The Successful Speaker

July 2009

Contents This Month

· “Dude, How’d I Do?”

· Presentation Skills and the Economy

· Beta Blockers

· Quotations

· Update Your Email Address

· Refer Madness

“Dude, How’d I Do?”

Have you ever attended a presentation delivered by a colleague and then been asked, “Dude, how’d I do?” (Okay, the “dude” part was my feeble attempt at sounding younger than I am.) If you’re like most people you respond with something useless like, “It was good! … yeah … [uncomfortable pause] … good!”

While that might be a polite response, you’re withholding valuable information from the presenter – their keys to improvement. The next time this happens, be prepared for the question.

If someone you know is going to be giving a presentation, take two notes during their presentation.

1. Something s/he did well. Look and listen for a strength in the presentation. Look for specific behavioral examples that illustrate that strength. For example, “I thought your eye contact was effective. I especially noticed this when you talked about the budget constraints you were working under. When you talked about that, you looked at everyone at the table at one time or another.”
2. One thing s/he could improve. Rather than mentioning this in a negative context (“I thought your volume was weak”), focus on how they could do it better. “There were times when your voice could have been stronger at the end of sentences. I really noticed this when you said, ‘Our group has been working very hard to make sure we pick up the slack from the people that have left the group.’ I think you could have conveyed more strength by keeping a consistent volume through the end of that thought.”

Even if you aren’t asked for your input after the presentation, this is good practice for when you are asked!

Presentation Skills and the Economy

If you work at a midsize or large company, you’ve recently seen colleagues boxing up their personal items from their offices and leaving the premises. We’ve all been touched by the economy that is hopefully starting to turn around. Working on your presentation skills can make you a more valuable commodity in today’s market!

If you are lucky enough to still have your job, being a more effective and visible public speaker in your area of expertise can enhance your credibility and value in your company. To do this, take advantage of every opportunity to speak to others inside and outside your company. This can be as “droll” as delivering status reports during staff meetings or as exciting (and sometimes nerve-racking) as presenting at conferences. The more opportunities you accept, the more valuable you are. If you then lose your job, you’ve presented in front of a lot more potential employers and business contacts.

If you have lost your job, find opportunities to speak at your church, within your community, or at your children’s functions. (Feel free to call me if you would like some other tips or coaching.) You may also look into community Toastmasters clubs. The more practice you get, the better you’ll get (especially if you practice what you read in this newsletter!). If you think that your job doesn’t require public speaking, think again! An interviewee who presents herself well during an interview will likely get the job over an equally qualified candidate who presents himself poorly.

Beta Blockers

During my workshops, I’ve sometimes been asked what I thought about using beta blockers to fight the nerves people feel about public speaking. Apparently, medical doctors are also being asked increasingly about beta blockers. The Dallas Morning News had an article about this on July 13, click here or http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/lifetravel/stories/DN-nh_betablockers_0714gd.ART.State.Edition1.1a54f38.html

My answer to the beta blockers question has always been that I would rather people pursue non-medication remedies to coping with the anxiety. The above mentioned article includes six useful tips:

· Prepare well – rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Make your rehearsals as realistic as possible, including the nervousness.

· Get comfortable – wear clothes that allow free and easy movement, save the snug-fitting, flattering outfit for a cocktail party.

· Breathe – take a few relaxing deep breaths taking longer to exhale than to inhale.

· Stretch and prepare your body – swimmers shake out their arms and legs before the race, you can too.

· Include an icebreaker – I like asking show-of-hands questions to start because it involves the audience, helps build rapport, and relaxes me a little.

· Eat bananas (and avoid caffeine) – potassium in the banana can calm your heart and blood pressure. Caffeine? Not so much!

Quotations

“If you and I agree on everything, one of us is unnecessary.” – Stephen Covey, (author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)

“What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions; life is plurality, death is uniformity.” – Octavio Paz (Mexican poet)

Update Your Email Address

Don’t miss an issue of The Successful Speaker. If your email address is going to change, let me know about it.

Refer Madness

Share the good experience you had in my workshop or seminar. Tell people in your company, organization, professional association, or non-profit organization about me. Have them get in touch with me or you can send me their contact information. If you give me a lead that generates new business for me

· Your colleague/friend will get a powerful and fun learning event customized to their needs. I’ll deliver a session that will build skills and create positive change in their organization.

· You’ll get a check for $300 (or your favorite charity) $300 (less if it is less than a full-fee engagement). Several people have asked that the referral check be donated to a charity.

If you would like to be removed from this distribution list reply to this email with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.