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Index of Tips:
*Presenting Your Persuasive Message
*10 Tips for Success Public Speaking
*Mental and Physical
Benefits of Public Speaking
*Five Ways to Make Your Body Speak Effectively
*Timidity
*How to Handle Hostility
*Tips for Smooth Slide Shows
*The Secret to World-Class Presentations
*Move It!
*Tell a Story
*Gestures
& Facial Expressions
*Using Your Voice
*Seize the Opportunity to Speak
*The First Minute
*Opening
Your Speech - What Not to Do
*Opening Your Speech - What to Do
*Talk With Time, Not Against It
*Practicing
Vocal Variety
*Enlightening Points from Crotonville Public Speaking Classes
*How can I be a good evaluator?
*What
is the point of the Table Topics sessions during meetings?
*What do you do if you blank out or lose your place in a speech!?
*Why does GEIS so strongly support Toastmasters?
*Listening is an Important Part of Communicating
*How to Introduce
a Speaker
*How do I know if Toastmasters is for me?
*Use "B O A T" to Help Your Speaking Skills
*Making
a Good First Impression
*How do I time my speech, and not go over!?
*Why do Toastmasters always shake hands?
*Why
is public speaking so scary?
*Do you speak too quickly?
*Know your audience
Presenting Your Persuasive
Message
11/15/1999
The "motivated sequence", developed by Professor Alan H. Monroe, is a five step
speech structure that follows peoples normal thought patterns, motivating an audience to respond to the speaker's purpose.
This sequence can be adapted to almost any topic and persuasive approach you may choose.
#1 - Attention: Your opening
should seize your audience's attention, direct that attention toward your topic, and make the audience want to listen to what
follows.
#2 - Need: In this step, you state the existing need or problem, explaining why it's important to listeners.
Depending on your topic and approach, you may want to include facts, examples, and illustrations that describe the need and
build a solid, logical foundation for the solution you will present.
#3 - Satisfaction: Here you present your solution
to the need or problem. After stating your proposal and explaining it clearly, show how it meets the need. Support your position
with evidence and, if necessary, overcome objections or opposing solutions. Prepare just as you would for a debate.
#4 - Visualization: In this step, you draw a picture of future conditions, intensifying audience commitment to your position.
Show how things will be done once your proposal is adopted or what might happen if the audience rejects your solution.
#5 - Action: Your final step is to turn the agreement and commitment you've gained into a positive action or attitude by your
listeners.
10 Tips for Success Public Speaking
8/26/1999
Feeling some nervousness before
giving a speech is natural and healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much nervousness can be detrimental.
Here's how you can control your nervousness and make effective, memorable presentations:
#1 - Know the Room: Be familiar
with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and
any visual aids.
#2 - Know the Audience: Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group
of friends than to a group of strangers.
#3 - Know your Material: If you're not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable
with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and revise it if necessary.
#4 - Relax: Ease tension by
doing exercises.
#5 - Visualize Yourself Giving Your Speech: Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and
assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
#6 - Realize That People Want YOU To Succeed:
Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don't want you to fail.
#7 -
Don't Apologize: If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may
be calling the audience's attention to something they hadn't noticed. Keep silent.
#8 - Concentrate On The Message..
Not the Medium: Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your
nervousness will dissipate.
#9 - Turn Nervousness Into Positive Energy: Harness your nervous energy and transform it
into vitality and enthusiasm.
#10 - Gain Experience: Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need.
Mental and Physical Benefits of Public Speaking
7/29/1999
When asked by Dale Carnegie, "what were the benefits of public speaking training in terms of
mental an physical health", Dr. David Allman, Former President of the American Medical Association wrote the following
"prescription" for Dale Carnegie.
Try your best to develop an ability to let others look into you head
and heart. Learn to make your thoughts, your ideas, clear to others, individually, in groups, in public. You will find, as
you improve in your effort to do this, that you - your real self - are making an impression, an impact, on people such as
you never made before.
You can reap a double benefit from this prescription. Your self-confidence strengthens as
you learn to speak to others, and your whole personality grows warmer and better. This means that you are better off emotionally,
and if you are better off emotionally, you are better off physically. Public speaking in our modern world is for everybody,
men and women, young and elderly. I do not know personally about its advantages to one in business or industry. I only hear
they are great. But I do know its advantages in health. Speak when you can, to few or many; you will do it better and better,
as I have found out, myself; and you will feel a buoyancy of spirit, a sense of being a whole, rounded person, such as you
never felt before.
It's a wonderful sense to have, and no pill ever made can give it to you.
Five Ways to Make Your Body Speak Effectively
7/15/1999
How can you marshal your nonverbal tools- posture,
gestures, body movements, facial expressions, and eye contact- and use them effectively when you speak? Here are five general
methods for strengthening your body's spoken image.
Rid yourself of distracting mannerisms
Be natural, spontaneous,
and conversational
Let your body mirror your feelings
Build self-confidence through preparation
Use your
club as a learning laboratory!!
Timidity
7/8/1999
The following excerpts are from Dale
Carnegie's book, "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living".
When reflecting upon his own public speaking
experiences, Dale Carnegie said, "...the training and experience I had had in public speaking had been of more practical
value to me in business - and life - than everything else I had studied in college all put together".
Why?
Dale Carnegie replied, "Because it had wiped out my timidity and lack of self-confidence and given me the courage
and assurance to deal with people".
How to Handle Hostility
6/29/1999
We've all
experienced it, that one person who just didn't want to move on. Instead of dreading objections during your presentations
and team meetings, let's think about how to resolve them. The following approach works well to diffuse a hostile challenger.
Let the antagonist say whatever he or she wants to say. Listen while he/she vents.
Paraphrase what he has just
said and how he seems to feel, without being condescending.
Ask probing questions to try to learn what the real issues
are.
Then reply with one of the following statements:
"I know what your issues are, now let me respond."
"Let's problem-solve together to work this out."
"Let's look into this after I conclude my presentation."
By using this approach, you have indicated that you value the questioner's thoughts and feelings.
Tips for Smooth Slide Shows
6/23/1999
With good design, practice, and preparation, your slide show is off
to a good start. To keep it running smoothly:
Don't read your slides. The slides should enhance your message, not duplicate
your speech.
Distribute handouts after you've completed your presentation. If you hand them out before or during the
presentation, the audience will start to read them and won't pay attention to what you're saying.
Never apologize. If,
despite your best efforts, there's a glitch or two, don't draw attention to it. The problem may not be evident to anyone but
you.
Arrive at the meeting place 30 minutes early. Confirm that the equipment works properly and you know how to use
it.
The Secret to World-Class Presentations
6/16/1999
Deep down we know that
the only thing that will make our presentations work is a combination of passion, good content, well-honed delivery skills,
and practice. It's time to stop hiding behind visual aids. The speaker always has been, and always will be more important
than the visuals. So, before your next laptop presentation, ask yourself if you need slides at all. Consider using handouts
instead of slides, or start with simple visuals like whiteboards and flip charts.
Move It!
6/10/1999
Body movement- changing your position or location during a speech- is the broadest, most visible kind of action,
you as the speaker, can perform. When you speak, you can benefit three ways by moving your entire body in a controlled, purposeful
manner. Body movement can support and reinforce what you say. It is almost always attracts an audience's attention. And it's
the fastest, most effective means of burning up nervous energy and relieving physical tension.
Tell
a Story
5/27/1999
The purpose of communication is to convey information that brings understanding. Begin the
process by knowing what you want to relate...The what comes well before the how. Clarify your purpose. Ask yourself: Why am
I saying this? What do I want to express? This helps you say only what you need to say.
Use a story as the catalyst.
You can stir the audience's imaginations, compel them to action, tickle their funnybones or touch their heartstrings. If it's
hard getting started, use the four magic words, "Once upon a time." They can be calming for you while alerting the
audience to get ready for a story. And, if your energy and excitement about your story moves you, it will also move others.
Gestures & Facial Expressions
5/20/1999
Gestures are the most expressive part of
body language when you are speaking before an audience. Gestures involve the use of your hands and arms to illustrate your
words. For example, you can demonstrate size, weight, shape, direction, location, or urgency with gestures.
Facial
expressions are where the audience gets its clues about how it is supposed to react or feel -- from the looks on your face.
Your eyes, eye movement, eyebrows and mouth play vital roles in showing sadness, fear, happiness, anger, frustration, nervousness,
excitement, etc. When you show these feelings, your audience will emulate them.
However, make sure your gestures
and facial expressions match the message being spoken...If you are talking about a terrible automobile accident, yet you are
smiling, your audience will be confused, not sad. By learning to use gestures and facial expressions to illustrate and emphasize
the points you are making, you will dramatically increase your speeches' effectiveness.
Using Your
Voice
5/12/1999
Psychologist Albert Mehrabian states that we are five times as likely to be influenced by voice
than by spoken words as we listen to a speaker. Thus, we are more infulenced by how a speaker talks than by what a speaker
says. A good speaking voice is loud enough to be heard, clear enough to be understood, expressive enough to be interesting,
and pleasing enough to be enjoyable. It generally has the following characteristics: a pleasant tone (friendly), natural (reflects
speakers personality/sincerity), expresses vitality (force & strength), not monotonous/emotionless (portrays shades of
meaning), and is easy to hear (proper volume and clear articulation).
You can train your own voice to excel in all
of these qualities if you listen closely to the way you speak and concentrate on improvement.
Seize
the Opportunity to Speak
4/19/1999
When given a change to speak, seize the opportunity with enthusiasm! The
fear of public speaking doesn't make sense. You speak at work, at home and on the phone. Speaking is a natural part of your
life. Why, then, are you afraid to give a speech? View your speech as a conversation. No one worries about talking. By eliminating
the negative stigma attached to the word "speech," you can focus all your energy on preparing your presentation.
One way to encourage yourself to take this approach is to consider how busy you are! You don't have time to be on
the slow track of development as a speaker. If you don't grow with each talk, you are wasting precious momements of your life
going through useless motions. If you feel anxious, use those feelings to energize yourself and animate your performance.
See speaking as an exciting, rather than scary, experience. One person may tell you he or she gave five speeches before feeling
at ease, Another person may say it took 10 or 20 speeches. So what? Don't put artificial limits on yourself. You will develop
as fast as you choose.
The First Minute
4/8/1999
The most crucial part of your presentation
is the first minute. During those few seconds, the people in the audience will be making critical judgments about you. They
will decide if you're confident, sincere, friendly, eager to address them and worthy of their attention. And to a large degree
they will base this decision on what they see.
After your introduction, walk puposefully and confidently to the
speaking position. Balance your body as you assume your speaking posture. Achieve an immediate connection with the audience
by combining direct eye contact with a warm smile. Keep your movements and gestures to a minimum during the first few moments
of your speech - let the audience get accustomed to you.
Opening Your Speech - What Not to Do
3/30/1999
An affective opening avoids the following pitfalls that disengage the audience and are considered weak:
An
apologetic statement
A story or joke that does not relate to your topic
A trite question, such as "Did you
ever stop to think...?"
A commonplace obervation delivered in a commonplace manner
A long or slow-moving
statement or story
Remember, engage the audience with your opening using a challenge, a question, or a quotation, for
example. Then expand on the opening's theme in the body of your speech. The opening is the lead-in to what it is you want
to say.
Opening Your Speech - What to Do
3/22/1999
The opening of your speech should
be designed to catch immediate attention. It must arouse the audience's interest in your topic. It must also lead into the
speech subject and help listeners emember the subject of your speech and the main point you are making.
Examples
of a good opening are:
A startling question or a challenging statement
An appropriate quotation, illustration,
or story
A display of some appropriate object or picture
An attention-getting generalization that ties in with
your subject
Talk With Time, Not Against It
3/19/1999
If you are a high-energy
person, you probably will not be able to permanently slow down your rate of speech. But you can learn to vary your rate. People
live according to patterns or rhythms, usually structured around a work week and a weekend. Language is also rhythmic. It
contains regular beats and pauses. Your language rhythm is an expression of your life's rhythm. If you are a slow speaker,
you can consciously vary your rate to increase speed. Your speaking rate is similar to your rate while reading out loud. A
slow speaker reads about 120 words per minute, while a fast speaker reads more than 190 words per minute. Practice reading
out loud in your everyday speaking voice. If you are a slow speaker, practice the same passage out loud speaking rapidly.
If you are a fast speaker, lengthen the time you spend saying each word of the passage.
Practicing
Vocal Variety
3/4/1999
from your Toastmasters magazine (January 1999):
"Reading and reciting nursery
rhymes and fairy tales to young children is an excellent way to practice speaking in a lively manner with vocal variety. Adults
usually present simple rhymes or stories to young children with expression, energy and sparkle. You may be amazed at how much
drama and excitement you employ to keep the tiny tot interested.
"You probably wouldn't dream of reciting age-old
favorites such as "The Three Bears" or "Little Red Riding Hood" in a humdrum voice. Try adapting these
skills to speeches. The results should please you!"
Enlightening Points from Crotonville Public
Speaking Classes
2/25/1999
Tom O'Leary, from Communispond, gave the following highlights in a recent public
speaking course:
Only talk when you have eye contact. (He drilled this over and over.) Eye contact with the audience
is the most important factor in public speaking.
Public Speaking is at the top of a "most feared" list. 41%
of respondents rated it as their biggest fear. Sickness is a distant 7th, at 19%, along with death (19%) and flying (18%).
You can get over this fear, but it takes practice!
An interesting public speaking trick: If you forget what you meant
to say or lose your place, get louder! Funny, but think about it, Tom says. He argues that you have at least 10 seconds of
time to find your spot if you just said something with a high volume level.
Have you ever gone into a manager's office
and said "can I just get 5 minutes of your time?" Tom says a better way to do this is to quote something they said
or requested when entering. "You said you needed this proposal by today, and I have a quick update for you." This
will get a manager's attention and put you on a level playing field.
How can I be a good evaluator?
1/28/1999
Evaluating is a tricky science and easier to do after you've given a couple of speeches yourself. It is important
to touch both on good aspects of the speech and ways for the speaker to improve. You absolutely should not say that the speaker
had a great speech, and not give constructive feedback! Every speech has two parts: content... and style. You can critique
on both. Look for distractions that bother you, like items in pockets or hand usage, dangling earrings or pacing around, to
name a few. Also look for good content: a strong introduction, good transition into the body, powerful body and a conclusion
that brings closure and wraps the speaker's points up. The speaker's manual will have additional points to consider for each
speech and remember: you can be a great evaluator, so give it a try!
What is the point of the Table
Topics sessions during meetings?
1/21/1999
Have you ever been asked to respond to a question and had no idea
what to say? Ever been asked to formulate your thoughts on a proposal but not been able to order them well? Well, let's touch
on Table Topics, a time during meetings when audience members are asked to come up and respond to impromptu topics selected
by a Table Topics Master. The point of Table Topics is to get you to think on your feet, just as you have to in the situations
outlined above. A topic is put on the table by the Table Topics Master, and if/when you volunteer you have from the moment
you leave your chair to when you arrive at the front of the room to formulate an answer. The Table Topics sessions at GEISbreakers
give you a fun tool, however, and one that not many people are using: Creativity. Make the question conform to you, not the
other way around. Make it into whatever you want to respond to. This use of the creative part of your brain will help you
make mental leaps when you're asked questions in other situations, enabling you to make connections others may not have seen
when answering their questions. You may be skeptical, but give it a try!
What do you do if you blank
out or lose your place in a speech!?
1/14/1999
We've all felt the feeling, whether in a formal speech, an informal
conversation or some type of presentation: you're moving right along, maybe a little nervous but doing fine, and suddenly
your mind goes blank or you lose your spot in your speech. What do you do? The first rule is not to freak out! Realize that
it's okay to pause to establish your place in a speech with your notes. Do not ahhh or ummm while you look for your spot.
Do not apologize or mention that you 'really messed up,' etc. Take a moment, take a breath, find your place, and continue.
A good technique if you're having trouble finding where you lost your place is to ask, "Does anyone have any questions
at this point?," or if that's not appropriate, to say something like "Take a moment to imagine how that felt,"
or similar, referring to the topic you're speaking on. This will give you the chance to find your place and the audience may
never even realize why you asked! Another tip is to participate in Table Topics as much as possible. This practice with impromptu
speaking will help you if your mind goes blank during a conversation.
Why does GEIS so strongly support
Toastmasters?
1/7/1999
We have recently felt an influx of many new members; we currently have 47, along with
95 people on this email interest list. GEISbreakers members, in their own words, are saying that Toastmasters is helping them
"overcome fears of public speaking," and "speak more concisely" in meetings and impromptu situations.
GEIS recognizes the value added to employees' skill sets by this organization and has therefore been very instrumental in
its development. If you have a manager who is not familiar with Toastmasters, and you would like to educate him or her about
the program, feel free to call the GEISbreakers president, Daniel R. Odio, at x5620 to help you out.
Listening is an Important Part of Communicating
12/31/1998
As AH Counter we get to practice listening skills.
When we concentrate on what the speaker says, there is a better chance that it will be understood. Listening for the faux-pas
of speaking (er, ah, um, etc.) brings these things more into focus for our own speaking. Er, ah, um, etc. are considered fillers.
They generally occur between sentences. Next time you need a filler, make it a thoughtful pause instead. Determine what it
is you want to say. Then express it.
How to Introduce a Speaker
12/16/1998
Nearly everyone
will be called upon at some time to introduce a speaker. Every speaker deserves a thoughtful and helpful introduction. The
best introductions are two-way, just as personal introductions are. You introduce the speaker to the audience and the audience
to the speaker, establishing a common bond between them, a basis of mutual views and interests. An introduction is a mini-speech
-- less than a minute -- but contains all the elements of a full speech. It has an opening, a body, which explains the speaker
and the subject, and a conclusion, which is your lead-in to actually presenting the speaker. Obviously, an introduction requires
preparation. Contact the speaker in advance. Outline your introduction. And, rehearse it. Good preparation will clearly show,
and both the audience and speaker will appreciate it.
How do I know if Toastmasters is for me?
12/09/1998
There are two types of people who benefit from Toastmasters-- those who are afraid of public speaking, and those
who love it. Toastmasters helps both in different ways. Those who drag themselves kicking and screaming to meetings learn
that it can be an enjoyable experience and get over their fears. Those who love it have the opportunity to continually improve
on something they enjoy. Incidentally, your own Toastmasters president used to belong to the former category and used Toastmasters
to jump to the latter. Nobody should ever come to Toastmasters to "show 'em how it's done." We are all continually
improving and learning from those around us-- this is the magic of the organization.
Use "B
O A T" to Help Your Speaking Skills
12/01/1998
Especially here at GEIS, the use of acronyms can become
overwhelming, but here's one which may actually prove useful. Using the BOAT structure when giving a speech will help you
with your introduction. Start with a Background of yourself-- tell the audience why they should care about what you have to
say by establishing credibility. List your O bjectives--tell the crowd what they will get out of your speech. Continue with
an A genda-- some of the main topics you'll be covering, and commit to a Time-- how long you will be speaking. Remember, BOAT
will help you gain your audience's interest and give them a road map to your speech. Don't forget-- your background can be
a story or other illuminating way to draw your audience in. Finally, you don't have to use the BOAT order... you may have
BAOT, etc.
Making a Good First Impression
11/12/1998
In public speaking, as in every
form of human interaction, you never a second chance to make a first impression-- and they're critical. People meeting you
for the first time tend to form immediate judgements of one another that forever color their relationships. One of your objectives
as a speaker should be to create a visual image that complements and inhances your verbal message. Some elements include,
1)Appearance: be at least as well dressed as the best dressed person in the audience. Don't wear wear jewelry that glitters
or jingles when you move or gesture. Empty your pockets of bulky objects and things that produce sounds when you move. 2)
Try not to look nervous! If you are, breathe slowly and deeply and don't "jitter". 3)The most crucial part of your
presentation is in the first minute. During those few seconds, people in the audience will be making critical judgements of
you. They will decide if you're confident, sincere, friendly and worthy of their attention-- and to a large degree, they will
base that decision on what they see. After your introduction, walk purposefully and confidently to the speaking position.
Achieve an immediate connection with the audience by combining direct eye contact with a warm smile.
This information
was provided by a Toastmasters book called Gesturing: Your Body Speaks. Although not all of it may apply in your specific
speaking situations, these are good points to keep in mind and learn from.
How do I time my speech, and
not go over!?
11/05/1998
Responding to a concern voiced by a GEISbreakers member, timing is an important consideration.
Have you ever been in a meeting that's run over and left fuming? Did you even listen to what the speaker had to say? Being
considerate of other people's time is a big focus of Toastmasters; that's why we stick to a timed outline.
So how
can you stay within your time limits, especially when the timing light isn't there? If you're using notes, go through your
speech beforehand and mark the time at various points in your speech. When you're speaking, keep an eye on the clock (or set
your watch down on the table) and be sure to stay within bounds. Know what you can take out beforehand in case you get stuck
on a point and get behind. This is especially important for PowerPoint presentations! Don't feel like you have to run through
every slide if you're behind! Know which ones you can skip through so you can keep your audience focused. Better to give them
less content that they'll listen to than more that they'll ignore. Keeping an eye on the audience is important! As summed
up by a member-- if they're looking at their watches, it's time to re-evaluate and wrap up.
Why do
Toastmasters always shake hands?
10/29/1998
The speaker at the front of the room is "in command,"
and technically is transferring the power over when changing speakers. It is especially important not to leave the front of
the room without a speaker-- someone should always have the audience's attention to keep the audience from wondering what's
going on. To facilitate this change-over, the public speaking etiquette in the U.S. is to shake the hand of the person speaking
next. Think of it like "passing the potato!"
Why is public speaking so scary?
10/22/1998
It sounds like a simple question, but looking inside yourself for the answer can help calm some of the nervousness.
It's actually not the presentation itself making you nervous-- if you gave the presentation to an empty room you'd be fine.
Most people cite a fear of failure or embarrassment as the main factor that makes one nervous, and that can only be "cured"
with practice. However, some techniques you can use to help include: 1) Presenting to the empty room beforehand, 2) realizing
that you are almost always harder on yourself than the audience is on you 3) presenting in non-threatening environments like
Toastmasters and 4), practicing!
Do you speak too quickly?
10/15/1998
A great suggestion
by David Conover at last week's meeting to deal with a too-speedy delivery: If you're speaking from notes, use a highlighter
to mark a word or an area on your paper or note cards to remind yourself to pause. It's okay to pause, although it may feel
very uncomfortable to you at first... but just watch the evening news; Dan Rather does it all the time and it's a way to captivate
your audience. If you are not speaking from notes, you can remember to pause by substituting silence for those space fillers--
the um's and ah's. (A good idea anyway!) Also, try picking a prominent object in the room and pausing every time it catches
your eye.
Know your audience
10/8/1998
Know your audience. It sounds simple but is
often ignored. Technical people, especially, tend to be most comfortable talking to what they know-- technical terms. Step
out of your comfort zone and into that of the audience-- they will thank you for it. Use terms they know and a technical level
that won't leave them scratching their heads-- or snoring. How do you get to know your audience? If you are familiar with
the crowd, you probably already do. If you are going to an engagement where you do not know anyone, ask the leader of the
organization you are speaking to for some tips, or call a few people who will be audience members.
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