CLICK to Enlarge!
Text Notes interfere with the emotional connection you want to make with your audience. They are black text on a white background, like you’re reading now – Yuk!
Certainly you can read text with emotion, but the emotional connection is more immediately recognized when looking at high quality, easily understood, pictures and graphics. I place them on a Mind Map.
Mind Mapping is a non-linear, visual, brain storming tool. I use it to develop, practice and deliver presentations. A picture literally is worth 1,000 words, and looking at each image in my Mind Map, I immediately know what point to make.
Each of those images means something specific to me. I don’t have to read any text. It’s far easier to look at the image and “tell the story” the image reminds me of.
CLICK to enlarge the Mind Map graphic for this Post.
The title of the presentation is: Nuggets to Neutralize the Fear of Public Speaking – Now! It’s not your presentation, but I’ll bet that looking at the Map and images briefly, you could deliver it! (Sure, I’ve got brief text under those graphics, but after studying the Mind Map a few times, you could delete them.)
“Read” the presentation by starting at 12:00 o’clock and going clockwise. Look at each image and see how it relates to the “words.”
“See” how much easier it is to look at an icon vs. black and white text. I “know my stuff,” just as you know yours, so I just need a reminder of each nugget.
I won’t go thru the entire presentation, but here are a few of those “Nuggets.”
First Image – An image of three people with expressions of fear on their faces.
You are not alone! 75% of the population suffers from glossophobia, the fear of public speaking. It is a word, not a disease, and it can be controlled!
Second Image – Butterflies
You really never want to get rid of the butterflies in your stomach. A little nervous energy is good. You want those butterflies to fly in formation!
Third Image – Open Mouth with a Zipper over it.
Never, Never, Never tell the audience you are nervous. They will be looking for it and it could become a self-fulling prophecy.
Fourth Image – Handshake
Arrive early at the event to Meet & Greet people who will be in the audience. You will be amazed at how much easier it is to present to people you’ve already met.
Fifth Image – A Name Tag on top of the Handshake
Name Tags make the Meet & Greet much easier. They close the gap between people by reaching out and pulling you in.
Look at the rest of the images and see if you can determine what the text would be!
A huge benefit of using a Mind Map rather than notes is that it can lessen the Fear of Public Speaking. It does this because the images remind you of what you know and are going to present. Trying to memorize a presentation or, when nervous and trying to “read” notes, is very hard to do well.
To learn more about Mind Mapping and why I call it the “Swiss Army Knife for the Brain!” go to mastermindmapper.com
Thanks for visiting my Post!
For reading, and/or listening, this far I’d like to give you a FREE Gift.
Go to: https://nosweatpublicspeaking.com/freegift to receive it!
About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach, and author of the book, “No Sweat Public Speaking!”
Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their
Public Speaking and Presentation Skills.
They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts.
Perception is reality and we rather deal with Experts.
They also know: Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities.
Speaking Opportunities are Career Opportunities.
He shows them how to Develop, Practice and Deliver Knock Your Socks Off Presentations! with –
No Sweat!
Fred E. Miller
Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com
nosweatpublicspeaking.com
7 Comments
Wow Fred this really works! I was able to put together a nice presentation just following your pictures. I’m a little stuck on the significant of the “Grandson” photo? Did you use Keynote to pull this together or is there an online application or software that makes mind mapping easier?
Thanks for visiting and the comment, Tom.
The significance of my grandson is a story that has to do with failing. He wasn’t yet walking at that time. He’d pull himself up to the coffee table, get his balance, take a step or two, then fall down. He’d pull himself up to the coffee table, get his balance, take a step or two, then fall down. Next he’d. . . Well, you get the idea. The question I next ask the audience is, “When, as we’re growing up, do we fall down and decide not to pull ourselves back up? Then the quote, “I guarantee the worse speech. . . ”
The Mind Mapping software I use for this is Inspiration. Find out more about Mind Mapping, and why I call it “The Swiss Army Knife for the Brain” one of my other sites MasterMindMapper.com Check it out, please, and let me know if you want to know more!
Fred, as you no my job is in retail sales. I wander how you feel about sales staff wearing name tags or shirts with the name on them? Also when first greeting them does you like a handshake in the retail environment as a customer arrives in a place of business. Do you think those close gap principles work in the same way for my type of speaking =mattress sales. This may seem funny but I kind of think of it as a form of public speaking. I even get the butterflies once in a while. Thnx Doug Belleville
Doug:
Name Tags, or Badges – Absolutely! They reach out and pull you in. They close the gap in retail, also.
In certain professions it is mandatory; first responders, doctors, nurses, and anyone calling on hospitals.
BTW, I know a place you can get good, professional name tags, magnetic ones, at a good price.
You’re correct about the speaking you do in retail. It is a form of public speaking. Even an elevator speech is a min-presentation.
A presentation has an opening, body and conclusion. This is true when your sales people talk to customers. Their opening, though, should be lots of questions to the prospects to determine what their needs are and their pain is.
Thanks for taking time to vist and comment!
I get the butterflies even preparing for a presentation. Whenever they start to wiggle around in my stomach. I go through my talking points in my head. That really helps me to use those butterflies since I am use to going through everything with them with me. I think it would be a little strange not to have them there now!
Thanks for the “Butterfly” Comment, Erica.
You can also take those butterflies and channel that nervous energy into your presentation. A presentation without energy is B-O-R-I-N-G!