You Can Present! – Persuasively, Poignantly, Productively : Michael Cortes, Presentation Coach, Speaker, Leader

Do you want to be a better presenter and speaker?

By packing your presentations, speeches, and communications with more power, influence, and humor?

What Do Master Presenters Do Differently? 7 Essential Habits of Master Presenters By Darren J LaCroix

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday article reprints.

This week you can ask yourself this, “Who has a better presentation?” Is it you, or your competition? Below you will find advise to set you above the competition. Make sure your are head and shoulders above those around you.

What Do Master Presenters Do Differently? 7 Essential Habits of Master Presenters
By Darren J LaCroix

What do you notice that people who are truly “masters” on stage have in common? What are those small differences that over time put in motion large differences that separate them from the pack. As a student of presentation skills since 1992, I have some definite observations. It just gets clearer and clearer to me. Though they are simple, habits, over time they define our growth rate. Do you incorporate these habits?

#1 Think Differently:
Did you know that the first thing Craig Valentine did when he got off the plane from winning the World Championship of Public Speaking was to get a book on public speaking? That is the attitude of a master presenter. People who are the best and have a passion for their craft and their message are always looking to learn more. If every presenter had Craig’s attitude, rarely would any ever sit through a boring presentation ever again. When I jumped into the comedy world, I took every class I could. Many of the teachers I had became “life changing” mentors. I have invested $10,000 each year for the past three years in my own education. Since that has been so helpful, for next year I have already invested over $20,000. Will you invest more in your own self-development next year?

#2 Effort in their introduction:
A master presenter understands that “setting up” the listening is just as important as what is said. Too many presenters do not put any time or effort into their introduction. If anything, they give the introducer an ego filled bio that is usually about seven minutes too long. True professionals keep their introductions under three minutes. They have “you focused” questions in them. These are followed by your credibility, and then a single humbling piece of personal information. The introduction should answer: Why should people listen to you? What will they get out of giving you their time?

#3 They Focusing on Connect with the Audience First:
Master presenters are fully aware that they must “connect” with an audience before they can persuade them. The connection is crucial. This is why I spend a great deal of time researching my keynote audiences before hand. I don’t stop there either. I will also attend other sessions prior to mine, just to find that “one nugget” that will allow me to connect with them. In fact, this ties into the previous point, that part of your introduction’s purpose is to start the process of connecting. Do you strategically focus on connecting?

#4 Long Enough Pauses:
Pauses for the audience’s benefit, not there own comfort level. Too many people on stage only pause long enough for their own comfort. They do not hold the pause long enough for the audience to “think.” This is the whole point of the presentation. Master presenters know that if they are not letting them reflect on thier perspective, they are in fact breaking the connection with the audience. All too often the presenter is the problem, not the audience. If you ask a simple yes or no question, a short pause is plenty. If your question requires deeper thought, let them! Do you pause long enough? If they are not reflecting, you are not connecting!

#5 Worry Bigger:
Much more concerned for the audience’s outcome, rather than what the audience will think of them. I recently interviewed Maria Austin, a Professional Trainer, for an audio learning program for new trainers. She is one of the best I know at this. She has what I call the “Maria Mindset.” Before she was a Trainer, she was in customer service. She brought her “serious service” attitude to her training. She looks at it exactly the same way. The only difference is her product is now education. She is so adamant about what the audience members take away. She fully understands that it is not about her. Do you?

#6 Get Lots of Laughs:
It has been said that you don’t have to use humor in presentations unless you want the audience to listen. Although you can have a powerful presentation without it, most master presenters usually have heavy doses of humor. Here is a crucial difference between good speakers and masters. Master presenters infuse the humor into the story. It is not a tangent from the message. Many less experienced presenters will tell a joke, or use something they found on the internet. They use it to break the ice. Wrong! Humor should always have some relevance to your main message. Otherwise, it is a detour and wastes valuable time! Keep in mind what Steve Allen said: “Humor arises between the incongruity between the character and the situation.” The essence of the “sitcom.” For speakers we need “sit-stories.” The purpose of the story should be anchoring a key point. If you are not getting laughs now, learn to!

#7 Craves Feedback:
When master presenters walk off the platform they are fully aware that a crucial part of their next presentation is just about to begin. It does not matter what we say, it only matters what is heard by the audience. Presenters who are passionate about their message are constantly evolving. New ideas are constantly “tested.” Things that are common in my keynotes now, were once new ideas that were experimented with at one time. For example, I never used to show a video clip of my very first time on stage. I also never used to show a photo of my closet full of video recordings. They are now essential, but may some day be replaced with something more powerful. When I spoke in Canada this past fall I had a video introduce me!

Are you on track to become a master presenter if you are not already? If you believe you already are, may I suggest you read over number one again? I get off track occasionally myself, but it only takes one humbling audience to remind us we all still have much to learn. Where will your current habits take you in five years?

by Darren LaCroix

http://www.humor411.com/

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Did any of these tips sound family? Which did you particularly like?

2009 06 06 Michael Public Speaking
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Once again presenting… Effective Communications Month

Last year during June, you may have seen this post on Effective Communications Month, which is June. But what else can you use to practice effective communications?

How about when you are communicating, whether in writing or speaking, incorporating the five senses into your dialog?

“What do I mean?” you may ask… let’s look at an example

“The room was dimly lit.” can more effectively tap into the sense of sight by saying “The only light in the room was that of the podium drawing your eyes to the speaker.”

This second version begins to paint a picture your your reader or listener, of just how dim the light was, tapping into their sense of sight and past experiences as to how much light is enough.

How about another example? “As I remembered my summer vacation I felt the sights, sound, and smells of the beach.” can be replaced with “As i remebered my summer vaction… I felt the grainy sand between my toes, the smell of salt water in the air, and sounds of the seagull call out over the water.”

Again we use specific sounds, smells, and, feelings to tap into the senses of the reader or listener in order to help place them in the time and place of your story. This will always help keep their attention and interest with you.

How can use these techniques to improve your story telling?

2009 06 01 Michael Leadership
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10 Do’s and 5 Don’ts to Prevent Losing Your Voice By Karen Lyu

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday article reprints.

This week you can find tips below about taking care of your voice. Much time and effort is spent on content and delivery. Have you ever thought, “What should I be doing to protect and enhance my voice and vocal ability?”

Look below to find out.

10 Do’s and 5 Don’ts to Prevent Losing Your Voice
By Karen Lyu

Have you ever had the awful experience of losing your voice? Of having to miss out on conversations, make people wait while you scrawl out words on paper for them to decipher, or cancel events, work and classes?

It has ever happened to you, you know once is too much!

How do you get laryngitis?

The vocal cords create sound when they come together and vibrate. When they can’t come together, you have no sound.

If the vocal cords (aka vocal folds) are irritated and strained, they can get inflamed and tense to the point that the muscles overcompensate, cramp up and stop the vocal cords from coming together. So laryngitis is basically a vocal cord cramp.

The more you strain your throat muscles to create sound, the higher you increase your chances of getting laryngitis!

On the other hand, vocal nodes (aka vocal polyps) are calluses that can grow on your vocal cords if they are slammed together too tightly and too often – for instance if you constantly clear your throat. Vocal nodes can create chronic breathiness and loss of range.

What can you do instead to consistently keep your voice healthy, clear and strong – especially when you need your voice in order to make income, create music, save a life, or connect with someone you care about?

10 Do’s to Prevent Losing Your Voice

Learn physical and vocal warm-ups that help to relax your throat and vocal cords
Learn to keep your throat and vocal cords relaxed at every level when you speak or sing
Take care of your back and neck so that they are aligned (alignment helps keep your throat relaxed and your breathing easy)
Drink lots of water (8 or more glasses a day is recommended)
Sip warm healthy liquids like teas and soups
Protect your immune system with healthy foods and supplements
Take care of health issues such as viruses, bacterial infections, allergies, acid reflux, etc.
Use a humidifier, or steam with essential oils
Use a natural throat spray, natural throat lozenge, or Vitamin C drop that will help heal, moisturize and clear your throat before speaking or singing
Clear your sinuses of bacteria and snot with a neti pot

5 Don’ts to Prevent Losing Your Voice

Avoid strained yelling, screaming, singing or whispering (there are healthy ways)
Avoid smoking and second hand smoke
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, ice, dairy and nut butters 3 hours before speaking or singing
Avoid antiseptic menthol throat sprays and lozenges that numb and dehydrate
Avoid clearing your throat (try a swallow, small cough, or herbal tea with lemon)

Learning to take care of your voice with healthcare and voice training will help you prevent vocal health issues so that you can make sure you will be able to use your voice every day to fully live your life and do your work.

Karen Lyu, Holistic Voice Coach, has helped to transform the voices of over 450 students since 1999. She offers personalized, holistic and playful interactive voice teleclasses, phone lessons and in-person lessons for absolute beginners to untrained professional life coaches, singers, actors, educators and speakers. Karen has sung with musicians such as Devon Evans (Bob Marley) and Soli Hughes (Sounds of Blackness), and received a BSS in Jazz Studies – Vocal Performance. For more information visit http://www.holisticvoicecoach.com

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Do you do any of the things to help protect you voice? What could you do better?

2009 05 30 Michael Public Speaking
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How to Stay Cool When Speaking in Public By Joan Curtis

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday article reprints.

This week you will get some additional tips to fight the fear and nervousness of speaking in front of an audience.

How to Stay Cool When Speaking in Public
By Joan Curtis

Does the thought of speaking in public make you tremble inside? Are you one of those people who would rather die than speak before a group?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then fear not, you are not alone. The majority of people would prefer to turn tail and run than to rise up and speak before others. Most of these people will tell you they have no trouble speaking one-on-one, but when asked to stand and speak before groups, they cringe with fear.

This article will put that universal fear of public speaking in the proper perspective and give you some tips for turning the fear into positive energy.

The Paradox of Fear – (Most people do not realize that fear is a good thing. In fact, if you are too relaxed you will not perform as well on the podium. Seasoned speakers know this. It’s a big secret we like to keep to ourselves. If everyone knew that fear was a good thing, everyone would confidently walk up to the podium, knowing that the fear would soon disappear. Others would not be so impressed with our prowess on stage.

Let’s look at what happens to effectiveness in relation to fear.

When you first walk on the stage, your fear factor is very high. This is called the red zone, when all of us, even the very best speakers experience the greatest fear. In the red zone when our fear is highest, we are most alert. Blood is really pumping through our veins. Our effectiveness as a speaker rises. As the speech progresses, our effectiveness continues to go up, side-by-side with our nervousness. After about 2-4 minutes into the presentation, we all hit what is called the comfort zone. This is where you begin to sense some relaxation. What you hope as a speaker is that you remain in your comfort zone through the remainder of your talk.

Very nervous speakers do not allow themselves to hit the comfort zone. They stay in the red zone throughout the talk, causing their fear to take over. This phenomenon causes fear not to propel but to paralyze.

If, on the other hand, you become even more relaxed past your comfort zone, guess what happens to your effectiveness as a speaker? It goes down! In fact, the more relaxed you get after your comfort zone the less effective you are on the stage. That little edge that brought you to the podium is now gone. Have you ever seen a speaker whom you thought was so good in first few minutes and then he/she began telling off-color stories or rambled on about something irrelevant to the topic? These are people who surpassed their comfort levels.

Knowing this paradox about fear and effectiveness, we as speakers embrace our fear and use it to propel us, rather than paralyze us. Fear then becomes the energy, the enthusiasm, the spark, our friend.

Tips to Manage Your Fear:

* (Identify the fear. What are you afraid of? What specifically do you fear? Are you afraid of what the other people will think of you? Are you afraid of losing your train of thought? Are you afraid you’ll fall off the stage? Write down everything you fear. Make the list as long as you need to.

*Isolate Each Fear. Once you’ve identified your fears, list the things you can do to prevent that dreaded event from happening. For example, if you are afraid you will lose your train of thought, prepare clear, precise notes. If you fear what others will think of you, imagine what they are thinking. How can you turn their thoughts from negative energy to positive energy?

*Take Baby Steps. Instead of making your first speech to the local Rotary Club, ask a question in a Sunday School class. When you feel comfortable asking questions in public, then teach a Sunday School class or volunteer to give a little talk in your public schools. You might consider joining Toastmasters International. This organization offers many opportunities for practice and feedback.(

*Practice, practice, practice. I wrote another paper on How to Write a Speech without Notes. In that paper I outlined a practice model. Take a look at that model. If you practice your speech to the point that you are absolutely sick of hearing it, you will be prepared for your speech.

*Make the Unknown Known. One of our biggest fears of speaking is the unknown. We do not know the audience. We do not know the location. We do not know what will happen when we open our mouths. This list is endless. Of course you cannot make all the unknowns known, but the more you make known the more control you will get on this fear. For example, how can you make the audience known? Here are some tips:

*Research your audience. Find out the kinds of people who usually attend this session. What are their ages, sex, socio-economic background and likely interests?

*Greet people as they walk in. Shake hands and make eye contact. If possible, ask people their names. With a large audience you cannot meet everyone, but each person you greet becomes your new friend.

*Engage Your Audience. Look out into the audience no matter how large and get them involved in your talk. Bring them along with you. Don’t just talk to them and please, do not read your notes or your PowerPoint presentation. When your eyes point down to read, you do not engage! Ask open questions that make the audience think. Challenge them to become part of your presentation.

Remember, fear is not something to fear. It is something to embrace. No matter how cool a speaker appears, he/she is shaking in his/her boots. We all have that little edge of nervousness when we walk onto the stage. We’re all in this together. You are not alone in your fear. What seasoned speakers have done is to learn how to make fear their friend. You can, too!

Dr. Joan Curtis is a nationally known communications coach. She has over 20 years experience as a trainer and educator. She has taught communication skills and presentation skills to leadership groups throughout the country. Dr. Curtis produces a monthly e-zine: The Savvy Communicator and posts regularly on her blog, the Savvy Communicator http://www.TotalCommunicationsCoach.com/blog Her website is http://www.TotalCommunicationsCoach.com

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2009 05 23 Michael Public Speaking
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Public Speaking – Make a List by Laurent Duperval

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday article reprints.

Public Speaking – Make a List
By Laurent Duperval

He’s making a list and checking twice.

That’s a line from the classic Christmas carol, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”. There is value to such a list when delivering a speech.

When preparing for a speech, print out a checklist of all the things you need to have ready beforehand. The list runs the gamut from the obvious (computer, projector, handouts) to the not-so-obvious (extension cord, spare batteries, bottled water).

A checklist is an important part of speaking. With a decent checklist, you can be sure that everything you need will be ready and available when you get to the location of your speech.

Some of the things you should include in your list are:

Everything that has to do with a computer: the computer(!), power bars, extensions, cables to connect to a projector, a remote to control the projector or PowerPoint, a USB key with a backup of your material, etc.
Everything that has to do with your presentation: Do you need props? Do you need markers? Do you need flip chart paper? Do you need handouts? Do you have a copy of the introduction that should be read before you speak?
Everything that has to do with you: Is your suit still at the cleaner’s? Do you have business cards? Did you confirm the location for the event? Do you know how to get there?

And so on. A checklist can be a life saver. Or at the very least, it can bring your stress level down a notch or two.

Laurent Duperval consults and trains on communication issues. He publishes the “Communicate To Motivate” electronic newsletter, which aims to help leaders improve their communication, public speaking, and presentation skills to dramatically improve their results.

You can reach him at http://www.duperval.com

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2009 05 16 Michael Public Speaking
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3 Public Speaking Tools to Make Your Speech Worth it For Your Audience Members by Craig Valentine

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday article reprints.

You may have heard me say, “Use personal stories to help get your point across to your audience.” But when you use those stories, do you always make yourself the hero, the winner, the one who come to the rescue?

Below you will see what Craig Valentine has to say about that, and how it only hurts your audience.

3 Public Speaking Tools to Make Your Speech Worth it For Your Audience Members
By Craig Valentine

When you build yourself up, you let your audience down. Let’s face it; there are some speakers who use the platform to stroke their ego. I may have been one of them in the past. However, when we talk about how great we are and speak only of our successes, our audience members think of us in 1 of 2 ways:

1. “Wow, he sure is full of himself.”
or
2. “Well, I guess he is just special.”

As a speaker, being considered special is just as bad as being considered full of yourself. When your audience thinks you are special, they begin to think “Of course that strategy works for him because he is special. He is a genius.” They have a built-in excuse not to use your advice and, consequently, you become worthless to that audience. You can avoid this by using the following 3 Audience Impact Tools that will not only get you connected with your audience but will also spark them to act on your message.

Audience Impact Tool Number 1:

Put the process, not the person, on a pedestal. In other words, do not brag about yourself, brag about the process (or formula, recipe, toolkit, etc.) you have uncovered in your journeys. When you do this, the audience members think, “I am interested in learning more about this process. I do not know if it really works, but I am interested in learning more about it.” This gets your audience a little closer to taking an action on your message, because you have succeeded in building interest in your process rather than in you. However, there are still two major obstacles. Although they are interested in your process, they still are not sure if it really works. Your story should begin to prove to them that the process works, but Audience Impact Tool number 2 will take that credibility to another level.

Audience Impact Tool Number 2

Quantify your process. For example, in the midst of your story or activity, you might say, “I came across these tools that I now refer to as the 4 Rs to Remarkable Results that you can use to make change work for you instead of against you.” Or you might say, “This 4-step formula was used by the great orators of the past and the present. Everyone from Aristotle to Anthony Robbins has used these 4 steps.”

The reason you should quantify your process is because specifics build credibility. Your process goes from being a loose intangible and becomes a tight proven system. It also naturally builds the curiosity for your audience members to think, “I want to hear all 4 steps. Come on, what is step 1?” In this way, quantifying your process not only builds credibility in that process, but it also teases your audience to want to know more. As a result, they will buy into the fact that the process worked for you. However, they still might not think it will work for them. That is where tool number 3 comes in handy.

Audience Impact Tool Number 2

If you want your audience members to act on your message, you must help them feel like you (or the main characters in your story) are similar to them. Think similar, not separate. One strategy you can easily use is to break yourself down so your audience members know you are closer to them then you are to, say, Zeus.

For example, I regularly tell people the low score I received the first time I took the SATs. What do you think happens inside of the minds of my audience members?Chances are they think, “Well, if he can be successful at this, I can definitely be successful at this too. Let me listen up for what process he used to get from A to B.”

Many average speakers will not allow themselves to share their failures or open up to an audience in this way. However, the quickest way to build a connection with your audience is to share your failures, flaws, frustrations, and firsts (not all of your first, of course). If you do this, you will connect fast and deep.

Final thoughts

Remember, your job as a speaker is usually to sell people on the results they will get when they utilize a certain formula, process, tool, or recipe. It has nothing to do with you being a genius, it has everything to do with your audience members uncovering the process that worked for you (or for your customers) and understanding that it will work for them too. During the presentation, remember to -

1. Put the process, not the person, on a pedestal
2. Quantify your process
3. Share your failures, flaws, frustrations, and firsts

Craig Valentine is the author of two books entitled World Class Speaking and The Nuts and Bolts of Public Speaking. He is the 1999 World Champion of Public Speaking and an internationally-known professional speaker. To get your FREE Masterful Speaking Toolkit, visit http://www.craigvalentine.com/

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Do you some ideas in mind how you can change your stories so you aren’t the hero?

2009 05 09 Michael Public Speaking
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Are You Afraid of Perfection? by Rich Hopkins

Welcome to another edition of the Saturday article reprints.

In recent post, you may have asked yourself “Do I want to be good? Or do I want to be great?”

Below, Rick Hopkins asks another question. Take a look. What do you think?

Are You Afraid of Perfection?
By Rich Hopkins

As of this writing, the Indianapolis Colts are 13-0. They are 3 wins away from the perfect regular season, on the cusp of besting the regular season mark of 14-0 by the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Radio shows are buzzing with opinions about whether or not the Colts will reach this accomplishment, and even whether or not they should. Since the Holy Grail in the NFL is a Super Bowl Championship, not a perfect season, there are many who feel a perfect season would put the Colts at a disadvantage going into the playoffs, citing the intense pressure to win 3 more games to finish the season 19-0. Many feel a loss would allow the Colts to “refocus”, and take the “target off their backs”. Others advise Indianapolis Coach Tony Dungy to rest his starting players for the last two games, once they’ve clinched home field advantage for the playoffs. After all, why risk injury?

The pendulum of American culture swings wildly, as evidenced by the 1985 Chicago Bears team who, at 12-0, were singing the “Super Bowl Shuffle”, on their way to a near-perfect 18-1 season, including a dominating victory in Super Bowl XX. Today, the Indianapolis Colts play down their accomplishments, perhaps out of humility, perhaps out of fear.

Are you afraid of perfection? Perhaps the largest obstacle on our quest for success is our own self-doubt. The over-analysis of our approach to our jobs, families, and dreams creates a paralysis that prevents us from fully realizing our potential. Instead of making a commitment to excellence at every turn, people set low expectations so as not to disappoint their bosses, spouses, and themselves. Failure is easier to accept if success is only a tiny step up.

If we expect less of ourselves, it is reasonable that we will achieve less. If we choose to ease up on the throttle of life because we’d rather succeed at failing instead of risking failing to succeed, we not only increase our odds of overall failure, but we cheat ourselves out of potential greatness. To decide that losing is preferable to the risk involved in striving for a remarkable and singular achievement, smacks of a lack of self-confidence.

5 ways to know you’re expecting too little of yourself:

1. Setting a goal you have already achieved.

2. Setting a goal you would achieve normally through the course of your day.

3. Setting a goal you aren’t worried about not achieving.

4. Setting a goal that doesn’t result in growth, productivity, or profitability.

5. You stop setting goals entirely, not wanting to set yourself up for failure.

Goal-setting is only as effective as those who strive for them. Failure to make appropriate goals that align with your passions, dreams, and genuine needs will send you into a self-sabotaging spiral.

Take the time to examine your current goals. Once you are confident in where you are headed, don’t be afraid to announce to the world your intentions of success. When we raise others expectations, we raise our own. Finally, don’t be afraid of striving for perfection. Perfection just missed is recognized as excellence.

Rich Hopkins is a speaker, coach, and consultant who aligns his clients with their own potential. He has 20 years of business background in marketing, sales, and customer service. He consults with individuals, student groups, non-profit organizations, and corporations. http://www.richhopkins.net.

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