Tag: Presenting confidently

  • Does Smiling Help or Hurt Presenters?

    by Guila Muir
    info@guilamuir.com

    The actual answer to this question, based upon many studies and years of research, is “it depends.”

    How Smiling Helps

    The act of smiling changes our brain chemistry for the better. An authentic smile can:

    • Boost mood and confidence by increasing serotonin, norepinephrine and endorphins.
    • Lower heart rate, and
    • Reduce anxiety.

    These chemical changes obviously benefit presenters.

    An authentic smile also makes other people feel good. An audience that feels good makes our job as presenters easier. In fact, when people see a smile, the reward centers of their brains turns on, making them happier. Who doesn’t want a happy audience?

    So what could possibly be the down side of smiling?

    How Smiling Hurts

    Among primates, smiling means submission, “I am not a threat.” We humans still read smiling this way. Oversmiling makes you appear less confident and more desirous of approval. (NOT how you want to be perceived as a presenter!)

    Most studies find that in general, women smile more than men. In fact, research involving nearly 110,000 people found that smiling is females’ default option.  Audiences may perceive a constantly smiling female presenter as less competent and knowledgeable than a less-smiling female or a male. But males can oversmile, too.

    To Smile or Not to Smile?

    Here’s how I would answer that question. Before presenting, prepare yourself:

    1. Pump up your enjoyment level. Tell yourself, “I will enjoy this,” or “I feel great,” or “the audience is my friend.” Allow yourself to feel positive.
    2. Feel an authentic smile engendered by positive thoughts. Feeling 100% present, smile as you introduce yourself and take ownership of the presentation space.
    3. Gradually and naturally, let your introductory (and authentic) smile fade as you get further into the material.
    4. Be willing to smile and laugh naturally throughout your presentation. Always smile when welcoming people back from a break.

    The bottom line is, as usual: Be yourself, with an addendum: Watch your smiles!

    Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

    Guila Muir is the premiere trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters on the West Coast of the United States. Since 1994, she has helped thousands of professionals improve their training, facilitation, and presentation skills. Find out how she can help transform you from a boring expert to a great presenter: www.guilamuir.com

  • Five Words to Persuade Your Audience

    Even when you “just” deliver data, you want people to use it, potentially to do things differently or better. Certain words persuade people more effectively than others.

    Since 1961, expert speakers have identified several words as the most persuasive in the English language. My challenge to you: Try integrating  a couple of these into your next presentation. Be attuned to how YOU feel when you use them. Notice how your audience reacts.

    1.You
    Personalize your speech so that your listeners feel you are talking directly to them. (Example: Ask, “What does this mean to you? Here’s what it means…”)

    2.Discover
    What an exciting and enthusiastic feeling from childhood this conjures. Challenge your audience to discover something new.

    3.Easy
    Your audience wants more ease in their busy lives. What can you offer?

    4.New
    Freshness, innovation, change…people respond well to that whiff of freshness.

    5.Proven
    The opposite of ‘new,’ this word ensures us that we are not taking risks. Be sure to back this one with data.

    Remember, every effective presentation persuades the listener. Don’t be afraid to use these words, and let me know how your experiment goes.

  • 3 Words to Weaken Your Presentation

    I’m here with some good news for most presenters—along with some cautions you’ve probably never thought about.

    The Good News: “Ums” Won’t Kill You

    Speakers, don’t worry so much about using fillers like “um” and “uh. ” These only become problematic when other distracting factors are in play. Your audience will only notice your “ums” if:

    • You haven’t practiced, so you don’t know where you’re going next.
    • You don’t enunciate clearly.
    • You don’t exude enthusiasm about your subject.

    To some degree, a speaker’s occasional “um” gives the listeners’ brains an opportunity to catch up—we can speak faster than we can listen. Michael Erard, bestselling author of UM…Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean sums it all up by saying: “Want people not to notice your ‘um’s’? Be interesting.”

    The Caution: Three Words to Weaken Your Presentation

    Some words we use to strengthen our presentations paradoxically weaken them instead. Which example below sounds more powerful?

    I love you.

    I actually love you.

    I recall watching a woman presenter, extremely confident in most situations, speaking to a hostile and primarily male group. Not only was this group opposed to her message, it had the power to sway mass opinion throughout the organization.

    To my surprise, this usually dynamic speaker came off extremely unconfidently. Her voice, dress, and manner were the same as usual, but I noticed that she used the word “actually” in nearly every other sentence. Unconsciously, she was attempting to ingratiate herself to this powerful audience.

    Research by Erickson, Eind, Johnson and O’Barrr discovered that a few specific words deprive a speaker of power. Surprisingly, we often use these words to underline or “pump up” the importance of our message. By over-reinforcing our message, we seem to be “protesting too much.” Our credibility takes a hit.

    These words are:

    Really, (really) As in: “It’s really, really a good cause.”

    Truly, As in: “It’s truly the best software.”

    And, or course, actually.

    Watch your use of these words, particularly when faced with an audience that challenges you. Strip them out, and your speech will be more powerful, direct, and credible.

    Read more articles about Presentation Skills. Learn about Guila Muir’s Presentation Skills Workshops.

    Guila Muir is the premiere trainer of trainers, facilitators, and presenters on the West Coast of the United States. Since 1994, she has helped thousands of professionals improve their training, facilitation, and presentation skills. Find out how she can help transform you from a boring expert to a great presenter: www.guilamuir.com