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A Few Myths of Public Speaking [14]
2007-09-21 by Tim Gonzo Gordon
I took an informal poll recently among some speakers to determine
what people tended to think were the hard and fast rules of public
speaking - and see if any of those rules turned out to be myths.
From the time I first knew what public speaking was, it seems there
were a few statements I'd heard that were intended by help me become a
better speaker. Or at least prepare for the next presentation I gave.
Since I rarely spoke in front of people, most of those little sayings
didn't mean much. But I do remember a few of them:
"Imagine the crowd naked." The idea was that if you did this you'd
have a little chuckle, get past your nervousness and get one with the
speech. But really, can you get up on stage and imagine your audience
unclothed? I think it would tend to make you get a little distracted!
Nope, just forget about that. And concentrate on your speech. Myth
Busted.
"Look over the heads of the crowd to an imaginary point and speak to
that." The concept of this was that if you didn't like public
speaking, you could just speak over everyone! This doesn't work,
either. You're better off finding a handful of friendly faces - and
there are always a few - and get eye contact with them. Shift your
attention to the next one, then the next one, then the next. Soon
you'll have maybe a half dozen folks you can count on to be paying
attention to your speech. Besides this core group, look out at some
other faces in the audience to let them know you're including them -
then go back to your 'friendlies.' It makes your speech go faster and
you feel like you're talking to good friends. Myth Busted.
"Start with a joke." Heard this one only a time or two. But the plan
was that if you got 'em laughing, they'd like you and it would make
the rest of the speech go well. Trouble is, unless you're a really
good joke-teller - and your joke is perfect for your audience -
chances are good that it will not go over with everybody. And where
does that leave you? Up in the air, wishing you could get back on the
ground. Nope, humor works better when it's used as part of a story, or
when you use self-deprecating humor and poke fun at yourself in a
light way. By using yourself as a foil, people can see you're a real
person, and not full of yourself. You're more human - and that makes
you more likable, which means they'll pay attention better and your
speech will be more successful. Myth Busted.
Beyond that, though, here are some other myths I've heard over the
years about public speaking:
"A great speaker uses the lectern." Not so. A great speaker
dispenses with the podium or lectern and gets out in front of his
audience. He interacts with them. The podium acts as a barrier. Break
those barriers down if you can and show your audience who you really
are. Myth Busted.
"Don't talk with your hands." This is ridiculous on the face of it.
People use dramatic gestures even when they're talking on the phone
and the person at the other end can't see them! That's the way we
talk, so use natural gestures. Now, it may help to go through your
speech a number of times and rehearse your gestures, but even with
that, you can make them seem very natural. Myth Busted.
"Do everything you can to calm yourself before you get on stage."
Trouble with this myth is that it sounds so plausible. Of COURSE you
should try and calm yourself before getting up on stage. But here's
the thing: chances are you'll be nervous anyway, so why not work with
it instead of trying to get rid of it? Realize that being nervous is
normal. Having adrenaline rushes is normal under those conditions. But
once you get up and start speaking, you'll get into a rhythm, your
speech will progress, and your nervousness will handle itself by
becoming a part of your energy - your positive energy - which you are
channeling into your speech. Myth Busted.
and finally
"Memorize your speech - it'll go over better." Only under a few
circumstances should you memorize your speech word-for-word: in a
speech contest where you must meet certain time constraints. Or
possibly where you are in a situation that demands you deliver the
same exact presentation several times. Otherwise, you're better off
memorizing an opening and a closing call to action. And even those can
be either very short (such as a sentence or question), or the
beginning concept and the final action you'd like your audience to
take. Otherwise, memorizing your speech can get you into trouble. What
if you forget where you are? What if something in the audience throws
you off? Then you're left to remember where you left off and pick it
up - and that just won't happen flawlessly. No, the good speakers know
their topic cold - and they know a number of ways to make the points
they're going to make. They don't read and they don't memorize; if
anything they may have a couple of 35 cards or notes available. Myth
Busted.
If you cling to the myth that only certain people can become
excellent, dynamic speakers, I believe you're wrong. Anyone who puts
their mind and body to it can become a professional-looking and
sounding presenter. It takes work, time and practice - but like almost
any learned skill, it's within the reach of anyone who wants it badly
enough.
Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-09-21
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# [16] | Posted in Public Speaking [17] | Comments (0) [18]
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-------------------------
Communication Steroids Podcast: Managing Your Environment [20]
2007-09-17 by Tim Gonzo Gordon
In today's Communication Steroids Podcast, from the Communication
Steroids Podcast Studio co-hosts Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon and Roger Pike
look deeper into Communication Best Practices, Communication in the
Workplace, Communication Strategies, Communications Training, Fear of
Public Speaking, Assertive Communication Skills and Public Speaking
Tips.
What does it take to manage your environment as a public speaker or
presenter? Roger and Tim discuss how to manage the room you're
speaking in, your equipment and how to approach the people you'll be
speaking to.
Watch it now:
Listen/View Now Click Arrow/Screen To Play
Total Run Time 8:24
Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-09-17
# [21] | Posted in Podcast [22] | Public Speaking [23] | Comments
(0) [24]
Subscribe FREE iTunes Click Here [25]
[26] Download MP3 Podcast [27] | Time: 8:24 | Size: 3.4MB
-------------------------
Should You Customize Your Presentation? [28]
2007-09-17 by Tim Gonzo Gordon
Should you customize all of your presentations?
In other words, do you need to make sure that each time you talk
about one of your 'power' topics, does it need to be custom fit to
that specific audience?
Well, yes and no.
In other words, it depends. I've seen speakers that go to great
lengths to make sure that they are relating to a specific audience.
For instance, when I saw Tony Robbins address the audience at the
Natural Products Expo West a couple of years ago, his presentation had
a lot to do with that specific industry. But he had a lot invested in
it - financially. One of his companies had an interest in new FDA
rules that might affect them, so his knowledge of the industry was
extremely high. And because of that, his presentation was specifically
tailored to the audience - even though his core message could have
been delivered to virtually any gathering.
I've also seen keynotes that were 'cookie-cutter' and could have
been virtually cut-and-pasted to any group without changing a single
word.
Both went over quite well.
So what's the answer?
In those cases, the audience was large - a few thousand at least.
The speakers were well known, and the audiences quite receptive.
If you're speaking to a smaller audience, your payoff will be worth
it if you can tailor your presentation.
Let's say you're speaking to a group of fitness trainers. Before the
presentation if you take some time to chat with some of the audience
(either in person or with one of the organizers ahead of time) and
learn a bit about the group, you'll have some good ammunition to add
to your speech.
For example, perhaps you speak with Carol, who's been training and
helping clients who are recovering from auto accidents. You tell her
that an acquaintance of yours was in an auto accident recently and is
in need of some direction. In your conversation you may uncover a
couple of tidbits that might help your friend. If you find a way to
work a few elements of that conversation into your presentation it
does a couple of things:
First, it shows that you took the time to talk to and learn a bit
about your audience. It shows them that you care.
Second, when you mention Carol's name, several members of the
audience will perk up a bit more because they're sure to know who
Carol is. So you've got them paying closer attention.
Both of those elements will make you more attractive to the audience
as a good speaker. It wouldn't surprise me if a number of them took
mental notes and remember to call you when a group they're associated
with needs a speaker.
So all the way around, customizing your presentation - whether a
full-blown speech written specifically for the group, or adding some
elegant personalization touches - makes a lot of sense.
Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-09-17
# [29] | Posted in Public Speaking [30]
Subscribe FREE iTunes Click Here [31]
-------------------------
Using Stories to Bring Your Audience into Your World [32]
2007-09-15 by Tim Gonzo Gordon
"...Once upon a time"
"Let me tell you about the time I spent in the mountains all night
by myself - unexpectedly"
If you really want to draw your audience closer to you, tell a
story. It should be a story about yourself or somebody you know.
Try NOT to repeat a story you've heard elsewhere - even if it is a
great story. It's still another person's story, and you lose something
by telling another person's story - especially if there's a chance
some of your audience has heard it before.
The magic of telling a story is that once you've set the scene, your
audience is hooked. They want to hear the end of it, so they'll listen
literally on the edge of their seat.
Stories enrapture, they engage, they thrill
Even though I recommend using your own stories, IF you don't have
stories of your own, you can judiciously use stories from another
source - but only sparingly, and only until you've amassed enough
stories of your own.
So how many stories should you have? According to Scott Ginsberg,
The Nametag Guy, you should compile fifty of your own stories.
I think that's a great idea. When I read that a year or two ago, I
started a file called '50 stories' and whenever something keyed up in
my memory, I'd jot it down in my file.
Some stories were okay, some I thought were good, others I figured
I'd eventually toss out.
But the idea is to just start compiling stories - no matter what
they're about. Chances are at some point you'll find a use for them in
your speaking career.
Another great thing about telling a story to support a point in your
presentation is that it's YOUR STORY. Nobody else's. It makes your
speech unique and more personable.
Plus - if it's your story, it's easy to remember! You've lived it
and internalized it.
Keep adding to your personal story file. Over time you'll remember
things that would make a good story: the time your cat vanished for a
month and then came back. The time you climbed a mountain. The time
you spent in high school as a drummer.
Whatever - just compile them, polish them, and you'll find places
where they'll fit in your presentations.
Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-09-15
Scott Ginsberg, the Nametag Guy [33]
Hello My Name Is Scott
# [34] | Posted in Public Speaking [35] | Comments (0) [36]
Subscribe FREE iTunes Click Here [37]
-------------------------
Communication Steroids Podcast: Resources to Improve Your Speaking
Skills [38]
2007-09-11 by Tim Gonzo Gordon
In today's Communication Steroids Podcast, from the Communication
Steroids Podcast Studio co-hosts Tim 'Gonzo' Gordon and Roger Pike
look deeper into Communication Best Practices, Communication in the
Workplace, Communication Strategies, Communications Training, Fear of
Public Speaking, Assertive Communication Skills and Public Speaking
Tips.
What resources are available for people who want to improve their
public speaking skills? Whether you're a newbie or someone who has
several speeches under your belt, Tim and Roger go over some resources
you should know about.
Watch it now:
Listen/View Now Click Arrow/Screen To Play
Total Run Time 9:52
Communication Steroids :: Show Liner Notes
On This Date: 2007-09-11
# [39] | Posted in Podcast [40] | Comments (0) [41]
Subscribe FREE iTunes Click Here [42]
[43] Download MP3 Podcast [44] | Time: 9:52 | Size: 4MB
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Last 10 Posts
A Few Myths of Public Speaking [69]
Communication Steroids Podcast: Managing Your Environment [70]
Should You Customize Your Presentation? [71]
Using Stories to Bring Your Audience into Your World [72]
Communication Steroids Podcast: Resources to Improve Your Speaking
Skills [73]
Five Things That Will Make You a Better Public Speaker [74]
Communication Steroids Podcast: Listening Skills [75]
Communication Steroids: Getting Free Media [76]
Communication Gap Exposed [77]
Communication Steroids Podcast: Persuasion [78]
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