Public speaking, media training, presentation training, crisis communications
Posts Tagged presenting
What is the Best Way to Handle Nerves? How do I handle pre-speech jitters?
Posted by TJ Walker in Fear of Speaking, Keynote Speaking, Presentation Skills Training, Professional Speakers, Public Speaking Skills, Sales and Marketing, Social Speaking, Speaking Competition, Student Speak, Uncategorized on January 17, 2010
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book “How To Give a Pretty Good Presentation” (Wiley 2010)
What is the Best Way to Handle Nerves? How do I handle pre-speech jitters?
It makes sense for most people to be nervous before giving a presentation. Most people give boring presentations and why should you be better than most? OK, I know I’m being depressing, but I’m just being realistic. It actually is quite rational to be nervous before a presentation. But the main reason most people are nervous before a presentation is fear of the unknown. If you haven’t actually seen yourself give your presentation, then you don’t know what you are presenting to the outside world. After all, a presentation is not what is on a PowerPoint slide or a chart, a presentation is you standing or sitting in front of people and you are talking. If you haven’t seen yourself on video giving your talk that means that the rough draft of your presentation is the one you give to your final intended audience. Ugh! Rough drafts are usually rough by definition—so it makes sense to be nervous if you are going to wing it in front of people.
Tailoring the speech for the type of audience. Personal stories vs. just the facts.
Posted by TJ Walker in Keynote Speaking, Pitching, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills, Sales and Marketing, Social Speaking, Uncategorized on January 16, 2010
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book “How To Give a Pretty Good Presentation” (Wiley 2010)
Tailoring the speech for the type of audience. Personal stories vs. just the facts.
If you simply want to give a pretty good presentation, don’t waste time trying to figure out how to tailor your speech to your audience in terms of stories versus facts. Because audiences around the world are all the same: they want stories that involve relevant ideas and facts that affect them. If all you do is present the facts, ma’m, there is an excellent chance your speech will come up short—just below pretty good. Instead, if all you do is deliver facts, there is a great chance that your speech will be incredibly boring and be instantly forgotten.
Here is a list of the 101 best online videos on public speaking
Posted by TJ Walker in Fear of Speaking, Great Lectures, Humor, Keynote Speaking, Media Training, Politics, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills Training, Professional Speakers, Public Speaking Skills, Speaking Competition on April 20, 2009
Do You Already Know the Answer to Your Question?
Posted by TJ Walker in Presentation Skills Training, Sales and Marketing, Social Speaking on July 13, 2008
I’ve never believed in the old saw, “never ask a question that you don’t already know the answer to” unless you are in a court of law. After all, how else would you ever learn anything? But at some point, it is futile to ask questions when you know the answer is extremely negative. On a taxi cab ride today from an airport in Los Angeles I was subjected to extreme heat (90 degrees plus) with no air-conditioning in the back seat. The driver had air conditioning, but he informed me that he didn’t want to have any contact with passengers in the back to protect his safety, thus the glass protection separating the air-conditioned front seat from the sweltering back seat. To make matters worse, the cab was filled with signs asking passengers not to talk to the driver, as he did not wish to be disturbed. After nearly passing out from the heat, I rolled down the back window, even though the driver admonished me for doing so. At the end of the trip, the driver turned to me and asked,”Sir, was your trip satisfactory?”
Some questions don’t need to be asked when the answser is glaringly obvious and the questioner doesn’t seem to be sincere.
Should I give a PowerPoint presentation?
Posted by TJ Walker in Keynote Speaking, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on February 14, 2008
The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audienceâ€. Consistently, the worst advice speakers and presenters get, comes from everyone who is NOT your audience. The following gives examples of some of the WORST advice people are often given. It is followed by the advice of your audience. Listen to them. They are your true judge and jury.
Should I give a PowerPoint presentation?
Should I make this a formal or informal presentation?
Posted by TJ Walker in Keynote Speaking, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on February 13, 2008
The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audienceâ€. Consistently, the worst advice speakers and presenters get, comes from everyone who is NOT your audience. The following gives examples of some of the WORST advice people are often given. It is followed by the advice of your audience. Listen to them. They are your true judge and jury.
Should I make this a formal or informal presentation?
How will I know what my audience will remember?
Posted by TJ Walker in Keynote Speaking, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on February 10, 2008
The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audienceâ€
How will I know what my audience will remember?
Your Marketing Officer: “Just give them as much information as possible. That way if they don’t remember anything in particular, they are at least likely to leave with the impression that you are smart and competent.â€
Should I tell my audience that I am very happy to be speaking to them today?
Posted by TJ Walker in Keynote Speaking, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills Training, Professional Speakers, Public Speaking Skills on February 9, 2008
From TJ Walker’s upcoming book, “The Wisdom of your Audience.”
Should I tell my audience that I am very happy to be speaking to them today?
Your Speech Writer: “It is important to set the mood of you being gracious, so tell people you are happy to be there.”
You: “I want to be sincere and real, so I want to tell people that I am genuinely happy to have the honor of speaking to them today.”
What is the best way to begin my speech?
Posted by TJ Walker in Great Lectures, Keynote Speaking, PowerPoint, Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on February 8, 2008
The following comes from TJ Walker’s upcoming book “The Wisdom of Your Audience†(The best advice always comes from your speaking audience)
What is the best way to begin my speech?
It’s Hard to Speak from A TelePrompter
Posted by TJ Walker in Audio/Video Technology, Government & Politics, Keynote Speaking, Politics, Presentation Skills Training, Professional Speakers, Public Speaking Skills, Technology on January 29, 2008
Governor Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kansas) made the Democratic response to George Bush’s State of the Union Address last night. Sebelius looked professional, smooth, competent, and knowledgeable.
But…
Why is Bill Clinton a Great Public Speaker?
Posted by TJ Walker in Debate Central, Great Lectures, Keynote Speaking, Politics, PowerPoint, Professional Speakers, Public Speaking Skills on January 27, 2008
I’m not weighing in on the politics of the day regarding Bill Clinton’s involvement with his wife’s presidential campaign. However, I am interested in his thought process regarding public speaking. I take as a given that no serious person doubts Bill Clinton’s prowess as a public speaker.
In today’s New York Times, we get a glimpse of exactly why:
Top Public Speaking Articles of the Day
Posted by TJ Walker in Presentation Skills Training, Public Speaking Skills on January 19, 2008
Sentence for Drug Overdose Death: Jail and Public Speaking
WBAY – Green Bay,WI,USA
During Danen’s two years in jail, Judge Atkinson is requiring him to take public speaking classes and do anything Falck requests to prepare for their …
Toastmasters celebrate anniversary
New Richmond News – New Richmond,WI,USA
There have been surveys citing public speaking as the biggest fear people have – acing out flying and death. It’s this line of thinking that led Hooey to …
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