Thursday, September 4, 2008

Public Speaking Won't Kill You – Planning Is Better Than Being Afraid

By Chad Mcdonald

The act, art or process of making outstanding public speeches to a people in a structured and deliberate approach is called public speaking. Your goal as a public speaker is usually to inform, influence or entertain the audience. The foundation of your success depends on how well you have figured out who is saying whom about what via what medium and with what effects. Among all the known fears, public speaking, known as glossophobia is the worst. So, pay adequate attention to prepare your speech.

Connecting with the crowd

Did you ever notice how the people love public speakers that seem born with the public speaking ability. I'm sure you can think of politicians and our old college professors who knew how to keep us mesmerized with their words. Nonetheless, the majority of folks are really scarred when their asked to speak to a group even if their excellent at making public speeches.

Beleive me, anyone can be a great public speaker by proper rehearsal. These days, even the task of writing the speech has been relieved since many proffesionals give free online content.

Things to consider

When preparing to speak publicly, you must concentrate on the crowd and think of ways to hold their interest in listening to you to the end. Listen to yourself while you rehearse. To become a better speaker, record the length of your speech, set spots in advance, where you can change your speed, tone and rhythm and plan your speech.

The way you walk in and the beginning few minutes of your public speech can form a long lasting impression on your people. The degree of calmness and confidence you project will affect the impact you create. Start on a strong note and keep the crowds attention. Have an opening statement to grip your people. Don't look tense, even if you are late, but show a calm posture.

A broad range of situations occur where people on the move, like travelogue documenters or photographers have to address a group to talk about their travel. For these, portable lecterns are quite useful. Some models are also available to hold laptops.

Many folks join organizations like Toastmasters etc, to help them to learn by speaking to groups. A common public speaking occurance that arises are graduation announcements. You are generally asked to give a speech where you thank everyone for being there, many make it more fascinating by recalling an important occurance that occurred during your school days.

Graduation announcements

Nearly all people prepare a graduation speech around a theme like an art-related theme for someone in literature or art, a scientific theme for a science major and a business theme for a business graduate etc.

To wrap up this short article on public speaking I'd like to point out 2 more things.

1. Prepare well in advance. Ensure you have all the content you'll need, than practice your public speech ahead of time. Try speaking into a full length mirror; you'll begin to notice things about hand movements and posture you may not have picked up on previously.

2. Something that's helped me as well; tape or video record your speech. Than watch it afterward and take notes. If you do this once per day leading up to the big day you'll appear as a proffesional speaker, even if you are shaking in your boots.

The above information about best man speeches and best man wedding speech sent to us from Chad M. at: http://www.best-man-wedding-speech.info

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

General Session Speaker - Keynote Speaker - Plenary Speaker

By Yvon Douran

Meetings are as diverse in their purpose and structure as the speakers who are on the platform at these meetings. They can be international, national, regional. They can be internal meetings, external meetings, sales meetings, client conferences, user conferences, annual conferences or leadership retreats.

Once you have determined the purpose, theme and structure of your meeting you will have a better idea of your speaker needs. The following descriptions will help you define exactly how you utilize a speaker’s services:

Keynote Speaker ( keynote - the main idea or theme). In public speaking the word keynote refers to the principal underlying theme of a larger idea hence the topic that a keynote speaker addresses usually relates to the reason or purpose behind a meeting. The keynote address or keynote speech: An opening keynote speaker is bought in to set the underlying tone and summarize the core message or most important revelation of the event. A closing keynote speaker will be engaged to end a conference on a high note. If an event is held over a longer period of time, it is not unusual to have a different keynote speaker for each day of the event. . Often referred to as “featured keynote speaker” General Session Speaker A well chosen general session speaker can contribute a lot to a successful meeting and help to make it dynamic, productive, informative and memorable. Adding good quality audio, video, lighting, special effects, custom stage sets and theatrical scenery can also help to create an environment of energy and excitement Organize general sessions where the attendees can actively learn and take away new skills they can apply in their organizations and in their lives. Plenary Speaker When a speaker is referred to as a plenary speaker that person is often from within an organization, the same industry or a related industry. As opposed to a professional speaker or independent expert on a particular subject who is bought in to be a marquee keynote speaker. Mini Plenary Sessions These are often concurrent sessions that focus on issues important to an industry sector or a particular aspect of a practice applicable to all industries. Mini-plenary sessions are usually open to all registrants. Breakout Session Speaker Typically a breakout session speaker is not on the main platform. A breakout session is a more focused session that is typically one hour to 2 ½ hours in length. Often breakout sessions are offered simultaneously in different meeting rooms and attendees decide which sessions that wish to attend. A main stage keynote speaker is sometimes asked to give a breakout session that immediately follows the keynote address. This provides an opportunity for attendees to participate, interact and learn more – they do not get this opportunity when they sit and listen to a keynote address.

A desire to creatively express myself in the world is what drives me. A wish to provide a service that is of value to others is at the foundation of my business. Pursuits directly related to improving the quality of life on this planet are of keen interest to me. I have a background in the entertainment industry and have been working with professional speakers for eight years. For more information visit http://www.keynoteresource.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Female Motivational Speakers - Making A Connection With The Audience

By Dean Forster

Sometimes the best way to go when looking for a motivational speaker for any event is to find a speaker that really can identify with your group's demographics. In other words, if you have a women's group that requires a motivational speaker, it can be a wonderful idea to look into female motivational speakers specifically. This will instantly lend credibility to the speaker, especially if the topic of the speech is one that affects women specifically and also help the audience to identify with what the speaker is saying from the very first time she opens her mouth. Conversely, if your speaker does not receive this credibility from the audience, and does not establish that connection, they will be fighting an uphill battle right from the beginning.

In order to find the right speaker for your group, company or organization, make sure that you check with other, similar groups to see if they have any recommendations. Use your contacts that you have established to check around, because if you can find a speaker based on positive word of mouth, you will at least have some idea of what you can expect from the speaker herself. If you do not have such options, you may have to be a bit craftier when you are conducting your search, but you can still find the perfect motivational speaker for your event.

The internet is a wonderful tool for anyone looking to find women who are talented motivational speakers. A simple web search, or some clicking around will lead you to many of these women, who have set up their own websites to further establish their careers in the field of motivational speaking. However, there are many choices, and it can be difficult to narrow them down. One way to narrow the choices down is to check for videos of past speeches, or even request one from a speaker that you are thinking about hiring. That way, you will have an idea of what type of motivational speaker they are.

Finally, keep an eye out for women's public speakers bureaus, or speakers bureaus that may apply directly to your group's interests or needs for a motivational speaker. These organizations generally only work with the highest quality motivational speakers, and even if the bureau that you consult with works with both male and female speakers, you can have them narrow down the choices to only female motivational speakers, if you wish.

Looking for female speakers or want to know more about the top ones in this field of work? Learn more about Women Motivational Speakers at =>http://www.speakersbureautraining.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Youth Motivational Speakers - Getting Into The World Of Public Speaking

By Dean Forster

Motivational speakers come in all shapes, sizes and ages. These days, even youth motivational speakers are getting into the action, and they are using their unique approach to motivational speaking to reach audiences in a whole new way. In the past, most people did not consider younger motivational speakers for events, since it seemed that groups would not feel eager to take advice from those that are younger than them, but that has changed in recent years. If you are a young person who would like to get into the exciting world of motivational speaking, there are a few things to consider.

For one thing, it is important for young motivational speakers to not ignore what gives them a leg up on the competition. Many younger speakers may be tempted to adopt a more authoritative style, especially as a way to reach older audiences, but it is important to retain what it is that makes you a great young speaker. When many organizations and groups book a young speaker, they are doing so in part because they want an energetic person who is fresh-faced and full of life. That is why you do not want to get away from those positive aspects of being a youth speaker.

Also, make sure that the energy that you do have is focused towards the task at hand. Unfocused energy can be a hindrance, but if you can take your youthful exuberance and focus it towards engaging the audience in a meaningful way, it can give you quite an advantage over older, more experienced speakers.

Finally, make sure you tailor your message towards your background, but also your age and experience level. You will not be able to boast the laundry list of achievements and experience that older motivational speakers have to their credit, but you can still have an effective message. For instance, you may be able to "remind" audiences of the ideals and motivation that they had as a younger person who was fresh out of school and ready to take on the world. It is likely that this is the exact reason why you have been hired to speak to the group in question.

By tapping into your high level of energy and enthusiasm and standing out from the rest of the crowd, youth motivational speakers can easily reach the levels of success that are enjoyed by their more experienced counterparts.

Discover more about professional speaking from information on Famous Christian Speakers and Women Motivational Speakers to inspirational motivational speakers and business keynote speakers at => http://www.speakersbureautraining.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

How to Become a Professional Speaker

By Steve H Wilson

Professional speaking is an excellent career choice for those who want both the attractive returns from a very lucrative business as well as the flexibility of a freelance career.

Public speaking can be very rewarding financially which is why so many of the best public speakers earn all or most of their money from public speaking.

So just how much do professional speakers make anyway? It varies, and fees can range from the low hundreds up to six figures for those with strong credentials and experience.

The types of public presentations given by professional speakers range from short speeches to keynote speeches to seminars and workshops.

A typical speech is usually only half an hour to an hour in length. A seminar on the other hand, might run for a day or even longer. And in workshops the audience becomes participants, gaining hands-on experience in the area of your presentation.

A good way to get started is to look around your community for groups and organizations for whom you can give short speeches for free. Many communities have organizations that are in constant need of speakers. This is an excellent opportunity to improve your skills, to build your reputation as a speaker, and to obtain important contacts through networking at each event.

One of the most important keys to success is to continually improve your speaking skills. Practice. Practice, practice. Consider joining a group such as Toastmasters which will greatly assist you in developing your presentation skills.

The best professional speakers really love what they do. After all, there's nothing quite like the adrenaline rush that comes from having a room full of people applauding you or even giving you a standing ovation.

Once you have your first speaking engagements, be sure to go out and do a great job, and don't forget to request a testimonial letter. Ask the principal of the organization to write up a letter testifying to your skills as a speaker and how well you spoke to their group. Now you can use key sentences from that testimonial in your marketing materials.

If you really want to get started as a professional speaker, there is no reason why you cannot take the first steps today.

Steve Wilson is the manager of FreelanceSpeaking.com Visit his site today to discover exactly how to get started as a professional speaker, how to market your speaking services, how to improve your speaking skills and how to find the best speaking gigs. http://www.FreelanceSpeaking.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_H_Wilson

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Overcoming the Fear Factor in Public Speaking

By Bradlley Mckoy

You're asked to go to the front of the class to discuss the angst of Proust's literary work or to demonstrate how a pulley works. You're confident about the topic. It's the thought of speaking in front of the class that terrifies you, yet there's no escape. How to survive? Here is how.

You Can Do It

Learning public speaking is like an attempt to conquer Mt. Everest. It takes some spunk before you can speak to a crowd without quaking or freezing up. Well, it's a humbling experience to accept that you're no orator or charismatic speaker, and it takes courage to do something about it.

Eventually, after much effort at learning public speaking, you'll be ready to take on the world. You won't be lighting too many cigarettes with one of your Zippo lighters before a speaking engagement. Not anymore.

How to go about it? You have several options. Sign up with Toastmasters International, discreetly look around for speech tutors, or join a drama group. Or, you can purchase e-books on public speaking, which you can learn at home behind locked doors.

With persistence, you can beat the fear factor in public speaking. It may take a while, but people will soon notice that you're becoming a confident and lively speaker. This development will be good for your class presentations and your chances for future employment, so these should be enough motivation for you.

Speech Problems You Can Correct

Stuttering has caused millions of people to agonize over this speech disorder. People who stutter find it difficult to get the sounds out, and they end up repeating part of a word. 'Water' is 'wawawater', and they get all red when they catch knowing smiles. But with speech therapy and the support of your family, you can get past this problem.

Cluttering is the opposite of stuttering. Someone who clutters talks too fast in spurts, sounding jerky, or is simply unsure of what he or she wants to say because of the long pauses between words.

Mispronunciation - People laugh or feel awkward when they hear a public speaker mispronounce words. A structured session at the speech laboratory with a speech therapist can solve the problem.

Unnecessary fillers - If you count the number of times you say "uh" in your speech, you might be astounded at your propensity to dispense with speech fillers.

Regional accents - You shouldn't be ashamed of your regional accent, but sometimes the embarrassment caused is worse than the fear of catching a deadly virus.

Weak voice - Finding yourself repeating a word to be heard? Blame this on a small weak voice, but vocal exercises can strengthen your vocal muscles. Having a medical professional evaluate the condition can also detect serious respiratory or other ailments.

Nasal voice - You have a nasal voice if you are talking though your nose. Just pinch your nose and speak, if you have trouble releasing your voice, then you are nasal as they come.

Where to Go From Here

Get a book about public speaking and join organizations like Toastmasters and Speaking Circles. Joining a speaking group is more interesting than practicing before a mirror.

You'll meet more people and forge new friendships, learn from the experience of others, and get good advice. In the aftermath of all your struggles, you might start talking non-stop - but that is another disorder.

Present a public speaker with Zippo lighters or a cigarette lighter case. Visit ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com for more personalized Zippo products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bradlley_Mckoy

Monday, June 30, 2008

Funny Topics For a Persuasive Speech - How to Rouse Up the Audience With Funny Speech Topics

By Michael Lee

Funny topics for a persuasive speech may often be an excellent way of making people more interested in what you have to say. Incidentally, it is not that easy to formulate funny topics for a persuasive speech.

You may have to spend a bit of your time and effort to get that ideal subject matter. Here are a few tips on how to find hilarious topics that will keep your audience alive and kicking!

Start With Normal Topics

The important idea that you should remember is the definition of a persuasive speech. You need to bear in mind that a persuasive speech, whether it is about a funny topic or not, is there to persuade people - to convince people to believe in what you are saying.

What better way to persuade people than to talk about something you have knowledge about or a topic that you are interested in.

You can then list subject matters that interest you or something you're familiar with. You can get a pen and a piece of paper and write them all down. You do not have to be formal when writing your thoughts. Just write them in anyway you want for as long as you can read them later.

Target Audience

Now that you have your list of ideas, it is time to choose which subject would fit your audience. You do not want to talk about something political when you are supposed to deliver your persuasive speech to 5-year-old children.

On your list, choose the best ideas that would best suit your target audience. Crush out any other ideas that would not fit the profile of your audience.

Make Them Funny

Funny topics for a persuasive speech are not, in their nature, really funny. You will be the one who can turn these "unfunny" ideas and turn them into something hilarious.

A good example would be chocolate. Chocolate by itself is not funny, but you have the power to turn it into funny topics for a persuasive speech. Just by the idea of chocolate, you can create a funny topic that states, "Why momma wouldn't let me eat a lot of chocolates?" This can be interesting to an audience of kids and at the same time funny for them.

Another good example would be talking about college in front of a teenage audience. The idea of college can become a funny topic if you state your topic in a way like, "Why does college suck?"

Any idea you have written on your list has the potential to become funny topics for a persuasive speech. You just have to be a little creative.

Finale

Funny topics for a persuasive speech can only do so much for the impact that it can make on people. The way you deliver your speech in front of the audience will also play a very big role on how funny it will be and how it can affect your audience.

Discover compelling persuasive topics to easily persuade anyone to your way of thinking. Get a FREE course that reveals groundbreaking persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee

Sunday, June 29, 2008

How to Give an a Speech

By Alaina Sagan

Did you know that most people fear speaking in front of a group more then they fear death? Yes, it's true and death seemed to be an option for me when I found out that I had to give a speech in front of my class for my final. I started sweating bullets as soon as the words were spoken but pushed it all behind me knowing that I had 8 weeks before that all took place.

Those weeks seem to fly by and before I knew it I had 4 hours 33 minutes and 10 seconds left before I awaited my doom. I contemplated skipping my speech and taking a C in the class because I felt that I just could not do it. When the time came and my number was called I found out that after getting up in class that giving my speech was not that bad. I got a 96% on my speech, instead of getting a C; I got a B+ in the class. All my hard work paid off!

Here are the guidelines that I used and you can use next time you want to get an A on your speech:

1. Eye contact- Some people have a hard time doing this! But if you're looking at everything else other than your audience they will know and zone out. Stare at their eyebrows instead of their eyes. They won't know the difference.

2. Calm, relaxed feeling- Everyone gets butterflies! Especially right before the speech. Take deep breathes, walk or meditate if you can.

3. Vocal energy- Speak up! You need to get the whole audience involved. If the back of the room can't hear you they will not pay attention to you and that may affect your speech.

4. Story telling- As far as I am concerned this may be the most important one! The audience does not want to be lectured to; they want to feel like they are along for the journey with you. People love stories!

5. Organization- This one is also important, write out your main points on flashcards. It helps keep you on track.

6. Preparation- The best way to prepare is to practice in front of your family and friends. They can give great feedback and help you improve. Read your speech a couple times everyday so you can get familiar with your topic, but don't memorize it you will know it so well that you will say your speech and not say anything else.

7. Know your audience- Make sure your speech is appropriate for your audience. Find out what they might want to hear about.

8. Get the audience involved- Let the audience ask questions! They will love you for it and enhance your speech.

9. Visual Aids- This does not have to be extravagant! Power Point is a great
visual aide and it is easy to use. Be careful not to talk to your visual aide.

Use these 9 points and you will get your well deserved A! Remember to dress appropriately for the audience and watch that you're not all over the room. Good luck, you can do it!

Alaina Sagan is CEO and owner of the http://www.vigrxenhancementonline.com/ male enhancement company that is dedicated to find the real truth about male enhancement products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alaina_Sagan

How to Give an a Speech

By Alaina Sagan

Did you know that most people fear speaking in front of a group more then they fear death? Yes, it's true and death seemed to be an option for me when I found out that I had to give a speech in front of my class for my final. I started sweating bullets as soon as the words were spoken but pushed it all behind me knowing that I had 8 weeks before that all took place.

Those weeks seem to fly by and before I knew it I had 4 hours 33 minutes and 10 seconds left before I awaited my doom. I contemplated skipping my speech and taking a C in the class because I felt that I just could not do it. When the time came and my number was called I found out that after getting up in class that giving my speech was not that bad. I got a 96% on my speech, instead of getting a C; I got a B+ in the class. All my hard work paid off!

Here are the guidelines that I used and you can use next time you want to get an A on your speech:

1. Eye contact- Some people have a hard time doing this! But if you're looking at everything else other than your audience they will know and zone out. Stare at their eyebrows instead of their eyes. They won't know the difference.

2. Calm, relaxed feeling- Everyone gets butterflies! Especially right before the speech. Take deep breathes, walk or meditate if you can.

3. Vocal energy- Speak up! You need to get the whole audience involved. If the back of the room can't hear you they will not pay attention to you and that may affect your speech.

4. Story telling- As far as I am concerned this may be the most important one! The audience does not want to be lectured to; they want to feel like they are along for the journey with you. People love stories!

5. Organization- This one is also important, write out your main points on flashcards. It helps keep you on track.

6. Preparation- The best way to prepare is to practice in front of your family and friends. They can give great feedback and help you improve. Read your speech a couple times everyday so you can get familiar with your topic, but don't memorize it you will know it so well that you will say your speech and not say anything else.

7. Know your audience- Make sure your speech is appropriate for your audience. Find out what they might want to hear about.

8. Get the audience involved- Let the audience ask questions! They will love you for it and enhance your speech.

9. Visual Aids- This does not have to be extravagant! Power Point is a great
visual aide and it is easy to use. Be careful not to talk to your visual aide.

Use these 9 points and you will get your well deserved A! Remember to dress appropriately for the audience and watch that you're not all over the room. Good luck, you can do it!

Alaina Sagan is CEO and owner of the http://www.vigrxenhancementonline.com male enhancement company that is dedicated to find the real truth about male enhancement products.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alaina_Sagan

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Public Speaking Exercises - 3 Ways to Improve Personal Presence, Vocal Tone, and Voice Projection

By Devin Bean

Aside from the content of a presentation, your delivery is the most important factor (some would say even more important than the content itself). Building good delivery habits takes effort. Luckily, unlike content which may or may not apply to other speeches and areas of your life, building better delivery habits will benefit you not just during a speech, but also during interviews, meetings, and any time you want to leave someone with a good impression. Here's three exercises that, done regularly, will improve three essential areas of public speaking delivery: personal presence, vocal tone, and voice projection.

Personal Presence

Some people walk into a room and shrink away. Others command attention, immediately taking center stage even when they don't put themselves forward. Part of this presence comes through good posture. One particularly effective exercise requires only a stability (Swiss) ball and your body itself.

Kneel on the ground in front of the ball.

Roll forward until your stomach is on the ball, feet on the ground behind you and hands on the ground in front of you.

Place you hands behind your head lift with your lower back until your body forms a straight line from feet to head.

Lower slowly; repeat.

Obligatory Note: If you have a history of back problems, consult your doctor before doing this or any other back exercise.

Vocal Tone

Vocal tone is a function of two things: your vocal cords and your body cavities. How your body cavities? When you speak, your voice originates at your vocal cords and then resonates through your chest, throat, and head as it comes out of your mouth. That's why people sound funny when they have a cold - with plugged sinuses, your voice can't resonate well. So, to improve vocal tone, one must "open up" their chest, throat, and head cavities.

Hum at a comfortable pitch.

Move the pitch slightly lower; pay attention to how your chest feels.

Hum until you can feel the vibration in your chest. Continue humming once you do, attempting to increase the vibration.

Next move the pitch slightly higher; pay attention to how your head feels.

Let your mouth open. Hum until you feel the vibration in your tongue and lips, behind and above your mouth. Continue humming once you do, attempting to increase the vibration.

Finally, return to your chest once more. Repeat the whole exercise, always ending with your chest in order to develop a full, luscious sound.

Note: In this exercise, avoid tension at all costs. Breath frequently, and stop if you get light headed.

Voice Projection

It doesn't matter what you say if people can't hear you! Weak (not quiet, but weak) voices can give the impression of fear and anxiousness, two impressions you don't want to give. To develop good voice projection, remember this principle: your strength doesn't depend on your mouth or throat, but on your lungs. In other words, when people yell until their throat is sore and they can't speak anymore, they're just hurting themselves and not using the air support they could for a full, strong voice. To develop that support,

Sitting straight, place one hand on your belly and another behind your back opposite your hand on your belly.

Breath in, attempting to move both hands out as far as possible (it takes a lot of strength to get your hand on your back to move; don't worry if it doesn't). This is belly breathing. Notice how it feels; this is how you want to breath when you speak in order to use your full lung capacity and get the fullest, strongest, and richest sound.

Exhale quickly, but make no sound as you do so. Sound is an indication of tension.

Breath in again. Now, when you exhale, say the first letter of the alphabet.

Continue until you reach Z. As you progress through the alphabet, pretend that with each letter you are speaking to a target farther and farther away. By the time you reach the end, you should be very loud and strong. If you're still breathing right, you will be stronger than you could be breathing normally.
Again, stop if you get lightheaded.
These three exercises, done often, will increase your effectiveness both as a speaker and as a person as you increase your ability and capacity. Happy speaking!

For more breathing exercises and other public speaking tips and tricks, visit http://www.speech-time.com/breathingexercises.html Devin R. Bean currently edits http://www.speech-time.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Devin_Bean

Friday, June 27, 2008

Example Best Man Speeches - The Basics of a Best Man Speech

By Margie Du Plessis

As best man you have to make a speech and now you are probably looking for example best man speeches. In this article I am going to try and give you the broad outline of a good best man speech. Take this outline and fill in the gabs with unique incidents related to your friend and the bride to personalize it. Remember though, that there is a fine line between good humor and bad taste. Make very sure that none of your jokes offends.

Basic tips to start with:

Start planning your best man speech well in advance so that you are not pressed for time.

Speak from the heart and honestly

Share thought and experiences

At all costs, do not make anyone in the audience uncomfortable

It is OK to share a few humorous incidents concerning the time running up to the wedding but make very sure you do not embarrass either the groom or the bride; remember, a joke your friend enjoys when amongst the "men," may embarrass him in front of his bride. Also keep in mind that there are probably older and more conservative guests in the audience.

Treat the bride and the groom with the utmost of respect.

Your best man speech should be about 5 minutes. Too short and you will not be able to contribute anything to the proceedings and longer, you may start boring your audience and loose their attention.

Get hold of Example Best Man Speeches to get a few good ideas.

The basic outline of a good best man speech:

If you are the first speaker, start by welcoming the guest to the wedding.

Thank the groom for trusting you with the responsibility of best man.

Compliment the bride on her beauty.

Speak about your relationship with the groom and this is an ideal time for a humorous anecdote about the groom, without embarrassing him.

Mention some of the incidents running up to the wedding.

Now it is time to talk about the bride. Keep it sincere and complimentary.

Conclude with a toast on the bride and the groom. Make sure that your closing is simple and sincere.

Get more examples of best man speeches at Margie's site My Amazing Wedding.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margie_Du_Plessis

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Public Speaking - Three Surprising Tips to Improve Your Presentations

By Lisa Braithwaite

You've all heard the advice to get to know your audience, make eye contact, don't say "um," check your equipment, and similar public speaking techniques to make your presentations as powerful as they can be. These are great tips, and you'll hear them over and over, but I've got some lesser-known suggestions for you today that will benefit you and your audience as much as more common advice.

Pointer 1: Take your medications

As an allergy sufferer, I can tell you that I am not at my best when giving a talk through sniffles and itchy eyes. Even if I'm not having a particular allergic day, I will be sure to take my prescription medication before I speak, to ensure that I don't have a sudden unexpected reaction.

If your nervousness goes to your gut, by all means take your upset stomach medication. If you get tension headaches, head them off at the pass with your favorite pain reliever. Do what it takes to avoid the physical distractions that will disrupt your performance and keep you from doing your best.

One caveat to this advice: Avoid psychiatric anti-anxiety medications before speaking; you will not be as sharp as you could be. There are non-pharmaceutical ways of dealing with nervousness and anxiety that will not interfere with your ability to think on your feet and interact with your audience.

Pointer 2: Start on time

How many times have you arrived on time for a presentation, even early, and ended up sitting there for an extra fifteen minutes while stragglers made their way to the seats in the back of the room? Then, because the presentation started late, it ends late, but you've had to miss the end because you have other commitments on your schedule.

Waiting for latecomers rewards latecomers, but it punishes those who were on time for your presentation. Latecomers may be a distraction when then enter the room after the presentation has started, but what's worse: a little disruption by laggards or being responsible for annoying the half of your audience who made the effort to be on time and now might miss the end if you go over?

Take charge of the room, take charge of your time, and make the decision to reward the people who are committed and punctual.

Pointer 3: Give the end of your sentences the same energy you give to the beginning of your sentences

This is a simple tool but an effective one. Some people's voices trail off at the ends of sentences, making it hard to hear the last few words they've said. As a speaker, trailing off at the ends of sentences means that your audience might miss something important. Make sure you are emphasizing both ends of your sentences, and your audience will never miss a crucial point or valuable tip!

Stick with the tried-and-true public speaking advice you've heard before, but in addition, try adding these three tricks to your bag the next time you have a speaking engagement. See if you don't feel more confident and pulled together on stage and more successful in connecting with the audience.

Lisa Braithwaite works with individuals to uncover their challenges and build their strengths in presenting themselves confidently as speakers. Find your voice with public speaking coaching! Sign up for the Presentation Pointers newsletter or a free consultation at http://www.coachlisab.com And don't miss the Speak Schmeak blog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Braithwaite

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

What Fulfills the Goal of a Motivational Speaker

By Dobre Ruxandra

Motivational speaking is about spirit, personality, common sense and determination. These are only some of the words that can characterize the activity of motivating by speeches. Derived from these constructive features, we may also note the existence of a few secondary ones which fusion with each other to create a proper, useful and convincing speech for motivating all kinds of audiences.

Motivational speakers have a special inner light that is the motor of their actual preaches. This light usually comes from a brave and powerful mind that is eager to help others find themselves the same way the speaker found his or her spiritual strength.
For this reason, we may consider the role of motivational speakers as one of the most noble and important impacts that they may have upon a great number of listeners.

Motivational speaking is about power of convincing masses and about constructive introspection. The determination that motivational speakers prove is a result of their introspection and may be also considered as the concept that they preach. By saying this we bare in mind the actual determination that motivational speakers make use of in order to bring a light upon the minds of the masses.

This light that we kept on mentioning is the actual sparkle that creates determination and that brings more sense to any existence. This light is the aim of life itself; its primordial meaning is to lead the mentalities towards perfection and to guide them to an a primordial self consciousness. This light is the reflection of a lucid life.

You can find more info related to motivational speaking and speakers in the personal writing website blog of Dobre Ruxandra at http://www.ruxatranswrite.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dobre_Ruxandra

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The Art Of Public Speaking

By Rupal Jain

As rightly said, "Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't; the other half have nothing to say and keep saying it". Public Speaking is explained as the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listener. It is a powerful tool used for various purposes such as motivation, influencing, persuasion, information, translation, entertainment etc.

A research revealed that 75% of the people suffer from "glossophopia" or "stage freight" which means fear of public speaking. Even the world's best speakers faced nervousness and stage freight. "There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous and those that are liars"- Mark Twain. However, the good news is that you can overcome the fear through sincere efforts and dedication by adopting few techniques which are stated below:-

1. Understand the occasion, venue and the message to be conveyed before the speech.
2. Analyze Who are the Listeners? What you want to communicate? When you want to convey the message? Where is the venue? Why should the audience listen to you? and How will you convey the message?
3. Prepare yourself before the speech; as said by someone that those who fails to prepare is preparing for failure.
4. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses. Emphasize on your strengths to overcome the weaknesses.
5. Structure the opening, body and closing of the speech effectively.
6. Use proper body language, gestures, tones, facial expressions and eye contact with the audiences.
7. Speak slowly and clearly, i.e. neither too fast nor too slow.
8. Keep the sentences short and simple and don't read word-to-word from your notes/ material.
9. Use appropriate technical details, graphs, diagrams, pictures, charts and other visual aids but don't over use it.
10. Support your statements with proper examples.
11. Don't get into arguments with the listener, if he/she disagrees with your ideas.
12. Stay Relaxed / Calmed; Be Enthusiastic, Positive and Confident.
13. Know when to stop; keep a watch on time.
14. Allow question and answer session in the end.
15. Always use language that you are comfortable with.
16. Finally, believe in what you are saying to boost your morale.

Wish you all the best for better Public Speaking!

Rupal Jain, Lecturer, Atharva Institute of Management Studies (Mumbai), and I can be reached at jainrupal@sify.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rupal_Jain

Monday, June 23, 2008

Public Speaking Skills Are an Essential

By Carl Formby

Most of us think that only teachers, politicians, actors and advocates are the people who need to speak in public. This is, however, a mistaken view. All of us need to do public speaking at least once in our life. It can be an elocution competition at school, a presentation in college, a group discussion at the University level, a board meeting in office, a press conference, a corporate get together or a simple family gathering, sometimes or the other we have to face the audience. But to be very honest, almost 70 percent of the population suffers from glossophobia, that is, stage phobia, or the fear of speaking in public. This is where; we need the help of public speaking help the general public in developing their speaking skills. These classes offer a friendly and supportiworkshops.

There are many training institutes that provide classes tove atmosphere for people belonging to different backgrounds to train them in effective public speaking. There is a specially trained teacher or coach who increases your confidence level with his valuable tips. There are many institutes that also offer online classes for working people who cannot afford to give time for the offline classes.

Attending proper courses or training can help to overcome stage fright to a large extent. With increasing use of the internet today, there are many websites that offer free classes and exercises. These exercises have been used by countless number of people who have benefited immensely. One of the most hated exercise is to tape yourself, though it produces fast results. People generally do not like listening to themselves or watching themselves on television. But this evaluation gives you the best indication of where you need to focus maximum attention.

There is also an option to follow lesson plans that can be used to learn about the process of public speaking and help you to prepare your speeches. These lessons prepare you to recite tongue twisters and speak improvisationally. Some of these lessons also ask you to sing or hum a song of your choice, not to hone your singing skills of course, but to warm up your throat and your vocal chords instead.

Sometimes it is not about being scared of public speaking but only a want to better yourself. In such cases you need to get the best advice and some tips. These tips will help to steady your nerves and reduce you anxiety before the speech. They will help you to create and deliver the most perfect speech needed on any occasion. On the internet you can get an access to several books, articles and links to websites that offer such courses and tips and sometimes even professionally written speeches for your help.

Carl Formby owns and operates http://www.presentationsbusiness.com a site dedicated to Effective Business Presentation and and Church Presentation Software.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Formby

Sunday, June 22, 2008

10 Secrets to Becoming a Speaking Superstar

By Darryl Mobley

Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet and work with an emerging speaker during an event in Las Vegas. That dynamic speaker was Kevin Bracy. In the years since, Kevin has taken his speaking career to incredible heights. Given his success and my insatiable desire to get the "secrets" to succeeding in so many areas, I asked him for his top 10 secrets to becoming a speaking superstar.

Before I reveal the 10 Secrets, let me tell you that up-shifting your ability to share ideas verbally will help you grow your business --- no matter what business you are in. With that said, here are the 10 Secrets, gifted to us by Kevin Bracy:

10 Secrets To Becoming A Speaking Superstar

Be warned that once you take ownership of these tips your phone could start ringing with people requesting your speaking services.

10) Speak As Often As You Can

I suggest speaking as often as you can whenever and wherever the opportunity arises, the more you speak, the more comfortable and confident you become. There will still be fear. The butterflies never go away. However, I have learned, as will you - to have those butterflies flying in formation. The more you do it the better you become.

9) Record Everything

Every time you step in front of an audience make sure you record it. Why? Because: While speaking you think you know what you're saying. However, when you listen back and study it, that is when you get to hear the power your speech had or did not have on your audience. For product purposes, there are times when you deliver a powerful message and the listeners want to re-listen to it or hear it for the first time. If it's not recorded then that "moment of power" within that particular speech cannot be re-birthed.

8) Live Life With Your Antennas Up

Pay attention to those "slices of life" that you can craft into stories that can be of value to an audience. Be a true student of life! I get the best stories from having my antennas up in the airport. One of my new coaching clients recently asked me where I get the material I use in my talks. My answer: living life with my antennas up!

7) Record Everything

Hey! Wasn't this number 9 too? Yes it was; however, in this instance when I say "record" I mean "writing." Most of life's lessons you learn on a daily basis. You will forget them unless you record them. Just having an archive of stories and lessons gives you speaking power that will surpass your fear.

Comment: I record my insights in my specially designed "Create A Life Worth Living" Journal.

6) Read

Decide to develop a love affair with uplifting and empowering books and magazines (such as "How To Create A Life Worth Living"). Reading helps you raise the opinion you have of yourself. When you feel better about yourself it shows in your physiology when you speak and in how you deliver your words. This all adds to your speaking power.

5) Listen

Listen to audio of motivational speakers and preachers as much as you can. Simply listening to audios helps you override the negative conversations you have with yourself. This will add to your self-image, which will allow you to speak with more power and passion. Les Brown says he was "self-taught" as a professional speaker. Well, I was "tape taught" through his tapes while I drove about my city.

4) Watch

Order DVDs of speakers, and watch them over and over again. You will not be able to help but adopt some of the mannerisms and gestures that the successful speakers use to tap into their speaking power. It's important to spend time inside of the energy orbit of speakers. Watch the tactics they use to impact audiences in a live setting.

3) Join Toastmasters

Toastmasters is a organization that stretches across the globe allowing professionals to get together to develop their communication skills. This is where I began speaking to tap into my speaking power and is a great place to start for anyone who is ready to learn how to speak with power and passion.

2) Invest In Yourself

Invest in the tools, programs, and literature that will help you develop yourself as a speaker. You are well worth the investment.

1) Connect With A Coach

A coach can show you things on the horizon that you didn't even know existed. It's tough to see the whole picture, when you are in the frame. Your coach can watch you from a distance and immediately tell whether you're speaking from that place of power within you, or not. My coaches have truly been my "meal tickets" for this business.

Remember --- You DO Deserve To Live A Great Life.

© 2008 Darryl L. Mobley

Want To Use This Article In Your E-Zine, Magazine Or Web Site? You can, as long as you include this complete short blurb with it: For nearly 25 years, super-achievers have praised "Life Acceleration Coach" Darryl Mobley. Darryl Mobley, publisher of the weekly How To Create A Life Worth Living™ eMagazine, business-building consultant, speaker, and top-selling author of books and audio/video programs, is brilliant when it comes to the strategies and action steps that lead to living a better life. Darryl is also known as the, "Bull Dog of Work-Life Balance". Darryl Mobley teaches people How To Create The Life Of Their Dreams - personally and professionally - with more happiness, more income, better relationships and more success with his How To Create A Life Worth Living™ system. To get FREE tips on "Living a Life Fantastic" go to http://a1.successsubscription.com For more on, Darryl go to http://www.WhyIDoWhatIDo.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darryl_Mobley

Saturday, June 21, 2008

How to Become a Public Speaker People Want to Hear

By Ronald Myers

I wanted to share a little on how to become a public speaker that people want to hear. Public speaking is a great skill to learn for a number of reasons. It makes you a better communicator, it will help you in your personal and financial life and finally only a small amount of people have them.

Take about something you love: I wish there was a way that you could speak about anything, but if you really want to be a great speaker, than you should speak about something you love. The reason is quite simple; that love inside of you will come out in the speech. Typically the emotion you feel, will be felt by the audience. If you can make the audience feel love for what you're talking about, they will love you and want to hear more.

Tell Stories: There is a huge difference in communication when it comes to talking and story telling. Which one do you think builds more rapport? That's right, the story. Our ability to tell a story is an excellent tool to get your point across and do it with a feeling attached with it. If it is a sad story, a sad feeling will be attached to it. If it is an exciting story, an exciting feeling will be attached to it. There is also another affect. When you tell a story, you're giving the audience a little piece of yourself. They get a glimpse of who you are. This makes you much easier to identify with.

Becoming a charismatic and moving speaker is in the grasp of all people. If you're looking to learn to transform yourself from an ordinary speaker to extraordinary speaker, check out Public Speaking Ebooks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Myers

Friday, June 20, 2008

Persuasive Speech Ideas - How to Make Your Persuasive Speech a Resounding Success

By Michael Lee

Speaking in front of a live audience can be quite terrifying, even more so when you're trying to convince them of something. In situations like this, it's important to prepare yourself with persuasive speech ideas which will increase the chances of swaying people over to your side.

Arming yourself with these persuasive speech ideas will not only help you develop better rapport with people, it will also give you the confidence to perform well.

Know what you want.

It's highly important for you to know what your desired outcome is. You can't afford to lose your way in the middle of your speech. After all, you're the one who's supposed to be doing the persuading around here and not the other way around. Being clear with your goal gives you better direction and allows you to pursue it more assertively.

State facts and figures.

Go figure. Facts and figures always add more weight to your speech. It's as if people are conditioned to think that numbers and facts are the truth. In most cases, they are. At the very least, they are accurate. This is probably one of the most basic persuasive speech ideas in the world. Use it to your advantage and don't be afraid to do a lot of research. It pays off in the end.

Double check for loopholes.

It's critical for you to check every angle and every possible loophole in your speech. If there is, fix it. If you find nothing, get somebody else to listen to your speech just to be certain. You always have to stay two steps ahead of your audience and anticipate anything they might throw back at you.

Find reliable sources.

Trust me. You do not want to tell your audience that you learned economics from Bozo the Clown. When preparing for your speech, make sure that you only used sources that are reliable or at least certified. This is one of the most critical persuasive speech ideas that might save you more time and effort in the long run. You do not want an outbreak of dubious expressions among your audience, do you?

These persuasive speech ideas are simple but effective. Once you've mastered them all, you probably don't even have to wait until the end of you speech before they're all convinced!

Discover compelling persuasive topics to easily persuade anyone and ethically get what you want with proven mind control techniques. Get a FREE course that reveals groundbreaking persuasion secrets at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/secrets.htm

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lee

Thursday, June 19, 2008

My Public Speaking Lesson Plans

By Ronald Myers

I'm here to share with you some of my public speaking lesson plans that should help you with your speeches. Most people are scared to do this, but I think it really boils down to a combination of not learning it as a child and embarrassing yourself in front of a group. I hope these will help you improve your skills, so you can start to enjoy the skill of public speaking.

Positive Body Language: I know when you're up in front of an audience, this is the last thing on your mind, but try to make a conscious effort to do it. The words you say only make up about 10% of communication, that means your tonality and body language are making up the rest. Make you're standing up straight and not slouching. Also smile. If you're up there with the body language that this is a nightmare, than your audience is going to feel like your speech is a nightmare.

Simplify Your Speech: The topic you choose your speech on probably has a million different points you can talk on. Unfortunately, your speech won't have enough time for them and your audience won't care to hear them. That is why it is important to have one main thesis and three points to make. This allows you to break up your speech into intro, point1, point2, point3, and conclusion. It keeps the flow simple and allows you to stick to the point.

Eye Contact: You have to look out at the audience, no matter how unpleasant it feels. You don't actually have to make eye contact with people, you can just look at whatever you want. I find it is easier to follow a triangle of things out in the audience, so people get the impression that I look at all parts of the audience.

Becoming a charismatic and moving speaker is in the grasp of all people. If you're looking to learn to transform yourself from an ordinary speaker to extraordinary speaker, check out Public Speaking Ebooks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ronald_Myers

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Top 10 Problematic Speaking Skills

By Lynda Stucky

Without a doubt, communicating effectively in the work place benefits both the employee and employer. Here are some common problems that may necessitate further action to improve speaking skills and elevate your presence.

1. You hear yourself on tape and you refuse to believe that it is you speaking. Believe it or not, the way you hear yourself on tape is the real you! When you hear yourself speaking from within yourself, you are hearing the vibrations of sound vibrate off of the bony structures of your head. It sounds different when you hear your voice "outside of yourself" on a tape-recorder.

2. People mistake you for the wrong age and the wrong sex. If this is happening to you, you are probably speaking with the wrong pitch!

3. You have to repeat yourself more than once or twice a day. You might be mumbling or speaking too softly. A foreign accent might also be interfering with the listener's understanding.

4. Your speech has caused people to laugh. Not a good thing at all! Hope this never happens to you. You might be "hypernasal" or sound like you are speaking through your nose.

5. Voice and speech skills can be detrimental to career advancement. This happens quite frequently since people climbing the corporate ladder are usually asked to spend more time in the public eye. Employers want a polished-looking representative of their company.

6. You've received negative feedback somewhere. Did you ever give a speech and your written feedback was that people couldn't hear you or understand you? That's a miserable feeling if you receive this kind of feedback. Besides, you probably worked very hard at creating the perfect presentation.

7. You refrain from public speaking because it is terrifying. An easy solution to feeling comfortable speaking in front of a group is to get in front of a group more often! The best place to do that is at a Toastmasters Club (most cities have them) where the purpose is to practice speaking in front of groups. Club members have the same goal as you!

8. People can tell where you are from by your regional accent. Being identified by your regional accent isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, some regional accents have a negative image and make the speaker sound uneducated. How is the accent of your region perceived?

9. Your voice tires during the day or you lose your voice completely. Not a good sign if you lose your voice completely. You may be harming your vocal cords by speaking too frequently, too loudly, or at the wrong pitch. Good voice care (or vocal hygiene) can make all the difference maintaining symptom-free voicing especially for heavy voice users!

10. You emotions show through your voice. What pushes your hot buttons and how do you do talking about these issues in public? Employees in the public eye need to be careful about showing their emotions in public. Many company spokespersons need to pass this test before being put in front of a camera. An essential skill that can be developed is voice control!

Copyright (c) 2008 Lynda Stucky

Speech and voice expert Lynda Stucky shows you how to use your voice effectively to establish credibility, position yourself within your company, and enhance your reputation as an authority in your area of expertise. She is a corporate speech pathologist who consults with business professionals on speaking to captivate, engage and inspire. http://www.clearly-speaking.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynda_Stucky

Want To Learn How You Can Make Millions Speaking?

By Paul Vann

How many times have you heard someone say, I want to become a professional speaker. That is not all, they go on to say, I am passionate about speaking.

If I had a dollar for every time I have heard someone said they wanted to be a speaker, I could buy a barrel of oil. Get it, buy a barrel of oil?

For the uninitiated, if you want to make millions as a professional speaker do not and I repeat, do not try to go it alone. Do not become a lone ranger and try to figure out on your own it will cost you a lot of money and aggravation.

If you want to make millions in the professional speaking industry, I recommend you hire a speaking coaching. Why?

A speaking coach will cut your learning curve in half and you can concentrate on honing your speaking skills and secure speaking engagements. Let it be said, when the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Some of the things on your checklist for finding a professional speaking coach reads as follows:

1. Research and find a speaker coach who has been where you are trying to go.

2. Request a list of clients your speaker works with, however privacy may be an issue but you can always ask.

3. Review the client list of the organizations the speaker coach works with.

4. Interview your speaking coach and ask for credentials, such as speaking schools or workshops they have attended, etc.

5. Inquire if the speaker coach has a coach, this speaks volumes of their commitment to speaking.

6. Meet with your speaker coach in person and then schedule phone, webinar, and or e-mail coaching.

7. Enroll and attend your speaker coaches training if they offer it.

8. Ensure your speaking coach gives you their professional and undivided attention during each session.

9. Become an active listener and a student of the speaking craft.

10. Ensure your coach provides a comprehensive review of your speaking abilities, including vocal variety, gestures, practice time, history of the audience, etc.

11. Request to attend your speaking coaches live events, assist them throughout their speaking engagement.

12. Fight early and often for feedback, this will make all the difference in the long run.

To be the best, meaning you want to become a million dollar speaker, you must focus on being excellent. In other words, your mandate must include practice, practice, and more practice.

The key to becoming an in demand speaker is to accept nothing less than hard work. Hard work will pay dividends in the long run and you will live your passion as a world renowned professional speaker.

When it comes to achieving success, always surround yourself with a great team of experts. You will soon discover great talent, attracts great talent, choose your team wisely and ensure you select the right speaker coach for you, it will lead to you making millions speaking.

Paul Lawrence Vann is CEO of the Wealth Building Academy, a professional speaking, training, coaching, and publishing company. He is a speaker coach who delivers a two-day live training titled, Make Millions Speaking. Vann's first speaking coach was the late Dottie Walters. Learn more about Paul's speaker coaching program at http://www.paullawrencevann.com or http://speakercoaching.blogspot.com or call the Wealth Building Academy at (800) 476-8976.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Vann

Friday, May 2, 2008

The Importance Of Public Speaking Skills

By Alvin Loh

Public speaking skills are often overlooked by people as being unimportant or they may think that they will never be called to speak in public, that's why they do not bother to get themselves acquainted with any public speaking skills. Truth is, more often then not, it is these people that often get tongue tied and being in a state of total meltdown when faced with the possibility that they will be asked to present a topic in public, even a topic they know inside out.

To some people, they do not put high importance or regards to the importance of having good public speaking skills because they have an impression that good public speaking skills are only for people in sales or marketing. This is untrue. Good public speaking skills are also a hallmark of good communication skills and having good communication skills is essential for any career, unless you are the only person in the entire office. For example, if you are signing up for a new job, any job at all, you will probably need to go for an interview. During the interview, the interviewer does not just judge you based on your qualifications, your ability to communicate, both spoken and unspoken, also constitutes a part of the decision making process of whether you will be accepted or not. If you are a student in college, your ability to deliver a good public speaking session will also be tested on regular basis. An example of this will be the various class presentations that you need to do over the course of the semester and the grading criteria will almost certainly have an element of "clarity of delivery" in it. By not knowing how to give a clear and effective presentation using good public speaking skills will only disadvantage yourself because if you cannot communicate clearly to your audience, it is as if you have never learnt the subject at all.

This is one of the reasons perhaps why a lot of ideas by some of the most intelligent people on the planet are only discovered many years after their death. One of the possible reasons is that although they are highly intelligent and have written very useful information, they just cannot seem to put through to people what they are thinking about due to their lack of ability to communicate to a large group of people using public speaking techniques.

Public speaking skills are not only used in situation where you have to address a large group of people. Communication skills and public speaking skills are inter-related, hence, if you improve your public speaking skills, you also invariably improve your interpersonal communication skills with your peers and family.

Therefore, if you are ever presented with an opportunity to practice public speaking or learn public speaking skills, don't shy away from it. Whether you are in class, in the office or in any kind of setting that requires you to deliver a message to an audience, pick up your courage and go for it. Public speaking is a skill and the more you use it and practice it, the better you will become. To improve your public speaking skills or even if you are a new beginner, there are a lot of public speaking audiobooks or guide books to learn from. By picking up a good public speaking skill, you will have an edge over others who don't.

Alvin runs a Good Public Speaking AudioBooks website with audiobooks for overcoming fear of public speaking.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Loh

Friday, April 25, 2008

Women Speakers Can Help Transform A Business

By Dean Forster

A large enterprise or corporation relies heavily on its employees to succeed and to develop constantly. If you go over the products and services offered, on the new technologies discovered and implemented, you would see that the working team is behind all these factors. Having a well-trained, skilled and motivated team of employees is vital if you want your business to work flawlessly. Sometimes employees feel a drop in morale. There are many causes for this, but the main idea is that the managing team will have to find a way to increase the employee's morale. More and more corporate managers resort to motivational speakers to help speeches in front of the employees to boost their morale, to increase their self-confidence and to increase the overall business's profitability. If the employees are happy and satisfied with the working conditions and with the atmosphere at the work place, they will surely give all their skill and attention to the work they are doing. Another great thing is that there are many women speakers.

It is the motivational speaker's duty to get to know the employees, the company hiring them for their services, the existing culture and habits existing between employees and the relationship between the people working there and the managing team. By understanding the working conditions, the issues people are facing the professional motivational speaker will be able to compose a powerful motivational speech that will reach the hearts and minds of both employees and managers to boost the people's morale and self-confidence. Sociological studies have shown that after hearing a woman motivational speaker, employees and managing staff are often impacted. Some people admitted that after hearing a woman motivational speaker they have changed their attitude towards life, their job and their relationships with people around them forever. The influence a professional woman motivational speaker can have on the employees is fantastic, but she needs to get to know the company the people are working in before putting together a motivational speech. You see, the difference stands in the way a man and a woman offers her speech.

The lists of professional speakers found at various speakers' bureaus are full of women motivational speakers that have succeeded in transforming large companies and organizations altogether. Specialists say that because women tend to be more sentimental, more sensitive and more reacting to people's emotions, women motivational speakers find it easier to understand the employees and to compose a speech in such a way to reach as many people as possible. No matter what the event is, a commercial presentation, a political party event, a company team building event, people who had witnessed the speech agreed that women speakers had a very pronounced impact on them through a well-built and powerful motivational speech. Women motivational speakers have a native speaking ability, to be able to understand people emotions very fast so they can relate to the company's atmosphere so they are able to put together a well-aimed motivational speech. For example, you may have seen in some cases that even in religious (in most of the Christian religions at least) debates there has been at least a woman motivational speaker that has impressed the crowd. You can find history and contact details about women motivational speakers at speakers' bureaus nationwide as well on their web sites on the Internet.

Read more information about Motivational Speakers and how they can help you achieve your business goals at => http://www.modernmotivationalspeakers.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dean_Forster

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Questions in Self Regulation and Private Speech

By Jerald Mathew

Private speech, a technique to talk things out loud with you, is usually a method that is encouraged in children to use. Through the use of private speeches, children are much more able to grasp concepts quicker and retain them, or are able to solve mathematical problems and learn vocabulary in a lesser amount of time. As the child grows, he is able to develop internal thinking, and his thoughts now turn inward. As a result, their internal thinking tends to become much more abbreviated, and private speech is no longer done. This is because it is often assumed that the grown up’s mind has matured and developed enough that they are now able to assess issues and thoughts without the need to give them voice.

Unfortunately, there are many problems that most people encounter that would cause them a harder time to solve just by thinking about them. Because their mind tends to process thoughts faster than they say it, people do not always tend to think in full sentences and paragraphs; they actually think in short phrases or incomplete sentences. As a result, some important points maybe lost as our mind works. Private speech then, is something that does not just work with children; adults can also avail of this method in order to give voice to their thoughts and be able to think more clearly.

To solve problems through private speech, there are four important questions that one should ask to guide them through the process. These questions are in place so that the person is able to keep himself organized in the course of private speech. The four essential questions to ask oneself are: What is the problem? How will I solve it? What is the process I should use to solve it? and Does it Work?

First, it is necessary to point out the problem or issue that the person is currently dealing with. How much of an impact is this problem going to affect the person’s life? How did this problem start? By being able to pinpoint the problem in clearer detail, the person then would be able to analyze it from all angles and later on, come up with a better solution based on these observations.

The next step in planning out private speech is to question the solution to be used after careful analysis of the problem. What are the possible options that I can take to solve this problem? What are the pros and cons of each solution that I have presented? Which of these alternatives is easiest for me to do, and which of these will benefit me the longest? You can even try to argue with yourself and point out any dangers or additional problems that you may encounter should you choose a certain path or course of action, or even plan out a contingency plan. Private speech allows you to keep an open mind and take the time to actually go through possible solutions carefully.

After planning out your solutions, the next question to ask yourself is how to implement it. Will you need additional help, or are you capable of doing it yourself? What are the steps I should take to see this plan come into fruition? Would following a certain plan also affect anyone else, or are there ways where no one else will be adversely affected by what I am to do? Being able to plan how to achieve your solution helps you become more aware of yourself and of other people around you.

Finally, you have to ask yourself regarding the feasibility of the solution you have undertaken. Is it the right thing to do? Considering the ethics involved in your problem helps you understand and further develop yourself better. I am a article and content writer. I have a very good experience in the above mentioned field.

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Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Tips to Overcome Public Speaking Nervousness

By Trevor Johnson

Public speaking is not an easy thing to do, wherever it takes place and whoever the speaker or the audience may be. Teachers admit they feel a bit nervous when they address a group of students they have never spoken to before and so does the president, no matter how well-prepared he is or how interesting the speech he is going to make might sound.

However, there are speakers who have learned to control their emotions and no longer feel awkward when hundreds of eyes are watching them. They have managed to overcome the fear and anxiety that public speaking used to trigger. How could one do that? Has it got anything to do with genes? Were they born to be more 'in control' than the rest of us? Of course not; what they do is educate their mind, continually preparing it to face the challenges of speech-making. They are not specially-endowed representatives of our species, but confident and motivated people who have learnt a couple of stratagems that make things easier for them. Here are some useful tips to overcome public speaking nervousness:

The first thing you should do is give up the belief that the speaker has to be perfect and he or she is not allowed to make any mistakes. We all do, but we must be prepared to correct them and we can never do that if we are in a state of anxiety. Even stuttering is all right if it happens a few times in your speech; the audience might assume you think faster than you can speak.

A speaker is supposed to know the subject very well and also to put his or her heart into that speech. If the audience feels the speaker's passion for the subject, a great deal of the trouble has vanished. You cannot charm your audience if you are not totally committed to what you are doing. And here comes another tip: you must assume that the audience is friendly, they have come to listen to you because they are really interested in what you are going to say and no one is there to judge you. Remember the last time you were part of the audience and your own attitude to the speaker. An audience is not the speaker's enemy unless he or she has come to attack them.

Believe it or not, the speaker's appearance is very important and you should never neglect it. If you look your best and are wearing professional-looking clothing, you will definitely feel great and the audience will sense that. They will see that special glow on your face and your self-confidence will result in the positive attitude of your listeners to you.

One last thing: don't forget to put a smile on! A relaxed and confident public speaker, who believes the audience to be a group of friendly and knowledge-thirsty citizens, ought to show some appreciation to the people who have come to listen to the speech. Smiling at them from time to time will maintain the friendly atmosphere in the hall and keep you connected to your listeners. A smile is worth a million words!

Discover how to overcome your public speaking anxiety and quell your public speaking nerves.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Johnson

Better Public Speaking - How To Develop Your Unique Selling Proposition To Create A Keynote Speech

By Connie Ragen Green

When someone asks you what you do, are you prepared to give them your thirty second elevator pitch? When you can perfect this you will have the basis of a keynote speech and have your unique selling proposition, your USP, ready to work for you. If you have to stop and think about what to answer when someone asks you this question, now is the time to develop your answer. Here are some ways to work on your unique selling proposition so that you can start preparing a keynote speech you can give in a moment's notice.

· Sit down with some paper and write what it is that you do. This may feel awkward or clumsy at first because we know what we do without having to put it into words. Others do not know what we do, so we must put it into words. You will want to be creative here so people truly understand what you have to offer that could be of benefit to them.

· Practice saying it out loud in front of a mirror until it rolls off your tongue. Then practice saying it to people who know you well enough to understand what you do. I do marketing for a handyman and we practiced this for several days. When someone asks him now what he does his answer is, "I'm a handyman. You know when something is broken at your house, or you just want something installed, but you don't need a general contractor or a full work crew? That's when I come in and do the job for you, quickly and inexpensively. No job is too small for me to do for you." This 30 second pitch makes people ask for his card and call him later to make repairs for them.

· After you have perfected this elevator pitch, expand it into a story that tells more about what you do. You can share a story that relates to your work or explain something that you know and can teach your audience.

· When you have done that, start practicing it as a short speech. Start with about fifteen minutes to half an hour and extend it to forty-five minutes as you refine it over time.

You will now have a keynote speech that you can give on a moment's notice. People will learn something from hearing you speak and be more likely to approach you to do business with them.
And now I invite you to learn more about becoming an effective public speaker by visiting http://www.PublicSpeakingForYourBusiness.com and find out how you can make money in this highly-paid field.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Want To Become A Great Speaker?

By Zohra Sarwari

Learn How In Five Easy Steps!

Don't think public speaking skills are important? Well, think again. Public speaking is crucial for just about everything...it's crucial for students in school, for workers, for personal events.

Did you know...

• Most people would rather die than speak in public?

• The number one fear most people have is public speaking.

As Jerry Seinfeld points out, this means that people would rather be the guy in the casket than the person responsible for delivering the eulogy at a funeral! Pretty crazy, right?

And those who have to speak regularly - like business executives and students - either put the whole thing off until the last minute and winging it, or they delegate the task to someone else.

Strangely enough, though, there are many reasons that people should be involved in public speaking. The most important reason is that public speaking is the only sure-fire way of getting yourself heard and potentially making a difference in the world. Everyone from politicians to top celebrities makes public speeches regularly to make their sentiments known on specific topics.

Hopefully, you're seeing the significance of public speaking at this point. If you're not convinced how important this activity is, well, you try getting your voice heard any other way.

Once you recognize that public speaking is a very important past time for anyone who wants to make a difference, you can apply these five tips to become an effective public speaker:

1. Be Charming:

A charming person has the power to make other people feel important. To be charming is to focus your attention, thoughts, and actions on others. To be charming in any situation, monitor your thoughts, and change any negative thoughts to positive ones, channeling positive thoughts to focus on your audience.

2. Be Charismatic:

By being charismatic you are being expressive and opening up to all those listening to you. You're showing your passion, and love for whatever it is that you're talking about. People will be able to feel what you're saying, instead of just hearing the words.

3. Know your Niche:

Be knowledgeable about your subject matter. Know what you're talking about inside out. Study it, then try to make speeches from your mind and heart.

4. Make an outline for each presentation:

People are visual learners so making an outline for your presentation will help to offer a visual representation. An outline can also be a framework for your talk and a marketing piece for potential clients.

5. Contact Non-Profits and Professional Groups:

Let people know that you are out there for speaking engagements. Contact Speaking Bureaus and let them know of your specialty and availability. Some might charge a fee; others might take a percentage for acting as your agent. Either way, you'll have the opportunity to get some much needed experience as a public speaker.

Implement all of these steps and get ready to become as a great speaker!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Zohra_Sarwari

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

How To Overcome The Fear Of Public Speaking

By Pete Connelly

It has been said that in past surveys the number one fear for people is the fear of public speaking, the number three fear is dying; well does that evidence mean that people would rather die than speak in public. Whether the surveys are correct or not there is little doubt that for most people speaking in public is a real fear, something they would try to avoid at all costs.

If you are one of those people do not despair, help is at hand, please read on.

I think the first thing to recognise is that you are not alone other people have felt like you, you are not, weak, dumb or any other self limiting believe you may conjure up to heap on yourself. Yes, you do feel this almost paralysing fear about speaking in public, it doesn't matter what it is, a family gathering or wedding, maybe a presentation at work to colleagues or a school oral examination its their waiting and how will you overcome this fear of public speaking.

To start off the process realise that the time prior to speaking is study time not worry time, yes you will feel anxious but now is not the time, remember an anxious mind with not see clearly. Preparation is a major part of the plan.

So first things first, what are you to speak about, now is the time to learn your subject whatever that is, understand your topic, become familiar with the detail, set yourself up to win.

Having done that any story, presentation, talk will have three parts, they are

1/ The start or opening

2/ The middle, the meat in the sandwich so to speak

3/ The end. Conclusion, closing again whatever you want to call it

You can now set it out in a way that best fits with you, some people will have bullet points on 3x5 card, other may write it out in full, maybe power point is other peoples preferred solution to presenting. What ever you feel most comfortable with or least uncomfortable with you do it that way.

The next step is always to run through it, for timing, your feel for the talk and of course practice, these little steps are simple not rocket science and followed will position you well for the day.

The Day arrives, make no mistake here however well prepared you are you will feel nervous, anxious mouth dry all physical as well as emotional symptoms, that's a sign you are alive and normal. I always like to get in the room, get the feel and then whatever the size of the room, in my mind I try to see it as me lounge at home, a few friends present and nothing to fear.

If it is there are other speakers and they seem calm and collected don't do the comparison game, your insides with their outsides. It's not a fair comparison, focus on you, your breathing, your inner conversation, you are prepared, and you know your topic and now its time.

The fear of public speaking is now about to be truly tested, fear is at its greatest and guess what before you know it it's all over, it went quickly you cant remember all you said but you have done it, well done.

Peters is a leading motivational speaker and inspirational trainer.

His success is built on using 25 years of deep rooted fears and failures as stepping stones on a Journey from fear to faith which produced great results.... Today his deep passion and purpose is in helping others see themselves bigger than their current circumstances.

His website http://www.fear-to-faith.com is a valuable resource to overcome fear and move forward with possibility thinking

Peter currently has a free download of the highly successful Think And Grow Rich available for a limited time

Grab your copy today while its still free!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Connelly

Friday, March 21, 2008

Public Speaking - How To Begin A Lucrative Career In Public Speaking

By Connie Ragen Green

Speaking in public can be your ticket to fame and fortune. You can also travel the world as a public speaker. Why are some people so successful at speaking to audiences while others struggle with this? Here are some reasons why some people can make a lucrative career out of public speaking.

Have the courage to fail. Your first few speeches will probably not be very good. So what? The more often you get the opportunity to speak the sooner your speaking will improve.

Choose a topic that will have wide appeal to your audiences. This speech will become your keynote speech and should be refined over time to suit your personality and your market.

Dress for success. Whether you are speaking to a room full of farmers or executives, dress like a professional. First impressions are so important that you want to make sure people see you in the best possible light.

Make sure that you give your audience a way to easily contact you after you speak. You can give them your website address while you are speaking. Make sure you use a domain name that is easy to remember and easy to spell. Set up this website to give visitors a special offer that will encourage them to sign up to receive more information.

Give people useful information during your speech. By giving your audience lots of information they can put to use immediately, they will want to learn more from you in the future.

Follow these tips and you will be on your way to a career as a public speaker. I encourage you to learn more from someone who speaks professionally for a living.

And now I invite you to learn more about a career in public speaking by visiting http://www.PublicSpeakingForYourBusiness.com and get started on your way to the lifestyle you deserve.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Ragen_Green

Public Speakers, Inspire Your Audience

By Jonathan Steele

The word inspire to the ancients had reference to being of divine origin or God breathed.

The modern definition includes filling with or creating within someone the ability to feel or do something, to animate someone.

If the ability to inspire is a gift from God, then it is truly a divine power if used to benefit others. Being inspirational and being able to improve the lives of others is a power we all possess.

Almost anyone can create in others the ability to feel or do something. It is part of the hard wiring of our brains. It is within our nature as humans.

If right now you are thinking, yes, but not me, then think again. You can inspire others. You probably are inspiring even though you are not aware of it. Let me prove it.

First some inspirational facts.

Inspiration can come from what we see. If we see or hear of someone overcoming fears, concerns, worries, and or problems, it could create within us the desire to do the same.

Inspiration also can come from seeing people attaining what they really want. Stories of others realizing their dreams in-spite of the odds can move us to reach out to attain our dreams.

If you learn how to tap into the inspiration hard wiring of the brain, then you will be able to animate your audience. You can create within them the ability to feel or do something. If you find a connection between what inspires the people you talk to and your most wanted response then you will have a recipe for public speaking success.

Now to prove you can be inspirational even if you think you do not have the ability, consider this fact.

One of the ways we use this power has to do with the way we communicate feelings. We can communicate with words, actions, and even body language. Science has determined that the average person (which includes you), using just one of those communication modes, has 47 ways of expressing feelings, emotions, or thoughts.

Yet science has determined that of the 47 ways, there is only one expression that can be defined as genuine (not necessarily saying the others are fake or not real).

This 47th or one real expression is so powerful, it can move people, inspiring them to have a like expression of emotion. Virtually anyone can make this happen.

Do you know what the genuine expression of emotion is?

Side Note: As a hospice nurse, people see me and say my job must be the most depressing work in the world. Trying to make light of it, comebacks are offered, "well, at least my patients are dying to see me." But when walking through nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities, almost weekly someone will come up and ask me, "How do you do it?"

The reason for asking is the result of the inspirational feeling created within them. They are not asking how do I keep working in hospice. They are asking how is it that every day they see me, they also see the 47th expression.

Their inspiration to approach and ask came from my use of the 47th expression. Seeing me use the "Genuine" or real form of communicating was the inspiration that moved or animated them to do the same. So what is the 47th expression?

Science has determined that the human face can make 47 different expressions. One expression, the 47th, is the inspirational ability everyone has the ability to do. It is a genuine smile.

If you really smile at someone else, they will be hard pressed not to smile back. Yes, you have the power to move your audience, even if just one person. You do not even have to say a word.

Lesson for public speakers: smile at your audience if it is appropriate. Get them to smile. Pick one or two and look them in the eyes and inspire them.

Jonathan Steele, RN coaches and teaches public speaking to nurses and doctors.

He is webmaster of http://www.speechmastery.com He also speaks internationally on Nursing implications related to subjects as diverse as Bloodless Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Communication Skills, Hospice Nursing and Immune Enhancement with Dietary Modifications to Improve Glutathione Levels.

If you would like to learn more about smiles and the aphorisim that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile please go to http://www.speechmastery.com/smile.html

This article is (c) 2007 Jonathan Steele

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