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

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

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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Public Speaking Sucess Tip - Create Colorful Characters to Spice Up Your Stories!

By Joanne Chen

How would you like to mesmerize your audience every time?

One of the best advice that I can give you is this:

Entertain, inform, and inspire your audience with stories.

How does one tell a good story?

In a story we have several key players, the narrator and the characters. Instead of just you narrating the whole thing (which would make it ho-hum exposition), let your characters tell the story. How? Through dialogue and your physical and verbal portrayal of these characters. Before you can do so, however, you will need to have a clear understanding of your characters.

Here are the steps to creating a vivid portrait of your chosen character:

1. Pick a major character from a story that you plan to tell for a speech.

2. Download the "Character Analysis Sheet."

3. On a separate sheet of paper, write down answers to the questions/prompts posed. As you can see on the handout, I've organized related items into clusters: "Vital Statistics," "Physical Traits," "Possessions & Activities," "Take a Peek Inside" (psychological elements), "Backstory," "What Else Is Important to Know about Your Characters."

There are many more questions you can ask. Be as detailed in your answers as possible. This is the type of analysis that I had to do (and chose to do) when I acted in plays and dramatic scenes. After completing this exercise, I would have sheets of materials to work with.

4. Look through your answers and pick a couple that will help you portray the character in the most interesting fashion that still advances the story.

In one of my past speeches, I was sharing with my audience about a significant encounter with three characters, all of whom I met within a ten-minute time frame. The three characters were: a tall, burley, clean-shaven young man; an opportunistic, eager little boy holding an ice cream cone; and a white-whiskered, limping old man. These descriptions were all pertinent to the story, of course.

I had specific body posture, movement, and voice dedicated to each character. I also put in my own reactions - physical and verbal - to each. Throw in a couple of dialogue and vivid descriptions, and I had my audience at the edge of their seats.

All due to the fact that I had done my character analysis homework.

I encourage you to do the same for your speeches. You will find that the more detective work you do to give life to flesh-and-blood characters, the better a storyteller you are, and the more impactful your speech will be for your audience.

As a speaker, performer, and coach, Joanne Chen is known for her passion, creativity, empathy, sense of humor, physical comedy, and dramatic storytelling. Her Life Purpose is to awaken people to the joy of sudden inspiration through speaking. Check out more public speaking success articles at her Blog of Sudden Inspiration (http://www.JoanneChen.com/blog).

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

A Small Thing Can Have A Huge Impact - 20 Logistical Tips When Speaking

By Craig Strachan

A few years ago, I witnessed a really small thing having a huge impact on a presentation - in this case a negative impact.

Half way through the presentation I was attending, the presenters laptop died! It was not plugged into the wall, and the battery had gone flat. It took him over 15 minutes to find the power cable, get an extension cable, get AC power running and reboot his machine.

Of course, this ruined his presentation. This would not have happened if he had done a little more preparation (personally my recommendation is that if this does happen, just abandon the laptop and continue without it, or get somebody else to resolve the problem while you carry on with your presentation).

Would you like that to happen to you - well I hope not! Remember, that the best speeches can be ruined because the speaker forgot some seemingly minor details. So, here are 20 things to help you to give a smooth presentation.

1. Arrive early

2. if you can, do a dry run the night before at the venue

3. Check out the stage and seating - change if necessary

4. Smaller is bigger - rather speak in a small room that is full than a large room that looks empty

5. Find out what time of day you are speaking

6. Find out when in the programme you are speaking?

7. Find out who is speaking before/after you

8. What are their topics?

9. Send your slides to the meeting organizer ahead of time - check that he/she gets them

10. Send your audio/video (AV) requirements to the meeting organizer beforehand

11. Create a checklist of what you need to bring, and use it

12. Get to know the audio-visual guy - he will assist you with any technical issues - such as where the plugs are

13. Ensure that you know how the microphone works

14. Ensure that there is a NEW battery in the microphone

15. Test all equipment beforehand

16. Switch off screen-savers and power-saving options on your laptop

17. Don't run a laptop off the battery - use the AC power

18. Give yourself plenty of time to setup - you don't want to be setting up when the audience starts to arrive

19. Have a bottle of still water handy (pref. at room temperature) - it is great to moisten your throat

20. Have a backup plan for when things go wrong, and sooner or later they will!

What tips should I add to the list?

About Craig Strachan

I am a keynote & seminar speaker, as well as a communications coach. I have a Distinguished Toastmasters qualification from Toastmasters International, as well as a BSC in Elec.Eng, and a BSC.Hons in Information Systems.

My passion is to help people to become better communicators, in both their personal and professional capacity.

http://blog.cdssolutions.com/ is my business blog, where I write about different aspects on communication.

To receive insightful articles on communication, public speaking, PowerPoint and leadership skills, subscribe to our newsletter here - http://www.cdssolutions.com/mailinglist/mailinglist.asp

I am available for keynote and seminar presentations.
You can contact me at craig@cdssolutions.com

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