If you want people to pay attention - then grab their attention. Enjoy this new safety video from Air New Zealand.
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Air New Zealand Safety Video
You can take a boring message and make it interesting. Imagine how difficult it is to get travellers to watch and listen to the manditory safety presentation.
If you want people to pay attention - then grab their attention. Enjoy this new safety video from Air New Zealand.
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
If you want people to pay attention - then grab their attention. Enjoy this new safety video from Air New Zealand.
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Seven Seconds to Presentation Success
There are powerful lessons for marketers and communicators in the movie Batman Begins.
Watch the movie with a stopwatch and a notepad. Notice that the camera shots are from two to a maximum of seven seconds long. Seven seconds is the longest shot. Most of the shots are close to three seconds. And many of the seven second shots are zooming in or out. What does that mean to you?
That seven seconds might be all you have to hold your listener's attention. Go ahead see how much you can say in seven seconds. If it is all in the same "shot" you might have lost your listener. How long did it take you to read this post? Yeah - start thinking seven second shots for your message.
When you speak you are competing with all the other forms of communication your audience experiences.
George Torok
Executive Speech Coach
Presentation Skills Seminars
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Watch the movie with a stopwatch and a notepad. Notice that the camera shots are from two to a maximum of seven seconds long. Seven seconds is the longest shot. Most of the shots are close to three seconds. And many of the seven second shots are zooming in or out. What does that mean to you?
That seven seconds might be all you have to hold your listener's attention. Go ahead see how much you can say in seven seconds. If it is all in the same "shot" you might have lost your listener. How long did it take you to read this post? Yeah - start thinking seven second shots for your message.
When you speak you are competing with all the other forms of communication your audience experiences.
George Torok
Executive Speech Coach
Presentation Skills Seminars
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
To be perfectly honest
The speaker responded to the question with that phrase.
I didn’t hear the rest of the answer because I was wondering why the speaker needed to state that now she would be perfectly honest.
I wondered how honest or dishonest was she when she answered previous questions.
I wondered about her understanding on the difference between honest and perfectly honest.
I wondered about when she wasn’t perfectly honest how imperfectly honest was she.
Naturally, I assumed that the speaker wasn't honest at all.
Why would a speaker say "To be perfectly honest" or "To tell the truth"? The only reason that I can think of is that they usually are dishonest and don't tell the truth.
So are you going to be honest with me - or tell that you will be honest with me?
If you tell me when you are honest - will you also tell me when you are dishonest? Or should I just assume that dishonesty is your norm?
George Torok
Presentation Skills Training
Presentation Skills Success
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
I didn’t hear the rest of the answer because I was wondering why the speaker needed to state that now she would be perfectly honest.
I wondered how honest or dishonest was she when she answered previous questions.
I wondered about her understanding on the difference between honest and perfectly honest.
I wondered about when she wasn’t perfectly honest how imperfectly honest was she.
Naturally, I assumed that the speaker wasn't honest at all.
Why would a speaker say "To be perfectly honest" or "To tell the truth"? The only reason that I can think of is that they usually are dishonest and don't tell the truth.
So are you going to be honest with me - or tell that you will be honest with me?
If you tell me when you are honest - will you also tell me when you are dishonest? Or should I just assume that dishonesty is your norm?
George Torok
Presentation Skills Training
Presentation Skills Success
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Effective Presentation Skills is Not Talent
Bad News and Good News for presenters. Successful presentations are not about talent.
If you believe you are a good presenter and can’t articulate the details of what makes you good – you don’t know why – beware! You are headed for surprise failure.
If you are a poor presenter and want to get better – take heart. You can build on the fundamentals. The leaders in any field stress the importance of knowing and doing the fundamentals.
The best presenters are skillful presenters – not talented presenters.
The ability to deliver good and great presentations is based on using the techniques of successful presentation skills. Skills can be learned and honed. All it takes is study, practice and training.
If you want to be a better presenter, understand the principles, practice the techniques, and get expert coaching. That’s how the best in any field get to be the best and stay there.
I have met many fabulous presenters. I have not met one yet who claimed to be a natural born presenter. I am a top notch professional presenter and executive speech coach. Yet I was not a natural born presenter. I can reveal to you examples of my own frustration along the journey. I invested time, effort and money to become a great presenter. To get better I studied and analyzed hundreds of presenters. I received advice, coaching and mentoring from the best that I could find. And I haven’t finished learning yet.
How about you? Where do you want to be?
If you want to improve your presentation results – improve your presentation skills.
Read tips, articles and books on presentation skills. Study other public speakers to learn from their success and mistakes. Listen to audio programs. Watch videos. Attend conferences, course and seminars. Hire a presentation skills coach.
If you really want to improve your presentations invest time, money and effort in improving your presentation skills.
George Torok
Register for free Power Presentation tips
Read articles about presentation skills
Attend the Superior Presentation Skills Seminar on May 17
Register for the Presentation Skills Coaching Clinic on May 18
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives
If you believe you are a good presenter and can’t articulate the details of what makes you good – you don’t know why – beware! You are headed for surprise failure.
If you are a poor presenter and want to get better – take heart. You can build on the fundamentals. The leaders in any field stress the importance of knowing and doing the fundamentals.
The best presenters are skillful presenters – not talented presenters.
The ability to deliver good and great presentations is based on using the techniques of successful presentation skills. Skills can be learned and honed. All it takes is study, practice and training.
If you want to be a better presenter, understand the principles, practice the techniques, and get expert coaching. That’s how the best in any field get to be the best and stay there.
I have met many fabulous presenters. I have not met one yet who claimed to be a natural born presenter. I am a top notch professional presenter and executive speech coach. Yet I was not a natural born presenter. I can reveal to you examples of my own frustration along the journey. I invested time, effort and money to become a great presenter. To get better I studied and analyzed hundreds of presenters. I received advice, coaching and mentoring from the best that I could find. And I haven’t finished learning yet.
How about you? Where do you want to be?
If you want to improve your presentation results – improve your presentation skills.
Read tips, articles and books on presentation skills. Study other public speakers to learn from their success and mistakes. Listen to audio programs. Watch videos. Attend conferences, course and seminars. Hire a presentation skills coach.
If you really want to improve your presentations invest time, money and effort in improving your presentation skills.
George Torok
Register for free Power Presentation tips
Read articles about presentation skills
Attend the Superior Presentation Skills Seminar on May 17
Register for the Presentation Skills Coaching Clinic on May 18
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives
BS is BS and it will Create a Disconnect With Your Audience
Read this message that I read on a discusion group and look for the first major disconnect.
--------------------------
The Business of Humility....
Humility doesn't make for flamboyant headlines, but business leaders who combine intelligence, integrity and a generous dose of humility, build organizations that are more constantly successful and enduring. I always keep in mind the story of the Canadian firm where a young woman sales executive made an error that cost the company a $1 million account. When the executive offered to resign, her boss refused, saying, "You can't leave the company; I have a $1 million investment in you."There are two opposing types of leadership: arrogant, timid leaders and humble, quietly confident leaders. The Oxford English Dictionary defines arrogant as “having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.”
-------------------------------------
I read this and was okay until the "story about the Canadian firm..."
This version is a bogus story.
I recognized this story as having been told before. It was first told in a book about Thomas Watson at IBM.
The person was using his false version of the story on which to build his case. That makes everything else that follows disbelievable at best and a lie at worst.
Not every reader would know the true story - but some would and that would destroy your credibility with those people.
When you are writing or speaking be certain of your facts, storys and urban legends.
George Torok
Presentation Skills Club on FaceBook
Presentations Go on Twitter
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
--------------------------
The Business of Humility....
Humility doesn't make for flamboyant headlines, but business leaders who combine intelligence, integrity and a generous dose of humility, build organizations that are more constantly successful and enduring. I always keep in mind the story of the Canadian firm where a young woman sales executive made an error that cost the company a $1 million account. When the executive offered to resign, her boss refused, saying, "You can't leave the company; I have a $1 million investment in you."There are two opposing types of leadership: arrogant, timid leaders and humble, quietly confident leaders. The Oxford English Dictionary defines arrogant as “having an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or abilities.”
-------------------------------------
I read this and was okay until the "story about the Canadian firm..."
This version is a bogus story.
I recognized this story as having been told before. It was first told in a book about Thomas Watson at IBM.
The person was using his false version of the story on which to build his case. That makes everything else that follows disbelievable at best and a lie at worst.
Not every reader would know the true story - but some would and that would destroy your credibility with those people.
When you are writing or speaking be certain of your facts, storys and urban legends.
George Torok
Presentation Skills Club on FaceBook
Presentations Go on Twitter
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Superior Presentations Seminar: Video feedback
Lyle, is an experienced presenter who offers his endorsement of the "How to Deliver Superior Presentations Seminar" The next program is May 17, 2011. Check it out.
Register by April 19 to save $160.00 Learn more about this one day seminar by the Toronto Airport. Listen to what other participants said. Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Register by April 19 to save $160.00 Learn more about this one day seminar by the Toronto Airport. Listen to what other participants said. Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Power Presentations Tip #48: Show Your Hands
Show your hands to build more trust
To instil more trust in your audience let them see your hands.
Many speakers don't know what to do with their hands. They feel self conscious about their hands and might fidget with them or hide them. Both of those actions can hurt your effectiveness when presenting.
It's believed that because your hands are at the end of your arms they might display the real message that you can't control. Often this is true. When we can see your hands we will notice whether they support or detract from your message.
You might move your hands while speaking - which can help to grab attention, describe a point and convey passion - as long as the movement appears to be natural. Awkward or unusual hand movements can be distracting or disturbing.
Don't play with markers, pens, pointers, buttons, your hair, or your fingers.
As a speaker you don't want your audience concentrating on watching your hands so intensely that they stop listening to what you are saying. You also don't want them wondering what could be in your hidden hands. When we can see your hands we trust you more because we know that hidden hands could be hiding a threat. Hidden hands could hold a weapon. In the olden days a hand extended was a sign of friendship because it revealed that you were not holding a weapon.
Keep your hands out of your pockets and in front of your body most of the time while speaking. If you want to show a causal stance then you might place one of your hands in a pocket. But don't keep it there for long. And don't hide it deep in your pocket. Keep your thumb out of the pocket as a display of no threats.
When you display your hands show them palm out. A fist would appear to be threatening. Hands displayed with knuckles out could look like a fist.
Bonus tip: .If you want to build more trust when sitting at a table keep your hands on top of the table.
To cultivate more trust from your listeners display your open hands.
George Torok
Sign up for presentation skills tips
Click here to register For more frequent short tips follow me on Twitter http://www.facebook.com/PresentationSkillsClub
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
To instil more trust in your audience let them see your hands.
Many speakers don't know what to do with their hands. They feel self conscious about their hands and might fidget with them or hide them. Both of those actions can hurt your effectiveness when presenting.
It's believed that because your hands are at the end of your arms they might display the real message that you can't control. Often this is true. When we can see your hands we will notice whether they support or detract from your message.
You might move your hands while speaking - which can help to grab attention, describe a point and convey passion - as long as the movement appears to be natural. Awkward or unusual hand movements can be distracting or disturbing.
Don't play with markers, pens, pointers, buttons, your hair, or your fingers.
As a speaker you don't want your audience concentrating on watching your hands so intensely that they stop listening to what you are saying. You also don't want them wondering what could be in your hidden hands. When we can see your hands we trust you more because we know that hidden hands could be hiding a threat. Hidden hands could hold a weapon. In the olden days a hand extended was a sign of friendship because it revealed that you were not holding a weapon.
Keep your hands out of your pockets and in front of your body most of the time while speaking. If you want to show a causal stance then you might place one of your hands in a pocket. But don't keep it there for long. And don't hide it deep in your pocket. Keep your thumb out of the pocket as a display of no threats.
When you display your hands show them palm out. A fist would appear to be threatening. Hands displayed with knuckles out could look like a fist.
Bonus tip: .If you want to build more trust when sitting at a table keep your hands on top of the table.
To cultivate more trust from your listeners display your open hands.
George Torok
Sign up for presentation skills tips
Click here to register For more frequent short tips follow me on Twitter http://www.facebook.com/PresentationSkillsClub
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Researching Your Presentation
Get your facts straight
Don’t stand there saying, “I think so” or “I’m not sure.” Don’t lie and pretend to know something you do not. So spend time collecting and confirming your information. Too many public speakers are quick to present their opinions without providing clear substance. Avoid that trap.
Be careful of presenting hearsay as evidence – unless you preface it as that. You might interview customers for their comments or check with the front lines for their unofficial feedback. That is ok – but present it honestly. Do a quick search on one or a few of the Internet search engines to find some new insights on the topic of your presentation. These Internet ‘facts’ might not be confirmable so present them as what you found – ‘Stuff from the Internet’.
Test for relevance
Review your speech for relevance to your audience. After every statement that you plan to make ask yourself, “So what?” Because that is what your audience will be asking. If you cannot answer this question clearly and succinctly – then rework it or remove it from your speech. What do you want them thinking, “Yeah right on!” or “So what?”
Remembering your speech
The best public speakers do not memorize their presentation. Instead know your topic and the issues. Then make notes for yourself. But don’t read your speech. That is so boring. Instead write key words that remind you of your messages. Write your speech notes on index cards. That is much easier to handle instead of fumbling with a sheet of paper.
Rehearsing your presentation
Rehearse your speech on your feet at least three times. It is okay to rehearse parts of it in your car or sitting at your desk. But because you will deliver in on your feet – you rehearse the speech on your feet. It feels different when you speak on your feet. Get used to the feel of delivering your presentation. The best way to reinforce a set of skills is by repeating the pattern the way you plan to deliver. Golfers and musicians rehearse their patterns so the skills of the big day are natural to them.
The fear of public speaking
Studies show that our number one fear is the fear of public speaking. Hard to believe but it is more prevalent than the fear of death. If you have a fear of public speaking or feel some anxiety you are not alone. Even great speakers like Churchill experienced this fear. But he worked on his delivery skills so he could deliver even when he was nervous. I am a professional speaker who has spoken to audiences all over North America yet I also experience speech anxiety. The fear of public speaking might be with you forever. But your audience does not need to know.
Overcoming the fear of public speaking
In most cases the symptoms of the fear are not noticeable to your audience. You might feel terrified but your audience doesn’t know. There are several ways to get past speech anxiety. Focus on the success of your presentation. Before you step up to speak take a couple of slow deep breaths. Speak slowly. Don’t let it run away from you.
George Torok
Presentation Skills Training
Presentation Skills Coaching
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
Don’t stand there saying, “I think so” or “I’m not sure.” Don’t lie and pretend to know something you do not. So spend time collecting and confirming your information. Too many public speakers are quick to present their opinions without providing clear substance. Avoid that trap.
Be careful of presenting hearsay as evidence – unless you preface it as that. You might interview customers for their comments or check with the front lines for their unofficial feedback. That is ok – but present it honestly. Do a quick search on one or a few of the Internet search engines to find some new insights on the topic of your presentation. These Internet ‘facts’ might not be confirmable so present them as what you found – ‘Stuff from the Internet’.
Test for relevance
Review your speech for relevance to your audience. After every statement that you plan to make ask yourself, “So what?” Because that is what your audience will be asking. If you cannot answer this question clearly and succinctly – then rework it or remove it from your speech. What do you want them thinking, “Yeah right on!” or “So what?”
Remembering your speech
The best public speakers do not memorize their presentation. Instead know your topic and the issues. Then make notes for yourself. But don’t read your speech. That is so boring. Instead write key words that remind you of your messages. Write your speech notes on index cards. That is much easier to handle instead of fumbling with a sheet of paper.
Rehearsing your presentation
Rehearse your speech on your feet at least three times. It is okay to rehearse parts of it in your car or sitting at your desk. But because you will deliver in on your feet – you rehearse the speech on your feet. It feels different when you speak on your feet. Get used to the feel of delivering your presentation. The best way to reinforce a set of skills is by repeating the pattern the way you plan to deliver. Golfers and musicians rehearse their patterns so the skills of the big day are natural to them.
The fear of public speaking
Studies show that our number one fear is the fear of public speaking. Hard to believe but it is more prevalent than the fear of death. If you have a fear of public speaking or feel some anxiety you are not alone. Even great speakers like Churchill experienced this fear. But he worked on his delivery skills so he could deliver even when he was nervous. I am a professional speaker who has spoken to audiences all over North America yet I also experience speech anxiety. The fear of public speaking might be with you forever. But your audience does not need to know.
Overcoming the fear of public speaking
In most cases the symptoms of the fear are not noticeable to your audience. You might feel terrified but your audience doesn’t know. There are several ways to get past speech anxiety. Focus on the success of your presentation. Before you step up to speak take a couple of slow deep breaths. Speak slowly. Don’t let it run away from you.
George Torok
Presentation Skills Training
Presentation Skills Coaching
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
The President's Speech: George W
George W does his best to butcher his presentations.
George Torok
Presentation Skills Trainer
Executive Speech Coach
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
George Torok
Presentation Skills Trainer
Executive Speech Coach
Executive Speech Coach, Business presentation tips from George Torok, the Speech Coach for Executives.
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