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Presentation Skills
When you speak to an audience, how do you present yourself with impact and power? What presentation techniques can you use to grab attention, inform and persuade them?
Read these articles on presentation skills to discover techniques, tips and shortcuts to be a superior presenter.
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Public Speaker: Do Not Think on your Feet (332 words)
Public speakers should not think on their feet. Presenters who try to wing it tend to fail and fail miserably. Trying to deliver a presentation by thinking on your feet is an attempt to wing it. Winging anything is like spinning the roulette wheel and hoping for the best.- Are you clear on the purpose of your presentation? (397 words)
The evening before his presentation, the conference presenter confessed to me that his presentation was boring. He asked for my help to improve his presentation. We chatted over wings and beer while watching the hockey game.
I asked him to clarify the purpose of this presentation. That’s the best place for any presenter to start when designing, reviewing and adapting their presentation. - Extraverts Might be Bad Public Speakers (467 words)
Have you heard a colleague say, “Oh don’t worry about Bob’s presentation. He loves to talk. He’ll do just fine.”?
Extroverts tend to be bad public speakers. They can be trained but they need a lot of help. The biggest obstacle is their attitude. They do not want to be trained. They must first overcome the delusion that they are good. This can be very difficult for extraverts to accept because they crave the attention – and believe they receive attention from the admiring masses. It seldom occurs to the extravert that they might simply be the loudest and perhaps an object of ridicule. - 8 Presentation Flaws that Steal Your Money (576 words)
Why should you care about your presentation skills? Because poor presentations cost you money. Want to close more deals? Improve your presentation skills.
Have you ever wondered why some presentations are so painful to sit through and others can be delightful? Here are some of the presentation flaws that I’ve witnessed at recent industry conferences. - How not to start your speech: 10 Roads to Disaster (708 words)
Preparing a speech can be like sculpting. You keep removing the excess clay until you have your work of art. If you want to start your presentation with a bang instead of a bust avoid these ten mistakes. These tips will show you how not to start your speech. - What do you do when the fire alarm rings during your presentation? (645 words)
I’ve witnessed this disaster happen to two other speakers and this week it was my turn. It’s a lot easier to think logically about it after it is over. It might never happen to you – but perhaps you should be prepared for the fire alarm to ring during your presentation. - Saved By a Cartoon - The Six Blind Men and the Elephant (619 words)
Props provide a powerful way of enhancing presentations. Verbal arguments aren’t enough to convince people of your message. Try using visuals such as charts or cartoons, or physical props such as products or tools. Verbal props come in several forms: quotations from famous people, anecdotes... - Communication Quotations (365 words)
A collection of Communication Quotations compiled by George Torok. - 10 Power Tips for Presentations with Computer Projection (814 words)
If you want to avoid disaster and give your career a boost then apply these ten tips the next time you present with the computer projector. And if you want to do a friend a favour then slide them a copy of these tips before their next presentation. - Handling Questions with Authority (559 words)
At some point in your presentation you will be expected to answer questions from your audience.
Handling their questions with authority can make the difference for you between a successful presentation and a waste of time. This is the opportunity for the audience to test your knowledge on the topic and commitment to your message. - When You have Something Important to Say (406 words)
When you are presenting a report to your management, a proposal to the committee or changes to your staff they are not hanging on your every word. When you get to the key points - you want them to listen, believe and remember. Use these techniques to give your words lasting impact. - 10 Tips on Speaking Impromptu (516 words)
When you first hear the topic smile. This will help you feel good and look confident. - How to write your speech in five minutes (569 words)
You are attending a business or association meeting, when out of the blue, the meeting chair asks you to say a few words. How do you get through this? Follow this sure-fire process to write your speech in five minutes or less. - Establishing Rapport with Your Audience (374 words)
How do you connect with your audience? Ten sure fire techniques you can use. - Opening Your Speech (756 words)
The mission of your opening is to 1. Grab their interest; 2. Establish rapport; 3. Introduce your topic. Here are 10 techniques you can use to launch your successful speech. - 10 Tips on Using "Quotations" (274 words)
When you use a quotation in your speech or presentation you piggyback on the wisdom and rapport of the person who originally stated it. Sprinkle quotations throughout your speech like a master chef with an award-wining recipe. Precise, effective and tantalizing. - 10 Tips on Using Microphones (180 words)
When you need a microphone - don't fear it. Use it like a master. - 10 Dynamite Tips on Presenting with the Overhead Projector (664 words)
It's medium tech but it still works. Use these tips when you might need to present with an overhead projector. - Practical Speaking Tips (439 words)
Before you give a speech, deliver a sales presentation or make phone calls - drink one to two glasses of water. It lubricates your vocal chords, helps your voice and gives you needed fluids that you lose while speaking. - Powerful Speaking Tips (432 words)
Don't speak at the audience - instead speak directly to each individual in the audience by making eye contact with each one in the audience. Deliver a few words as you look at the person - then move your glance to another. Too long a glance is intrusive - too short can appear shifty-eyed. - Positive Speaking Tips (457 words)
Practise saying nothing. No, not gibberish - nothing, as in silence. It is powerful. Pause before you start, pause after you said something important and pause when you are done. - Power of the Pause (312 words)
When you don't know what to do, what should you do? Pause and smile.
Read more articles on presentation skills and public speaking by George Torok - the Speech Coach for Executives
George Torok helps business leaders deliver million dollar presentations. Arrange individual presentation coaching or group training now. Call 905-335-1997 or email george@torok.com
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