Public Speaking and Presentation Skills - Tips and Techniques That Really Work

Nature or nurture - the age old debate... and when it comes to great public speaking and great speakers, is it nature or nurture?

In other words, are great speakers born or made?

Okay, without bragging or false modesty, I've been told so many times that I'm a great speaker and presenter that I'm almost tired of hearing it (almost!) but I'll be the very first to admit, I was certainly not born a great speaker.

Not even close!

In fact, I was so shy growing up, if I had to stand up in front of the class in school and read a report or speak in front of any group of people, I was as scared as a hamster at a rattlesnake convention!

I would never have guessed I'd make my living in public speaking and seminar presentation.

Sure, some people are "born" more outgoing than others, but you don't have to be an extraverted "people person" to be great at public speaking.

Feel free to check out some of my past blog posts, and my public speaking free article directory.
You'll find tons of great tips and techniques that really work!

Until next time,
David

You know what just makes me furious? You know what just makes my blood boil and veins stand out on my forehead?

It's bad and useless advice when it comes to getting rid of stage fright or fear of public speaking.

How many times have you heard the following:

"Everyone gets nervous about public speaking, so don't worry"

BALONEY!! First of all, I've taught a lot of public speaking classes in my day, and I can tell you that there is about 5% of the population (give or take) that never, ever had any fear of public speaking whatsoever. More importantly, for most of us, just knowing that other people get nervous really doesn't make a difference in how you feel.

"Breathe deeply..."

Okay, I'm about to throw something across the room... breathing deeply is great for before you go on stage or get up to do your speech or presentation, but how the heck are you supposed to breathe deeply when you're talking?

"Picture your audience in their underwear or naked"

Now I'm really going to go ballistic. Sure, the idea is to make the audience, in your mind, more nervous than you. But the experience of hundreds of my students is that simply does not work, and in fact, it's quite distracting (or even disgusting).

Bad advice like that just makes me want to scream. I never teach such useless baloney in my workshops.

What other bad advice have you heard?

Dedicated to your public speaking and seminar success!
David

Labels: fear of public speaking

Public Speaking,Group Events, and Extreme Customer Loyalty:

Can public speaking create extreme customer loyalty?--the kind of rabid, die-hard loyalty that is usually reserved for the fans of rock stars?

For years I've been teaching speakers and small business owners how to do exactly that by holding customer appreciation events, and the reason is because those kinds of events not only solidly cement customer loyalty, but also generate referrals like crazy.

Here's a real world example I just witnessed first hand: do you know the name Todd Rundgren? Todd is a longtime recording artist and musician and although you may not recognize his name, you'd recognize at least a half dozen of his songs over the last 40+ years of his career.

I was invited to attend his 60th birthday party at his house on Kauai, along with about 250 others. This was a "birthday party / customer appreciation event" Todd held to say thanks to his longtime fans.

We spent a week there being served meals and attending special events such as a group interview with Todd, an autograph signing, and the week culminated on his birthday with a private concert just for us and some of Todd's friends.

NET RESULT: I've talked with many, many of those who attended this event, and every single one of them has expressed that their loyalty and appreciation of Todd has gone 'through the roof' - each of those attendees have purchased more of Todd's merchandise and attended more concerts as a result.

So, should YOU invite your customers to your house for a week?

Probably not appropriate.

But you SHOULD rent a hotel banquet room and cater a free dinner for your best clients and customers - AND you should get up and speak. Speak about how much you appreciate their business and referrals. Share some information with them that is valuable and provides tangible benefits to them.

Will you spend money? Yes.

Will it be worth it? Yes, Yes, YES!

You will generate tremendous goodwill - your customers and clients will "love you to death" and they'll refer you business like fans of a rock star!

Dedicated to your success in public speaking and seminars,
David

Labels: fear of public speaking, Public Speaking Articles, Public Speaking Tips