Tag: Speaking skills

Avoid the worst-feared pitfalls of public speaking.

Will you be giving a presentation or seminar soon? Many professionals choke up when they begin picturing all that “could go wrong!”

To avoid the worst-feared pitfalls of public speaking, you must start with oxygen. Fritz Perls said, “Fear is excitement without the breath.” Breathe! Then, accept and enjoy the “rush” you get before presenting, not as fear, but as motivating and sustaining energy.

How to Prevent the Worst!

Here are the three typical concerns that high-ranking executives have shared with me, with “fail-safe” solutions:

What happens if I…

1. …“Blank out?”

“Blanking out,” or suddenly forgetting what one is going to say, is perhaps the speaker’s worst fear. Blanking out is caused by

• lack of enough oxygen to the brain,
• not knowing your stuff, and
• too much focus on performance (focus on me) instead of connection (focus on them.)

To prevent “blanking out,” you must relax. You can only relax by getting oxygen zipping through your body. If you’re relaxed throughout the presentation, you’ll be able to handle small lapses in memory while still making the points you need.Obviously, you need to really know your stuff to be able to handle small lapses in memory. Don’t go into any speaking situation unprepared.

Right before getting to the podium or front of the room, remember to think of the presentation as an opportunity to build relationships with those in the audience, not as a performance. Focus on connecting, not on yourself.

2. …Lose my place and look stupid?

You’ll only feel comfortable (and look natural) if you practice, practice, practice. Practice at home until you can look UP from your notes while dealing with distractions. Practice talking to yourself in front of the mirror. Encourage your spouse, kids and dogs to make a ruckus while you maintain your focus.

Make notes and don’t be afraid to hold onto them. Capture the highlights of each section of your speech in 1-5 words. Don’t write it out like a script, and don’t try to memorize it word–for-word. Consider your notes your “safety net.” Once you establish a relationship with your audience, you’ll be surprised how little you actually use them—so long as you’ve practiced.

3. …Screw up my PowerPoint or my microphone or my overhead projector or…

Fumbling with mechanics will not only undermine your confidence, it will reduce your image as an expert. The only way to prevent mechanical problems is to practice in the room you’ll be presenting in, on the equipment you’ll be using. Never attempt PowerPoint in an untested environment. Because not all computers and projectors are compatible, especially where cables are concerned, it’s best to use your own computer and projector. Be familiar with all the computer settings you’ll need.

Familiarize yourself with the on-off and volume switches of every machine you will use (including your microphone) before you begin, even if that means coming in early that morning or even the previous night. Ensure you know how to deal with the remote for lights, video, screen and everything else that plays a part in your presentation.

Two Final Tips to Ensure Success

Center yourself. This is not an “New-Age-style” recommendation. Centering yourself means becoming aware of your body (getting out of your head) and assuming a strong, focused stance. Feel your weight in your feet so that your head doesn’t get light. Maintain slightly bouncy knees. Keep your sternum (breastbone) up so that your chest opens. Shake your hands to release energy. Get that oxygen flowing!

Relax and Have Fun. Acknowledge that you’re excited and allow yourself to feel that way. Remind yourself you know your stuff. You’re going to enjoy the connections you make with the audience and let your expertise shine.

If you follow these tips, your audience will be engaged, connected and impressed—and you’ll actually enjoy the experience of speaking in public.

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Read more articles about Training Development and Presentation Skills. Learn about Guila Muir’s Trainer Development 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

© Guila Muir.

Does this sound like you?

“I’m a fine communicator one-on-one, but put me in front of a group and I just die!” Why is it easier for many of us to present in front of a few people than to a larger audience? Why do many of us believe that some people just “have what it takes” to present effectively, and the rest of us don’t?

The truth is that everyone has the innate gifts to speak in public. True, few may possess the flamboyance of the professional motivational speaker. But I question the value of many of these presentation skills. They can be mechanistically learned  and often look mechanical. And although it does matter how you use your hands (avoiding the  infamous “figleaf” pose, for example) and how you pitch your voice, the real gift you have to offer is YOU.

The Best Tool of All
Envision for an instant the most compelling speaker you have witnessed. Chances are you felt he or she was 100% authentic, no matter what speaking “style” s/he possessed. This willingness to fully be ourselves in front of a group is both the risk and the gift of truly wonderful speakers.

I work with many individuals who never thought of themselves as speakers–whose personalities are naturally introspective or reflective, the opposite of what is popularly thought of as “speaker material.” Yet when these presenters “unpeel” their previous expectations about what a speaker should be or do, they often become the most moving and impressive I have seen.

Three Essential Tips

• Connect.
  It’s important to remember that speaking publicly is, to use Lee Glickenstein’s phrase, a relationship event, NOT a performance event. Your audience remembers what you say because you connect with them, not because you are the smartest or most charismatic person in the world.
• Don’t speak “to,” speak “with.”
  Think of the event as a dialogue or conversation. Look directly at people and share your knowledge with them.
• Express yourself.
  Remember that your unique style is better than any set of “stage skills.” Be yourself.

But Is “Being Yourself” Really Enough?

All truly compelling presenters use their greatest asset–themselves–to sell their concept and get their message across. All also realize that they can intensify their authentic selves for a more dynamic effect. Don Pfarrer, author of Guerilla Persuasion: Mastering the Art of Effective and Winning Business Presentation, calls this the “Intensified You” persona. It is “a task oriented, turned-on, intensified version of yourself.”

When I work with clients to achieve their own Intensified You personas, I notice their increased confidence and resilience as speakers. This is particularly useful when they deal with jaded or potentially hostile audiences.

4 Elements of The Intensified You

1. Subject Mastery
   You must know your subject thoroughly AND know the limits of your knowledge.
2. Steadiness
   You must “keep a steady hand on the tiller”–knowing you might need to change course to avoid a hurricane, but not allowing a small squall to deflect you.
3. Empathy
   You must remain sensitive to your audience. If you were a member of your own audience, what would you need to hear? To see?
4. Candor
   Include in your presentation what needs to be there–don’t hide anything. Show you are aware of challenges or problems; then present solutions.

When you remember that the authentic YOU is your most valuable speaking tool, your confidence will increase dramatically!

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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

©  Guila Muir. All rights reserved.