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Phoenix Public Speaking coaching and workshops

Archive for Public speaking skills – Page 14

Quotable Quotes: Mark Twain on Impromptu Speaking

The truth is, life is a series of presentations. And if you think about it, most of those presentations are unscripted. All the world’s a stage and we’re always presenting on the go. We believe speeches should be delivered without fear and without notes so we teach simple, easy-to-remember formulas that allow you to think on the fly and put together great presentations.

You don’t get to use a teleprompter with you into a job interview, a loan application meeting, or to a business networking meeting. But public speaking doesn’t have to be scary or difficult. Check out our upcoming workshops or contact us about personal coaching to see how you can get the confidence to speak up and the skills to stand out in any situation.

Tip #15: Where to Sit to ‘Influence and Include’

You’re about to make a persuasive presentation to a cross-functional task team of your peers in a conference room with a long rectangular table. Quick – where’s the best place to sit?

The head of the table you say?

Think again.

The head of the table is great for a “command-and-control” style directive, but your persuasive speech to your peers will be more effective if it is delivered as an “influence-and-include” presentation.

That means a seat in the middle of the table is your best position. The head of the table can only directly influence the people in the two seats closest to them. But the middle position can directly influence those seated on either side plus two to four people seated across from them.

From the middle position, you can more effectively use your tone subtleties, body language, eye contact and charisma to make connections and draw more people over to your point of view.

Your middle seat position also supports powerful non-verbal messages that you want to send to other meeting participants. It says that you are part of the team, you are approachable, you are open to other points of view, and that you are a collaborator. And when trying to win over your colleagues, those are pretty good messages to send.

Tip #14: Shake and Make a Great Impression

Handshakes have been in the news a lot lately as President Trump meets with world leaders. In these interactions, there has been lots of talk about who was dominant, who was awkward, and who got it right.

Handshakes do make a difference. They set a tone for a conversation and how you do your handshake can say a lot about you. A handshake can make or break the first impression someone has of you. Because handshakes are a conscious exertion of body language and how we present ourselves, they are an important part of public speaking. And in today’s fiercely competitive business climate, how well you present yourself can make the difference in getting ahead or going home. So to succeed, it’s important that we do this basic business interaction correctly.

In the video clip below, Paul Barton shows how to do a handshake that exudes confidence and a willingness to partner with someone. Both of those qualities are crucial in most interpersonal and business settings. A proper handshake helps you send the messages you’re intending to send and it helps you to stand out in the minds of your customers, clients and business partners. So go on — shake it up!

 

Tip #13: Using Your Body Language to ‘Influence and Include’

Body language is crucial to effective public speaking. It communicates more than our words. Some experts say as much as 80% of what we communicate is done through our body language. So, it’s important that we are using our body language to communicate what we are intending to say.

When you are making a business presentation, is your body language sending signals of “command and control” or are you trying to “influence and include?” You will have more success at persuading audiences to your way of thinking if you adopt a strategy of influence and include.

In this video clip from our “Speak Up and Stand Out” workshop, Paul Barton presents some tips on using body language to help you be more a more inclusive public speaker and presenter.

By using your body language to say what we are intending to say, you can become a more powerful communicator.

Overcoming Public Speaking Fear

Here’s a round-up of our best tips, tricks, and techniques to overcome your fear of public speaking.

Tip No. 8: Preparation Helps Reduce Fear
The more prepared you are, the less fearful you will be.

Tip No. 9: Be the Host, Not the Guest
You will be less anxious if you are the host.

Tip No. 10: Getting Rid of Fear Moments Before You Speak
Two techniques to use to deal with nervous energy.

Tip No. 11: Speaking Without Fear
What to do if you get nervous or slip up in the middle of your speech?

Tip No. 3: A Jedi Mind Trick to Boost Confidence
Our minds influence the way we act, but the opposite is true as well — the way we act influences our minds.

Do you have any tips to add? Please let us know what tips work best for you.

There are Two Types of Speakers in the World

public speaking quoteMark Twain’s humorous quote about public speaking is pretty close to the truth based on the hundreds of people I’ve taught and coached. I work with leaders who don’t want speaking to hold them back any longer. I help give them the confidence to speak up and the skills to stand out so that they can command the room in any situation. If you love learning new tips, tricks and techniques and are ready to go to the next level, contact me today.

Tip #12: Speak with a Microphone, Practice with a Microphone

Some people practice for an upcoming speech by reciting the speech over and over while pacing about a private room in private. They get the content down well using this method. But then they get up to do the speech and discover they have to use a  handheld microphone with a long cable coming out of it. This can throw some speechmakers off their game. Some find themselves awkwardly bumping the microphone against their bodies making loud thumping sounds that annoy the audience. Others want to use notes and suddenly find themselves with paper in one hand and a microphone in the other. This makes gesturing extremely difficult.

If you’re going to make a wedding toast, a business presentation, or a public speech of any kind, find out ahead of time if you will be using a microphone. If so, practice with a microphone, or at least some object in your hand so that you get used to holding it while talking and gesturing. Arrive at your speech early and do a sound check. Get as familiar with the microphone as you can before your presentation begins.

The time you invest in practicing with a microphone will pay off in a big way once you are on stage.

Tip No. 11: Speaking Without Fear

What happens if you get nervous or slip up in the middle of your speech? In previous posts, we’ve presented tips to help calm nerves before you begin speaking, but what about while you are speaking.

Here are some tips to help deal with public speaking fear while speaking:

  • As you begin to speak, look for friendly faces in the audience first. Feed off their positive energy.
  • Remember: You mind affects your body language, but the opposite is true as well — your body language affects how you feel. Plant your feet and stand confidently. Hold your head up. You will begin to act more confidently.
  • Don’t apologize, don’t make excuses, and don’t say you’re nervous.
  • Be authentic; not perfect. Audiences are very forgiving of sincere speakers.
  • Laugh off mistakes, regain your footing and continue.
  • If you forget something, just move on. You’re probably the only one who knows you forgot.
  • Don’t forget to breathe, and do so from the diaphragm.
  • Be yourself and have fun!

By being your authentic self, your presentation will gain the most important element of a speech — credibility.

Related Posts

No. 1 Fear: Public Speaking

Tip No. 8: Preparation Helps Reduce Fear

Tip No. 9: Be the Host, Not the Guest

Tip No. 10: Getting Rid of Fear Moments Before You Speak

 

Tip No. 10: Getting Rid of Fear Moments Before You Speak

It’s natural to be a little nervous just before you begin to perform any sort of public speaking. Even if you’re not particularly scared to speak, adrenaline may increase in the excitement of the moment. We often times can control our upper bodies by focusing but the nervous energy then goes to our feet and causes us to sway, pace or move our feet around a lot.

Here are two techniques to use to deal with nervous energy:

  1. Burn off nervous energy. Nervous energy is natural. Some speakers are able to convert this nervous energy into presentation energy. Another strategy is to burn off some of that energy. You could d0 jumping jacks but that might look a little weird. Instead, try this “stealth” method to burn off energy that I learned from my mentor, Pam Chambers: Grip the side on your chair with your dominant hand and pull as hard as you can from the elbow up for 30 seconds. If you pull from the elbow, and not the shoulder, no one can tell you’re doing it!
  2. Breathe Deeply. Your body needs oxygen but often your body goes into shallow breathing when you are nervous. Breathe from your diaphragm. There’s science behind how this helps. But now, let’s take a psychological approach. Moments before you go up to speak, draw a deep breath. As you do so, imagine you are sucking up all the negative energy inside your body — all the self-doubts, the fears, the nervousness. Now, blow out your breath and imagine all the negative energy is leaving your body in the form of bubbles. Imagine those bubbles are popping as they come out and y0ur fears are disappearing into thin air. This exercise is only as good as you make it.

I have clients and former students who swear the chair grip is the greatest thing ever and they thank me months after learning it. Others love the imaginary bubbles. Some love both and others find no value in either one. The trick is to find what works for you. When you do, you will deliver a more relaxed and more confident speech or business presentation.

Related Posts

No. 1 Fear: Public Speaking

Tip No. 8: Preparation Helps Reduce Fear

Tip No. 9: Be the Host, Not the Guest

Tip No. 9: Be the Host, Not the Guest

Much of the fear of public speaking is about how you feel. Put yourself in this mindset: you are the host, not a guest. You will be less anxious if you are the host.

Here are some tips to put yourself in a host mindset:

  • Arrive early before a business presentation or speaking engagement. Get the lay of the land. Check out the room from all angles.
  • Do a sound check, if there’s a microphone.
  • As the host, you own the room. Move the furniture and adjust the lighting to suit your needs.
  • When your audience begins to arrive, greet them at the door as their host. Talk to a few people as they arrive to warm up your voice and your gestures. Make eye contact. Smile.

When you assume the role of the host, at least in your mind, you’ll deliver a more confident and relaxed speech.

Related Posts

No. 1 Fear: Public Speaking

Tip No. 8: Preparation Helps Reduce Fear