The challenge was to take a scientific topic and to make it interesting. Too often public speaking introductions are written for the eye and not the ear. What reads well on paper may not sound conversational when spoken.

We rewrote the introduction by talking directly to the audience and asking them rhetorical questions. This one technique released the director’s passion and she became a lot more animated. These questions primed the pump for the scientific facts that would follow. This lead to a smooth transition to turn the floor over to the guest speaker.

The introducer has an important job of setting the tone, creating interest and anticipation to build a receptive audience. In a sense, the introducer or host is the public speaker’s warm-up act. Deliver a dry introduction and the speaker has to work twice as hard to gain interest. After all, if the introduction is boring, how exciting can the speech be?

A few years ago, I spoke at a women’s breakfast meeting. It was 7:30 in the morning. The audience needed a dynamic public speaker along with their morning coffee. Instead, they heard a speaker introduction that was soft, stumbling, and dispassionate.   The energy dissipated from the room like a deflating balloon. I could feel my enthusiasm wane. Could she have been any less passionate?  It made me think about bringing my own introducer the next time. As I approached the podium I knew I had to pump it up.

Here’s what I’ve learned. To give a knockout introduction, follow these tips:

1. Write out your own  introduction. Never rely on somebody else.
2. Don’t hand them your biography – a speaker introduction serves a different purpose.
3. Grab their attention from the opening line.
4. Speak to the person who will introduce you prior to the presentation. Let them know what’s important to you.
5. Highlight or capitalize words you want to emphasize.
6. Build in humor and make sure it’s delivered well.
7. Double or triple space the introduction.
8. Use upper and lower case letters and a larger font, preferably 16 points, to make it easier to read.
9. Make notations – write in the word “pause” where you want them to pause.
10. Arrive early and have the host run through the introduction.
11. Keep it short-a minute or less.
12. Include your credentials and something of a personal nature to capture interest.

Sometimes I cue the audience.  In one of my introductions, the host asks three questions that require the audience to say, “yes!”  To get the excitement going, I nod and answer with the audience. By the third question, they are responding loudly and enthusiastically. Now the energy is high and the audience is excited as I walk on.

A poor public speaking introduction can create a downward spiral.  A good introduction, like a movie trailer, can entice the audience and build the speaker’s momentum.

Email me if you’d like a copy of my introduction.

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Why? Because I see a change in the market. Youtube.com is the number two search engine after google.  Video creates that personal touch and ups the trust factor in presentation marketing.  Well, now it seems that interviewers are catching on.  Is the resume becoming passe? Probably not. But a video presentation can sell you better than any piece of paper. An expert can write a professional resume but nobody can speak for you. Speakmarketing is one of the most powerful ways to promote a business and create visibility inside the workplace. So it makes sense that video presentation would be the next wave in job interviews.  Now more than ever before, everybody must have good presentation skills. Speaking is the new competitive weapon.

Read this WSJ article about the impact of digital media.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203750404577173031991814896.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

It’s always amazed me how many award winning actors are inadequate when speaking in public.

I first realized this years ago when I was a stand up trainer. A former actor came through our presentation skills seminar. To my surprise, he wasn’t that good even though he had all that stage training. Why are acceptance speeches so bad? Why aren’t more famous actors better public speakers?

In my opinion it comes down to three things:

1. Lack of preparation. When you are searching for words and start your acceptance speech with non-words and hesitations, it means you’re probably unprepared.  Even if you think you don’t have a chance of winning, you need to prepare for the unexpected. At the very least, prepare your opening line and list a few people to thank.

2. Uncomfortable in their own skin. It sounds strange but many actors are great performers because they are portraying somebody else. When they return to their bodies again, they’re ill at ease. This is true of other public speakers as well. The “slick” public speakers seem polished because they’re using all the right platform skills. But they don’t connect with the audience because they’re not authentic. Public speaking is not just about the words or energy. It’s about the relationship with the audience.

3. Ego. Actors aren’t the only people with big egos. Some presenters seize the day when they know they have the floor. These speakers feel they have a captive audience and the group is going to listen to every pearl of wisdom-whether they like it or not. You see this happen at the academy awards when the music starts to play and the actor continues speaking. Respect time limits. Other presenters deserve equal time in the spotlight and the audience shouldn’t have to be bored.

While these public speaking faux pas are not unique to actors we do expect a higher standard of performance from them.  Is it just me? If you’re an actor or performer maybe you can explain it to me. It ‘s time for actors to take awards seriously and work with a speech coach before they accept their statue.

I recalled a professional speaker who spoke before an audience that was not responding. No matter what he did he couldn’t get a reaction. They just sat there with blank faces. Finally, he played his last card and said with exasperation, “What’s going on? Did somebody die?” Their faces paled.  It turned out that there had indeed been a death in the company. At that point the speaker called a break. He was embarrassed by his own insensitivity.

With that speaking example burned in my brain, I wanted to show respect for the girls and to engage them.  So  I decided to acknowledge the situation. We began the class with a moment of silence. Then I switched gears and asked them each to stand, say their name and share a personal memory of the principal. One student mentioned a favorite expression the principal always uttered; another remembered her interview when she was in a Pre-K class.

The exercise worked! By incorporating the sad event, they were able to express their feelings while being guided to give a presentation. This gave them permission to participate and soon they were laughing and fully engaged.

The lesson for public speakers is this: When you sense audience resistance, don’t sweep it under the rug. Name the elephant in the room. And then readjust your agenda. Public speaking is not about blasting out information. A public speaker is a leader.  Go off message and allow the audience to take you where they need to be. Eventually, you’ll lead them back to your desired destination.

I called and spoke to an outgoing and knowledgeable telemarketer. He answered my questions. He showed me the site online with an example of a customer’s site. The price wasn’t out of reach.  All I had to do was give my credit card over the phone and I would be assigned a representative who would get me started. The offer sounded exciting and something that would help me grow my business. He asked for my credit card and I said no.

And there was one major reason I didn’t do it. One little five letter word stopped me cold. That word is TRUST. I didn’t know the person on the other end and couldn’t be sure if this was a legitimate company or a telephone scam. If there had been a television or radio infomercial with an 800 number there would’ve been a little more legitimacy. But an unsolicited call will always raise doubts no matter how well the caller speaks or how polished the presentation.

In today’s market, trust is at an all time low. Audiences have a prove-it-to-me attitude. Not only are they slow to part with their money; the lack of trust is a symptom of fear. Speaking continues to be the new competitive weapon. But use it wisely. Build a relationship with your audience. Develop a know-like-trust process through social media, articles, blogging,  youtube, and third party endorsements.  So that when you call or even speak before a live audience there will be a spark of recognition and the beginning of trust.

The top public speakers and presenters know the secret to communication success is setting the right goals. Whether you’re speaking to the media, presenting to the board, or leaving a voicemail, good presentation skills start with a goal.

In this video you’ll learn the two types of goals and how to choose the goal that will let you succeed.

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In keeping with my philosophy, (if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em), we decided to make a three minute video. That’s right! Showing a video would get his attention. My client would speak into the video camera as if she were speaking directly to her boss. She would talk about her credentials and her accomplishments and then add a couple of quick video testimonials from her biggest supporters in the company.  Thinking creatively would get his attention,   position herself as an innovative, outside -the box -thinker, and certainly make her more memorable than any of her colleagues.

Last month, I wrote about Public Speaking: When Science Meets Art, which is a great example of using creativity when presenting. In 2012 the stakes will be higher.  Greater creativity and innovation will be needed for communicators and public speakers to get noticed, stand out, and be heard. And video marketing will play an important role.

First we had to hear the commentary each time Hillary had a new hairstyle. While this may be appropriate for a First Lady, when a woman is running for political office she ought to be taken more seriously. How often do we critique a male candidate’s hair? (Donald Trump doesn’t count).

During the Republican debates, Michele Bachmann was accused of not knowing her facts – even when she did. In one debate, she bested Newt Gingrich regarding his involvement in Fannie Mae, yet the media did not make much of her win.

The most recent sexist remark was by John McLaughlin of the McLaughlin Group when he said we have a “Gal Candidate”.  A GAL?  A friend asked me if I would find it offensive if his 87 year old father referred to a woman as a gal. I replied, “No. He’s a product of his times. But a journalist and moderator knows better. He’s on national TV and is subject to professional standards.  He didn’t refer to ‘guy candidates’”.

Language is a mirror into how one thinks. It’s difficult to be taken seriously as a woman candidate when you’re called a “gal”. It’s amazing that this kind of double standard is going on in the U.S., when other countries have elected a woman president or prime minister.

As a public speaker and debater, Michele Bachmann has handled  herself well by sticking to the facts and not showing a lot of emotion.  Will gender always be a factor?  Is it possible to evaluate the candidates on their merits, without considering gender?  Or will it always color our perceptions?

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The reason many presentations are boring is because the speakers lack passion. The give me the excuse that their topic is technical. Well, I’m here to say that public speaking is both a science and an art and when the two intersect it’s magical. Here is a video to show how an otherwise dry presentation can be captivating and engaging when you combine it with art and creativity. Do you think this speaker engaged the audience? Do you know the art and science of speaking? What’s stopping from giving a knockout presentation?

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In 2006 a mother called me. I don’t know how she got my name. She explained that her daughter got nervous standing up and speaking in her 7th grade class. She wanted me to teach her to be confident. Although I coach business leaders to project executive presence, she was so persistent that I caved in. I told her if she could get 10 girls together I would teach a class on the weekend. To my surprise, she rounded up 10 lovely middle school girls from the same class and we had our first meeting in her house.

I discovered that I really enjoyed working with them and it brought back memories of my speech pathology days in the New York City schools. After learning skills of confident public speaking, her daughter gave a reading in her church before 100 people. Another girl, gave the acceptance speech for her grandfather at his legal society dinner of 800 attorneys. She received a standing ovation. It seemed the success of the classroom had spilled over into their every day lives.

And now here I am again, doing my third confident public speaking class for middle school girls. Three daughters in one family have now attended my class to become confident public speakers. The second sister went on to debate on a National level. Her mother told me that the Confidence class in public speaking served as the foundation for her to go on to join the debate team.

In each one hour session, the girls learn the same skills I teach adults in companies, learn to give each other balanced feedback, and watch themselves on videotape. What would happen if young students learned these skills when they were young? There would be fewer bad presentations. They would be better leaders. And maybe more women could chip away at the glass ceiling.

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