Speak Schmeak is the blog of public speaking coach Lisa Braithwaite

Don't be afraid to lay a stinky egg bomb

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:30:53 PST

In an interview with the Foo Fighters recently, Jack Black asked the band if their song ideas ever dry up. The answer was no.

JB: "You never have the fear that you are now empty... ever."

FF: "That's not to say that I think we write the greatest songs ever in the history of songs. But I feel like we could go into the studio for a week and come out with something."

JB: "It's a confidence thing. You have enormous confidence. You're not afraid to fail and lay a stinky egg bomb."

One of the band members talked about meeting Neil Diamond and asking him the same question, as Neil Diamond had started out as a songwriter who had to write for a living. He said that songwriting is like a muscle. If you don't write for a long time the first batch is probably not going to be that great, and that you have to keep the muscles toned.

The Foo Fighters mentioned that a lot of their best songs come at the end of a writing cycle, when the muscle is "built" and warmed up. That is, "Keep your song muscle hard."

Jack Black also asked about old songs that didn't make it onto albums.

JB: "The rest of them, that didn't make it on that first album, did they make it on future albums?"

FF: "No."

JB: "Those just went into the furnace."

FF: "Pretty much. We've got a lot of those over the last 15 years. We'll start in on an album with, like 30, and then wind up with 12. And the other 18 sometimes come back, but they never make it, because they didn't in the first place. It sucked then, it sucks now."

These comments made a lot of sense to me as a writer and speaker.

First, you have to have the confidence to keep putting out new material and trying new things, even if you're not 100% sure it's your greatest. You can take the risk of putting out something less than stellar, or you can not put out anything at all. Which one will move you forward?

Second, you have to keep your creative muscles toned. Keep writing, keep presenting, even if it's giving your elevator speech at networking events. Keep practicing, because your speaking, writing and creating muscles can get flabby!

Third, not everything you put out there is going to be fabulous, and that's okay. Those bits and pieces of writing and material may come back again and they might even fit into a new presentation or a new book. And they might not. But don't stop producing just because you're afraid of laying a stinky egg bomb.

Look at the successful people around you. Look at your favorite musicians, actors, athletes, and business role models. What lessons can you learn from them?

First impressions follow you everywhere

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:27:10 PST

Download audio here.

Hypothetical situation: You're a person who is highly visible in the community. You are a well-known business owner, a philanthropist, or a politician. People talk about you; media covers anything you do.

You're having a bad day and an annoying stranger cuts in line ahead of you. You are less than friendly about it. Word gets around.

Someone calls your home and your spouse can't be bothered to take a message. People talk.

Because people know who you are, there is no time or place that you are not "on."

You, reader, may think you're lucky to escape the constant scrutiny of the public as an average citizen. But the truth is, if you want to be successful as a speaker or business owner -- or anyone else who relies on other people for your livelihood -- you might want to rethink that.

Here's another hypothetical situation: You've been engaged to speak for the local Junior League chapter. You're driving to the meeting and someone cuts you off on the freeway. You honk your horn, yell some obscenities, maybe even (no, not YOU!) flip them off.

You get to the meeting and -- guess what -- the person on the freeway is the president of the organization you're speaking for.

Or you're staying at a hotel where you're speaking at a conference. You get into an elevator to go to your room, and as someone runs for the elevator, you let it close. So what? Next day, you find that person in your seminar, surrounded by influential colleagues. You may have thought it was no big deal, but that person now considers you exceedingly rude.

It may sound like I'm saying that you should always be on your best behavior because you never know when you're going to encounter a client or even a prospective client, and you want to make a good impression. And yes, that's true.

But really, we make an impression everywhere we go. If you really want to make a good impression all the time, you just have to be a good person. It's a lot of work to always be wondering who's watching. It's actually a lot less work to stop worrying about who's watching and just be a better person all the time.

And, by the way, if you are a person in the public eye, you might want to train your family members on how to take your phone calls. Unfortunately, they are an extension of your brand and your business, and their bad behavior can harm you just like your own can.

First impressions follow you, everywhere you go. Remember that.

How useful are you?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:54:35 PST

Download audio here.

When reading this post by Scott Ginsberg, I was struck by how similar his tips for making money are to tips for giving a successful presentation. Check it out...

"9. Revenue is the aftershock of usefulness.

If you want to make money, make something that people need. If you want to make money, make something that replaces something. If you want to make money, make something that doesn’t require explaining. If you want to make money, make something that helps people say goodbye to something they hate.

If you want to make money, make something that makes people stop, sit up, notice, and yell into the kitchen, “Hey honey, look at this!” If you want to make money, make something that solves people’s expensive, urgent, pervasive and relevant problems. If you want to make money, make something that saves people time and frustration. If you want to make money, make something that is appealing to more than just yourself and your two roommates.

If you want to make money, make something worth making a series of YouTube videos about that people will (actually) watch instead of rolling their eyes and deleting from their inbox when their mom sends it to them. If you want to make money, make something that people never realized they wanted – but after trying it – can’t possibly imagine surviving without. How useful are you?"

How about this:

If you want to give a successful presentation, give information about something that people need.

If you want to give a successful presentation, share resources that help people say goodbye to something they hate.

If you want to give a successful presentation, offer content that solves people’s expensive, urgent, pervasive and relevant problems.

If you want to give a successful presentation, provide solutions that save people time and frustration.

If you want to give a successful presentation, deliver material that is appealing to more than just yourself and your two roommates.

And so on...

It stands to reason, then, that if you give successful presentations, you might also make more money in the process! Meeting the needs of the audience, making yourself useful, providing relevant tools and resources... This is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

How can you be more useful?

L.O.V.E.

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:49:15 PST

Download audio here.

I watched the Michael Jackson movie "This is It" last night. There were so many messages that seemed relevant to pass along. Here are a few of my thoughts.

Communication

When MJ wants to make his ideas clear to the musicians, he uses evocative words like "simmer" and "sizzle." At one point, he tells the music supervisor to slow down the beat like "you're dragging yourself out of bed." He also suggests not rushing the music in order to "nourish" the audience.

He always tries to find a way to describe his experience or the experience he's looking for in a way that is understandable to those listening. His communication is minimalist but efficient.

Calm

There's a sense that, no matter how big and complex this show, MJ will never lose his cool. He has a sense of calm about him that seems to make others relaxed -- no one seems stressed out in this film!

It's all about the audience

In a pep talk to his cast and crew at the end of the movie, he says, "There's no need to be nervous." He describes the show as "an adventure, a great adventure." Of the audience, he says, "We want to take them places they've never been before. We want to show them talent like they've never seen before."

Director Kenny Ortega said in an interview with MTV, "The fans meant everything to Michael. They were his food, his fuel, his life source, his energy, and he was energized by them and he appreciated their loyalty more than I can ever say. This film is for the fans."

Throughout the movie, MJ pays attention to every detail of the show, partly because he has a vision that he's trying to achieve, but also because he wants the audience to get it. He wants the audience to have the best possible experience.

Gratitude

He is thankful for each person involved in the production. He's thankful for his audience. When he gives direction to his crew, his response is always, "God bless you." There is a constant sense of gratitude on the set.

Humility

When his colleagues applaud him, he "throws" it back to them. When Orianthi Panagaris, a sensational young Australian guitarist, comes downstage for her solo, he reminds her to go for it: "It's your time to shine." (Check out video of her playing below.) He personally meets with the dancers and singers to go over rehearsal pieces instead of leaving it up to choreographers and music directors.

While he is obviously the star of the show and the man in charge, he never forgets that he is not alone and that he is relying on the talents of others to make this production the best it can be. He is a collaborator and a coach as well as the star.

The best of the best

MJ knows to surround himself with the best people in the industry. The dancers, the musicians, the singers, the crew: these people are the best at what they do. When he explains how a piece of music should sound or how to cue a sound effect, he doesn't have to say it twice. These people get things done.

Love

"It's all for love. L.O.V.E."

This may sound corny, but there's a lot of love in this movie. You can't miss MJ's love for his art and his music. You can't miss his love for his fans and his colleagues. When you love what you do, your audience can't help but absorb that positive energy.

This movie shows what it takes to be a creative visionary and a top performer. You can see the blend of talent and skill that goes into being an artist like Michael Jackson. You can also see how putting the audience first has made Michael Jackson millions of fans around the world, including the people hired to work with him on this production.

There are some valuable lessons we can all learn as speakers and performers from watching this movie. Doesn't hurt that it's also as entertaining as heck!

The curse is back!

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:55:58 PST

Download audio here.

One of my favorite concepts to illustrate from "Made to Stick" is the Curse of Knowledge. I've written about it here and here.

We all have some kind of knowledge that others don't have. It becomes a curse when we fail to recognize that what is obvious to us is completely opaque to someone else. Then we have miscommunication, resentment, boredom and all kinds of negative consequences.

Here's an example of the curse that was passed along to me confidentially. No names will be revealed!

Eleanor Entrepreneur has been invited to advertise on Tracy TV's television show. Eleanor Entrepreneur wants to know the benefits to her business and the return on investment of this advertising package. Tracy TV shares with Eleanor Entrepreneur a handout describing "What it takes to produce a television show" in hopes that Eleanor will see the value of contributing her advertising dollars.

(Do I even have to tell you that this is all about the benefit to the television show, and not at all about Eleanor Entrepreneur? But putting that aside...)

Here's the list Eleanor Entrepreneur was given of "What it takes to produce a television show":

Research -- cutting edge -- up to date

Writing -- organizing script, facts, people

Interviews

Shooting video

Lighting

Audio

Director

6 associates

Editing time 1 minute = 3-5 hours

Opening -- design, editing

Locations

Does this make any sense to you? Does it answer any questions? Does it tell you one thing about the time, cost or equipment required to produce a TV show? (This question is obviously for those of you who don't know anything about producing a TV show.)

I laughed out loud when I looked at this list. The TV people clearly think this handout is going to help them gain advertising. However, unless they can overcome their curse of knowledge, the list will only confuse their prospects and as the saying goes, "A confused mind always says no."

Always, ALWAYS make sure that you are explaining concepts in the clearest, simplest, most explicit terms. Do not ever assume that people understand what you're talking about, especially if you are talking about specific industry or business terms that might be considered jargon or lingo.

You don't want to alienate people. You want to draw people to you. You want people to relate to you. You want people to get you. That's how you persuade, sell or motivate.

The curse of knowledge has an antidote: Put yourself in the shoes of your listener. Imagine they don't know what you know. Then make your ideas simple for them. Curse removed!

Is your vocab in a rut?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:38:49 PST

Download audio here.

About ten years ago I was interviewed for my high school alumni magazine. When I read the article for fact checking, what stood out was how little the quotes sounded like me. The writer had taken some artistic license with my words, one of which was apparently "terrific." I don't say "terrific." "Fabulous" or "awesome," but not "terrific." However, I know the writer, and she says "terrific."

We all get into word ruts. We find a word we like and we stick with it. I used to say "a few" until I picked up on my husband's use of "several." Now I say "several" all the time.

During Rachel Maddow's interview with David Brancaccio the other day, Brancaccio said "bunch" a bunch of times (well, only three times) instead of "a lot," or "many," for example. It was noticeable just because he repeated it. And we all do this.

We all have different sets of words we're comfortable with, a language and speaking style we've developed throughout our lives. In addition, not all the words we know are words we speak. Wikipedia explains this well:

"Reading vocabulary

A person's reading vocabulary is all the words he or she can recognize when reading. This is the largest type of vocabulary simply because it includes the other three.

Listening vocabulary

A person's listening vocabulary is all the words he or she can recognize when listening to speech. This vocabulary is aided in size by context and tone of voice.

Writing vocabulary

A person's writing vocabulary is all the words he or she can employ in writing. Contrary to the previous two vocabulary types, the writing vocabulary is stimulated by its user.

Speaking vocabulary

A person's speaking vocabulary is all the words he or she can use in speech. Due to the spontaneous nature of the speaking vocabulary, words are often misused. This misuse – though slight and unintentional – may be compensated by facial expressions, tone of voice, or hand gestures."

How do we explore our vocabulary and get greater usage from it? When I suggest exploring your vocabulary, I'm not suggesting using bigger or more complicated words, or necessarily learning more words (although that's not a bad idea). What I am suggesting is saying what you really mean and using vocabulary to be more clear in your communication. Especially if, like me, you find yourself in a rut using the same words over and over, and you know there are better options.

Say you want to describe something that happened that was "really bad." Was it tragic? Was it horrific? Was it traumatic? Was it scary? Was it gnarly? (A SoCal reference, if that one's not in your vocab.) Was it all of the above? What are you really trying to say? Each word adds a different nuance to the story.

Even if you're not much of a reader, try to find some time for reading books, magazines or newspapers to refresh your vocabulary. And if you come across a word you're not familiar with, get out your dictionary or bookmark one for online reference. When I was a kid, "Look it up!" was an everyday exclamation in our house. We also played a lot of word games, like Scrabble and Boggle. Yes, I'm a word nerd, but you don't have to be one to find the value in stimulating your vocabulary.

Also, consider using a thesaurus when you find yourself stuck in a rut. I use Thesaurus.com almost daily when writing, to make sure I'm not using the same stale old words but -- and this is important -- I try to find words that are still "me." If I never say "terrific" in conversation, it's doubtful I'm going to use it in a blog post.

Here's a page on building your vocabulary with some entertaining (I wanted to say "fun" but forced myself not to) quizzes and a lot of helpful links.

Are you mispronounciating your words?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:21 PDT

Download audio here.

A client told me recently that she sometimes has trouble pronouncing words properly because she was raised by parents from another country and still has a bit of their accent at times. I suggested that she's not pronouncing words incorrectly if that's how they're pronounced in another English-speaking country. But she's self-conscious about it, so I decided to devote today's blog post to pronunciation.

How do you know if you're pronouncing words properly? You probably don't, because most of us have ways of speaking that we've developed over a lifetime of influence from parents, friends, our culture, and our state or region. The way we say things is the way we say things, and no one is going to tell us when we're wrong.

However, there are some words that are frequently mispronounced by native English speakers that have nothing to do with region or accent. One of the very first blog posts I wrote three years ago was about the mispronunciation of the word "a." There is one pronunciation for the word "a" and a different pronunciation for the letter "a."

Here are some other words that are frequently mispronounced/misunderstood. How many of these do you say?

No: Antartic | Yes: Antarctic

No: card shark | Yes: cardsharp

No: chomp at the bit | Yes: champ at the bit

No: excape | Yes: escape

No: expresso | Yes: espresso

No: forte (fortay) | Yes: fort (I only discovered this about a year ago!)

No: heighth | Yes: height

No: mannaise | Yes: mayonnaise

No: nuptual | Yes: nuptial

No: perculate | Yes: percolate

No: sherbert | Yes: sherbet

No: supposably | Yes: supposedly

No: triathalon | Yes: triathlon

For more fun with mispronounced words, check out this list. You will be shocked to see some of these; I guarantee it. You can click on the link for each correct word and hear the proper pronunciation.

If you're not sure about a word, look it up. Study lists like the one above to make sure you know what you're talking about. Pronunciation plays a big role in a presentation; don't let yours be a distraction to the audience. Maintain your credibility and authority as a speaker and an expert by using and pronouncing words properly.

It's just emotion

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:47:00 PDT

Download audio here.

I met with a client yesterday whose goal is to be really good at engaging the audience: making sure that they're enjoying themselves and making it worth their while to attend her presentation. Wow. That's not a goal I hear every day, believe it or not.

The main reason I believe she'll achieve her goals is that she has emotion on her side. She is passionate about her topic and thrilled to talk about it. She doesn't have to fake it or dig deep to find the excitement; it's right there on the surface.

The more we talked, the more ideas she came up with for engaging the audience, for finding new groups to speak to, and for bringing props and visuals to improve the presentation. To put it simply, she's fired up.

On the one hand, she lacks confidence. She's worried about what people think of her. She loses her train of thought and dwells on what movements she's making with her hands. She lacks experience.

On the other hand, her emotion can easily be felt by anyone who listens to her animated discussion about her topic, and I guarantee that the audience won't notice her nervousness or her hand gestures, because they'll be making an emotional connection with her.

In a way, she's lucky. Her topic combines history, art, culture and local historic places. The visuals associated with her presentation are stunning. It's not hard to imagine an audience falling for it. Whereas, you might be presenting on insurance fraud or VOIP technology and finding it a little more difficult to dig up some emotion to draw in your audience.

Why do you need emotion? Because facts aren't enough. If you want to persuade people, if you want them to do something as a result of your presentation, you will have to appeal to their emotions as well.

So here are some ideas to help you.

1. What's funny about your topic?

What makes you and your colleagues laugh when you're talking about your work? What funny stories do you take home to your spouse at the end of the day? If your audience can relate, use it in your presentation.

2. What's frustrating about your topic?

What drives you, your colleagues, or your clients crazy? Those long, complicated forms? Piles of cables and cords in your clients' homes? Bad customer service, clueless drivers, late fees on invoices? Whatever it is, tell the story. Make your audience feel that frustration!

3. What's inspiring about your topic?

Who have you helped? How have they succeeded? How much money have you raised for charity? How many foreign exchange students have you educated? Find the inspiration in what you do, who you help, how you change the world, and share that with your audience.

Keep going and ask yourself: What makes people angry about my topic? What makes people sad about my topic? What makes people scared about my topic?

No matter what your topic is, there are ways to appeal to your audience's emotions. And emotion is what will keep them engaged and will move them to take action.

Other posts on emotion:

There is no such thing as a dry topic

Don't forget the emotional appeal

Act your age

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:34:50 PDT

Download audio here.

On a recent episode of "Little People, Big World," high school senior Zachary is struggling in his speech class. One problem right off the bat is his mumbling and lack of enunciation. There are some episodes of the show where they put subtitles to Zach's words because he's so hard to understand. Here's what I think he said:

"I don't particularly care for public speaking, because [it's a lot of nuisance?] and you have to be like all formal and specific. Speech class is one of the classes I do to get it over with."

This is a typical attitude about public speaking, unfortunately, and I wonder how much effort the teacher makes to thwart this idea. The episode shows Zach getting one of the lowest grades in class for his impromptu speech. He's actually upset and complains to his family about it. Twin brother Jeremy (who's also in the class) says, "How about this? Better yet, you just actually be prepared?" Zach says, "I was prepared."

We then move on to Zach's next speech, where he has to demonstrate how to make a cake. His mom goes over it with him, making a practice cake and even asks at one point if anything needs to be written down. Zach says no. Then Zach goes and hangs out with his friends and leaves the cake in the oven, forgetting to take it out, and mom comes to the rescue.

When he demonstrates the cake in class, he clearly appears not to know what he's doing, and is completely disorganized. He gets a C and later rants, "Just because I don't have a little intro on a piece of paper, she gave me a C." Apparently the teacher had been expecting a "five-point introduction," which Zach has failed to mention or prepare for.

At the end of the segment he point out that it's just a C in speech class and "Who cares?"

Now, I get that Zach is a teenager, and that he doesn't quite understand the importance of a lot of what he's learning in school. We were all there at some point, weren't we? It doesn't help if our teachers don't demonstrate the value and benefits of learning what we're learning, teaching by the "Because I said so" method.

But here's what I don't get: Why do so many adults who are in the real world, trying to succeed in their jobs and in business do the same thing?

We can make a lot of excuses for Zach, although I hope he, at some point, takes seriously the need to express himself better.

But what excuses are you making?

You know that taking more time to prepare your presentation will make it better.

You know that practicing will make your presentation better.

You know that being an expert on your topic will improve your chances for promotions and advancement.

You know that being an authority on your topic will bring you more respect and more business.

You know all these things, yet you approach your presentations the way a high school senior who doesn't care about school approaches his homework. Like it's a drag. Like it's pointless. Like "Who cares?"

You don't have parents breathing down your neck about getting into college. All you have is yourself, your dreams, your desires, your motivation, your consequences.

Keep making excuses, or take responsibility for your own success. You're a grownup now.

You have what it takes to be a hero

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:33:16 PDT

Download audio here.

I read this lovely blog post yesterday by Lin Stone about a Sunday school group he used to teach, and his method for encouraging the children to try public speaking.

His uncomplicated approach was wonderful to read about:

1. He suggests the students do the impossible. This creates an air of excitement and anticipation of what's to come.

2. When they balk after learning what the "impossible" is going to be -- speaking in front of the church congregation -- he simply encourages them with "You can do it."

3. He teaches them how to research and prepare their talks, but suggests they not write down or memorize their material. His goal for them is to connect with the audience.

The students are prepared, but not having written notes or memorized material gives them freedom not to "lose their place" or forget what they were going to say. They know what they want to say, and they will deliver it without crutches or dependence.

4. He gives them a simple test: If they can clench their toes or touch their thumb to forefinger before the speech, then they are ready to go forward. This means that their mind is in control, and not the fear.

5. The last thing he asks them to do is to touch the microphone briefly before they begin talking:

"When you go to the lectern I want you to reach out and touch that microphone for just a second so you will remember its purpose is to connect you with every person out there in the congregation. You have something important to say, you want it to be heard. That microphone is your best friend."

This is such a sweet, simple story. Please make sure you get over there and read it. And of course, the children all do well, even while their parents are petrified at the prospect.

If only we could go back to that time when we were children, and we were yet to develop so many insecurities about what people think of us. If only we could go back to the time when "doing the impossible" was actually possible in our minds and we were willing to take that leap of faith without needing beta blockers or a glass of wine to get us through it!

We build up so much drama about public speaking and how much we're supposed to hate and fear it. Wouldn't it be great to let that go and just DO it?

Don't panic, plan it

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:25:01 PDT

Download audio here.

In my vast experience with panic attacks, I've learned to use various tools to help me through the intensity of the situation, some of which I shared in the linked blog post.

But something that is equally important to mention is how to prepare and take care of yourself so you face fewer of these attacks in the first place. You may not even experience full-fledged panic, but you can still prepare yourself so you don't put yourself in situations that trigger anxiety. These tricks have worked for me; maybe they'll work for you!

1. Get enough sleep

When you're tired, it's easy to overload your circuits. When you're tired, it's harder for your mind and body to handle difficult situations. If you have a presentation coming up, especially, make sure you get a good night's sleep for a few nights leading up to it.

People are shocked when I tell them what time I get up in the morning (no, it's not 5:30 a.m.), but this is what works for me and what makes me feel the most rested. You know when you're not getting enough sleep and, in fact, you may be chronically sleep-deprived. Not a good habit to get into, either for speaking or for your life in general.

2. Eat healthy food and stay hydrated

Your body needs fuel for energy. How do you expect to get up in front of a large group and give your all for an hour or more when all you've had to eat was a cup of tea and a piece of toast?

Make sure that you are well hydrated and have eaten enough actual nutrients (only you can know what works for you, but let me just say that junk food doesn't have much in the way of nutrients), so your brain doesn't stop working and you don't pass out at the end of your talk.

3. Avoid aggravating triggers

I don't mean panic triggers here. What I mean is, avoid the things that you know will upset or aggravate your system in some way. It might be some food that doesn't agree with you, or cigarette smoke that aggravates your asthma or allergies. For me, it's caffeine, particularly coffee.

When I'm at a conference, I tend to drink coffee because that's what's available, preferably decaf. But I have to be really careful not to drink coffee before a presentation because 1) it makes me incredibly hyper - more so than I already am, 2) the acidity upsets my stomach, and 3) I would have to run out of the room three times to use the restroom. If I were anxious about speaking, drinking coffee would exacerbate my anxiety tenfold.

4. Know what you're getting into

In this post, I wrote about preparing for the things that you fear, like losing your place or the audience noticing your nervousness. And it's always good to know how you would handle these kinds of situations.

However, it's also important to take your own physical and mental health and comfort into account during your presentation.

For example (speaking of food again...) if I know I'm going to be in a training for several hours, I bring snacks to eat in the breaks. If I don't, I will become hungry, then weak, then lightheaded. I know myself.

If you have a hard time speaking for long periods of time, break up the presentation so your audience does some of the work for you in small groups. If your feet hurt when you wear heels, don't wear heels, or invest the time and money in comfortable ones. If you're always hot or cold, check the room in advance to make sure you're dressed appropriately for the temperature.

There's so much to think about when preparing for your presentation, but your mental and physical health and comfort are just as important as the presentation itself. Take care of yourself and the rest will come much easier.

How do you care for yourself before presentations? Share in the comments!

Only connect! 9 ways to do it

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:56:28 PDT

Download audio here.

"Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die." ~ Howard's End

I love this statement: Only connect. It is the crux of human relationships, of course. And it is the crux of the speaker/audience relationship. You can have good material, perfect organization and skilled delivery, but if you don't connect with the audience, something critical is missing.

I also find that connecting "the prose and the passion" to be critical for a speaker, both internally and externally.

Connecting the prose and the passion internally means we are whole and complete; we are not ruled by either logic or emotion, but give both their equal time and weight. We don't value one over the other but embrace the practicality and benefits of both.

Externally, this translates to a speaker who is able to use facts and words as skillfully as emotion and expressiveness in engaging and impacting the audience. As Garr Reynolds says in his book "Presentation Zen." "A presentation is never just about facts."

How does one connect with an audience?

1. Find out who's in the audience so you can get to know them in advance and provide material that they care about. Come early to meet some of them.

2. Don't try to be perfect. It's not even possible, and the audience doesn't expect it.

3. Tell your own stories that illustrate your points. Your stories reveal a bit of who you are as a person, not just as a speaker.

4. Embrace your uniqueness and fall in love with the real you. When you're content with who you are, the audience can feel it.

5. Don't copy other speakers. Yes, learn from successful speakers, but don't copy their movements, their vocal cadence, their stories (yes, people do this!) or their style. You already have your own style. Develop that.

6. Add a personal touch to presentations. I use a picture of my cat in one presentation, Barbie dolls in another. I use props and images that I enjoy, that work for me, and happen to express something about who I am. Let the audience get to know you a little.

7. Be honest. If you mess up or forget your place, don't make a big deal about hiding your mistake unless it's so tiny no one will notice. If you need to go back and find your place, say so. Nobody cares.

8. Smile. Open up. Show warmth, humor and friendliness.

9. Stay after to talk to people.

Share in the comments how you connect with your audiences.

Meet my allergy doctor

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:11:13 PDT

Download audio here.

My doctor is always thinking about how to put his patients first.

When I met with him Wednesday about changing my allergy medication, he suggested one that might work better for me and told me where I could buy the generic version for the lowest price in town.

He referred me to another doctor and gave me the inside scoop on how I could get an appointment right away and not have to wait a month.

He clarified incorrect information a pharmacist had given me with clear and understandable language.

He wasn't promoting himself, his medical group, or a pharmaceutical company.

In this brief appointment, my doctor gave me more value than many business people I work with, and many speakers.

He wasn't in a hurry to tell me what he wanted to tell me.

He listened to my needs and gave suggestions accordingly.

He freely shared resources that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

This is plain-old good customer service, and it doesn't matter if you're a doctor, speaker, sales clerk, bank teller, software engineer, marketing guru, life coach, artist, manufacturer or server: This is the minimum you should be providing your audience or client.

When's the last time you experienced really great customer service? It stands out, doesn't it? Do you stand out like this?

Another giveaway! There's an Adult in My Soup!

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:31:18 PDT

One of my favorite blogs to read has been the Escape Adulthood blog by Kim and Jason Kotecki.

Even though it -- technically -- has nothing to do with public speaking, I have always found it relevant to what a lot of people go through in avoiding public speaking. The fear of looking foolish, the fear of trying new things, the fear of standing out: all symptoms of "adultitis," a term coined by Kim and Jason to explain a condition "marked by chronic dullness, mild depression, moderate to extremely high stress levels, a general fear of change, and, in some extreme cases, the inability to smile."

Here are some posts where I've referenced their concepts:

Overwhelmed and busy ... do we have a choice?

It's okay to be a beginner

The secret to productivity ... and public speaking?

Who cares if you mess up?

ANYWAY, they've got a new book out, called "There's an Adult in My Soup," a compilation of essays and blog posts -- "recipes for cooking up the life of your dreams." And I'm going to give one away (signed!) to celebrate my third anniversary of blogging, and also because I think everyone needs less adultitis in their lives.

Some of my favorite essays:

"Busy: The New Four-Letter Word," is about how adults tend to compete over who's busiest. The problem is, nobody wins in this competition. It's all lose-lose.

Kim officially makes the word "busy" a bad word. As she says, "The funny thing is that everyone has the same amount of time, so if you are 'busy' it's your own fault. The flaw is in you."

"FTERA. Do You Have It?" Failure To Enjoy Recent Accomplishments is a new malady discovered by Jason's father where we do not take time "to delight in the little things and maintain perspective." (See my blog Yay Life! for more on enjoying the little things.)

FTERA is about always wanting or needing the next thing to come along. We can't be content to be satisfied with what's already accomplished; we have to constantly be grasping for the next event/activity/project.

"Stress Begets Stress" Kim says, "I happened upon an article talking about the trend of commuters leaving earlier and earlier, while also leaving work later in the day to avoid traffic, only to find themselves pulling twelve- to thirteen-hour days. Adultitis, much?"

"The lesson here is simple. YOU are in charge of your life. If it's a stressed-out mess, it's time to stop blaming your circumstances and start moving towards change."

"Silly Ideas" How many of you have a "silly" idea that you're afraid to pursue because you're worried about how others will think of you? I thought so. A lot. Kim and Jason encourage "dreaming big and following through on 'silly' ideas."

This book focuses on all of my favorite ideas: taking charge of your life, making your own choices, facing the naysayers, embracing who you are and what you want out of life, and letting your childlike curious and fun-seeking self out of the closet.

If you don't win it in my giveaway, I highly encourage you to buy it. And even if you don't buy it, please take a look at Escape Adulthood. I promise it will inspire you and brighten your day. And who doesn't need some of that?

Tell me in the comments how you fight adultitis in your life! I will draw a random name from the commenters on Monday, October 19. What better day to fight adultitis, adults' most hated day of the week?

Cognitive load -- and overload

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:56:54 PDT

Getting back into the swing of things today! It's nice to be home.

I want to bring your attention to these slides from a talk by Dr. Chris Atherton from the University of Central Lancashire. She talks about the brain's limits of attention and cognitive load, and how we can work around these limitations to make the greatest impact on audience attention and retention.

In short: Traditional slides loaded with text, bullets and clutter don't work! Yep, more research to back up the need for less text and more images. Yay!

Like any good slide show, these visuals are not meant to stand alone. You can get the gist of the presentation from the slides, so do take a look, below. But then head over to Olivia Mitchell's blog, where she has explained the research more thoroughly with the help of the slides and with Dr. Atherton's comments. This is a presentation I would love to see live!

Here's an excerpt:

"Chris suggests that the sparse slides may minimize extraneous cognitive load by creating fewer competing demands on attention — that is, because we don’t need to spend very long processing the visual elements, we have more attention for what the speaker is saying. She adds:

'Having anything on a screen invites people to look at it, the same way their gaze would keep returning to a TV screen in a pub. Since you can’t control the audience’s visual attention, it’s all about controlling what visual information you make available at any given moment, and minimising what is there so it’s not distracting from the spoken narrative, while also ensuring that it is congruent with what you are actually saying.'"

Chris Atherton at TCUK09

View more documents from Chris Atherton.

(Thank you for your support over the past week. If you'd like an update on my mom, I wrote about her here.)

Blogiversary #3

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:03:31 PDT

Today is my third blogiversary! I would have liked to do something special on the blog, but under the circumstances (see last post), just getting here to write this note is an accomplishment!

Thank you so much to my awesome readers for being here and reading when you can. I write for you because I want to share my experience and knowledge, and I hope to make public speaking more fun and less scary. I'm always open to hearing what issues you'd like to know more about.

I'll try to get some new posts up in the next few days.

Blog break

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:33:28 PDT

Hey everyone! I apologize for not writing sooner. My mom had a heart attack on Monday and I've been up in Sacramento with my family since then. We thought we might head home today, but she's had a little backslide, so we're probably going to stick around for the weekend, or at least until we're feeling a little better about her condition. I hope to get back to the blog next week, but if I fall behind, now you know why.

Back soon!

An awkward moment

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:57:09 PDT

Download audio here.

You think you're afraid of making a fool of yourself onstage? Imagine being Lady Gaga on Saturday Night Live, wearing a gyroscope-type costume, first trying not to hit herself in the face with the rig while performing and then figuring out how to sit and play the piano as gracefully as possible.

To acknowledge the delay in the performance as she gingerly seated herself, she gave a little wave to the audience. After playing for a moment, she stopped again to remove her sunglasses, which seemed to be in the way as well. In the break she cheerfully remarked, "Hello SNL!"

Sometimes we face awkward or embarrassing moments during our presentations. Sometimes things don't go as smoothly as planned, even after practicing and rehearsing. But handling these moments with grace and humor goes a long way toward minimizing the discomfort of speaker and audience. Focus on the audience's comfort as well as your own. When you're uncomfortable and awkward, the audience absorbs that feeling and reflects it back.

Have you ever seen an athlete throw a temper tantrum when things didn't go their way? Of course you have. It just makes the situation worse, which is something we've all known since we were toddlers.

Take those clumsy moments lightly. Brush them off as minor nuisances, smile and keep going. You maintain your dignity and the audience maintains their respect for you.

Watch Lady Gaga's performance here:

Yesterday's inspirational speaker: Susan B. Anthony

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:55:48 PDT

Download audio here.

Here's more on Susan B. Anthony from the Cracker Jack prize:

"In her 50 years as a reformer, Susan B. Anthony championed many causes, including the abolishment of slavery and equality for all. But it was her tireless work as an organizer and inspirational speaker for women's rights for which she is best known. She was convinced that truly equal opportunities for women could not be realized until women gained the right to vote. Twenty years after she resigned as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, and fourteen years after her death, the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote."

In fact, the entire women's movement arose from the abolitionist movement, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Susan B. Anthony is one of my heroes; here's a post I wrote about her and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for International Women's Day two years ago: http://coachlisab.blogspot.com/2007/03/international-womens-day-little-late.html.

We should never take for granted the human and civil rights we have today because of the hard work of women and men from past generations. And the fight is not over; people still struggle around the world for basic rights.

How do these advocates make change happen? By speaking out! By using their voices to educate, inform and persuade. By learning how to reach their audiences on an emotional level that motivates them to take action.

And it's not just in front of large audiences that we can effect positive change with our voices. When you hear an offensive comment, do you say something or do you let it go, embarrassed to speak up and confront the person? Change happens one person at a time. Using your voice to make the world a better place is one of the most generous and satisfying ways you can contribute to change.

What would you like to see improved in your community, your state, your country, your universe? Maybe you should consider doing something about it! Speak up!

Guess the inspirational speaker! Win a prize!

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:51:08 PDT

Can You Guess Who I Grew Up to Be? (This quiz is from a Cracker Jack prize.)

"I was the second of eight children born into a strict Quaker family. My father was a stern man who taught us self-discipline and to believe in our own self-worth. I was an intelligent child, learning to read and write by the time I was three. As a Quaker, I was taught that all people were equal, regardless of gender or race, a belief not shared by most people at the time. In fact, because I was a woman, I never had the legal right to vote in my lifetime."

I'll send a copy of my e-book "101 Tips to Improve Your Public Speaking" to the first three people who guess correctly.

P.S. I guessed it on my first try. :-)

Seasoned to perfection

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:55:32 PDT

Download audio here.

As a companion to the post on the Top Chef contestant who had a problem cooking for cowboys, I thought I'd write another chef-centric post, this one about salt.

In the October issue of Gourmet Magazine, there's an article by Grant Achatz, Chef/Owner of Alinea (a restaurant in Chicago), about seasoning. Specifically, the article is about refusing to put salt and pepper on the table, in the belief that the kitchen has seasoned the food perfectly and the chef knows best.

"As a young cook, fresh from cutting my teeth in a diner and moving on to the world of haute cuisine, I thought it was cool that the chef had ultimate control over his food. It was his or her vision, from the kitchen to the diner's mouth. I recognized the element of ego in this choice, and I admit that I liked it."

"I have heard chefs say that they cook only for themselves, that their creations are the result of selfish thinking. They are the artists, and who can understand the vision or intent of the work better? If anyone disagrees, they are dismissed as amateur, rude or simply 'not getting it.'

...But if you put the artist part aside and think of the chef as a craftsman who has the obligation to cook for the public, it's a different story. Each person dining at Alinea on a given night evaluates the food differently. Though we like to push boundaries and love to control the meal so guests experience the restaurant as we intend, occasionally we have to compromise."

He goes on to say that, every now and then, there is a diner who requests salt. This sets off a chain of events where the dishes are tasted and retasted by everyone in the kitchen to make sure they are properly seasoned. Of course they are, but the server returns to the table with a salt shaker just the same. Because that's what the customer wants.

This is a constant fascination to me: The balance between providing what the customer wants and maintaining your own distinctive style and personality.

I have friends who are artists and craftspeople who face this every day. A customer wants something "tweaked" so it reflects her own style. The artist or designer struggles with giving in, "selling out," or saying no and maintaining integrity.

Just yesterday I read this on A Painter's Kitchen:

"Showing at galleries encourages reiteration. An artist is pressured to repeat herself. Do that thing you do. Then do it again. I have clients waiting. Fabric swatches. Not very nourishing to the artistic impulse for exploration. But once you hang work in a gallery- and once you sell- art is business. The creative process gets trimmed to fit. And once you get a check for a painting you thought you'd never part with because you needed to pay a medical bill, there is a certain piece of you now missing. And you sense it. You feel the dull weight of resignation (or disgust) bulge just a little."

"...But painting for yourself is hard. In the real world there is little support or interest in authenticity. It's not even on the radar. When is the last time you heard someone say their goal was to be authentic, or their dream was to become an original thinker?

And forget clients. They want a memory post card, something to accent the drapes, or mark their anniversary."

So here's my general question to my readers today, whether you're a speaker or a chef: How do you balance authenticity, creativity and personal vision with the needs and desires of the varied audiences you serve? Please share in the comments.

There is no such thing as a dry topic

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:10:29 PDT

Download audio here.

I've heard from my clients who are engineers, finance people, doctors and scientists that their topics are dry and boring, that their audiences want tons of data, and that there's no way to make their presentations interesting.

They could not be more wrong.

A topic is dry when the writer or speaker makes it that way. Let me share the example of my high school geometry textbook.

The book introduced two characters named Obtuse Ollie and Acute Alice. They would perform experiments that were analogies for the math problems we were trying to solve. The interaction of these two characters was just one example of the kind of humor and engagement that the book used. Here's one of their challenges (make sure you're on page 317):

Geometry: seeing, doing, understanding By Harold R. Jacobs

This textbook uses art by M.C. Escher, Peanuts^® cartoons, games (including a math game from a 1917 paperback), graphic design, a measure from a musical piece by Bach, the image of a batter's swing, stories, examples from history (tapestries, a silver vase, bridges, etc.) and more.

I was never a top math student, but this class was one of my most enjoyable and most memorable -- and not because of the teacher. This book made all the difference in my interest and ability to learn geometry.

I sat with a client last week who was going to be giving a presentation on cloud computing, a technical topic for an audience who was going to be new to the concept. Going through his slides, I noticed that he had a slide that spelled out the definition of cloud computing.

I suggested he interview people at the conference in the day before his presentation and ask them what they thought "cloud computing" might mean. Then, in the presentation, use the more confusing or humorous responses as definitions of what cloud computing is NOT. That way, he could kick off the talk with some light humor to get the audience engaged before he got into the nitty gritty of the topic.

As a speaker, what stereotypes about your topic are you clinging to? That science can't be interesting? That finance is boring? That insurance puts people to sleep? You can change that. It just takes some creativity, some willingness to challenge the status quo and, as always, your own passion for your topic.

You bring the energy. You bring the enthusiasm. You make it what you want it to be. I'll say it again -- there is no such thing as a dry topic!

Share your examples of presentations you've seen or given that broke the mold of a typical dry topic.

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-772828fe46b8a35cd7843b88701df339}

Public speaking group coaching in Santa Barbara...

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:39:04 PDT

I'm offering a six-week group coaching program in the Santa Barbara area for six people, focusing on building public speaking skills and confidence. If you enjoy a safe and encouraging small group environment, this program is for you!

Do you need help with public speaking, but aren't sure what options are available? Try group coaching! It's a more affordable option than one-on-one coaching, but more personalized than a class.

The group will max out at six people; currently only two slots remain.

Pass the word along and if you have questions or want to sign up, contact me!

Words and actions in alignment

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:24:33 PDT

Download audio here.

I was reading an article on The Positivity Blog, when I was struck with #9 on the list of Gandhi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World:

9. Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self.

Followed by two quotes by Gandhi:

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."

"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."

I'm a big fan of authenticity. In fact, I'm one of those coaches who will tell you to "be yourself," or "just be," a concept that my pal and fellow trainer Laura Bergells thinks is poppycock.

I've written articles about how to discover your own personality and style, how to discover what makes you unique, and falling in love with the real you.

But these Gandhi quotes sent me in a different direction today. A direction that Albert Mehrabian was going in all those years ago!

What I hope to be as a speaker and to see in a speaker is a person who is congruent. When "what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony." When a speaker is congruent, they gain trust.

A large part of engaging an audience and making your message memorable is in gaining trust with the audience. When, in simple terms, your words and your actions don't match, there is a disconnect. When what you say and what you do don't match, the audience is confused. The audience may perceive you to be insincere, they may perceive you to be hiding something, or they may not know what to think at all.

But they will not connect with you, and they probably will not trust you.

As Laura Bergells points out, human beings are complex. Frequently, we can't even make sense of our own thoughts and actions, because knowing and understanding ourselves is a lifelong process. For a person to be completely congruent all the time, with thoughts, words and actions in alignment, that person would have to be completely self-actualized.

However, to reach a desired level of trust with an audience, congruence is critical. Don't portray yourself as open, warm and approachable onstage and then run out the door the minute the presentation is over, for example.

Authenticity and congruence go hand in hand. Being yourself means portraying yourself as you are, showing the world who you are in words and in actions. When your message and your person are aligned, you are more believable, more trustworthy and more credible. And why would you want it any other way?

A suspenseful moment...

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:56:02 PDT

Want to get your audience's attention? Engage them with a story!

That's what the Ad Council is doing right now in a television and radio campaign to promote lifelong literacy, sponsored by the Library of Congress.

Listen to this radio spot they're running:

From the Ad Council site:

"This campaign was created with the Library of Congress in an effort to inspire young readers to become lifelong learners. The objective is to inspire fun and promote literacy in all types of learning. From books to magazines to comics and all other forms, reading really gives kids the opportunity to explore their imaginations.

The PSAs invite kids to 'Explore New Worlds. Read.' Viewers are also encouraged to visit www.Literacy.gov, and explore the Library of Congress site including The Storybook Adventure activity created for this campaign."

The PSA uses a dramatic reading of a suspenseful moment in the book... to learn more, you must go get the book and read it!

This is a great tool to use in a presentation as well. Start your presentation with an exciting story to pique the audience's curiosity and interest ... and make sure to tell them how the story ends before you're done!

Check out more of the Ad Council literacy PSAs here.

Is your presentation bad or just ineffective?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:47:42 PDT

Download audio here.

There's a difference between a bad presentation and an ineffective one. A lot of people give ineffective presentations; most are not actually "bad."

Here's what I consider ineffective:

The content is interesting, but the speaker is dull.

The speaker is interesting, but the content is disorganized.

The speaker's content and delivery are acceptable, but the slides are overloaded with detail and impossible to read.

The speaker hasn't researched the audience, so the content isn't a good fit.

The speaker isn't well prepared, so the presentation rambles.

Do you see what I'm getting at? An ineffective presentation has elements of an effective presentation, but the speaker sabotages herself by not fully preparing or not fully committing to a successful outcome.

A "bad" presentation is actually pretty difficult to pull off. There have to be many elements of ineffective presentations all at once: monotone speaker, text-heavy slides, disorganization, inappropriate content, etc.

Is it better to be "off" in just one area than in every area? Of course! However, a bad presentation is at least memorable for how bad it was. An ineffective presentation just doesn't make an impact at all.

So if you're concerned about giving a bad presentation, you can relax a little. It's not as easy as you think. An ineffective presentation is much easier to put together, much more common than a bad presentation, and much more forgettable.

Pay attention to the details and, if you need some help, download my Presentation Readiness Checklist and Presentation Tools Checklist to make sure you're on the right track.

Notes on the Emmys

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:48:05 PDT

Last night, I watched one of the more enjoyable awards shows I can remember. There was a feeling of lightheartedness and fun in the room that I haven't seen for a long time, if ever.

Host Neil Patrick Harris had energy, personality and a sense of fun that carried the evening. He was silly, charming and, if possible, self-effacing and jokingly pompous at the same time (for losing to Jon Cryer). And his musical opening number showed a side of him that most of us haven't seen.

The winning speeches seemed to follow a similar pattern: fun, heartfelt, passionate and humorous. Some of my favorite moments:

As nominees for best supporting actress in a comedy were announced, each one was shown wearing some sort of silly glasses. Kristin Wiig nearly killed me when she pulled out a monacle, then slowly added a pipe.

When the camera cut to Sarah Silverman, being announced as a nominee for best actress in a comedy, she sat serenely in her seat, straight-faced, wearing a mustache. When the award when to another actor, she glared angrily at the stage. Hilarious.

Jon Cryer, supporting actor in a comedy, winning his first Emmy after four nominations:

"I used to think that awards were just tokens of momentary popularity. But now I realize they are the only true measure of a person's real worth as a human being. So, thank you."

Jeff Probst, reality show host:

"I also want to share this with anybody who has a dream, because I am living my dream right here in this moment. If you have a dream, dream big; pursue it with a passion. In the words of the great storyteller Joseph Campbell, 'The adventure you're ready for is the one you get.' Life is short -- go for it!"

Ken Howard, supporting actor in a made-for-tv movie, first offered to "speed it up as to not be interrupted by a congressmen or a rapper," then thanked stuntwoman Jeannie Epper for donating a kidney to him nine years ago.

Dearbhla Walsh, director of the miniseries "Little Dorrit," thanked her family in Ireland for investing in cable and staying up to watch the Emmys in the middle of the night.

And always one of my favorite speech-makers, Tina Fey (here's what she said last year), winning for best comedy show, said to her co-producer:

"I want to work with you every day until I put you in the ground."

Actors are not always good speech makers (see here and here), but last night everyone seemed to be relaxed and having fun, the best way to ensure an effective speech!

Image: CBS Television - www.cbs.com/specials/emmys

Personal style vs. serving your audience

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:56:36 PDT

Listen to the audio here

Last night on Top Chef, one of the contestants had this to say about the challenge of cooking over a campfire for desert ranchers:

"I don't necessarily think I should change the way I cook for the people I'm cooking for. Cowboys are cowboys. I'm not cooking for the cowboys, though. When a guest comes into your restaurant, you don't create a menu based on where they come from. You cook your food and they either like it or they don't."

I don't entirely disagree. The way he cooks is his personal style. He shouldn't change that for anyone, because that's what makes him unique.

However, these cowboys aren't coming to his restaurant. This challenge is more like a catered event where the chef is indeed working for the people he's cooking for. He may not need to change his cooking style, but he does need to change his attitude.

After all, this is a competition. The judges want to know who can best execute the spirit of the challenge: cooking over open campfires in the desert for ranchers who work hard all day. Does the food taste good and also suit the needs of the ranchers?

The show wouldn't devise such challenges if the chefs were going to be allowed to cook whatever they wanted in every challenge, with the perfect ingredients and the comforts of their home kitchens. They do that every day in their own restaurants.

The judges are asking the contestants to open their minds, stretch their imaginations and abilities, and push themselves beyond what is comfortable. If they can achieve this and still make good food, they will succeed on the show.

Speakers face the same challenges, although not artificially created by a judging panel. Every speaking event is a chance to expand our efforts, to try new things and to find new and better ways to engage the audience and serve their needs. The more we stretch, the more we explore what makes our presentations successful with different audiences, the more success we will achieve.

An easy tip to customize your content

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:00:02 PDT

I watched part of Kevin Nealon's stand-up special, "Now Hear Me Out" last night, and I was struck by this one moment in the routine.

He's talking about picking baby names and using names of commercial products so that he can get his children sponsored through college.

He mentions Velveeta and Zoloft, then says he even considered "Keyes, Keyes, Keyes -- Keyes on Van Nuys!"

The show was taped in Hollywood, and Keyes on Van Nuys is a local Los Angeles auto dealership. (Listen to the jingle below.)

Mr. Nealon lives in L.A., and he's probably heard that jingle before. He probably didn't have to do much research to find a local advertisement that the audience would be familiar with.

However, this week he was performing in Tempe, Arizona. Do you suppose this joke would have the same impact on audiences in Tempe? Probably not!

This is the kind of subtle tweak that performers and speakers make, from gig to gig, to make sure that at least some of their content is customized to the group.

It's as simple as watching some local television or picking up a local newspaper. Find some local tidbits that fit into your presentation or routine and freshen up your material for each audience.

I wonder what ubiquitous local commercial he inserted into his Tempe show...

Visual improv activity

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 09:14:54 PDT

I can't wait to use this exercise in one of my workshops. So much fun and so effective at forcing people to think on their feet -- but in a fun way!

Cliff Atkinson's Visual Improv Exercise from Lisa Braithwaite on Vimeo.

Are you on fire?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:21:56 PDT

At yesterday's referrals group meeting, everyone was on fire! Introductions were funny and clever, 10-minutes speeches were entertaining, and everyone seemed to have extra energy and enthusiasm.

The 30-second commercials were especially entertaining. Here are some examples.

Melanie Tunnell, a seamstress (after briefly describing her business): "I sew. What can I say?" I think this got the biggest laugh of the day.

Sheri Mize, an interior designer: "I merge couples, I separate couples..."

Calla Gold, a jeweler: "I'll check your prongs..."

Teri Breier, a copywriter: "Call a higher power; call the writing goddess!"

Stephanie Burris, an optometrist, playing off both Calla's theatricality and Teri's "goddess" theme, gave an outlandish and colorful commercial, calling herself the "eye goddess," and waving her arms in a dramatic fashion modeled after Calla.

Ellen Lilley, a Shaklee representative (cleaning products, vitamins, etc.): "We need this kind of excitement every month...so don't get the flu!"

Our speakers were also creative. Nicole Clancy, a personal trainer, created a game show-type poster with the top ten excuses people give for not exercising. We attacked the excuses one by one, offering solutions for each, until there were no excuses left. Fun and effective learning!

Valerie Burns, an image consultant, handed out a quiz for each of us to assess our own effectiveness and comfort level with our professional appearance and relationship with our closets. It was a great way to get us thinking about where we could improve (cleaning out the closet more frequently, making sure we're not hanging onto clothes we never wear or that don't fit, for example), without judgment or putting individuals on the spot.

Connie Brown, a Send Out Cards consultant, had realized that there was no Internet access in the meeting room, so her future daughter-in-law Kimberly, a videographer, created a mock web tutorial in PowerPoint. The tutorial showed how easy it is to send a card when you don't have to shop for a card, find a stamp, and stand in line at the post office. It was a convincing presentation.

The people in this group are not professional speakers, but because they are open to constant improvement and willing to keep trying something new in describing how they help their clients, their presentations and introductions never get stale. Month after month, they find new ways to get their message across to a group who already knows what they do.

How do you keep your flame from sputtering out?

5 days left to take my poll!

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:29:16 PDT

If you're reading Speak Schmeak in a reader, you may not have seen my poll. I'm asking readers to help me decide if I should add an audio version of each post, or just keep things the way they are.

Please go to Speak Schmeak to vote!

(Yes, it will be my voice you will hear on the audio. Some people have asked.)

You don't hate public speaking. You're doing it right now.

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:47:21 PDT

Let's talk about all the ways you "speak in public" every day.

You meet new people at a party.

You ask for help at Best Buy.

You run a meeting at work.

You ask a question at a meeting at work.

You order a sandwich at Subway.

You talk on your cell phone while you're walking down the street.

You persuade your coworkers to adopt a new practice.

You tell a story while hanging out with your friends.

You publish posts on a blog, tweets on Twitter or messages on Facebook that reach hundreds or thousands of people.

Technically, the definition of public speaking involves presenting to a group of people in a structured setting with an outcome in mind. But all of the above examples involve you speaking out loud in front of people.

So why is it so much more nervewracking when you prepare content for a predetermined presentation to a group of people?

1. You're afraid of forgetting what you were going to say.

Hmmm. Doesn't that happen every day in conversations with your friends and coworkers? But in that setting, it's not the end of the world if you lose your place in a story. You just back up and keep going. You can do this in a presentation, too. The audience won't judge you any more than your friends will. In fact, the audience will be a lot nicer about it than your friends!

2. You're afraid of being judged.

You post comments to the world on Twitter and Facebook, and talk to your boyfriend on the phone while sitting in Starbucks, and certainly people are judging you. We all judge each other all the time; it's a fact of life. But that doesn't mean that people aren't supportive and interested in what you have to say.

The reality is that people form impressions of you based on what you say, what you write, how you dress, how you do your hair. There's no way to escape it, so be who you are, face your audience with confidence and let go of the concern for what people think of you.

3. You're afraid of looking foolish.

You ask for help all the time. You ask for directions, you ask which router is better than another one, you ask the postal clerk which shipping method is fastest or least expensive. You're not expected to know everything in the "real world," so why do you pressure yourself to know everything when you're giving a presentation?

Of course, you're the expert on your topic, and you should know what you're talking about. But nobody knows everything about everything. There are probably people in the audience who know things that you don't know. So why not incorporate that into your presentation?

Embrace the learning that comes with a diverse audience. Ask them to share their experiences and knowledge. If you don't know something, say so and ask if anyone else has an answer. No big deal.

4. You're afraid of being boring.

Guess what: No one wants to hear your cell phone conversation, either. That's really boring to most people. But when you're speaking to an audience, they've come specifically to hear you speak. They want to hear what you have to say. So right there, you're already ten times more interesting than to most people you encounter in a day!

Now just make sure that you've learned about your audience and taken into account what they care about and what they want to know. Make sure that you've researched what makes them tick, and make sure that you've thought of some ways to interact with them so the whole presentation isn't about you. You will not be boring. I promise.

These are just a few examples of how the "public speaking" you do every day translates over into a formal presentation. Give it some thought, and you'll realize that you're always speaking in public. How can you take that information and apply it in other settings?

Audience's facial expressions affect our language

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:29:57 PDT

BPS Research Digest recently published an article on how the facial expression of a listener affects the way the speaker uses language. Here's an excerpt:

"Audiences differ. Talk to one person and your words are welcomed by a smile and nod of acknowledgment. Speak to another, less winsome listener and your words are confronted by a frown and folded arms. According to Camiel Beukeboom, these different responses systematically alter your use of language. Speak to a positive listener and you'll likely use more abstractions and subjective impressions, whilst if you talk to a negative listener you'll probably find yourself sheltering in the security of objective facts and concrete details."

I find that I do work harder to prove my points when audience members looks skeptical or closed-minded; when the audience appears to be "with me," smiling, nodding, accepting, I tend to go in a more emotional direction. I'm curious now to observe my future presentations more closely for the above-mentioned phenomenon.

Have you ever experienced this -- consciously -- as a speaker?

Read the full article here.

Did you bring batteries?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:49:18 PDT

Here's a quick example of what I'm talking about when I harp on preparation over and over again.

Yesterday, as I set up my equipment for a presentation, I noticed that my remote wasn't working. I tried plugging the drive into different ports, but that wasn't the problem.

I realized that the batteries must be dead, so I pulled some batteries out of my bag and changed them.

Still dead.

Again, I switched ports, and nothing worked.

About to give up on the remote, I decided to try another set of batteries. Because, yes, I had about six extra batteries in my bag.

Guess what: The next set of batteries worked! The remote came to life and my presentation went on as planned.

I hope you always have a "Plan B" for whatever might go wrong. But do you also have a "Plan C?" Or even a "Plan D?" Think about every aspect of your presentation, not just your words. Think about your activities, your handouts, your equipment, your venue, your props, your business cards, your hydration, your sleep the night before...

Don't leave anything to chance. And by the way, unexpected events might still happen! But the more you prepare, the calmer and more relaxed you'll be and the better you'll be able to handle those unexpected events.

Remote control cars and memorable presentations

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:21:52 PDT

If you want your presentation to be informative and fun and memorable, take a lesson from the hosts of Top Gear.

It's a show about cars. And in the course of each show, various cars are driven, raced, analyzed, discussed and thoroughly examined.

However, the way the information is delivered is what makes it memorable. In every episode, the hosts find a way to show the cars' performance and features while also making a game out of driving the car.

Here are just a few examples of what they've done:

Raced full-size cars using remote controls

Raced three cars as far as they would go on one tank of gas

Raced a car to the top of a mountain against a rock climber climbing the cliff face

Raced a car to the airport against a boat and a bike

And one of my favorites: Placed one car on top of the other, with the steering wheel in one car and the brakes/accelerator in the other. Two drivers had to become one to race the car.

Sure, it's all silliness. But it gets your attention. It's entertaining. And you also learn a lot about the cars.

From driving the car around a race track to jumping it over a trailer, Top Gear takes a show about cars and makes it unusual, unpredictable and endlessly fascinating! Can your audiences say the same about your presentations?

Put yourself center stage

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:34:16 PDT

One of the problems with PowerPoint presentations is the belief that the PowerPoint IS the presentation, that the slides are more important than the speaker.

Here's another contributor to the problem: The placement of the screen.

In rooms where there's a fixed or permanent screen, it's almost always in the center of the front wall. This means that the speaker has to stand off to the side or, in small rooms, in the corner (I've spoken from the corner of the room many times!). Sometimes the speaker stands in front of the screen and slides play across his forehead...

This, of course, puts the slide show center stage and the speaker in a secondary position of importance.

If you are speaking in a venue where the screen is not fixed, ask for it to be placed in the corner or to the left of the speaker (who will take center stage) at an angle to the audience. When the screen is to the left of the speaker, it is then to the right of the audience, which makes it easier to flow visually from speaker to slides and back again.

If you must speak from the corner, try to seat the audience so that they are facing you, with the screen to their right. Just because the room is square or rectangular, there's no reason the audience has to sit square to the front wall.

Visit your venue in advance and clarify with the organizer where you will stand and the screen will be placed.

Don't give up your power to PowerPoint. Be the center of attention!

Build your confidence with The Confidence Course!

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:11:17 PDT

Starting in September, I will be running a six-week class in Santa Barbara with local vocal coach and opera singer Carol Ann Manzi that will cover all aspects of presenting yourself effectively, whether in interviews, public speaking engagements, networking events or other one-on-one or group presentation opportunities.

The program is called The Confidence Course and you can learn more here. Class size is limited to 15, so if you're in Santa Barbara, get registered asap!

A PowerPoint fairy tale

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:00:05 PDT

I don't think I've ever posted Rowan Manahan's famous (or soon-to-be-famous) PowerPoint version of Cinderella, and I apologize, because it's beyond clever.

What's missing here is the actual presenter telling the bedtime story, but you'll get the gist. Here's the original accompanying post for a little more on what's behind this presentation.

In a nutshell, "PowerPoint is not always the answer, even if it will communicate 'the basic facts' to your audience." Enjoy!

Power Point 20th Anniversary Cinderella

View more presentations from Rowan Manahan.

Seven ways to kickstart the creative process

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:00:01 PDT

"Thanks for inviting me to the meeting on Saturday. It was lots of fun and I am motivated to learn and grow more in this creative endeavor of presenting.

Unfortunately not enough people see it as a creative process and that is where most presenters are stuck."

I received this e-mail from a client recently, and I honestly have to say that it filled me with joy. I wish more people approached presenting as the creative (and fun) process it can be rather than the boring, rule-laden chore they make it.

Here are some ideas for facing your next presentation with an open, creative thought process:

1. Try on a new perspective and be willing to brainstorm and try new ideas.

2. Ask yourself, "Why have we always done it this way? What would be the benefit to my audience of offering something new?"

3. Put yourself in the audience's shoes: "What would I like to see and hear if I were an audience member?"

4. Ask yourself, "What do I REALLY want to say?" Take the risk of being honest and authentic.

5. Let yourself feel uncomfortable as you entertain these new ideas and challenges. You don't have to keep every idea, but brainstorm enough that you have some to throw away and some to keep.

6. If you normally start creating your presentation in PowerPoint, try creating an outline in Word. If you normally start in Word, try handwriting some ideas. If you normally write, try storyboarding.

7. Stop worrying about being seen as "different" and let yourself be unique.

There are so many more ways to open your mind to the creative process. Please share in the comments some ideas for getting out of your comfort zone when creating a presentation.

20 years later...

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:50:00 PDT

Today I'll be off with Bub, doing this...

and this...

Because 20 years ago today, we were doing this...

and this...

See you soon!

Stumbles, fumbles and mumbles

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:38:01 PDT

When Rachel Maddow takes a vacation or is out sick from The Rachel Maddow Show, Alison Stewart usually fills in as guest host. I don't know if it's a case of not enough prep time or just not being very good at reading the teleprompter, but she seems to have a lot of trouble getting her words out.

She trips over her tongue about once per paragraph, her stumble sometimes only slightly noticeable ("ot" for "not") and sometimes unmistakable ("If your conspiracy theater...theory...spidey sense is going off right now...").

On last night's show she acknowledged her awkwardness mid-sentence:

"But you won't spit your lime thirky lick...(laughs) oh, boy. You won't spit your lime rickey through your nose in surprise...."

News readers and talk show hosts will not usually acknowledge a mistake; there's just no time to keep backing up and saying, "Excuse me..." in the middle of a sentence. They just keep plowing through their script, hoping for the best.

We all make these little stumbles from time to time, and inexperienced speakers who are trying to be perfect can find them embarrassing and feel a need to acknowledge or apologize.

Let me suggest that you follow the news readers' cue and let these stumbles just roll on by. If you ignore them, the audience will, too. In the case of Alison Stewart, it's hard to ignore as it's a regular occurrence. But for most of us, who aren't filling in at the last minute for a talk show host and reading from a teleprompter, it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

In the case of a "lime thirky licky rickey" type of moment, I think a little humor is called for. I have tripped over my tongue like this in presentations, and it's pretty funny. So go with it. Have a laugh, say "oops" and move on.

As with most minor mistakes, we're all human and your audience appreciates that about you!

Self-serving introductions and butt-kissing thank yous

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:31:37 PDT

I downloaded an e-book the other day that went like this:

Title page
Second title page
Copyright page
Publisher page
About the authors (2 pages)
Contents
Foreword (5 pages)
Introduction by one of the authors (2 pages)
Chapter 1

I was fifteen pages into the e-book before the actual content began.

If you were to approach an audience like this, the room would be empty by the time you started your actual presentation.

The e-book is 44 pages long. The introductory pages make up 1/3 of the whole book. Imagine taking 20 minutes out of your hour-long presentation to talk about yourself and your history and the background of your presentation.

This was a free e-book, which makes me think that the authors were trying to get all their marketing information up front. But guess what: I don't care about all of that! I can wait till the end to read about the authors and their credentials and their accolades. What I want is content. Information. Value.

If you do nothing else in your presentation, don't waste the audience's time. Respect your audience by giving them what they've come for. Don't make them wait through your self-serving introduction and butt-kissing thank yous.

Get right down to business. It's the least you can do.

Loading...loading...loading...

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:51:25 PDT

I attended a meeting last week where one of the speakers was going to talk about and demonstrate her VOIP product. Shortly before she was to start her ten-minute presentation, her assistant hooked up the phone equipment and it began to boot up.

She had planned on calling a colleague to demonstrate the phone's video capability and had scheduled the call for a certain time. As she went through her presentation, the phone continued to boot. She paused... she hesitated. The phone was still booting. She came to the end of her ten minutes and was still unable to make the call.

The meeting continued on with other speakers and other business and, in the end, she had to wait until the meeting was over to show the phone to anyone who could stay behind.

The unfortunate results were that:

1) She was unable to present to the whole group

2) The phone ended up looking like a troublesome product

3) She ended up looking like she didn't know her product very well

This could all have been avoided with proper preparation. Instead of booting up the equipment right before the presentation, she could have hooked it all up right when she arrived to make sure it was working properly.

Planning and preparation are not the most glamorous aspects of presenting, but without them, you are taking a big risk with your presentation.

Is social media a fad?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:00:00 PDT

For many of my coaching clients, Twitter, Facebook, blogs and sometimes even websites are as foreign to them as the moon. I have spent a lot of time educating them about the importance in 2009 of creating a presence not just on stage, but on the social media stage. And it's working! My clients are starting blogs, joining social networking sites, and getting their names, products and services out there.

How about you? Are you still resisting? Watch this video. I hope it changes your mind. (Thanks to Chris Spagnuolo at EdgeHopper for the heads up on this video.)

The endless pause

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:04:45 PDT

On last week's episode of Monk, I watched as the characters sat through one of the most delicious and awkward pauses I've ever seen.

Monk and Samuel are tied up in the back of a delivery truck, being driven to a remote location by a killer. Samuel turns to Monk and says:

"I have an idea... I have an idea. Can you reach into my pants?"

They look at each other.

Pause.

Pause.

Pause.

Pause.

Pause.

"Yesss...?"

"My cigarette lighter."

They burn the ropes and escape.

Ten seconds! It was brilliant. It was funny. It was dramatic. It was unexpected. It made the scene.

Want to add some drama to your presentation? Add an extra-long pause!

Research help: Imagine the audience naked?

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:29:28 PDT

I received an e-mail today from Scott Berkun, who's researching a public speaking book and is stumped on one piece of speaking lore:

"I'm a fan of your blog and an author finishing up a book on public speaking called Confessions of a Public Speaker (O'Reilly Media, 2009).

I'm stuck on a research matter and hoped you and your blog readers could help.

Perhaps the oldest advice in the world on public speaking is to imagine the audience naked, but no one seems to know what the source of this (bad) advice is.

One reader of my blog dug up some mentions of Churchill, but they're from books with no references.

I've asked a few university professors and they didn't know.

Hope you can help - I'd be grateful.

Cheers,

-Scott"

So, readers, can anyone help out? Read Scott's post to see where he's already looked. And as he mentions above, the Churchill suggestions seem to have no references, so if you know where this is cited, let us know!

And I'd like to acknowledge Scott for his thorough research. How many times have you read books or listened to speakers who repeat stale statistics that are not -- and may never have been -- supported? Sounds like Scott is having none of that. Already makes me want to read the book!

Make your audience feel special

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:24:20 PDT

We saw a lesser-known local band perform recently at a community event. Bub was intrigued, and stopped by their table to buy their self-produced CD (with a hand-drawn cover) for $5.

As we were standing at the table buying the CD, the band's singer came over and introduced himself. He thanked us for buying his CD, and engaged us in conversation. We learned a little more about the band and had a nice chat.

The members of the band are high school and college students; they've only been together for a little over a year. Yet they've already learned one important thing about performing: You have to make the audience feel special.

Without an audience, a performer doesn't exist. The audience deserves our appreciation, our acknowledgement, our thanks.

Spend some time before your presentation talking with audience members. Instead of running off to your next appointment afterward, stick around and build some relationships.

Bub is going to be more inclined to seek out this band's performances, now that he has a personal connection, and he's already planning on buying their new CD when it comes out.

No matter how small a group, no matter how small a purchase, the connection you make with your audience members is infinitely valuable and critical to your growth and success as a speaker. Make sure they know it.

$100 off PowerPoint design service -- two weeks left!

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:50:06 PDT

Just a quick reminder that you still have two weeks to take advantage of my August PowerPoint design special: Take $100 off my regular rate!

Check out some samples of my work here.

Read about my service here.

Book me now -- time's running out!

Thinking through the details

lisa@coachlisab.com (Lisa Braithwaite) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:20:54 PDT

TV Guide: The glove, the white socks, the red leather jacket - who came up with those things?

Michael Jackson: The glove was just - I thought one was cooler than two. I love to accent movement. The eye goes to where the white is - you know, the glove. And the feet, if you're dancing, you can put an exclamation point on your movement if it has a bit of light on it. So I wore the white socks. And for the design of the jacket, I would sit with the people who made the clothes and tell them where I wanted a button or a buckle or a design.

Nothing Michael Jackson did in his performances was arbitrary; every step was mapped out and rehearsed in advance, every visual and sound was considered, right down to the buckle on a jacket.

This is not to say that your presentation should be over-rehearsed to the point of machine-like precision, but have you thought through the details?

Have you considered how the room looks and feels to the audience? Have you considered which props and visuals will be most effective? Have you listened for outside noise or noticed if there's a glare through the window? Have you paid attention to how sound bounces off the walls and floors and whether or not you'll need a microphone?

Preparation is not just writing your presentation, practicing it a few times, then showing up on the day to deliver it. Make sure you understand how every aspect of your presentation will affect the audience, from your words to your appearance to the room itself.

A room that's too hot or too cold will make your audience uncomfortable. Is there a post blocking people's view? Rearrange the room to make it less distracting. Are you dressed appropriately for the crowd? If not, you might alienate part of the group the minute you walk in.

Pay attention to how the audience will be affected by all aspects of the presentation.

How can you enhance your presentation and make it more successful by paying attention to the details?