1. Open Hot, Close Hotter. To grab audience attention and be remembered, start your presentation with a bang, not a limp, “Thanks, it’s nice to be here.” The first (and last) 30 seconds have the most impact on the audience. Save any greetings and gratitude until they’ve already grabbed the audience with a powerful opening. […]
Read More...Getting Over the Jitters Before You Speak
You’re waiting your turn to make a speech, when suddenly you realize that your stomach is doing strange things and your mind is rapidly going blank. How do you handle this critical time period? People ask me this question in all my speaking classes, but there is no single answer. You need to anticipate your […]
Read More...Sound Intelligent, Powerful, Polished, Articulate, and Confident
Do you want to sound intelligent, powerful, polished, articulate and confident? Of course you do! Voice coach Carol Fleming, PhD gave me some great insights based on her years of study and working with thousands of clients. TO SOUND MORE INTELLIGENT: Speak just a bit slower to allow yourself to select your most appropriate vocabulary […]
Read More...Story Development Ideas
You have read, or heard me say, stories make a speech or sales presentation more interesting, memorable and ‘visual.’ Remember, your audience remembers what they ‘see’ in their minds more than the words you use. In my sales training I recommend you call your satisfied clients and interview them about their experience of doing business […]
Read More...The Rule of Three
Most speakers know about the importance of using “The Rule (or Law) of Three.” Most of us are not aware where it came from. We use this ancient mathematical law of proportion in ways we don’t even think about. Abraham Lincoln learned it in his one-room schoolhouse. Even Aristotle, in his Art of Rhetoric, referred […]
Read More...Get in the Game, but Not Without a Coach!
Get a what? Champions get coached. In 1999 I won the World Championship of Public Speaking for Toastmasters International and have been speaking regularly ever since. Several years later, after a disastrous speech in Montreal, I went back to my hotel room, threw my head on my pillow, and faced the following reality: I need […]
Read More...In-Between Time
In-Between Time by Craig Valentine In-between time is what I refer to as the time between your major points. Of course you need to use this time to transition into the next story or example, but how you use this time can make the difference between a dry speech and an exciting one. One effective […]
Read More...The Most Important Part of the Speech!
“Of the modes of persuasion furnished by the spoken word there are three kinds. The first kind depends on the personal character of the speaker; the second on putting the audience into a certain frame of mind; the third on the proof, or apparent proof, provided by the words of the speech itself.“ —Aristotle
Read More...Want Your Audiences to Remember What You Say? The Importance of Clear Structure
Your message, no matter how important, will not be remembered if you don’t recognize the importance of structure. Here are some practical ideas that can immediately make you more effective. Your Structure Can you write the premise or objective of your talk in one sentence? If not, the chances are that your thinking isn’t clear […]
Read More...Fat and Skinny Words a Great Technique to be Understood
This is a great technique to be understood. If your goal is to sound clear, concise, and credible this advice is invaluable. Nothing can turn your audience or prospect off faster… … than using fat words when they’re hungry for skinny ones. Or vice versa. I learned this exciting concept… … from Dr. David Palmer, […]
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