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!

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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!

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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.

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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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Speak and Touch the Heart

By Bhavna Sharma

Presentations and seminars become all too familiar in the business world. Jim Speaker is there with the overhead projector and PowerPoint slides-each with four of five points. Hours later the seminar is over. Seminars are informative but can be deadly. Just give me the handout and I’ll read it at home!

It takes a dynamic presenter to step out from behind the lectern and shake up and motivate their audience.

Facts touch or mind, but it is the power that comes from stories that touch hearts.

Everybody loves a story. Stories give us insight life and human nature. They can make us laugh and they can make us cry. Story telling will go beyond the bullet points and will make a memorable impression on the heart that can change a life.

As a speaker, how can you use stories to give your presentation the impact that you desire:

• Tell inspirational stories to persuade, motivate or entertain. Use stories to illustrate the point you want to make. Try to find stories that are relevant to the audience. For example, for software engineers, tell a story about the young engineer who started a company in his garage and how Microsoft changed the world.

• Tell a story from your own experience. Make a habit of keeping a story journal and record your day’s experiences. You will have a rich supply of unique experiences to draw from to illustrate your point.

• Use gestures and acting techniques to bring your story to life. Don’t just tell your audience about a difficult client; get up and show them. Actions have a greater impact on the point you are making.

• Use description and dialogue. Take your audience into the story by using description and dialogue. Help them visualize and feel that they are part of the experience.

• Practice your story until it’s natural. Use the pacing and rhythm to communicate your message to your audience. Listen to a tape recording of yourself. Check how you have varied the tone of your voice and your speed to create the biggest impact in your story.

Remember it’s not about you; it’s about your audience. You have a great story and an important message to convey. By concentrating on your audience, you will become more confident and relaxed. This will result in your audience feeling comfortable and more receptive to your message.

For More Free Resources visit www.onlinepublishingsite.com

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3 Questions You Must Answer About Your Passion for Public Speaking

By Susan Trivers

You feel lucky to have speaking opportunities because you're passionate about your area of expertise and want to share it with everyone.

Your personal passion isn't justification for your speech. Your passion for your subject is a critical and welcome element in the mix of components needed for a speech or presentation. However, the only reason you ask people to give you their time and attention is because what you say will help them do something they otherwise wouldn't or couldn't do. The Return on Investment for the audience must be high.

Answer these 3 questions to determine if your passion translates into a presentation that benefits the audience:

1) What will the audience members do after they listen to you that they wouldn't or couldn't have done before your speech? The answer must be quantitative.

Here are some possibilities:

· Increase sales by X dollars;

· Improve customer retention by X%;

· Reduce turnover;

· Get a promotion in less than 6 months;

· Add a demonstrable and valuable new skill to their skill set;

· Become more productive as proved by number of projects completed in a period of time.

2) What do you offer that is clearly different from others in your area of expertise? Do you take some risks to deliver a message that is truly unique? Can you prove this by making a list of the top three ideas typically expounded in your area and describing how your ideas differ? You must also then be able to articulate the benefits of your unique ideas.

3) How skillful are you in the delivery of your presentation? Unique ideas that could generate a high return on investment will fall flat unless your platform skills are also exceptional. If you follow the conventions of everyone else in your company or organization or industry, you'll be abandoning the very passion that got you started speaking in the first place.

Groups want people to conform--that's what gives the group its value. Memorable business speakers get mentoring and coaching from people outside their own organization, industry or peer group. You must get away from the group in order to deliver your passion and expertise in a way that Puts the Audience First.

Susan G. Trivers, MBA is a consummate presentation skills coach with hundreds of confident, creative clients who have learned how to engage their audiences. Start with Susan's two fundamental principles: Put the Audience First and Be Yourself, Polished. Add effective leading (not supporting) materials to your key points, craft excellent stories, and add engagement activities and you'll raise your career profile.

The Red-Hot Guide to COOL Speaking - Craft and Deliver presentations that are Creative, Original, Outsized & Liberated is Susan's easy-to-use, apply-it-now e-book that answers all your questions about standing out when you're standing up in front of an audience. Available at http://www.susantrivers.com/store.php Questions are always cheerfully answered at susan@susantrivers.com

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Sex and The Speaking Voice

By Nancy Daniels

Nancy DanielsLevel: PlatinumInternational Speaker and Voice Specialist, Nancy Daniels, has been involved in voice training since 1977. A graduate of Gettysburg College with a BA in music, ...

What do James Earl Jones, Mira Sorvino, George Clooney, Elizabeth Hurley, Sean Connery and Kathleen Turner all have in common? Voices that exude sensuality. There are a few more I could have added to the list but there are actually many more that do not fall into that category. Of course the one voice that was probably the sexiest of all was that of the late great Barry White. In his case it didn't matter whether he was singing or speaking: both exuded the ultimate in sensuality.

All of these wonderfully rich voices share one common characteristic. They are warm - like a blanket around your shoulders. Given the right time and place and with the right tonality, any voice that is warm can be sexy.

The problem for many people is that they don't have the warmth in their speaking voice because they don't know how to place the voice properly. They are using only the voice box, throat, mouth and/or nose to power their sound which results in voices that tend to be higher in pitch than they should be. Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of sound, not the loudness or softness.

Looking again at that list, you will notice that all of those voices are low in pitch as well. In truth a low-pitched speaking voice is the most sensual of all. The great German actress Marlene Dietrich was renowned not only for her legs but her deep gravelly voice as well.

As a voice specialist, I've had my business on the web for the last ten years and I am surprised that one of my target markets is single men looking to attract women. In researching my name a few years ago, I happened upon a blog about me and my business on an all-male website. When I clicked on the link, I was delighted to discover some men discussing my techniques for voice improvement and how effective those techniques are for attracting women.

These men understood that a rich warm resonant voice is a huge bonus when it comes to meeting women.

What I don't understand, however, is why women haven't figured this out as well.
Many women are so obsessed with their physical image and yet they have failed to recognize that a warm sensual voice can be as attractive to a man as a beautiful body.

In an interview with Barbara Walters many years ago, Kathleen Turner remarked that she couldn't understand why a woman would spend so much money on her wardrobe, her hair and her makeup and then speak in a voice that was akin to nails on a blackboard. She further added that "the power of the voice is exciting as heck!"

I couldn't agree more. The voice that is warm speaks volumes because it sounds more mature; it draws your attention; and, given the right tone, it can be very, very sexy.

Nancy Daniels is a voice specialist and president of Voice Dynamic. Working privately and corporately, she launched Voicing It! in April of 2006, the first video training course on voice improvement. You can watch a clip from her DVD on her website, 'before' & 'after' takes of her clients, and a 16-minute video in which Nancy describes what voice training can do for you at http://www.voicedynamic.com/products.htm

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Improve Your Conversation Skills

By Ben Nicholls

People who seam to speak effortlessly and efficiently with other people are generally well like,well respected and often succeed in life. These people usually have worked hard to get to wear they are,and by improving your conversation skills plays a very important role in their development as a person as a whole.

If you a someone who needs to improve their conversation skills,then here are a few tips that certainly help you out with your ability to communicate effectively.

First of all try to learn from others and express your views and ideas with the right tone will gain you the respect of other and invite a positive response.

2. Try to be a good listener, listen to what they are saying by looking at them and giving them your full attention. Because otherwise they might misinterpret what you are trying to communicate to them.

3. You will find that people who talk openly with others usually find more personnel fulfillment from their lives than those that are introvert and silent. If you would like to improve your communication and conversational skills then i recommend a new program called Conversation Fire. This is a great way to get started on improving your social and communication skills in a short amount of time.

Most people who are shy find it hard to interact in social situations because do not know how to properly converse with people.You should not have to put up with socially inept, miss out on that romantic opportunity or are terrified of being out in public.

The Conversation Fire method is a great way to transforming yourself into the confident,outgoing person that you want to be and have the ability to communicate easily.

If you would like to find out more about this product then click here.

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Effective Public Speaking Skill - Using a Joke Format to Add Humor to your Presentations

By Jason Peck

Adding humour to your speech or presentation can be beneficial because it helps you to connect with your listeners (most people like to laugh and be entertained) and it can help them more easily remember your message.

The purpose of this article is not to turn you into a comedian. It's just to present you with some ways to add a little humour to your speech.

With that in mind here are two fast and simple, down and dirty formats for including humour in your next speech or presentation.

The first is called: "Joke Format"

This details a way in which you can format street jokes (jokes that friends might tell you in a bar) together to form a comedy monologue like old school comedians, like Bob Hope or Jack Benny. Here's the format:

1) Put the 2nd funniest joke first
2) End with the funniest joke
3) Counter a good joke with a bad one.
4) Organize jokes according to theme.

Now, I'm not saying that they used this format, I used Hope and Benny as an example of the style of comic that might have used this approach. Although, I have to say, the "counter a good joke with a bad one" seems more in-keeping with the comedy format of old school comics, rather than modern stand-ups. I think today's comedy professionals try to have continuous funny lines. This particular point seems to indicate a groaner type of joke, like a pun.

But just to remind you the purpose of this article is not to turn you into a comedian. You don't have to worry about that.

That said, I don't think there's anything necessarily wrong with using such a funny line in a speech, providing of course that it ties in with your overall topic and it doesn't offend anyone overtly. Some people might be offended by a groaner joke, but that's too bad. It makes you come across as human because we don't always come out with incredible zingers like they do in sitcoms.

The other format is called the "Message Format". There are two types for this format:

A) Intro2nd Funniest jokeMain body of JokesThemeFunniest Joke
With the second one being as follows:

B) IntroFunniest jokeOther JokesTheme

This last one ends on a serious note instead of a laugh. Personally, if I'm doing a humorous speech I'd rather end on a laugh. But that's just my personal taste.

What you might consider doing is reducing your actual speech or presentation by about a third or even a half. Keep the core details that are necessary to convey your message to your audience. So what do you replace the edited content with?

Humour. Funny stories, funny jokes, maybe you could quote other comedians or witty people as long as you give credit where it's due. There's no sense delivering a line by Woody Allen in your presentation and passing it off as your own. There will always be someone who can attribute it to the original author, plus it's highly unethical.

Not only that but by saying something like: "as Woody Allen once said..." you can immediately get your audience into a better state to laugh as they'll remember their favourite Woody Allen moment. Then if the line doesn't have everyone rolling in the aisles then you can get out of it by saying, "obviously it's much better when Woody did it". Your listeners will love you all the more then because you will have revealed yourself to be slightly vulnerable.

You would have to judge for yourself what you think is appropriate. I would have to guess that it may be better for you to end on a comment about your overall theme. What are you trying to convey to your audience? What's the take home message that you want them to walk away from your speech remembering?

If you can follow some of these pointers in your next speech you'll be well on your way to being remembered for your humorous speeches and you'll get people congratulating you afterwards because you made them laugh and in their eyes you just became the star.

Jason Peck is a Humorist, Speaker and Consultant based in London, England. He provides empowering speeches, valuable business training and morale-boosting entertainment to businesses, colleges and private functions. Check out Pro Humorist

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Tips for Speech Writing

By Ronald Tulit

The pen truly is mightier than the sword and if you don't believe it just turn on your TV set. Day after day and minute by minute we are bombarded be speeches, whether it is a politician trying to win your vote or a corporate representative vying for your business. The fact is, that in this information age that we all live in time is money and money is time and conveying information is an art form that if mastered can mean you can live the life you have always dreamed about with the rich and powerful dependent on you for your word crafting skills.

Every speech that is written is not a victory speech and that is why a truly great speech writer can rise to any occasion to answer the given needs of the person giving the speech. John F. Kennedy's Bay of Pigs disaster speech is a prime example of a speech that was written to deal with the a horrible situation that had arisen. To this day if you were to ask someone who was around back then what happened, they will all recall the speech that was given almost word for word but no one will be able to tell you what the Bay of Pigs disaster was all about.

It is all due to the mastery of John F. Kennedy's speech writers and credit should be given where credit is due. Then once in a life time a speech writer can instill a question that truly has no answer. Perhaps you can recall Bill Clinton response to the publics questions regarding his dalliances with Monica Lewinsky and to this day the debate rages on as to whether oral sex is actually sex. Somewhere is a speech writer that can rightfully claim credit for creating this endless debate and no doubt he will never run out of work.

Written by Ronald Tulit. Find the latest information on Speech Writing

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Public Speaking - It's All About You

By Jason Peck

I attended a seminar run by two-time UK and Ireland Public Speaking Champion, Simon Bucknall. The main focus was how to build a connection with your audience.

Obviously an article cannot do justice to the enjoyable two-hours spent at the event. And I'm not about to regurgitate the man's content here. So what I'm going to do is provide a little bit of information that you might find useful and give you some of my own thoughts.

When you're doing a speech or presentation, or if you've just done one, how many times did you use the word "you"? Once? twice? fifteen or more? If you use the word "you" more than the word "I" you are more likely to develop a connection with your listeners.

By using the word you in place of "I", you're automatically getting your audience to think about your content more and how it relates to them.

That's not to say that you can't use personal stories that use the word "I" at all. What it means is that you should give due consideration to the material that you're going to deliver and work out how it's of benefit to them. By all means use first-person stories as a way to illustrate what you're saying, but don't forget to come back to using "you".

It's hardly noticeable when it's done. You could be delivering the best presentation in the world. You could have the funniest material in the world. You could have the most amazing public speaking skills that has every graced a speaking platform. But...

If you've not connected with your audience, none of that matters.

You will lose them every time. And that's something that you don't want. You don't want your audience to be uninterested in what you have to say. What you want to do is be concerned with how well your audience is doing.

When you're doing your speech or presentation maybe think about the following:

Are you being clear enough? Do your points back up your overall message? That joke that you're using, does it tie in to what you're saying or is it completely irrelevant? Can your audience hear you? Can your audience read the information on your slides? Can you reduce the number of slides that you have?

Sometimes, you need to get out of your own way and focus on giving your audience the best you can. After all they're the ones that have paid to hear you. Or if you're speaking at your job or Toastmasters and they haven't hired you, then your audience is still important because

a) you still want to give them your best and

b) you never know if there's a guest in the audience who might be able to hire you.

c) you owe it to them to deliver memorable content

Jason Peck is a Humorist, Speaker and Consultant based in London, England. He provides empowering speeches, valuable business training and morale-boosting entertainment to businesses, colleges and private functions. Check out Pro Humorist

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Practice Confidence

By Ty Boyd

Practice, as you have heard me say, doesn't make perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Practice makes confidence. The better you know your material, the more confidence you have and the better the presentation ultimately is.

Judy Friedt, a longtime client from insurance company The Westfield Group, reminded me of this with her note to us. I'll let her tell the story:

"A few years ago, you held your first class here at Westfield. I was in that class. The first day, I was nervous and did a lot of "uhs and ums." By the end of the class, the non-words were gone and I was a lot more confident. I have read all of your newsletters and followed the information that you have presented. I am proud to tell you that I just got back from Las Vegas where I attended CA World sponsored by Computer Associates. Not only did I attend, but I actually did a presentation!

There were about 35 people in the room for my presentation. I got up there, took a deep breath and let it go. I did a great job (if I must say so) and didn't even have to look at my notes. I knew my information and I presented it. I had practiced and practiced.

My husband (one of my best critics) was in the audience and he was amazed. Even he said I did a great job. I didn't fumble for words or use any non-words. The practice paid off.

I want to thank you for giving me not only the tools to do the public speaking but the courage to actually get out there and do it. I look forward to doing more."

So, take Judy's advice: practice. Confidence - and a great presentation - will follow.

Ty Boyd, CEO of Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, is in the Broadcast Hall of Fame and the Speakers Hall of Fame. He has taught public speaking and presentation skills to Fortune 1000 executives in more than 40 countries. Zipline is Ty's award-winning monthly enewsletter.

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Overcoming Nervousness When Speaking In Front Of A Crowd

By Michael Cortes

Michael Cortes is the Technology Coordinator at the Fort LeBoeuf School District, a speaker and a self-proclaimed “Life-long Learner.” Working with computer technology requires constant ...

I was recently asked this question...

---"When I am giving speeches at Toastmasters club, I am 100% focused on what I am saying and the thought of nervousness does not even enter my mind. However, when I am speaking in other situations, I feel I am not able to effectively carry over the skills I have developed in Toastmasters to my non-Toastmaster audience because all I can focus on is how nervous I become. Anyone had a similar experience or have suggestions as to how I can be an effective speaker in any situation?"---

What advise would you give? My answer was this...

That is not an unusual situation. My day job is at a public school, grades K through 12. Exposed to teachers all day, I was quite surprised when I heard how nervous teachers get speaking in front of the public, parents, school board, or even just other staff members. My thought process was "How can they be scared? They do this all day long?"

Well, it works out that when teachers are focused on the learning of their students, they are quite good presenters. But for some teachers, in front of other groups, they start to think about themselves and how they are going to appear. In other words, "what will they think of me?" This focus on "I" is what starts to create the nervous condition.

So, I would ask you, with your clubs, do they create a friendly condition that allows you not to worry about "I"? When you leave the club, do you start asking yourself "What will they think of me?"

Many people create a ritual, performed before a presentation, that ties a physical routine into a good mindset. This triggers you mind to think in a certain way. For example, whenever I get a good feeling about a presentation I rub my thumb and forefinger together. This associates my good feelings with that action. Then, when ever I am start to get nervous, I repeat that action, and my mind automatically starts to shed the nervousness.

Perhaps you could develop some action, or even a preparation routine. Routines remind me of my time in the Marine Corps. Every year, ever Marine is required to shoot a rifle for qualification. Five days of shooting at the same targets in the same order. On the fifth day, your score determines whether or not you qualify. We Marines would wake up and shower, dress, and travel to the range in the exact same manner. We would wear the same clothes, eat the same food,... I think you can see where this is going. We would change NOTHING that we had control over. This meant that Friday, we would be shooting under exactly the same conditions that we had practiced all week long. But the most interesting part, is something I did not realize till many years later. These actions put us in exactly the same mindset each day. They prepped out mind for the action ahead of us.

If you read the book "Blink" by Malcom Gladwell, you will discover that you can prep your mind to think in a certain way. The thoughts, books, and conversations before a written test can set the precedence for how you will perform. Ryan Stewart (a web geek, non-profit junkie, and future medical student living near Knoxville, Tennessee with his wife and two chihuahus) recommends using rituals before a class, as a way to prepare your mind for learning.

You can use this same type of prep, to get you thinking "I WILL do well on my presentation!"

Michael Cortes is the Technology Coordinator at the Fort LeBoeuf School District, a presentation coach, speaker and "Life-long Learner." Michael has taken a new look at life and examines each day for the lesson it contains.

Do you want to improve yourself? Michael can help you reach your goals. Do you want to be a better presenter? Need to add that little extra that allows you to rock your presentation, whether it be a sales proposal or report to the board of directors? Maybe you just need to polish yourself up in front of your constituency. There are many steps you can take to be more persuasive, more genuine, and create a better connection between you and your audience. By using more technique and less slides, Maybe you just need to polish yourself up in front of your constituency. There are many steps you can take to be more persuasive, more genuine, and create a better connection between you and your audience. By using more technique and less slides, Michael will help you create more power in your presentations.

You can visit Michael's website at http://www.michaelcortes.com

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Public Speaking Fears transformed into Energy, Passion and Authority in Only Five Minutes

By Jesai Jayhmes

Coming up to a big media event where you have to look and sound like you know what you are talking about? Are you feeling anxiety, terror, dread? Worried that you will black out? Go blank? Stutter? Say something stupid? all on national TV? Do you fear that your 15 Minutes of Fame might be the last breath you ever breathe?

You are not alone. Many, many people have huge fears around public speaking... and those fears are justified! History is strewn with the corpses of former "experts" who met an untimely demise at the hands of the masses.

What do you do to calm your nerves? Take a Valium? Don't think so. You might just fall off the chair and disappear under the podium. Imagine everyone naked? Doesn't work for me. I can't keep a straight face.

How do you rise above the jitters, and profoundly affect your listeners?

I am going to tell you the best secret I know. It has worked for me countless times, on screen and live. It is something that you practice in your sleep, something that you can not live without, and best of all it is absolutely *Free*. Are you taking this in? Can you guess? Are you still breathing?

YES, that's it! It's as simple as that! BREATHING! Every unconscious breath you take (about 26,000 times a day) either winds you up or calms you down. "Conscious" breathing, however, restores clarity, making challenging interviews seem like a breeze.

Take just 5 minutes prior to the event to sit quietly upright and breathe, whether in your parked car, a bathroom stall, or the green room in the studio. This will make a huge positive impact on your "star" power. You will inform, inspire and transform others when you are out there under the lights.

Turn your attention to your breath (this is what makes it conscious) and allow your inhale and exhale to become slow, deep and effortless without pushing or forcing. Allow each breath to be a little deeper. You are bringing more oxygen into your brain, which enables you to think clearly. Your lungs massage your heart allowing you to be open and genuine. Even your churning stomach is calmed by the slow movement of your breathing. You are able to respond to questions with passion, sincerity and authority, which create a captivating experience for your host, your audience and you. Five minutes may feel like a long time to do "nothing"... but it is the best five minutes you can invest.

Don't let your fears paralyze you. Pay attention to the very activity that gives you life...and remember the words of the philosopher, "I Breathe Therefore I Am."

Jesai Jayhmes
Author

Copyright © 2008 Jesai Jayhmes all rights reserved.

You may print this articles free and intact including copyright and contact info.

Jesai Jayhmes is a voice coach, public speaker, actor and director with 30 years international experience training top seminar presenters, actors, teachers, sales people and CEO's. His unique voice fitness program can be found at http://www.yourvoiceworkout.com/ and you can contact him at info@jesaijayhmes.com. You can find voice and public speaking podcast tips by Jesai by searching Jesai Jayhmes podcast.

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Public Speaker? Singer? Not me! Why be Vocally Fit?

By Jesai Jayhmes

It is only in the last 70 years or so, (in thousands and thousands of years of human existence) that we have the mechanism to hear ourselves as others hear us through recording devices. And for most of us it's a big shock!

It's all due to the way we hear and how we listen.

When we speak, we hear and feel the vibration of sound as it resonates in our bones and flesh and in the air within our lungs. It sounds and feels up close and personal. When we hear others, their sound waves travel through the air in every direction, with only a fraction of those waves vibrating our own eardrums. It's normal for us to hear others this way, but when we hear our own voice on voice mail or even in a recording studio it sounds foreign, distant, often shallow or unscientifically "weird". These extreme listening differences are the reasons why it is impossible to be objective about the sound and quality of your voice.

It is very true that some voices are high, others are low, some resonate in the nose, and others in the chest, some great booming voices seem to come from everywhere. However, what we think of our own voice is heavily biased. In most cases, voices are and have been perfectly adequate for most purposes.

There are physical conditions that affect your voice quality that have to do with posture, relaxation, health and breathing. Your depth of breathing has a profound affect on the resonance and texture of your voice. Shallow breathing will cause your voice to resonate mainly in your the head, while a deep belly breath allows your entire body to resonate.

There are emotional reasons to do with confidence, insecurity and fear that will effect the resonance of your voice. Both the physical and emotional areas can be positively impacted by proper training. Voice carries emotion through your intention to affect another person. Emotion can feel very vulnerable. Sometimes we might try to hide feelings, apologize or criticize, believing that this implies strength. Using our voice ineffectively to find fault with ourselves or blame others is practically a human addiction. Actors recognize, however, that it is the very vulnerability in the voice that gives us our humanity and our strength.

Many of us react to criticism by tightening our muscles. The vocal chords (or folds) are no exception. Can you recall a passing comment that someone made about your voice whether it was a parent, a teacher, or a helpful friend? Perhaps it was many years ago.

"Do you have to be so loud?"

"Speak up."

"Stop mumbling."

"Stand in the back and mouth the words."

Each comment heard can get stuck in our muscles for years, affecting vocal quality.

Often I coach people who love to sing, but the terror of rejection literally chokes them up in public. We are taught to admire the "star", the years of technique, and the money. We measure ourselves against the celebrities and feel inadequate.

"You'll never make a living doing that." voices an all too caring parent.

In many cultures song and chant are communal expressions of the Divine, awakening Joy, embodying Spirit. When we feel compelled to sing, it is from that Sacred place. This participation is not judged as good or bad, professional or amateur. It is an expression of life force, creativity and passion, which must come out, and represents the very health of the community.

The words we choose when we speak define and create our lives and the lives of others.

Words that you voice such as, "I could never do that!", removes the possibility of achievement from your life. Phrases like, "I enjoy learning a new skill and taking on challenges," opens up a world of possibilities to explore.

If one subscribes to the notion that we are designed in the image and likeness of the Creator, it stands to reason that we create constantly. Our thought creates the words we speak which become real.

What if we strived to create a world where all souls could achieve their heart's desire? What words would we then utter.

As you choose to develop your vocal power, you will begin to recognize the profound impact you have on the lives of others. Your voice has the power to build or tear down. Use your voice to leave the world a better place than you found it.

Becoming vocally fit is being conscious of the breaths you take, the language you use, and the intention you deliver. It is making a commitment to touch, move and inspire others. It is discovering that your true wealth is in your voice. Becoming vocally fit is learning to fully embrace yourself and your voice.

Jesai Jayhmes

copyright(C)Jesai Jayhmes 2008 all rights reserved

Jesai Jayhmes helps you be at your best when the stakes are the highest. Whether you are speaking to a crowd to inspire them, to your sales team to provide focus, with your spouse to create deeper intimacy, or with your patients to encourage healing you will surely benefit from Jesai's coaching. He is a master communicator, listener and teacher who has worked with diverse groups and individuals for 30 years. His clients are some of the top seminar presenters, entrepreneurs, teachers in North America.

Jesai has also taught at Yale University Theater Studies and the Banff Centre for the Arts. He has given workshops for the faculty at top Universities. His program You Voice Workout has received rave reviews from users and distinguished Jesai as a communications master. Check him out on the web http://www.yourvoiceworkout.com , and http://www.jesaijayhmes.com email him at info@jesaijayhmes.com

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