Mastering Public Speaking The Art of Delivering Your Message

Today’s Objectives Understand the benefits of presenting well Learn the 10 mistakes presenters make Learn tips for presenting well every time Practice skills by presenting © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Understand the benefits of presenting well

Learn the 10 mistakes presenters make

Learn tips for presenting well every time

Practice skills by presenting

Speaking Well is a Career Imperative! Speaking for 20 minutes before the right group of people can do more for your career than spending a year behind a desk! © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Speaking for 20 minutes before the right group of people can do more for your career than spending a year behind a desk!

Presentation Clip © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Top Speaking Mistakes Lack of preparation Imitating others – be yourself Not speaking clearly Reading a speech word for word Failure to engage the audience No passion or enthusiasm Inappropriate gestures or humor Trying to fool the audience © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Lack of preparation

Imitating others – be yourself

Not speaking clearly

Reading a speech word for word

Failure to engage the audience

No passion or enthusiasm

Inappropriate gestures or humor

Trying to fool the audience

Its About Communication Great presenting depends on your ability to clearly communicate your message Problems with the communication process can arise due to the Sender - the presenter Medium - the actual presentation Receiver - the audience © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Great presenting depends on your ability to clearly communicate your message

Problems with the communication process can arise due to the

Sender - the presenter

Medium - the actual presentation

Receiver - the audience

Barriers to Effective Presentations Information overload Jargon Visibility Poor sound Poor listening Prejudice and bias Lack of clarity Level of the audience Timing © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Information overload

Jargon

Visibility

Poor sound

Poor listening

Prejudice and bias

Lack of clarity

Level of the audience

Timing

Preparation © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Creating the Presentation Identify your main objectives Determine the information you’ll need Decide how you will structure the delivery Think about your audience and their needs © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc. The best way to sound like you know what you're talking about is to know what you're talking about. ~Author Unknown

Identify your main objectives

Determine the information you’ll need

Decide how you will structure the delivery

Think about your audience and their needs

Information Research your topic Looks for quotes to support your message Present information not data Use storytelling as a way to present your information with meaning attached © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Research your topic

Looks for quotes to support your message

Present information not data

Use storytelling as a way to present your information with meaning attached

Delivery Structure Is it a speech, workshop or meeting presentation? How much time do you have? What equipment will you need? What room layout will work best? What visual aids will you use? © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Is it a speech, workshop or meeting presentation?

How much time do you have?

What equipment will you need?

What room layout will work best?

What visual aids will you use?

Analyzing the Audience What is the knowledge level? Are they interested in the topic? What’s their reason for being there? How many people are expected? Are they going to be hostile, skeptical or friendly? © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

What is the knowledge level?

Are they interested in the topic?

What’s their reason for being there?

How many people are expected?

Are they going to be hostile, skeptical or friendly?

Presentation Day Get there early to set up Does the equipment work? Does the layout suit the purpose? Can the audience see & hear you? Any potential distractions in the room? Get there early to get to know people To reduce nervousness Engage the audience © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Get there early to set up

Does the equipment work?

Does the layout suit the purpose?

Can the audience see & hear you?

Any potential distractions in the room?

Get there early to get to know people

To reduce nervousness

Engage the audience

Danger of Not Preparing © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Practice Exercise At a party and you meet the HR Director of the company you want to work for. You have 2 minutes to impress them and get them to agree to schedule an interview. What do you say? You’ve just been hired and are being introduced to your team members. You have 2 minutes to tell them about your background and why you’ll be a great member of the team. What do you say? You are at a networking function and need to deliver a 2 minute elevator pitch to introduce yourself. What do you say? © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

At a party and you meet the HR Director of the company you want to work for. You have 2 minutes to impress them and get them to agree to schedule an interview. What do you say?

You’ve just been hired and are being introduced to your team members. You have 2 minutes to tell them about your background and why you’ll be a great member of the team. What do you say?

You are at a networking function and need to deliver a 2 minute elevator pitch to introduce yourself. What do you say?

The Presenter © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Kicking Off Three things must be achieved in the first few seconds of the presentation: Establish your authority and background Tell the audience what you are about to tell them Arouse interest and curiosity © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Three things must be achieved in the first few seconds of the presentation:

Establish your authority and background

Tell the audience what you are about to tell them

Arouse interest and curiosity

Managing First Impressions The first impression an audience has is dependent upon two main attributes Appearance Grooming Clothes Surroundings Behavior Attitude Communication style Professionalism © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

The first impression an audience has is dependent upon two main attributes

Appearance

Grooming

Clothes

Surroundings

Behavior

Attitude

Communication style

Professionalism

Non-verbal Communication Non-verbal communication impacts your presentation: Tone of voice The look on your face Posture Distance Eye contact Gestures From the presenter’s perspective body language must not be seen as contrary to the overall message! © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Non-verbal communication impacts your presentation:

Tone of voice

The look on your face

Posture

Distance

Eye contact

Gestures

From the presenter’s perspective body language must not be seen as contrary to the overall message!

The Face Facial expressions communicates: Emotion Attitude Feelings © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Facial expressions communicates:

Emotion

Attitude

Feelings

Using Your Voice The voice carries messages that are not defined by the words used - this is called paralanguage: Vocal quality Volume Pitch Rate of speech Enunciation / accent Pauses © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

The voice carries messages that are not defined by the words used - this is called paralanguage:

Vocal quality

Volume

Pitch

Rate of speech

Enunciation / accent

Pauses

Eye Contact Eye contact can be used to establish Level of trust Level of understanding Points to note: Use ‘calm’ eye contact, not rapid glancing Do not stare at one section of the audience Let your eye contact flow over the entire audience You cannot have eye contact if you are looking at your visual aids! © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Eye contact can be used to establish

Level of trust

Level of understanding

Points to note:

Use ‘calm’ eye contact, not rapid glancing

Do not stare at one section of the audience

Let your eye contact flow over the entire audience

You cannot have eye contact if you are looking at your visual aids!

Effective Gestures Gestures are used to emphasize points invite participation direct involvement Effective gestures are: relaxed natural suited to the situation convincing © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Gestures are used to

emphasize points

invite participation

direct involvement

Effective gestures are:

relaxed

natural

suited to the situation

convincing

Harvard Public Speaking Clip © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Adapting to Visual Feedback Take in non-verbal messages that the audience are sending and act on them If the audience is not looking at you: They may be bored They may not be able to hear you They may be puzzled They may be uncomfortable © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Take in non-verbal messages that the audience are sending and act on them

If the audience is not looking at you:

They may be bored

They may not be able to hear you

They may be puzzled

They may be uncomfortable

Using Notes Not all presenters feel comfortable speaking without notes - here are some ideas on how to prepare effective notes: Do not staple the pages or cue cards together, keep them in a folder Use a big font that can be easily seen Put directions on the sheet to help you with the presentation © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Not all presenters feel comfortable speaking without notes - here are some ideas on how to prepare effective notes:

Do not staple the pages or cue cards together, keep them in a folder

Use a big font that can be easily seen

Put directions on the sheet to help you with the presentation

Avoid Poor Delivery Habits Use of fillers such as ‘ahh’ and ‘um’ Fidgeting Sloppy editing of materials Overuse of gestures Turning away from the audience Reading exactly what is on the slide Clicking a pen Waving a laser pointer around © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Use of fillers such as ‘ahh’ and ‘um’

Fidgeting

Sloppy editing of materials

Overuse of gestures

Turning away from the audience

Reading exactly what is on the slide

Clicking a pen

Waving a laser pointer around

Visual Aids © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Visual Aids Two main types Visual aids that you prepare in advance PowerPoint Presentation Models Diagrams Samples Those that you develop during the presentation Flip charts © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Two main types

Visual aids that you prepare in advance

PowerPoint Presentation

Models

Diagrams

Samples

Those that you develop during the presentation

Flip charts

Using LCD Display Projectors Advantages Materials can be prepared ahead of time Material can be changed at short notice Looks very professional Disadvantages Complexity can creep in Can go wrong Focus is taken from the content to the method © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Advantages

Materials can be prepared ahead of time

Material can be changed at short notice

Looks very professional

Disadvantages

Complexity can creep in

Can go wrong

Focus is taken from the content to the method

Presentation Software When using the presentation software be aware of the following questions: Is it a show or a presentation? Are the audience to be informed or entertained? Have you engaged minds as well as eyes? Will the technology prevent interaction with the presenter and thereby diminish the effect? © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

When using the presentation software be aware of the following questions:

Is it a show or a presentation?

Are the audience to be informed or entertained?

Have you engaged minds as well as eyes?

Will the technology prevent interaction with the presenter and thereby diminish the effect?

Handling Questions & Hecklers © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Handling Questions Poorly handled questions will ruin a presentation Repeat the question for everyone to hear Answer it directly and briefly Ask for details if you don’t understand Prepare by thinking about possible questions you may be asked © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Poorly handled questions will ruin a presentation

Repeat the question for everyone to hear

Answer it directly and briefly

Ask for details if you don’t understand

Prepare by thinking about possible questions you may be asked

Handling the Heckler As a presenter, when faced with a heckler you have three choices: Ignore them Engage them Challenge them © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc. Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference. ~Author unknown, attributed to Mark Twain

As a presenter, when faced with a heckler you have three choices:

Ignore them

Engage them

Challenge them

Practice Delivery Exercise At a party and you meet the HR Director of the company you want to work for. You have 2 minutes to impress them and get them to agree to schedule an interview. What do you say? You’ve just been hired and are being introduced to your team members. You have 2 minutes to tell them about your background and why you’ll be a great member of the team. What do you say? You are at a networking function and need to deliver a 2 minute elevator pitch to introduce yourself. What do you say? © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

At a party and you meet the HR Director of the company you want to work for. You have 2 minutes to impress them and get them to agree to schedule an interview. What do you say?

You’ve just been hired and are being introduced to your team members. You have 2 minutes to tell them about your background and why you’ll be a great member of the team. What do you say?

You are at a networking function and need to deliver a 2 minute elevator pitch to introduce yourself. What do you say?

Summary © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Plan, Prepare and Present Plan Think about the audience, the purpose of the presentation and plan what is required Prepare Prepare the materials using information and prepare yourself and the environment Present Present the material in a professional manner using your voice and body language supported by a presentation style suited to the audience and material © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Plan

Think about the audience, the purpose of the presentation and plan what is required

Prepare

Prepare the materials using information and prepare yourself and the environment

Present

Present the material in a professional manner using your voice and body language supported by a presentation style suited to the audience and material

Remember… Know your material Remember that people want you to succeed Relax Focus on your message not your fears Practice practice practice Know the audience Visualize Know the room Don’t apologize Gain experience © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.

Know your material

Remember that people want you to succeed

Relax

Focus on your message not your fears

Practice practice practice

Know the audience

Visualize

Know the room

Don’t apologize

Gain experience

Thank You! 5555 Glenridge Connector, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30342 404-459-4030 www.talentbuildersinc.com www.barbaragiamanco.com © 2008 Talet Builders, Inc.