Where should I parK?

Where should I park?

The man directing drivers where to park appeared to be a pleasant elderly gentleman. He wore a suit and tie as I did. He was obviously a guest like me who had volunteered to help with parking. The event was an outdoor wedding on a country estate. I listened to his instructions and looked to where he pointed. He went on rather long. But I believe I understood his message.

I parked exactly where I believe he told me to park on the grass on the side of a small hill. Other cars followed me and parked in a row next to me. As I walked past him on the way to the wedding area I heard him mutter, “Why doesn’t anybody do what I told them? Why do they all miss the rock where I told them to turn?”

Curious. I don’t recall him mentioning anything about a rock. Did I miss that or did he only think he said that? Did it occur to him that if 10 or 12 people didn’t follow his instructions that maybe his instructions were not clear? I overheard him repeating this same compliant while we were seated and waiting for the wedding to begin. I bit my tongue and didn’t point out the obvious answer to his question. If nobody followed your instructions it might have been because they didn’t understand them.

You might have meant well and you might have had a clear picture in your mind of what you wanted. But if you don’t convey that picture it won’t happen and you have no one to blame except yourself.

Where do you want us to park?

George Torok
Executive Speech Coach
Presentation Skills Training



Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

100 Career Coach Blogs to Get You through the Recession

100 Career Coach Blogs to Get You through the Recession

Here's an interesting blog post and good idea for the times. It's nice to see that this Speech Coach Blog is listed. Presentation skills are always important and even more so when times are tough.

Enjoy the rest of the list.

George Torok
Presentation Skills Training
Presentation Skills Coaching

Presentation Tips on Twitter

Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Presentation Secrets for NPOs

Presentation Secrets for NPOs

Sponsored by Bay Gardens

Who
Volunteers, executives and staff of non-profit organizations are invited to attend this special 89-minute presentation skills clinic. Be on time – you don’t want to miss a minute.

Why
In these tough times communication skills in general and presentation skills in particular will make the difference between winning or losing - especially in the non-profit sector.

Benefits

When you attend this presentation skills clinic you will discover:

• The 3 reasons presentations fail – and how to avoid the
• The 3 necessary ingredients for a successful presentation
• The 3 simple techniques to help you convey more confidence than you feel
• How to appear more credible, compelling and convincing
• How to engage your audience in a conversation instead of lecturing at them
• Plus much more

Special Bonus:
How to write a more focused presentation in five minutes – or less

Your Presentation Expert: George Torok
George Torok helps business leaders deliver million-dollar presentations. He has delivered over 1,000 professional presentations. He is known as The Speech Coach for Executives. He has delivered the Effective Executive Presentation program at the Canadian Management Centre for over a decade and taught presentation skills to MBA students at the MG DeGroote School of Business.

Monday, Sept 14, 2009

8:30 - 10:00 am

Bay Gardens Community Rooms

967 Rymal Road E.

Hamilton, Ontario

RSVP: Gisela Zehmer, gisela@baygardens.ca 905-574-0405

No charge for association and chairites.

Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Power Presentations Tip 24: Take care of your voice

Power Presentations Tip 24:

Take care of your voice

How can you instantly annoy your listeners? Speak in a shrill squeaky voice. Hillary Clinton was criticized for committing this sin during her bid for Democratic candidate. Notice how pleasant it is to listen to president Obama. His voice is soothing and easy to listen to.

A good voice is not about male or female. Both can be soothing or annoying.
What can you do to prepare your voice before you speak?

Yawn
Yawning relaxes your vocal chords and takes in a large amount of air. Cover your yawn so people don't see. You don't want your audience thinking "The speaker is bored already."

Hum
Humming flexes the vocal chords and helps to set up resonance in your vocal chamber.

Don't clear your throat with the harsh "ach-um". That sounds terrible and it irritates your throat. When you feel that urge coming on - just hum.

Breathe deeply
Take a couple deep slow breaths just before speaking. Fill your diaphragm. That helps you in two ways. The oxygen calms you and the air in your lungs gives you a fuller smoother voice.

All of these techniques are easy and helpful. You might do them before delivering a presentation, making phone calls or attending a networking event.

Be careful what you put in your mouth
Don't drink milk or eat cheese just before speaking. That creates phloem - which will get you trying to clear your throat.

The best fluid to drink before you speak is room-temperature water. Avoid cold water - especially ice water. It might feel refreshing but the cold stiffens your vocal chords.

The caffeine in coffee and tea dehydrates you which makes your throat dry. Alcohol is doubly bad for the dehydration as well as the obvious.

If you have a scratchy throat from a cold or too much speaking (or screaming) sip some warm lemon.

While speaking - speak a little slower than normal to keep the tone of your voice deeper.

Look after your voice so you can thrill them and not shrill them.

George Torok

PS: tell me how this tip helps you.

PPS: Thanks for your comments and feedback.

-------------------
Feedback

"Thank you for your assistance and direction. My speech in Budapest was very successful. I received lots of positive feedback. I couldn't have done it without your help."
Dale Armstrong, CEO
Armstrong International Mover
-------------------

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Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Video: Busting the Mehrabian Myth

The "7% 38% 55%" rule often gets misrepresented by "communication experts" who didn't do their homework. This short video puts a refreshing view on the work of Albert Mehrabian.

Hint: Yes Mehrabian did report those numbers - but he never said that they represent the message or communication. He was measuring likeability.

Enjoy the video.


Albert Mehrabian's Website

Silent Messages - the book in which Mehrabian published his famous numbers.

Read my post about this myth from August 2006.


George Torok
Presentation Skills Coaching
The Speech Coach for Executives


Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

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
PS: tell me how this tip helps you.

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Feedback

"(Tips) Are terrific, are really what I need, Thanks a lot."
Shajar Mohammed
ITS International Turnkey System
Khartoum, Sudan
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Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Killer Presentation Skills

Killer Presentations Skills

Public speaker, Doug Jefrrerys, delivers a delightful presentation on the topic of effective presentation skills. He offers many tips and anedotes in this video. It's instructional, entertaining and easy to digest.




George Torok
Presentation Skills Training
Presentation Skills Coaching
Power Presentations Tips


Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Presentation Skills Tips

Free Presentation Skills Tips



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Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.

Commencement Speeches

Enjoy this top 10 list of commencement speeches as posted on Onlinecolleges.net

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Top 10 Commencement Speeches for Tech Lovers

By Kathleen Baker

Listening to or reading transcripts of old commencement speeches is a great way to feel inspired to take chances, start a new career, or find out what truly drives you. These 10 commencement speeches, given by leaders in Internet and computer science technology, engineering, entrepreneurship and beyond, are terrific for technology lovers who need a little extra insight into how scientists and techies can change the world.

Steve Jobs at Stanford, 2005:
Computer science geeks and Apple lovers who worship Steve Jobs will relish in this moving, inspirational speech from Steve Jobs, who never graduated from college. He talks about quitting, being adopted, and finding your purpose in life.


Bill Gates at Harvard, 2007:
Bill Gates is one of the ultimate techie heroes, and he returns to Harvard in 2007 to deliver the commencement address and receive his own degree. Gates prods graduates to consider how they can do the greatest good to help communities around the world, pulling from his own philanthropic efforts to relieve sick children from poverty-stricken nations.


Omid Kordestani at San Jose State University, 2007:
At the time of this speech, Omid Kordestani was still the Senior Vice President for Worldwide Sales and Field Operations for Google. The handsome Iran-born MBA’s cheerful delivery meshes well with his own background story, which details the events that brought him to the United States.


Larry Page at University of Michigan, 2009:
Google co-founder Larry Page speaks to the University of Michigan class of 2009 about his own family’s legacy at the school. Through his story, Page also comments on the notion of the American dream, family values and creating your own path.


Read the rest of the Top Ten list at OnLineColleges.net



Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.