This document outlines a presentation on public speaking and communication skills. The agenda includes discussing why public speaking is important, why people avoid it, strategies for overcoming fears, and resources for improving skills. Some key points are that public speaking can help people stand out, improve leadership abilities, and boost confidence. Common fears include not being perfect, comparisons to others, and failure. The presentation recommends starting small, accepting mistakes, and using organizations like Toastmasters to develop skills.

1. “Public Speaking &
Communication”
Presented at:
NYSAMPO
Long Island Conference
10/25/2016
Prepared by:
Robert T. Dean
Intern for Broome
County Purchasing
Presented by:
John A. Flynn, Jr.
Competent
Toastmaster (CTM)
Director of
Purchasing for
Broome County

2. TODAY’S AGENDA
I. WHY IS PUBLIC SPEAKING IMPORTANT?
II. WHY DO PEOPLE AVOID IT AT ANY COST?
III. STRATEGIES FOR OVERCOMING FEAR
IV. RESOURCES TO HELP

3. POLL QUESTION: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT
PUBLIC SPEAKING?
A. I AVOID IT AT ANY COST; I WOULD RATHER TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE!
B. IT’S NOT MY FAVORITE THING, BUT I WILL DO IT IF NEEDED.
C. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! GIVE ME THAT MICROPHONE AND GET OUT OF
THE WAY!

4. FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING:
THE STATISTICS

6. WHY IS PUBLIC SPEAKING IMPORTANT?
YOU NEED TO SHOW WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW!

7. WHY IS PUBLIC SPEAKING IMPORTANT?
IT HELPS YOU STAND OUT IN THE WORKFORCE

8. WHY IS PUBLIC SPEAKING IMPORTANT?
IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS

9. WHY IS PUBLIC SPEAKING IMPORTANT?
IT WILL INCREASE YOUR SELF-CONFIDENCE

10. IF IT’S IMPORTANT, WE DO WE AVOID PUBLIC
SPEAKING AT ANY COST?
1. NOT KNOWING WHERE TO START
2. NOT KNOWING HOW TO GIVE A SPEECH OR PRESENTATION
3. LACK OF SELF CONFIDENCE
4. COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHERS
5. FEAR OF FAILURE!!!

11. POLL QUESTION: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
EXCUSES YOU HAVE USED?

14. THE FEAR OF FAILURE
• FAILING ON A SPEECH/PRESENTATION CAN BE
EMBARRASSING (REAL OR PERCEIVED)
• IT’S DIFFICULT TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE
• MOST PEOPLE ARE THEIR OWN WORST CRITIC (NEGATIVE
SELF-TALK)

15. THE “WHAT IFS”
• WHAT IF THE AUDIENCE DOESN’T LIKE ME?
• WHAT IF I’M NOT PERFECT AND MAKE A MISTAKE?
• WHAT IF THE PERSON WHO SPOKE BEFORE ME WAS REALLY
GOOD?
• WHAT IF THEY LAUGH ME OFF THE STAGE?
• WHAT IF THEY SEE HOW NERVOUS I AM?

16. STRATEGIES TO DEAL WITH OUR FEARS
• START SMALL; LOOK FOR LOW RISK OPPORTUNITIES
• ACCEPT THAT YOU WON’T BE PERFECT
• ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES, BUT HAVE FUN
ANYWAY
• HARNESS YOU NERVOUSNESS IN A POSITIVE WAY
• FIND A MENTOR OR GROUP THAT CAN HELP

17. POLL QUESTION: HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN A
PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS IN THE PAST?

18. ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES
NIGP WEBINAR: “GOVERNMENT SPEAK” WITH TAMMY RIMES
http://www.nigp.org/
TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL:
https://www.toastmasters.org/
PUBLIC SPEAKING ASSOCIATION:
https://publicspeakersassociation.com/
SIX MINUTES:
http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/

19. NIGP WEBINAR: “GOVERNMENT SPEAK”

21. TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL:
COMMUNICATIONS AND LEADERSHIP

22. TOASTMASTERS IS NOT JUST
PUBLIC SPEAKING!

23. SAMPLE MEETING AGENDA

24. PUBLIC SPEAKING ASSOCIATION

25. SIX MINUTES

26. WORLD’S WORST MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

27. WORLD’S BEST MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

28. TAKEAWAYS AND FINAL THOUGHTS
• WHAT ONE THING DID YOU HEAR TODAY THAT
STRUCK YOU THE MOST?
• WHAT WILL YOU DO DIFFERENT WHEN YOU GET
BACK TO THE OFFICE?
• IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE?

29. QUESTIONS - CONTACT INFORMATION
John A. Flynn, Jr.
Director of Purchasing
Broome County
Phone: (607) 778-2382
E-Mail: jflynn@co.broome.ny.us
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaflynnjr
Website: www.gobroomecounty.com/purchasing
THANK YOU!