Presenting – Text
Check unknown vocabulary before you read the text:
jitters – nervousness; a feeling of fright or uneasiness
effortless – done without (apparent) effort; easy
referral – the act of referring (as forwarding an applicant for employment or referring a matter to an appropriate agency)
to boost – expand; make greater; improve; raise;
to evaporate – to disappear; vanish; fade
to rehearse – practice (a musical composition, a play, a speech, etc.) in private prior to a public presentation
to back up – support
entire – having all the parts or elements; whole; complete
to prompt – move or induce to action
to trash – throw away; discard
to convey – communicate or make known
fearful – causing fear; frightening
outcome – result
prior to – preceding; before
to engage – to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons)
Presenting Efficiently
The words, public speaking, strike fear in the minds of otherwise competent and confident people. Master the art of public speaking for greater success. There are many ways to increase business exposure so why bother to overcome your speaking jitters? Stepping up to the podium not only positions you as an expert in your area of business, but also provides effortless referrals and improved sales opportunities.
Presenting a non-sales informative speech warms up your target market and builds trust. Unlike endless cold calls, the people you present to and follow up with are more receptive to listening to your offering of products and services.
Overcome your fears of public speaking and boost your business with these 7 tips to master the art of public speaking:
7 Tips to Master the Art of Public Speaking
Start Small: If you're new to the world of speaking, start small. Find a few friends and family to practice on. Begin by speaking to smaller groups and build up from there.
In your business-speaking career, you will speak to groups of 30 to 3,000. One discovery you will make is that the size of the audience makes no difference. If you know your topic, your pre-speaking fears will quickly evaporate.
Prepare: Nothing helps ease the speaking fears than knowing your material. The ability to connect with your audience comes from having the confidence you won't get lost during your delivery. Rehearse several times before the big talk. Time your presentation and always have back up material in case time is left over.
Don't Memorize: Mastering the art of public speaking comes not from memorizing word for word your entire speech. The real pros know their material by remembering key points and prompts on sub topics and examples to cover.
Avoid Bullets: The majority of business presentations and speeches are boring monologues filled with endless PowerPoint slides and bullet points. Trash the PowerPoint presentation and make your material the focal point of the talk. If you do use PowerPoint, take the approach of using visuals that quickly convey your message.
Reduce Stress: The most fearful moment of any presentation is the minute before your stage entrance. Use the tactic of elite athletes by visualizing a positive outcome and using deep belly breathing to reduce stress and build confidence.
Find a Friend: Prior to your public speaking on stage, introduce yourself to a few members of the audience in the front row. During your talk look these people in the eye to ease your nerves and connect with your audience.
Engage the Audience: Creating a monologue presentation puts the entire task of informing and entertaining the audience on you. Make your talk a two-way interaction with questions and participation to reduce boredom and speak with ease. Having the group involved also gives you time to reorganize your thoughts if things are going off track.
Make public speaking part of your marketing function and boost your business success. Your fears will evaporate over time and you will wonder why you didn't start sooner.