Public Speaking
A Short Guide to Effective Public Speaking
Delivering an effective presentation to 20 or to 200 people is difficult. Because listeners have better access to information since the internet became commonplace, audiences expect more content from speakers today. In addition, because of the entertainment slant of most media today, audiences want a presentation delivered with animation, humor, and pizzazz.
If you would [...]
How to Prepare your Mind/Body to Give Great Speeches
Sure you have catecholamines – all speakers do. (including Sir Winston Churchill and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Reagan.) Those are the chemicals that make you sweat, make your heart beat fast and make your hands shake. Get rid of those chemical and psychological reactions by becoming message-centered and audience-centered, not self-centered.
1 Replace fear and [...]
Now Appearing: 9 Tips for a Well-Attended Event
When I made the decision to do free workshops and book signings for my latest book, Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, I thought it would be easy to draw an audience. I had, after all, done all the right things to prepare for this big event: I had a successful e-zine, [...]
15 Ways To Keep Your Speaking Inspiring and Creative
When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a change so that we don't stay in that place. Yet, many times we forget some of the simple things that we can do for ourselves, quickly and easily to bring our inspiration back and increase our creativity.
1. If you usually type your speech first, [...]
What is Toastmasters?
Toastmasters…. Toastmasters….What is Toastmasters?
Is it a bunch of guys in stuffed shirts ?
Toastmasters is an international, not-for-profit organization designed to help people become more confident in public speaking.
Why would anyone want to go to Toastmasters? What do you do there? What kind of things do you learn? Do you have to talk all the [...]
Time Management
I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date. No time to say "hello", "goodbye", I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!
Have you ever felt like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland? Rushing from one thing to the next with no time to rest or relax? If so, perhaps what you need is some [...]
SOS – Goal Setting
… — … SOS This is the traditional seafaring emergency call to "Save Our Ship!" – to rush first aid to a sinking vessel. On land – and in daily life – it stands, simply, for "HELP!" Until I read this recently, I never really knew exactly what it stood for. Did you know [...]
Ethics in Speaking: A Practical Point of View
Often managers have to deliver presentations with unpleasant content. The vice president has to announce that there is a hiring freeze or a downsizing. The human resource director speaks to the employees about a benefits package with fewer benefits. Because executives are often speaking in difficult situations, the more credibility they can develop, the [...]
For Speaking Ease, Forgive Your Younger Self
I love the Disney movie The Kid with Bruce Willis. In it he plays a stressed-out, high-power image consultant. He wears expensive suits, lives in a chic, elegantly furnished home and has all the money he can spend. His biggest challenge comes when a young boy–his younger self–comes to stay with him. He doesn't [...]
Knowing Your Boundaries
While delivering a speech, it is clear that we will be judged and perceived in a certain way based on our ideas, words, and body language. Taking a risk and really thinking out of the box can be quite rewarding and at the same time, it can be a disaster. The famous quote "there [...]
