Browse Public Speaking

When invited (or ordered!) to give a presentation or a speech, most of us think that what comes out of our mouth during that 5, 10, or 45 minute delivery is the ‘piece de resistence’ when in fact, without proper preparation, it may be a disaster. I liken good preparation to the 5 Ws of good ...

Are you wondering why a limited number of people are registering for your program and/or services? Are you open to learning something that may have a positive impact on your results forever? Let’s talk about presentation languaging. These are words that every presenter needs to avoid because they trigger a negative reaction in your audience. You want to take a close look at these words and avoid using them.

Mastering public speaking is a fear that every individual has to overcome. When I first started out on the speaking circuit, the public speaking fear was a constant companion of mine. The very thought of speaking in front a large audience that are waiting in anticipation for what you're about to say can often be a terrifying experience. The sweaty palms, the dry throat, shortness of breath and the shaking hands are all tell-tale signs of public speaking anxiety. The thing to

How skillful are you at pubic speaking? Have you mastered the public speaking skills? If you want to master public speaking, then you need master the public speaking skills. There are dozens of skills required in a talk. These skills are an essential part of the art of public speaking and are especially important in persuasive speaking. How do you measure up in just 10 of the skills? In the following you will find the skills and a brief explanation of what the skill is or r

It seems like even those of you who generally sleep well most nights can often experience occasional, transient insomnia during the holiday season. As we move into Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is all the stress, strain and tension surrounding getting it all done. Gifts to buy, extra food ...

When you increase your volume, does your throat hurt? If you root for your favorite sports team, is your voice hoarse the next day? Perhaps you have no voice by the next day. All three of these situations are known as vocal abuse. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then you are not increasing your volume correctly.

Color refers to the life, the emotion, the animation you express in speaking. Whether it is for the purposes of public speaking, a sales presentation or just in normal conversation, those who speak with color are more dynamic than those who do not. In fact, those who do not are called boring. When it comes to public speaking, there is no doubt that one of the best ways to lose your audience’s attention is to: 1. stand perfectly still with nary a muscle moving, 2. speak in a monotone, and 3. stare at something on the back wall.

Unless you are scheduled to speak at 7 in the morning, I would suggest not warming up the speaking voice. Since you use your speaking voice throughout your day, my question is ‘What is there to warm up?’ The speaking voice is not like the singing voice where you will be using several octaves, possibly singing very high or very low in pitch. In that sense, warming up the singing voice is a must.

Of all the various types of speeches and presentations we hear, that which stirs the most emotion, that which expresses the most passion, is the commemorative speech. For the sole purpose of paying tribute, the commemorative speech is dedicated to people, places, institutions, or ideas.

Have you ever thought or maybe even said out loud: "I feel like I'm sitting on a gold mine." But then you second-guessed yourself. Or resigned yourself to the assumption that you'd have no idea how to access it even if you were. Well, let me tell you, it is possible to know. These three signs below are big indicators that, yes, there is definitely gold in them thar hills: 1. People keep telling you that your work is amazing. They can't believe that more people don't know about you.

Your audience wants you to succeed. They want you to do well so that they can be entertained, informed and inspired. Your self-confidence grows. As you become more confident, you build credibility. Then you are introduced to three groups. You believe they will bring your speeches to a higher level. You expect a stronger connection with your audience.

During the year we've seen some great examples from celebrities of presentatio Do's and Don'ts. On the Do -side we've seen how an actor, former body builder, named A old, can morph into a Governor through demonstrating both charisma and confidence. We've also seen some really terrible ...

Have you ever stood in line waiting for service? Stupid question, right? Have you ever used that time to introduce yourself, your product or your services to the individual in front of you, in back of you, or along side of you? If not, then you are missing a golden opportunity for potential ...

Someone in a recent presentation skills training program asked, “How do I project my voice and also, project authority?” It's a great question because your voice is an important part of your presentation and should communicate that you’re confident, knowledgeable and engaging. Here are 7 tips for projecting authority using your voice during a presentation: 1. Breathe

Different countries have different kinds of human rights violations that require different resources and material resources of the court to redress violations of human rights. Many people remain confused to understand resources related to rights of man. Being student for Diploma in human rights, I have hereby summarized what are the resources related to human rights?

Too often, novice speakers do not appreciate or make use of the pause because they are too intent on getting their speech or presentation over with as quickly as possible. The result for the audience is a barrage of constant verbiage which is exhausting for both the listeners and the speaker. Handled correctly, the pause is exactly the same in public speaking as it is in normal conversation. Everyone (or most everyone) pauses in conversation. We pause to breathe. We pause to gather our thoughts. Some of us even pause for effect.

Does your voice ‘shake, rattle and roll’ when you stand to introduce yourself or address an audience at the lecte or the boardroom table? When I started my voice improvement business back in 1989, I joined the local chamber of commerce and attended a new members’ orientation. The room was ...

There is a big difference between moving on stage and pacing; and, I am a huge advocate of the former. The latter, however, is something you must stop if you want your audience to pay attention to your words.

Are you feeling the great energy of 2012? It can be an absolutely awesome year, especially when you align with individuals who have the same commitment, dedication and integrity that you do. Over the last couple of years, I have been approached by many individuals to create Joint Venture Partnerships with them, aka JV and Strategic Alliances. I love great Joint Ventures. As a result, I get to help individuals that I might have never met if it wasn’t for my wonderful JV partners.

Imagine yourself as an audience member. You've paid big money to learn the secrets of your favorite guru. You've read the guru's books, subscribed to his newsletter, and you read his blog daily. Now you have the opportunity to learn from him in person at his highly-publicized weekend ...

Ever wonder why the best in the business are so successful when addressing an audience? Is it their message? How about their delivery? In truth, it is both of these components. While you may have an excellent message, without a dynamic delivery, your message will not be heard. Likewise, you may regale your audience with color and passion as you speak, but if your words have no value, your message is non-existent. Successful public speaking needs a strong delivery as well as a strong message – a message tailored to satisfy the needs of your listeners.

While there are various methods and suggestions as to how to make your voice deeper in pitch, the difference between those approaches and the one that is correct lies in the word make. As soon as you make your voice do something it shouldn’t, you are forcing it. When you force your voice into an unnatural, lower pitch, you begin the process of damage to your vocal folds (cords) and throat, also known as vocal abuse.

Some years ago, Barbara Walters interviewed Kathleen Turner, commenting on Turner’s “low, wonderful voice.” The actress responded that she could not understand how a woman could spend thousands of dollars on her clothing, hair, and makeup and not spend some of that money on her voice, as she imitated a whiny, nasal sound in the process.

When you are asked, requested, or invited to speak, whether it is for your company, a business organization, a leads club, or some type of conference, how familiar are you with your audience and their needs? As much as you may want to deliver a stellar presentation, if you do not know to whom you are speaking, then you may be wasting their time and yours.

People ask me a lot of questions, so I thought it would be useful to gather a few of the most important ones together and answer them here in one place. These questions are important because their answers can save you from making costly missteps as well as dramatically boost your sales and impact in the world. So enjoy this smorgasbord, covering the gamut from product development to charging what you’re worth to conquering stage fright, just below. 1. How can I conquer my fear before going on stage?

Have you ever seen a speaker go over the allotted time limit? Or rush through the material when they realized they were running out of time? What was your reaction to that speaker? Were you impressed? I've seen speakers go over the time limit by five, ten or fifteen minutes and then look surprised when they have to be pulled off stage. And I've seen them speed up their rate of speech or flash through their last slides so fast that you can't see them. I'm unimpressed. In fact, I'm offended.

Whether you are involved in public speaking, sales, presentations, training, or any other profession requiring you to convey a concept to another person, the goal should be to emotionally charge the room with the energy of your topic. The words you use are not as relevant as the feelings you are creating. There have been many studies performed demonstrating similar thoughts: "…words account for only 7 percent of the speaker's effect on an audience. A massive 55 percent of t

One in three spend hours tossing and turning when they are supposed to be sleeping. Are you one of them? The numbers are staggering of how many people experience some type of insomnia or sleep challenge at some point in their lives. And whether it is a short or long term disturbance, both ...

In this technology-prone era, having a responsive website is the most important thing, which helps in connecting your brand with the potential buyers on the web. However, overstating the importance of an optimized website will surely put you into troubles, and gradually, you will lose everything whatever you had achieved within the past few years. Amidst these scenarios, it is no surprise that most of the things are done by internet today, and however, every individual comple

It almost goes without saying that, as entrepreneurs, we want to put our best foot forward. However, in our quest for excellence, it's very easy to get stuck in a cycle of perfecting and perfecting - our logo, our copy, our offer, our talk - to the point where, six months later, we still haven't gotten it out there.

When it comes to the speaking voice, tone deals with the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, your tone can have a surprising influence on how your topic or subject is perceived. Were you to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than if you were speaking to a master’s level class on horticulture.

One of the best tools for improving your presentation skills is to video-record yourself as a means of practice. While you may think this is a bit extreme, it really isn’t: you will learn so much by watching yourself on video. A lot of people are recorded during their presentation, but ...

When you have a job at hand, is your goal to do it perfectly or to the best of your ability? Be honest with yourself in answering that question because, in public speaking, it could mean the difference between a dynamic presentation and one that is so-so.

Do you ever think about smiling when addressing an audience? If not, you should. Did you know that it takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile? Therefore, when you consider energy consumption, it is much wiser to smile than it is to show fear no matter how bad your nervousness. In addition, smiling is better for your health both physically and emotionally. One of your goals in public speaking is to build a relationship with those in attendance and the chances of that happening are much greater with a smile than a face displaying lack of interest, scorn, or boredom.

While my last article dealt with the causes and cure for vocal abuse, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the reason you must end this abuse as soon as possible. Simply put: where would you be without a voice? Whether you are suffering from discomfort, pain, or hoarseness to either ...

There are many phrases I hear time and time again when I speak to people about hypnosis. It is time to dispose of some of them. Getting Stuck in Hypnosis. A common fear that is totally unfounded. If the hypnotist goes home, dies, falls asleep or is absent for any other reason, the subject will gently drift back to normal reality. It is impossible to be stuck in a trance state. In fact, I bet you have never read about anyone stuck in a trance state either! I will lose controlr

These words change my life. They inspire me with belief in myself. This belief in what I can do sustains me. It sustains me through many crucibles. Through many crucibles in the years that follow. Here's how it happens: At 17 I quit high school. It's not that I want to quit in ...

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 to know how to conserve, focus, and maximize our own personal supply of energy so you can reach your goals!

A problem you may have in public speaking is how to move effectively and what to do with your hands. There are no absolutes in being expressive in your delivery aside from exhibiting no expression, the latter of which is boring and most certainly the fastest way to put your audience to sleep.

While visual aids can have a tremendous impact on your delivery, the danger in their use lies in placing your entire script on PowerPoint, a slide presentation or even a white board. What is fascinating about the overuse of this feature is that I have seen it not only with amateur speakers but ...

What is luck? The most accurate definitio I know is: “Luck is that moment in time when preparation meets opportunity.” When we are prepared, things go our way. When we are not, things fall apart. The key to having more luck is being better prepared.

Have you ever considered what your body is saying when you are addressing an audience – even just talking in your living room or sitting at the kitchen table? Referred to as body language, non-verbal communication is expressed by the posture of your body, your gestures and even your face. The questio I would ask you is what your body language expresses when you speak? Does it match the emotion you are feeling? Or does it say something different? It is also possible that your body language is expressing no emotion, as well as your facial expression and your voice.

If your diction is difficult to understand, it could be due to an accent. Please understand that accents are not a problem. They are part of your culture; part of what makes you, you. If you have an accent, I do not recommend trying to eliminate it. Instead, I suggest you work on speaking more clearly and your 1st step in the process is to record your voice. Until you hear how you sound, you may not recognize that your diction is at fault.

When you give a speech or presentation, do you include stories or anecdotes in your material? If not, you should. Anecdotes and stories are not only interesting for your audience but they also lend credibility to you as a speaker; and, one of your goals as a speaker is to establish this reliability. Your audience needs to be able to trust in your worthiness to speak on a particular topic.

Does this sound familiar? You hear a recording of your voice and you cringe? Perhaps you are embarrassed. Well, you are not alone. Most people do not recognize what they hear on the recording because it does not sound like the voice they hear in their head. Unfortunately, the voice on the recording equipment is exactly how you sound to everyone else.

Proficient PowerPoint skills have become a relevant advantage for business today. Centered on communication, creating PowerPoint presentations allows business people to deliver a message, a product and a business proposal in different ways and approaches. As one masters the different PowerPoint skills, he will discover that there are different ways to capture his business clients and audience. Improving PowerPoint skills has become the norm rather than the exception. Powerpoint is a great tool in designing, delivering, and developing presentations.

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. (And their fathers know this hellacious sound as they curse under their breath at the thought of having to get a new clutch job.)

I had a wonderful experience recently as the proud parent of an officer in training in the United States Army. 137 young men and women were given their branching orders. They walked onto the stage alone, faced the audience and said “I’m Intermediate Officer Candidate,” followed by their last name and then announced their orders which included infantry, chemical, military police, engineer, military intelligence, etc.

Yes, we take professional development courses of all shapes and sizes. And, there is no doubt that in today’s business world, having an edge over the other candidates for a job or a promotion or even a sales contract can bring the success you are seeking. Have you ever considered, however, the sound of your speaking voice and what it says about you?