Sometimes the most dreaded “presentation” that people tell me they dislike the most, is impromptu speaking. They fear of stumbling on words, sounding dumb, and drawing a blank when they are called upon to give an opinion. There is something about unplanned presentations, which makes people want to crawl under the table and hide. Believe me; you are not alone if you would like to become invisible when all eyes are on you to speak. I get many requests from my clients to help with this skill (and it truly is a skill). But let me assure you that you can develop it, if you are not at the level you wish to be. Here are some pointers:
It’s hard to believe that the Olympics are almost over and there will be no more late nights! I hope that you have been enjoying these tremendous athletes and all their heartwarming stories!
Last week we discussed five tips for speaking in cross-cultural conversations. Today, we explore the last five tips and tricks:
6. Pause periodically to give your listener time to process what you have said. If you are making a few errors in your speech, the listener needs time to figure it out or “translate” what was said. Give your listener this time by pausing briefly.
While many things can go wrong in a presentation, don’t forget to consider all the things that you do well to awe your audiences. Here are 12 speech, language, and voice gifts to “give” your audiences every time you present. They will love you for it!
1. Optimal pitch–The pitch you speak at every day is your habitual pitch level. But does it match your optimal pitch level? The optimal pitch is where you vocal cords function their best. Too low or too high can be hard to listen to and could damage your vocal cords and make you hoarse.
Should business presentations be delivered as effectively as keynote speeches that are intended to inspire and engage?
Board rooms and staff meetings tend to be the most boring places to engage people. Reports are read and too many details on too many slides are presented. What can you differently?
Well, how about telling stories in your presentations to sell an idea, to present your stats and/or to motivate and inspire your staff. Your leadership skills and ideas will come through the best by telling compelling stories that resonate with your audiences. I’m inspired to tell you this because last night I attended the Moth in Pittsburgh and I want to share with you four tips…
