Write it out:

The first thing you need to do is write your speech. In most cases, the content of your speech is more critical than your delivery as people will often forgive you for not using a lot of vocal variety, but they won’t forgive you if leave out a critical piece of information. So start with an outline that lists out three to five main points and then fill in the details. I recommend writing out the entire speech if you’re new to public speaking, this will give you an extra bit of confidence and help you remember your speech better.

Should you use PowerPoint?

I only use PowerPoint when I have a lot of visual imagery in my talk. Others prefer to use it all the time because it helps you stay on topic and makes it easier for you to remember the important parts of your speech. If you’re nervous about speaking, then PowerPoint is a great option for these exact reasons, but make sure that room you’ll be speaking in is set up for giving PowerPoint presentations. And also make sure that you practice your presentation on the same equipment you’ll be using for your actual speech.

Practice:

The most important thing you must do before a speech is to practice it. It’s best to practice it in front of a live audience so you can get feedback and practice eye contact. But if you don’t have an audience of friends, family members and/or coworkers to give yourself a test run, then seek out a video camera. When all else fails, set up stuffed animals or pictures and use them for your audience – you can practice your eye contact.

Relax:

Public speaking doesn’t have to be scary. Remember that it’s an honor to get up there and speak to a group so don’t look at it as a chore. Think “I get to do this speech” as opposed to “I have to do this speech.” There are a number of techniques you can use to relax such as listen to music, visualize your success or focusing on the benefits.

So when you’re asked to give a speech, don’t panic. Just take the time to practice and put the effort into making sure your speech is well crafted. There are a number of free articles here on this site to help ensure your next speech is a success. Good luck.

If you need help preparing for a speech I offer both in-person and phone coaching.

Post from: Overnight Sensation

What to Do When You’re Asked to Give a Speech

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There’s another site I wanted to share with you by someone who knows a lot about things that can go wrong during a talk. Lee Potts writes a blog called “Breaking Murphy’s Law” where he shares advice, tips and stories to help presenters avoid making those critical mistakes. I first “met” Lee back when I hosted a blog carnival; he was the first one to submit a post for the first carnival I did. He’s got a lot of great information on his site, so check it out.

Post from: Overnight Sensation

Another Speaking Site to Check Out

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Why Business Cards:

Business cards are small, easy to carry and most people in the business world are used to dealing with them. Some people have Business Card Scanner
that can scan them into their contact management system. Others have a filing system for them.

Also, you can run into someone that can help you with your job search practically anywhere - the train station, the supermarket and even while waiting for service for your car. What sounds better: hunting for a scrap of paper to write your info on (and assuming that the other person can read your writing) or handing out a nice card that has your information clearly printed on it?

Using Cards From a Former Employer:

We’re all tempted to cut costs, especially in these difficult economic times, but this is one thing you want to avoid doing. I’m guilty of doing this because I had a stack of 300 cards from my employer and it was easy for me to simply cross out the business phone number and email and write my personal info on it. How professional did this look? Not very.

Business cards are cheap enough today (you can easily get 200 of them for less than $10) so it’s worth the investment. Although I don’t recommend the print your own type
(the perforations are tricky and the ink sometimes smears – plus they work out to be costly in terms of the paper and printer ink) this is a significantly better choice than using an old card from a former employer.

What to Put on Your Card:

Job seekers often don’t know what to put on their cards for things like title, company address, etc.. Here’s what I recommend:

• Your name: This should be the biggest piece of text on the card. Remember, this is your brand.
• Your email address: This is method of preference for contact. Make sure your email address has your name and not a nickname in it. Also make sure it’s not with your current or a prior employer. If needed, create a new email address through one of the free services out there.
• Your phone number: These days, your cell phone is the best option; otherwise, your home number is fine.
• Your address: This is optional as most people communicate through email these days. If you have a P.O. Box. , this is the best option.
• Your photo: This is also optional but a nice touch. Make sure it’s professional looking – you should be dressed professionally and neatly groomed.
• Your skills: The backside of the card is often left blank, but this is a great place to list out your key skills and qualifications. Consider it a mini-resume.
• Your URL: If you have a blog or website related to your work, definitely include it. Many people also include links to their profiles on social media sites such as LinkedIn. Only do this if your profile has things that you’d want a prospective employer to see.

What to Leave off the Card:

The same basic rule that applies to resumes applies here: personal information not relevant to helping you provide work should be left out. Also, corny quotes and activities and interests should be left out. Listing out prior employers is another no-no.

So these are just a few tips on how you can use business cards to help with your job search. Remember that you want your card to reflect a professional image so put the extra time and effort into it – just as you do with your resume. Happy hunting and good luck with your job search.

Post from: Overnight Sensation

Are Business Cards Needed For a Job Search?

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For the first time in my career as a professional speaker, I wanted to back out. There was simply too much stress in my life at the time and ensuring that the audience received the value they expected (and deserved) from my speech just added to that stress. I started asking more doubting questions such as “Why not stick with Toastmasters?” After all, it’s fun, I get to do speeches and the speeches are quick and easy. And then I enviously thought about some friends that I knew who were sitting at home either watching TV or playing video games.

But then my contact for the event walked in and my focus shifted. He and I started discussing the logistics and last minute details as we walked to the room so I could start setting up. I did my usual setup routine and familiarized myself with the layout and surroundings. Audience members then started arriving so I started chatting with them to learn as much as I could about the group. Some told me that were looking forward to my talk – a crucial confidence builder that also helped shift my focus.

Before I knew it, it was time to take the stage and I was up there giving my talk. And while just an hour prior to that, I was wishing that I was anywhere else, at that moment in time I was where I needed to be. It wasn’t my best talk, but it was a good talk. And as I drove home afterwards, I couldn’t help but smile as I thought to myself “wow, this feeling inside is why I love doing this and why I must continue going down this path.”

Now the moral here is that you need to push yourself and take risks to reach your full potential. Challenging yourself may be scary at times, but you won’t know how far you can go unless you try. It reminds me of when I was an adventurous kid eagerly wanting to explore the woods behind my house. It was a bit scary to go beyond the edge of my parent’s property, but doing so helped me discover such wonderful things such as an old shack, a great fishing hole and numerous wonders of nature. Now much of that land has become a neighborhood with its own school so had I waited until I was an adult, I would have missed those opportunities. So when you’re pushing yourself and you get that nervous and queasy feeling, it’s probably a sign that you’re doing the right thing.

Post from: Overnight Sensation

The Night I Almost Quit

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