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Articles by Gilda Bonanno

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By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Cut Out Your Sloppy Language When Presenting

Language is a tool that helps you communicate your message to your audience. Sloppy and imprecise language, however, can interfere with your communication. Here are six tips for eliminating sloppy language: 1. Mind your grammarr You don't have to be a grammarian to follow basic grammar rules. I'm not talking about split infinitives or dangling participles, but basic grammar like verb tenses and pronoun usage. Avoid grammar mistakes such as, "we was going" or "him and me went." 2. "We" vs. "They"r

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,534 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Keeping Your Voice Strong While Presenting

Sometimes when you're presenting, introducing yourself or answering questions in front of a group, your voice trails off at the end of the sentence. Your audience can't understand the last part of your sentence and you may sound nervous and unprepared. Here are four tips for keeping your voice ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,520 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

7 Steps to Successful Storytelling in Your Presentations

Relevant and engaging stories can be a compelling part of your presentation – whether you are presenting at a board meeting, an industry conference or an awards banquet. Here are 7 steps to follow to make your storytelling successful: 1. Pick a relevant story. Think about the story from the audience's point of view and make sure it relates to your message and the point of your presentation. An irrelevant story, no matter how funny or unusual, will only distract from your message.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,516 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

How to Get Introduced When Speaking: 6 Tips for an Informative and Effective Introduction

When you have to speak to a crowd, how should you handle getting introduced? 1. Write your own introduction. Think about which of your many credentials or past experience examples will be most relevant to this particular audience. For example, I'm speaking at a Project Management Conference in May and I will include in my intro include the fact that I am a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). However, when I speak to groups of entrepreneurs and small business owners, I don't include that credential in my intro because it doesn't mean that much to that particular audience.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,512 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking - Six Tips for Handling Questions with Ease

Often once you're finished delivering a presentation, the audience will ask questions. This question-and-answer time is still part of your presentation and you can prepare for it in the same way that you prepared for the rest of the presentation. Handled appropriately, questions give you a chance to clarify information you presented or discuss things that you didn't get a chance to mention. Here are six tips to help you prepare for and answer questions with ease: 1) View questions as requests for information, not as adversarial challenges.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,478 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

9 Tips for How to Present While Seated

"You can't start a fire sitting down" is an old cliché that I used in graduate school to explain to the supervising professor why I taught my American history class section standing up. (I also thought to myself, "it's harder for them to shoot a moving target.") The professor preferred that I sit down and teach, to demonstrate more of a peer relationship with the students. At 5' 2" and only a few years older than the students, I thought I looked enough like a "peer" and wanted more authority - teaching while standing up helped.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,473 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

5 Reasons Why Presenters Won't Use a Micrphone

Often, I have seen people refuse to use a microphone when they're presenting, whether at an office meeting, community event or industry conference. Yet, using a microphone correctly can make it easier for the audience to hear you and understand your message - which is the whole point of your presentation. Here are the 5 reasons I hear for not using a microphone - and how you can overcome them. 1. You Don't Think It's Necessaryr

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,465 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Answering Questions Without Losing Control of Your Time

Have you ever seen a speaker run out of time because he or she spent too much time answering very basic or very advanced questions that were irrelevant to most of the audience? For example, a few years ago, I attended a presentation on using LinkedIn. The program description promised an overview plus a few specific steps to improve success using LinkedIn. The speaker got about ten minutes into her presentation to an audience of more than one hundred, when she was interrupted by a few people who asked very specific questions.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,459 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Self-Confidence is a Major Element of Success in Public Speaking Success

Self-confidence is a crucial element in public speaking success. You are not speaking just to hear yourself talk – you are speaking because you have something to say. Before you can command the attention of your audience, you have to believe that you have a message that is worth listening to and that you have the ability to communicate it effectively. If you don't believe it, your audience will not believe it.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,451 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking - Face Your Fears

If you're like most people on the planet, you have fears. And like many people, you may be afraid of speaking in public. Whether it's a mind-numbing, knee-knocking, stomach-chu ing fear, or a milder, less invasive, I'd-rather-not-be-doing-this fear, it can get in the way of your professional success and your personal growth. In my presentation skills classes, I ask participants to identify their fears.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,449 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking Lessons From Teaching College History

One of my first jobs after graduate school was as an instructor at a community college. My course load included teaching American History 102 (1865-present) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:00-8:50 A.M. It was a required course for most of the 35 students and history was not their major. So my challenge was how to communicate to the students while keeping them awake and interested.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,437 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking Tips From Chef Bobby Flay

I'm a fan of the TV cooking competition, The Next Food Network Star, hosted by celebrity chef Bobby Flay. The winning chef gets his or her own cooking show on the Food Network. The show offers lesson not just about cooking, but also about presentation skills because the winning chef has to be a good cook and effective and engaging on camera. In one episode, the contestants had a limited amount of time to cook an entrée and then two minutes on camera to demonstrate it in front of a panel of famous TV chefs.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,417 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking - 5 Frequently Asked Questions about How to Use Eye Contact

1) Why should I use eye contact? It helps you connect to the audience, no matter how big or small. Whether you're speaking to an audience of four or four thousand, it can help to create a one-on-one communication experience for each audience member. It also demonstrates your confidence and proves that the information resides in your head, not in your notes or on the slides. And it helps you get feedback on how people are reacting to your presentation. 2) How long should I look at each person? Approximately 5 seconds, which is about the time it takes to complete a thought.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,416 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

4 Presenter Mistakes to Avoid, Or Please Don't "Vomit" on Your Audience

At the end of my session at a conference, one of the audience members came up to tell me about a bad session she had attended. She said, "The presenter vomited his content on the audience. It was awful. I would have walked out if I wasn't sitting in the front row." That's pretty strong language! Of course, I had to ask for the details of what made her feel "vomited" on by the presenter. Here are that presenter's top four mistakes, as described by the audience member - and what you can do to avoid them: Presenter Mistake #1: "The content was disorganized."r

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,411 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Empowering Successful Women to Develop Self-Confidence

Two of my current presentation skills coaching clients struggle with self-confidence. They are both talented, smart, successful professional women. One has a Ph.D. in Engineering and over 20 years of experience in the electronics industry and the other is a CEO of a highly successful company. Yet, despite their success, they struggle with self-confidence. And I've noticed this self-confidence deficit in many of my clients, women and men, from all backgrounds.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,392 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Choose Million-Dollar Words

When you're preparing and practicing a presentation, your word choice matters. If your words are weak or unclear, they can interfere with your ability to communicate your message effectively to your audience. To be an effective presenter, you should choose what I call "million-dollar words" - ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,364 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Voice Power - Part II

This is the second article of a two-part series on using the power of your voice to convey meaning and emotion to your audience. Along with eye contact, gestures, movement and facial expression, your voice is a key component of non-verbal communications. Your voice has an incredible range and ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,358 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking - Know Your Audience

The number one rule of successful presentation preparation is to know your audience. Here are some tips to consider when you're thinking about how to connect to your audience, whether it's an audience of 1 or 100: • Know what's playing on statio WIIFM. That's the station the people in your audience are tuned into - "What's In It For Me?" They're focused on WIIFM (pronounced "wiff-um") not because they are self-centered, but because they are bombarded with information and have to filter it in order to stay afloat.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,342 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

One Easy Way to Present Better: Get Organized!

One of the easiest ways to be a better presenter is by organizing your content clearly and logically. It sounds so simple, yet many presenters don't organize their material; instead, they just throw everything at the audience, all jumbled together with no clear indication of how things relate to each other or to the overall message. Then the audience is stuck with the messy task of figuring it out. As a presenter, your goal should be to make it easy for the audience to understand your content. Here are four ways for you to create a presentation that is clear and organized:

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,320 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

5 More Ways To Be A Better Listener

Listening is a crucial skill for success in business and in life. If we listen to others, we show them respect, we learn to understand their points of view and we help to build our relationships. Here are 5 more ways to improve your listening skills: 1. Show empathy. Empathy means that ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,317 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Take the 6-Second Presentation Challenge

During election season here in the U.S., one of my clients, the CEO of a nonprofit organization, was invited to film an endorsement for a candidate's television commercial. Her role was to introduce herself and her organization and explain why she supports the candidate. She was happy to participate because she is a big supporter. However, the challenge was that she only had 6 SECONDS to communicate her message!

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,273 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Take Your Presentations from Okay to Outstanding

Ever feel like you're presenting on "auto-pilot"? Or like you've gotten to the point where you present okay, but still feel like you could do better? Here are four suggestions for taking your presentations from okay to outstanding, so you can really connect with the audience and convey confidence as you communicate your message. Rethink Your Contentr

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,271 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking Fear? Drown Out That Negative Voice In Your Head!

If your stomach chu s just at the thought of speaking in front of a group of people, you're not alone. In fact, Americans rate public speaking as their number one fear - even ahead of death (hence the old joke that you would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy)! Think about what's ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,218 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

You Can Get Better at Public Speaking

As a presentation skills coach and trainer, I have had the opportunity to observe presentations by many people from all backgrounds and walks of life. It is my firm belief - and experience has not contradicted me - that while some people are more naturally comfortable with public speaking, EVERYONE can become competent at it, IF they spend the time and work on the right things. Yes, this means YOU, too! We all know people who are very knowledgeable about a topic but can't communicate effectively.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,182 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Think On Your Feet - And Watch Out For The Wasp!

Recently, I was scheduled to speak about "Thinking on Your Feet" to a group of 50 administrative professionals, in honor of Administrative Professionals Day. I was well-prepared; I had interviewed several people from the audience over the phone and I had my notes, timer and driving directions ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,180 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Visualization & Successful Presentations

When I train groups or coach individuals in presentation skills, I encourage them to drown out the negative voices in their heads with a positive mantra and visualize themselves successfully giving an effective presentation. The power of visualization has long been used by top athletes to achieve high performance and it also applies to giving presentations.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,153 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking - Practice, Practice, Practice

When I was in high school, I played clarinet in the school band. Every afte oon, I climbed up the hill from the bus stop carrying my clarinet case and every morning, I trudged back down the hill carrying my clarinet case, still unopened and untouched. n My performance on the clarinet failed ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,023 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Using a Microphone Like a Pro

If you have the option of using a microphone for your next presentation, use it. You will be able to speak at your normal volume while also allowing the audience to hear you without difficulty. Here are five tips on how to use a microphone effectively, without it being distracting: ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,013 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Networking at Holiday Parties

'Tis the season for holiday parties! Whether you're looking for a job or just looking to make contacts in your field, holiday parties are a great way to build your professional network. And networking is really just another form of communication - so here are five guidelines for how to ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

991 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Declutter Your Presentation

A cluttered home or office can overwhelm you and make it difficult for you to find anything. Likewise, a cluttered presentation can overwhelm your audience and make it difficult for them to find your message. Here's how to cut out the clutter in your presentation so your message is easy to ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

961 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

When Presenting, Give Signs Like Nature

Here in the New England region of the United States, autumn has arrived and winter is not too far behind. How do I know? The leaves have turned from green to gold and red, there is frost on the grass in the morning and the days are getting shorter. Nature gives clues that signal the end of one ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

927 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Public Speaking - What's Your Point?

How many times have you sat through a presentation, only to walk out wondering "what was the point of that?!" Whether it was a one-minute presentation or one hour, if the audience doesn't know what the point was, then the presentation was not successful. Here are some things you can do to ensure this doesn't happen to you: • Have a message. What is the one thing that you want your audience to walk away with from your presentation? That one thing is your message, also known as your theme, your purpose and your point.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

905 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Think of Yourself as a Speaker

Often, people tell me, "I'm not a speaker so I don't have to think about presentation skills." I disagree. I think we are all speakers – yes, even you. Whether you talk to a small or large audience or in a corporate, academic or community setting, you are a speaker. If you give an update ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

874 views

By Gilda BonannoRecently published1 topic

Meetings That Work

"A meeting is a place where people take minutes and waste hours." Is this statement true of your meetings? Here are four tips for running meetings that are more productive and don't waste hours: 1. Have a Purpose for Meetingn"We always meet every Thursday at 4" is not a sufficient reason to ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

868 views

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