by Cynthia Lay

I just ran across this article by Nick Morgan over on Forbes.com. It’s got some great tips for effective public speaking. A couple of them were especially helpful — and one of them was… well… REALLY bad!

Morgan’s 10 Holiday-Inspired Rules for Surviving
Public Speaking Disasters – or Avoiding Them in the First Place

In Tip #1, “Don’t take on a technical problem alone,” Nick mentions the idea of asking, “Are there any computer experts in the room?” when we have tech issues during a presentation. Pretty much any audience these days will include at least one techy-geek person, so you’re sure to get help much faster than you might expect. The cool thing is, that — by asking one simple question — you’re also getting the audience involved in the problem. They want you (and the techy-geek) to succeed! Use it as a team-building exercise! (Seriously, it works… I’ve seen it happen!) And, more importantly, your audience members won’t feel like they’re being left in the dark when you’re suddenly distracted by a computer.

Tip #7 is another one of my favorites (and a pet peeve!): “If someone asks a question, the most important response is to repeat the question, clarifying it for the whole audience.” I have a tendency to sit in the back of the room at workshops… it’s weird, I know… but that’s what I do. I like to people-watch, and this gives me the best means to do so. Those of us in the back can’t always hear somebody up front who’s asking the facilitator a question. In my (not-so-humble) opinion, it absolutely 100% the responsibility of the speaker to ensure that everybody in the audience understands what’s going on 100% of the time. This means, repeating the questions… then answering. Every time.

So, I was nodding my head enthusiastically all the way through the article . . . until the very last point . . . #10 “Close with ‘thank-you’ and wait for the audience to applaud.”

You want me to WHAT ? ! ? !

ANY self-respecting, public (and professional!) speaker KNOWS that we NEVER, EVER end a speech with “thank you!” To do so would be like… like… well… I’m SO flabbergasted that I can’t even think of a clever example! Nevertheless, there’s no better way to turn your audience OFF than to end a speech with “thank you.” It’s unimpressive, boring, and less-than-memorable. What about the message they’re supposed to walk away with?

Hall of Fame Speaker & Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, is well-known for her fabulous — and extremely effective — speech openings & closings. Her closing suggestions include:

• Finish the “end of the story”
• Circle with the opening
• End with a challenge
• Wrap it up with a call-to-action

I’ve experienced Fripp’s trainings & presentations dozens of times — and trust me, she’d never just say ‘thank you.’ She’s much more creative! And, more importantly, she cares too much about her message to do something like that!

Professional Speaker & Speaking Coach, Rob Christeson, on his his blog, shared what I think is the best — and most understandable — suggestion for beginning & ending a speech:

“You should open your presentation with your second strongest material, and close with your best material. You can’t do that if you just stop before you get to your conclusion. Practice your conclusion, watch your time, and avoid extra content in the middle. Don’t drop it off of the end.”

That says it all, doesn’t it?

If ‘thank you’ is the best material you’ve got, then it’s time to start over and write a completely new speech!

Nicely said, Rob! Sounds like Nick over at Forbes.com could learn a few things from you! :o)

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Alan: When and how did you begin speaking professionally (for a fee)?

Patricia: In 1975, a hairstyling company called Markham paid me $350 a day for hairstyling demonstrations. What set me apart from other stylists was the fact I could cut hair for four hours and talk the entire time! I realized the people in the back could not really see what I was doing. Therefore, I had to describe what I was doing in a way that they thought they could see. To keep their attention, I also told them how to sell more, interview potential employees, and promote and market. The speaking part of the program was so successful Markham extended the training to a second day on management and motivation. Since I was the star of my Dale Carnegie class and attended Toastmasters, I knew how to organize my remarks without notes.

At the same time, my executive clients invited me to speak to their service clubs, staff meetings, and small conferences. Because of my personality and expertise at cutting their hair, my clients thought I would be a pretty good speaker. However, without exception, they were amazed how good! Many of my first free or low-fee talks to their companies eventually led to major long-term relationships.

For example, the first time I spoke to Bob Kessler’s team at the San Francisco office of Moore Business Forms, he paid me $75 in Moore business forms. Throughout the years as he got promoted, he hired me multiple times in many cities. The last time was to keynote a convention in Hawaii to sales professionals from sixteen countries with name entertainment. Shame he retired!

In 1984 when I finally retired from hairstyling and was a full-time professional speaker, I was hired to speak to AT&T National Account managers. I was referred by Gary Hickox who, at age twenty-seven, impressed his boss by bringing in a top motivational speaker to speak at a small team meeting. His hairstylist! In 2010, twenty-six years later, we still keep in touch.

At Rotary Club speeches marketing my salon I was asked, “What would you charge to say that to the Oakland Appliance Dealers?” “$50!” The next request was to speak on goal setting to the San Mateo School Administrators. I replied, “$50 an hour and travel time.” He offered me $125! Incidentally, the next time the same gentleman asked, “What would you charge to say that to the Oakland Appliance Dealers?” he paid me $5,000.

In 1977, I attended my first NSA convention and realized I could one day be a speaker.

Alan: How did you choose your early topics, since your prior career was as a hairdresser?

Patricia: Alan, we teach speakers you get paid for what you know. You get paid well when you deliver what you know with impact. I realized I was an expert at building a small or medium size business.

My early topics were the result of what I did on a daily basis, “How to Get, Keep, and Deserve Customers” and “How to Promote Business.”

As a hairstylist I learned important business building advice from my successful entrepreneurial dad. Good fortune led me to always work with brilliant bosses such as Jay Sebring the Hollywood hairstylist, and I maximized my 45-minute haircutting sessions with my executive clients as an education. I would ask, “What made you the top sales person in your company?” and “What did you do to your small company that made a big one want to pay you millions of dollars for it?”

In the early days of my speaking career, sometimes audience members would ask, “Where did you get your MBA?” and “Are you an industrial physiologist?” I would reply, “No…just twenty-four years behind a hairstyling chair…taking advantage of opportunity.”

Alan: Was it difficult to prove your credibility at first to buyers and the audience? Why or why not?

Patricia: Actually, no. In the middle 70‘s and early 80′s there were fewer speakers and fewer requests to customize. I met Mike Frank at my first National Speakers Association convention where he “discovered” me. Mike promoted big sales rallies and ran a speakers bureau. He was an early supporter and recommended me to some of his clients. In those days he would ask, “Would you consider a woman speaker?” Often the answer was “No.” Then after a few years it was, “We must have a female speaker.”

At the time, there were few women speakers who fit in several categories as I did. I was entertaining, yet not a humorist. I had been successful in a male dominated industry. Plus, my energy and personality was a match to the business like it had been in hairstyling. Mike reported, “Men and women like you, and so do young and mature audiences.”

Most of my early engagements came at the recommendation from speakers bureaus or people who had heard me and knew what they were getting.

Alan: What are the biggest changes in your career while in the profession?

Patricia: The Internet and technology. A website is a sales person who works seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, knows what you do, who you do it for, and what they say about your service.

My business was built with me as a keynote speaker. In my heyday I presented 100-130 keynote speeches a year. By listening to my clients, I realized my passion…speaking about speaking…was something they desperately wanted and would pay handsomely for. Also by listening to my clients, I developed a very profitable and actually more satisfying part of my business: teaching executives and sales professionals to deliver their messages more powerfully and persuasively.

My business is now three-fourths sales presentation skills training and executive speech coaching.

Alan: Would you do anything differently, if you started again, knowing what you now know?

Patricia: Technology did not exist when I started. That would have made a difference. On reflection I wish I had embraced technology, hired the speech coaches, and collaborated with others…earlier. Nothing differently… just embraced sooner.

Alan: What’s the most important advice for a beginning speaker?

Patricia: You may not lack the talent it needs to be successful, you may lack the patience. You need a superb speech or seminar, have to market effectively, and understand the speaking business. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Learn from others who are where you want to be.

Alan:What’s the most important advice for a veteran speaker?

Patricia: Value your wisdom and experience, partner with younger professionals, stay relevant, let your long-time clients know you are still in business and how you have expanded and adapted your expertise. Revisit, rediscover, and refine what you are doing. This will help you fall in love with your content again.

Alan: Where do you see the profession going for the rest of this decade?

Patricia: Tough to answer for a whole industry. However…from my own experience and point of view:

More business leaders will enter the professional speaking ranks as the ‘boomers’ retire and enter their next career. Humorists and celebrity speakers will always have an important place at conventions. However, experts who deliver their message in various formats will be the most successful. More companies are going to question the value and contribution of outside speakers and consultants. The ability to customize and personalize your message is mandatory. A professional with the ability to deliver in Webinars, as well as in person, will give a speaker an advantage.

After experiencing the last couple of years of ‘the new normal’ clients will continue to look for value, however more meetings and conventions will return.

Alan: What’s the most astounding or incredible thing that occurred while you were speaking?

Patricia:

Personally:
Getting out of a space ship in a Wonder Woman costume.
Looking out at my audience of 150 $350,000-a-year sophisticated sales professionals not believing they could all be that drunk.
Early in my career speaking for an enthusiastic direct sales company, I paused for effect before my review; they leapt to their feet in a standing ovation…so I walked off without finishing the presentation. After all, I thought, “How many standing ovations of that magnitude does a speaker deserve?”

Corporately:
I never cease to be amazed that companies spend six million dollars for conferences, especially for their valued clients, and key executives frequently walk on stage with a few scribbled notes they just put together and deliver very poor speeches.

Celebrity:
The weather was bad and nationwide all planes delayed. A celebrity speaker refused to even go to the airport. I told the client I would deliver two speeches, my own and one in her place. He stood up and said, “I will never overlook the opportunity to bad mouth ‘the celebrity for…’ and take every chance to rave about Patricia Fripp.”

Alan: How do you determine from which sources to accept advice?

Patricia: Recommendations and their track record.

Alan: All of us have failed and learned from it. Do you have a favorite “flop”?

Patricia: Speaking for gravel quarry workers who were drunk. They would have been better off hiring a stripper.

What did I learn? When an insurance company executive who likes you and your message wants to sponsor you for a safety banquet for blue-collar workers, and they are going to have an open bar, go with your first response, “I do not think I am a fit for the audience.” That week I had no other bookings, it was close to home, the more I protested the higher the fee. Overly confident from past success I thought, “How bad could it be?” I found out!

Alan: You’re an excellent speaking coach. What are the traits of an outstanding speaking coach?

Patricia: Very few great speakers are good coaches. Delivering a good speech does not require the same skills as helping others structure, script, and deliver a speech on a subject the coach knows nothing about. I have learned from different coaches who specialize in structure and others in performance.

The reason I believe my clients keep coming back is my multifaceted approach. As well as having spoken to audiences of all sizes myself, and familiar with business and sales, I add best practices from Marquee comedians, Las Vegas entertainers, and Hollywood screenwriters to my client’s business communications. Over the years I have developed the ability to ask my clients questions, take their answers, edit and polish them, and put the answers back in their mouths. This way it is easier for them to remember. We conversationally write their speeches.

Alan: What were the biggest obstacles, and how did you overcome them?

Patricia: To be honest I do not perceive I have experienced obstacles beyond time management.

However, to generalize:

As a novice, not knowing where to start and getting audiences.
As a beginner, how to adapt our message to multiple audiences and make it relevant.
As a professional, how to manage our time between business and performing.
Suffering from ‘recency bias.’ When the phone does not ring, you imagine it never will. When business is superb, you forget the cycles of business. Your demand will go down. We must develop a balanced business model. As a seasoned veteran, to stay excited and relevant.

Alan: What final words and ideas do you want to leave with our readers?

Patricia: The best part of the professional speaking and training business is the education it provides. We learn a lot about many industries that makes us more valuable to others. Unlike Hollywood, a few lines and grey hair add to the credibility.

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Alan Weiss, PhD, CMC, CSP, CPAE author of 37 books is the consultant’s consultant, Patricia Fripp CSP, CPAE is the speaker’s speaker. Together they are The Odd Couple® of The Odd Couple Marketing & Strategy Seminar for Speakers, Coaches & Consultants.

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We know profanity is always inappropriate when speaking. There are, however, other words we should leave out of our speeches.

Do not say “you know” as an add on at the end of a sentence or any other time. Whether or not we know, the use of this meaningless expression takes away from the informational words that preceded it. Other meaningless expressions include “or something” or “thing.” Equally bad is some form of the verbalized pause which sounds like an extended “uuuuuuh” sound. Some people raise their voice with it and others go lower as they project this nonsensical sound. The way you say the sound doesn’t matter—just don’t make the sound.  Instead of using any of the above, simply pause.  Pauses catch attention so that people listen with anticipation.

Another phrase to avoid in speaking is “you guys.” Any sexist term—however innocent—is inappropriate.  If you say “you guys,” then you should also add, “… and gals” to make the sentence politically correct. Simply say “you” or “all of you.”  If you are in the South, “You all” is fine.  Don’t use marking (unnecessarily referring to specific gender) when speaking, whatever the context. This would include avoiding “waitress,” “fireman,” or “mailman.” Instead say “server,” “fire fighter,” and “mail carrier.”

Don’t say “most unique.” Unique means one of a kind.  Often to show how significant an idea is, the speaker will say, “That is one of the most unique traits of all.” The item cannot be the most if it is one of a kind.  Instead, say, “That is one of the most unusual traits of all.”

Don’t say, “Let me be honest with you,” or “Let me be frank with you.” That implies that you were not being honest or open with the audience until you made those statements. If you want to emphasize a point beyond others you have made, say, “Probably the most important point I will make is…” or “I must admit to you that…”

Don’t say “In conclusion…” unless you mean it. Too many speakers say the words and then take another five minutes to finish. Sometimes they will even say the word “conclusion” another time before finishing.

Choice of words has great impact on the way the audience responds to you. These simple suggestions will help you be more effective in your next presentation.

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©Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP

Stephen D. Boyd, Ph.D., CSP, is a professor of speech communication at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky.  He works with organizations that want to speak and listen more effectively to increase personal and professional performance.  He can be reached at 800-727-6520 or visit www.sboyd.com for valuable articles and resources to improve your communication skills.

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Speaking engagements are a great way to build your business. Having a speaker’s profile is a simple tool you can use to help you get more speaking engagements.

By public speaking, I’m referring to speaking in front of a live audience, or being a guest on a tele-seminar, podcast or online radio show or so forth. And rest assured, there are plenty of organizations in your community who are actively looking for speakers. Your local chamber of commerce and local networking groups are great places to start. If you are involved in social media, you can use your connections there to find speaking engagements. It seems that there is no lack of places to speak.

To help you book more speaking engagements, I suggest creating a speaker’s profile. This is sometimes called a one-sheet. It’s simple and short document that you can use in two different ways. First, you can send it to interested parties who request for you to speak at their event. Second, you can create a list of associations, organizations, groups or other events where you would like to speak and send your one-sheet to them along with a cover letter.

Either way you use it, I find that this document builds instant credibility. Here is a list of things you can include. You may have other categories depending on your industry, but this will get your creative juices flowing.

Your Name: Don’t assume they know your name. List it here.

Phonetic Pronunciation of Your Name: If you have a tricky name like mine, provide direction on how it is pronounced. For example, my speaker’s profile says this: Lee pelt (emphasis on Lee).

Company Name: List your company name.

Your Title: Use your formal title, or if you have a fun moniker that you go by, put it here.

Your Web Sites: List up to three web sites starting with your main site.

Category: List your areas of concentration. For example, mine are Marketing, Client Attraction, Business Development and Business Success for Solopreneurs, Micropreneurs and Women-Owned Businesses. This is particularly useful if you are sending it to groups who don’t already know you.

Phone Number: Your direct number.

Fax Number: Your fax number.

Email Address: Yours, not your assistant’s.

Physical Address: Your full address.

Assistant Contact Information: Provide their name and contact information.

Logos and Headshot: Provide a URL where they can download your logo or headshot.

Your Bio: If you have more than one version of your bio, use the one that you’d like to use for your introduction.

Title of Session: Give your speech a memorable title.

Description of Session: Write a short (around 125 words) description of your speech that they can copy and paste to use for promotional purposes in their ezine, newsletter, blog, web site and so forth. Make it as easy as possible for them to promote the speech.

Top Five Things the Audience Will Learn: Every host wants to be sure that their audience will learn something of great value. List at least five things they will learn and make them big and bold enough that you feel like you should charge for it. Providing tremendous value will make people like you. It builds the know/like/trust factor which helps you turn prospective clients into paying clients – and eventually into raving fans!

Opening Interview Questions: Provide some questions to help the interviewee guide the conversation in case they like an interview format.

One Final Wrap Up Interview Question: Provide one big question at the end. It is usually something like this. “How can my listeners learn more about you and your services?” Or, if you have cleared a special offer with your host, the question could be, “You have something special for my listeners/attendees. Can you share that with us now?”

Product For Sale: Provide the name of the product or service your are promoting on the call or in the speech. Also include a URL so your host can view it online. Check with the host prior to making an offer because many times organizations or businesses have a certain way they like to deal with product or service promotions.

Equipment Needed: If you need a projector or white board or any other equipment, list it here. However always follow up on this to be sure it’s ready for you when you arrive.

Speaking Testimonials: Showcase your experience. Provide a few testimonials from previous speaking engagements or a list of previous speaking engagements. If you don’t have any yet, just leave this section off until you do.

It’s pretty straight forward, right? You can pull this together in an hour or less. But don’t let the simplicity of this document fool you. Having a sheet like this will set you apart from others. It will help you to increase the number of speaking engagements you get and it sets the stage to create a really great experience for you, the host and the audience.

Good luck! Keep me posted on your progress. I want to hear about your forthcoming speaking engagements!

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© 2011 Meredith Liepelt, Rich Life Marketing
Meredith Liepelt, President of Rich Life Marketing, offers a free report called “101 Ways to Attract Ideal Clients, Build Your List and Raise Your Profile,” which can be downloaded immediately at http://www.RichLifeMarketing.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5709160

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Learning how to use the power of the pause in public speaking can be one of the most effective skills an orator can acquire.

Pausing when giving a speaking presentation? Yes.

Pauses can be so powerful that some even give this advice–when you’ve no idea what to do, just pause and smile. Even if you’ve fully prepared and rehearsed, there are times when your mind will go blank up there. It happens to even the most seasoned of speakers. If and when it happens, just pause. Pausing will give a person authority, whereas stammering or apologizing will do quite the opposite.

It’s said that the North Vietnamese used the power of the pause as a tactic in the Paris peace negotiations. During the talks, they just kept nodding and smiling. They did this until the Americans gave in.

Can pausing really be that powerful?

Our instincts are all wrong. When we get nervous, the first thing we tend to do is speed up. The faster I talk, many assume, the more I’ll appear to have it together. But the opposite is true. Rushing through your presentation is a dead giveaway that you’re edgy, and often gives the impression that you’d rather not be there speaking in the first place. It’s a universal sign of nervousness and lack of confidence to talk in an exaggeratedly hurried manner. It’s the same with those “ah” and “uhm” filler words that many start throwing in. This makes an audience uncomfortable, and can make them feel like they are the cause of your suffering up there behind the microphone. This is a presentation that will not be remembered except for the negative feelings it created.

But this is where the pause can be useful. Instead of rushing to the next point or using that filler word, just pause. The audience will wonder what you’re going to do next. The trick, though, is to stay with your listeners.

But, you may ask, doesn’t pausing make the speaker look like he or she has forgotten what to say or has lost his or her train of thought? The answer: depends on how one goes about it. If you stare at the ceiling or at the floor, then yes, you’ll appear to be trying to gather your thoughts. But if you stay engaged, and that means looking at your audience and staying focused on the message, then pausing will add a dynamic and commanding element to your presentation.

Pausing creates moments of tension, anticipation, or excitement, depending on how they’re utilized. Pausing while presenting gives the impression that the speaker is confident, even if the speaker doesn’t feel that way. If you’re a person who starts talking faster when nervous, pausing can help you relax and catch your breath. Try it–just pause and breathe deeper.

I’ve personally used the Power of the Pause many times and each time I do I’m always a little amazed at how well it works. I like to use pauses right after a question. For example, I’ll ask the crowd, “Do you remember the numbers from last year?” Then I’ll pause and slowly look around. The audience stays with me, waiting for the answer. At those moments, I sometimes have more authority as a speaker then when I’m actually speaking! Most nervous speakers, especially those with less experience, will immediately answer their own question and ruin a nice moment like that. Once I personally discovered how powerful pausing can be, I’ve never gone away from it.

Remember that if anything, pausing allows a speaker to stop and think about what he or she is going to say next. No matter how much you practice and rehearse, there are times when the combination of adrenaline and nervousness makes you forget where you are. Nobody likes it when this happens, but again, it happens to everyone. If and when it does, pausing not only gives you a chance to think about your next thought (and glance at your notes if needed), but it also makes you appear to be in far more control than you may feel at the moment.

Pausing really works — practice it and utilize it.

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Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He has a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.Libatique.com or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Libatique

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One of the difficulties many people have is to the ability to increase their volume without hurting their throat, their vocal folds, or their listeners’ ears. The right way — and in truth the only way – to do this is known as projection.

Those who attend sporting events are often afflicted with hoarseness, a sore throat, or even loss of voice by the end of the game because of the abuse they are inflicting on their vocal folds (cords) and throat. That is the wrong way to root for your favorite team; and, over time it can lead to serious damage.

Not just sports enthusiasts are at risk, however. Politicians, singers, public speakers, coaches, teachers, trainers, ministers, and even factory workers often experience vocal abuse because they are stressing the throat and vocal folds for great lengths of time in order to be heard in large or loud environments. In fact, if you have ever tried to talk in a noisy bar, a club or even at a wedding, you might have experienced some discomfort in your throat by the end of the night.

You can gain the ability to increase your volume without shouting by changing your voice placement. In doing so, you will need to find your true or ‘real’ voice which is more resonant and a warmer sound than the one you are presently using, also known as your habitual voice. Because you have been relying on your throat and voice box as your primary sources of power for your voiced sound, that which results is usually something less than pleasing.

If you are serious about wanting to project your voice correctly, it will require that you break your old vocal habits and instill new ones, healthier ones. You will need to learn how to use your chest cavity as your primary source of power. When you accomplish that, you will discover a voice that you can use and project for greater lengths of time without hurting your throat or vocal folds. In addition:

1. your increased volume will not hurt your listeners’ ears because the sound will be larger not ‘louder;’ and,
2. you will have more energy by the end of the day because projecting your voice takes much less work than yelling.

There is a right way and a wrong way to increase your volume. Learn how to project your voice and you will love the results. So, too, will your listeners!

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The Voice Lady, Nancy Daniels, offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit Voice Dynamic and discover The Power of Your Voice or watch Nancy as she describes in more detail The Truth About Vocal Abuse.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Daniels

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According to national surveys, public speaking ranks among the top fears of Americans, surpassing fear of illness, fear of terrorism, and even fear of death. Jerry Seinfeld famously quipped that based on these statistics that would mean that people attending a funeral would rather be “in the casket than delivering the eulogy.”

If this is you, stop being selfish. The core of public speaking fear is rooted in being inward focused. You’re most concerned with what other people are thinking of you and because you don’t have the answer you imagine the worst and it leads to the fear of criticism. It’s not that you fear speaking (talking out loud). The fear is in what are others going to say.

There is a solution. Be outward focused. Before and during your speech focus on how you want your audience to feel. What experience do you want them to have? What do you want your audience to be thinking about when they leave? If they apply the information, how will their lives be improved? When you are truly being outward focused you’ll get excited about the possibilities for your audience if they take action on what you have shared. With this mindset you don’t have time to even consider what they are thinking about you.

Show your audience that you care. The number one way to do this is through preparation. It’s utterly disrespectful to stand before a group of people (with previous knowledge that you would be doing so) and be unprepared. Nothing says I don’t value your time like, “bare with me I didn’t care enough to practice this speech”.

No one wants to be bored to death by a speaker. We all want to be entertained and inspired. Your audience wants you to do well. They are rooting for you to blow them away with your stories, insights, and knowledge.

Consider the competitive advantage. If you learn to excel in an area where most people are afraid you position yourself attract more and greater opportunity. Public speaking is not a gift it is a skill. And like any other skill, with practice it can be developed.

The skill of public speaking is central to personally driven personal development. Developing this skill will help you remain relevant in a changing world. As the world grows smaller through the ease of connection around the globe the power to influence and share ideas is critical.

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Courtland Warren is co-creator of DreamTool. You can find out more about Courtland at http://www.courtlandwarren.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Courtland_Warren

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In accepting an award, you need to be gracious, grateful and humble. (But for heaven’s sake, don’t use the words “humble” or “I’m humbled.” “Humbled” is one of those “groan” words — seriously overused.) You also must be as prepared as you can possibly be.

What do you say?

What you are looking for, is to deliver a warm, personal story that acknowledges and thanks all the main players in your success or achievement. Ideally, something about you, something about the object of the achievement; and something about the people who got you there – and of course, acknowledgment of the sponsors/givers of the award.

What should you include in your Acceptance Speech? Think about…

• Who are all the players? (Stakeholders)
• Who nominated you?
• Who invited you to join this group/program/event or encouraged you to get involved in this project or event?
• What is your connection to this group/industry? How do you feel about the people and the organisation’s goals?
• Why are they giving you this award?

Your audience will not remember all the details of what you say, but they will remember the stories you tell. Include a memorable incident, something entertaining or touching, relevant to the reason you are standing there receiving the Award.

Inspiration From the Oscars

When Russell Crowe won an Oscar for The Gladiator (2000), he dedicated it to “everyone who has seen the downside of disadvantage.” Then, when he received the 2002 Golden Globe Award for A Beautiful Mind, he gave credit to the people on whose life the film was based, offering special thanks to “John and Alicia Nash, for living such an inspirational love story.”

If you have advance notice of the event, you can ask how long you are expected to speak. The shorter your time slot, the more you will need to practice! (A smaller gem takes more time to polish!)

When you start to speak, look directly at the audience. Never read your remarks. Or, if you need to read notes, learn to read as if you are not reading. You can walk up on stage with notes, but, ideally, they should consist of a few bullet points.

If you are to be introduced to the audience, write your own introduction and give it to the MC for the evening. With major events such as the Telstra Business Awards, your personal and company information may be well known to the Organisers and the MC for the event. You may have already supplied it, so it should be up to date. For other events, your information may be well known, but you may wish to emphasise certain aspects of your activities or your business. It is strongly recommended that you write your own introduction to fit the event and circumstances.

It’s better to have a few words rehearsed and ready, than to be caught speechless — or worse, say the wrong thing or too many words! A planned speech can help you avoid appearing over anxious. So be gracious. Be modest. But, be prepared!

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sofia_Majewski

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The best public speakers are artists and performers. They understand there’s a dynamic energy that goes into a speaking engagement the audience responds to. They also learn the art of channeling nervous energy into the performance, because without this energy, a speaker can be uninteresting and even boring.

The artistic temperament is a sensitive one, often perfectionistic, and self-debasing over the slightest mistake. As such, we speakers have a difficult time receiving criticism. Granted, there are many types of criticism, most meant to be constructive, but some meant to degrade. Often though, we don’t respond correctly to honest criticism given by people who care and who are trying to help. As performers, we’re not only vulnerable, we’re constantly being evaluated. This can be high pressure, and can create an unhealthy environment where we begin to appraise ourselves as human beings based solely on how we’re received performance to performance. It’s hard to take any kind of criticism when you feel that way.

Here are some tips that can help.

Feedback is your Ally

Did you know that most people want you to succeed? It doesn’t always feel that way. But when you solicit honest feedback from friends, family, and colleagues, you’re about to get the most useful criticism you can. It’s not always easy to hear, but almost always invaluable. The impressions we believe we’re making, or the message we think we’re communicating, may be very different from the audience’s perspective. You need to know how others are perceiving you so that you can make the applicable adjustments.

Learn from the Negative, but focus on the Positive

You hear ten uplifting and encouraging words about your speaking engagement. You’re told it was effective, moving, maybe even brilliant. You feel wonderful. But then that one negative criticism comes. Then it’s all downhill. You take the one negative comment home and fret about it until depression sets in. All artists have the propensity to be this way. Do yourself a big favor by learning how to take the negative in stride, gather what you can from it, but then dwell on the positive. It will make a world of difference and motivate you for that next engagement.

Watch out for Defensiveness

We get defensive when criticized. It’s natural. You pour your heart and soul into a public speaking performance just to have someone tell you why it wasn’t so great. It could be insecurity, pride, fear, or even lousy parenting that causes a person to get defensive, but it happens. We’re also stubborn and want to do it our way. But know that being defensive will hurt your growth as a public speaker and performer. Defensiveness not only keeps you from valuable truth, it also alienates us from others who could help, mentor, or provide more feedback or opportunities. Learn to swallow your pride and not be so defensive.

Careful about taking Offense

When criticized, we have a terrible tendency to harbor bitterness and let an offense take root. But be careful that you don’t invent something that wasn’t there. An honest “molehill” comment, when stewed upon by an offended artist, can turn into a “mountain” of offense and perceived bad intentions. What’s the old saying about how bitterness is a poison that hurts more the container it’s in than the person it’s poured out upon? We need to forgive and move on. Harboring offense can wreak havoc in your growth as a public speaker because it will consume you far more than your desire to learn and become better at what you do. You’ll never be able to control what others say about you, especially those who are trying to make you feel bad. But one thing you can always control is your response. As a theatre actor and public speaker, I’ve known a few individuals are almost enslaved to some bitterness they hold against someone. You can’t feel the freedom of receiving new and helpful criticism until you’ve relinquished the past hurts of other’s criticism.

Be Teachable!

Okay, you have your degree(s) and experience, but do you know everything? Believing you’re above more schooling is arrogance. The most successful people are always trying to learn more, at any age. They understand there’s always room for improvement. That’s what makes them great at what they do. Most of us don’t appreciate that about successful people-we tend to think that success just came to them. Almost all critiques have some truth to them, so find that truth, accept it, and learn from it.

Learn to Fail Elegantly

This is certainly easier to say than put into practice. But let’s face it, the famous success stories we’ve all heard, from the Wright Brothers to Thomas Edison, were roads lined with “failures.” If a failure becomes a perceived personal Failure as a speaker or a human being, you’re not going to have the motivation to continue. A failure needs to merely be an event, not the sum total of everything you are. Arnold Palmer once said, “Even when the odds seemed entirely against me. I never quit trying; I never felt that I didn’t have a chance to win.” This needs to be our attitude.

Putting on the Face

Finally, as public speakers and performers, we like to put on the façade that we have it all together. But this often isn’t the case. We’re often nervous, un-confident, feeling ill prepared, and dwelling on the last mistake we made. So when criticism comes, we pretend we don’t need it and may even throw it back at the criticizer. We need to be more humble than that and accept the fact that we don’t always have everything under control. In a humble state of mind, good constructive criticism is always a boon and an opportunity to improve.

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Kelly Libatique is a professional speaker, technical trainer, and author. He has a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and Anne and two sons.

Visit http://www.Libatique.com or Contact Kelly at: Kelly.Libatique@gmail.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kelly_Libatique

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Ever get the feeling that your audience just isn’t listening to what you are telling them? I mean sure, they seem to be with you at the start of your speech and then they seem to show up once again at the end, but how’s that middle part going for you? Researchers have studied what’s going on with your audience during the middle of your speech and let’s just say that it’s not good — they are checking out. Looks like we’re going to have to have a talk here — let’s find a way to keep them on board…

Why Your Audience is Leaving You

If you need to understand why your audience is checking out half-way through your speech, then the first thing that you need to realize is that you talk too slow. Well, not really.

A better way to say what’s going on is that your audience is thinking too fast. Research has shown that the human mind has the ability to comprehend words that come at us at up to 600 words per minute. The problem here is that you and I talk at a rate of 120-200 words per minute.

Now there’s nothing wrong with the way that we’re speaking, it’s just that we’re giving our audience a lot of spare mental time to start to think about other things while they wait for us to say more. If we’re not actively working to hold on to their attention, then they are very quickly going to be thinking about other things.

Just to make things a bit worse, the folks up at the Northwestern School of Speech have done some studies and they’ve discovered that the attention span of an audience is roughly 9 seconds. Ouch!

What You Can Do to Get Your Audience to Stay Focused

Now that you know that you’ve got a problem on your hands, you’re going to have to figure out what to do about it. If there is any good news in this it is that you do have the audience’s attention at the beginning and at the end of your speech — they perk up and listen to what you have to say during both of these times.

Thankfully, the researchers have looked into our problem and they have a suggestion for us. What they tell us is that our audience needs to have their attention grabbed every 6-8 minutes during the body of our speech.

There are a lot of different ways to go about doing this attention grabbing. Books have been written on how to use everything from eye contact to body language to keep your audience engaged in what you are saying. However, there is another way…

The really good speakers, politicians, know how to wake their audience up after they’ve started to grow restless with the droning on of a typical political speech. They tell their audience that they are getting ready to wrap things up (‘… in conclusion…”). This causes the audience to start to pay attention again.

However, all too often the politician doesn’t wrap things up – they just keep on talking. After a while, they will once again communicate that they are going to be wrapping things up and the audience will again perk up.

This may not be a technique that you want to use all the time. However, at least now you’ll have it in your back pocket to use if you need it.

What This Means for You

Listening to a speaker for 30, 60, or even 90 minutes is a hard job for an audience to do. In fact, it’s so hard that often they don’t do it – they’ll drift off and start to think about other things during the middle of that speech that you worked so hard on.

In order to prevent this from happening and to boost the probability that at least some of what you are saying will get into your audience’s heads, you need to change the way that you deliver your speech. You need to “wake up” your audience every 6-8 minutes with a startling statement or the appearance that you are starting to close your speech.

By realizing that your audience will start to drift off during your speech and taking steps to keep them onboard, you can become a much more effective speaker. This means that you will need to map out your speech and make sure that you include the spicy parts that will wake up your audience and make them hungry for more of what you are serving.

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Dr. Jim Anderson
http://www.blueelephantconsulting.com/
Your Source For Real World Public Speaking Skills™

Do you give speeches today, but want to learn how be more effective? Dr. Jim Anderson believes that great business skills are no substitute for poor presentation skills. Dr. Anderson will share with you the knowledge that he has gained while working to improve the speaking ability of both individuals and teams of speakers for over 20 years. Learn the secrets of effective speakers and really connect with your audience during your next speech. Follow Dr. Anderson on Twitter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jim_Anderson

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