By Allan Kaufman and Allan Misch

All eyes are upon you. Tension fills the air. Your audience awaits your first words. So what should you do?

You cut the tension and “break the ice” confidently and powerfully—you grab your audience’s attention, get them leaning forward with anticipation, and make them feel that they’re going to get what they came for. How do you do that? First…

Pause dramatically for a few seconds.

Lean forward slightly. Make eye contact with some in your audience. Smile if you’ll be starting on a light note. Feel the exchange of positive energy between you and your audience. Then begin by using one of these strategies…

Tell a memorized anecdote or short story that introduces your message.

Use visually descriptive words that cause your audience to experience emotional shifts that are congruent with the emotional aspect of your message, or…

Relate a memorized personalized joke or humorous story that ties into your thesis.

This builds rapport rapidly and gets your audience into an “I want to hear more” mood. Keep it short and don’t introduce it by saying, “I want to start by telling you a joke [story].” Just get into it, or…

Make a shocking or unexpected memorized statement.

After making your statement, pause and look at your audience. That’s called a dramatic pause.

For example, “I made ten thousand dollars on the phone last night in my polka dot PJs… legally. (Pause and look at your audience.) I’m going to tell you exactly how I did it and how you can do it too.” or…

Ask a memorized rhetorical, involvement question.

Then hold up your hand and wait for your audience to raise their hands. For example, “How many of you sell?” or “How many of you would like to give such an effective presentation that you would literally hold your audience in the palm of your hand?” You accomplish four things by doing this.

First, you get your audience’s attention. Second, you put your audience in a positive emotional state with a “YES” answer. Third, by following your lead and raising their hands, your audience demonstrates their rapport with you. And fourth, they get involved physically in your presentation, or…

Cast your premise into a memorized “would you rather” question with a predetermined answer.

For example, “Would you rather be working your own business, making your own decisions, choosing your own hours, making a six-figure income, or be working at a job 8 to 10 hours a day building your boss’s dream? (Pause) Today we’ll discuss how you can develop your own business, be in control of your own life, and build your own dream.”

An attention-grabbing opening is critical for presentation success. Memorize your opening to insure a flawless delivery. Use a strong pause. Tell a descriptive story that moves your audience emotionally. Relate a humorous experience that ties into your thesis. Do or say something unexpected. Ask a thesis-related question that involves your audience either physically or emotionally.

In his book Made to Stick, Chip Heath notes, “The first problem of communication is getting people’s attention.” Launch your presentation with one of these strategies, and you’ll seize your audience’s attention and wake them up!

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How do you grab your audience’s attention in the beginning of your presentations? Let us know in the comments.

by Allan Misch

Author Frances Moore Lappé said, “I’ve grown certain that the root of all fear is that we’ve been forced to deny who we are.” Before you can hope to eliminate your dread, you must first accept that you have public speaking fear. That’s a given. Then, you can begin to shift your emotional state from fear to confidence. Two strategies you can use to begin that shift involve taking stock of your fear and honoring your feelings.

Take Stock of Your Fear

I’ve always found that to get the right results, you must first define the problem. When you don’t define the problem correctly, your solution doesn’t solve the problem. The same principle applies to eliminating speaking fear. You first need to define the problem — the causes of your fear — completely, accurately, and honestly to achieve success. Sometimes, this is a daunting task, because you have to face a part of yourself that’s uncomfortable to you. But it’s necessary. Here’s an approach.

Write down every aspect of your public speaking fears and performance anxieties of which you’re aware. For example, approaching the lectern, being introduced, writing the speech, thinking about the speech, making a mistake, being the center of attention, etc.

Next, write down all the causes that may not be apparent to you, or that make you uncomfortable when you think about them. Such as low self-esteem, parental disapproval, being told “children should be seen and not heard,” traumatic or abusive experiences unrelated to public speaking, insecurity, etc.

Once you take stock of your fear, you’re in a position to address its causes. You’ve defined your problem. Now you need to apply the right tool that will help you nullify the effects of your problem and achieve success. Our No Sweat Speaking™ Process does that. It gets rid of your speaking fear rapidly. The first part of the Process is to honor your fear.

Honor Your Fear to Conquer It!

Some people blame themselves for having public speaking fear and performance anxieties. They think there’s something wrong with them, and they avoid public speaking opportunities. The truth is before you can solve a problem you must first own up to it. Before you can conquer your public speaking fear, you must first acknowledge that you have it and that you’re still a good person even though you have it.

In our No Sweat Speaking™ Process for eliminating public speaking fear and performance anxiety, Allan Kaufman and I use a positive affirmation.  The affirmation helps those with whom we work prepare for changing their behavior from fear to confidence. Try saying, “Even though I have public speaking fear, I still accept myself for who I am.”

This affirmation tells your mind that you have a problem, and that you’re still okay in spite of it. It causes you to honor your problem and yourself. Once you do this, you begin to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally to conquer your fear.

You can use several strategies to conquer your public speaking fear. Two of them are understanding the causes of your problem and accepting yourself in spite of your presentation anxiety. As Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” So take stock of your public speaking fear and then honor your fear.

by Allan Misch

Often, anxious presenters don’t look at their audiences. They look at their notes, the ceiling, or the back wall. If they do glance at their audiences, it’s usually in a quick scanning pattern.

Actually, looking at your entire audience with a quick scan, or looking at several in the audience at one time increases your public speaking fear, or stage fright. What you see is a bunch of eyes staring at you.

Often the appearance of those eyes are exaggerated. They appear large or even cartoon-like. This can heighten your performance anxiety. So what should you do?

Pick out a friendly face in the front of the audience, make direct eye contact, and talk to him or her for several seconds. When you reach a natural pause, talk to another person directly for several seconds. Work your way around the audience, talking to one person at a time.

Instead of speaking to a sea of eyes, you connect with and give your presentation to one person at a time. Soon, your performance anxiety will lessen, because it’s all how you look at it!

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This month is “March Madness.”

March Madness is the single-elimination tournament held each spring, mostly in March, in the United States. It features 68 NCAA college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball.

In honor of NCAA’s March Madness, we want to share with you “Allan and Allan’s March Madness.”

During the month of March, we are offering a spectacular massive deal on our No Sweat Speaking(tm) coaching. But it is for a limited time only.

So if you have any interest in overcoming your public speaking anxieties and becoming a dynamic, effective, and skillful speaker, now is the time.

If you have been putting off acquiring a presentation coach, now is the time.

If you need to hone your presentation skills and develop more confidence to earn that next promotion, increase your sales, or establish yourself as a leader, now is the time.

Just go to our coaching page and fill out our coaching inquiry questionnaire. We will get back to you with our customized, no-obligation coaching proposal at a special March Madness massively reduced deal.

Remember, this March Madness massive savings offer on No Sweat Speaking(tm) coaching is only available until March 31, 2012. So act now. Complete the coaching inquiry questionnaire for a no-obligation coaching proposal.

By Allan Misch

Master the following presentation skills and you will increase substantially your odds of giving successful presentations.

Strategy #1: Speak with Your Mouth and Your Eyes

When speaking, the more sensory channels you use, the more effective you’ll be at reaching your audience. So don’t speak with just your mouth. Use your body and most importantly, use your eyes. Your eyes are incredibly powerful at communicating.

Anxious speakers tend to look away from their audiences. However, looking at and connecting with individuals in your audience has a calming effect — calming on your audience and on yourself. Using your eyes to connect with your audience is one of the most important presentation skills to master.

So speak to one person at a time. Look directly at that person for five to seven seconds. Often, the person will smile at you. Smile back. Then, look at another person for five to seven seconds. Keep repeating this process.

Soon, your nervousness, performance anxiety, and stage fright should begin to dissipate. That’s what happens when you speak with your mouth and with your eyes.

Strategy #2: Heed the Most Important Factor When You Present

Time. Make it your friend. Be on time for your presentation, and stay on time during your presentation. When you go overtime, you show lack of respect for your audience’s time and other speakers on a multi-speaker program.

If your presentation is outstanding but you run over your time limit, that’s what your audience and meeting planner will remember. If your presentation bombs but you end on time, your audience and meeting planner will appreciate that you didn’t cause the program to run behind schedule.

So how do you ensure that your program stays on time? Practice and time yourself. Your recorded practice session should take 20% less time than you’re allotted. So if you’re to speak for 30 minutes, your practice presentation should be no longer than 24 minutes.

Time can be your enemy if you exceed your limit. It can be your ally if you stay within your limit. Make time your friend.

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We are excited about an event we want to share with you this month. It reminds us of the time our families vacationed at the shore in Ocean City, Maryland.

One rainy evening we went to the movies. A tall guy about 7′, maybe taller, was standing in front of Allan Kaufman. Allan is short, about 5’3″.

Allan was eyeing this guy up and down. Finally, Allan said to him, “Excuse me, do you play BASKETBALL?”

The guy looked down at Allan and said, “No. Do you play MINIATURE GOLF?”

So what does this event at Ocean City and this month’s event have in common? Basketball! This month is “March Madness.”

March Madness is the single-elimination tournament held each spring, mostly in March, in the United States. It features 68 NCAA college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball.

But this is not the event we are excited to share with you. In honor of NCAA’s March Madness, we want to share with you “Allan and Allan’s March Madness.”

During the month of March, we are offering a spectacular massive deal on our No Sweat Speaking(tm) coaching. But it is for a limited time only.

So if you have any interest in overcoming your public speaking anxieties and becoming a dynamic, effective, and skillful speaker, now is the time.

If you have been putting off acquiring a presentation coach, now is the time.

If you need to hone your presentation skills and develop more confidence to earn that next promotion, increase your sales, or establish yourself as a leader, now is the time.

Just go to our coaching page and fill out our coaching inquiry questionnaire. We will get back to you with our customized, no-obligation coaching proposal at a special March Madness massively reduced deal.

Remember, this March Madness massive savings offer on No Sweat Speaking(tm) coaching is only available until March 31, 2012. So act now. Complete the coaching inquiry questionnaire for a no-obligation coaching proposal.

by Allan Misch

WIIFM is not the call letters for a radio station, the key to a secret code, or an acronym for a new government agency. It’s a question that’s in the minds of every audience. The question?

“What’s in it for me?”

The answer to the question is in your program content. The key to valuable content is your presentation research. If you research properly, you’ll develop meaningful content and satisfy your audience. Here are some strategies for researching your topic.

Research Your Audience

This is your most important step. You must know what information your audience wants or needs to get, or what problem they need to solve. Try to find this out from the meeting planner. (You can use an Audience/Program/Facility Survey form that I use to capture this information and more.)

Get the names and contact information of a few key people who will be in your audience. Contact them and find out their needs or what result they would like to have because of your presentation.

When you have this information, your assignment gets a focus. You know what you need to do. You know the definition of success. Your next step is to document what you know about the subject.

Document What You Know

Many presenters overlook this rich resource — their own knowledge and experiences. Using what you know about the subject has advantages.

First, you don’t have to do any searching or go anywhere for material. All the information is in your memory.

Second, your experiences are rich sources for anecdotal material to support your ideas. Use them to illustrate your points.

Third, you save time. It takes a lot less time to document what you know about a subject than to document what others know.

After you write down what you know about the topic, decide if you need more information. If you need more material, use organizational resources, company literature, reference sources, and the Internet to complete your research.

Develop and Tap Web Resources

The Internet is your powerful research ally. It places the world’s libraries and other information resources at your fingertips, and you don’t have to leave your computer.

Set up a folder in your web browser for listing resource sites. For example, if you use Internet Explorer, create a folder called “Research Resources” and put it in your “Favorites” list.

Create sub-folders to house links to sites for sources of different information. You might set up folders for dictionary and thesaurus sites, quotation sites, and humor sites. You could have folders for general reference information and other folders for sites specific to your knowledge areas.

Next, tap into these web sources. Integrate this information into your documented, personal information knowledge base about your program topic. Now, you have your content, which you must organize into a cohesive presentation.

There’s a saying that marketers and advertisers use — “Sell the sizzle, not the steak.” It’s true that people are motivated when their emotional hot buttons are pushed. In business presentations, “sizzle” is not enough. You must also “sell the steak” — have value-added content, fueled by effective research.

So conduct your presentation research by knowing your audience and their needs, tapping into appropriate Web resources, and using your experiences and knowledge of the topic. When you do this, your content will satisfy that ever-present question in the minds of your audiences, “What’s in it for me?”

by Allan Kaufman and Allan Misch

As we noted in parts 1 through 3, a presentation needs to accomplish two broad goals. First, it must give your audience what they need. Second, it must leave your audience with a favorable impression of you. So avoid the Ten Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes that prevent you from achieving those goals.

The ten biggest mistakes are:

1. Not making a good first impression.

2. Not being prepared.

3. Not being enthusiastic.

4. Not knowing how to write and deliver an organized presentation.

5. Not staying within your allotted time frame.

6. Not knowing how to effectively use eye contact, gestures, and body language.

7. Not using vocal variety.

8. Not using visual aids.

9. Not using humor.

10. Not overcoming your fear of public speaking.

In our last post, we discussed Public Speaking Mistakes #7 through #9. In this post, we examine Public Speaking Mistakes #10 . . . plus a BONUS #11.

Mistake #10: Not Overcoming your Fear of Public Speaking

Most people have a fear of public speaking. Surveys indicate it is the number one fear.

Some public speaking experts believe the way to reduce public speaking fear is to present as often as possible and hope to desensitize your fear. Usually, this strategy is not effective because it does not neutralize the root cause of your fear.

The root cause of your public speaking fear is either a lack of presentation skills; negative beliefs, thoughts, and experiences that are related or unrelated to public speaking; or both. Unless you target the root cause, you will not neutralize your public speaking fear no matter how many times you present.

When you take public speaking courses or join Toastmasters International, you learn public speaking skills. Learning presentation skills will eliminate public speaking fear and anxiety, sometimes called stage fright, caused by a lack of skills. However, fear and anxiety caused by emotional issues related or unrelated to presenting will remain.

Some people who treat public speaking fear recommend taking calming medications such as beta blockers before you present. We do not recommend this approach. It does not address the root causes of your anxiety. It creates an additional problem–dependence on medication to temporarily ease your emotional pain.

Psychological counseling is another approach to eliminate your public speaking fear. This therapy is time consuming and may never resolve the root causes of your anxieties.

As an example, years ago I gave a presentation on a public speaking topic to an audience undergoing group therapy for public speaking fear. After the meeting, I had a conversation with one of the participants. She revealed that she was in therapy for public speaking fear for many years but made little progress. Her progress was dismal because the therapy did not address and resolve the root cause of her fear.

Other approaches to resolve your public speaking fear include hypnotherapy and NLP, or Neuro-linguisting Programming. These approaches are effective but require a certified practitioner to use them with a high degree of success. Usually, these practitioners can only treat your fear and anxiety, not your need for presentation skills mastery.

The absolute best and quickest way to neutralize your public speaking fear is to experience No Sweat Speaking™ training or group coaching for your group or one-on-one coaching for you. The No Sweat Speaking™ program neutralizes your public speaking fear rapidly while you master presentation skills. You experience a quantum leap in confidence and mastery.

Becoming a confident speaker is like learning to play the piano. First you must believe that you can succeed, then you must learn the basics. Practice and then practice some more. It’s worth it. Because generally, those who can communicate effectively get the best jobs, make the most money, and are more influential.

We like to give more than our audience expects, so here’s a BONUS . . .

Mistake #11: Not Making Your Use of Notes as Inconspicuous as Possible

Using notes is appropriate, but there is a wrong way that distracts your audience and quickly identifies you as an amateur. You probably have seen that approach. It looks like this.

The speaker puts his notes on the lectern. The notes take up several pages stapled on the top left side. They are written or typed in a 10-point or 12-point font and single-lined spaced on both sides of the page. The speaker has a challenge reading the notes. He takes too much time turning the pages and appears disorganized. But it does not have to be this way.

You can use notes the right way, let’s call it the No Sweat Speaking™ professional look. Here’s how to look like a pro in three easy steps.

Step #1: Type your notes on one side of the page. Use a 14-point or 16-point type size. Use no more than the top two-thirds of the page. Double or triple line space them. Keep one thought to a paragraph. Underline in red the key phrase in each paragraph. Put a page number top, right on each page. Do not staple the pages together. Use a paper clip.

Step #2: At the lectern, remove the paper clip. Place page 1 on the left and the rest of your pages (2, 3, 4, etc.) on the right with page 2 on top. You now have pages 1 and 2 in front of you. Begin your presentation.

Step #3: As you finish page 1, immediately look at page 2. While beginning page 2, slide page 2 to the left on top of page 1. Now you have pages 2 and 3 in front of you. When you finish page 2, immediately look at page 3, and slide page 3 on top of page 2, revealing page 4. Continue this process until you finish your presentation.

Use this technique and your audience will not see or be distracted by your notes during your presentation.

In this and the three prior posts, we have discussed some of the biggest public speaking mistakes and how to avoid them. Avoiding these mistakes will guarantee that you will give your audience what they need and leave them with a favorable impression.

But there are more than these public speaking mistakes. You probably have some favorites that we have not covered. If you would like to share them, please do so in the comments below. We would like to know what they are. They could be the subject of future posts.

You can obtain Allan Kaufman’s audio program The Ten Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them here.

by Allan Kaufman and Allan Misch

As we noted in our last post, a presentation needs to accomplish two broad goals. First, it must give your audience what they need. Second, it must leave your audience with a favorable impression of you. So avoid the Ten Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes that prevent you from achieving those goals.

The ten biggest mistakes are:

1. Not making a good first impression.
2. Not being prepared.
3. Not being enthusiastic.
4. Not knowing how to write and deliver an organized presentation.
5. Not staying within your allotted time frame.
6. Not knowing how to effectively use eye contact, gestures, and body language.
7. Not using vocal variety.
8. Not using visual aids.
9. Not using humor.
10. Not overcoming your fear of public speaking.

In our last post, we discussed Public Speaking Mistakes #4 through #6. In this post, we examine Public Speaking Mistakes #7 through #9.

Mistake #7: Not Using Vocal Variety

Speaking in a monotone puts your audience to sleep faster than Somminex sleeping pills. To keep your audience awake and engaged, vary your vocal delivery.

Project your voice and raise its volume. This gives your audience the impression that you are a powerful speaker and gives emphasis to your message.

Speak softly at times, especially when you are ready to make an important point. Your audience will lean forward and listen.

Vary your pacing. Speaking quickly tells your audience that you are enthusiastic about your message. Slowing down your delivery adds drama and importance to your message.

When you relate a story or anecdote and use dialogue, make sure you use vocal variety as you would in a conversation, varying the pitch, rate, and volume of your voice.

Mistake #8: Not Using Visual Aids

You’ve heard of the adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Often, a visual can convey an idea more effectively than a written or spoken description.

Visual aids make your message memorable and interesting. They appeal to visual and auditory learners. Visual aids that audience members can touch appeal to kinesthetic learners. Use videos, flip charts, marker boards, physical models, and PowerPoint slides.

PowerPoint slides are very effective if you use them properly. They should convey only one idea per slide. Use simple backgrounds with little or no visual elements. Each slide should have a picture or other graphic that relates to your message. If the slide needs a title, make it one sentence at the top of the slide.

Mistake #9: Not Using Humor

Humor in a presentation is like herbs and spices in a salad. Both turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Use humor to build audience rapport. Achieve this through self-deprecating humor, audience in-jokes, and humor about the occasion.

Grab your audience’s attention with humor. Make sure the humor is related to your message or the occasion.

Tell a humorous story to make your point. Use the SPA Formula. Tell your funny STORY. Make your POINT. Then, ASSOCIATE the story to the point.

Use humor to transition from one point to another. Make sure you use a linking word or phrase in the joke or story to the same word or phrase in the next point.

Close your presentation with humor. In an informational presentation, summarize your main points. Refocus your audience’s attention on your thesis with a related anecdote or funny story. Then end by restating your thesis.

In the next post . . . Mistake #10–Not Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking — plus a BONUS.

by Allan Kaufman, DTM and Allan Misch, DTM

A presentation needs to accomplish two broad goals. First it must give your audience what they need. Second, it must leave your audience with a favorable impression of you. So avoid the Ten Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes that prevent you from achieving those goals.

The ten biggest mistakes are:

1. Not making a good first impression.

2. Not being prepared.

3. Not being enthusiastic.

4. Not knowing how to write and deliver an organized presentation.

5. Not staying within your allotted time frame.

6. Not knowing how to effectively use eye contact, gestures, and body language.

7. Not using vocal variety.

8. Not using visual aids.

9. Not using humor.

10. Not overcoming your fear of public speaking.

In our last post, we discussed the first three mistakes. In this post, we examine Public Speaking Mistakes 4 through 6.

Mistake #4: Not Knowing How to Write and Deliver an Organized Presentation.

This mistake prevents your audience from following your presentation to its conclusion. To be effective, your audience must easily understand and follow you throughout your presentation. You accomplish this by organizing your presentation with at least a clearly defined Opening, Body, Closing, and Transitions.

In an informational presentation, use a three-part Opening. First, grab your audience’s attention. Second, state your thesis or tell your audience how they will benefit from your presentation. Third, reveal briefly what information you will cover.

The Body of your presentation contains the points you want to share. Generally, present your three most important points. Also include examples, factual data, illustrations, quotes, stories, and/or anecdotes that support your points.

Use a three-part Closing in your informational presentation. First, summarize quickly your three points. Second, re-focus your audience’s attention so they are ready to hear the final part of your Closing. Third, end by re-stating your thesis.

Transitions lead your audience from the beginning to the end of your presentation. They connect one idea to another and one part of your presentation to another. Use verbal Transitions such as “In conclusion,” “To summarize,” “Therefore,” “Nevertheless,” and “As important as <point #1> is, <point #2> is more important.” Sometimes, just a slight pause can be an effective transition. Another effective transition is a pause coupled by a move to the other side of your audience.

Download our Checklist for Organizing Your Presentation to help you create a well organized presentation every time.

Mistake #5: Not Staying Within Your Allotted Time Frame.

Delivering a presentation within specific time parameters is essential, especially if you are on a program with other speakers. Each speaker and aspect of the program has an allotted time limit. If you go beyond your time limit, you disrupt the entire program. Usually, you cause another speaker to have a reduced speaking time. Probably, you won’t be invited back.

Volunteer to speak first. That way, if someone else goes over time, it will not affect your presentation.

Do whatever you have to ensure your audience goes to their meal, break, and home on time.

Mistake #6: Not Knowing How to Use Eye Contact, Gestures, and Body Language Effectively.

Enhance your impact by using eye contact, gestures, and body language that compliment your spoken message. Looking at your audience helps you develop rapport with them. No one wants to listen to a speaker who has his or her eyes glued to notes.

To make eye contact, pick out someone on the left side of your audience and speak to him for five to ten seconds while making your point. Then look at someone in the middle of your audience and speak to her for five to ten seconds. Make another point.

Repeat this pattern. Talk to someone on the right side of your audience. Then talk to someone else in the middle of your audience and then the left side again. When you use this technique, you actually connect with individuals in your audience.

As you eye connect with your audience, gesture with your arms, hands, and body. Make sure your gestures are in sync with your words. Avoid nervous, distracting mannerisms such as putting your hands in your pockets, jiggling change, clicking a pen, clasping your hands behind your back and others.

Avoid staying in one spot unless you must present from behind a lectern. Start and end stage center. When you transition from one point to another, move to another side of your audience.

Your gestures and body movements make up a non-verbal language that often is more impactful than your words. Make sure your verbal and non-verbal messages are in sync. If they are not in sync, your audience will become confused and probably will believe the non-verbal signals that you send.

In the next post… Public Speaking Mistakes 7, 8, and 9.

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Don’t Miss Our Special 25% Off Summer Coaching Offer…

When You Sign Up by August 31, 2011.

Fill out our no-obligation Coaching Inquiry Form in detail and we’ll get back to you with our proposal and special savings offer.

This offer ends August 31, 2011.

Allan Kaufman, DTM

When you give a presentation, one of your goals is to give your audience what they need. Your other goal is to leave your audience with a favorable impression of you. So avoid the ten mistakes that will prevent you from achieving those goals.

The Ten Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes are:

1. Not making a good first impression.

2. Not being prepared.

3. Not being enthusiastic.

4. Not knowing how to write and deliver an organized presentation.

5. Not staying within your allotted time frame.

6. Not knowing how to effectively use eye contact, gestures, and body language.

7. Not using vocal variety.

8. Not using visual aids.

9. Not using humor.

10. Not overcoming your fear of public speaking.

In this post, we’ll examine the first three Public Speaking Mistakes.

Mistake #1: Not Making a Good First Impression

Use the following strategies to make a good first impression: dressing, walking, and presenting yourself to your introducer and audience.

It’s important to dress equal to or even better than your audience. Why? You’ll establish rapport and increase your credibility with your audience.

If your audience is dressed in corporate business attire you should wear a suit, sport coat and tie, dress, or dress suit. Read John T. Molloy’s books: Dress for Success or The Woman’s Dress for Success Book.

Also to make a good first impression, walk confidently to the lectern, shake hands with the person who introduces you, and then address your audience.

Mistake #2: Not Being Prepared or Not Giving the Impression that You Are Prepared

Preparation is everything you do before you give your presentation. Two important aspects of preparation are developing your presentation skills and gathering the content for your presentation.

Develop your presentation skills now. Build a library of books on public speaking skills. Take classes or workshops on public speaking. Join Toastmasters International. Engage a public speaking coach to help you neutralize public speaking fear and master presentation skills. If you develop your presentation skills now, well in advance of a sudden need or desire to give a presentation, then you can invest most of your time on developing content.

When developing content, do your homework. Use examples from your personal experience. Research what you’re going to say, write it down or at least prepare an outline, and most importantly, practice… practice… practice!

If you’re not prepared, don’t give your presentation, especially if you’re getting paid for the engagement! If you’re not getting paid and must give the presentation, and if you’re sufficiently skilled in the basics of public speaking, do the best that you can with what you know.

In any case, don’t apologize for not being prepared or make excuses and then deliver your presentation. You’ll only program your audience for your failure. If your audience doesn’t expect you to fail, they’ll be supportive and may not know that you’re not completely prepared, especially if you have well-developed, basic presentation skills.

Mistake #3: Not Being Enthusiastic.

Enthusiasm can make up for a great deal of weaknesses. If you’re not excited about your topic, get another topic or find something about that topic for which you can develop enthusiasm.

Show your audience that you’re excited about what you’re sharing with them. Talk faster than you normally do and be animated. Demonstrate a high energy level. Your energy is catching. Your audience will sense your energy and become enthusiastic.

As author James Baldwin said, “Fires can’t be made with dead embers.” So get fired up and speak enthusiastically about your topic.

In the next post… Public Speaking Mistakes #4, #5, and #6.

———-

Don’t Miss Our Special 25% Off Summer Coaching Offer…

When You Sign Up by August 31, 2011.

Fill out our no-obligation Coaching Inquiry Form in detail and we’ll get back to you with our proposal and special savings offer.

This offer ends August 31, 2011.

Allan Misch

The American Physicist Albert Einstein said, “If A equals success, then the formula is A = X + Y + Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut.”

Einstein was the model of right brain and left brain balance, which equals creativity. He enjoyed music and fantasy, and he was a man of science and formulas. Remember E=mc (squared)?

To deliver creative, well-constructed presentations, take a lesson from Einstein. Move your audience emotionally (right brain) and use proven formulas (left brain). Here’s how.

Move Your Audience Emotionally

Use techniques such as stories, questions, and activities. These get your audience into the emotional states that they need to be in for their subconscious minds to hear and process your messages.

For example, let’s say you’re giving a presentation on career advancement strategies. If you want your audience to be curious about what you’re going to say next, you could ask this question. “Would you like to know a sure-fire, can’t-fail, easy-to-use formula to impress an interviewer during your next job interview?” (Pause)

Do you think your audience is now in a state of anticipation and curiosity? Do you have their attention? You can bet your laser pointer that they’re leaning forward and salivating for your next pearls of wisdom.

In my Manage with Humor program, I want my audience to experience different emotional states. Obviously, one emotion is “fun.”

One way I accomplish this is by telling a funny story involving my younger daughter. Once I have them in the right emotional state, I deliver my point. Moving your audience emotionally is a powerful way to get across your message with impact.

Use Formulas to Construct Your Presentation

Well-organized presentations use proven construction formulas to deliver messages that are easy to understand and follow. Once you learn those formulas, you will become a master of presentation structure.

When you know structure, you can put any content into the formula. Walla, your results will be consistently successful presentations. Let’s examine briefly three formulas. In each formula, the “P” is Presentation.

Formula #1:   P = O + B + C + T

“O” is Opening. “B” is Body. “C” is Closing. and “T” is Transitions. This is a generic formula for any presentation.

To be effective, your presentation must have an Opening that gets your audience’s attention and often states your thesis. Next, the Body presents the details, logic, and emotion related to your points.

The Closing summarizes your points and tells your audience what they should do if appropriate. Transitions connect one point to another and one part of your presentation to another so your audience can follow you without confusion.

The next two formulas may be used for presentations to persuade your audience. The first formula frames the entire presentation. The second formula helps you make a point persuasively.

Formula #2:   P = A + I + D + A

“A” is Attention. “I” is Interest. “D” is Desire. and “A” is Action. When you use this presentation structure, you first focus your audience’s Attention on your subject matter. Next you relate your proposition to their Interest, and you build interest for your message.

Then you create a Desire for your offer or idea. Finally, you tell your audience what Action they should take to solve their problem or achieve the benefits you described.

Formula #3:   P = S + L + B

“S” is Story. “L” is Lesson. and “B” is Benefit. Begin by relating a Story about an event from which you learned a Lesson. Tell your audience the Lesson you learned. Then explain how they can Benefit from applying the lesson that you learned.

Effective presenters move audiences emotionally while making appropriate points. Their presentations also follow strict structures, or formulas, that enable audiences to understand easily their points and main messages.

Professional speaker and speaking coach Patricia Fripp says, “When speaking in public, your message, no matter how important, will not be remembered if you don’t recognize the importance of STRUCTURE.” So be an Einstein. Manage your audiences’ emotional states and construct your presentations using formulas.