Using presentation folders for a more professional look in the business world can do amazing things for a business. Presenting something to a client that looks professional and organized will speak volumns about the buisness before the folder is even opened. Taking advantage of the many options of presentation folders allows almost any business, of any size and budget, to use presetnation folders to take their business to the next level.
The look that presentation folders bring to the table can mean everything to a business and a client. Materials that are presented in a neat, professional manner will grab the attention of the client and give them a sense that the business has their stuff together and really knows what they are doing. It is the first impression made on a client and speaks for the business before anything or anyone else does. What is inside can be truly ground breaking, but if it isn’t presented wisely the client’s attention can be lessened. Overall the look of a presentation folder says the business really cares about their work and wants to put forward a professional image.
Some other great perks of presentation folders is that they can be made to a businesses specifications. Customized with a logo or company name, so the work is immediately recognized. They are also a nice way to put everything together so it is easy to carry and look through. The client will have everything right there without having to flip through handouts or review notes. Most folders also have a place for a busines card, as well for additonal convenience.
Since presentation folders can be customized they are easy to buy in bulk. This cuts down on costs and allows them to be used for a variety of needs, from employee handouts to business meetings. A little custom printing and the folder goes from a office supply to a business tool. Customization can be done to add the business name or logo to the folder, add a title or other information to the cover or even change the binding on the folder. Buying in bulk then customizing as needed cuts down the cost emensely.
Presentation folders are a great business asset. They have many advatages and so many uses that they are a must have for nay buisiness that wants to advance. They are also a cost effective way to get a professional, polished look. Using presentation folders can help a business rise above competitiors and make an image for themselves.
http://bindersinfo.comEverything you need to know about Binders, from Turned Edge Binders to Ring Binders.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Francis
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Effective Listening Equals Effective Leadership: Learn How!
No matter what role you play in your company, becoming a more effective listener will help you get ahead in your position. It means fewer errors, improved accuracy, and enhanced working relationships. And, listening to your customers and referral sources will definitely help you in your marketing efforts. You will solicit better information from other people whether interviewing job candidates, solving work problems, or working to make a sale.
Contrary to what many people think, being an effective listener is not a passive activity. It takes concentration, effort, and active attention. Because our brains work much faster than our ability to speak, we often jump way ahead of the speaker in our minds and miss the opportunity to fully understand a person's feelings, position, and perspective. Environmental distractions or personal biases can also interfere with our ability to understand what a person is saying.
When listening, you are giving a gift of your time and attention to the other person. Work to respond both verbally and non-verbally to the person who is speaking. This lets the speaker know that you are listening and that you understand what he or she is trying to communicate. Here are some ideas to help you hone your listening skills:
1. Don’t Talk. This may seem self-evident. However, many people listen with impatience. They are just waiting for their chance to speak, or worse yet they interrupt. Be courteous and give your listener your full attention. Avoid offering solutions if the speaker is expressing a problem. Just listen.
2. Listen Fully. A good listener looks interested in what the speaker is saying. Your body language speaks volumes. Maintain eye contact, sit still, lean slightly toward the speaker, and nod your head (but not too vigorously or you’ll look like a chicken!).
3. Ask Clarifying Questions. Wait for the speaker to pause, and ask clarifying questions. It’s a good idea to paraphrase what the speaker has said and to ask questions such as, “Did you mean…” or “If I understand correctly, you said…”
4. Provide Feedback. Remain engaged in what the speaker is saying and show this verbally. He or she will appreciate the occasional “I see...” or “Really?” or “I know!”
5. Keep Your Mind Open. The point of listening is to gain new information. Don’t just search for a point that supports your own opinions. Be willing to gain new insights and learn about someone else’s ideas.
6. Be on the Same Level. Make sure you are at eye level with the other person. Avoid having an employee or customer stand in front of your desk. Have comfortable chairs available so that a desk is not a barrier between you.
7. Respect Your Speaker. If the conversation involves criticism from either party or contains personal information, go to a private room for the discussion. Make sure other people can't listen to your discussion. This will help the speaker feel more at ease and demonstrate your respect for what he or she has to say.
8. Pay Attention to Cues. What isn't being said is often as important than what is being said. Body language speaks volumes. Watch the speaker's facial expressions, posture, eyes, gestures, and other nonverbal cues.
9. Avoid Invalidating Language. While you may not agree with what the speaker is saying, avoid defensive statements or phrases that argue with his or her points. Later, you can take time to review what was said and formulate a response. As an active and effective listener, your role is to allow the person the time and space to fully express his or her feelings.
10. Express Appreciation. Thank the listener for sharing his or her thoughts and feelings. It takes courage to speak up. True sharing builds trust and encourages further dialogue.
It takes time and energy to become a better listener. Be patient. As you begin to improve your listening skills, you may be surprised to find people will seek you out to share their thoughts and feelings. You will also find yourself involved in fewer conflicts and be perceived as a more positive and trustworthy person. Attentive listening is a rare skill that people respect and welcome.
ACTION ITEM: This week, concentrate on your listening skills. Do you finish sentences for others? Do you interrupt? Do you sneak looks at your watch? Pay attention to your listening habits and begin to bring conscious attention to improving these skills. Work to show others that you hear and understand them.
Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a free weekly ezine for entrepreneurs, business owners, and freelancers. If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and make more money, sign up for her FREE ezine and marketing report now at
Contrary to what many people think, being an effective listener is not a passive activity. It takes concentration, effort, and active attention. Because our brains work much faster than our ability to speak, we often jump way ahead of the speaker in our minds and miss the opportunity to fully understand a person's feelings, position, and perspective. Environmental distractions or personal biases can also interfere with our ability to understand what a person is saying.
When listening, you are giving a gift of your time and attention to the other person. Work to respond both verbally and non-verbally to the person who is speaking. This lets the speaker know that you are listening and that you understand what he or she is trying to communicate. Here are some ideas to help you hone your listening skills:
1. Don’t Talk. This may seem self-evident. However, many people listen with impatience. They are just waiting for their chance to speak, or worse yet they interrupt. Be courteous and give your listener your full attention. Avoid offering solutions if the speaker is expressing a problem. Just listen.
2. Listen Fully. A good listener looks interested in what the speaker is saying. Your body language speaks volumes. Maintain eye contact, sit still, lean slightly toward the speaker, and nod your head (but not too vigorously or you’ll look like a chicken!).
3. Ask Clarifying Questions. Wait for the speaker to pause, and ask clarifying questions. It’s a good idea to paraphrase what the speaker has said and to ask questions such as, “Did you mean…” or “If I understand correctly, you said…”
4. Provide Feedback. Remain engaged in what the speaker is saying and show this verbally. He or she will appreciate the occasional “I see...” or “Really?” or “I know!”
5. Keep Your Mind Open. The point of listening is to gain new information. Don’t just search for a point that supports your own opinions. Be willing to gain new insights and learn about someone else’s ideas.
6. Be on the Same Level. Make sure you are at eye level with the other person. Avoid having an employee or customer stand in front of your desk. Have comfortable chairs available so that a desk is not a barrier between you.
7. Respect Your Speaker. If the conversation involves criticism from either party or contains personal information, go to a private room for the discussion. Make sure other people can't listen to your discussion. This will help the speaker feel more at ease and demonstrate your respect for what he or she has to say.
8. Pay Attention to Cues. What isn't being said is often as important than what is being said. Body language speaks volumes. Watch the speaker's facial expressions, posture, eyes, gestures, and other nonverbal cues.
9. Avoid Invalidating Language. While you may not agree with what the speaker is saying, avoid defensive statements or phrases that argue with his or her points. Later, you can take time to review what was said and formulate a response. As an active and effective listener, your role is to allow the person the time and space to fully express his or her feelings.
10. Express Appreciation. Thank the listener for sharing his or her thoughts and feelings. It takes courage to speak up. True sharing builds trust and encourages further dialogue.
It takes time and energy to become a better listener. Be patient. As you begin to improve your listening skills, you may be surprised to find people will seek you out to share their thoughts and feelings. You will also find yourself involved in fewer conflicts and be perceived as a more positive and trustworthy person. Attentive listening is a rare skill that people respect and welcome.
ACTION ITEM: This week, concentrate on your listening skills. Do you finish sentences for others? Do you interrupt? Do you sneak looks at your watch? Pay attention to your listening habits and begin to bring conscious attention to improving these skills. Work to show others that you hear and understand them.
Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a free weekly ezine for entrepreneurs, business owners, and freelancers. If you're ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and make more money, sign up for her FREE ezine and marketing report now at
How to Develop Great Presentation Skills - 3 Ways to Get Over Presentation Jitters
You are five minutes away from making your presentation, when suddenly you realize that your stomach is doing strange things and your mind is rapidly going blank. Are these symptoms common? Yes! Even the greatest stage performer and great speakers in the world feel nervous when they are about to perform or make their speeches.
To make great presentations, you must be able to handle this critical time period. Hence that is why managing presentation jitters key tools to develop when you want to develop great presentation skills.
How do you manage presentation jitters? There is no single answer to this. But you there are three ways which you can work on to alleviate these jitters. You need to anticipate your presentation mentally, physically, and logistically.
MENTALLY:
You must first and foremost be very clear you will spend a lot more time preparing the presentation than you will actually making that presentation. Part of your preparation will be to memorize your opening and closing, usually about three or four sentences each. Even if you cover your key points from notes, knowing your opening and closing by heart lets you start and end fluently, connecting with your audience when you are most nervous. Remember also to grab your audience’s attention right from the start.
LOGISTICALLY:
Go to the room where you will be presenting as early as possible so you can get comfortable in the environment. If possible go a few days in advance. It will be better if you sit through another presentation being held in that room. Going to the room/area a few days in advance is essential as it allows you to visualize your presentation. Visualization is a tool to learn if you want to develop great presentation skills. I teach visualization techniques in my presentation books. Being familiar with your environment is important so the first time there is not when you make your presentation. This enables you then, during your presentation, to concentrate on your audience, not your environment.
PHYSICALLY:
A wonderful preparation technique for small meetings is to go around shaking hands and making eye contact with everybody beforehand. For larger meetings, meet and shake hands with people in the front row at least, and some of the people as they are coming in the door. Connect with them personally, so they will be rooting for your success. Psychologically, we are rarely nervous when talking/presenting to individuals. But faced with the thought of an audience we begin to get jittery. Once you have met the audience or at least some of them, they become less scary.
It is totally natural to be nervous. Try this acting technique. Find a private spot, and wave your hands in the air. Relax your jaw, and shake your head from side to side. Then shake your legs one at a time. Physically shake the tension out of your body.
I hope these techniques will allow you to calm your presentation jitters. Remember everyone, from the novice to the professional presenters, gets jitters before making their presentations. But its how you manage it that is the key to making that great presentation.
The Author of this article is an experienced presenter and a champion story teller. He has immense interest in topics on public speaking, leadership, the art of negotiation, internet marketing strategies, investing and personal success
To make great presentations, you must be able to handle this critical time period. Hence that is why managing presentation jitters key tools to develop when you want to develop great presentation skills.
How do you manage presentation jitters? There is no single answer to this. But you there are three ways which you can work on to alleviate these jitters. You need to anticipate your presentation mentally, physically, and logistically.
MENTALLY:
You must first and foremost be very clear you will spend a lot more time preparing the presentation than you will actually making that presentation. Part of your preparation will be to memorize your opening and closing, usually about three or four sentences each. Even if you cover your key points from notes, knowing your opening and closing by heart lets you start and end fluently, connecting with your audience when you are most nervous. Remember also to grab your audience’s attention right from the start.
LOGISTICALLY:
Go to the room where you will be presenting as early as possible so you can get comfortable in the environment. If possible go a few days in advance. It will be better if you sit through another presentation being held in that room. Going to the room/area a few days in advance is essential as it allows you to visualize your presentation. Visualization is a tool to learn if you want to develop great presentation skills. I teach visualization techniques in my presentation books. Being familiar with your environment is important so the first time there is not when you make your presentation. This enables you then, during your presentation, to concentrate on your audience, not your environment.
PHYSICALLY:
A wonderful preparation technique for small meetings is to go around shaking hands and making eye contact with everybody beforehand. For larger meetings, meet and shake hands with people in the front row at least, and some of the people as they are coming in the door. Connect with them personally, so they will be rooting for your success. Psychologically, we are rarely nervous when talking/presenting to individuals. But faced with the thought of an audience we begin to get jittery. Once you have met the audience or at least some of them, they become less scary.
It is totally natural to be nervous. Try this acting technique. Find a private spot, and wave your hands in the air. Relax your jaw, and shake your head from side to side. Then shake your legs one at a time. Physically shake the tension out of your body.
I hope these techniques will allow you to calm your presentation jitters. Remember everyone, from the novice to the professional presenters, gets jitters before making their presentations. But its how you manage it that is the key to making that great presentation.
The Author of this article is an experienced presenter and a champion story teller. He has immense interest in topics on public speaking, leadership, the art of negotiation, internet marketing strategies, investing and personal success
Saturday, May 12, 2007
How to Give a Dynamic Presentation
Would you like to experience the benefits of being a good speaker? Speaking before groups offers a tremendous opportunity for personal and professional development. Never before have excellent communication skills been more important than they are today.
This article contains fifteen elements for making a successful presentation. Use these ideas, and you will speak with greater self confidence and ease before a group of any size.
1. BUILD RAPPORT AND TRUST.
Talk with-not at --your audience. Establish some common ground. Communicate with sincerity and warmth, and make eye contact.
In speaking to a large group of secretaries, I established rapport quickly by telling them about my mother's success as a secretary and how much I admired her. I gave them examples of why competent secretaries are the backbone of my successful organization.
2. DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE OPENING.
Grab your audience's attention from the start. Use a dramatic or startling statement, a human interest or personal story, a question, an anecdote or illustration, a relevant quote-or a humorous opening, if appropriate. I recently heard a speaker open with, "I wrote that great introduction you just heard. It gives me something to shoot for when I speak."
3. DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE ENDING
Close with a bang. Use a relevant quote, a poem, or an appeal for action. Give your audience a sincere compliment, a powerful story, or a summary of your main points. Make sure your closing---whatever it is---is relevant to your topic. Also, your entire speech and the ending should be tailored to your audience.
4. REDUCE NERVOUSNESS.
According to the book of lists, public speaking is the number one fear, greater even than the fear of death.
Before presenting: Thoroughly prepare and rehearse before your speaking engagement. When you are about to begin, take several deep breaths. Visualize yourself giving a relaxed presentation.
During the presentation: Focus on your message and your audience, not on yourself. Give yourself opportunities for physical movement. Don't try to be perfect. Make nervousness work for you. Channel your nervousness into enthusiasm; let your adrenalin take over. Butterflies in your stomach? Let them soar, taking you with them.
5. MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION COME ALIVE.
Talk to the audience in terms of their interests, problems, and concerns. Communicate with vitality and conviction. Talk to, and make eye contact with individual members of the audience. Change the pace with vocal variety and humor, using pauses to emphasize points. Use inspiring human interest stories, making only a few points and supporting them with examples, illustrations, anecdotes, and analogies. Use natural gestures; physically move from time to time instead of remaining behind a podium.
6. USE VOCAL VARIETY.
Variety speed, volume, and pitch. To emphasize points, speed up or slow down, speak more softly or loudly, and allow your voice to rise and fall. Speak conversationally to an audience, but with greater force and energy. Appropriate vocal variety and gestures will naturally occur.
7. VISUAL AIDS, HANDOUTS, OTHER AIDS:
Use visual aids only when needed to clarify a point or idea. Don't show a visual aid to the audience until you are ready to use it. Use visual media as an aid, not as crutch or a substitute. Visual aids should be large, clear, legible, and brief. Avoid talking toward your visual aid or turning your back to the audience. You might provide a brief outline of your objectives, the topics to be covered, and information about yourself. Then supply handouts that reinforce your points. Distribute most handouts at the end of your presentation so that participants maintain eye contact and keep their attention on you during the presentation.
8. TRY USING HUMOR.
You don't have to be funny. But humor can be effective in changing the pace, relaxing the audience, building rapport, and supporting your points. If you are uncomfortable using humor, avoid it-or practice it on your friends and family until you become more comfortable with it.
If you use humor, keep it brief, relevant to the topic, and appropriate for the occasion. Do not tell off-color jokes or racial, ethnic, or religious jokes. Don't say, "I'm going to tell you a joke"-just do it. Allow your audience to laugh before you continue speaking. Have a comeback if your attempt at humor fails.
Never use humor at the expense of another. However, poking fun at yourself can let your audience know you don't feel superior or have an egotistical attitude. I often tell my audience the following story: A woman and her little boy came up to me after what I thought was one of my most inspiring speeches. The woman gushed, "That was a wonderful talk, and I am so full with your message!" Smiling with delight, I asked her little boy, "And how did you like it, son?" He replied, "Yeah, I got a bellyful of it, too!"
9. INVOLVE YOUR AUDIENCE.
Use stories and examples that relate to audience concerns. Keep your presentation lively, allowing time for questions. Ask if there are questions, and hold the silence a few moments. If no one responds, say, "If there are no questions, let me mention a question I am often asked"-and then answer it. You might also ask questions and request a show of hands.
10. APPEAL TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND PERSONALITY TYPES.
People think and learn in different ways. Some are more logical; some, more intuitive. Broaden audience response by varying your techniques. Use some human interest stories, appeal to logic, present general themes ("the big picture") and appeal to the senses, providing concrete examples. The success of an engineer often depends upon his or her objective analysis of a problem. If you're speaking to a group of engineers, appeal to their logical thought processes. Present a problem and a logical solution for it, perhaps using a graph based on statistical data. This is not to say that human interest stories or appeals to the emotions are lost on engineers. But they are most likely to be persuaded by logic.
11. MANAGE THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS.
Being physically close to your audience increases your ability to build rapport. If the audience is scattered, it is more difficult to lead them as one unit. Bring them together, removing large numbers of empty seats. They will be less self-conscious if they are sitting close together. Arrange seats so the audience can easily see you.
12. DEAL WITH DISRUPTIONS.
If you encounter disruptive persons, keep control of your emotions. Do not show irritation. Wait until they finish talking; then use active/reflective listening. Lower your voice; don't try to shout them down. Sometimes humor can reduce the tension. If they continue to be disruptive and it is appropriate, ask them to leave or to meet with you later to discuss their concerns.
13. BE A LEADER.
Your audience expects you to create the atmosphere, set the tone, assume a leadership role, and be in control. They want to be treated with respect. Arrive early to make sure everything is properly set up and ready. Be yourself, allowing your unique personality to shine.
Remember, you are there to make something happen, to move your audience in some way. It is up to you to inspire them.
14. KNOW YOUR GOAL.
Every speech has at least one of four goals: to inform or explain, to persuade, to inspire action, or to entertain. Know the goal of your presentation, and keep it in mind as you thoroughly prepare. Lack of preparation reflects indifference and insults your audience. Careful preparation is the only way to achieve the results you want. Use simple and clear language that communicates your ideas in a manner suited to your goal.
15. EXHIBIT VITALITY.
When Dr. Kenneth McFarlin, an outstanding professional speaker, was asked what is the most important quality of a speaker, he responded: "vitality." Vitality includes enthusiasm, energy, forcefulness, and aliveness. It comes from a depth of conviction-a deep belief in yourself and in what you are saying.
CONCLUSION You will be amazed at the positive influence you will have on others by becoming a good speaker. Public speaking will enrich both your life and the lives of others.
Take advantage of opportunities to speak to audiences no matter how small. Remember the words of Demosthenes, one of the world's greatest orators, who said, "Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises."
This article contains fifteen elements for making a successful presentation. Use these ideas, and you will speak with greater self confidence and ease before a group of any size.
1. BUILD RAPPORT AND TRUST.
Talk with-not at --your audience. Establish some common ground. Communicate with sincerity and warmth, and make eye contact.
In speaking to a large group of secretaries, I established rapport quickly by telling them about my mother's success as a secretary and how much I admired her. I gave them examples of why competent secretaries are the backbone of my successful organization.
2. DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE OPENING.
Grab your audience's attention from the start. Use a dramatic or startling statement, a human interest or personal story, a question, an anecdote or illustration, a relevant quote-or a humorous opening, if appropriate. I recently heard a speaker open with, "I wrote that great introduction you just heard. It gives me something to shoot for when I speak."
3. DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE ENDING
Close with a bang. Use a relevant quote, a poem, or an appeal for action. Give your audience a sincere compliment, a powerful story, or a summary of your main points. Make sure your closing---whatever it is---is relevant to your topic. Also, your entire speech and the ending should be tailored to your audience.
4. REDUCE NERVOUSNESS.
According to the book of lists, public speaking is the number one fear, greater even than the fear of death.
Before presenting: Thoroughly prepare and rehearse before your speaking engagement. When you are about to begin, take several deep breaths. Visualize yourself giving a relaxed presentation.
During the presentation: Focus on your message and your audience, not on yourself. Give yourself opportunities for physical movement. Don't try to be perfect. Make nervousness work for you. Channel your nervousness into enthusiasm; let your adrenalin take over. Butterflies in your stomach? Let them soar, taking you with them.
5. MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION COME ALIVE.
Talk to the audience in terms of their interests, problems, and concerns. Communicate with vitality and conviction. Talk to, and make eye contact with individual members of the audience. Change the pace with vocal variety and humor, using pauses to emphasize points. Use inspiring human interest stories, making only a few points and supporting them with examples, illustrations, anecdotes, and analogies. Use natural gestures; physically move from time to time instead of remaining behind a podium.
6. USE VOCAL VARIETY.
Variety speed, volume, and pitch. To emphasize points, speed up or slow down, speak more softly or loudly, and allow your voice to rise and fall. Speak conversationally to an audience, but with greater force and energy. Appropriate vocal variety and gestures will naturally occur.
7. VISUAL AIDS, HANDOUTS, OTHER AIDS:
Use visual aids only when needed to clarify a point or idea. Don't show a visual aid to the audience until you are ready to use it. Use visual media as an aid, not as crutch or a substitute. Visual aids should be large, clear, legible, and brief. Avoid talking toward your visual aid or turning your back to the audience. You might provide a brief outline of your objectives, the topics to be covered, and information about yourself. Then supply handouts that reinforce your points. Distribute most handouts at the end of your presentation so that participants maintain eye contact and keep their attention on you during the presentation.
8. TRY USING HUMOR.
You don't have to be funny. But humor can be effective in changing the pace, relaxing the audience, building rapport, and supporting your points. If you are uncomfortable using humor, avoid it-or practice it on your friends and family until you become more comfortable with it.
If you use humor, keep it brief, relevant to the topic, and appropriate for the occasion. Do not tell off-color jokes or racial, ethnic, or religious jokes. Don't say, "I'm going to tell you a joke"-just do it. Allow your audience to laugh before you continue speaking. Have a comeback if your attempt at humor fails.
Never use humor at the expense of another. However, poking fun at yourself can let your audience know you don't feel superior or have an egotistical attitude. I often tell my audience the following story: A woman and her little boy came up to me after what I thought was one of my most inspiring speeches. The woman gushed, "That was a wonderful talk, and I am so full with your message!" Smiling with delight, I asked her little boy, "And how did you like it, son?" He replied, "Yeah, I got a bellyful of it, too!"
9. INVOLVE YOUR AUDIENCE.
Use stories and examples that relate to audience concerns. Keep your presentation lively, allowing time for questions. Ask if there are questions, and hold the silence a few moments. If no one responds, say, "If there are no questions, let me mention a question I am often asked"-and then answer it. You might also ask questions and request a show of hands.
10. APPEAL TO DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES AND PERSONALITY TYPES.
People think and learn in different ways. Some are more logical; some, more intuitive. Broaden audience response by varying your techniques. Use some human interest stories, appeal to logic, present general themes ("the big picture") and appeal to the senses, providing concrete examples. The success of an engineer often depends upon his or her objective analysis of a problem. If you're speaking to a group of engineers, appeal to their logical thought processes. Present a problem and a logical solution for it, perhaps using a graph based on statistical data. This is not to say that human interest stories or appeals to the emotions are lost on engineers. But they are most likely to be persuaded by logic.
11. MANAGE THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS.
Being physically close to your audience increases your ability to build rapport. If the audience is scattered, it is more difficult to lead them as one unit. Bring them together, removing large numbers of empty seats. They will be less self-conscious if they are sitting close together. Arrange seats so the audience can easily see you.
12. DEAL WITH DISRUPTIONS.
If you encounter disruptive persons, keep control of your emotions. Do not show irritation. Wait until they finish talking; then use active/reflective listening. Lower your voice; don't try to shout them down. Sometimes humor can reduce the tension. If they continue to be disruptive and it is appropriate, ask them to leave or to meet with you later to discuss their concerns.
13. BE A LEADER.
Your audience expects you to create the atmosphere, set the tone, assume a leadership role, and be in control. They want to be treated with respect. Arrive early to make sure everything is properly set up and ready. Be yourself, allowing your unique personality to shine.
Remember, you are there to make something happen, to move your audience in some way. It is up to you to inspire them.
14. KNOW YOUR GOAL.
Every speech has at least one of four goals: to inform or explain, to persuade, to inspire action, or to entertain. Know the goal of your presentation, and keep it in mind as you thoroughly prepare. Lack of preparation reflects indifference and insults your audience. Careful preparation is the only way to achieve the results you want. Use simple and clear language that communicates your ideas in a manner suited to your goal.
15. EXHIBIT VITALITY.
When Dr. Kenneth McFarlin, an outstanding professional speaker, was asked what is the most important quality of a speaker, he responded: "vitality." Vitality includes enthusiasm, energy, forcefulness, and aliveness. It comes from a depth of conviction-a deep belief in yourself and in what you are saying.
CONCLUSION You will be amazed at the positive influence you will have on others by becoming a good speaker. Public speaking will enrich both your life and the lives of others.
Take advantage of opportunities to speak to audiences no matter how small. Remember the words of Demosthenes, one of the world's greatest orators, who said, "Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises."
Friday, April 20, 2007
Public Speaking: Tips for Giving Effective Speech Evaluations
Most of us remember at least one experience from our school days when nervous and tongue-tied, we stood before the rest of the class and attempted to give a book report or speak about a current event.
You may remember being in kindergarten, giving your first speech. SHOW and TELL! And you loved it; you looked forward to it and enjoyed sharing your doll or new race car with the class.
What happened between kindergarten and high school? What changed?
Our self image weakened possibly as a result of criticism by our immature peers. We became self-consciousness and worried about what others thought of us. Out attitude, confidence and beliefs about ourselves changed.
As a kindergartener we thought everyone loved us and wanted us to do well. Guess what? THEY STILL DO! Everyone wants you to succeed!
Why give a speech evaluation?
Most people want to improve their self-esteem and get over being afraid of expressing their true personality. Evaluators have the power to influence, but they should see themselves as the catalyst for positive change. When giving an effective training presentation, interview or public speech anyone can benefit from constructive criticism.
Sometimes a speaker is just too close to the forest to see the trees. Evaluators can offer a new perspective and help us recognize and solve any difficulties that may have been encountered during our presentation.
Here are some tips for giving an effective speech evaluation that will benefit the speaker.
1. Ask for permission to offer some suggestions: Unsolicited advice is rarely wanted or well-accepted. By asking the speaker for permission, you have given the speaker a chance to say no. Do this privately so as not to embarrass or put someone on the spot. Put yourself in the speaker’s place. He or she has spent hours, days or weeks preparing the speech and has just bared his or her soul to an audience of strangers. The speaker may be anxious about what you have to say.
2. Provide helpful feedback: A supportive commentary should reinforce positive speaking behaviors and build self-esteem. Begin by telling the speaker what you liked about the presentation and what he or she did well. Do your best to encourage the speaker to participate again.
3. Be honest but tactful: Never “white wash” a critique or tell the speaker something that isn’t true. Being insincere doesn’t help anyone improve. Does that mean that you should be cruel in your assessment? Absolutely not! Always take into consideration how it might feel to be on the receiving end of your critique. Remind the speaker that you are giving your opinion! It is an opinion and only that. Use words such as:
* I believe * My reaction was * It may be that * I suggest that * What I saw/heard/felt/noticed
If the speaker you are evaluating continuously paced back and forth during the speech and you thought it was annoying, find a tactful and encouraging way to suggest it. Here is an example:
“John, I feel that your overall presentation was excellent, but I want to offer my opinion about what could be improved. I noticed that you moved a lot during your speech. It is common for people to pace back and forth when nervous, but I believe you want to appear confident. I suggest that you decrease any activity that is not an intentional part of your gesturing. Your material is so good; I would hate to see it compromised. I’m sure with some practice you can remember to limit any movement that may be distracting for your listeners.”
Make sure to avoid negative words such as:
* You should have
* You failed to
* You didn’t do this correctly
4. Evaluate speaking and delivery skills, not the person’s character or the speech content: The main purpose for giving a critique is to support, help and encourage the speaker. Avoid throwing their speech back at them! If they said something that rubbed your fur the wrong way or challenged your beliefs, just LET IT GO! There is no need to challenge the speaker’s position or re-present their content to your liking. Instead, look for aspects such as organization, use of voice, body language/gestures, props, flow of ideas or use of the presentation space.
The job of the evaluator is to provide the speaker with information that can be used to adjust and fine-tune speaking performance. Keep your comments positive, constructive, and informative, and always end on an upbeat note. Soon, you will have people asking you to give them your critique because they know you have their best interest in mind and will offer them useful suggestions for improvement.
Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. Yvonne uses her public speaking skills through Writers in the Sky, her weekly podcast about the craft and business of writing. Be sure to subscribe to the RSS podcast feed and her free monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing when you visit Writers in the Sky for more information about her writing services, books, writing classes and blog.
You may remember being in kindergarten, giving your first speech. SHOW and TELL! And you loved it; you looked forward to it and enjoyed sharing your doll or new race car with the class.
What happened between kindergarten and high school? What changed?
Our self image weakened possibly as a result of criticism by our immature peers. We became self-consciousness and worried about what others thought of us. Out attitude, confidence and beliefs about ourselves changed.
As a kindergartener we thought everyone loved us and wanted us to do well. Guess what? THEY STILL DO! Everyone wants you to succeed!
Why give a speech evaluation?
Most people want to improve their self-esteem and get over being afraid of expressing their true personality. Evaluators have the power to influence, but they should see themselves as the catalyst for positive change. When giving an effective training presentation, interview or public speech anyone can benefit from constructive criticism.
Sometimes a speaker is just too close to the forest to see the trees. Evaluators can offer a new perspective and help us recognize and solve any difficulties that may have been encountered during our presentation.
Here are some tips for giving an effective speech evaluation that will benefit the speaker.
1. Ask for permission to offer some suggestions: Unsolicited advice is rarely wanted or well-accepted. By asking the speaker for permission, you have given the speaker a chance to say no. Do this privately so as not to embarrass or put someone on the spot. Put yourself in the speaker’s place. He or she has spent hours, days or weeks preparing the speech and has just bared his or her soul to an audience of strangers. The speaker may be anxious about what you have to say.
2. Provide helpful feedback: A supportive commentary should reinforce positive speaking behaviors and build self-esteem. Begin by telling the speaker what you liked about the presentation and what he or she did well. Do your best to encourage the speaker to participate again.
3. Be honest but tactful: Never “white wash” a critique or tell the speaker something that isn’t true. Being insincere doesn’t help anyone improve. Does that mean that you should be cruel in your assessment? Absolutely not! Always take into consideration how it might feel to be on the receiving end of your critique. Remind the speaker that you are giving your opinion! It is an opinion and only that. Use words such as:
* I believe * My reaction was * It may be that * I suggest that * What I saw/heard/felt/noticed
If the speaker you are evaluating continuously paced back and forth during the speech and you thought it was annoying, find a tactful and encouraging way to suggest it. Here is an example:
“John, I feel that your overall presentation was excellent, but I want to offer my opinion about what could be improved. I noticed that you moved a lot during your speech. It is common for people to pace back and forth when nervous, but I believe you want to appear confident. I suggest that you decrease any activity that is not an intentional part of your gesturing. Your material is so good; I would hate to see it compromised. I’m sure with some practice you can remember to limit any movement that may be distracting for your listeners.”
Make sure to avoid negative words such as:
* You should have
* You failed to
* You didn’t do this correctly
4. Evaluate speaking and delivery skills, not the person’s character or the speech content: The main purpose for giving a critique is to support, help and encourage the speaker. Avoid throwing their speech back at them! If they said something that rubbed your fur the wrong way or challenged your beliefs, just LET IT GO! There is no need to challenge the speaker’s position or re-present their content to your liking. Instead, look for aspects such as organization, use of voice, body language/gestures, props, flow of ideas or use of the presentation space.
The job of the evaluator is to provide the speaker with information that can be used to adjust and fine-tune speaking performance. Keep your comments positive, constructive, and informative, and always end on an upbeat note. Soon, you will have people asking you to give them your critique because they know you have their best interest in mind and will offer them useful suggestions for improvement.
Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. Yvonne uses her public speaking skills through Writers in the Sky, her weekly podcast about the craft and business of writing. Be sure to subscribe to the RSS podcast feed and her free monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing when you visit Writers in the Sky for more information about her writing services, books, writing classes and blog.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Turning Your Written Speech Into A Successful, Effective Presentation
It is one thing to write a speech. It is, however, a completely different thing to present that speech as a successful presentation. We have all experienced how boring it can be to sit through a presentation where someone simply reads what they have written, whether they are reading from a script or from PowerPoint slides.
It really is difficult to maximise the impact of your presentation if you read it or recite a written piece. Reciting makes it very difficult to sound sincere and it questions your confidence with your subject. It also dampens your personality. Another disadvantage is that if you have a blank you will have difficulty remembering what comes next. It also makes customizing to your audience and the specific event very difficult. So in finding that compromise between spoken and written, you will need to develop a way of remembering your material and presenting it in the best way to create an impact.
As you created the presentation, you chose the main sections and the best order for them. Remember that decision, the logic and power of it and it will be the basic framework of your memory. If there are key words or phrases that are vital you can write them on your notes or highlight them in your visuals.
If you are using notes, try to use paper or card that does not rustle. If you know the size of the podium/lectern, you can choose the size of your notes. If not, you may be able to use A4 sheets on a clipboard. Be aware that your audience may see its back. Prepare the transition of your notes – either the sheets of paper or the visuals.
One of the main reasons that reading from a script is often less than successful is that spoken language is very different from the written. Writing tends to use far longer, more convoluted sentences, which often use voices that we would not use in speech. Try reading out the sentence you just read and see how awkward it sounds when it is spoken.
As always, to connect successfully with an audience, we need to speak to them in their language – the language they expect to hear spoken.
So if you need to write your presentation first, take the time to read it out loud. Then say those same ideas as if you were telling someone face to face. You cannot miss the difference and success lies in a compromise between the two.
If you absolutely have to have a written draft, then re-write using what you said aloud. Make sure, though, that you can make eye contact.
Practice is vital. One of the reasons is that you get a chance to feel the speech. If it feels boring or awkward or out of balance when you say it to yourself, or the cat, or the mirror, then you will need to change it. If you are presenting a written speech, then write in the changes. If you practice, you can also visualise not only yourself and your presentation, but also the audience and their reaction. Visualise how they will react to each thing – each word, each idea, each presentation technique, and you will get a better feel for how to organise your material, the language to use and the presentation techniques to use.
You will also develop the performance energy that you will use at the actual presentation. Energy is vital to presentation success. So you will need to create your material to support your energy, and how you want the speech to feel. If necessary, annotate your notes to give you reminders about the energy, the tricks and performance techniques you will use.
Each time you put these techniques into action, you will hone your compromise – find better ways to make it work. And when you have the best compromise – for you - between reading or reciting a written speech and presenting “off the cuff”, you will have a very effective presentation.
| Bronwyn Ritchie has 20 years' experience speaking to audiences and training in public speaking - from individuals too nervous to say their own names in front of an audience, to community groups and corporate executives. You can get her free tips, articles, resources and quotations for your public speaking and presentations in a fortnightly ezine - subscribe to Pivotal Public |
Why a Good Vocabulary is Essential for Effective Presentations
What made Shakespeare the greatest writer in English literature? His stories were good, for sure - but a lot of them were simply re-workings of historical events or legends. His rhythm and rhyme were good, too - but everyone else was doing the same. What made Shakespeare great, and what can make you great too, was the size of his...
Vocabulary! It is believed that the average person is able to recognise between 10 and 15 thousand words. Shakespeare used 35,000 words in his plays and sonnets, thus making him the ultimate communicator in history.
What are the benefits you can derive from improving your vocabulary?
1 Greater understanding means being better informed. So it's easy to read comic books but a bit more tricky reading "the Times". Want the edge on your colleagues or competitors? You must be at ease with your language, and have a good understanding. it can be embarrassing and even destructive to find yourself in a situation where everyone is using a word that you don't know. Knowledge is power!
2 Add spice to your public speaking. Using the same words over and over gets boring. Having a large vocabulary will always keep your audience keen. Be careful though, using long words just to impress will always have the opposite effect, people will switch off if they think you are being pompous.
3. Get your message across more effectively. Many people believe that the word 'synonym' means 'another word for the same thing'. This is not true. If two words meant exactly the same thing, we wouldn't need them. Synonyms are similar words, but not the same. Having a good range of synonyms can add not only richness to your speech, but also make you communicate more effectively. The nuances that you create in your choice of vocabulary will hit the nail on the head as far as your listeners are concerned. They will go away knowing exactly what the message was, not just some vague idea.
The best way to improve your vocabulary is get a thesaurus and start adding words to your active vocabulary. Using mind maps is great way to organise your ideas: write a word in the middle of blank sheet of paper and use colors and images to build associations. If you've never used mind maps before, now's the time to get started. You can see some examples at my site.
| Jonathan Lewis teaches English as a foreign language in the south of France. He offers lots of practical advice about learning languages on his site. You can also read his insights into the English language at his learning English blog |
Guidelines For The Use Of Visual Aid For Effective Presentation
The main function of any presentation is to communicate effectively and efficiently the information with the audience. In order to make this function effective, the speakers making presentations have to rely on visual aids such as charts, slides, pictures etc. Visual aid is like icing on the cake, which can make your presentation more interesting and interactive.
Following guidelines can help you to make use of visual aid properly, so that you can achieve the purpose of your presentation.
Single type of visual aid is not suitable for all purposes or presentation. You should have flexible attitude towards type of visual aid used for presentation. As there is large range of visual aids available for presentation, you should select the type of visual aid according to the need or purpose of presentation.
Visual aid should be placed in such a way that it can be easily visible to the entire audience, and the speaker while moving or speaking cannot obstruct the view of visual aid.
Visual aids should be used to emphasize the most vital points of the presentation or to convey the key part of the message.
You should explain your slide or chart, if there is any possibility that the audience may not immediately understand it.
The slide should carry only essential information and it should be fitted well into the presentation.
Pointer should be used to draw the attention of audience to the numbers or charts.
Proper emphasis should be given to the visual aid and you should point to your visual aid with bodily actions and with words.
The speaker should look more at the audience than at the visual aid.
The power point slide or visual aid should not be kept on for too long.
Illustrations and graphs make visual aid more appealing. Use pictures, drawings and color on visual aid to make it more exciting, because “A picture is worth a thousand words”. However, illustrations and graphics should support your presentation and it should match the content of your presentation.
The content on a slide should be kept limited with only important points. Avoid too much text on your slide and it should not be crowded with text and graphics.
If you are launching a new product, use the product itself or the replica of the product as visual aid.
Creative writing or business writing software with text enrichment tool can be used for writing the content of your presentation and visual aid. For more information on business writing software for presentations, please visit http://www.truevalue4money.com/businesswriting.html website.
| Author is a freelance writer. For details on softwares to enrich your business writing or creative writing, please visit Business writing software or English writing software website |
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