Techniques of Public Speaking

Fear-free public speaking
Speaking in front of others can be empowering, energizing, and often essential for success in your career or to persuade others that something should be done. Most people have the opportunity at some point, whether it’s giving a toast at a wedding, a pep talk to a sports team, a bar mitzvah talk to a congregation, a presentation at town meeting, or a formal talk to conventioneers.

Is it possible to get over a fear of speaking? Of course! People do it every day, and so can you!

A key ingredient for losing your fear:

Care for your audience. As you’re planning to give your talk stop thinking about being nervous and how you’re going to perform, and instead think only about your audience. Find out as much as you can about them. Then consider these questions:

Why have they come together as a group?
What’s in it for them to listen to you?
What are they expecting from you?

Once you have a feel for what they’re expecting, your job as speaker is to fulfill those expectations, whether it’s for information, entertainment, instruction, or an experience. Put yourself in their shoes â€" they’re expecting a speaker who confidently and engagingly shares interesting information with them. So as long as that’s what they get from you, they’ll concentrate on what you say and not on you as a person. If you’re a local celebrity, they’ll be expecting stories about you â€" so share them. Giving them what they expect actually takes their attention off you as a person and onto your information or the experience you’re sharing with them. You may feel like an actor at first, but keep concentrating on your audience’s needs and expectations, and soon you’ll lose your fear.

Of course, to have the audience focus on your message, you need to have a good talk!

So what do you say?

Once you’ve pinned down who your audience is and why they’re there, you can come up with the main point of your talk â€" the one sentence answer to the question, “What’s the talk about?â€�

For instance, let’s say you’re a professional musician who’s been asked to talk to teachers about improving arts education in the public schools. They may want to know how to find musicians who can bring their instruments to classrooms to give kids a hands-on experience.

Once you’ve got your one-sentence main point (“Contact local orchestras and chamber groups to find musicians who can come to your classroom�), you can build your whole talk around it. Make sure to tell stories (“I once played my cello in a third grade classroom and…�), bring in some data (“studies show that children who meet musicians in person often want to play an instrument�), and get your audience involved (“How many of you learned an instrument because you met a musician when you were young?).

At the end of the talk remind them of your main point and where they can get the local information they need. If you take questions from the audience, make sure to close the session with a repetition of your main point so it’s the last thing people hear. In fact, they should hear your main point many times and in many ways: at the beginning of your talk, in the body of it as you bring in new ideas, and at the end.

Presentation tips:

Now that you have a fabulous talk, it’s vital that your body language supports rather than sabotages you. As soon as you arrive at the venue your body language is giving the preamble to your actual presentation. So, as you walk into the building stand up straight, hold your head up, and smile. When you’re speaking, look audience members in the eyes, (no top-of-head-skimming!), keep hands out of pockets, don’t fiddle with your hair or tap with your pen. To keep the focus on your talk instead of you as a person, wear appropriate clothing that doesn’t draw attention to itself. This isn’t the time to wear glittery fishnets or a chartreuse shirt!

Tell your talk -- don’t read it word for word! If you need to look at notes, just jot down one-word reminders or short phrases. Reading a whole talk is the quickest way to put your audience to sleep. Even if you stumble a bit, it’s more natural and communicative to just say your talk than read it.

Do remember to breathe! Deep breaths, down below your waist, will help keep you calm and your voice under control. Drink room-temperature water to keep your mouth moist.


If you focus on your audience and your audience’s needs â€" actually care for them â€" you’re not focusing on yourself. If you’re not focusing on yourself, you won’t be nervous. It’s simple. It just takes practice!

Lisa Dale Jones is an experienced public speaking and communications coach with extensive national and international experience. She has conducted speech training and media workshops for professional speakers in London, Vienna, Heidelberg, Johannesburg, Washington DC, and Boston. For many years she was an award-winning producer and on-air talent for Monitor Radio, the broadcast edition of The Christian Science Monitor. For over four years she was Assistant Manager, in charge of speaker training, and chief editor for the Board of Lectureship, an international spirituality speakers bureau based in Boston. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. Copyright 2007. Speaking With Soul. All Rights Reserved.

The Written Word Strikes Back
By Marige O'Brien, Copyright E2006

Since the advent of the television in the late 1940's leading educational and technological experts have quietly agreed that writing, the major form of communication until that point, was in decline. In fact, they declared it would be obsolete by the year 2000.

In response to this, educators began to adapt basic cirriculum guidelines to focus more on mathematics and science. But they all under estimated the POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD!

Like all great survivors, The Written Word has the key ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment, to grow with those changes, and to not only continue to prove itself useful, but positively indispensible.

As evidence, consider the internet: one of modern man's greatest technological and communication triumphs, in what has been dubbed "The Age of Communication." Yet, in an ironical twist so stupendous as to be nearly absurd, this "greatest feat" relies PRIMARILY ON the written word in order to deliver its actual communications.

Despite all the technology required to develop it, at least 50-75% of the visible portion of the internet is written. And to make this punch even more potent, major search engines determine a website's VALUE based on THIS WRITTEN content!

But where does this leave "little Johnny" who dutifully studied his maths and science, while the written portion of his education was sacrificed and can now hardly read (never mind write), an error-free and grammatically correct sentence? It leaves him able to create a rocket or a bomb or a dynamic compression-- but not able to explain it to anyone out of earshot. It also leaves him at the mercy of some writer who has, of all things!, a mere Liberal Arts Degree.

And, this, you see, is how "The Written Word Strikes Back."--mo

<b>Marige O'Brien</b> works as a writer, web designer and Internet Marketer. Visit her Website, <a href="http://www.trackermo.com"><b><u>Tracker Mo's Den</u></b></a> for her latest recommendations in i-marketing tools and biz opps. Sign up for her own 100% original newsletter, Tracker Mo's Report.

Parental Incest
Parental Incest When either one parent is not available for sexual or emotional needs of the other parent in the household, parental incest occur. The present parent may substitute the child for the missing wife or husband. The mother or father who is not around will not be able to check on his wife or husband’s activities. Although in some culture incest is done and is required in a family clan, it can still have a negative psychological effect to a child. Clinical statistics in the U.S. shows that more than five million children are sexually abuse in spite the fact that incest is a taboo in nature. Covert parental Incest is also called psychological or emotional incest. It is defined when a child is being seduced by a parent. It is considered a violation because it puts a demand on a child to fulfill a role of a parent or a spouse. It is usually called “special relationship� by the assaulting parent. Psychologist often points out that there is a role reversal being done in an incest relationship, where the parent tries to give a pseudo-respect and pseudo-maturity like a peer partner to a child to meet his needs. Covert incest is distinguished to be harmful to a child because it denies him or her the proper parenting and betrays his or her innocence. The parent demands the child to do parent obligations.

T. Joseph Hauenstien webnewsb@webnewsblog.com SEO & Web Marketing Consultant http://www.linkbuilding.net http://www.webnewsblog.com http://www.cubefiles.com

How To Effectively Use Humor To Start Off Any Speech Or Presentation
How To Effectively Use Humor To Start Off Any Speech or Presentation By Peter “The Humorator� Fogel Here is a sure-fire way to get the room in a good mood right off the bat and even get a laugh from your audience when first being introduced to them. Don't forget: the trick to effectively using humor is to catch your audience off-guard. I've used this technique for over three decades and it works like a charm. Use it when you know the emcee is not up to the task of bringing you on stage. Don't worry, once you get your 'speaking legs' and get more stage time, you will learn to go with your gut and discover who really is not good at giving introductions. Typically, these folks fumble when reading your intro card next to you, and you can tell by their body language that they're very uncomfortable being in front of a room. The Right Introduction At The Right Time! Make no mistake: in the speaking and stand-up world your introduction is very important - it sets the precedent for YOUR performance, puts your audience at ease, and builds eager anticipation of you. Know this: the person who will never let you down EVER and bring you up on stage exactly the way you want--is you. 'Huh', you think, 'bring myself up?' Yes! If you have the nerve to do it. This will only work if the audience has not seen a photo of you and doesn't recognize you as a featured speaker. Trust me NOT in a million years would anyone think that the person starting the program is actually the speaker himself. Anyway, you go on stage, take the microphone, welcome everyone to today's presentation, and then say you'd now like to introduce today's wonderful speaker. You Have To Commit To Tooting Your Own Horn Now is your chance to 'toot your own horn,' as they say. Build yourself up as you read your own credits and get excited for the audience. Right at the end of reading your own credits then say, 'Ladies and gentleman please give a warm welcome to a tremendous speaker and good friend of mine, (insert your name). Put the microphone back into the stand and start applauding with the audience. Now, look off to the side of the stage as you await your own arrival. Look at your watch as if time is going by and then after a few seconds grab the micro

Improving How You Speak In Public
Feeling less confident when speaking in public? Here are some tips to boost your confidence in public speaking.

Tip no. 1. You should have eye contact with the audience all the time.

Tip no. 2. You should just relax. You know now by heart what you intend to say. Just do it.

Tip no. 3. If you can, use visual aids. This could help the people listening to you understand more of what you want to say. They get your concepts in an instant. Keep your visual aids simple. If, for example, you don?t have the visual, then just remember to use words that would describe succinctly your point.

Tip no. 4. Why not give handouts to the audience? This would serve as their copy of your speech or at least the points you are tackling. They would feel that you gave them something that is free. Be simple and clear on what you say in the handout. Too many words and technical research could turn people off.

Tip no. 5. Do not think of how you can survive the speech, but on how
you can do your speech brilliantly.

Tip no. 6. Improving your speech unity and coherence would help your listeners understand your points and would help you be more confident in nailing down that speech. It pays to list down all the points you want to say, and arrange them in a logical, coherent order. So, for example, you are speaking in favor of stem cell research, enumerate your reasons why it is so, and close your speech with a conclusion.

Tip no. 7. Change the tonality and speed of your voice every now and then during the presentation. If you need to, convey energy. If you are emphasizing a point, slow down emphatically. If you are excited or angry about something, let your listeners feel that you are actually excited or angry about it.

Tip no. 8. Check out the various books available on how to present excellently. There are many books that are available that can help you boost your confidence in speaking in front of many people. There are also websites available on the Internet that give some tips on how to present brilliantly.

Speaking before a group of people can be intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it is greatly satisfying and great fun. Once you have learned to enjoy your presentations or even a part of these presentations, your confidence in yourself will greatly increase.

James Masterson is Stand out, Be Recognized and Be Remembered keynote speaker. Click Here To read his latest advice <a href="http://free-online-course.com/masterson" title="http://free-online-course.com/masterson" target="_blank">http://free-online-course.com/masterson</a>

Business Executives, Communicate Your Career To The Next Level: 7 Ways to Talk Your Way To The Top
Not too long ago, I walked into a room where some of the country's top oncologists were preparing to launch a new cancer-fighting drug. The occasion was the group's rehearsal before a big presentation to the Federal Drug Administration. Given that these men and women are some of the best and brightest in their field, I thought the rehearsal would be a breeze. So, I sat down, pen poised to make a few notes so I could help them fine-tune their presentations and be ready for the onslaught of media that was sure to follow.

What a letdown. Five articulate, highly educated, well-dressed presenters, armed with shiny animated slideshows, droned on and on and on and on. It didn't matter what they were saying because the audience wouldn't really hear any of it anyway. Around me, eyes closed, and others pretended to take notes while playing solitaire on their laptops. I wondered how in the world I could help these presenters. I also thought about tripling my consultation fee on the spot.

All presenters believe their words are important, and they are. But if you don't give an audience a good reason to listen, they will quickly tune you out. In an age where sound bite is king, cutting through the clutter is more important now than ever.

Consider the following 7 points before stepping into the limelight:

The Take-Home

No matter how many years and dollars you've spent on research and development, no matter the technical complexity of your subject matter, when speaking to a group your entire presentation must boil down to one key point. If you had to sum up your talk in 10 seconds, what would you want your audience to know?

Ask Yourself the Right Questions
What you think a listener needs to know is not always what that listener wants to know. Put yourself in your listener’s seat and ask the following questions: So what? Who cares? What does this mean to the listener, reader or viewer and me? Until you frame your messages from your audience’s perspective, they won’t care. If they don’t care, you’ll never receive their full attention.

Talk in nuggets

Powerful communicators who can hold attention have something in common with each other. They've learned that speaking is for the ear, not for the eye. Instead of preparing a presentation as a research paper jammed with minutiae, condense complicated information into bite-sized nuggets and present only the information needed to move an audience toward the desired outcome.

Present, Don't Read

Is your presentation written like a term paper? Is it written in sentences? Do you allow room for pauses so the listener can participate? People don't converse in long-winded sentences. We speak in short phrases. So write in phrases or bullet points. You will then find yourself talking more and reading less. Also, take time to pause between key thoughts so your listeners can digest what you're saying.

Paint the Picture

Explaining the features of your product may be important, but explanation without example has no meaning. People can't remember all of the facts, but they do remember impressions. By comparing and contrasting, providing analogies and visual images, your presentation will come to life.

Slideshow or Presentation?

No one comes to a presentation to see a slideshow. They come to hear a knowledgeable person share ideas and talk. Visuals should reinforce what you're saying, not serve as your script. Instead of preparing the slides first, prepare your remarks then create appropriate supporting visuals. Let your words drive the visuals instead of the other way around.

Nix the Jargon

Just because your audience is packed with colleagues or you’re providing information for an industry trade publication doesn't mean you should talk jargon. Get rid of the buzzwords and throw away phrases. Rather, look for opportunities to put your words in context by humanizing your material and telling stories or anecdotes.

As I worked with the oncologist presenters and brought many of these points to their attention, they worried that simplifying the information would harm their credibility. Quite the opposite. By making an effort to connect with their audience rather than throw too much information at them, they created a focused, central theme with real-life examples that excited and inspired listeners. And in the end, the cancer drug they believed in made it to market and received a lot of good press!

International communications coach,<a href="http://www.karenfriedman.com/">Karen Friedman</a>, has taught thousands of spokespeople to communicate their way to success. To reap the benefits of inside secrets that this award winning television reporter has shared with spokespeople across the globe, click <a href="http://www.karenfriedman.com/mediatips/">www.karenfriedman.com/mediatips</a> for FREE TIPS to use next time you meet the media!

Choosing Your Speaker
Yikes! You have just been put in charge of developing a program for your next corporate function. Perhaps it's a trade show. Perhaps it's a conference. It might be a company meeting or a product launch. Whatever the event, your program will stand or fall on

- The audience
- The purpose of the meeting
- The topics of the sessions
- The presenters or speakers

The audience and the purpose of the meeting will determine the topics, and all three will determine who your speakers should be.

"But David, shouldn't we hire the biggest name possible â€" the speaker with the biggest 'star appeal'?"

Not necessarily. If the main purpose of your speaker is to draw attendance, then you want the biggest name possible for one of your slots â€" a Jerry Seinfeld or Jay Leno or Nicole Kidman or maybe an ex-President.

However, you will still need many other speakers. Star appeal is a powerful factor, but there are more important factors:

How well does he or she know the topic you need addressed? Often a respected but decidedly "unfamous" expert is a better pick than someone out of Hollywood. You can learn a lot about speakers by reviewing their biographies online. As an example, here is Bruce Jenner's online bio.

How well can the speaker learn to understand your audience? This is important, since the speaker might already have addressed a similar audience. Or he might be willing to take the time to understand who your audience is and what their experiences have been. Or maybe not. A key question to ask..."Will you arrive early enough to be briefed about what has already transpired at our event, so that you can work it into your speech?" Then write it into the speaker's contract.

How well does the speaker speak? This is important because the most famous person who has just discovered the cure for cancer or won a dozen gold medals at the Olympics might not be able to utter an intelligible word. Make sure the famous speaker or recognized expert can really speak well. Ask to see a real video at a real speaking engagement. Even better, take the speaker for a test drive. Ask to attend an upcoming speaking engagement.

What is the speaker's speaking style? Not every speaker matches your audience. Some audiences and some topics call for an energetic motivational style. Others call for a more informative style. Some audiences will react better to a laid-back style. To be sure, boring is out, no matter what the audience, but there are different styles that can engage an audience, but not all of them will work with every audience.

Ask for references you can call...references with similar audience characteristics. Then make the call and ask what went well and what could have been improved. If something did not go well, it could be a sign that the speaker is not ideal, or it could be an indication of something you need to do to make sure she or he is ideal.

Is the speaker willing to provide an outline of the speech ahead of time? It is important for you to know what the speaker will cover and to make suggestions if necessary. It's your program and you know what needs to be covered.

Is the speaker willing to go the extra mile? Sometimes the best speaker is the one who will commit to staying an hour after the event to answer questions from shy participants or from those with long-winded or multi-part questions. Or a speaker, especially one who is already well-known, can add value by greeting people as they enter the hall. Or perhaps they can also add some excitement to a spouses' program.

Of course, budget is always important. If you need to pay for a dozen speakers with a limited budget, don't try to book Dr. Phil for one of your slots. You can do a quick search for speakers by fee range at All American Speakers Bureau to start your budget planning.

A speakers bureau can help you navigate many of these issues, both more quickly and more effectively than you can yourself. Once you make known your concerns and questions, the speakers bureau can quickly pull out those speakers most likely to fit your needs and respond to your demands.

Choosing the right speaker is critical, if you want your audience to walk away feeling that they have gained something from the event. Take the time to ask the right questions and hire the right speaker.

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer and marketing consultant. He works with <a href=http://www.allamericanspeakers.com>All American Sports Speakers Bureau</a>, with <a href=http://www.goldmedalgreats.com>GMG Olympic athlete sports speakers</a> and <a href=http://www.celebrityhealthlink.com/>Celebrity Health Link medical experts and spokespersons</a>.

How to Prepare for Executive Presentations
The following are tips to help you master preparation for executive presentations. "Executive Presentations" are those presentations intended for introducing new ideas or reviewing performance for management within an organization. These suggestions are intended for optimizing powerful and focused communications. Be Brief, the Ten Minute Rule Regardless of the amount of time that you may have scheduled for your meeting, make sure that you can convey your complete message in ten minutes or less. Strip away conjecture, comments or perceptions to convey the core message as quickly, accurately and concisely as possible. If you have additional interesting materials, place it in an appendix for leisure reading. (Do you know many executives who have time for leisure reading? If your audience is not going to read the material on their own spare time, then don't put it in the heart of your presentation.) Would you rather present to a Board of Directors, or board directors? Bullet Points, Numbers, Dollars, Graphs, Charts and Pictures Can you convey your message in five bullet points or less? Can you substantiate your message with numbers, dollars or a graphical representation? Then do it. A picture is worth a thousand words, but dollars can common sense will get the most attention. Graphical and financial representation of data and trends changes what you "think" into what you "know". Do not waste time discussing opinion, but rather provide substance to generate meaningful conversation about interpretation of the facts. Who Be prepared to name the resources required and the individuals, organizations, departments or customers who will contribute or be impacted. Be prepared to respond to the worst case scenario impact by person or area, and the countermeasures. What Try to state what you are presenting in seven words or less When Be prepared with a timeline, plan, milestones and metrics of measurement. If you are proposing an idea that has fiscal impact, demonstrate the key milestones as points in the process that can be measured and compared for progress. Don't wait to measure at the end of the project, know how you will measure from the beginning and through the entire process. Identify the critical path elements that could delay a project or strategic direction, as well as points in the process at which a project could be completely stopped, if necessary. Where Is your presentation related to specific geographical or demographical area? If so, it may be appropriate to indicate the limit or scope of the topic. It may not be necessary to include this in the presentation, but you should be aware. It is equally important to recognize if your presentation or proposal specifically excludes a particular geography or demographic. For example, does your idea benefit end-user customers at the expense of corporate customers? Is your global strategy equally relevant in Latin America as it is in Europe? How This can be included with the 'When" of your planning process. If you are presenting a plan, proposal or change in strategic direction, then show your plan. How you plan to implement or improve should be integrated with timelines, milestones and measurements. It is much easier to review a plan than to discuss a concept. Why Unfortunately, far too many presentations are completely focused on the intent of the message. It is reasonable to assume that the purpose of a presentation is some benefit. The benefit may be associated with reduced cost, risk avoidance, strategic initiatives, revenue generation, compliance or planning. Whatever the benefit may be, it is important to balance the benefit message with substantive facts and responses to the above mentioned details as applicable. The benefit statement in your presentation should also be concise, easy to understand and very focused. State the purpose of your message in one sentence. Alternatives Every presentation or ideas has alternatives. The alternative to change is to remain status quo. Although remaining status quo could be a substantial competitive disadvantage for most organizations, sometimes it is better than the risk associated with proposed changes. Enhance the power of your presentation by offering a few bullet points that demonstrate investigation of the alternatives and the potential comparative impact. Method Use an appropriate manner of communication to accommodate your audience. This may be a Power Point presentation, a single sheet of paper with bullet points and graphs, or a documented study with an executive summary at the beginning. The most important element of your presentation is the content. Convey your message quickly. Be prepared to substantiate your message with facts, a plan, impact and alternatives. If a conversation erupts about your message, embrace it and use the communication as an opportunity to engage the audience. A conversation is infinitely more interesting than a presentation. Deliver your material in a manner that fosters thoughtful interactive dialogue with active participation for best results. ______________________________________________________ Words of Wisdom "And, of course, you have the commercials where savvy businesspeople Get Ahead by using their MacIntosh computers to create the ultimate American business product: a really sharp-looking report." - Dave Barry "I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult." - E. B. White "I have always found that in preparing for any presentation that the plan never applies, but the preparation does." - John Mehrmann, Executive Blueprints Inc ______________________________________________________ John Mehrmann

John Mehrmann is a freelance author, industry expert and President of Executive Blueprints Inc, an organization dedicated to developing human capital and personal growth.

Speaking to Kids - 3 Types of Questions You Need to Prepare For
As someone that speaks regularly to groups of childrenâ€"both large and smallâ€"I can tell you that I am constantly amazed at what goes through their little minds. Without the restraint of what would be “appropriate,â€� they tend to just let their thoughts flow. If you ever find yourself standing in front of a group of young people, get ready for three categories of questions.

Category 1: Personal Questions

Kids want to know everything, and they have no problem asking you directly. I have been asked my age, my height, my yearly income, and marital status. The income question usually takes the form of “Are you rich?� or even “Are you a millionaire?� Evidently the Harry Potter craze led them to believe that anyone who has written a book or two must be a millionaire.

But it was the age question that led to this funny exchange.

At one of my appearances a little boy raised his hand and asked, “How old are you?� I paused for a moment, trying to think of a witty response, but in the end simply answered that I was 42. There was a momentary hush, and then he muttered in authentic amazement, “Wow, that’s even older than my dad!� It still makes me chuckle.

Category 2: Professional Failure Questions

To have your ego shot down by a six year old is truly a humbling experience. Let me explain.

In my talks I try very hard to explain how the publishing world works, and how books are created. For some reason, this leads many children to assume that I must have had an entire series of horrible setbacks before arriving at my current station. My two favorites so far have been, “How does it feel when your books get rejected?� and the equally painful, “What do you do when someone hates your books?�

Nothing like a dose of salt-in-the-wound and painful-reminders to bring you back down to earth!

Category 3: The Question that’s not a Question

Kindergarten and First Grade are particularly adept at this one. It can take several forms, but let me tell you about one specific time. I gave a talk to a group of Kindergarteners that went very well. The audience was attentive. They laughed at all the right places and were quiet when they should be quiet. Then, I asked, “Does anyone have any questions on the things I’ve talked about?�

A hand shot up. A little girl in the front row. “Yes?� I said. “You have a question?�

“I have a dog.�

This was strange not simply because it was not really a question, but also because nothing in the preceding hour had anything to do with dogs, pets, or any other related topic! I hesitated only briefly before replying (brilliantly, I thought), “Interesting. Any other questions?�

Another hand shot up. “I have a dog, too.� Which was followed in rapid succession by “I have a cat,� “My Grandma has two cats,� and “My Grandma had a dog, but he died.�

Sigh.

But, for all of their strange and somewhat embarrassing questions, there is one benefit to an audience of young people. There is something that happens quite regularly at my events that you rarely see at gatherings of “adults.� After the event, as the kids are filing out of the auditorium, some little boy or girl will come up to me, not say a word, and give me a hug. You can’t buy that kind of praise with money.

Kevin Franz is the author of the successful children’s fantasy series, the Castle Rose Adventures. The first book of the series, <i>Into the Hidden Lands</i> (2004, Starbell Books, Plainfield, Illinois) was praised for its lavish illustrations, interesting footnotes and detailed maps. Since then, eager fans have been treated to four more Castle Rose books which have cleverly combined the realism of medieval castle life with the myth and magic of classic fantasy. A sixth installment--<i>A Castle Rose Christmas</i>--is scheduled for a December 2007 release. Mr. Franz is also an accomplished speaker, and regularly presents his Creative Writing Workshops to young audiences throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. <i>For information on his writing and speaking, please visit http://www.Princess-Sisters.com and click the Author Visit Info button. You can also click the Contact button to write to Mr. Franz directly.

So you want to be a Public Speaker?
So you want to be a Public Speaker? Have you ever attended a seminar and said, "Wow, I wish I could speak like that"? Well, I've got some great news for you. You can be a public speaker. There is no such thing as a born public speaker. Public speaking is a learned skill, basically anyone can do it. You just need to follow some simple rules and practice. If you know how to talk, you can become a public speaker. Becoming really good at public speaking requires some risk. Now understand there is risk involved. You risk being rejected when you ask someone out on a date, and you risk getting into an accident every time you drive your car. If you were afraid of getting into an accident, you'd never get behind the wheel, right? It has been proven that one of our greatest fears, believe it or not, is public speaking. The key to getting up in front of an audience is believing that you have something to share with them that may make a difference in their lives - by entertaining them, warning them, encouraging them, or giving them direction or information. In order to be good at anything, you have to practice. It’s easy to become discouraged if you expect to be as good as Zig Ziglar, Tom Antion Bill Brooks and Jim Cathcart right out of the shoot. But if you knew their backgrounds you will find that it took a long time before they were able to do what they do so well. The thing to remember is the only person you need to compare yourself with is yourself. You must constantly work for your personal best, so when you are preparing your speech and practicing, all you need to ask yourself is, “is your second speech better than your first?â€� Did you learn something new as you prepared for your speech? Did you learn something from the feed-back comments of others after you gave your speech? That's all you need to do. You can use what you've learned to make the next speech your best and then use the same process for each speech you give thereafter. Just take one step at a time. Find your Niche The more you like your topic, the more your audience will want to hear about it. There are three ways to determine your power fields, interests, majors and pet peeves. Start with process one and follow these recommendations. But before you do that, you need to understand, to become a successful public speaker you must be passionate about your public speaking career. You MUST, eat drink and sleep public speaking. You must be focused, determined and control any and all distractions to become successful in this field. It is an absolute must that you love what you’re doing. Yes, it’s important you must enjoy helping people and be around people â€" communication is a two way process. “The reason I do this basically is that I enjoy being in front of people. I get fired up, excited and enjoy the interaction. Yes, ego is involved also. It’s a rush!â€� Now, back to where we were. Below are some questions to ask yourself to find your niche. “Your audience will know if you really care about what you’re speaking on â€" believe me! So, find your niche.â€� PROCESS 1 What do you like to do in your spare time? What are your hobbies? What do you like to do at holidays? What is your favorite travel destination? What do you like to talk about with friends? On what issue do you hold a strong opinion? What issue do you like to know more about? What values are you standing for? What special expertise do you have? What do you fix well? What special skills do you have? What special professional or personal experiences have you had in your life? What speech topic or debate in the news recently focused your attention? PROCESS 2 Associate. Lets say you like to talk about Donald Trump. Now write down all things that come up in your mind. All the things related to Donald Trump. E.g. real estate, business successes, scandals, TV productions, his friends, and so on. In other words, you are building a topic tree around Mr. Trump. This method takes some time, but you can apply it on almost every candidate issue. PROCESS 3 Is it of great interest to you? Does it really excite you? Is it something you're already interested in? Did you always want to know more about it, but didn't have the time to find out? Do you love to talk about it? Do you already know more about the speech topic? Are you passionate about your subject? Most importantly, regardless of the subject, YOU MUST BE PASSIONATE ABOUT PUBLIC SPEAKING AND THE TOPIC BE PRESENTED! Once you have found your niche(s), perfect it/them. If you’ve noticed, you can have more than one. It is strongly suggested you have multiple subject matter. Personally, I have eight seminars from one hour to a two week on site venue. Don’t limit your marketability with only having one or two. Versatility is the name of the game. But which ever you choose become the expert in that/those subject(s). Stay up to date with changes, technology or whatever impacts change to your subject. Constant research is the key here. Remember, people are paying for your knowledge! Tools of the Trade: To start on this subject, I will layout the common tools required to maintain your trade: 1. Laptop Computer 2. Digital movie camera (professional is suggested here) 3. Mobile Projection (presentations)(see InFocus) 4. Thumb Drive (2GIG min) 5. Headset Microphone Wireless System 6. Digital micro recorder 7. The most important tool of all your voice. • Voice is essential to your profession. To take care of your voice properly is essential to your longevity • Do’s to project and save your voice: 1. Get an annual check-up from a throat specialist â€" Prevention is always better than a cure. 2. Consider professional voice training. A voice teacher, professional choir director or singer can make a world of difference in techniques and your sound. 3. Drink six to eight glasses of water daily â€" this helps to moisten throat tissue and cuts down on dryness which leads to irritation. 4. Drink only water, lemonade or warm liquids when using your voice for long periods of time. Ice cold liquids have a tendency to shock or paralyze the throat and causes strain. 5. Use warm salt water solution or warm lemonade to gargle with after long hours of selling especially if your throat feels tired. 6, Use a quality sound system. Don’t buy because of price â€" buy because of sound. 7. Let the sound system do the work for you â€" that’s why you have it. Control crowd with sound system. Turn it up if they’re too noisy â€" silence will quite them also. Keep them attentive but not by yelling. 8. Relax your body and voice. You can feel tightness and tension â€" relax, breathe deeply, relax, breathe deeply. 9. Keep throat moist at all times. Small pieces of candy held in corner of mouth help produce saliva. Avoid menthol candies, cough drops, etc. They tend to cause dryness. NEVER, NEVER chew GUM! Yes it does produce saliva but looks disgusting. “Every time I see one chewing gum during a presentation I see a barnyard animal chewing cud!â€� - “Okay, my pet Peeve!â€� 10. Project voice naturally. Talk naturally but project upward and outward through diaphragm. Talk to furthest person from you to help projection. 11. Practice and try to cultivate the habit of ‘diaphragmatic breathingâ€� whenever you have to speak. Your voice will hold up much better, sound stronger, and be more pleasant for others to hear. • DON'TS: Here are a few that can affect your voice quality and lead to throat problems. 1. Don’t strain â€" learn proper breathing techniques and protection techniques. Prolonged straining of your voice causes the vocal chords to rub violently together causing blisters or nodules often requiring surgery and then voice therapy to correct. 2. Don’t scream or shout excessively â€" Auctioneers don’t speak without a good sound system. 3. Don’t use a cotton handkerchief over mike â€" dust and cotton particles from the handkerchief cause dryness and strain. 4. Don’t rely on throat lozenges, sprays, pills, steam to ease throat. This is a dead give-away to problems. Don’t spray antihistamines to clear nose. They dry out throat tissue excessively and often cause drainage into throat. Grosse, but true. 5. Don’t speak out of pitch â€" too high or too low a pitch causes voice strain, how do you find your pitch? Talk or hum to determine pitch. 6. Don’t cough, sneeze or clear throat excessively â€" causes incredible stress on vocal chords and irritation from rubbing together that may lead to nodules. 7. Don’t speak louder or change your pitch when you have head congestion. You may feel you can’t be understood unless you adjust your voice but remember, your audience’s ears are not congested and they can hear you fine. Slower, more careful articulation will help your clarity. 8. Don’t smoke! If others around you are smoking, drink water. This greatly reduces the likelihood of throat irritation. 9. Don’t ignore warning signs â€" hoarseness, laryngitis, sore throat (especially after speaking), swelling, lumps or continued irritation. Don’t wait â€" get it checked by a doctor and hydrate. Remember; don’t skimp on quality with your tools. Your tools are important and cost should not be a factor. You get what you pay for! Delivery As a speaker, you never want to “dieâ€� in front of the room, but if you take the wrong position, it may very well affect how your received. Lots of research on covert influence shows that it really does matter where one stands when we present our subject matter. To satisfy yourself that the position of your body in relationship to others is important, try this. Ask several to help you out. Place two chairs face to face, just about 3-4 feet from each other. Now, assuming you are sitting in one, slide the other over about two feet to the right, so when the other person is sitting across from you, you’ll be to their right, and vice versa. Now have each person sit across from you as you present a short subject. Have them appraise you on a scale from 1-10 how comfortable they are with you. After they have done so, move your chair so that they are now across from you, and on your left and repeat the process. Do this with as many people as you can, because the results are overwhelming. You’ll be shocked to find that almost everyone rates you as being much more comfortable when you are on their right side. Not only that, but research also indicates that you will be seen as more attractive as well. See how this might be beneficial? So, how do you use this information in a live presentation? While there are more complex strategies, the basic use of this is not only powerful, but simple. When you first take the stage, you’ll want to stand near the center, just off to the right of the audience, or your left. As the presentation progresses, you will want to use both sides of the stage; the side to the right of the audience for anything you want them to associate positive feelings to, and the left side to the things you want them to link to negativity. Ain’t science wonderful? Nerves Your mouth is dry, heart pounding, and knees knocking. You go into panic, facing a dreaded public speaking engagement. “Now understand, I have been speaking since 1973 and have given hundreds of seminars and each and every time I’m nervous.â€� Here are a few tips that may help combat those symptoms and reduce nervousness. 1. Deep breathing will help your brain work to capacity, and forcing the slower pace will quell the panic. 2. Exude confidence; Stand tall, with shoulders back and chest out. Smile. Even though you don’t feel happy or confident, do it anyway. You will look confident and your body will fool your brain into thinking it is confident. It works! 3. Keep you mouth and throat hydrated. Plan to keep a drink on hand while you are speaking, though this sounds impossible. Place (room temperature) water strategically placed so you can re-hydrate during your presentation. Know when in your presentation it would be less noticed. If all else fails tell your audience that you need to hydrate. You can make it humorous. 4. Adrenalin sends the blood rushing to the fight/flight centers of your brain at the base of the skull. Place your hand on your forehead and press gently on the bony points. This will bring the blood to the parts of the brain that need it to present your speech best. 5. Know you are prepared. Obviously this depends on actually being prepared, so take every opportunity in the days leading up to the speech to prepare your material. Be familiar with the structure of the presentation, and the ideas to use. Memorize the most important parts, and the parts you might forget. 6. Know your audience, its critical! Their average age, gender, race, income levels, education, generally their demographics. Remember, the more you know your audience the more it will put you at ease. 7. Remember, you are the expert! Yes, there are people who might know more about your subject. I think this way, “if there is a person that knows more about the subject being presented in the audience, then why they are not up here presenting and I seated in the audience?â€� 7 Keys of making a Speech 1. Grammar â€" Use correct grammar. Write out your speech in advance and read it aloud a few times. This will help you catch most of the mistakes privately. Ask a friend to listen to the speech and give you feedback or note any grammatical errors. 2. Filler Words â€" Unnecessary words that do not help convey your point can be distracting. Avoid the use of “uh, ah, um, you know, like, and I mean.â€� In order to avoid run-on sentences, insert a one-second â€" pause - between sentences instead of using “andâ€� or “soâ€� to connect two or more sentences. Before you take the stage practice saying any difficult words you plan to use. 3. Body Language â€" By this, I am referring to unintentional cues you give such as looking at your notes, not making eye contact, slumped shoulders, hands in pockets jingling money, or slouching on the lectern. Practicing in front of a mirror will help you discover your own quirky movements. 4. Gestures â€" These are intentional movements you use to make a point or illustrate the importance of a word. Make your gestures large enough to be seen by the person sitting in the back of the room. Step away from the lectern when using the lower part of your body; otherwise your movement will not be seen. 5. Vocal Delivery â€" Avoid monotone and jazz up your presentation by varying your tone (emphasis or emotion), pitch (high or low voice), and rate (fast or slow). All these help keep an audience interested in what you are saying. 6. Topicâ€" Your focus should be on your audience. An interesting topic is important, but should be relevant to your listener’s needs. Prepare ahead of time. Write key points on small 3x5 note cards to remind you of what is next. Reading off cue cards is discouraged. Only use them if necessary. Know your subject! 7. Visual Aids â€" Not all presentations require or need visual aids. However, visual aids and handouts make a your presentation more interesting. Impromptu Speaking If you have ever given a presentation at work or at a special event you know how nerve-wracking it can be. A little nervousness is normal. It shows that you care and are excited about the opportunity you’ve been given to speak. Having nervousness overcome your ability to function in front of an job interview panel can be harmful. Practice impromptu speaking as a way of learning to respond effectively on a moment’s notice. Here are a few suggestions about how to rehearse for successful impromptu speaking. For this exercise you will require: • A timer, stopwatch or clock with a second hand sweep. • A friend - If you don’t have anyone to practice with, you’ll have to watch the timer yourself. • A topic â€" here are three: 1. What is procrastination and how it impacts ones personal life. 2. You have a friend that has asked you for some advice on why his business is not taking off. You know it is his focus and time management that needs real help. 3. Please give your advice on how to deal with rush-hour traffic. Take each topic listed above one at a time. Have your friend read one topic aloud then set the timer for two minutes. Your friend will give you a silent signal when you’ve reached one minute and again when you have reached two minutes. Try to keep speaking until you get the one minute signal. Then, wrap up when you get the two minute signal. Compose your thoughts as quickly as possible and begin addressing the topic. Give a simple opening statement. You may repeat the topic question as your opening. Then, give your opinion about the topic by answering the questions to the best of your ability. Give a summary of what you presented. Guest Speaker Being a guest speaker in front of the right audience can be an excellent way to attract new business. Many clubs, organizations, conventions, and trade shows seek guest speakers who can provide useful information to their audience. The opportunity to speak in front of an attentive group can certainly boost your business, whether you are a service or product provider. Design your speech or presentation so that the audience leaves with useful information that will help them. Avoid giving a sales pitch; this will be a turn-off for both the audience and the speaker-coordinator. Here are a number of reasons why being a guest speaker can attract more business: You are perceived as an expert in your field. You have an opportunity to get free publicity to promote the event. You have the opportunity to hand out information to each attendee (with your contact name on it). You can ask for names and addresses of attendees to build your contact database. You can chat one-on-one with the attendees after the meeting. Make sure you have a business card! Check out your local Chamber of Commerce, local trade shows, or your local Convention Center. In some cities there are Professional Meeting Planners who often seek speakers. Your participation as a speaker at one event may lead to other contacts in the industry.

Mr. Dale Simmons, known as the “WHY� man, is a interactive motivational and "self-help" speaker who introduced the Pebble in the Pool © theory. With more than 28 years in the corporate market and conducting hundreds of training and career motivational presentations, Dale has developed the Pebble in the Pool © theory. In addition, seminars on Goal Setting, Team Building, Time Management and Lean Manufacturing Principles are now being offered to the private sector. Pebble in the Pool © is by far the most motivational seminar for the diverse audiences of today.