The Power of Story

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

We all have expertise to share. Story can enhance the power of that expertise. I find some speakers just don’t want to include story in their speeches/presentations or they don’t know how to incorporate story.

If you are on the fence about including story I encourage you to rethink your position. As humans we have shared story since we graced this planet. We used story to share myth, teach survival skills and parables, to share our history and cautionary tales.

Individuals will remember a good, emotional story before they remember facts. They will share that story before they share facts. It is just the way humans’ function.

Here is an example of the power of story. I gave a speech this morning, 5 Tips for a Successful Presentation. I started with a story about my first public speaking experience. The experience was horrible and started me on my path as a public speaking coach.

When we got to the questions many of them were about the story- how would I have done things differently, what were the details of what I did, how did people react. The audience wanted to learn more and was relating their learning to the story. There were some questions related directly to the content but the questions were split about 50/50, content/story.

I did not expect the story to affect the audience so deeply. It illustrates the importance of story, the impact a story can have. If your audience can relate to the story and if it tugs on their emotions (fear, joy, frustration) story can add a level of intimacy and rapport it is difficult to duplicate.

If you don’t use story try it, if you don’t know how to use story work with a public speaking coach to learn.

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What do You Think?

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

I launched a survey today. I talk about knowing your audience and this is one of the ways you can do just that.

I want to learn what it is YOU want, what you need to be a more successful speaker or presenter.

This is your opportunity to let me know what kind of content will help you. Complete the survey and you could win a FREE hour of consultation with me. You choose the topic, come prepared with questions and I’ll share everything I know.

The last day to complete the survey is Oct. 25.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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Your Speech needs a Strong Opening

Posted on September 23, 2011 by admin

I booked 2 speeches today! Whew! Now, I have to write the speech. Everyone has a different ‘method’ they use to write a speech. Whether you think it through while staring out the window, put fingers to keyboard and write train of thought or draft a detailed outline you have to include a strong opening.

With a strong opening you will

Grab the audience’s
Set the stage for where you are going
Create greater interest (the audience is there so I presume they are already a bit interested!)

There are a few things you can do to help ensure a strong opening.

Don’t start with an introduction of who you are- while it is important to your credibility it can be a snore. Unless, you can start with a story that relates to your credibility, for instance, for this speech I think I will talk about the experience that led me to become a professional speaker. The entire experience was a horror show. I will use vivid words and common experience to make it relatable and the story usually has everyone squirming at just how awful the situation was. And it leads directly to the beginning of my training which ties directly to credibility.
Start with a story
Ask questions to get them thinking. Help the audience identify areas where they have a knowledge gap. Stir curiosity- How would you…. What if …..
Start with a controversial or startling statement.

Now sure if your opening is strong? Try it out on a few people, if their eyes glaze over in boredom you should start over.

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Speakers have Flipper arms- Flipper would be proud of us!

Posted on September 16, 2011 by admin

I see it all of the time, I even find myself doing it! Flipper arms when I am speaking. Public speakers know some things are just super irritating. Jingling change in a pocket, a bracelet that rattles, a heavy breather on a microphone are all annoying.

The one we forget about is ‘flipper’ arms. You have seen it- the speaker has their arms at a 90-degree angle and there hands are constantly moving for no apparent reason. Back and forth, from side to side, over and over and over again. Every once in a while they will wring their hands or make an expansive gesture that looks like it is meant to encompass the whole room.

I’m not suggesting speakers stand perfectly still but a little stillness would be nice. Think about it like this, if you want to use gestures to illustrate a point make them BIG. If your arms and hands have been relatively still for the majority of a speech those gestures have even more impact. If you have had ‘flipper’ arms the entire time the BIG gestures simply seem like an addition to your already squirming body.

Not sure if you do the ‘flipper’ thing? Videotape a speech. Then actually watch it- looking for ‘flipper’ arms. When it happens you will notice. You will probably see some other things you would like to change about your speaking too.

If you don’t have access to a video camera stand in front of a mirror and give your speech. Keep giving it until you relax enough to act normally.

Now that you have seen your version of ‘flipper’ arms you need to stop it. The simplest thing to do is let your arms hang naturally at your side. It might not feel comfortable but from an observers perspective it looks natural and confident. When you feel your hands start to creep up put them back at your side. Now, when you gesture BIG it looks BIG! And makes a point.

This will take some practice but the more you do it the better you will get at it. Happy speaking!

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I don’t want to walk out on your speech!

Posted on September 8, 2011 by admin

I did it today. I walked out on a speech. I left before the end because I just could not stand it anymore.

Two women were presenting. I think their slides were nicely done. I say I think because at times I am not certain what the actual point of their rambling was supposed to be. The advertised topic was fairly broad and rather than choosing a specific area to drill in to they touched briefly on multiple areas. A fine tactic if you execute well.

They had not practiced exactly what they were going to say. They stumbled over their words, threw in lots of ah’s and um’s, and used stories that illustrated a point only if you were creative.

This is a learning opportunity for all of us.

No, they were not professional speakers and I would bet they do not regularly do presentations. At a minimum, someone should be able to easily follow your speech and draw a parallel between the story you are telling and the point you are addressing.

Non-words can be forgiven; we have all been there. My point is even if you are not a professional speaker you need to approach any speech/presentation as a professional opportunity. Use the opportunity. If nothing else you may just find a customer among all of the prospects sitting in the room. If you are uncomfortable or unsure about how to write or deliver a speech or how to create slides ask someone for help and then practice. Attend a class like Delivery Skills that Sell.

A professional speaker will tell you the moment you relax, the moment you stop asking for help or think you don’t need to practice is the moment you deliver a mediocre speech. I know you don’t want to do that.

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Public Speakers- Practice, Practice, Practice

Posted on September 3, 2011 by admin

To this day I bristle when I hear the words practice- or think about practicing. When I was in high school I played 3 instruments. Every day I practiced 3 instruments. By the time I got to university I never wanted to ‘practice’ again.

Now, I find myself practicing! Not only do I practice but also I preach it to my clients. Ask someone doing public speaking if they have practiced- most of them will waffle a bit and admit they have not. Ask them what they think would make them more comfortable and, after waffling a bit, they will say practice.

There truly is something to this idea of practice. Any elite athlete will tell you practice is crucial- Lance Armstrong, Abby Wambach, Michael Phelps ratchets up his practice as the Olympics approach. You may have natural talent and practice will move you to the next level.

Practice is the piece that allows you to sail through a speech when everything that can go wrong does. You may have forgotten your outline, the PowerPoint is down, only two lights in the room work and 75 people are crammed into a room built for 50 and if you have practiced that speech you will pull off the greatest speech ever! If you haven’t practiced, you may limp along with something that is, let’s say, less than stellar.

Practice will give you confidence, will allow you to ad lib when it is needed, and will keep you going when you feel like everything else is falling apart.

What happens to my clients that practice? All of a sudden they have a sense of confidence they have never had before, I see it and the audience sees it. Everyone practices- don’t kid yourself into thinking the greatest speakers out there don’t have their own way of practicing. They do.

You could be a brilliant speaker too. It is all up to you.

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Sure Fire way for a Speaker to Turn Off an Audience

Posted on August 19, 2011 by admin

Sometimes you hear a story and you just cannot help but pass it along. My network knows I am a public speaking coach so I get to hear about great and awful speakers they have heard.

Just yesterday I heard a story about a speaker who was billed as ‘inspirational, motivational’ doing an event with two other speakers. The inspirational, motivational speaker spoke first. Apparently the speech went something like this…

“You think you have problems…. Let me tell you about my divorce. Let me tell you about my kids. Let me tell you about…. “

She spent the entire 30 minutes telling stories about her awful her without any value add information. No ideas on handling situations, no motivational or inspirational thoughts or advice, just story after story about her hideous life.

The person who told me about this actually left the seminar. With two other speakers to go and 20 minutes left for the first speaker she could not handle it anymore. She paid for the event and left anyway.

What went wrong? The speaker was focused solely on herself. Stories are great- if they are told to illustrate or lead the audience to a point, to elicit an emotion that moves the topic forward, or to jump-start a speech.

You must provide value. Be motivational if that is the topic of the speech; explain how to build a jet engine if that is the topic. Know how to use your story to add value; don’t just toss stories into the mix because ‘you should have stories in your speech’.

Talking about yourself without a real point in sight is a sure way to turn off your audience.

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2012 Cometh- Start Developing Your Business Plan

Posted on August 18, 2011 by admin

Now is the time to start planning for 2012. It is not that far away and this is a good time to start thinking about what you want to continue or discontinue in 2012.

Some things you want to consider:

Revenue goals- start thinking about what is working well for you and what is not. Look at how you want to continue what is working well into 2012. Decide what you would like your revenue goals to be in 2012 and what you need to do to make that happen. Start crafting your business plan today- you probably will not complete it today but start seriously thinking about how you want the business to move forward.
Are you going to raise your rates at the beginning of the year? You need to prepare your customers and should start doing that in late November. If you need to update marketing materials and you website schedule the time to do that now. Keep in mind Nov/Dec are busy months for everyone. Scheduling time with you web master and marketing folks will help ensure a coordinated release of new pricing and that you have the right materials when you meet with that prospect on January 2.
Are you going to continue programs/classes you are currently holding? If they are working well and you enjoy doing them it is a great idea to continue. Take a look at the 2012 calendar and decide when/where you want to hold the classes.
Are you going to discontinue programs/classes you are currently holding? If you are you can always schedule a ‘last time ever’ promotion. You may pull in those folks that have been putting it off and put some extra revenue into your pocket as you leave 2011.
Do you want to create new classes? You have 5 months, put it off and it will suddenly be Dec. 30 and the class(es) will not be created. Put time on your calendar now to devote to creativity. Set a goal to have the class ready to roll out on a certain date. Remember you have to plan time for marketing, beta test, revising content before the class goes live.
Do you want to create new product? Follow a similar process to creating a new class. There are other things to consider and build into your timeline- packaging creation, setting up an affiliate program, do you want other companies/venues to offer your product for sale, getting reviews from respected individuals… Plan all of that into your schedule.
Do you want to discontinue product that is not selling well? Don’t just toss those left over CD’s into a corner. Have a sale! If the content is still relevant have a fire sale and sell as many of those CD’s/books etc. as you can before you release the new product. Consider using these products as giveaways during speeches, for great referral partners or for great clients.

Do your products make good holiday gifts? Consider putting together packages to encourage gift giving. Put time on you calendar to complete the packaging, marketing etc. or you may find the holiday season is upon you and you missed the window of opportunity.

Start planning today to meet your goals in 2012.

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Are You the Confidant Speaker You would like to be?

Posted on April 5, 2011 by admin

Almost all of us do some form of public speaking every day. It may be as simple as doing your 30-second commercial for a leads group, and even that is public speaking. When you are in business you need to be able to confidently speak in front of a group.

You want to feel confidant in everything you do and speaking is an area we can all use some assistance. Do you realize 58% of what the audience perceives about you and your speech is based on your delivery (your body language) when you are speaking? Great delivery skills and confidence can do more for a speech than almost anything else.

We have developed a workshop to help you learn or improve those delivery skills and to raise your confidence.

You will learn tips and tricks that speakers use every day. Speak with Confidence is an interactive class- you get personal attention and time to practice. If you do any speaking at all, even an occasional 5 minute presentation, you need to experience this workshop.

To learn more about this wonderful class go to Events.

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