Browse Public Speaking

The last thing I want to hear when I’m in attendance for a 50-minute presentation is a speaker reading to me. My feeling is that if you are going to read your material, why not zerox it, pass it out and we can all go home or back to work. Better yet, email it to me! The next to the last thing I want to hear is the speaker expounding for 50 minutes of memorized text. Memorization is a necessity in acting. In public speaking, it is dangerous for 2 reasons: 1. You will sound rote; and, 2. If you lose your train of thought, you have nothing to fall back on.

The value of storytelling in public speaking is undeniable. Audiences love true stories especially if they are recounted with a good description. You may use them in your opening, your closing, or place them in the development of your delivery as long as they are relevant to your topic.

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 love public speaking is the thrill of inspiring my audience where I can make a profound difference in their lives. I am not just talking about at the conference that I just spoke at. I am referring AFTER the event.

The other day I watched an interesting documentary on military planes and the man describing the different parts of the plane ended every, single sentence on the up-swing. What this means is that the inflection he used with every statement sounded like a question. (Inflection refers to changes in pitch in speaking.) As he is an authority on the subject, my first reaction was that he did not sound like an expert in his field. Instead, he sounded like a Valley Girl.

At some time in your life there is the likelihood that you will or have given a speech. Throughout your education, it is quite possible that you were required to speak on a particular subject at one time or another. Perhaps you toasted the bride or groom at a wedding or were asked to give a ...

Whether it is for personal reasons or professional, improving the sound of your speaking voice is something people are becoming aware of because they realize it is part of the image they project. What does your voice (the one you hear on your answering machine) say about you?

Do you find it difficult asserting yourself, either in a professional setting or in your personal life? To assert yourself means that you stand up for your own rights while respecting others'; you defend your own boundaries while respecting others'; you express your own opinions, needs, and feelings without apology or hurting others. I love this interpretation about assertiveness: to disagree without being disagreeable.

“This speaker has got to learn how do dance,” I thought as I watched him prance from one side of the stage to the other, pausing briefly several times along the way. It was a definite distraction. That was too bad. He had a good, strong voice. While he moved around, he had good eye contact with the audience. Most important, he was making some good points and a good, clear message. At least he had moved out from behind the lectern. That helped the audience to begin trust him. However, his wandering on the stage hurt. What should he have been doing?

One of the secrets of dynamic presentation skills is the ability to connect with your audience. In that sense, the idea is to make each person think you are talking directly to him/her. How is this possible if you have an audience of 50, 150 or 500 people? There are several things you can do to achieve the connection.

Are great leaders born or made? That is a question that has been plaguing people from the beginning of time. It is the issue discussed in books such as “From Good to Great” and “Winning.” The answer is a little of both. Some people seem to naturally develop at a younger age some key ...

A lot of people are terrified of the thought of speaking in front of a large crowd, but did you know that you stand to gain a lot just by reaping the benefits of conquering the fear of speaking in public? Glossophobia is the technical term for the fear of public speaking. People who suffer from glossophobia have a tendency to freeze in front of any audience, even if it's just two people in the audience. They find that their face will start to twitch, their mouth will then dry

Death is final, ultimate and inescapable, and because of nthis, understandably, most people fear it. Yet, although to a lesser and greater degree there is na fear of death instilled in all of us, in some people this fear nis surpassed by other things. For some it may be a phobia of Elvis ...

Being a student of metaphysics for more than 25 years now, I’m a firm believe that we create our own experiences and reality. I’m incredibly optimistic and resilient, always expecting “things” to improve. The past two years have not been easy. The recent state of the economy and my own experience of loss in addition to reaching my 40’s provided a less than pleasant opportunity to evaluate my youthful dreams and desires and what had become at the time my current state of affairs. It was difficult to observe the glaring contrast that was reflected.

The other day I heard a speaker who was very dynamic in his delivery except in one respect. He paused too often and for too long. Without a doubt, pausing is one of the most important characteristics of good public speaking: pausing that is excessive or predictable is not. The beauty of the ...

What many people may not understand about vocal abuse is that changing only one aspect of your vocal delivery will stop vocal abuse in its tracks. Done. Over. Finished. It is truly amazing when you realize that, aside from abuse which may be caused by certain prescriptive medications, chronic hoarseness, persistent sore throats and even loss of voice can be eliminated simply by changing where you place your voice.

In March of 2003 I had Lasik corrective eye surgery. After wearing glasses and contacts for so long, it was great to no longer have the need for those things. Although I still wear glasses sometimes, because my sight has regressed over the last 5-6 years, I can still see much better tha I could ...

Yes, we are a people very conce ed with the image we project. We exercise on a regular basis; we are more aware of the foods we are eating; we try to get a good night’s sleep. As women, we want to look good; and, as we age, we know it takes more work. Our clothing is of the latest fashion; we moisturize and wear makeup; and, our hair must make a statement as well.

As a coach in authentic public speaking, I'm often asked what it means to speak or present authentically in public and how to get started. The essence of authentic speaking is very simple. It's about building a genuine connection with your audience. This means allowing them to see who you really are and keeping a two-way channel of communication open so that you can receive their feedback whilst you are speaking. Authentic speaking is about dropping performance mode and being willing to 'get real'.

Preparing a speech can be like sculpting. You keep removing the excess clay until you have your work of art. If you want to start your presentation with a bang instead of a bust avoid these ten mistakes. These tips will show you how not to start your speech. 1. You like me, you really like mer Sally Fields did this when she accepted her academy award. Her gushing outburst was mocked because it seemed unprofessional. We all want to be liked but Sally pushed our puke button with her act. If they are giving you the award don't insult them by pretending that you don't deserve it. 2.

Recently I was working with one of my clients, describing how to add more color to her voice. Color is the emotion, the life, the animation one expresses in speaking. Her response to me was, “You want me to speak with more energy.” While I certainly want speakers to have an energetic delivery, I had never associated the idea of the expressing of emotion when talking as speaking with more energy. For Portia, this was the answer and it may be the answer for you as well.

In an article I wrote about the value of diaphragmatic breathing in public speaking, what I did not discuss was how this type of breathing is what you must do in order to find your ‘real’ speaking voice. And that ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch, warmer in quality and resonant in sound.

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 your subject. You? Yes, you! In fact, speaking engagements on ocean liners can involve all sorts of topics. You name it - -it could be anything from teaching a technical skill you have to sharing some fun on a subject you just happen to know a lot about.

So many people rely on their voice for their business – yet so many people are unaware that their voice can have a tremendous impact on the success of their business. When you hear yourself on recording equipment or an answering machine, for example, what is your reaction? While your 1st response may be that you don’t recognize the sound, it is quite possible that your 2nd reaction is one of embarrassment.

"What should I wear when I present?" One of my coaching clients asked me this question recently. While it might sound more like a question for a style consultant, it's also an appropriate question for a presentation skills coach like me.

Contributed by Eben Pagan Over the past 15 years, I've built more than a dozen online businesses, all of which used digital products (ebooks, DVDs, MP3s, online Membership Sites, etc.) to deliver my teaching. In the process of building these products, I've discovered a set of critical elements that must be done right in order to succeed. If you get all of these elements right (in the right order), you have success. If you get even ONE of them wrong, it can cause you to fail. I call this the "Critical Path Of Success." Imagine a car.

If you have been told that you speak in a monotone or if you have heard yourself on a recording and find your voice lacking in expression, it is time to do something about it. This is important for reasons both personal and professional. Boring doesn't sell; boring isn't interesting; and boring puts your listeners to sleep.

It fascinates me how many people are seeking help in public speaking and presentation skills yet how few realize that their speaking voice is the vehicle for their message. Voice training is not just for actors and politicians. It is something you should strongly consider if you are looking to get on the public speaking circuit.

Of all the marketing methods I employ to get the word out about my speaking service and my information products the method I enjoy most involves being interviewed on radio stations throughout North America. The reason they are so enjoyable? They can be done from home over the phone while ...

I recently watched a brief video of a woman who was entering a public speaking content and was looking for feedback from other speakers. Her ‘performance’ looked rehearsed, static and flat, lacking in enthusiasm and passion. And, my remarks were just that. What this woman failed to recognize is that great public speakers grab their audience with their opening remarks, inspire, educate, and/or motivate them throughout the delivery and leave their listeners with a closing that calls them to action in some form.

What I have found with the various groups I have addressed through the years, whether it is a business versus an organization or a club, is that the there are two groups of people who are very good at listening. Their job or the purpose of their organization almost guarantees that they have strong listening skills. By and large, I have found the two best audiences to be Toastmasters and teachers, both of whom can be easily explained. 1.Teachers enjoy teaching and they also enjoy learning. They pay attention and always ask questions afterwards.

The answer is maybe. As an example, let's say that you are soft-spoken. If you are asked to repeat yourself a lot, others may think you lack confidence. This is just one description which comes to mind when I hear someone who doesn't speak at a normal volume level in conversation. However, I have met many soft-spoken people who are confident. - The real question is what impression do others have of you because of how you sound?

I am sure the nurses at Muskogee Regional Medical Center must have thought I was a “first-time father”, an inexperienced rookie dad, because I stood outside the hospital nursery, peering through the window at my newly born baby girl (Haylee) for more than an hour. In fact, one nurse came out to ...

They say that variety is the spice of life and the same holds true for the voice which has color, those various and vivid effects in speech which give life to the voice. Good pacing, pause, force, duration, inflection, variety of pitch and your attitude characterize a truly dynamic speaking voice. Take the statement, He likes me, and by stressing a different word each time you say it, you will have three different meanings. He likes me. (He of all the others) He likes me. (He doesn’t dislike me) He likes me. (Me from all the others)

Speaking too quickly is a problem not just for those of us who hail from one of the Mid-Atlantic States, it is a problem as well for many whose 1st language is not English. One of the fastest talkers I’ve encountered in the thousands with whom I have worked was a man from Portugal. But India and some of the Asian countries can also produce speed demons. Learning how to control your speed – notice I didn’t say speak slowly – should be your goal if you are being asked to repeat yourself a lot or your listeners’ eyes glaze over as they try to keep up with you.

From my blog at http://naveen-lifelessons.blogspot.com/nnHow often does one get a chance to meet and converse with a world champion and for free at that.nnPublic speaking is a passion with me. I am a member of Toastmaster's International.nnIn 2007 the world championship of public speaking was won by Vikas Jhingran. He is of Indian descent like me and a role model and inspiration to me.nnRecently I had a chance to listen to some of his speeches and meet him in person at a Dist

Lean manufacturing is a management philosophy which has its roots in the Toyota Production System and focuses on creating customer value while eliminating waste. These principles have been applied to many industries and services. And as a presentation skills coach with work experience as a project manager using Lean principles to run process improvement projects, I believe Lean principles have a valuable application to presentation skills.

Let’s face it—sometimes life is tough. There are days when things don’t work out like we hope. There are times when it seems like everything is crashing in on us. Our struggles seem to have no end. Now this statement may shock you, so take a deep breath…prepare yourself. Ready? Here it ...

Having read Jane Andrew’s article entitled Public Speaking is Acting, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why the best public speakers are not acting: they are communicating. Acting requires memorization of a script that has been marked by the actor; i.e., pause here, smile ...

With the world becoming a huge melting pot, we are hearing accents wherever we go and whatever we listen to. This article is not about getting rid of your accent. Accents are part of what makes you, you. I would never advocate trying to eliminate it. The only problem with an accent or even a dialect is when your speech is unintelligible.

What's the difference between volume and pitch? In many presentation training or public speaking training courses, it's never explained clearly. Most of my clients are confused with volume and pitch. When being asked to increase their volume, they ended up raising their pitch. Volume refers to the loudness or softness of your sound. It's a quantitative degree of change. Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of your sound.

At each of our presentation and public speaking skills workshops we ask our delegates one very important question. We ask them to cast their mind back to the most recent business presentation they attended and to tell us what they remember from it that either: - Made and impact on them they won’t forget - Connected with them emotionally as well as intellectually - Made a tangible difference to their personal or professional lives

The number of adult voices I hear which sound like teenagers, preteens, or younger still is astounding. Add the familiar Valley Girl sound to the picture and you have an image which does not project maturity. I am not talking about sounding old. I am talking about a voice which you would call ageless.

If you think your presentation skills are not as important as your education and aptitude, consider this one point: you get your 1st interview because of your education and ability. You get your 2nd interview, however, because of your presentation skills. Employers look at resumes and decide whether they will invite you to the 1st interview depending on what they learn from your resume. Once you’ve met them for the initial session, they must then decide if you warrant another interview. Do not think your education is the deciding factor at this point? It is not.

In teaching public speaking, I find that many of my clients, as well as my students, stand at the lecte or on the podium and try to be someone or something they are not. The result is a forced delivery that does not sound natural. The best in the business – and not necessarily the most ...

Many years ago when I first started my business, one of my clients, a woman billing herself as a professional speaker, was quite adamant in her disagreement with me about nervousness. She said that she was never nervous making a presentation and did not think nervousness was good.

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 them to see if they still hold up these days. Begin by thinking about your earliest memories and feelings surrounding the word “work”. Are they happy? Sad? Confused? What images does it conjure up?

One of the beauties of hosting a live or virtual event is the opportunity to raise money for causes you care about while making money and a difference with your great work.

When you’re giving a presentation, it’s crucial that you don’t go over the time limit. Whether you’ve set it yourself or have agreed to a time limit set by the meeting organizer, you need to prepare so that you can cover your topic within that time limit. No one will usually complain if you end a minute early, but the moment you go past your time limit, people will get restless and impatient.

You’ve been invited or requested to speak and while your immediate reaction may be debilitating fear, at some point, you begin to focus on your material and/or your delivery. My question to you is what is goal? Are you aware that unless you know your audience, your goal cannot be fully recognized? - Too often we are so conce ed about what we are going to say and how we are going to say it that we neglect our reason for speaking.

CTRN is one of the worlds best places to get help with Fear of Public Speaking. With clients in over 40 countries worldwide they have helped countless people overcome this fear - and get their lives & careers back on track.