April is a month that has a very distinguishing feature… and I am not talking about my birthday!
I am talking about Easter.
Easter is about the Passion of Christ.
I am not going to preach to you about anything ... Views: 1977
INTRODUCTION
You don’t ask the river “How often does your water flow’…
Because if the river is healthy, its water will flow all the time. All day, every day.
It is only when there is a block and the flow stops that its waters become stagnant, its crystalline clarity goes and the life in ... Views: 1595
The Major problem that most people facing when comes to public speaking is the unnecessary stress created from their fears such as fear of loss, fear of the unknown, fear of embarrassment, fear of losing faces… these are the major causes of all the needless pressures that hinders their ... Views: 844
Many men wish that the pitch of their speaking voice was deeper – similar to that of James Earl Jones or Vin Diesel. You don’t need to be a bass, however, to have a great speaking voice; and, Kevin Spacey is proof of it. Warm, resonant, rich and melodious, Spacey’s voice is very soothing and, ... Views: 5121
I’m leading a teleseries to an amazing group of entrepreneurs and coaches who are learning how to powerfully speak to groups. One of the topics that have made the biggest impact is teaching them how to share their personal story with the audience.
And, as I thought about this topic, I ... Views: 969
“Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.” – Evan Esar
At some or other point in our lives, we’re likely to be called upon to make a speech, be it for a family wedding or a presentation at work. While maintaining a degree of spontaneity is crucial, ... Views: 1797
If you are plagued with a voice that puts your listeners to sleep, it might be an idea to learn how to add some color – some life – some emotion to your delivery. Because we are unable to hear our own voice as others do, we are also unable to recognize when our delivery is less than expressive. ... Views: 4053
With the start of the New Year and the resolutions we vow to keep, there is one change that can improve your life – both professionally and personally – simply by discovering your ‘real’ voice. Easy to accomplish and guaranteed to get better with age, your ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch, ... Views: 3229
The phone rings and suddenly you are confronted with leaving a message on someone’s voicemail. Panic ensues and you become tongue-tied or speechless. My first question would be to ask you what is your fear? Had someone indeed answered the phone, would you have been prepared to address that ... Views: 3843
Do you know the #1 thing most novice speakers never think to do when delivering a presentation? It never crosses their mind and yet it is the one thing they are in desperate need of throughout their talk. And, once they lose it, they are in a constant race to catch up on it.
No, I am not ... Views: 3075
As a voice specialist, I have known for many years that a good voice improvement course can be an excellent means of accent reduction. Yesterday, I received an email from a Taiwanese man studying in Boston. His 1st language is Mandarin Chinese; and, he has been enrolled in an accent reduction ... Views: 3160
Have you ever noticed that when you are extremely fatigued, your voice is much weaker than if you are energized? Not surprisingly, your vocal health is determined by the health of your entire body. Thus, if any of the following 5 factors are typical of your lifestyle, so too will the following ... Views: 7169
As a professional presenter for over fourteen years, I’ve seen PowerPoint used well and poorly. Unfortunately, is seems to be used poorly more often that well. Here are some suggestions for making PowerPoint a positive part of your presentation.
The secret to using PowerPoint successfully ... Views: 2487
Have you dated someone who knows only one topic. Nothing but himself?
A fellow trainer said that Anthony Robbins is so full of himself. That is my friend’s opinion. Tonny Robbins is a motivational speaker not because he is a very good public speaker. He is a motivational speaker because he ... Views: 3147
Get to the Point, PLEASE! - The Power of Being Pithy
Have you ever tried to listen to someone but found yourself becoming impatient because they were rambling? Ever checked out of a meeting because the speaker was droning on with too much intro, explanation or background?
Of ... Views: 1249
Recently I was reviewing transcripts from a training program I facilitated with a colleague on how to become a successful professional speaker – a six figure a year speaker. I had to smile when I read our recommendations. Not only are they spot on, they hold as true today as the day we hosted ... Views: 1343
Choppiness in speaking occurs when you pause too often. Pausing in conversational speech is normal; pausing during a speech or presentation is ideal. Pausing too often, however, is tedious for the listener and is referred to as choppy speech.
The problem with choppy speech is that you ... Views: 6045
You talk; they listen. You move; they watch. You make a joke; they laugh. You say something profound; they muse or applaud or frown. My question to you is whether you ‘listen’ to your audience or not. As much as you are the center of attention when addressing an audience, are you aware of ... Views: 2242
Victor Borge, the late, great, Danish comedian once said, "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
Well, it can also be the longest yard in trying to make an audience laugh, as I tell you what happened to me when I once performed on a cruise ship.
Remember: when it comes to ... Views: 3003
One of the skills a marketer knows if he wants a high response from his campaign is to understand the make-up of his audience. He (or she) will dig deep to understand their core desires, needs, and wants.
In essence, what “makes them tick!”
Well, the same type of expertise is needed to win ... Views: 4011
One of the most important things as a speaker has to do to make an impact with their audience - is to control the environment they are in.
Believe it or not, some speakers get the “gig” (aka the engagement) show up at the correct time and realize the seating arrangements or the lighting is ... Views: 2822
In the direct marketing world, of which I am a part of, there is a formula that sales writers adhere to. And it’s one that speakers can use as well.
It is called The 3 T's Speaking Formula! It is old advice, and yet, it's an excellent use of your talents and time and is quite effective in ... Views: 10003
After you have given a presentation, and especially at the beginning of your career (and even when you are at a level of expertise), you should critique your presentation skills to improve. It’s safe to say the more proficient a speaker you are, the better the communicator you are. The better ... Views: 2264
I receive emails on a daily basis regarding vocal abuse – not just from those who are experiencing difficulty in talking but from singers as well. The only piece of advice I give them is to take the pressure off of the throat and vocal folds (cords) and allow their chest to become their ... Views: 3035
If you suffer from chronic hoarseness and are not sick, then you are likely in the throes of vocal abuse. While it is possible that certain antihistamines or other types of medications can produce irritation in your throat, for many people, prescribed drugs are not the cause. Vocal abuse is. ... Views: 4036
Surprisingly, the answer to that question is actually your environment. While the innate quality of the speaking voice is something you inherit, there are numerous environmental factors that play a viable role in how you sound and speak. If you were raised in one of the southern states, it is ... Views: 7626
We talk a lot about organizing our content, main points, opening and closing, but we rarely talk about how to get from one segment to the next.
How do you handle the spaces in between your points, stories, examples, and exercises? These are your transitions.
It's as important to plan your ... Views: 1860
You are probably not comfortable hearing your voice on your voicemail or your answering machine and yet you may not realize that if you hear your voice that way, so does everyone else. Because the manner in which you hear yourself is vastly different than what the recording equipment is telling ... Views: 3754
The Art of Using Notes
I’m often surprised that many speakers still fall prey to the fallacy that preparation means memorization — and that bringing notes to the podium might make you appear ill-prepared in the eyes of your audience. To the contrary, top presenters know it’s not what you ... Views: 1125
In today's business world, one of the most important skills we can posses is the ability to present our ideas in a clear, concise manner in order to inspire, educate and persuade others. Even if you think that your job doesn't require you to make speeches, just stop to think...how often do you ... Views: 1190
Convincing busy, budget-conscious people to invest their time and money to attend your seminar can be a challenge. That is why you should sit up and pay attention when a prospective attendee indicates even the tiniest bit of interest in your event. Seminar leads are golden.
Yet many seminar ... Views: 2398
It is interesting to note the diverse opinions when it comes to marking your speech with pauses and smiley faces and underlining particular words for emphasis. My questions to you follow. Do you want to give a speech that is akin to delivering a script as if you were acting on a stage? Or, do ... Views: 2950
Speaking is one of the most powerful ways for coaches to get clients. It puts you directly in front of the people you are looking for. It creates trust - you wouldn't be up there if you didn't know what you were doing. It also gives your target audience a chance to know you and your ... Views: 1553