Ever looked at your notes when giving a presentation and everything is a BIG BLUR? Not much fun when this happens, is it? Nervous or not, reading notes at the lectern is often a tough thing to do. Reading black text on a white background doesn't stimulate our minds as quickly as looking at images do. This is one Read More
Presentation Skills Workshops St. Louis
Presentation Tip # 2
Practice Tip #1 – Read Aloud!
Reading Aloud Will Improve Your Delivery. Practice -Practice -Practice We've all heard that mantra, and it's true. And one of the best ways to improve your voice is to: Read Aloud - Read Aloud - Read Aloud Hearing yourself as you speak, and listening to a recording of yourself, are two of the quickest ways to Read More
The Fear of Public Speaking
How to Lessen It
First of all, You are not alone ... There is comfort in numbers. Public Speaking, in survey after survey, has been shown to be most people's greatest fear. Some fear it more than dying! It's a natural fear to have. You are standing, alone, in front of people who are fixated on you! YIKES! Who wouldn't be Read More
Verbal Communication Element # 5 –
Pause
Silence is Golden! And an important element of Speaking! The last element of good verbal communication is the Pause. It’s the last element of our verbal communication skills discussion, but it should be the first thing you do when reaching the lectern, or center stage, after the Master of Ceremonies introduces Read More
How Do You Know Your Audience “Gets It!”?
Constantly, Take Their Temperature! The Goal of all Communications; written, spoken or visual, is the same. We want the recipient(s), as quickly as possible to 'Get It!' They may not agree with all of our message They may not agree with any of our message. But unless they 'Get It!' we can't have a meaningful Read More
The Best Speakers Don’t Work Harder than You . . .
The Best Speakers Work Much, Much, Much Harder! Have you read Malcomb Gladwell's book , Outliers, The Story of Success? If not, I strongly suggest you buy and devour it! Hard work is not the only thing that can lead to success in life, but it is one of the things you can control and do something about. Gladwell says Read More
Non-Verbal Communication Element #2 –
Facial Expressions
What does your Face Say? We’ve heard expressions like; “I can read his face", or, “The expression on her face told the whole story.” Those expressions are correct! The ways our face expresses emotion are varied, but the interpretations are pretty much universal. The first, and most important Facial expression is – Read More
Content Part #4
The Formula for the Body of the Speech
Make a Point – Tell a Story
IMPORTANT: Make it a Personal Story! Here's the time tested Formula for the Body of your Speech. Make a Point - Tell a Story Make a Point - Tell a Story Make a Point - Tell a Story Do this three to five times. Each Point, and the accompanying Story, should support your main theme. Stories are a great Read More
But, I Don’t Speak in Front of Groups.
So Why Should I Care about Public Speaking?
My response: "Do you ever speak to an Audience of ONE?" I'm sometimes asked a question like this when approaching a group about being a guest speaker. It happened recently when the meeting planner told me, "We have a group of people who are sole proprietors in their businesses. Quite a few work from home. They have Read More
PowerPoint / Keynote Presentations
YOU Supply the Text! If I'm using a PowerPoint / Keynote Presentation and project the slide on the right onto a screen, and at the same time say, "It's time for you to leave!" - You 'Get It!' The slide, showing a door opening with an EXIT Sign above , is clean and simple. My verbiage supplies the text - keeping the Read More