Tom Redmond is the author of Selling From the Inside Out and a go-to expert on the generation of and management of sales. We recently teamed up to bring you, Selling From the Inside Out: Advanced Sales Overview, part of the FrippVT Sales Series. Watch a replay of our web event and enjoy this great […]
Read More...Want to Be An Effective Speaker? Say No More . . . Pause!
Second, a pause provides dramatic interest for your audience. Of course, if you’re really nervous you have your own drama taking place, whether your audience knows it or not. But, a moment unspoken provides the silent drumroll to announce your next important point.
Third, a pause helps your audience to follow you better—they become better listeners. And, as they become more attentive, you relax and so do they. Your audience does not want to be nervous on your behalf.
I recently delivered a workshop at the American Payroll Association’s Annual Congress (May 2011) titled, “Effective Business Communications: On Paper, Online, and On Your Feet.” While at the conference, I also enjoyed a presentation called “Advanced Career-Building Speaking Skills”conducted by professional presentation skills trainer and speech coach, Patricia Fripp. Fripp’s delivery and timing served as an excellent model. She made exceptional use of the pause. As an energetic presenter it helped to slow her down, and the audience could absorb what she was saying. In effect, it’s a “listening cue,” providing you, the audience, a signal to take note of what’s about to be said.
To demonstrate the power of the pause, Fripp asked one of the audience members to come forward. Within five minutes, the volunteer had added pauses between the three major points and just before the conclusion of the persuasive argument she was preparing for senior management. The presentation did something else to improve her delivery: Fripp counseled her to make eye contact with a different member of the audience—near, middle, and far—to accompany each of the pauses. The results were dramatic.
According to Fripp, “Few sales presentations have enough pauses. Good music and good communication both contain changes of pace, pauses, and full rests. This is when listeners think about important points you’ve just made. If you rush on at full speed to crowd in as much information as possible, chances are you’ve left your prospects back at the station. Give them enough time to ask a question or even time to think over what has been said. Pauses allow pondering and understanding.”
To help prepare for your public speaking opportunity, you can write a narrative to help you rehearse. It helps to identify the places in your presentation where a pause will come naturally, just as you might accent a word or phrase for other additional emphasis.
Read More...Greatness – What It Is And What It Is Not – A Bestselling Author Explains
Greatness…What It Is And What It Is Not by Don Yaeger At a speech to Chicago’s Hamilton Club in 1899, two years before he became president, Theodore Roosevelt spoke about Greatness. “If we are to be a really great people, we must strive in good faith to play a great part in the world,” Roosevelt […]
Read More...Professional Speakers – Do You Know How To Sell Your Speech?
Lois Creamer knows the professional speaking business. Lois works with professional speakers to help them book more business, make more money, and avoid costly mistakes. As a speech coach and through FrippVT, I help professional speakers become consistently excellent in both content and delivery. We recently teamed up for Increase the Speed With Which You […]
Read More...Professional Speakers – Why You Still Need A One Sheet
As a speech coach and the creator of Fripp Virtual Training, my clients include corporate leaders, media personalities, and even top-tier professional speakers. While I work with professional speakers to help them develop more powerful and persuasive presentations, my friend and colleague, Lois Creamer works with them to help them book more business, make more […]
Read More...Do You Know How to Keep A Remote Audience Engaged?
Ambitious individuals realize that powerful and persuasive business communication skills are critical to success. Ever-evolving technology and shrinking travel budgets make face-to-face meetings increasingly rare. Our latest communications challenge is to deliver effective business presentations remotely.
Read More...How to Make The Most of Millennials on Your Team
Statistically, the majority of college grads will end up in sales career. As a business leader or sales manager, do you know how to make the most of the emerging workforce? Bestselling author Michael Nick and I recently joined forces for the FrippVT Web Event, Millennials – Bridging the Generation Gap. I share Michael’s insights […]
Read More...Executive Communications: Big Impressions on Small Audiences
Patricia Fripp, World Champions Edge, Speaking and Presentation Skills, Overcome shyness,
Read More...Why LinkedIn Endorsements Actually Matter to You
In a recent web event for my FrippVT Sales Series, I spoke with marketing and branding expert Melanie DePaoli on How to Build a LinkedIn Strategy for Success. Enjoy this video of our recent conversation and Melanie’s article explaining why LinkedIn Endorsements do actually matter to you: Yes! LinkedIn Endorsements Matter! by Mel DePaoli
Read More...How to Make Your Post Successful on LinkedIn
Like most people, you’ve probably been on LinkedIn for a while, you have a profile and connections – but are you using LinkedIn to your best advantage? I share this article from marketing and branding expert, Melanie DePaoli who explains how to raise your visibility through LinkedIn’s Pulse, plus a replay of my recent web […]
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