Speak Schmeak is the blog of public speaking coach Lisa Braithwaite

One idea, one image

2009-07-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm building a PowerPoint for a client who will be speaking at a conference this summer. She asked me in several places to put multiple points on one slide and have them "fly in" as she clicked the remote.

My suggestion to her was to put each point on its own slide with its own image. That way, each individual idea stands out on its own.

Whether you click on each sentence to make it "fly in" or click on each slide to advance it, each idea takes the same amount of time to talk about. So if you think that cramming multiple ideas on one slide saves you time, it really doesn't.

Sometimes people panic at the image-based slide concept with one idea per slide, thinking that there will be far too many slides for their presentation. But when there's only one idea and one image per slide, the slides can flow by as slowly or as quickly as the ideas flow from your mind and mouth.

A 60-slide presentation like this is a lot different than a 60-slide presentation like this.

Don't crash and burn

2009-07-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Another Tour de France analogy (sorry, folks -- if athlete analogies bug you, come back in a couple of weeks when the Tour is over!):

Some teams and riders have been caught off guard by tight curves and hairpin turns, causing crashes or loss of time taking unexpected turns too cautiously. The reason? Not all teams ride or drive the course in advance.

Here are two tweets by George Hincapie about preparing for race days:

"Rode the course two times this morning, then will another time this afternoon before race time. Course is very hard..."

"Heading to check ttt course again. Had a great night sleep..."

Here are two tweets from Levi Leipheimer:

"Rode the course this morning, had lunch, now I'm in my room getting ready 2 go 2 the bus/start & ride the course again, I start at 4:37 CET"

"Rode 4 laps of the TT today, getting to know it is important, deciding on gears to use isn't so easy"

Not only are George, Levi and their teams checking the course once, but they're reviewing it multiple times.

Riders will note how tight the turns are, how bumpy or gravelly the road is, where there might be slippery painted lines on a rainy day. They will note when and where to brake and shift, how steep the ascents and descents are, and where there are flat areas and shade to recover. And they'll look for spots on the course where there are headwinds, tailwinds, or crosswinds. These notes allow them to plan their team and individual tactics and timing, and to be as fully prepared as possible.

Why should you check your venue in advance? To find out:

Where the audience will sit and where you will stand
What equipment is available and where it is, if permanently placed
If the room can be heated or cooled appropriately
If there are street noises, sounds from other rooms, echoes from lack of floor and wall coverings, or noise from air conditioning or fans?
Whether the room is the right size for the number of people attending?
Whether your equipment works with the equipment being provided (computers, projectors, sound systems, etc.)?
Where tables can be placed to put your notes, props, water, products for sale, etc.?
What the lighting is like and where it's focused
If the doors slam or close quietly in case people come in late (you might need to tape the door latches flat)

And more!

Don't crash and burn because you didn't bother to check a new venue thoroughly.

A lesson from George Hincapie

2009-07-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

Professional cyclist George Hincapie writes on Twitter (@ghincapie) today:

"Flatted with 25k to go, came back to group moved to front then crashed with 20k to go. Never been so scared on the bike as I was today."

At 36, Hincapie is a veteran rider of five Olympic Games, 13 Tours de France, dozens of international races, and has several national and world championships to his name.

Yet he still gets scared on the bike.

Sure, today's stage in the Tour de France was rainy and dangerous. Hincapie's injuries in past races include a separated shoulder, fractured wrist and broken ribs. He has good reason to be apprehensive.

But George keeps riding. He keeps getting on the bike and giving it all he's got. He hasn't risen to the position of team captain, won stages and races, and received awards like "Most Aggressive Rider" by letting his fears inhibit him and hold him back.

George faces disappointment regularly as a competitor; two days ago he wrote about being disappointed with his ride -- for about a minute.

No matter how hard, how frightening, how challenging the course, George keeps getting back on the bike.

So you're afraid of getting up in front of an audience. You're afraid of criticism and failure. You're afraid you won't do your best or meet your goals. And sometimes you won't. So what do you do?

How do you face your challenges and disappointments?

The rewards of ending on time

2009-07-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

Something I noticed at PresentationCampLA was that most of the speakers didn't have a system in place to keep track of their time. We regularly had to interrupt sessions and ask them to wrap up so we could move on with our schedule (which started out late as it was!).

I had my trusty timer with me and still managed to go over time by a minute, so imagine how much harder it is to stay on track with no clock or timer!

As a reminder about why it's important to keep to your time, I wanted to share this brief story with you from Rita Risser, The Court Jester.

"I was scheduled to speak last on a main stage panel where we were each supposed to talk for 10 minutes and then take Q&A for 30 minutes. The first two speakers spoke 10 minutes. The third speaker took 50 minutes, despite the fact that the meeting planner came in and told her to wrap it up. The meeting planner left and the speaker finally wrapped up at noon.

She turned it over to me, telling me to go ahead and speak, going over lunch. I smiled, said I knew better than to compete with lunch and that I would be available to anyone who wanted to talk that afternoon, or by phone or email. Results:

Audience laughed and clapped and ran out of the room.
Meeting planner couldn’t thank me enough for not talking.
Meeting planner changed the afternoon schedule and gave me 20 minutes to speak.
Several good contacts called and emailed afterwards.
Meeting planner asked me back the next year — and not the other speaker!"

It doesn't matter if you're the last speaker before lunch or the first speaker before coffee; going over time sets back the schedule, keeps the audience from making other sessions or getting to their next appointment on time, and makes you look inconsiderate at best and completely out of touch at worst.

First of all, practice your presentation so you know how long it takes. If it's long, cut, cull and edit your content so it fits. Keep in mind that audience interaction will take up some time, so make sure you have a cushion built in; practice finishing a little early to be safe.

Then, get yourself a timer, put your watch in front of you where you can see it, do whatever you have to do to end on time.

Audiences appreciate it, meeting planners love it, and you look like a hero!

70 years of history in three minutes

2009-07-06T13:10:00.000-07:00

I watched the movie "The Kingdom" the other day, and while the movie was average, the opening sequence was one of the most captivating I've ever seen.

As a vehicle for information and setting up the backstory of the movie, the sequence, just over three minutes long, was stellar. The compelling and educational montage combined text, music, still photos, and film and audio clips to tell the story of the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia since 1932.

If you think a story can only be told through words, and images are superfluous or "fluff," check this out. And even if you don't think that, check it out! There doesn't seem to be a way to embed this, so please click one of the links below.

Brightcove player

Yahoo player

Let the fireworks begin!

2009-07-03T10:12:00.000-07:00

For those of you celebrating Independence Day this weekend, I hope you have an opportunity to relax, have fun and celebrate the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

And speaking of freedom, I wish you freedom from self-doubt, freedom from fear, freedom from rigid rules, freedom from self-consciousness and freedom to be yourself.

Yes, I'm talking about those things holding you back from enjoying success and confidence as a speaker! Let the fireworks begin!

You're not done yet

2009-07-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

In a previous post, I wrote about resting on your laurels, that thing people do when they feel they've reached the pinnacle of success and decide they no longer have to make an effort.

That post was about Michael Phelps, a phenomenal swimmer who, after breaking several US and world records and winning seven medals at the 2004 Olympics, went on to win all of his events in the Olympic trials and break additional world records. Of course, you all know what happened next.

Here's another Michael who was never content to rest on his laurels. From an interview with Geraldo Rivera in 2005:

Geraldo Rivera: Do you ever look back and contemplate, oh my goodness, Thriller is the biggest selling musical performance ever? Do you ever get your arms around that?

Michael Jackson: I think about it, sometimes. But I try not to think about it too hard. Because I don’t want my subconscious mind to think I’ve done it all. "You’re done now." There's so much. That’s why I don’t put awards or trophies in my house. You won’t find a gold record anywhere in my house. Because it makes you feel accomplished. "Look what I’ve done." But I always want to feel, no I haven’t done it yet.

Keep working, keep striving, keep stretching! Why quit while you're ahead? You can always do more and do it better.

Image: Agence France-Presse/Newseum

Budget cuts kill public speaking classes

2009-07-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

There are certain classes we all took in high school and college that we never would have taken if it were up to us. Many of us struggled through math or science or history or English, but in the long run we've understood why those classes were important, and we've integrated the knowledge and skills into our daily lives and work.

I was reading about a school board budget debate recently and the chairperson of the school board said this:

"I'm not sure we need drama, debate and public speaking."

These were all courses with low enrollment, so the school board was recommending cutting them.

First of all, I'm impressed that this school even offers public speaking. Most students don't get this opportunity until college, if at all.

However, I can understand why the public speaking classes have low enrollment. People are scared of public speaking! Teens are especially insecure in front of their peers and the thought of standing in front of the room and giving a speech is not at all appealing.

And most young people are not looking ahead to how their classes will help them in the future. They're just trying to do whatever they have to do to graduate. If public speaking isn't mandatory, most kids are not going to seek out this class.

If I had my way, public speaking would be mandatory in schools. Because just about every single thing we have to do in our lives involves public speaking. Most people will participate in a job interview (or 50). Most of us will have to speak up in a meeting at some point (or hundreds). Most of us will have to convince, persuade or influence another person one day.

Public speaking is as universally necessary a skill as knowing how to read or multiply. Yet in many cases, public speaking training is seen as a luxury, a frivolous extra.

I suppose most teachers could find a way to include public speaking instruction as part of their classes. And that would be ideal, incorporating it into many different aspects of education in the same way we face public speaking in many aspects of our lives.

Then again, those teachers would all have to know how to teach public speaking, wouldn't they? And from personal experience and long-term memory of monotonous, droning teachers, that's quite a stretch.

If schools started teaching public speaking in the elementary years, we might actually catch kids before they develop self-consciousness and fear of speaking in front of a group.

What do you think about including public speaking in schools? What would be the best way to incorporate it so every student has a chance to learn?

Facing the unknown and surviving

2009-06-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Something I neglected to mention in my roundup of PresentationCampLA is that, from the very beginning, I was apprehensive. An "unconference" that is created on the day by the people who attend? Scary!

I'm a planner, an organizer, and a recovering control freak. I like to be very well-prepared. As you may have noticed, I talk a lot about preparation on this blog.

So how exactly was I going to help pull off this unconference if there was no planning involved? Yes, we got a space, solicited sponsors, scheduled lunch delivery and did PR and marketing. But the event itself was pretty much a blank slate. We had a couple of ideas for how to get started and suggestions we would make to the group for putting it together, but it was going to be up to the group how to proceed.

Just like most people, I have my comfort zones, and a spontaneously erupting unconference didn't feel like a good fit for me.

However, I like to challenge myself to try new things and to get out of my comfort zone, which is why I agreed to help out in the first place. I didn't know if I would enjoy it or if I would be stressed out the whole time, having no control over the outcome.

If you read my post the other day, you know that I had a fabulous time and that PresentationCampLA was one of the most rewarding events I've ever been part of. I allowed myself to feel some discomfort, at the same time just trying to be in the moment. It turned out to be a successful experiment, and it felt surprisingly freeing to let the day unfold according to the group's desires.

Maybe it was because we had such a jovial, open-minded group to begin with (a whole room full of me would have been a disaster, I'm sure), but everyone adapted easily to the lack of a rigid structure and seemed comfortable to create a new kind of experience.

And because everyone else was comfortable, I was comfortable as well!

I try to practice what I preach, and I've asked you before to get out of your comfort zones. I want you to know that I also have to challenge myself sometimes to do the same thing. It's so satisfying to face the unknown and come out the other side feeling like I've achieved personal growth.

How about you?

Interview in Santa Barbara News-Press is up

2009-06-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

I've posted the article from the Santa Barbara News-Press where I was one of the local Twitter users interviewed. They did a great job of formatting it for my website!

Here's my picture from the front page of the Life Section, if you missed it. It was fun to be part of this article and share my love of Twitter!

How to aggravate your audience

2009-06-24T10:12:00.000-07:00

Like the graduation we attended two weeks ago, I was hoping to write about some speeches at our niece's 8th grade promotion ceremony from last week.

Except that we couldn't hear a dang thing. The principal spoke, a school board member spoke, students performed a song (with piped-in music that drowned out whatever voices were audible), the student body president spoke... and only the first few rows of the audience heard anything.

Audience members became more and more agitated, yelling out, "We can't hear you!" and "Louder!" It didn't seem like the officials even understood what was going on. A sound person would periodically run up on stage and fiddle with the sound system, then go back and sit down, but nothing changed.

At one point, a speaker apologized for the "technical difficulties." But the technical difficulties continued. There was even another microphone at the back of the stage that no one bothered to try. The outdoor amphitheater just made the situation worse, as there were no walls or floors for voices to bounce off of. No one tried to project, anyway.

Halfway through the ceremony, we were able to hear a little better, but there was terrible feedback, as the microphone was too close to the speakers. The entire audience began yelling, "Move over!" as they waved their arms to the right. The speaker finally moved to the center of the stage, where the feedback stopped and the audience cheered.

Finally, nearing the end of the ceremony, the sound person came out, turned one of the speakers a quarter turn, and suddenly we could hear everything!

What a disappointment for all those parents who couldn't hear their children singing, speaking or being announced during the promotion.

The worst thing was that, because the audience couldn't hear what was happening onstage, everyone just started talking to each other as though there was no one speaking.

I don't know if they practiced with their sound equipment beforehand, but I'm guessing no. Unfortunately, instead of testing the equipment and waiting until everything was working to begin, they seemed intent on keeping to their schedule and talking anyway, even though no one could hear them. Frustrating.

Presentation revelations from PCamp

2009-06-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

Where do I begin to describe the fabulousness of PresentationCampLA?

The space: airy, open and inviting.

The people: creative, talented, smart, funny.

The presentations: intriguing, entertaining, eye-opening, memorable, brief!

There are definitely improvements that can be made next time, but overall, this was by far the most satisfying, fun, and valuable conference I've ever attended. And I'm not just saying that because I helped organize it (with Cliff Atkinson and Colleen Wainwright)! There were fewer than 40 people, and the contributions from everyone were dense with practical usefulness and relevance. And I've certainly never experienced this much laughter at a conference!

Here's a snippet from Gena Haskett, participant and video guru, taken during our opening introductions where we asked the group what they wanted to learn and what they had to offer:

We enjoyed discussing such topics as incorporating Twitter into presentations (Olivia Mitchell), "Why Bad Presentations Happen to Good Causes" (Andy Goodman), how to get published by a traditional publisher (Cliff Atkinson), how to handle hecklers (Olivia Mitchell), mind mapping (Cliff Allen) how to use video and interviewing (Gena Haskett and Tracy Pattin), using stories, incorporating acting techniques and much more! No presentation was longer than 30 minutes. Perfect.

One of the most fun and energizing parts of the day was Cliff Atkinson's visual improv exercise (if you have his new edition of Beyond Bullet Points, you'll find this exercise on the CD). It's an exercise where participants add to an ongoing story based only on an image on the screen, which changes every 30 seconds. The brilliant conclusion to the activity came from Colleen Wainwright: "The measure of a man is not in the length of his PowerPoint but in the depth of his message." Colleen is obviously an improv queen!

My big revelations of the day:

1) I no longer hate the idea of incorporating Twitter into presentations. I was highly resistant to this idea before hearing Olivia Mitchell and Lynn Langit (from Microsoft) share their experiences and discuss management strategies to using Twitter but not letting it take over the presentation.

By the afternoon, I was asking in sessions, "Is anyone tweeting this link? Post it so we can all find it later under the #pcampla hashtag!"

Most of my audiences are not techie folks and are not yet using Twitter this way in presentations. However, it's an idea that I can now understand much better and would like to experiment with.

2) I CAN get a book written! Well, this I already knew, but I've been paralyzed with indecision, not knowing where to go next after the writing part. I've been considering using certain categories in this blog as a starting point, but feel overwhelmed by my 800 posts.

I learned that simply hiring an editor can solve this problem and get me on the path to publishing. What a huge relief to get this piece of information!

3) Sometimes I just need to sit back, listen and absorb. I am a rabid notetaker. I carry a notepad with me everywhere in case I think of something I need to remember. My memory is definitely not what it used to be, so I always take notes in presentations.

Well, at PCamp, I just sat back and let the experience wash over me. I listened, absorbed, asked questions, made suggestions, did what was needed, and didn't take a single note all day. I did fear that I would forget important aspects of the day and in fact, while processing the conference on the drive home with hubby (who spent the whole day with us taking pictures and video), I really thought I would never remember everything I needed to.

But the next day I started writing down what I wanted to remember, and it -- mostly -- came back. I can't say this is necessarily a good idea for every conference, but I felt that it was in the spirit of the day, creating as we go along, to just be in the moment.

I've been going back through the #pcampla tweets that people contributed throughout the day and finding some great gems there. I recommend checking out these notes if you want a taste of what was shared.

Gena has also posted a brief clip from my presentation on engaging the audience and making presentations fun:

There will be more pictures and more videos to come. We have started something that is certain to continue in southern California for years to come. The camaraderie and learning that happened on Saturday was magical and organic, and I hope we can create this energy time and time again.

See you at the next PresentationCampLA!

PresentationCampLA is this Saturday!

2009-06-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Only three days left till PresentationCampLA!

If you're looking for a fun, unconventional and inexpensive way to learn about public speaking, this is it! Spend the day with other learners and participants creating an "unconference" just the way you want it.

It's a great value at only $10 for a day of public speaking and presentation exploration with some amazing speakers, coaches and authors. Some possible presentation topics include:

“Storyboarding 101”
“Embrace Twitter in Your Presentation”
“How to Get Your Book Published by a Real Publisher”
“Using Toys For Fun and Effective Learning”
and “Kill the People: Using Comedy and Truth to Slay ‘Death by PowerPoint’.”

Will you join us?

More info here...

Sign up here!

Interview in Pomona College Magazine

2009-06-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

I'm honored to have been interviewed for my alma mater's spring 2009 issue! Check out the interview and my brief public speaking tips here. If you went to Pomona College, you'll get a better version in the mail, with a picture and all.

And if you went to Pomona College, say hey!

Stay in the game

2009-06-16T09:14:00.001-07:00

On "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List" last night, Kathy was in Canada to do a show, and she was nervous. She pointed out that she's always nervous before a show, but in fact, she hadn't done any standup in three weeks, and she was more nervous than usual.

Three weeks? A pro like Kathy Griffin gets nervous when she hasn't performed in three weeks?

The only way to stay on top of your game is to stay in the game. The more you speak, the more often you take the opportunity to get in front of an audience, the more you hone your skills.

Just like an athlete, a performer can lose ground when there's no opportunity to practice. You have to stay warmed up, flexible, in the zone.

Take time off, and you might get rusty. You might lose your rhythm.

If you're doing the same presentation every time, taking a break is a nice way to freshen up your "show," resist the temptation to start memorizing, and give your brain a rest.

But don't take too much time off. Stay fresh, but stay in the flow. Try not to go too long between speaking engagements. The more you speak, the more you learn and the more you grow!

You're always selling something

2009-06-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

I read this comment, submitted by a teacher, on a public speaking article today:

"I understand the importance of not being boring, but I am not selling anything, and most of the tips in this article on public speaking seem aimed at holding an audience captive so you can sell them something."

Guess what: We're all selling something.

Do you work for a nonprofit, giving presentations about homelessness, domestic violence, the value of arts education or how to prevent childhood obesity?

Are you a teacher, persuading your students of the value to their lives of American history, English, chemistry, French or Life Skills (formerly known as sex ed)?

Do you sit in long meetings with your colleagues, discussing policy changes, event planning, equipment failure, financial spreadsheets or overtime?

Any time you're persuading someone to come around to your way of thinking, that's selling. Any time you're trying to get someone to take up your cause, that's selling. Any time you're attempting to change attitudes and behaviors, that's selling.

The action of selling may literally involve someone giving money for a product or service (although I would argue that that's "buying"), but in order to get to that point, you have to build a relationship with that customer. You have to build trust and respect with that customer. If these things don't happen, the customer isn't going to hand over the cash.

It's the same way with speaking. In order to get someone to do what you want, you could just yell at them, give orders and be demanding. But that doesn't work for most of us.

To get people to buy into your idea or your cause, you must be persuasive. You must:

1. Make a connection

2. Give facts that support your emotional argument

3. Know the audience so you can understand what appeals to and moves them

4. Give them the information that allows them to decide for themselves.

"Selling" is not a bad word. Sell an idea, sell a product, sell yourself. It's all about persuasion and relationship building, not bad things at all.

If you think you're not selling, you're wrong. And if you're not selling, you might be doing something wrong!

"No me gusta mortarboards"

2009-06-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Thus began the speech of the seniors' chosen speaker at the high school graduation we attended yesterday.

"Señor Aguas," as this beloved teacher is known, has been teaching Spanish at the school for decades; he was my sister-in-law's Spanish teacher when she was a student there.

With his statement about mortarboards, Señor Aguas removed his and replaced it with a giant sombrero. He greeted the graduates and audience in Spanish for the first few moments of his speech.

He then went on to give one of the most fun, memorable and entertaining speeches I've ever heard, especially at a high school graduation, and here are some reasons his speech was so effective.

1. Props

Señor Aguas changed hats three times to illustrate different themes in his talk. He even brought out his leather "man bag" and pulled out additional props: a Coke can, cookie wrappers, and a Dr. Seuss book, which he proceeded to read from. These props created anticipation: What does it mean, and what will he do next?

2. Stories and humor

Each prop illustrated a story, and his stories revealed his experiences as a coach and teacher over his 30-year career. In the course of his stories, he used humorous transitions to mention various students and other teachers by name, which brought a cheer from the students each time. Every point he made had a story attached, and just about every story had a person or two attached.

How could the audience not be entertained and engaged when they were the stars of the speech?

3. Knowing the audience

Beside the fact that the stadium was full of parents, relatives and friends, Señor Aguas knew that his primary audience was the graduates, and he clearly had a goal of making his talk fun and meaningful for them.

At one point, he talked about how difficult it is to learn a foreign language, and gave his own example of having to learn blogging, tweeting, teen speak and texting. He then delivered the next part of his speech in a combination of all of these "languages," complete with OMG, l8r (spelled out), "tight", "sick," "chill," and "shizzle."

It was an example of knowing what would entertain his students, but knowing that the rest of the audience would also get it.

(In contrast, the valedictorian -- winner of many speech contests -- seemed intent only on demonstrating how smart he was; when he mentioned the senior class's "jocularity," I wondered if he wrote his speech with a thesaurus open in front of him).

Señor Aguas is used to being in front of an audience, having been a teacher for so many years. But he was not overly rehearsed, slick, or flawless.

He was human, approachable, friendly, funny, warm, silly and sincere. He expressed his passion for teaching, his pride in the success of the senior class, and his love for his students and fellow teachers. And he did it with humor and humility, making his audience the focus of his talk, making them the star of the show.

Easy to see why Señor Aguas was chosen to speak for this class -- and probably many others before them!

Are you a greedy speaker?

2009-06-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

If you're an entrepreneur, do you go out and speak in your community because you want to build your business? Of course you do! It's one of the best (and least expensive) ways to get the word out about your product or service.

But be careful... If your only goal is to get clients and make money, you might not be as successful as you would like to be.

Public speaking is a service. Your audience wants to know what's in it for them; that is, what is it about your product or service that will benefit them? You provide education, information, and entertainment to your audience. In return, they might tell their friends about you, interview you for the local paper, ask you to speak at another event, sign up for your mailing list, suggest possible partnerships, and -- oh yeah -- they might buy what you're selling.

Think of your speaking engagement as a networking opportunity. Instead of focusing on what you can get, think about what you can give. Realize that "success" might look completely different from what you're imagining. Realize that "results" might come two years down the line.

Results and success will come. Don't try to force it, rush it, or grab it. Don't think of your audience as a meal ticket and expect them to start throwing money at you.

Be a giver; make your presentation a gift to the audience. Think about their needs and desires first, and you will be rewarded, in one way or another.

Vote for Speak Schmeak in Best Coaching Blogs contest

2009-06-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy this blog, please show your love by voting for me in the Best Coaching Blogs 2009 contest! And if you leave a comment, it helps my "scoring," too.

Thanks, y'all!

Play big

2009-06-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

I met with two clients this week who are both dealing with the same problem: playing small.

Both clients are used to "talking with their hands" in regular conversation, but when they give a presentation, their gestures become restrained and tight. They both have strong voices, but when they speak, their voices become whispery and weak.

To put it plainly, they're holding back. Restricting their movements, pulling back their voices, and making themselves "smaller than life."

The problem is, when presenting, it's usually necessary to be a little larger than life, depending on the size of the room and the number of people. In order to be seen and heard, it's necessary to be a little bigger than you usually are, or risk being visually uninteresting and invisible to the audience.

Making yourself small can also make you seem tentative and lacking in confidence -- and therefore less persuasive and effective in presenting your message.

Even when using a microphone, you still need to project your voice; the microphone makes you louder, but if you're whispering or mumbling, it's only going to magnify your whispering or mumbling.

Practicing "larger than life" can feel awkward, especially when you're in front of a video camera, or talking to the mirror. But it's crucial that, when you practice your presentation, you practice it as though you're speaking in front of the people you'll really be presenting to, in order to get used to being free and open with your voice and body.

If your voice has to carry over ten rows of seats, don't practice as though you're talking to the people in the front row; speak to the people in the tenth row. If your gestures have to be seen in the back of a large room, don't hold back. Open up your body, free your arms to move the way they naturally do.

It's not about forcing your body to do something it doesn't want to do; if you're a naturally reserved speaker, you'll probably have to practice your gestures more for a big audience. But really, it's more about releasing your inhibitions so your body will do what it already does naturally.

Do some relaxation, breathing and grounding exercises before you speak; loosen up your muscles so you don't feel tight and inclined to hold yourself back. Express your natural power and confidence through your voice and body.

What's that? You say you aren't confident? Well, purposeful and strong movements and gestures will make you seem confident! Even more reason to play big!

Charlton Heston and you

2009-06-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

I've written before about actors and personalities who are shy or uncomfortable speaking in public, and I've written about my own shyness in some social settings and my trick of playing a character (me) to overcome it.

Here's another example of a shy person who managed to become an enormous success over six decades as a film and television actor: Charlton Heston. In an interview with Robert Osborne on TCM, he said,

"I suppose on a certain level, I am a shyer man than my public persona suggests. I have learned to be a public person and I'm very comfortable with that identity; it's that man that's talking to you now. But I am also a rather private man, and actors are not supposed to be private men, so I've invented a public Charlton Heston as well."

There were two Charlton Hestons, the public man and the private man. But how different do you suppose they were? I imagine the main difference was in his comfort level, not in any aspect of his personality that might or might not change in different situations -- at least that's how my public persona works.

For me, once my public persona becomes comfortable in a situation, then the "whole me" becomes comfortable, and I can let the persona go and just be me. Read about how I do it here.

And remember: you're not the only one who's nervous in front of a crowd, holding a microphone, or being interviewed. Many, many people who live their lives in the spotlight are just as nervous as you are. They've developed tools to make themselves more comfortable in those situations, and so can you!

PresentationCampLA puts the audience in charge!

2009-06-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

Looking to keep your skills sharp for job hunting or career advancement? PresentationCampLA is a grassroots, do-it-yourself event that aims to help individuals better present themselves and their ideas.

On Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., participants will gather at BlankSpaces in Los Angeles for a unique collaborative experience: creating a public speaking conference from scratch. The group will decide collectively at the start of the day which topics they would like to hear about, who will teach them, and the order of sessions for the day.

After pitching topics and group voting, speakers will break out into sessions for presentations and discussion, involving fellow participants and speakers in the creative process.

“PresentationCamp will help you hone your message, build your confidence, and present yourself and your ideas with style!” says Cliff Atkinson, author of “Beyond Bullet Points” and PresentationCampLA organizer.

“For only $10 – a great value in tough economic times – participants get access to some of the top presentation coaches in the world!”

Possible session topics include “Storyboarding 101,” “Embrace Twitter in Your Presentation,” “How to Get Your Book Published by a Real Publisher,” “Using Toys For Fun and Effective Learning,” and “Kill the People: Using Comedy and Truth to Slay ‘Death by PowerPoint’.”

At PresentationCampLA, everyone participates in some manner: presenting, leading a discussion, showcasing a best practice, or sharing their experiences. Others help with logistics, securing sponsorships, organizing sessions, or setting up/cleaning up. This is a self-organizing collaborative event that is designed be a fun, rewarding and a unique experience.

PresentationCampLA is a great opportunity for participants to learn from, teach to, and network with professionals involved in improving presentations in the Los Angeles area – and around the world!

PresentationCampLA website

Register here

Please tweet to your tweeps! #pcampla

Make a commitment

2009-06-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

The other night, Bub and I were eating at a Vietnamese restaurant. As we contemplated splitting the third spring roll, I said, "Just eat half and give the rest to me. There's no knife to cut it with."

He picked it up and, as I shook my head dubiously, he cleanly tore it in two. I was pretty impressed. Not a single piece of lettuce dropped onto the plate.

"You just have to commit," he said.

Commitment makes all the difference.

Imagine yourself giving a presentation, and you're trying out some new content, some new humor, a new prop. You're not sure how it's going to play, so you deliver it tentatively, unsure of yourself. When you're uncertain, your audience might feel uncertain as well! They won't get the full impact of the material if you don't stand behind it.

Now think about how much more likely your new content is to succeed when you deliver it with confidence and punch. You KNOW it's going to work, you have no doubt, and you commit to it with full force.

Pow! Your audience gets it. They feel your energy behind it, your passion and your commitment. How can they possibly miss your meaning?

Next time you're presenting information that you're unsure about or not completely comfortable delivering, commit to it anyway. Make the audience believe that you stand behind what you're saying.

Your words and actions gain power when you commit.

Empty calories vs. nutritional value

2009-06-03T10:40:00.000-07:00

To add to my list of unoriginal clichés and tired statistics, how about we stop with the use of pointless dictionary definitions?

I visited a website yesterday for speakers, and there was the dictionary definition of "presenter," right in the middle of the page, complete with pronunciation, in case I didn't know how to say it already.

This is what I consider a space filler, or in the case of a live presentation, a time waster. Unless you truly need to define something for your audience, because it's unusual or complex, or a new concept for them, using a dictionary definition is just a cutesy way of killing time or filling space on a page.

Like a soda or a bag of chips that fills you up with lots of calories but no nutritional value, a dictionary definition takes up space in your presentation where you could be giving the audience something useful and relevant.

More on clichés and originality here:

Cliché finder

Metaphorically speaking

New cliché resource

The grandmother cliché

Blog title winners

2009-06-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

Winners in the contest to title last Monday's blog post are Diane Broos with "Tea-ed off" and Robert Stevenson with "Knowing when to leaf well enough alone." I decided to combine the two into one title, and voila! "Tea-ed off: Knowing when to leaf well enough alone."

Diane and Robert each win a copy of my "7-Week Shortcut to Public Speaking Confidence" e-course CD.

Thanks to everyone who contributed; you are all so much more creative than I am. I will probably be asking for your assistance again!

Awkward

2009-06-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

So you think the audience is secretly judging and criticizing you? So did Kristin Stewart at last night's MTV Movie Awards.

Upon receiving her award for Best Female Performance, she proceeded to give her acceptance speech, clearly nervous. While balancing the heavy award in her hand, she lost her grip and it went flying several feet onto the floor as she desperately tried to catch it.

She sped back to the microphone, finished her speech somewhat incoherently and blurted out, "So... I was just about as awkward as you thought I was going to be."

Did the audience think she was going to be awkward? I doubt it. Did she create a self-fulfilling prophecy? Perhaps. When all you can think about is how nervous you are and how much you're going to embarrass yourself in front of the audience, you are practically making it happen.

Kristin may be shy and uncomfortable on stage, but she is a trained actor, and maybe next time she has to appear as herself, she can try my trick of playing herself as a character. There's a strong, confident young woman in there somewhere, the one that converses easily with friends, laughs and has a good time being herself.

Implementing some relaxation, breathing and grounding techniques might help as well.

But setting herself up for failure by assuming that she will fail... that's an unfortunate habit that needs to be broken!

LB interviewed in Santa Barbara News-Press

2009-05-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right. I was one of several Santa Barbarians interviewed on how we use Twitter for business and pleasure.

Great article, which unfortunately is behind a pay wall, so I won't be posting a link here. And I don't yet have permission to reprint on my site. Will let you know when that happens.

In the meantime, check out the whole TwitPic of the front page of the Life section. I've never been so huge before -- literally!

Nearly perfect

2009-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed this post by Laurie Foley on "Tasting the Nearly Perfect Sauce," as it reminds me of a lot of our expectations for ourselves as speakers. We must be perfect, we must not make a mistake, we must not let the audience see any flaws, or we will fail.

Here's an excerpt from Laurie's post:

"And suddenly the conversation is much more sparkly. We’re all laughing. Even though there's Jack Daniels in the sauce, there's not enough to really explain the laughing. We're all dipping into Mr. B's sauce, making sounds of gustatory delight, and admiring how he calls it "nearly perfect." Because it is. We're talking about what the nearly perfect amount of sauce to use is and what the nearly perfect ingredient must be. Our family dinner becomes nearly perfect."

Read this post about how the "nearly perfect sauce" changed attitudes in an instant. Think about how, instead of stressing out about being "perfect" (and anyway, there's no such thing), you might start seeing how "nearly perfect" you are!

Careful... your facade is cracking

2009-05-28T09:04:00.001-07:00

I was thinking yesterday about how people who cling to their youth by covering up their gray, surgically smoothing their wrinkles and buying implants (hair or body), are actually the least youthful people I know.

Youthfulness comes from the inside, and no matter how hard you try to capture it in your appearance, if you don't have it in spirit, you don't have it.

People who are obsessed with recapturing their youth are living in fear and dread of being old. Fear and dread are the farthest thing from the carefree attitude of youth.

I'm writing this because, when you try too hard to be something you're not, it's never believable. You can never be the next [insert famous motivational speaker here] because only that person has had the experiences that have made him who he is. Sure, you can copy his mannerisms and speech patterns, but that doesn't make you him.

Do you copy a favorite speaker's cadence or movements?

Is your enthusiasm forced?

Are your jokes and humor someone else's?

Do you move and speak the way you were told to do in a class somewhere?

Drop the facade. It's fake, it's phony, and it's painful for the audience to watch.

If you really want to connect with people so your message resonates and sticks with them long after you're gone, you have to be real.

Note: You can get away with a lot at your Toastmasters club that you can't get away with in the real world. Be careful about creating a stagey persona that works okay for a memorized 7-minute speech among a supportive audience, but will not work for an hour-long presentation among people who don't know you or care about you personally.

Clinging to a fake persona is like clinging to an outward appearance of youthfulness and vigor. You know deep inside that it's not you. You fear being revealed as a phony. It takes so much time and effort to keep up with the pretense... and you know you can't keep it up forever.

Let it go. Let go of the false belief that led you to this place, belief that there's a way you're "supposed" to look and act to be accepted and successful.

Be you. There's nothing to hide, nothing to be revealed, nothing to pretend. It's freeing. There's no weight on your shoulders.

What are you afraid of?

More of my favorite posts on being yourself and embracing your uniqueness:

What makes you unique?

Everyone's an original

Falling in love with the real you

Who would listen to me?

Who are you trying to be?

He's no Barack Obama

Vote for Speak Schmeak in Best Coaching Blogs contest

2009-05-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

The School of Coaching Mastery is holding a contest for the best coaching blogs, and I would be so grateful for your vote! Right now I appear to be in 4th place, but voting goes until the end of June and my fortunes can change at any moment!

You can also leave a comment below my blog blurb on the site, and the comments also help in the final tally. Winners get a write-up on their site and bragging rights. :-)

Thanks for your support, friends!

Practice like you mean it

2009-05-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

While I was working out at the track the other day, football practice was in session on the field. I had the perfect vantage point to watch these young men run drill after drill, over and over, with constant adjustments from the coaches.

Here are some tips for you on practicing your presentation, based on the effort I witnessed on the field.

1. Practice right

What's the point of practicing if you're practicing the same mistakes over and over? Get some feedback, either through videotape, a trusted friend, or a coach, and work on practicing your presentations without ingraining your bad habits.

2. Practice as though you're in the game

These young men were running passing drills with the speed, focus and intensity you would see in a game. The quarterbacks blocked imaginary defenders (or sometimes the coach), ran their pattern and passed to the receivers, who on their side of the field were running their butts off to make it to the ball.

When you practice your presentation, practice as though you're in front of the audience. Try out your humor; speak with the emotion and passion you will demonstrate "in real life." When you practice it, it becomes natural and comfortable for you, and the audience can feel your enthusiasm.

3. Practice the details

The football drills were detailed and the players practiced specific patterns. The coach would stop them to point out body position, angles, footwork or passing techniques. Every detail and every second matters in sports, and in presenting.

Practice making eye contact. Practice using your props and flip charts. Practice using your remote device if using slides. Practice using your timer. If you'll be recording yourself, practice with the microphone and recorder so they won't distract you on the day. Pay attention to the details. Details count.

If these guys play like they practice, they've got nothing to worry about -- and neither will you!

Tea-ed off: Knowing when to leaf well enough alone

2009-05-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all your suggestions! The contest is closed. ~~(Leave your best title for this post in the comments, along with your comments on the post, of course. Best title wins a copy of my e-course! Deadline 5/29.)~~

Hubby and I stopped into a new tea shop in town the other day. We've been to other locations of this chain and wanted to see what their new shop was like here. It was opening weekend, and for a tiny shop, they had about ten staff on the floor!

As we walked in the door, we were met by two employees offering samples of tea. We each took a cup, thanked them and moved on. We were followed by one employee who immediately went to the next teapot and said, "Do you want to try the rarest tea in the world?" Before I was even able to answer, she went on.

"Antioxidants... healthy... good for complexion... make a face mask when you're done drinking it... blah blah blah."

I didn't get half of what she said, because she was bombarding me with one piece of information after another. She continued to follow me, telling me about products, until I found a moment to interject and tell her I didn't need any help.

Here's the thing. Hubby and I are quite knowledgeable about tea. Hubby is in the specialty foods industry and has been working with tea and tea vendors for many years. We are both certified by the Specialty Tea Institute and have been planning on opening a tea shop ourselves for some time. Rarest tea in the world? I can think of ten teas that are more rare than the one she showed me.

When I made my way to the tea counter, there she was again! She asked me if she could tell me about any teas, and them immediately opened a canister and started waving the lid in my face so I could smell the tea.

Did it occur to this woman to ask us if we were even tea drinkers? Did it occur to her to ask us if we had been in their store before? Or to ask us what kinds of teas we like?

No, and I was immediately turned off.

Just like your audience is when you don't make an effort to find out what they care about.

I understand how exciting it is to want to share your information. To you, it is the most fascinating thing in the world. You want everyone to know what you know!

However, what is interesting to you is not necessarily what's interesting or valuable to your audience, and if you don't find out what that is, you will turn off a lot of people.

I couldn't wait to get out of the store. I didn't want to buy anything and I don't feel at the moment like I would bother going back.

Don't assume you know what they want or what they already know. Ask. Get to know them. Be sensitive to their needs and concerns. Be interested in them and don't just focus on pushing your own agenda.

Share your story about a pushy salesperson (or speaker...)! And don't forget to submit a title for this post!

Slides are not handouts

2009-05-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

I have to share this blog post by Laura Bergells at Maniactive because, while I've said something similar so many times, I could never say it as well as she does!

Your PowerPoint is not your presentation. No matter how many times we reiterate this, there's always someone who wants a copy or a conference who requires it as a handout. Here's an excerpt from Laura's article on her perspective:

"Seriously. Be a polite audience member. Never, ever ask a presenter for his or her presentation. (Not unless the presenter offers it to the audience as a download or CD or print out first. I sometimes do this after a 6 month run.)

If you like my presentation, I'm flattered. Really.

But my PowerPoint slides are usually props for my speech.

Would you go up to a juggler and ask, 'Neat act! May I have your balls?'"

Read the whole post here.

Analogies ... American Idol-style

2009-05-21T11:20:00.000-07:00

Another season of American Idol has ended, along with Simon Cowell's endless creative analogies to describe how poorly each contestant has performed.

Here are some examples:

"It sounds like a cat jumping off the empire state building."

"You remind me of someone, when you're at a party and someone has had a few drinks, right at the end attempts to sing something and then you're thrown out of the house."

"That was exactly identical to a nightmare I had last week."

"Using the boxing analogy, it was a bit of a lightweight I thought.”

"It was a bit like someone singing in their bedroom."

"That last note … it was like watching a horror movie."

"It sounded like something you'd hear on a cruise ship [or at a wedding, or in a karaoke bar, etc.]."

"It was rather like eating ice for lunch — it will leave you with nothing to remember afterwards."

"My pen has got more charisma."

Oftentimes, Simon's analogies are meaningful only to him. His analogies clearly refer to experiences he's had, but which might not mean anything to the audience.

If you're going to use analogies in public speaking, and you should, make sure that they're universal enough for the audience to get them. Because an analogy is meant to help your audience relate to your point, if they don't get the analogy, they won't get the point either.

Keep using analogies, but only if they mean something!

Here are some of my favorite Speak Schmeak analogies.

Thank you, Paul Yerrick, for the unbelievably perfect photo.

Five more tips for successful networking

2009-05-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was helping a client prepare for a networking event, and as many of us do, she expressed anxiety about not knowing anyone there.

Furthermore, she felt that she wouldn't fit in with this group of executives and business people because she's from the nonprofit sector. She believed that nonprofit representatives are always perceived with their hands out looking for sponsors and donors, and that she was somehow inferior to the well-known philanthropists and business people who would be at this event.

She thought she would have nothing to talk to them about, and that their eyes would glaze over when she told them about her organization.

My first thought was, "Whoa, Nelly!" Back up a step here.

1. The grass is always greener

I reminded her that many people wish they were doing more meaningful work. There are probably quite a few executives that she'll meet who wish they could give more time to volunteering for their favorite causes. She's in a position to contribute to the community every day, to focus on her passion for making the world a better place. How lucky is she to do that for a living?

2. Everyone has something to offer

Just because she's not a high-powered executive doesn't mean she has nothing to offer. I suggested that she see herself as a resource, as someone who's there to help and to give, whether it's sharing her favorite business book or her favorite dry cleaner. She can always be thinking of ways to be helpful, no matter which direction the conversation goes.

3. You don't have to talk about yourself

Regarding her concern about eyes glazing over, yes, she will have to talk about what she does when she introduces herself. But beyond that, she should have several ideas of questions she can ask and topics to bring up that focus on the other person. It's more important to be interested in the people she meets than to make them interested in her.

The more she focuses on the other, the more memorable she'll be as someone who's friendly, approachable and a good listener! And she'll build relationships in the process.

4. Don't assume everyone else is comfortable and confident

She assumes that she's the only one in the room who's nervous, but just because someone appears confident doesn't mean they are confident. Realize that most people are in the same boat and feel uncomfortable meeting new people.

One way to make this easier is to find someone else who appears to be alone, and act as a host by introducing herself and striking up a conversation. If they really are alone, they will appreciate the outreach. If they're not alone, soon there will be additional people joining the group for her to meet.

5. Don't assume the other person holds all the cards

I shared this story with her:

I went to a private school for my last two years of high school. I was a day student, a group that made up only about 10% of the whole population. We felt that the boarding students looked down on us because we didn't live at the school and we paid less to go there. We assumed they thought less of us because we weren't as "legit" as they were.

Several years after I graduated, I happened to run into a classmate and we got into a conversation. He told me that the boarding students always thought the day students were snobby, because we had cars and could come and go whenever we wanted, while the boarding students were restricted to campus except for days off. They felt that we were lucky to live at home while attending the school and that somehow we felt superior to them because of these advantages.

My jaw dropped. All this time, I had seen my population as the underdog, in the less-desirable position, when in reality, they saw themselves the same way.

Don't assume that you're the underdog in the story. The other person may very well feel that you have an advantage over them. Another example of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence: Maybe you actually have something the other person wishes they had.

Approach networking as an opportunity to give, to share, to build relationships, and don't worry so much about who's more important than whom, who's more famous than whom, or who's got more than whom. Everyone has something to offer, everyone brings value to the table. Go. Meet. Enjoy!

Here's the original "Five favorite networking tips" post.

Can public speaking skills be harmful?

2009-05-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

"I really can't think of anyone whose life and/or career has taken a turn for the worst after working on their communication and presentation skills." ~ Reginald Braithwaite

Reginald and I are not related, but he does have a rather catchy last name. This was a comment he made to me while chatting on Facebook, and it stood out to me as being especially profound.

I'm sure that, if you really want to play devil's advocate, you can think of some reasons why developing communication and presentation skills could harm you, but let's be realistic.

Communication skills aren't just important in the workplace; they're valuable in all relationships and in all situations. Communication skills aren't just about being heard and getting your message across. Communication skills are also about knowing how to listen to others and hear them as well.

Communication is a two-way street. It involves expressing yourself and your point of view, and it also involves making sure you understand another person by clarifying what you've heard them say and making sure you're getting it right.

Presentation skills, as well, are not just for the workplace. How do you illustrate your ideas? How do you engage others in conversation and maintain their interest while also showing interest in them? How do you use stories and demonstrations to communicate your points more vividly? Do you look people in the eye and project a confident persona?

Can you imagine these skills not being helpful in your life or work?

When people say "I hate public speaking," they are considering a very narrow application.

Hating public speaking is like saying, "I hate communicating," because public speaking skills encompass every kind of communication and interaction we use on a daily basis.

Could your life and work improve if you improved your communication and presentation skills? How?

Need to update my website....

2009-05-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

Should I keep the about page and the bio page, or....

Speak Schmeak for the Kindle!

2009-05-15T15:04:00.000-07:00

Are you a Kindle user, on the go and no time to sit down at the computer to dig through your feed reader?

Well, now you can read Speak Schmeak right on your Kindle!

From Amazon.com:

"Kindle Blogs are auto-delivered wirelessly to the Kindle and updated throughout the day. They are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle contain full text content and most images."

Subscribe here!

(And if you're a fan of Speak Schmeak, I'd love it if you would post a brief review on the Kindle page, to encourage new subscribers. Thanks!)

What's your audience's culture?

2009-05-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of speaking to the Santa Barbara Associates, an "old-boys' club for women" that was started almost 30 years ago as a place for women business owners and executives to network and socialize with like-minded members.

Before the speaking engagement, I exchanged several e-mails with the organizer, to discern what their interests were in regard to public speaking and to make sure I was able to view the room setup in advance. I was thrilled to be asked to present on one of my favorite topics: engaging the audience.

One thing you can ask about beforehand is the group culture. It helps to know if a group has a good sense of humor, if they're quiet or boisterous, if they're stodgy or laid-back. Meeting members of the group can help with this, but asking the question up front will give you a better answer.

Having not asked this question (oops), but having met several members of the group in advance, surveyed their website, and knowing the woman who recommended me (a fellow member of another networking group I'm in), I felt confident but not 100% sure about the group culture.

Lunch was served before my talk, so I had the opportunity to meet and converse with several more members of the group.

My opening involved a Barbie doll in a neon yellow animal-print ensemble from the 80s -- complete with shoulder pads. So far, so good! The women were engaged, asking questions, participating, and generally being a great audience.

But what really made my day and revealed a little more of the group's culture was when Calla, a jewelry designer and fellow networking group member, had the occasion to mention her "boobs." There wasn't a single embarrassed or disappointed facial expression. There was no awkward moment. The group, women ranging in age from their 40s to their 70s, in business suits, bold sweaters and glamorous jewelry, demonstrated their high spirits and positive energy with a hearty laugh.

I learned a lot about the audience through their reaction to this one tiny word. I never would have offered it myself, of course, but to observe them in their "natural habitat" where they meet regularly and feel comfortable with each other was priceless, and showed me a lot about the culture and spirit of the group.

Not only did I enjoy speaking to this group, I might consider joining!

Fueling your presentation

2009-05-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a workshop from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. I ate lunch a little late that day, and because of the heat, didn't feel like cooking, so I made a fruit smoothie with nuts and protein powder and I made some egg salad. Couldn't even be bothered to put the egg salad on bread; just ate it right out of the bowl.

I was a little concerned that I would get hungry in the middle of my workshop, as I usually have a snack between 3:00 and 5:00 -- and basically, I'm always hungry!

So I was surprised to find myself wrapping up at 6:00, feeling good and not starving yet! I put out a lot of energy in a presentation, and if I don't eat well beforehand, I will actually get lightheaded by the end.

I've been invited to speak at another event this week, and even though the presentation is short, I'm already thinking about fuel. It's a lunch meeting, and when I mentioned that I'm a vegetarian I was assured that there are salads on the menu, but that is a little frightening to me, as a salad doesn't provide much energy unless it's got lots of veggies, beans, etc. So I'm planning to eat before I go, just to be safe.

It occurred to me that we don't usually talk about one of the most basic aspects of presenting: the physical energy we need to get through a long presentation or workshop.

If you're doing it right, you're giving 100%. As Tom Peters says in this video, "If I ever finish a speech and I can still stand up, then it was a lousy speech."

I agree with Tom in principle, but we do still want to be standing at the end of our presentations, because it just wouldn't look good to collapse every time. What are you doing to fuel yourself properly before you speak?

Is this something you take into account as part of your preparation? Are you aware of what your energy needs are? I'm not going to presume to give dietary advice on this blog; what I'm talking about today is awareness and realizing your own energy needs so you don't bonk during a presentation.

Creating your presentation is just one tiny part of the overall preparation necessary to be effective. I've written before about physical and mental preparation; eating and hydrating well is part of that.

What and when do you eat before a presentation so you can be at your best?

For more on the effects of food and drink, download my free handout, "Foods and Drinks to Avoid Before Speaking."

"Don't ever change"

2009-05-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

How many people wrote that in your high school yearbooks? I would have to say that I probably have ten signatures each year from people who said that exact same thing. Cliché or not, it's a great suggestion!

I enjoyed this post by TJ Walker a while back and I thought I'd share it with you.

Are you concerned about your voice, your lack of polish, your lisp, your fillers, your personal style? Take a lesson from Rachel Ray and Brian Williams. As TJ says, "If you have interesting things to say and you say it with passion, you too could be the next Rachel Ray, or, speaking of awful voices, Barbara Walters."

More posts on being yourself, embracing your uniqueness and gaining confidence:

What makes you unique?

Everyone's an original

Falling in love with the real you

Who would listen to me?

Who are you trying to be?

He's no Barack Obama

Same material, different group

2009-05-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

I got a question in my workshop yesterday from a student who has been invited to speak at two different banquets for two different groups of people, and he wondered if he could use the same material for both.

We never want to give a canned speech; that is, a speech that you wrote once and continue to deliver exactly the same as it was written to every group you speak to. However, having good base content that you can tweak and customize is a great idea.

Most of us who speak on a regular basis have a couple of standard topics we speak on. There's no need to reinvent the wheel each time we go out. However, it's important to learn about the groups you're speaking to so you can make sure your content is applicable to them and fits their culture, needs and interests.

So yes, use the same speech or presentation, but make sure that you're taking the time to tailor it to each group with specific references, personalized humor, and appropriate exercises and activities.

Perception or reality?

2009-05-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Can they hear your voice quiver?

Are you dry and boring?

Do you lack persuasive skills?

Do they see your hands shaking?

Are you unable to get your point across?

How do you know?

These are all fearful comments I've heard from my clients and audience members, comments that reveal a perception about themselves that may or may not be true.

When we're nervous, we may experience physical symptoms, but does the audience notice?

We may feel that we're not getting through to the audience, because we don't get the response we expect, but does that mean we're not connecting?

This is another situation where videotaping, audio recording and/or asking for honest feedback through evaluations will help you understand how you're really coming across.

My clients have been shocked to observe their videos and realize that the hand shaking or voice quivering was not noticeable at all! They had been building up anxiety about their performance based on their own feelings and perceptions, but not based at all on how the audience really sees them. Adding some relaxation techniques to their preparation rituals helped the physical symptoms, but more importantly, they could move on to more important skill-building.

Once you get a sense of how you're really perceived by the audience, you can focus on the skills that you need to build rather than the imaginary flaws that aren't actually standing in your way.

Having a clear and honest perception of yourself removes doubt and anxiety and allows confidence to grow!

Don't miss a chance to be memorable

2009-05-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

At the World Tea Expo this weekend, there was a competition to create the best cocktail containing tea.

The 13 contestants, finalists chosen through online voting, prepared their drinks live onstage. One of the main rules of the competition was, "Recipes must be applicable in the marketplace, meaning recipes must be able to be realistically prepared and served in a foodservice establishment (tea room, restaurant, bar, etc.)."

Each contestant had two minutes to prepare the drink, and then was interviewed about their concoction before the final judging. Out of 13 contestants, only one was prepared to talk about her drink as it applied to the marketplace.

I found this rather shocking, as this competition was about showcasing not only a special drink, but promoting the contestants' businesses! Every contestant was either a tea company or a retailer. Either way, the winner ends up with features in Food and Beverage magazine and Imbibe magazine, as well as being published in an upcoming book. It was the perfect opportunity to pitch the drink, their product, and describe how it would fit into a tea room, restaurant or bar.

When the Hale Tea Company contestant started talking about her drink, the audience sat up and paid attention. She had a convincing pitch about her cocktail and its marketability that wowed the crowd.

Unfortunately, she didn't win, but I guarantee that the audience members (many of whom are her target market) will remember her product, her drink and her pitch long after the Tea Expo ends.

Don't ever let any opportunity to speak pass you by without making the most of it. Remember, no opportunity is too small for you to shine and to be memorable.

Now I'm off to try out some tea cocktail recipes!

Lessons from a bad presentation

2009-05-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

A client told me about a presentation he gave recently that was terrible. His client had shown up an hour and a half earlier than planned, and he hadn't had time yet to go over the material, a presentation book he uses that had recently been rearranged and redesigned. He felt lost, couldn't follow the layout of the book, and stumbled through the best he could.

I wrote about two presentations I gave in the past two years that I didn't feel were up to my standards. One was a speaking engagement that I probably never should have taken in the first place; the other was an engagement where I was just "off" for some reason that day.

But there is a common theme between all three of the above mentioned presentations: Preparation. Or more correctly, lack of preparation.

Had my client looked over the presentation book when it was produced, instead of his usual plan of looking at it half an hour before the meeting, he would already have been familiar with the new layout.

Had I not tried to include so much new material into a presentation when I didn't have the time to practice it, my presentation last June would have gone much smoother.

Even the one two years ago, where I just felt "off," would have benefited from more practice, especially practicing the new material I had added.

I preach preparation all the time. It's the lack of this one key ingredient that keeps speakers from moving forward successfully. Rushing to put together a presentation days before it's due; creating the presentation in PowerPoint, then using the PowerPoint as your notes because you don't "have time" to practice; or worse, having your boss order you to give a presentation when you haven't even looked at the material... these are all paths to failure. Or if not failure, mediocrity.

And yet, even though preparation is my mantra, there have been times when I wasn't properly prepared, and my workshops suffered.

What's done is done, and we can't go back and repair what went wrong, but we can learn from it.

When you give a presentation that's just so-so (and you know it when it happens!) don't forget to analyze what happened. I don't mean that you should dwell on the mistakes and feel sorry for yourself, although I've done that before.

I mean that you should look at your method of preparation to see where you might improve next time, because I guarantee that your preparation was not thorough enough.

You need to make a change. You need to commit to thorough preparation. You need to give yourself enough time to think it all through, construct it well, practice it completely and really be ready when it's time to present.

If you want to get to the next level and you're always throwing together your presentations at the last minute, forget it. It's not going to happen.

Lose weight and improve your speaking skills!

2009-05-02T12:04:00.001-07:00

I have several friends who struggle with their weight. Actually, "struggle" isn't the right word. "Struggle" implies that they're actually doing something to combat the weight problem. They complain a lot and make a halfhearted effort now and then, but I wouldn't consider that a strategy.

Complaining vs. taking action. One is clearly the better choice if you really want something to happen.

Do you complain about how much you hate public speaking and how terrible you are at it? What's the last action you took to try to improve?

Wishful thinking doesn't help you lose weight, nor does it make you a better speaker. You might make a halfhearted effort by taking a walk now and then or by having salad instead of french fries with your Big Mac, but that's not progress that will have a long-term effect.

Same with speaking. You can keep practicing, but if you practice the same mistakes over and over, you're not improving. If you keep throwing your presentation together days before it's due, you're not improving. If you read articles and books about public speaking and think that, by osmosis, you will get better but you never actually implement what you learn, you're not improving.

Losing weight in a healthy way for the long term takes discipline, motivation, changes to your diet and exercise habits, and a new way of thinking about your lifestyle and your body.

Becoming a better speaker takes discipline, motivation, changing the way you think about your habits, challenges and strengths, asking for honest feedback, and implementing what you learn.

Are you willing to step it up and do more than complain?

Payment vs. exposure

2009-04-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you get paid to speak; others hope to get paid one day. One thing that we all face as paid speakers is the issue of payment vs. exposure. That is, we will be invited to speak pro bono, or will be offered less than our usual rate, and we'll have to decide if it's worth it to take less money in order to get exposure or visibility.

I will tell you right up front that only a few of my pro bono speaking engagements have paid off in clients or future speaking engagements. So why do I do them and how do I decide who gets my services for free?

I have a soft spot for nonprofit organizations, having worked in the field for sixteen years. I know what it's like to struggle for funds and to never have enough for everything you need and want to provide in the community, never mind training and development for your staff and volunteers.

I've chosen a couple of nonprofit organizations that I have had connections with for a long time, and for them, I will speak pro bono. Occasionally I get a client from doing this, but for me, it's my opportunity to give back to organizations that have done so much in our community.

One in particular provides self-employment training for women entrepreneurs, and as I went through the program, I feel a sisterhood with every other woman (and man!) who graduates from the program.

Other nonprofit organizations may take advantage of my non-advertised nonprofit discount if they can't pay my full fee. But you have to be careful about giving away your expertise when there's no pay and no significant exposure.

Another possible pro bono opportunity for me is one in which the group consists of my target audience: successful self-employed professionals and entrepreneurs. I'm willing to give short presentations to groups like these because the exposure is to my exact target audience, and a short presentation doesn't take too much time or preparation to give. Some speakers won't give more than an hour when offered a pro bono gig. That sounds reasonable to me.

Also, even when speaking pro bono, there are still creative options for trade or other compensation, as indicated by these two great lists on SpeakerNet News: Getting Income From No-Fee Engagements and Creative Tactics for Compensation.

If the group is not your target audience, and the so-called "exposure" is unlikely to bring you future business, think carefully about giving your time for free. You're not a nonprofit organization. You get paid to speak.

Ultimately, you just won't know until after the gig. Sometimes a group seems like it's full of great prospects, but nothing comes of it. Sometimes nothing comes of it right away, but you get hired two years later by someone who heard you speak and that snowballs into more engagements.

We can't foretell the future, but we can make reasonable decisions on giving our time for free or negotiating creative compensation. If you want to make a living as a speaker, you need to get paid!

Do you speak pro bono? Why or why not?

Join us for PresentationCampLA in June!

2009-04-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

PresentationCampLA is a grassroots, self-organized event where participants meet on a Saturday morning, decide what they would like to learn and who would like to teach, then we collaboratively set up the agenda and have a full day of learning.

We call this a "PresentationCamp" because the event is part of the "BarCamp" movement - an "un-conference" event where there is no formal organizer or sponsor, no pre-planned agenda, and no pre-set presentations - we all decide together on the day of the event what we will do and how we do it. Participants pay a nominal fee of $10 to cover some of the expenses, but otherwise everyone participates as a volunteer, co-leader, co-presenter and co-learner.

Do you have a topic you'd like to speak on? Do you want to learn something new about public speaking? The emphasis is on short, interactive, hands-on workshops rather than lecture. We'd love to have you! And please spread the word!

Read more about PresentationCampLA here.

Register here.

33% off "7-Week Shortcut to Public Speaking Confidence" CDs

2009-04-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Hey friends!

I'm having a 33%-OFF SALE on my "7-Week Shortcut to Public Speaking Confidence" CDs. The packaging is bare bones, and I now have a better system for labeling and packaging, so I'd like to clear these out to make room for the new, more professional-looking batch.

There are 31 20 CDs available at 33% off the regular price. When they're gone, they're gone. They have the same content as the downloadable e-course; you'll just get it by snail mail instead of e-mail!

If you've been looking for a public speaking self-study course, now is the time to snatch up this great deal!

More info and purchase here.

You thought you could never do it

2009-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was standing at the top of the stadium steps yesterday, letting my heart rate slow before heading back down to do another set, when I had a surprising recollection.

Probably ten years ago, a friend of mine used to climb the stadium steps for her workout. I think she ran up the steps, which made the concept even more horrifying to me. I thought that anyone who could walk or run up every aisle was some sort of fitness freak (or professional athlete, like she had been). I never imagined myself doing it, or even wanting to do it.

About two years ago, I started working out with a trainer, who immediately suggested we meet at the steps. Ugh. The first few times I did the steps, I thought I would die. I wore a heart rate monitor and my heart rate at the top of the steps was astronomical (although, strangely, I wasn't breathing that hard and could still carry on a conversation).

But my legs were on fire, and I had to sit down a few times for fear of losing my breakfast.

Now I've been doing the steps (walking) consistently, usually three days a week, for about 18 months. It's become a habit that I can't go without. My heart rate gets elevated, as it should, but not high enough to scare me anymore. Some days I do two aisles, two laps, two aisles, etc. Some days I do all ten aisles in a row. I shake things up when the workout fails to challenge me enough.

Fails to challenge me? I used to think I would die if I ever attempted to climb one aisle of steps one time. Here I am, many years later, relishing the opportunity to exercise in the outdoors, across the street from the beach, loving the challenge and the strenuous workout.

Do you remember something you thought you'd never try? Do you remember something you thought you could never accomplish? Do you feel that way about public speaking?

I just want you to know that, even if you think you could NEVER stand up in front of a roomful of people, you can. You will. Take those baby steps. You might even feel like you're going to puke!

But when you get past your fears, your assumptions, your negative and self-limiting beliefs, guess what. You can do whatever you put your mind to!

I could tell you more stories of things I never thought I could handle. And here I am today, having done those things and survived. But you have your own stories. Remember them. Have courage. Have faith. You can do it!