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

How to be a Great Speaker

By Sandra Schrift

Did you know that great speakers are often nervous with butterflies in their stomach before giving a presentation? And there are many actors/actresses who can not speak to live audiences without cue cards. My 13 years as a professional speakers bureau owner allowed me to hear several thousand speakers give their presentations. Here are a few tips I learned from them.

1. You want to be nervous. Get your butterflies to fly in formation. Some tension brings about a great speech. You usually don't look as nervous as you feel. Be prepared, be relaxed. Practice, practice, practice. Use visualization techniques. One speaker suggests that you curl your toes and get rid of your adrenalin. Get out of your head and in to your heart. Reduce nervousness with self talk.

Your mantra might be - "I am a relaxed, confident speaker."

2. Great presentations are well organized.

*pening - You have 60seconds to get their attention. So start with a great question, quote or short story. Tell 'em what you will tell them.

Body - Tell 'em. This is where you tell your 3-4 points supported by your stories.
Closing -Tell 'em what you told them. Give them a call to action. What is one idea they can use immediately? in seven days? in one month?

There are basically two kinds of presentations - Informative (to know) Persuasive (to do)

Be sure you know what you want your audience to do as a result of your presentation.

Ask. . . What do they need to know to do this? What do they need to feel to do this?

Then provide 3-4 points in the body of your message and provide transitions between the points.

3. Great speeches have great stories. Sprinkle them throughout your presentation. We delineate our thoughts visually and your audience needs to "see" what they "hear."

4. Technology is just a tool. Do not be a master of ceremonies to your PowerPoint. It is not the presentation.

Here are some guidelines to follow:

Necessity - is this visual aid going to enhance the audience's understanding Clarity - to help people understand Simplicity - PowerPoint with words - no more than five words per line and five lines per slide. Color - color enhances the slide - but only use a few (we're not talking about your kid's 300 Crayola box of crayons) Visibility - keep it large and clear

5. Your voice is the source of power. FDR, Martin Luther King, Churchill used the power of their voice. Remember people need to see what they hear. Slow down, add a pause, whisper . . .use your voice to change tones, be loud or soft as needed.

6. Use your eyes - to make contact with audience. Focus on one person at a time and all the other people will feel as if you are talking to them also. This will help you to connect with people and make them feel you are there for them.

7. Interact - provide your audience with short role plays or partnering exercises. This gives them an opportunity to practice what you are telling them to do. Give them an opportunity to tell someone about their challenge and get some feedback as to how to resolve it. Then they can walk out the door at the end of the program ready to think or act differently. This is what every great speaker wants!

8. Join a fre*e Teleclass to learn how to speak like a pro on June 30, 2004 from 8-9 p.m. (EST) http://www.schrift.com/teleclasses/index.htm

© 2004 by Sandra Schrift. All rights reserved

Publishing Guidelines: You are welcome to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print fre*e of charge, as long as you include my full signature file for ezines, and my Web site address (http://www.schrift.com) in hyperlink for other sites. Please send a courtesy link or email where you publish to sandra@schrift.com. Thank you.

About The Author: Sandra Schrift 13 year speaker bureau owner and now career coach to emerging and veteran public speakers who want to "grow" a profitable speaking business. I also work with business professionals and organizations who want to master their presentations. To find out How to Become a Highly Paid Professional Speaker, go to http://www.schrift.com/ProfessionalSpeaker/ Join my free bi-weekly Monday Morning Mindfulness ezine http://www.schrift.com/monday.htm