Pause before you answer the question because...

Why do lawyers pounce on the witness to answer the question quickly? 

Because they’re hoping for a visceral response. One that is incriminating and can’t be retracted. That means when you are answering tough questions during your presentation, pause before you reply. 

Pause to calm yourself down and to think about your answer. Most importantly, prepare for these tough questions when you rehearse your presentation so you aren’t blindsided by them.
 


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Where to look when speaking to an audience?

Where should I look when I am delivering a speech?

You should look at the people to whom you are speaking.

If you are speaking to an audience of one, that’s easy. If your audience is more than one person then you will need to move your eyes from one person to another while speaking.

Don’t move your eyes too quickly or linger too long on one person.

Deliver a phrase while looking at one person then move your gaze to another for the next phrase or sentence. Look people directly in the eye.

That eye contact makes you appear more confident and truthful.

Do Not

Stare at a point on the back wall

Stare at the ceiling

Stare at the floor

Watch your slides

Constantly look at your notes

Rule of Thumb

Occasionally you might need to check your notes but maintain eye contact with your audience at least 80% of the time.

Be sure to make eye contact with every person in your audience during your presentation. Don’t make the mistake of looking only at the friendly people.

More questions and answers about Public speaking at Questions about Public Speaking

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Guidelines for Presentation Success - Free eBook

When preparing your presentation, consider the things that might go wrong and plan how you might handle them.

Take the precautions to minimize the possibility or impact of things going wrong.

Accept the reality that perfection is not the goal. Being effective with your presentation is the goal.

When things go wrong, appear calm and stay in control of the show. Remind yourself to pause, breathe deeply and smile. This is likely the most important point you can learn from this report.

Never lose self-control. There are many things you can’t control but your behaviour is the one thing for which you are totally accountable. Don’t appear to be angry, arrogant or frustrated. And don’t pretend to be blameless. You can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you deal with it.

When things go wrong, don’t blame somebody else. The audience is looking at you. They are judging your reaction – not the circumstances.

As the speaker you always have the option to end early or take a break.

Sometimes a disaster in your presentation can be a gift because your audience will suddenly perk up and remember how you managed the disaster. Handle it well and you might win their respect and more.

If your audience likes you, they are more forgiving than you think. Establish rapport with your audience early so they are onside when disaster strikes.

Focus your efforts on the portion of your audience that you have a realistic chance of reaching.

Get your free copy of the eBook How to Turn Presentation Disasters into Presentation Success.

Murphy doesn’t hate you. He simply encourages chaos

to watch you squirm.

Torok’s First Presentation Corollary to Murphy’s Law

Click here to download your free copy of
How to Manage Things That go Wrong in Your Presentation


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Five Habits of Highly Effective Public Speakers

You can consistently deliver more effective presentations if you develop the habits of highly effective speakers. Success is a matter of habit.

Clear Purpose

Start your presentation with the end in mind. The only reason to speak is to move people. So start preparing by thinking about this question. What do you want people to think, feel or do after you speak? Keep that purpose top of mind as you prepare and deliver your presentation.

Prepare

Don’t wing your presentation or hope to think on your feet. That’s a formula for disaster. Instead consider the mind set of your audience. Design your presentation. Rehearse it. Arrive early to check out the room. Be prepared to cut it short or deal with interruptions. Rehearse dealing with difficult questions.

Open & Close

There are three parts of your presentation – the opening, the body and the close. They are not equal in time but each is important. Many speakers make the mistake of only focusing on the body. The opening of your presentation needs to grab the attention of your audience, establish rapport and set the direction. The close is the last thing you say and hence might be the strongest thing they remember. Ensure that it reinforces your message and what you want them to do next.

Pause

Nervous and novice speakers are afraid of silence. Yet, silence is your friend. You don’t persuade anyone by speaking constantly, rapidly and louder. You persuade them by saying something poignant then pausing while they absorb and consider your words. The more often and longer that you pause the more confident you will appear and the more comfortable they will feel with your ideas.

Conversation

The most important point is that your presentation should not feel like a pitch or a lecture. If you come across that way people will tune you out and resent you. So, how do you make your presentation feel more like a conversation? Do the things that you enjoy in a friendly conversation. That will include some of the techniques above – telling stories, pausing and making friendly eye contact. Here’s one more technique to have the conversation – ask questions of the group and listen without judging. Also punctuate your presentation with rhetorical questions to repeatedly engage their minds.

We are creatures of habit. You can be more successful when presenting by following these habits of highly effective speakers.

© George Torok is The Speech Coach for Executives and the author of the Superior Presentations program. He coaches executives and trains business professionals to deliver million dollar presentations. Discover free tips and presentation resources at www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com Arrange for personal speech coaching or a training program by calling 905-335-1997 Find more presentation ideas at the blog www.Speechcoach.ca

 

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This Should Work, I think, maybe

Just imagine how your client or prospect might feel if you preface your big promise with the word “should”.

If you were on the receiving end of a sales pitch that included the qualifying statement “it should work” – would you buy?

Not me. That’s for sure. When I hear the word “should” from an expert, I immediately gather my valuables and retreat as a quickly as possible.

That word in a sales presentation means that the expert is not certain and is NOT taking responsibility for his product, advice or mistakes.

There is a place for the word should – but not in the big promise of your sales presentation. The big promise is the main benefit that you are offering. If it’s so shaky that it’s only worthy of “it should work” it’s not a convincing benefit.

If you are giving advice you can include the word “should”. If you want healthy teeth you should brush and floss every day.

See the difference. Use the word “should” in a logic statement. If you want B you should do A.

If you want to build a good relationship with your clients you should not lie. Don’t make promises that you can’t keep. If you want to sell a product or concept you should not use the word “should” when presenting your “big promise”.

If A doesn’t always lead to B then you might qualify with these type of statements:

“Our clients have achieved an 85% success rate.”

“When maintained correctly this equipment lasts 20 years.”

“When you follow our process we guarantee success.”

If you feel compelled to insert the word “should” into your sales presentation, you might need to change your job and sell something else.



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The Entire Audience Walked Out on Me

What could be worse than losing your entire audience? Imagine no one showing up for your presentation. I experienced the one and almost the other.

While promoting my first book, Secrets of Power Marketing, I arranged short presentations along with a book signing at book stores. They were never a good place in which to present because they were not set up for presentations. Usually the audiences numbered between six and 10.

On one memorable book store visit there was only one person waiting for my presentation. That was ego deflating. I checked the signs and my calendar. We both had the date and time correct so at the scheduled time I started my 20 minute presentation. I was hoping that more spectators would arrive or that my standing and speaking might attract some curious book browsers. Five minutes into the presentation the woman’s cell phone rang. She dug it out and asked me to hold. Naturally I stopped speaking because my entire audience stopped listening.

After a short call she put the phone away, looked at me and announced, “That was my son. I need to pick him up. Bye.”

My entire audience walked out on me. Ha! I can laugh now but I didn’t at the time.

I forced another smile, bade goodbye, packed up my things, signed the books from the shelf, then left.

Since then I don’t mind if people leave part way through my presentation – as long as some remain.

When you present there are few things you can control and some things you can influence. And there is everything else that is beyond your power. Focus on what you can do and accept the randomness of reality.

Learn how to deal with 17 other presentation disasters and come out looking like a hero. Download the free eBook here - Turn Presentation Disasters into Presentation Success.

You don't need to give your name or email - just download the free eBook here.


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DJ Skills Transferable to Other Business

Can DJ (disk jockey) skills be transferred to other business and careers?


This question caught my attention in a discussion group.


Here is my answer:
---------------
What an interesting question.

I was a DJ in the 70's playing records for dances. I now run my own business as a keynote speaker, presentation trainer and speech coach.

What transferred?

• Watching and listening to the audience
• Playing the music for the audience - not me 
• Noticing patterns of style
• Smiling even when you don't feel like it 
• Not panicking when things go wrong

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How to Overcome the Fear of Public Speaking - Presentation Tips video

How can you overcome the fear of public speaking?

Speech anxiety or the fear of public speaking is one of the most common feelings that most speakers face at some time. That includes many of the great speakers.

What that means to you is - if you get anxious about speaking in public, you are normal.
The second important point is that you can learn to overcome the fear or at least to manage the feelings.

This video offers you three simple yet powerful techniques to take more control of your internal feelings. Imagine feeling and looking more confident the next time you speak.






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Should You Speak Behind a Lectern?

Maybe.

I suggest you do not use a lectern. Standing away from the lectern exposes your full body to the view of the audience. You appear more vulnerable, open and trustworthy. The added benefit is that you also appear more powerful and confident with your message.


How Can You Use a Lectern Effectively?

It is helpful to have a stand on which to put your notes. The problem is most speakers hide behind lecterns thereby greatly constraining important body language. 

I urge you to use as few notes as possible. Notes are essential only when you must read a prepared speech, or give a presentation in a foreign language. In that case, a lectern with a light and microphone will help you get through your talk smoothly.

          
Lecterns do make things look official. (Judges always hide behind a lectern.) The seriousness of your topic, the occasion, and the degree of formality in the audience may require that you use one. If so, plan to start and end behind it, but deliver most of your presentation away from the lectern with your whole body in full view.

          
There is one important rule about lecterns: Don't keep your hands gripped on the sides!  This draws listeners’ attention to your nervousness and restrains your body language. 

There are times when you might purposely grip the sides of the lectern to add emphasis to your words. Grasp the lectern only once or twice and lean toward the audience to make your critical points. The contrast helps emphasize what you are saying. 

Practice speaking comfortably without a lectern. If one is available, use it to hold your notes but do not hide behind it as you deliver your talk or you will reduce the power of your presentation.

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Body Language Oozes Testosterone

We know that body language sends messages. Those messages are not always clear to your audience. There are intended and unintended messages that body language might convey.

But did you know that your physical body language also sends chemical messages to your own body?

Here is an excerpt from an article in the Burnside News.
---------------
Amy J.C. Cuddy, assistant professor at the Harvard Business School, has performed extensive research in various human areas of behaviour, feelings and control in the workplace. Her findings can help many managers become better presenters and overall more confident professionals at stress-inducing periods, like employment interviews, meetings and all in-person events.

Working with co-authors Dana Carney and Andy Yap from Columbia University, Cuddy completed a definitive study that became a wonderful article, Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect Neuroendocrine Levels and Risk Tolerance, which appeared in an issue of Psychological Science magazine (September 21, 2010).

---------------
The interesting point from this research was that when you stand more powerfully your body cooperates by producing more testosterone - which makes you feel more powerful.

Stand proud and you will feel proud. Look good and you will feel good.
Body language is not only what your audience reads into your message. It is also how you feel about yourself and your presentation. This is critical when you might feel anxious about presenting. If you want to feel more confident - look more confident. Then drink the testosterone.

Read the full article Improving Presentations Skills with Power Poses


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Radiate More Confidence than You Feel - free audio class

Listen by phone to this free audio class on Thursday November 2 at 2:00 pm EDT. If you can't make that time you can still listen to the recording - but you need to register here http://presentation-skills-seminars.com/

Topics and question to be addressed include:

Why should your audience feel confident?

5 Confidence boosters before you speak

5 Techniques as you start

How does your audience decide if you are confident?

First aid for when the nerves strike

The dirty dozen red flags of non-confidence

If you are not yet registered and you want to appear more confident when you speak register now.
http://presentation-skills-seminars.com/


George Torok


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Begin with more confidence

Power Presentations Tips 23:

Begin with more confidence

Many presenters have confessed to me that if they can survive through the first few minutes of their presentation - then they will feel alright. It's just the beginning that they dread.

That's a risky way to approach your presentation because the opening is so important. Decisions are being made about you and your message in those opening seconds.

How can you feel and look more confident from your first word?

Your Introduction
Sit or stand proud while you are being introduced. While the audience is listening to your introduction - which should briefly confirm your qualifications for this topic - your audience will study you. They will be checking to see if the picture matches the words. This is not the time to feign humility or look nervous. Look proud while your achievements are listed.

You might not always have a formal introduction. However any introduction should be used to your benefit. Caution: Look proud and confident but not pompous and arrogant.

Start Slowly
Start your presentation very slowly. Speak slower than normal. You might feel a bit awkward but with practice you will get it right. There are three reasons to start slowly:

1. This will help you stay calm. Speaking slowly will force you to breathe slower and that calms you.

2. Your audience will have a better chance to tune into your voice. This is especially relevant when they don't know you and/or you have an accent that sounds different from their norm.

3. Speaking slowly will deepen your voice. That makes it easier to hear and conveys more confidence.

Say something positive
If you start with a positive statement your audience will go with you. If you are feeling nervous then this is the one time that you are allowed to tell a lie. That lie is, "I'm happy to be here today." You might not feel that way at the time but if you state it with enough conviction you might persuade your audience and yourself of that constructive white lie.

George Torok
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Smile - say cheese!

Do you remember the photographer saying that?

It might have sounded corny – but it worked. Smile for the camera. Why? Because you always look better when you smile. In fact the best beauty secret is not a cream or lotion – it is a smile.

It looks better for a picture and it looks better for your presentation.

read more

George Torok
The Speech Coach for Executives

Speech Anxiety: Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking

By John Robert Colombo

This article addresses these questions about speech anxiety and the fear of public speaking.

Why do we fear public speaking?
Is speech anxiety normal?
What can we do to face our public speaking fear and speech anxiety?

Fear of Public Speaking

Speech anxiety is a general term for the sense of fear or panic that overtakes a person when he or she is called upon to speak or otherwise perform in public. There are other ways to refer to it: anxiousness, nervousness, "the jitters", stage fright, fear of public speaking, performance anxiety, etc. It usually strikes when someone has to deliver a presentation before a group of people. It makes little difference whether the audience is large or small, composed of familiar or unfamiliar faces. Psychologists consider speech anxiety to be a special case of what is commonly known as shyness. Read more…


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George Torok