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Whether you are having a casual telephone conversation, teaching a Sunday school class, having a conversation with your boss, or giving a formal presentation, you are involved in public speaking. Following are examples of how public speaking can positively influence your everyday life, your career, your relationships, your communication style, and much more.
Build success in your professional life. Most presidents and CEOs of companies possess strong speaking skills. I work with many high-level executives in the business world, and when I ask them why they feel they need coaching to improve their speaking skills, they all indicate that they know their success and their companies’ future business ventures rely on their ability to speak well. Their promotions to the top were related directly to their ability to communicate effectively.
Communicate with others more clearly. Many mistakes or misinterpretations are a result of not properly communicating your ideas. Good public speaking skills help you articulate ideas well and make them come alive for the listener. This was one of the most critical skills I needed to develop as an engineer, because I often had to speak to audiences that didn’t know the first thing about how to “shore up” a building, for example, but had the authority and the money to fund my next project. If I was ineffective in conveying why they should invest more money, I might have been out of a job.
Build overall confidence. As you become better at organizing and communicating your ideas effectively, you will start to exhibit more confidence. People with this ability have a “glow” of confidence when they speak in public. (Let’s not confuse this with the red glow of terror on the face of someone who is scared to death.
Increase your comfort level in social situations. How many of you have ever been invited to a party and are afraid to strike up a conversation? (Don’t be shy, no one can see you.) Social situations are, in fact, the perfect opportunity to practice your public speaking skills. Here’s a little bonus: It is a known fact that people who speak well are perceived as better looking. Thank God, now I know why I worked so hard at it, and it wasn’t just my cute smile that made me popular with the girls.
Speak more confidently on the telephone. Whether you call to request information, make a cold call at work, communicate with a client, or just leave a phone message, others can hear your confidence level in the tone of your voice. Did you know that over 86 percent of your telephone message is communicated through the tone of your voice?
Run meetings or present new ideas more effectively. I remember running my son’s Cub Scout pack. Having the ability to conduct a Cub Scout meeting with six to eight screaming, energetic boys definitely challenged my public speaking skills (and required a lot of aspirin). Organizing and running a meeting with adults is more difficult, I think, because you can’t bribe them with candy.
Become an effective member or volunteer. At some point in your life, you may volunteer or even be affectionately coerced to lead or participate in a professional or social organization. Your success within the organization depends significantly on your ability to speak to a group and keep their attention engaged in order to achieve common goals and objectives.
Establish trust and respect from others with greater ease. Your success in dealing with clients—or even your own children—depends a great deal on your speaking skills. The ability to convince people with words is key to establishing trust and respect. This can include not only what you say, but how you say it. If these examples describe characteristics you want to possess, then congratulations—you have the desire to succeed as a public speaker.
Srory by: Lenny Laskowski
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Lenny Laskowski
Lenny Laskowski is an international professional speaker and the author of the book, 10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking and several other publications. Lenny's products can be purchased "on-line" from this website at: http://www.ljlseminars.com/catalog.htm . Lenny is also available for hire to speak to your organization, college or association. Lenny also provides in-house seminars and workshops. Why not contact Lenny today for your next function or event. You can reach Lenny at 1-800-606-4855 or E-mail him at: Sales@LJLSeminars.com. You can also write to us at: 430 Freeman Avenue, Stratford, CT. 06614-4026, USA.
You can read few of his articles listed herein:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
You can read few of his articles listed herein:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
How to Create a Great First Impression
They say you can't judge a book by it's cover but how many of us judge people by the way they talk, or even by the way they answer the telephone?
We form opinions about people the first time we see or hear them. We even form opinions about people we have never met!
People's "perception" about us DOES matter. As a professional speaker who provides workshops, keynotes and consultations on presentation skills and public speaking, I know that we are all judged by people through "What we say", and "How we say it". We are also judged by "How we Dress", "How we walk" and even "How we eat our food". In the work environment, we judge people by the size of their office, the location of their office or by the number of people working for us. As a business owner YOUR company is judged by the way your receptionist answers the telephone or greets people at the door.
Think about it!
You CANNOT, NOT! make a first impression. People always form an initial impression about us the first time they come in contact with us whether it is in person or whether it is over the telephone or even by the way we leave a message on THEIR answering machine. Every other contact with us after that first time either supports or conflicts with that first impression. Create a good first impression and the relationship grows from there. Create a bad first impression and your relationship with that person can be an uphill battle.
Whether we are communicating "one-to-one" over the telephone, "one-to-a-group" such as a small business meeting or "one-to-a-hundred" such as during a presentation other people's impressions of us is very important and we should work hard to make sure that FIRST impression is a great one. Below I have provided some tips to help you make a great first impression in two telephone situations:
1. Receiving a telephone call
2. Initiating a telephone call
Receiving a Telephone Call
1. Answer the telephone by the 3rd ring (Or your answering machine) - I usually answer my phone by the second ring and rarely do I answer it on the very first ring. My answering machine will automatically answer my phone after the third ring.
2. Make sure your greeting is professional. - It is important that your greeting is friendly and professional. Don't answer the telephone and try and speak with food in your mouth! - (How many of us can tell when the person we are speaking to on the other end is EATING!).
Playback your answering machine,s personal greeting. Does it sound professional? Do your greet people politely?, do you leave them with instructions on "what to do"? I am amazed how often I call someone and their answering machine greets me with a greeting which I can't understand, and worse the person has used the words, "Uh", or "Uhm" over 3 times during the 15 second greeting. Remember I am a speech coach and I especially notice these things.
3. Be prepared before you answer the telephone. - Have a pencil or pen along with a pad of paper near your telephone so you can write down important information such as their NAME. When speaking to them, use their NAME during the conversation but don't overdo it.
4. Be an "active" listener. - by using step 3 above you can be an active listener by writing down important information. Ask them to spell their name if you are not sure. Ask them when it is the best time to call them back.
5. If you answer the telephone and someone wants to ask you some specific questions but you ARE NOT prepared because their file is in the other room or at the bottom of the pile just say, "I am in the middle of something at the moment, can I call your right back?". This will give you a chance to collect the materials you need and when returning their phone call you are now prepared to speak. (A more controlled situation). If they insist on "holding on" just say, "Please give me a moment to get your file".
NOTE: If you put someone on hold DO NOT make them wait more than 30 seconds. I have had people put me on hold for so long I was able to read that article I was dying to read while waiting for them.
6. If you are out of town, check your messages frequently. I usually check my messages twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, unless I am not able to interrupt what I am doing. If I am in the middle of a seminar or coaching session with a client, THEY are the most important priority. I will call at a break or when I get home.
7. Return telephone calls promptly. - One of most unprofessional things a business can do is NOT RETURNING PHONE CALLS. How many of us have attempted to contact some over a period of days or even weeks and you find that YOU are the only one initiating the telephone call. One of the comments I have heard from my clients or potential clients is, "Thank you for returning my call so promptly!" or "Thanks for getting back to me". I have actually been hired for speaking engagements over other speakers because I not only returned their call but I returned it that same morning, not 3 days later.
I have been contacted by newspaper reporters who are working on an article and have contacted me for my expert opinion. I have even had calls from magazines who would like to publish one of my website articles and are calling for permission and need to know TODAY!
Remember, these people are often working on a deadline to complete their article and cannot wait days for you to return their call.
8. If you have a staff which works for you, call in once in a while on the road and see for yourself how they greet people when they call. Pretend you are a potential client. How were you treated over the telephone? If it was less than favorable, it's time to make some changes.
Remember that first impression WILL be initiated by that "in coming" telephone call and the impression you make, either directly by you, your staff or even your answering machine's greeting or voice mail will determine if they call you back. Think about the eight points I have discussed and make changes or adjustments where you need to.
Initiating the Telephone Call
1. Organize your thoughts before you place your call. It is important that you are concise but thorough with your call. I like to make a short list of important items I want to discuss during the telephone call. In the event I do not actually "connect" with the person I need to, I can quickly summarize a short message based on these notes. Have a pad of paper and a pen or pencil handy to take notes.
2. When speaking on the telephone try to SMILE.-When we smile and change our facial expressions, it affects the sound of our voice. Our vocal tone can be greatly affected by the manner when use our facial muscles. One of the oldest telephone sales tricks is to have a mirror near the telephone so you can monitor your facial expressions and to be sure you are smiling. Several studies have indicated that as much as 87% of the opinions people form about us when speaking to us on the telephone are based on the tone of our voice. Only 13% is based on the actual words we use. We all do this. People can "hear" our personality and mannerisms through the tone of our voice.
3. Should the person you are trying to contact ACTUALLY answer the telephone (I know this can throw some of you off when they do), after shortly introducing who you are, begin by asking them, "Is this a good time to talk?" You may have called while they were in the middle of something and will appreciate your consideration. If they are, ask them when the best time would be to call them back. Remember to be sure and call them back at the correct time.
4. If you are trying to reach a senior level officer (CEO, President or V.P.) call after usual working hours. You are more likely to get the CEO to answer the telephone after normal business hours since their clerical staff has gone home. Should their secretary or receptionist also be working late and answer the telephone, be kind and courteous as you always should be with them. They may be working late and would appreciate a kind voice at the end of the day.
5. Do not speak too fast! - Slow down when you are leaving a message, especially if you have an accent. I receive many messages where I cannot even understand what the person is saying. Even worse, I cannot write fast enough and I find myself replaying the message several times to record the entire message.
6. Pronounce your name clearly - Announce your name slowly and clearly, especially if your name is not a common name. Spell your name slowly if necessary. Allow people to get the correct spelling of your name.
7. Slow down when saying your telephone number - This is the biggest complaint I have when people leave their telephone number. People state their telephone numbers TOO FAST! Say the numbers slowly and place a "pause" somewhere in the sequence of providing your number. People will appreciate this, especially me! Repeat the telephone at the end of your message so they will not have to play back the message.
8. Give your company name, your title & why you are calling - Describe to the person, in a few short sentences who you are, which company you are with and why you are calling. If you are requesting information, leave a detailed but brief message.
9. Let them know when to call you back - Leave a date, time, and preferred telephone number for people. They can't return your telephone call if you don't leave your telephone number. Providing them with the preferred time to call back makes it much easier for them.
10. Always sound professional - Remember what I indicated in the beginning of this article. People DO judge you by the tone of your voice and what you say. If you come across sounding unprofessional in your message, they may not return your telephone call. Also, do not leave very long winded messages or they will stop listening.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
We form opinions about people the first time we see or hear them. We even form opinions about people we have never met!
People's "perception" about us DOES matter. As a professional speaker who provides workshops, keynotes and consultations on presentation skills and public speaking, I know that we are all judged by people through "What we say", and "How we say it". We are also judged by "How we Dress", "How we walk" and even "How we eat our food". In the work environment, we judge people by the size of their office, the location of their office or by the number of people working for us. As a business owner YOUR company is judged by the way your receptionist answers the telephone or greets people at the door.
Think about it!
You CANNOT, NOT! make a first impression. People always form an initial impression about us the first time they come in contact with us whether it is in person or whether it is over the telephone or even by the way we leave a message on THEIR answering machine. Every other contact with us after that first time either supports or conflicts with that first impression. Create a good first impression and the relationship grows from there. Create a bad first impression and your relationship with that person can be an uphill battle.
Whether we are communicating "one-to-one" over the telephone, "one-to-a-group" such as a small business meeting or "one-to-a-hundred" such as during a presentation other people's impressions of us is very important and we should work hard to make sure that FIRST impression is a great one. Below I have provided some tips to help you make a great first impression in two telephone situations:
1. Receiving a telephone call
2. Initiating a telephone call
Receiving a Telephone Call
1. Answer the telephone by the 3rd ring (Or your answering machine) - I usually answer my phone by the second ring and rarely do I answer it on the very first ring. My answering machine will automatically answer my phone after the third ring.
2. Make sure your greeting is professional. - It is important that your greeting is friendly and professional. Don't answer the telephone and try and speak with food in your mouth! - (How many of us can tell when the person we are speaking to on the other end is EATING!).
Playback your answering machine,s personal greeting. Does it sound professional? Do your greet people politely?, do you leave them with instructions on "what to do"? I am amazed how often I call someone and their answering machine greets me with a greeting which I can't understand, and worse the person has used the words, "Uh", or "Uhm" over 3 times during the 15 second greeting. Remember I am a speech coach and I especially notice these things.
3. Be prepared before you answer the telephone. - Have a pencil or pen along with a pad of paper near your telephone so you can write down important information such as their NAME. When speaking to them, use their NAME during the conversation but don't overdo it.
4. Be an "active" listener. - by using step 3 above you can be an active listener by writing down important information. Ask them to spell their name if you are not sure. Ask them when it is the best time to call them back.
5. If you answer the telephone and someone wants to ask you some specific questions but you ARE NOT prepared because their file is in the other room or at the bottom of the pile just say, "I am in the middle of something at the moment, can I call your right back?". This will give you a chance to collect the materials you need and when returning their phone call you are now prepared to speak. (A more controlled situation). If they insist on "holding on" just say, "Please give me a moment to get your file".
NOTE: If you put someone on hold DO NOT make them wait more than 30 seconds. I have had people put me on hold for so long I was able to read that article I was dying to read while waiting for them.
6. If you are out of town, check your messages frequently. I usually check my messages twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon, unless I am not able to interrupt what I am doing. If I am in the middle of a seminar or coaching session with a client, THEY are the most important priority. I will call at a break or when I get home.
7. Return telephone calls promptly. - One of most unprofessional things a business can do is NOT RETURNING PHONE CALLS. How many of us have attempted to contact some over a period of days or even weeks and you find that YOU are the only one initiating the telephone call. One of the comments I have heard from my clients or potential clients is, "Thank you for returning my call so promptly!" or "Thanks for getting back to me". I have actually been hired for speaking engagements over other speakers because I not only returned their call but I returned it that same morning, not 3 days later.
I have been contacted by newspaper reporters who are working on an article and have contacted me for my expert opinion. I have even had calls from magazines who would like to publish one of my website articles and are calling for permission and need to know TODAY!
Remember, these people are often working on a deadline to complete their article and cannot wait days for you to return their call.
8. If you have a staff which works for you, call in once in a while on the road and see for yourself how they greet people when they call. Pretend you are a potential client. How were you treated over the telephone? If it was less than favorable, it's time to make some changes.
Remember that first impression WILL be initiated by that "in coming" telephone call and the impression you make, either directly by you, your staff or even your answering machine's greeting or voice mail will determine if they call you back. Think about the eight points I have discussed and make changes or adjustments where you need to.
Initiating the Telephone Call
1. Organize your thoughts before you place your call. It is important that you are concise but thorough with your call. I like to make a short list of important items I want to discuss during the telephone call. In the event I do not actually "connect" with the person I need to, I can quickly summarize a short message based on these notes. Have a pad of paper and a pen or pencil handy to take notes.
2. When speaking on the telephone try to SMILE.-When we smile and change our facial expressions, it affects the sound of our voice. Our vocal tone can be greatly affected by the manner when use our facial muscles. One of the oldest telephone sales tricks is to have a mirror near the telephone so you can monitor your facial expressions and to be sure you are smiling. Several studies have indicated that as much as 87% of the opinions people form about us when speaking to us on the telephone are based on the tone of our voice. Only 13% is based on the actual words we use. We all do this. People can "hear" our personality and mannerisms through the tone of our voice.
3. Should the person you are trying to contact ACTUALLY answer the telephone (I know this can throw some of you off when they do), after shortly introducing who you are, begin by asking them, "Is this a good time to talk?" You may have called while they were in the middle of something and will appreciate your consideration. If they are, ask them when the best time would be to call them back. Remember to be sure and call them back at the correct time.
4. If you are trying to reach a senior level officer (CEO, President or V.P.) call after usual working hours. You are more likely to get the CEO to answer the telephone after normal business hours since their clerical staff has gone home. Should their secretary or receptionist also be working late and answer the telephone, be kind and courteous as you always should be with them. They may be working late and would appreciate a kind voice at the end of the day.
5. Do not speak too fast! - Slow down when you are leaving a message, especially if you have an accent. I receive many messages where I cannot even understand what the person is saying. Even worse, I cannot write fast enough and I find myself replaying the message several times to record the entire message.
6. Pronounce your name clearly - Announce your name slowly and clearly, especially if your name is not a common name. Spell your name slowly if necessary. Allow people to get the correct spelling of your name.
7. Slow down when saying your telephone number - This is the biggest complaint I have when people leave their telephone number. People state their telephone numbers TOO FAST! Say the numbers slowly and place a "pause" somewhere in the sequence of providing your number. People will appreciate this, especially me! Repeat the telephone at the end of your message so they will not have to play back the message.
8. Give your company name, your title & why you are calling - Describe to the person, in a few short sentences who you are, which company you are with and why you are calling. If you are requesting information, leave a detailed but brief message.
9. Let them know when to call you back - Leave a date, time, and preferred telephone number for people. They can't return your telephone call if you don't leave your telephone number. Providing them with the preferred time to call back makes it much easier for them.
10. Always sound professional - Remember what I indicated in the beginning of this article. People DO judge you by the tone of your voice and what you say. If you come across sounding unprofessional in your message, they may not return your telephone call. Also, do not leave very long winded messages or they will stop listening.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
How to Use Transitions Effectively
Transitions are an integral part of a smooth flowing presentation, yet many speakers forget to plan their transitions. The primary purpose of a transition is to lead your listener from one idea to another. The following are some examples of transitions that work well:
1. Bridge words or phrases
(furthermore, meanwhile, however, in addition, consequently, finally.
2. Trigger transition (same word or idea used twice: "a similar example is ...").
3. Ask a Question ("How many of you ....?")
4. Flashback ("Do you remember when I said ...?")
5. Point-By-Point ("There are three points ...The first one is.. The second one is..etc.)
6. Add a Visual Aid as a Transition - Many times it may be appropriate to add a visual between your regular visual aids for the sole purpose of a "visual" transition. Many times a clever cartoon used here can add some humor to your presentations.
7. Pausing (Even a simple pause, when effectively used, can act as a transition. This allows the audience to "think" about what was just said and give it more time to register.
8. Use Physical Movement (The speaker should move or change the location of their body. This is best done when you are changing to a new idea or thought.
9. Use a Personal Story The use of a story, especially a personal one is a very effective technique used by many professional speakers. Used effectively, it can help reinforce any points you made during your presentation.
10. Use the PEP formula (Point, Example, Point) (This is a very common format used and can also be combined with the use of a personal story. Make sure stories or examples you use help reinforce your message.
Three common mistakes made when using transitions:
1. The most common mistake people make is that they DON'T use transitions at all. Transitions help your information flow from one idea to the next.
2. The second most common mistake is using transitions that are too short. Not enough time is spent bridging to the next idea. This is extremely important when changing to a new section of ideas within your presentation.
3. The third most common mistake is that people use the same transition throughout the presentation. This becomes very boring after a short while. Try to be creative with your transitions.
Transitions and the Team Presentation
Transitions become extremely important when a team presentation is involved. The transition from one speaker to the next must be planned and skillfully executed. Each speaker should use a brief introduction of the next topic and speaker as part of this transition.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
1. Bridge words or phrases
(furthermore, meanwhile, however, in addition, consequently, finally.
2. Trigger transition (same word or idea used twice: "a similar example is ...").
3. Ask a Question ("How many of you ....?")
4. Flashback ("Do you remember when I said ...?")
5. Point-By-Point ("There are three points ...The first one is.. The second one is..etc.)
6. Add a Visual Aid as a Transition - Many times it may be appropriate to add a visual between your regular visual aids for the sole purpose of a "visual" transition. Many times a clever cartoon used here can add some humor to your presentations.
7. Pausing (Even a simple pause, when effectively used, can act as a transition. This allows the audience to "think" about what was just said and give it more time to register.
8. Use Physical Movement (The speaker should move or change the location of their body. This is best done when you are changing to a new idea or thought.
9. Use a Personal Story The use of a story, especially a personal one is a very effective technique used by many professional speakers. Used effectively, it can help reinforce any points you made during your presentation.
10. Use the PEP formula (Point, Example, Point) (This is a very common format used and can also be combined with the use of a personal story. Make sure stories or examples you use help reinforce your message.
Three common mistakes made when using transitions:
1. The most common mistake people make is that they DON'T use transitions at all. Transitions help your information flow from one idea to the next.
2. The second most common mistake is using transitions that are too short. Not enough time is spent bridging to the next idea. This is extremely important when changing to a new section of ideas within your presentation.
3. The third most common mistake is that people use the same transition throughout the presentation. This becomes very boring after a short while. Try to be creative with your transitions.
Transitions and the Team Presentation
Transitions become extremely important when a team presentation is involved. The transition from one speaker to the next must be planned and skillfully executed. Each speaker should use a brief introduction of the next topic and speaker as part of this transition.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
How to Gesture Effectively
Gestures are reflections of every speaker's individual personality. What's right for one speaker may not be right for another; however, the following six rules apply to anyone who seeks to become a dynamic effective speaker.
1. Respond naturally to what you think, feel, and see. - It's natural for you to gesture, and it's unnatural for you not to. If you inhibit your impulse to gesture, you will probably become tense.
2. Create the condition for gesturing, not the gesture - When you speak, you should be totally involved in communicating-not thinking about your hands. Your gestures should be motivated by the content of your presentation.
3. Suit the action to the word and the occasion - Your visual and verbal messages must function as partners in communicating the same thought or feeling. Every gesture you make should be purposeful and reflective of your words so the audience will note only the effect, not the gesture itself. Don't overdo the gesturing. You'll draw the listener away from your message. Young audiences are usually attracted to a speaker who uses vigorous gestures, but older, more conservative groups may feel irritated or threatened by a speaker whose physical actions are overwhelming.
4. Make your gestures convincing - Your gestures should be lively and distinct if they are to convey the intended impressions. Effective gestures are vigorous enough to be convincing yet slow enough and broad enough to be clearly visible without being overpowering.
5. Make your gestures smooth and well timed - Every gesture has three parts:
# The Approach - Your body begins to move in anticipation.
# The Stroke - The gesture itself.
# The Return - This brings your body back to a balanced posture.
The flow of a gesture - the approach, the stroke, the return-must be smoothly executed so that only the stroke is evident to the audience. While it is advisable to practice gesturing, don't try to memorize your every move. This makes your gesturing stilted and ineffective. The last rule is perhaps the most important but also the hardest.
6. Make natural, spontaneous gesturing a habit- The first step in becoming adept at gesturing is to determine what, if anything, you are doing now. The best way to discover this is to videotape yourself. The camcorder is completely truthful and unforgiving. If you want to become a better speaker, you need to make the camcorder your best friend.
Videotape yourself and identify your bad habits, then work at eliminating them, one at a time. You will need to continue to record yourself and evaluate your progress if you expect to eliminate all your distracting mannerisms.
To improve gestures, practice - but never during a speech. Practice gesturing while speaking informally to friends, family member, and coworkers.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
1. Respond naturally to what you think, feel, and see. - It's natural for you to gesture, and it's unnatural for you not to. If you inhibit your impulse to gesture, you will probably become tense.
2. Create the condition for gesturing, not the gesture - When you speak, you should be totally involved in communicating-not thinking about your hands. Your gestures should be motivated by the content of your presentation.
3. Suit the action to the word and the occasion - Your visual and verbal messages must function as partners in communicating the same thought or feeling. Every gesture you make should be purposeful and reflective of your words so the audience will note only the effect, not the gesture itself. Don't overdo the gesturing. You'll draw the listener away from your message. Young audiences are usually attracted to a speaker who uses vigorous gestures, but older, more conservative groups may feel irritated or threatened by a speaker whose physical actions are overwhelming.
4. Make your gestures convincing - Your gestures should be lively and distinct if they are to convey the intended impressions. Effective gestures are vigorous enough to be convincing yet slow enough and broad enough to be clearly visible without being overpowering.
5. Make your gestures smooth and well timed - Every gesture has three parts:
# The Approach - Your body begins to move in anticipation.
# The Stroke - The gesture itself.
# The Return - This brings your body back to a balanced posture.
The flow of a gesture - the approach, the stroke, the return-must be smoothly executed so that only the stroke is evident to the audience. While it is advisable to practice gesturing, don't try to memorize your every move. This makes your gesturing stilted and ineffective. The last rule is perhaps the most important but also the hardest.
6. Make natural, spontaneous gesturing a habit- The first step in becoming adept at gesturing is to determine what, if anything, you are doing now. The best way to discover this is to videotape yourself. The camcorder is completely truthful and unforgiving. If you want to become a better speaker, you need to make the camcorder your best friend.
Videotape yourself and identify your bad habits, then work at eliminating them, one at a time. You will need to continue to record yourself and evaluate your progress if you expect to eliminate all your distracting mannerisms.
To improve gestures, practice - but never during a speech. Practice gesturing while speaking informally to friends, family member, and coworkers.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
1. Listen carefully to the question & repeat it aloud - Make sure you understood the question correctly & that your audience knows the question to which you are responding.
2. Answer directly. Look directly at the person asking the question - Give simple answers to simple questions. If the question demands a lengthy reply, agree to discuss it later with anyone interested.
3. Refer to your Speech - Whenever possible, tie your answer to a point in your speech. Look upon these questions as a way to reinforce & clarify your presentation.
4. Anticipate areas of questioning - Prepare factual support material in three or four areas in which you anticipate questions.
5. Be friendly, always keep your temper - A cool presentation creates an aura of confidence. When the questioner is hostile respond as if he or she were a friend. Any attempt to "put down" your questioner with sarcasm will immediately draw the audience's sympathy to the questioner.
6. Always tell the truth - If you try to bend the truth, you almost always will be caught. Play it straight, even if your position is momentarily weakened.
7. Treat two questions from the same person as two separate questions
8. Don't place your hands on your hips or point at the audience - These are scolding poses and give you the appearance of preaching.
9. Keep things moving - There is a rhythm to a good question-and-answer exchange. They volley back & forth in a brisk manner. Keep your answers brief and to the point with many members of the audience participating.
10. Conclude smartly - Be prepared with some appropriate closing remarks. End with a summary statement that wraps up the essential message you want them to remember.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
2. Answer directly. Look directly at the person asking the question - Give simple answers to simple questions. If the question demands a lengthy reply, agree to discuss it later with anyone interested.
3. Refer to your Speech - Whenever possible, tie your answer to a point in your speech. Look upon these questions as a way to reinforce & clarify your presentation.
4. Anticipate areas of questioning - Prepare factual support material in three or four areas in which you anticipate questions.
5. Be friendly, always keep your temper - A cool presentation creates an aura of confidence. When the questioner is hostile respond as if he or she were a friend. Any attempt to "put down" your questioner with sarcasm will immediately draw the audience's sympathy to the questioner.
6. Always tell the truth - If you try to bend the truth, you almost always will be caught. Play it straight, even if your position is momentarily weakened.
7. Treat two questions from the same person as two separate questions
8. Don't place your hands on your hips or point at the audience - These are scolding poses and give you the appearance of preaching.
9. Keep things moving - There is a rhythm to a good question-and-answer exchange. They volley back & forth in a brisk manner. Keep your answers brief and to the point with many members of the audience participating.
10. Conclude smartly - Be prepared with some appropriate closing remarks. End with a summary statement that wraps up the essential message you want them to remember.
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
Do your knees feel like Gumby's when you have to get up and speak in front of a group?
Do you feel like the next words out of your mouth are going to be the dumbest words ever uttered by a human?
If you said yes to either of the questions above, be advised, you have a full-blown case of stage fright, says Lenny Laskowski, a professional speaker and President of LJL Seminars.
According to the book of lists, the fear of speaking in public is the #1 fear of all fears. The fear of dying is #7! Over 41% of people have some fear or anxiety dealing with speaking in front of groups. People who have this fear can experience all kinds of symptoms: Sweaty palms, accelerated heart rate, memory loss and even difficulty in breathing.
Some of the world's most famous presenters have freely admitted to nervousness and stage fright. Mark Twain said it best, "There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars".
Everyone, even experienced speakers, has some anxiety when speaking in front of a group of people. This is perfectly normal. The best way to deal with this anxiety is to first acknowledge that this fear is perfectly normal and you are not alone. To reduce your fear, you need to make sure you properly and thoroughly prepare yourself before you speak. Proper preparation and rehearsal can help to reduce this fear by about 75%. Proper breathing techniques can further reduce this fear by another 15%. Your mental state accounts for the remaining 10%.
Below are just a few suggestions you should use to overcome your speaking anxiety. The first and most important of all is preparation. I like to think of it as the 9 P's:
Prior Proper Preparation
Prevents Poor Performance of the Person Putting on the Presentation.
Nothing will relax you more than to know you are properly prepared. Below are 10 steps you can take to reduce your speech anxiety.
1. Know the room - become familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early and walk around the room including the speaking area. Stand at the lectern, speak into the microphone. Walk around where the audience will be seated. Walk from where you will be seated to the place where you will be speaking.
2. Know the Audience - If possible, greet some of the audience as they arrive and chat with them. It is easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
3. Know Your Material - If you are not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech or presentation and revise it until you can present it with ease.
4. Learn How to Relax - You can ease tension by doing exercises. Sit comfortable with your back straight. Breathe in slowly, hold your breath for 4 to 5 seconds, then slowly exhale. To relax your facial muscles, open your mouth and eyes wide, then close them tightly.
5. Visualize Yourself Speaking - Imagine yourself walking confidently to the lectern as the audience applauds. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
6. Realize People Want You To Succeed - All audiences want speakers to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They want you to succeed - not fail.
7. Don't apologize For Being Nervous - Most of the time your nervousness does not show at all. If you don't say anything about it, nobody will notice. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you'll only be calling attention to it. Had you remained silent, your listeners may not have noticed at all.
8. Concentrate on Your Message - not the medium - Your nervous feelings will dissipate if you focus your attention away from your anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience, not yourself.
9. Turn Nervousness into Positive Energy - the same nervous energy that causes stage fright can be an asset to you. Harness it, and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
10. Gain Experience - Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. Most beginning speakers find their anxieties decrease after each speech they give.
If the fear of public speaking causes you to prepare more, then the fear of speaking serves as it's own best antidote.
Remember, "He who fails to prepare is preparing for failure - so Prepare, Prepare, Prepare"
For more specific techniques on handling nervousness, order our booklet, "Techniques to Handle Nervousness" or our 60 minute audiotape, "Overcoming Speaking Anxiety" from one of Lenny's "live" seminars. This guide will provide you with both physical and mental techniques you can use immediately to help you reduce your anxiety. You can order either one of these products through our convenient on-line catalog .
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
Do you feel like the next words out of your mouth are going to be the dumbest words ever uttered by a human?
If you said yes to either of the questions above, be advised, you have a full-blown case of stage fright, says Lenny Laskowski, a professional speaker and President of LJL Seminars.
According to the book of lists, the fear of speaking in public is the #1 fear of all fears. The fear of dying is #7! Over 41% of people have some fear or anxiety dealing with speaking in front of groups. People who have this fear can experience all kinds of symptoms: Sweaty palms, accelerated heart rate, memory loss and even difficulty in breathing.
Some of the world's most famous presenters have freely admitted to nervousness and stage fright. Mark Twain said it best, "There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars".
Everyone, even experienced speakers, has some anxiety when speaking in front of a group of people. This is perfectly normal. The best way to deal with this anxiety is to first acknowledge that this fear is perfectly normal and you are not alone. To reduce your fear, you need to make sure you properly and thoroughly prepare yourself before you speak. Proper preparation and rehearsal can help to reduce this fear by about 75%. Proper breathing techniques can further reduce this fear by another 15%. Your mental state accounts for the remaining 10%.
Below are just a few suggestions you should use to overcome your speaking anxiety. The first and most important of all is preparation. I like to think of it as the 9 P's:
Prior Proper Preparation
Prevents Poor Performance of the Person Putting on the Presentation.
Nothing will relax you more than to know you are properly prepared. Below are 10 steps you can take to reduce your speech anxiety.
1. Know the room - become familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early and walk around the room including the speaking area. Stand at the lectern, speak into the microphone. Walk around where the audience will be seated. Walk from where you will be seated to the place where you will be speaking.
2. Know the Audience - If possible, greet some of the audience as they arrive and chat with them. It is easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
3. Know Your Material - If you are not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your speech or presentation and revise it until you can present it with ease.
4. Learn How to Relax - You can ease tension by doing exercises. Sit comfortable with your back straight. Breathe in slowly, hold your breath for 4 to 5 seconds, then slowly exhale. To relax your facial muscles, open your mouth and eyes wide, then close them tightly.
5. Visualize Yourself Speaking - Imagine yourself walking confidently to the lectern as the audience applauds. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and assured. When you visualize yourself as successful, you will be successful.
6. Realize People Want You To Succeed - All audiences want speakers to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They want you to succeed - not fail.
7. Don't apologize For Being Nervous - Most of the time your nervousness does not show at all. If you don't say anything about it, nobody will notice. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you'll only be calling attention to it. Had you remained silent, your listeners may not have noticed at all.
8. Concentrate on Your Message - not the medium - Your nervous feelings will dissipate if you focus your attention away from your anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience, not yourself.
9. Turn Nervousness into Positive Energy - the same nervous energy that causes stage fright can be an asset to you. Harness it, and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm.
10. Gain Experience - Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. Most beginning speakers find their anxieties decrease after each speech they give.
If the fear of public speaking causes you to prepare more, then the fear of speaking serves as it's own best antidote.
Remember, "He who fails to prepare is preparing for failure - so Prepare, Prepare, Prepare"
For more specific techniques on handling nervousness, order our booklet, "Techniques to Handle Nervousness" or our 60 minute audiotape, "Overcoming Speaking Anxiety" from one of Lenny's "live" seminars. This guide will provide you with both physical and mental techniques you can use immediately to help you reduce your anxiety. You can order either one of these products through our convenient on-line catalog .
original story by:
Lenny Laskowski
Read more articles:
How to Create a Great First Impression
How to Use Transitions Effectively
How to Gesture Effectively
How to Deal With a Hostile Audience
Overcoming Speaking Anxiety in Meetings & Presentations
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Philippines Light Rail Transit Public Transportation
The Manila Light Rail Transit System (Filipino: Sistema ng Magaan na Riles Panlulan ng Maynila),[citation needed] popularly known as the LRT, is a metropolitan rail system serving the Metro Manila area in the Philippines. Its twenty-nine stations over 28.8 kilometers (17.9 mi) of mostly elevated track form two lines. LRT Line 1, also called the Yellow Line, opened in 1984 and travels a north–south route. LRT Line 2, the Purple Line, was completed in 2004 and runs east–west.
The LRT is operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), a government-owned and controlled corporation under the authority of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC). Along with the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT, also called the Blue Line), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR), the LRT is part of Metro Manila's rail transportation infrastructure known as the Strong Republic Transit System (SRTS)
Stations
Santolan
Recto
Baclaran
Monumento
Cubao
The People Power Revolution was a series of nonviolent and prayerful mass street demonstrations in the Philippines that occurred in 1986. It was the inspiration for subsequent non-violent demonstrations around the world including those that ended the communist dictatorships of Eastern Europe.
A glimpse of Philippine culture through traditional dances and songs performed by some of the country's best dance groups.
In 1990, it was voted by the BMW Tropical Beach Handbook as one of the best beaches in the world
Barasoain Church (also known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish) is a Roman Catholic church built in 1630 in Malolos City, Bulacan.
Laguna de Bay (Filipino: Lawa ng Bay; English: Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines and the third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia
Malacañan Palace, is the official residence of the President of the Philippines.
