The Gettysburg Address

If you want to be a more powerful speaker learn from other powerful speakers. Take the best lessons and find ways to apply those in your presentations. Don't copy them. Instead ask yourself, "Why does this work so well?" and "How can you use that principle or technique?"

Lincoln's Gettysburg address is known as one of the most powerful speeches of all time. What made it so powerful? Listen to it below. It's about two and 1/2 minutes.

No, it's not Lincoln speaking. Listen to the words, structure and style.





What do you think made this speech so powerful?

I suggest that it was the precise words, the rhythmic phrasing and the short phrases. Some of the sentences are long but the phrasing makes it easily digestible.

There are no wasted words or confusing tangents. The imagery is graphic and the message is clear. The poetry of words is captivating and memorable - "four score and seven years".

This is an example where the success of the speech was determined by the care in writing the words.

And the best part - it was less that 150 seconds.

Imagine if every boardroom presentation was limited to 150 seconds.


Below is the text of the Gettysburg address.

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Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.


But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.



George Torok

The Speech Coach for Executives

Presentation Skills Training



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Power Presentations Tip 33: Convey more Crediblity

Convey more credibility

Convey more credibility while presenting. Your audience will listen closer, believe you more and feel more persuaded by your message.

How can you convey more credibility?

Use these three methods.

Introduction
The less your audience knows about you the more important is your introduction. What your introducer says and how he says it will imprint the first impression on your audience. Don't leave the introduction to chance. Provide a written introduction to your introducer and ask him to read it as is.

Sometimes you might get no introduction at all. In that case your self introduction is the first impression to the group.

What the introducer says is important. But it's also important how you receive the introduction. You want to convey credibility so look and stand proud and strong while the introducer (or you) summarizes your relevant expertise.


Points of reference
Quote statistics, facts or opinions from books, publications or organizations that your audience recognizes and respects. This enhances your credibility and builds rapport because it demonstrates that you understand their values and points of reference.

You could quote from your own study, surveys or anecdotal experience. But first you need to clearly establish the credibility of your research. For example, I talk about the lessons of success learned from business leaders. But first I point out that that my research was collected from over 450 interviews that I have conducted over 14 years with business leaders on my weekly radio show, Business in Motion.


Points of connection
Who you know and more importantly who knows you can help your credibility. You could quote or paraphrase a conversation with the company CEO, a well known client or a respected market analyst.

When presenting your ideas to your audience you could mention that you helped solve a similar challenge with Microsoft, Toyota or another industry leader.

Naturally tell the truth and respect those conversations or project details that were private.

In Summary
Use your introduction, points of reference and points of connection to help you convey more credibility.

George Torok

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Power Presentations Tip 32: Smart Practice

Power Presentations Tip 32: Smart Practice


Rehearse your presentation


Practice doesn't make you perfect. If you are practising the wrong way you'll be consistently bad. Smart practice makes you better but never perfect.

Smart Practice

Condense your presentation into keywords that help you remember your points. Write those keywords on index cards.

Rehearse your presentation standing on your feet because that is probably the way you will deliver it. Mimic the presentation environment to make it more productive for you. If you can rehearse in the room where you will present, do it.

The first time (or first few times) through, focus on getting your words right. Then rehearse some more and integrate your voice inflections and gestures.

Rehearse in front of a mirror if possible. But don't stare at the mirror. Notice your body language and facial expressions. Make a point of rehearsing your eye movement to make eye contact with everyone in your audience.

Run through your presentation from start to finish several times. Also, and more importantly, rehearse pieces of the presentation as modules. For example, work on your opening, polish your close and then pick pieces from the body to improve. Breaking the presentation up into modules makes it easier to remember and get back on track if you get lost during the live presentation.

Practise in private. You might feel awkward but do it. I always feel uncomfortable rehearsing my presentation but I know I must do it to ensure success.

At some point you might practise your presentation in front of a colleague. Pick someone whom you trust and respect. Explain your purpose and ask them for specific feedback. Don't ask, "How was I?" And don't expect your staff to give you constructive feedback. They'll be inclined to say, "Boss, you're perfect."

How many times should you rehearse your presentation? That depends on several things. How important is this presentation? How familiar are you with the material? What new techniques are you planning to use? How tough will your audience be?


I believe that you can't practise too much. Just ask golf legend, Tiger Woods and tennis champion, Roger Federer.

George Torok

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Presentation Success: How You Can Own the Room

A successful presentation starts with the presenter owning the room. When you know and own the room, you will be a more powerful and confident presenter. That leads to more successful presentations for you.

Consider this

While strolling in your neighborhood you will feel more comfortable and confident than in a strange town. A sports team usually feels stronger when playing at home. Delivering a presentation is certainly a competitive sport. Why not do it on your home turf?

As a presenter, how do you own the room? “Owning the room” is a feeling that you can generate within yourself by knowing the room. How do you know the room?

Know the room

Knowing the room for your presentation might mean arriving the day before your presentation. At the very least, arrive one hour before your presentation. Don’t breeze in 10 minutes before you speak and expect to “own the room”.

Get into the room before your presentation – preferably when no one else is there. This will allow you to make the following preparations.

You can see the room and start visualizing how you will present and how your audience will look. Visualizing yourself presenting in the room is an effective way to prepare for your presentation. You will feel more comfortable and more powerful if you’ve been in the room before your presentation.

If the room is not the right size for the audience expected you can plan what to do to alter the room to make it appear to be smaller or arrange for another room.

You can check the setup of the room. Become familiar with the layout of the seating, tables, doors, curtains and other characteristics of the room. Walk around the room and sit in different seats so you understand better how the audience might or might not see you and your visuals during your presentation. Look for blind spots.

Arrange for the seating to be changed to your preferred arrangement. Sometimes this might mean making those changes yourself. (I’ve done this the night before an important presentation.)

Play with the switches. Test all the lights, AV and climate control switches. Tape the ones that should not be changed. Discover the ones that give you the settings you want so you can set it quickly or explain to an assistant how to do it.

Check all the doors to learn which ones are noisy – so you can tape the latches with duct tape. Which are the outer halls that need a “Do Not Enter” sign taped on the outside? Where are the washrooms so you can direct people? hich are the emergency exits in case they are needed?

Rehearse walking on and off the stage so you don’t trip. I’ve done it and seen it happen. It’s surprising how simple things like walking on stage can be nerve wracking when you are giving a presentation.

Stand on the stage and deliver parts of your presentation. Move about the stage to feel comfortable and find the cracks or creaky boards that you will need to avoid. Check the position of the speakers while speaking on the microphone to avoid feedback. Test the microphone when the AV people are there. Often they test the microphone with one of their staff then they disappear.

One More Presentation Tip

Change or move something to make the room yours. Close the curtains, move some chairs, put a small table on stage… It might not be much but any small change that you make can help you feel better when you take the stage.

I’ve delivered over 1,000 presentations and I’ve noticed that a good room setup can influence the energy of the audience and success of your presentation.

Know the room and you will own the room. Your audience will marvel at your confidence and presentation power.



© George Torok helps business leaders, managers & sales professionals deliver million-dollar presentations. He offers presentation skills coaching and presentation skills training. For more free presentation tips visit http://www.Presentation-Skills-Success.com To arrange media interviews call 905-335-1997


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Power Presentations Tip 31: Build Better Rapport

Why build rapport?

Building stronger rapport with your listeners reinforces trust. When your audience trusts you, they will listen better, believe you more, follow your advice and buy your message, product or service. In the absence of trust none of this will happen.

The better the rapport that you create the more they will like you. In selling there is an old piece of wisdom that says, "People buy from those they know and like." Every time you speak you are selling something even if you think that you are not in sales.

How can you build rapport?

Demonstrate that you are like them.

People like those who appear to be like them. Dress like them but no less then the best dressed person in the room. Speak the language that they understand. Don't use words that are intended to impress. Instead always use words that everyone in the audience understands. You can impress with the way you string those words together and know your topic. Learn and use some of the key phrases and terms that they use. For example, do they have customers, clients, patients, members, associates or worshippers?

Show that you understand them.

Don't pretend to be an expert on their world or industry if you are not from that world. But with a little research - online and through conversations - you can collect some knowledge and perspective about their circumstances. Recognize their issues, challenges and triumphs.

Include them in your presentation.

Meet at least some of them before your presentation. Gather some anecdotes and stories that you might use. Mention some of their names in your presentation. Include at least one story that highlights one of their heroes - (which could be one of them).

Be real.

Speak in a conversational manner. Tell a story that makes fun of yourself. This might make them laugh and more importantly they will see you as imperfect - like themselves. Don't portray yourself as perfect because they will hate you for thinking that you are better than them. No one's perfect.

George Torok

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Power Presentations Tip 30: Handle Questions with Ease

Include the group in your discussion.
While the person is asking the question maintain eye contact with that person while you move away from that individual. You do this to include the audience between you and the questioner to include everyone in the conversation. This isn't always possible - especially if you are presenting in a boardroom.

Treat questions like a gift.
While the person is asking the question look at them to demonstrate that you are listening. You could smile or nod your head to encourage the person. This also demonstrates your openness to answering questions. And that conveys confidence and aids believability.
I recommend that you don't say, "Thank you. That's a good question" because once you start you might feel compelled to say it every time. Every question might not be a good question so you will appear insincere.
You might say, "Thanks for asking the first question." But don't say, "Thanks for asking the second/third/etc question."

Repeat or reframe the question.
If you did not understand or hear the question then ask the individual to repeat or rephrase the question.
If there is any possibility that some in the audience might not have heard the question, repeat it as you speak to the group. If it was a long question you could summarize it. If the question was convoluted you can rephrase the question and ask the person, "Do I understand your question correctly?"
Repeating or summarizing the question does three things for you.
• It ensures that everyone in your audience hears the question.
• It gives you time to think about your answer.
• It enhances the value of the answer because it makes them wait a little longer for the answer.
Don't respond to the question too quickly because that cheapens the answer. Appear to think about it before responding.
Deliver your answer to the group then look back at the questioner to acknowledge that you answered their question.
In a future tip we will look at how you can successfully deal with difficult and hostile questions.

George Torok

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Public Speaker: Do Not Think on Your Feet

Your feet are for walking and standing not thinking, especially when in front of an audience.

Public speakers should not think on their feet. Presenters who try to wing it often fail, and fail miserably. Trying to deliver your presentation by thinking on your feet is an attempt to wing it. Winging anything is like spinning the roulette wheel and hoping for the best. That’s not a good approach to anything especially delivering a presentation that might be important to you.

An effective presentation is the result of a well planned, well rehearsed presentation and well developed presentation skills. Just ask any presenter who has just delivered an effective presentation. They’ll tell you how much effort they put into preparing. A successful presentation is seldom the result of luck.

Successful presentation is the result of a rehearsed skill set. Like any skill set you get there with study, practice and training. No one takes the gold or any of the medals at the Olympics by luck. They prepared. They practiced and they worked with a performance coach. And then they worked some more.

Imagine how you might feel if you took your loved one to an expensive restaurant and this time the chef decided not to follow his usual methods but decided to try something new and wing it. It might be okay or it could be a disaster. Would you wonder why the chef experimented on you? Would you demand your money back?

When it’s your turn to speak don’t try to think on your feet. It’s too dangerous. When you try to wing it you leave too much to chance. You might be sharp today. Or, you might be ill or even in a foul mood. Thinking on your feet is experimenting with your audience. Don’t gamble the success of your presentation on the throw of the dice.Public speaker: Don’t think on your feet. Your presentation might crash and it will get you into trouble soon.Instead, be prepared. The only thing you should do on your feet while delivering your presentation is to consider options.Before you speak analyze your presentation, the strengths, the weak points, and your audience. Consider the possible questions, objections and interruptions. Then prepare and rehearse your response to all of these possibilities.Why should you do that much work? Because the pros in any field do it. Are you a pro or are you a novice hoping to wing it? Plan the strategies and tactics that you will use to deal with the possible challenges in your presentations.Public Speaker: Don’t think on your feet. That is the formula for presentation suicide. Instead think and prepare before you get on your feet.



© George Torok is the Public Speaking Pro He helps public speakers deliver million dollar presentations. He offers presentation coaching and training. To get your free presentation tips visit http://www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com To arrange for George to speak to your company, conference or association call 905-335-1997

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12 Suicide Pills for the Business Presenter

How to deliver a career-ending presentation today


Do you hate your job and want to be fired tomorrow? One sure way to move to the front of the line for dismissal is to deliver a suicide-pill presentation. Use any one or more of the following methods to deliver your career ending presentation. Use these presentation tips today and say hello to unemployment tomorrow.


1. Don’t prepare. Forget about research, rehearsing and logistics planning. Preparation takes thought, effort and time. Why invest in those efforts if you think you can wing it. Think of all the leaders in any field who winged it. Yeah, I can’t think of any either.


2. Start your presentation by whining about how little time you had to prepare. Your presentation was scheduled for next week but today’s speaker got sick and you have to fill in – so please bear with me. Or whine about the cold coffee, the weather or room temperature. Mimic Homer Simpson – blame others for your presentation and performance shortcomings.


3. Read your presentation. That’s right. Stand up there and read your presentation word for word from a printed text. That’s boring for your audience and will demonstrate a complete lack of knowledge and conviction. You can always cry to your spouse that at least you got all the words right.


4. Write your entire speech in PowerPoint. Write your speech in PowerPoint because it is easy to do. It’s not effective – but it’s easy. Show how lazy and inconsiderate you are. Then read your presentation from the words on the PowerPoint slides. Yes – show people how stupid you believe them to be. They can’t read. That’s why you will read every slide to them. Even if you only read every second slide that demonstrates that you think that they are half stupid. Read every third slide to demonstrate that they are 1/3 stupid.


5. Be very casual in your appearance. Deliver your presentation while seated, leaning on your chair or sitting on the boardroom table. Why stand when you can sit or loaf? Dress down so you are the worst dressed in the room. Tattoos and piercings are really cool so flaunt them. Do your Al Bundy impression – thumbs in pants stance.


6. Play it safe. Give tons of statistics and data. Pretend you are an encyclopedia. In fact read information from books and technical reports. What could be wrong with that? Don’t give your opinion, recommendation or relevance of the information. Just dump information. Yep – that’s boring.


7. Spew techno babble, clichés and vague wording. Think outside of the box, embrace the paradigm shift and raise the bar. Empower staff. Jump the shark – you’re done like dinner.


8. Don’t look at your audience. Refuse to make eye contact. Treat them as the enemy. Instead look at your notes, the screen, the floor, the wall or the boardroom table. Look anywhere but into the eyes of your audience. Don’t let them see the whites of your eyes. They might recognize your fear.


9. Tell jokes. It works for the late night TV talk show hosts. So deliver your top ten list, a sexist joke, or racial insult. When talking to a group of lawyers be sure to pull out all your lawyer jokes. Show them your best Don Rickles or Red Fox imitation.


10. Run overtime. You were given 20 minutes to speak. Why not give them more by speaking for 48 minutes. Surely that’s what people want? Disrespect other peoples’ time – that’s a good career ending strategy.


11. Don’t conclude. Finish without telling people what you want them to do. Make them guess. After all they have all the time in the world to figure out what the heck you were trying to say. Why make it easy on them?


12. Insult and embarrass your audience – especially your boss’s boss. Perform your impressions of your coworkers. Make fun of their appearance, culture or vision. Demonstrate your sarcastic wit. Preface your comments with, “obviously” and “you probably never heard of this”.

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©George Torok is the Speech Coach for Executives. He helps business presenters deliver million dollar presentations. Read daily Presentation Tips at http://Twitter.com/PresentationsGo Visit http://www.SpeechCoachforExecutives.com for more free career saving tips. Arrange for presentation training and private speech coaching by calling 905-335-1997



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Get out of PowerPoint Hell Help

PowerPoint is not the problem. People using PowerPoint badly is the problem.

The answer is for business presenters to learn how to use PowerPoint smarter.

Here's your opportunity. PowerPoint expert, Dave Paradi is running a series of affordable seminars to show you how to deliver painless PowerPoint presentations.

Miss it and you'll be sorry - and so will your audience.

Watch this video to learn more about the seminars. Dave looks kinda serious in this video. Well, he is a serious guy - especially when it comes to helping people improve their PowerPoint. Dave will give you lots of practical tips on how you can improve your PowerPoint presentations.





George Torok

Presentation Skills Coaching

Presentation Skills Training


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