Public Speaking

Speak without fear

Practise your presentation until you get it perfect.

DO YOU love the work you do, until it comes to having to speak and present in public? Whether your project, idea, proposal purchase or even budget will be approved or not will based on your ability to present with confidence and authority. The truth is, many people fear making presentations.

   Having conducted a variety of in-house and public presentation skills courses over the years, most participants have the same reasons for attending such courses.

   Learning new techniques, structuring content or where to stand and what to do with your hands are not the top priorities for the participants. What is more important for them is overcoming their fears and nervousness, and dealing with difficult questions.

   They want to learn how to build their confidence in front of an audience.

   Here are three things you can do to build your confidence before your next big presentation:

1. KNOW YOUR MATERIAL WELL

This is the key to making a good presentation. When you know the details well, your anxiety level decreases and your confidence level will increase.

   Most people do not bother to learn their material by heart because they think that all they have to do is read off the presentation deck. This not only makes for a disengaging presentation, but you may get thrown off when the boss asks for you to end the presentation prematurely as you will be unsure which information to cut and what to share.

   Know the content well and remember the important points you wish to convey.

2. ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE

No one likes to freeze in front of management and peers like a deer caught in the headlights. One of the best ways to prepare for the dreaded Q&A session is to actually think of potential questions in advance.

   Make a list of at least five to eight challenging questions and craft the appropriate responses. Practise the responses so they will flow effortlessly when you answer. The goal is to avoid stammering or stuttering. In addition to the difficult questions, you should also prepare responses to some easy questions.

   When it comes to responding to questions, follow these simple steps:

• Listen carefully to the question;

• Acknowledge the person who asked it; and

• Repeat or rephrase the question.

   This gives you the opportunity to ensure you have heard the question correctly and that you understand it fully. Maintain eye contact and pause before you respond. If you receive a hostile question, it helps to rephrase it before responding.

3. PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE

Once you have crafted your presentation, created your supporting documents or presentation slides, and listed your responses to potentially difficult questions, practise.

   For individuals looking to improve their presentation skills, practice is essential. In most of the courses conducted, most people admit to only practising their presentations twice, at the most.

   First, practise to hear what you sound like. In fact, you should record yourself. Are there any words you tend to trip over? Are you speaking clearly and finishing every word? What is your pace and tone of voice?

   Now, go through it again and take note of how long the presentation takes you. If you are given 30 minutes to present, aim to end in 25 minutes.

   Next, practise the presentation in front of a mirror to see if you make odd facial or hand gestures. Your hands are your visual aids; use them when you want to emphasise particular points.

   Lastly, keep in mind that every person has the potential to become a calm and confident presenter. Your nerves and fears may not fully subside, but they can be significantly reduced if you follow the tips above.

tl;dr

Stop having autism.

Something to talk about

Public speaking skills can give you an edge over your colleagues

SINCE the time of the ancient Greek and Roman orators like Demosthenes and Cicero, public speaking has become an important part of our everyday lives.

   Crowds were moved to tears by President Obama's "Yes We Can" speech and thousands of lives were changed by motivational guru Anthony Robbins' high-energy seminars.

   Millions more gasped in wonder when Steve Jobs unveiled Apple's latest inventions through his exciting product presentations.

   No matter where we are, we are exposed to public speaking in one form or another.

   But are public speaking skills relevant in today's workplace?

   Ms Kate Lorenz of Careerbuilder.com listed the Top Ten Most Common Soft Skills that employers look for and assess a candidate on.

   Among this non-exhaustive list included a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, adaptability and good communication skills.

   Ms Lorenz defined good communication skills as having the ability to be verbally articulate and "make your case and express your needs in a way that builds bridges with colleagues, customers and vendors".

   This statement validates the continuing need to stand out from your peers at work by building your presentation or public speaking skills.

Build bridges

How else can you effectively "build bridges" with people at work if you cannot communicate a single message to them instantly?

   It is also interesting to note that a number of companies are using presentations to gauge a candidate's professional and emotional competence during job interviews.

   Even in the local context, public speaking is evolving into a skill set that can set you apart from others and get you further ahead in life.

   If you are more articulate than your colleagues, all other things being equal, that will stand you in good stead for a promotion.

   If you desire to be an inspirational manager, what you say can move your subordinates to work with you to achieve organisational goals.

   If you dream of wielding influence in the corporate arena and beyond, your speeches will have to achieve their desired impact.

   It is rare for someone who is absolutely bereft of charisma to rise to the upper echelons of the corporate ladder.

   From an trainer's experience, it is worrying to note that some bosses associate public speaking with something negative.

   Is it because of the culture that encourages us to "speak" less and "do" more?

   If so, then why do so many people look up to bosses who are effective and inspirational communicators and criticise those who are regarded as "traditional" and silent?

Motivate staff

Once there was an annual large kick-off event for automobile staff, and since the director has just taken over the reins from his predecessor, he was impelled to deliver an opening address.

   The whole presentation was simply mesmerising.

   To motivate his people, this young inspiring director rallied his "troops" to stick together during uncertain economic times and help the company to become a leader in its market segment.

   By using a hand gesture that represented "No 1" throughout his speech, he was able to create a powerful visual symbol that made his presentation stick in his audience's hearts and minds.

   But his coup de grace was the accompanying video clips that he borrowed from the movie "300", a retelling of a famous battle between the ancient Spartans and Persians.

   These scenes sent a strong statement to the employees - that the company was going to triumph over its competitors against overwhelming odds.

   The crowd gave the new director a standing ovation. A year later, the company reclaimed the top spot in its industry.

Win customers

Even in the area of sales, an effective presentation can help to improve the bottom line faster and more efficiently.

   your choice of words, key message positioning and communication length all have a significant impact on the sale.

   Gone are the days of "if we build it, they will come".

   A key component of successful companies is a persuasive sales forces that can set itself and the company's product apart from its competitors.

   Being an effective public speaker or presenter can reap potential benefits in the workplace.

   From giving you a better chance at landing your dream job to securing a lucrative business deal, making an impressive presentation at every opportunity could be your ticket to corporate success.

Fripp & Associates : http://www.fripp.com

Have the demons come out to play?

Have the demons come out to play?

>>1

Speak Up With Power And Influence : http://members.personallifemedia.com/buy/personal-growth-courses/speak-up-with-power-and-influence

This information will definitely help me with an upcoming presentation. Thanks, Anon.