In the direct marketing world, of which I am a part of, there is a formula that sales writers adhere to. And it’s one that speakers can use as well.
It is called The 3 T's Speaking Formula! It is old advice, and yet, it's an excellent use of your talents and time and is quite effective in ... Views: 9818
"This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper!"
~ T.S. Eliot
WARNING: When it comes to ending your speech, the last thing you want to do is go out with a whimper! In speaking it's important how you start and especially how you finish.
Let's look at this scenario: Let's ... Views: 8384
For many people, selling is still a dirty word, conjuring up images of deceitful used car salespeople selling shonky vehicles or struggling door-to-door salespeople selling encyclopedias and getting doors slammed in their faces.
Know this: You do not need to be embarrassed about selling your ... Views: 5107
It seems the jury is out on this one, with opinion divided on whether or not it is okay for a professional public speaker to laugh at your own jokes.
Maybe it's just me (although I doubt it given the number of comedians and humorists who also laugh at their own jokes), but I believe the aim ... Views: 4008
As a professional speaker, not all of your talks will be designed to be humorous or entertaining in that fashion.
Sometimes your talk may be on serious subjects to elicit
donations or certain actions from people in positions of influence. In these instances, you still need to wear your ... Views: 3936
One of the skills a marketer knows if he wants a high response from his campaign is to understand the make-up of his audience. He (or she) will dig deep to understand their core desires, needs, and wants.
In essence, what “makes them tick!”
Well, the same type of expertise is needed to win ... Views: 3858
The beleaguered carpenter ran his hand over the wood the way a horse trainer stokes the back of the thoroughbred that he is about to take out for a run.
In happier times this artisan was in high demand. Of course, this was before “the accident” that shocked the town. “No mistakes… not THIS ... Views: 3788
Welcome back to Storytelling Tips and Tactics. As I mentioned in my previous article… specificity sells and makes a story more personal!
When it comes to effective story telling give your audience a place to envision by telling them the specific location of your joke or story. For instance, ... Views: 3656
With over twenty-four years experience performing stand-up comedy, writing comedy, and doing audience warm-up on sitcoms, I've learned that using humor in a corporate setting is a lot different than in a comedy club. For success here, you must tread carefully. To that end, I offer you my five ... Views: 3571
The speakers people like the most, or who have the greatest impact, are said to have “presence.” Something special that leaps out at you. Certain actors have it, and that makes them "stars." Certain models (who by the way are sometime average looking people in real life) somehow "click" with ... Views: 3470
The first part of connecting with the audience is to do the proper research for the event. And by that I mean, you have to do your homework.
You have to consult with the client and event planner and truly understand the reason your presentation has been arranged-- and why they chose ... Views: 3465
According to a poll take by MSNBC men and women were asked what personal qualities had the greatest impact on the success of their careers. Naturally, men and women differed when it came to the importance of intelligence, ability and 'looks.' (I know... what a surprise) BUT the one thing they ... Views: 3422
Biorhythmic differences aside, generally speaking, the majority of people are not at their peak first thing in the morning. What does this mean for you if you want to public speak like a pro? Especially if you're expected to "warm them up" with your witty repartee?
Well, it means that ... Views: 3290
Persuasive public speaking is all about connecting with your audience. One of the quickest ways to heighten your audience connection is to use a theatre acting technique called 'Breaking the Fourth Wall.
One of the reasons you go to the theatre is to be transported to a different time
and ... Views: 3288
New speakers make the mistake of focusing all their creative efforts on the body of their talk, and maybe the opening. But guess what? The 'close' is just as important as the 'opening' of your talk.
In fact, your audience may remember you more from your close than from your opening. If ... Views: 3275
OK If I Laugh Now?
It seems the jury is out on this one, with opinion divided on whether or not it is okay to laugh at your own jokes. Maybe it's just me (although I doubt it given the number of comedians and humorous speakers who also laugh at their own jokes.
But I believe the aim of a ... Views: 3100
There is a major 'problemo' that a lot of speakers sometime fall into when using Power Point. I call it upstaging yourself. 'Upstaging' is a 'technique' that stage actors have been using 'against' each other since Greek times. It happens when one actor moves up the stage which in turn makes ... Views: 3067
I couldn’t believe I was going to open my presentation with that joke. Me, of all people! Yet, there I was. With my heart pounding in anticipation… I was about to bound onto the platform and speak in front of over 250 people…
Not only that, I was going to open my presentation with a bit I ... Views: 3027
Perhaps you've been there yourself. You are listening to a speaker drone on with facts and figures… and figures and facts. At that moment your eyes are rolling towards the back of your head. As I always say - audiences will forgive a lot of things from you -- but they will never forgive a ... Views: 2852
Victor Borge, the late, great, Danish comedian once said, "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people."
Well, it can also be the longest yard in trying to make an audience laugh, as I tell you what happened to me when I once performed on a cruise ship.
Remember: when it comes to ... Views: 2852
I always say when it comes to speaking or performing, you must adhere to Murphy's Law. What can wrong … will. I don't know who this Murphy was, but perhaps he should get in touch with Montezuma (and his revenge.)
Please note, dear reader, I am not a fatalist. I am more of a realist. Yes, you ... Views: 2830
When you’re speaking, do you rely too much on your audience? Are you always getting negative messages from their body language and facial expressions?
When you’re speaking, do you rely too much on your audience? Are you always getting negative messages from their body language and facial ... Views: 2702
There’s no doubt that speakers put a lot of time into developing the content for their speeches. Unfortunately, as you’re well aware of, because of sensory overload
audiences will only be able to digest two to three points of your talk. (yes, they will channel surf when you speak) So your rule ... Views: 2660
One of the most important things as a speaker has to do to make an impact with their audience - is to control the environment they are in.
Believe it or not, some speakers get the “gig” (aka the engagement) show up at the correct time and realize the seating arrangements or the lighting is ... Views: 2660
Speakers and writers share one thing in common – they’re both susceptible to mind blocks.
This is where your mind goes blank and you can’t think of anything new to write and speak about. You feel like you’re facing a blank wall; your creativity has left you. ... Views: 2568
Talking to the Bureau in Person or On the Phone
Before you call a speaking bureau, do some research to figure out which ones match your goals. Just as two snowflakes aren't a like -- it's the same with speakers bureaus.
Your best plan (and you'll discover if they are truly interested in ... Views: 2306
I have an entrepreneur friend who is an engaging speaker. He always gets high marks on audience evaluations.
On stage, he comes off as quite confident. Watching him, you’d think he was loaded with self-esteem.
In fact, the opposite is true. And at a recent presentation, he let his audience ... Views: 2256
Who are you if you have a book available for purchase? An expert? Someone successful? A smart marketer? All of the above. Reinventing yourself often requires a new life set of references. The doubts are out there. "Sure", the clients says (or worst, just thinks), you were successful as a project ... Views: 2152
After you have given a presentation, and especially at the beginning of your career (and even when you are at a level of expertise), you should critique your presentation skills to improve. It’s safe to say the more proficient a speaker you are, the better the communicator you are. The better ... Views: 2092
New speakers (as well as audience members) occasionally approach me after one of my keynote presentations and ask me how I knew I wanted to be a speaker. Well, that is certainly a good question that has many answers. However, the one resounding theme that percolates inside my head as to why I ... Views: 2004
Have you ever thought about speaking on cruise ships?
Now, I’m not talking about chit chat at your assigned dinner table here.
I am talking about standing in front of five hundred to a thousand people in a gorgeous show room (or smaller lounge) and sharing your passion and expertise on ... Views: 1895
If you want to reboot your career and get results, you need to start a career journal that will allow you to review those "old contracts" with yourself.
They help you realize that those “contracts” are just expectations you set for yourself when you were younger and enable you to evaluate ... Views: 1855
Ever drive a stick shift in a car? If you have, then you soon discovered if you don't use the clutch the right way (too fast or too slow -- or not at all), the gears will collide and you'll hear an annoying and scary grinding of metal. Most new teenage drivers know this hellacious sound. ... Views: 1747
Different governments, officials, environmental agencies exhort us to conserve the energy we use in order to save the environment and sustain our continued existence on the planet.
On a personal level, if you are serious about reinventing your career and life, then I think that you also need ... Views: 1745
There are basic principles of humor that can enliven your talk. Perhaps the most important one is to avoid telling generic "funny stories," Instead, find and build more humor within the context of personal stories.
To make your mark as a speaker… to get into the hearts and minds of your ... Views: 1687
There's no getting around it: The moment you bound onto the platform or stage your credibility is at stake. And one way to cement your credibility is to master the art of Q & A (short for Questions and Answers)
Look at how Q & A's are done on the political battlefields. Remember the Hillary ... Views: 1675
If you're like most people having a colonoscopy might be a more pleasurable activity than giving a public speech. However, this activity will rapidly become one of your favorites when you let it give your career the huge boost it has given mine.
If you're an author, consultant, trainer, ... Views: 1666
If you want to clearly get your message across in front of an audience, guess what? You can communicate in a very effective fashion with not only your words, but with other methods of communication that do not involve speech at all. Alright, now you're wondering how a speaker can speak to an ... Views: 1656
Before the turn of the century breaking into the world of consulting and freelance
work was a buyer's market, but that has changed. What changed this market were
the corporate structures themselves.
Corporations and even smaller companies decided that they could no longer maintain a large ... Views: 1648
There's no getting around it: The moment you bound onto the platform or stage your credibility is at stake. And one way to cement your credibility is to master the art of Q & A (short for Questions and Answers)
Look at how Q & A's are done on the political battlefields. Remember the Hillary ... Views: 1636
Whether you’re a professional public speaker or someone occasionally called upon to speak at company meetings… or to prospective clients… you want to make sure your audience quickly “gets” your message.
The way to do it is to brand yourself. In other words, to sum up your message with a ... Views: 1566
As I mentioned in Part I, being specific sells and makes a story more personal. Give your audience a place to envision by telling them the specific location of your joke or story. For instance, say you were in Tommy's Diner in Hoboken, New Jersey -- as opposed to just saying New Jersey. Your ... Views: 1565
One of the reasons I like writing articles is that I can test out real world public speaking techniques and then share my results to you.
Which brings me to a recent speaking engagement that was… how do I say this delicately …well, NOT the ideal speaking situation.
In fact, for any ... Views: 1536
Peter Fogel's "How to NOT to Compete With Food While Delivering a Speech or Presentation!"
This truly could be the bane of any speaker's existence.
Just think: You have to WOW your audience (who might never have seen you before)…. you have to deal with the set of the room (location ... Views: 1535
It was 1990 and I was back in NYC from LA dealing with my terminally ill mother in Cedar Sinai Hospital. Three years earlier, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. As you might have experienced yourself, back in those days the dreaded chemo was really the only treatment available. She put up the ... Views: 1508
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~Victor Frankl
Did you see the HBO movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers? Sellers was always transforming himself. The man slipped into a persona as easily as you or I would slip into a pair of ... Views: 1486
It’s becoming a national nightmare for the working class in this country.
According to a recent survey — ONLY 45 percent of today’s employees are satisfied with their work.
Not surprising, this was the lowest level ever recorded by the Conference Board research group in more than 22 years ... Views: 1472
From an audience perspective, there is nothing more boring than listening to somebody drone on and on, using correct but unexciting language and ruining what might otherwise have been an interesting subject.
And there is nothing more mind numbing than having to listen to somebody drone on ... Views: 1469
New speakers (as well as audience members) occasionally approach me after one of my keynote presentations and ask me how I knew I wanted to be a speaker.
Well, that is certainly a good question that has many answers. However, the one resounding theme that percolates inside my head as to why I ... Views: 1454
I don't know how to say this any clearer: But most people are lazy. (Not you, of course, I am talking about other people who are reading this article.)
And being lazy is part of human nature. A body at rest; stays at rest… a body in motion yada, yada, yada…
Anyway, the reason I am asking ... Views: 1445