Along with the opening two minutes of a speech, the final part of a speech, known as a 'closer' is equally important. Research shows most people remember the closing remarks most.Nick Morgan in his book 'Working the Room' believes 'the only reason to give a speech is to change the world'.He's right as the essence of speech making is to move people to action.So how can you have a closer that moves people to action?- Don't summarise. Instead get the... Read More
In the thousands of speeches I've heard very few presenters truly engage and involve the audience.Remember, even the most disciplined and attentive of audiences will switch off after 20 minutes.It never ceases to amaze me how many highly intelligent people, who are experts in their field, end up being poor presenters.They usually have a pattern to their speech. A nervous start with an apology, followed by hiding behind the podium, then a new world record for the number of PowerPoint... Read More
Every speech has an audience and every audience is different. Tailoring your next speech to its audience is as important as the content in the speech. So how do you connect with an audience so your message matches their expectations, wants and needs and you get your message across effectively.Here are the Seven Strategies to Target Your Business Presentation Message With Laser-Like Precision1. Research your audience prior to the presentation.The more you know about your audience the more likely you... Read More
1.Preparation The most important step in public speaking is preparation. It is the No. 1 key to success in every endeavour and this applies especially to speaking in public. To make a successful speech requires in depth research of your topic. For every minute that your speech lasts you will probably have to spend one hour in research and preparation!If you think that 10 hours is a lot of time to devote to a 10 minute speech then consider... Read More
I don't know why it is, but no matter how carefully I brief a hotel on the room set-up I want for my seminars, workshops and training meetings, more often than not when I arrive, they have provided a standard hotel room set up. What I find even more alarming is the number of times that I attend a meeting either as a guest speaker or audience member to find that the meeting planner or speaker has not bothered to... Read More
Picture a cool crisp autumn morning in the wide open farming lands in the Great Southern region of Western Australia at Wagin, home of the annual Wagin Woolarama and Giant Ram.Imagine a white metal caravan with brown carpet on the inside walls fitted out as a outside broadcast van on a dusty, damp road by the edge of a large green football oval. The smell of freshly cooked donuts wafts past as the crowds start to fill the arena.A middle... Read More
Have you ever had to give a speech?Do you remember that feeling? A knot in the stomach, sweaty palms and a panic attack!Not a very pleasant experience. And yet, I'm sure your speech was a success because 90 per cent of a typical audience want the speaker to succeed.Yet according to The Book of Lists, speaking in public is one of our greatest fears.Much of this anxiety is due to a lack of confidence in writing and preparing a speech... Read More
Meeting planners know the value of meticulous planning. They are responsible for selecting and contracting with the speaker, promoting the event, booking the hotel for the speaker, arranging transportation for the speaker and ensuring that the facilities are set up perfectly on the day of the seminar, writing and presenting an introduction of the speaker. Whew! With so many advance details to consider, it is no wonder that some meeting planners forget one of the most important times for the... Read More
I was a celebrity lecture agent in the college and university market for over seven years. During that time, I have received hundreds of requests for authors to speak. My standard answer was always "Authors write, but they don't speak!"This motto was obviously from the old school of lecture agents! Today hundreds of authors are promoting their books through lectures on college campuses. The student population has grown so diverse in age, race, and interests that the days of booking... Read More
Making a speech seems simple. You speak, others listen. However this isn't always the case, in fact one of the biggest challenges for speakers is getting their audience listen. If you have to make a speech - you want it to be memorable and successful. If you understand why people don't listen, you will be more successful at getting them to listen!Here are nine reasons why people don't listen to a speech.1. Message overload.If you are at a seminar and... Read More
Many people are recognised for their work, industry, sporting or community achievements.The giving of awards by associations, businesses and groups helps recognise achievers and excellence.In many cases recipients of awards are asked to give a small acceptance speech.But, according to the Book of Lists, the number one fear in the Western World is the fear of speaking in public.So how can you make a great impression when you have to accept an award?Here are my 10 tips on how to... Read More
Having a clear and confident voice is an essential business skill to be an effective leader, manager and communicator.Whether you are presenting in front of a group, performing in the media or speaking on the phone a good voice can be a great asset.Here are 10 tips on developing a more confident and persuasive voice.1. Build Clarity by Warming Up.The human face can pull more than 7,000 unique expressions with 44 different muscles! Get into a routine to warm up... Read More
I learned my craft as a speaker a long time ago, and I have kept on learning and practicing it every day for the past 30 years. That's the thing about any talent, you have to practice if you want excel. I was also lucky; I learned my craft in the days "BP" ? Before PowerPoint. You might think today that PowerPoint makes it easier ? not at all. PowerPoint in my experience is the reason why so many people... Read More
A high level manager contacted me in a panic. He was upset that his supervisor had asked him to give an important presentation in three days. He needed help - fast.Occasional speech-givers make many errors. Three that are very common are poor speech-writing, inadequate knowledge of the topic, and undeveloped presentation skills.When writing a speech, think of it from the listener's point of view. Try to get the listener to be involved immediately, whether by telling an appropriate joke or... Read More
If you've ever been on stage, doing a talk or presentation then you'll know how often this happens...The audience is full of people that are just right for your business. You do the best talk of your life. They laugh at your jokes. Agree with your ideas and ask lots of useful questions. You've really got these people interested and the room is buzzing with energy.Then, as your spot ends, it just kind of fizzles out. All these potential prospects... Read More
Business communications researchers have studied the phenomenon of stage fright experienced by would-be public speakers. Let me summarize most of the findings in very down-to-earth terms: Most people would rather die than stand up before an audience and deliver a speech.To suggest that these individuals are as "nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs" may be something of an understatement in describing these public speaking "scaredy cats." The symptoms are similar to food poisoning: a... Read More
Nearly as dreaded as snakes and spiders, public speaking ranks high in causing fear in many of us.Whether your motivation is a desire to learn or simple necessity, here is a really simple guide to writing and giving a speech. Your Topic: is this speech about something already know? Then take a blank piece of paper and write down as many facts as you can think about this subject. Put them randomly around the page with circles or boxes drawn... Read More
Speaking in public can be a powerful way to build a business. It can help raise the profile of your business, generate new leads and create greater profits. But speaking in public can be nervewracking and seriously stressful for first timers. Writing a speech can be a major challenge, especially for technical writers.We can all learn from watching professional speakers.I have achieved a long held ambition to hear Bill Clinton - in Perth on Saturday February 23, 2002. It was... Read More
He's been accused of "mangling the language, destroying its meaning by avoiding the use of verbs, twisting nouns into verbs, and endlessly repeating phrases until they become zombified" (Source:'Bush and Blair accused of mangling English' by Kate Kelland, Reuters.com.uk, Mon 15 November, 2004 12:50).But despite this George W Bush has become the first Republican president to win re-election since Ronald Reagan in 1984.And he's been able to motivate the US public to vote in record numbers.In a time of stress... Read More
Studies show that your word-power determines your earning power, that your skill in self-expression determines your status in life.The link between your vocabulary and your income is universally recognized. Researchers have discovered that college students with the lowest vocabulary scores usually end up in the lowest income group. So, if you wish to maximize your earning power, it is clearly vital to develop a powerful vocabulary.Similarly, advancement in your career depends to a large extent on your capacity to express... Read More
