Rhett's Laubach Authenticity Rules Blog

Simple Technique To Control Nerves

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:28:00 +0000

Step 1: As early as possible, know your content up one side and back down the other.

Step 2: The morning of your program, take your mind totally off your presentation.

Step 3: Before your program, listen to whatever you can to make yourself laugh intensely. Laughter fills your blood and brain with good chemicals that make you feel great, relax you and put you in an awesome mood.

Step 4: Nerves are normal. Don't worry about them.

A Few Techniques for Improving Your Presentations

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:25:00 +0000

I use Evernote exclusively for note capturing, saving and referencing. It is a powerful tool for anyone in the business of content creation and sharing. One of the nice parts of having a few days off of the road is I get to peruse my (over 2,000) Evernote notes to discover content I haven't taught or shared in awhile. I stumbled on this piece that I haven't shared on this blog. This is seven pieces I put together a few years ago while working on my first presentations skills training book. Enjoy. I hope you find them valuable.

What is the engine of your speech? What is driving/fueling the interest for the listener? This is essential for you to discover early on in your preparing and then drive everything in your presentation back to it. I suggest your engine be the one or two actions you expect the audience to take as a result of your presentation.

How do you look visually? Where is the connection with your message? If I video recorded you speaking and played it back without the audio, would I pick up any visual cues that illustrate your passion, conviction or even interest in your own topic?

My wife and I used to have a terrible time trying to remember what type of toothpaste we used. We would just put toothpaste on the grocery list and then get there and have no idea what type we used. Finally, we devised a plan. Our favorite toothpaste is Aquafresh Extra Fresh. We made a strong mental note of that phrase and it was easy to do because both words ended with "fresh." This catchy and memorable product name made it much easier to remember what type of toothpaste we liked. If you want your audience to remember key thoughts and points, put a catchy title to them.

We love Oklahoma State University athletic events - basketball and football especially. OSU was playing Gonzaga at the Ford Center in OKC a few years ago . Both teams were in the top 15 and the event was packed. After the game, all 15,000 people were leaving and trying to cross a very busy intersection. There were two traffic cops out in the middle of the intersection "directing" traffic with red wands and whistles. There was a lot of waving and blowing going on, but not much understanding going on. The drivers, as well as the walkers, were totally confused as to when to go and when to stop. The traffic officers meant well and were there for our safety, but their communication tools were not effective. More than once, an accident was one red wand and whistle from happening. Make certain that the audience can clearly and effectively understand your communication tools. The red wands and whistles were a good idea, but some simple voice commands and arm movements would have served everyone much better.

For many summers I worked with 90 of the nation's best high school basketball players at a summer camp. We work on leadership and communication skills. Everyone is in camp attire, so I always dressed just one step above with khakis and loafers and a polo shirt. One year I stepped it up with dress slacks, a nicer polo and my nice dress shoes. The response from the coaches (who are the same every year) was interesting, but not surprising. They treated me with more respect and with higher regard because they're perception of me was in direct relation with how I dressed. A quick way to give your credibility and "perceived expertise level" a boost is to dress sharp.

If the penmanship is horrible and can't be read, the words become meaningless. Learn how to clearly and succinctly communicate your message to each audience.

Generating Enthusiasm Out of Thin Air

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:52:00 +0000

You never quite know what state of mind the audience will be in. After 20 years of speaking and training I have developed a good sense on it, but I still am purposeful about planning in techniques to get the audience as engaged as possible. This is vital for two main reasons:

1. The audience walks in with baggage. Thoughts, experiences, feelings, relationships, projects, etc. from the previous week, day or even hour. It is your responsibility to give them a compelling reason to check out of those and into the moment.

2. The audience needs time to ramp up. You've been (hopefully) thinking about your content and how it applies to this audience for days, weeks, even years. However, your audience is just now getting it for the first time. They need time to get up to speed. Taking a few moments at the first of your program to get them engaged is effective at accomplishing this.

So, what are the techniques I use consistently to generate enthusiasm from the audience for today, this program, this content, this moment, etc.? Following is my standard checklist.

Lights - Either very bright or very dark with a very bright focal point (video, stage, etc.)

Temperature - The room should feel chilly when it is empty. It depends on the size of the room/audience, but I normally ask the facility to set the temperature at 68. Colder equals higher attention.

Music - Upbeat, age appropriate, etc. Have it playing before anyone walks into the room and use it throughout your program. I have many moments where the audience is working with a partner and I always play music while the chatting or working is going on. (Click here to view an image of my lists.)

Seating - The closer to the front and the closer to one another the better. If you have to assign ushers, rope off sections or take out chairs, do it. It is that influential.

Me - Be nice, even care-ismatic. You can't yell people into getting excited. Reward whatever involvement they do give. Don't say things like "come on guys - you can do better than that." Smile. Look like you are enjoying the moment. Talk quicker. Walk quicker. Look and sound excited yourself. Don't overdo it though. Develop a sensibility of how much is just enough.

Level Awareness - This one is critical. If I am walking into an evening session, I know the enthusiasm is most likely already at a 7 or 8. My job really is to just keep them there. However, if I am walking in to a morning session or a traditionally boring session, they might be at a 3 or 4. My job then is to get them to a 5 or 6. I need to remember that they will probably never get to a 7 or 8 and I shouldn't expect that or work to get them there.

Be Specific with Instructions - You can't just tell a group of people to get excited. You have to tell them how you want them to act. ask them to... Yell, clap, stand up, high-five your neighbor, etc. Be specific.

If you have a specific situation or group of people you commonly deal with or know is coming up and you want some ideas, just email me. owner (at) yournextspeaker.com. I'll reply back quickly and with some ideas. Good luck!

Big List of Tips from Recent Training

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:20:00 +0000

Following are twenty plus tips that were listed by the audience as the biggest take-aways from our two-day intensive effective presentation skills training. This is a great list to bookmark and keep handy as a reminder before and during your next presentation planning moment.

Top Learning Lessons from a Recent Effective Presentation Skills Training

* CAKE - The four techniques for controlling nerves.
* http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2008/07/nervousness-its-piece-of-cake.html

* PowerPoint Upgrading - Less content, full-bleed/high-res images, keep lights on, use stark contrast in colors between font and background.
* http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2008/01/tips-for-putting-together-powerful.html
* http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2007/08/putting-power-back-into-powerpoint.html
* http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2007/10/10-no-nos-for-powerpoint-use.html

* Give Larger Packet At The End - This helps with focus. If you need to give them something during the meeting, give them pads to take notes and/or a one-sheet with the most important content over viewed in bullet-point form.

* It’s Always My Fault - Take full responsibility for whatever happens in the presentation room. Never blame the audience, the time of day, the environment, the projector, etc. Learn how to leverage and make the most of every situation. Remember the example I gave about giving a presentation at the end of a conference where only 25% of the attendees are left. Celebrate that - those are the committed ones.

* Pay The Debt - Leaders give unconditionally and step up with a smile on your face and love in your heart to help where others can't or won't.

* Simple is Good - Keep the moving parts of your presentation to a minimum. Only include a prop, PowerPoint, handouts, etc. if it is the absolute best way to communicate that portion of the presentation.

* Small Things Add Up - Everything in the room either adds, subtracts or distracts from your credibility.

* SPG - Debrief/processing technique. Solo, Pair, Group. Most times when I use it I leave off the Solo.

* Use Beliefs and Values as Evidence - If you need to convince someone to implement a change in meeting or presentation technique, you will need evidence that is convincing. The best kind takes you and that person out of it.

* Positive Self-Talk - Biggest barrier for most professionals to take their speaking abilities to the next level is the words, "I am not good in front of people." Stop using these words. If you can't stop, just add the words "right now". I am not good in front of people right now. You can get there.

* 7-Minute Rule - Most important single strategy to increasing audience engagement and content retention. 7-Minute Rule - Change the way the audience inputs information every seven minutes or so. Options: listen to you, listen to a peer, think, take notes, read notes, read flip chart, watch video, watch PowerPoint, do an activity, partner talk, group work, etc.

* Have a List Goal When Flip-Charting - When getting group ideas on a flip chart, set a goal for the number of submissions the group needs to give. This creates an open loop in the room that everyone will naturally want to help close.

* Emotional Connection - To increase engagement, include the human element in every presentation. Tell a story, let us know you better, etc.

* Engagement Options - Emotional, Intellectual, Social, Physical.
* http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2012/06/how-to-get-keep-manage-attention.html

* Just the Right Amount of Data - Less is more.

* Metaphors - Use easily recognizable metaphors to explain concepts that not many people in the room (or the elevator) understand.

* Put Yourself in Their Shoes - Think about how you would like to be approached or spoken with if you were an audience member. Also, plan your presentation according to their barriers, understanding level of your content, how they can connect with you, what you have in common with them, how they will want to or need to apply your content, etc.

* CVS - Every time you see this pharmacy, you will think of this tip. CVS - Concrete, Visual, Simple. Keep your content and presentation structure simple and easy to follow.

* Know Your Enemies - Understand what will be barriers to the audience checking in fully and plan strategies to leverage these.

* Hook it - Use acronyms, list, etc. to provide the audience a better chance to remember your content a week later. Give them hooks to hang your content on.

* Have a Clear Purpose - Start with this. Why are we here? What is the purpose of today's meetings or presentation. Be specific and audience-focused here.

* 30/7/90 - The three Flow time rules. 30-Seconds - The audience decides in the first 30-seconds whether they want to fully check-in or not. 7-Minute Rule. 90-Minutes - Take a full break every 90-minutes.

* List of Questions - http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2012/12/questions-to-ask-before-your-next.html

* 7 Authenticity Rules
* Gravity Rule - Know your self
* Iceberg Rule - Know your content
* YourSpace Rule - Know your audience
* Surgeon Rule - Know your tools
* 7-Iron Rule - Know your flow
* Mask Rule - Know your enemies
* Mavericks Rule - Know your difference-makers

* Misc. Resources Mentioned
* http://delicious.com/pliblog
* http://www.AuthenticityRules.com
* http://plileadership.blogspot.com
* http://www.YourNextSpeaker.com
* http://pearltrees.com/rhettdean
* http://www.evernote.com
* http://www.DropBox.com

Questions to Ask Before Your Next Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:35:00 +0000

Paraphrasing Albert Einstein, you have to ask the right questions if you're going to find the right answers. This is true for effective presentation planning. Following is a list of must-ask questions that will help guide your work as you develop your next presentation.

- What is the core purpose of my program?
- Why should the audience care about my content?
- What are the top 3-4 pieces of information I hope my audience will remember one week after my presentation?
- What makes me a credible expert in this area?
- What are stories I can use to get the human element into my presentation?
- How will I purposefully get the audience interacting with me, as well as each other?
- What do I think are going to be the common questions audience members will ask?
- What is the current knowledge level of the audience regarding my topic?
- What are the barriers to the audience engaging?
- Am I primarily informing, educating or motivating?
- What will the first 30-seconds sound like?
- How am I helping the audience follow my presentation?
- What is the closing call to action?
- What do I expect the audience to do with my information?
- How am I helping the audience retain the information; i.e. encouraging note taking.
- What props, AV elements, handouts, etc. are necessary?
- What content needs to be taken away because it doesn't strongly support the core purpose or is information overload?
- Where can the audience access my content and contact information after my presentation is over?

How to Build a Keynote

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 17:54:00 +0000

Follow the tips below the next time you are preparing to deliver a keynote.

1. Make only three main points. If you can, give each point equal time. Additionally, make all of them tie back to the one Big Idea of the keynote - an opening belief/concept/philosophy/etc.

2. Begin with a moment of engagement. 3-5 minutes. Physical, social, emotional, etc. Get them purposely engaged in the presentation at the very start.

3. Bridge that opening moment of engagement to your Big Idea. Present one challenge or question or leadership strategy that all your points will tie back into.

4. Use personal stories.

5. Help them think application.

6. If you are going to use a prop, video, music, crowd interaction, etc., keep it simple and practice beforehand.
Follow the 7-minute Rule. Reference this post - http://authenticityrules.blogspot.com/2007/02/be-smart-presenter.html

7. Save your most emotionally charged or intellectually amazing message for the last.

8. Leave them with momentum; end your presentation with application action points. How do expect the audience to act differently because of your message?

394720 or Bob

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:08:00 +0000

(This is a repost of one of my most popular posts...)

You enter a room labeled The Numbers Room. You see fifty people walking around with name tags on and they look like this...

394720
273427
394751
404816
591233
92751
11982
821873

You then leave and enter a different room labeled The Names Room. You see fifty different people walking around with name tags. Only this time the name tags look like this...

Bob
Steve
Julie
Rick
Tom
Jennifer
Will
Ashley

Question: In which room would you expect to remember more people's names? The answer, of course, is The Names Room. Remember this the next time you need to deliver a message that you want to stick. The people in The Numbers Room might very well be thoroughly and accurately labeled, but the chances their names would be remembered is slim to none. To deliver a "rememorable" message, leverage the hidden secrets of the Names Room.

1. Short. Less information is more.

2. Easily Recognizable. Short names and unique faces work for humans. Give your message a short name and only show its "unique face" and you have a winner.

3. Easily Recallable. Look away and spell Bob in your mind. Now look away and "spell" 394720 in your mind. Big difference. Use simple words and phrases to "stickify" your message.

4. Easily Transferable. How many Bobs have you ever heard of?

5. Overcomes the Knowledge Gap. You probably have never seen 394720 as a name before. So, your mind has to work harder to try to remember brand new information. However, you have heard, seen and dealt with the name Bob all your life. Find a way to take pre-existing words, concepts, or labels and give new meaning to them; instead of creating words from scratch.

Video Answers to Five Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Following is a link to a cool short (8 minutes) video of me answering a few basic presentation skills questions with another speaking expert. Enjoy!

http://www.finaldrivetv.com/blog/?p=263

How to Get, Keep & Manage Attention

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Great speaking, teaching, training and presenting is strongly influenced by great attention management. The best content in the world can be missed by even by the best audience members if attention is not managed properly. The following four keys should play a major role in each of your presentations. When you implement these strategies, make sure you mix it up and add variety in how you use each.

1. Intellectual Engagement - Any great presentation gets people thinking in a new, fresh, and unique way. This is the meat of the talk and you have to have it, but to really engage the brain you have to give new information, tell a unique story, package the info simply and creatively, etc.

2. Emotional Engagement - This is the Ying to the Yang of intellectual engagement. People are driven by and pulled around by emotions. If there is no heart or humor in your presentation, you are missing a key engagement tool. So, get them laughing or tell a heart-felt story. Get the human element in your presentation, even if you are delivering dry, serious content.

3. Physical Engagement - All physical movement, from high-impact ropes courses to a simple knuckles bump, creates a boost in energy. Leverage this simple principle and include an appropriate amount of physical movement in your presentation. For more content heavy presentations, this movement could include: giving a high-five to a partner, turning your chairs forward, standing up and switching partners, standing up and interacting with others, etc.

4. Social Engagement - This is one of the easiest techniques to pull off and yet so many speakers do not use it. Get the audience interacting with each other. This could be as simple as, "Turn to a partner and teach them the lesson you just learned using your own words." If all the audience is doing for 30/45/60 minutes is just listening to you, you are not effectively managing their valuable attention resource.

The Four Keys to Effective Concept Teaching

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:19:00 +0000

The next time you find yourself teaching conceptual information (possible solutions, best case scenarios, suggestions for change) to an audience, structure the flow of each point using the following four keys:

1. Understanding - Go CVS on your approach to bringing everyone to the same level of understanding. Be Concrete, Visual and Simple with your words.

2. Value - A concept is only as good as it is valuable. This requires personalization for that particular audience on that particular day. Why should they care today and why should they act tomorrow?

3. Barriers - Anytime you present a solution or action without addressing the potential barriers to application, you are leaving your audience assuming... and people always assume the worst. Your idea is dead the minute you stop talking.

4. Application - Leave your audience with momentum by clearly explaining where and how they can practically and personally apply the concept. This is a must for any presenter with the goal of motivating change.

7 Authenticity Rules Quick Lessons

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 03:12:00 +0000

A few quick lessons for applying each of the seven Authenticity Rules.

1. Know Your Self - What is your unique take on your content? Give them your opinion, your viewpoint, a story from your life, etc. Quotes from famous people work, but anyone (and everyone) can do that. Give us something new, fresh and, therefore, more interesting.

2. Know Your Content - Prepare your material early. Become intimately familiar with your content so when you present you can focus on the audience, not on what you are going to say next.

3. Know Your Audience - Ask yourself these questions:

What specific action(s) do you want your audience to take after the presentation?
What barriers are going to exist between you/your content and the audience?
How are you going to connect early and often with them?
What do they already know about your topic?

4. Know Your Flow - Follow the 7-Minute Rule: Switch up the way they input information every seven minutes or so. IE - listen to you, take notes, do an activity, watch a video, share with a partner, reflect, listen to a peer talk, group discussion, look at a slide, etc.

5. Know Your Tools - Less is more. Keep your props and resources simple and easy to use.

6. Know Your Enemies - Control your nerves; don't get rid of them. Use CAKE:

C - Change your perspective. Think of nerves as a good thing.
A - Audience-focused. Put your attention on them, not you.
K - Knowledge. Know your stuff top to bottom.
E - Experience. Speak and speak often.

7. Know Your Difference-Makers - Advanced speakers need to continue to learn more and get better. Rookie speakers need to ask questions, overcome your fears and get good.

New Authenticity Rules E-Book

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:10:00 +0000

The new Authenticity Rules E-Book is here. Following are just a few of the questions answered in this complete speaking and facilitation handbook.

What is the best way to control nerves?
What are your three biggest enemies?
Why is authenticity so important?
What is the CVS Formula?
What makes a great keynote?
How do you keep an audience engaged?
Why does it matter how you give driving directions?
What can you learn from a kangaroo?
What is the Can’t Ignore Club?
How do you make boring content engaging?
What is the 7-Minute Rule?
What are energy gaps?
What is the difference between effective and non-effective coaching?
How do you establish credibility?
What are the steps to effective workshop planning?
How do you handle difficult audience members?
How do you know what the audience wants to hear?
Why does your personality determine how you should build a speech?
How is a surfer like a great presenter?
What is the MOVE Formula?
What do you do when a herd of water buffaloes attack your presentation?

Click here to purchase your copy today ($5).

5 Keys to a Successful Presentation

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Here are five key elements great presenters and facilitators consider paramount to a successful performance:

• Tight content flow. This includes the first few seconds, how points connect, how much time is spent on a point or activity, the length of time until the audience changes the way they input information, a tight connection between activity/story - point - personal application, the closing, etc.

• Great questioning. If your presentation includes any calls to action, you must include great questions to lead the audience where you want them to go. Great questions result in a challenge, context setting, creating a gap for the audience to fill with future behavior or information and personal application.

• Strong material. It is true that how you look and how you talk are important, but strong material is very compelling. Great content is fresh, creative, story-based, true (or truth glorified), personal, and joined at the hip with your key points.

• Content knowledge. Great presenters know their material top to bottom. The key understanding is that you have to practice to be natural. You can only hold one thought in your head at any given time. This one thought cannot be what to say next. This is also one of the key challenges with many coaching environments I have seen - trying to coach delivery when the speaker doesn't know the material top to bottom. You can't work on body language or even demonstrate your true speaking ability if you are preoccupied with remembering what to say.

• Positive and flexible frame of mind. This is the key value point between coaching to perfect and coaching to performance. The real world of presenting is unpredictable and messy. Your best laid plans are going to get dominated by an angry audience member, an AV glitch, having less time to present, etc. The best presenters cultivate a mindset that is naturally positive and upbeat and is spontaneously pliable. When things go off-course, they go with it. Literally!

10 Fresh Leadership Activities

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:30:00 +0000

Just got home from another tremendous PLI trip to California for the annual CADA state convention. What an amazing group of activities directors, teachers, administrators and staff. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the CADA family.

Click here to download my handout from my Saturday Meet The Pros roundtable. It contains ten of my newest leadership activities that I lead in my own keynotes, workshops, camps and conferences.

Enjoy and remember - you can have the best ingredients in the world, but the only way to ensure it doesn't come out tasting like Play-Doh is to become a master chef. These activities and the impact they can create are only as powerful as your skill in leading them allows. Good luck.

Leadership Activities Series

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:57:00 +0000

If you aren't a subscriber or reader of our leadership blog, you will want to jump over there ASAP. We have a new series running on some of our top leadership activities you can use for your next event, class or training. Check it out!

http://plileadership.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Twitter:

@yns1
@pli_leadership

Preparation IQ: Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:51:00 +0000

Many presentation coaching sessions this month. A big part of preparing for these moments is identifying the possible reasons why my clients wouldn't apply the lessons. Here is a short list I keep front of mind:

- Don't understand fully enough to apply
- Don't believe it
- Don't see the value of it
- Goes too much against the grain
- Failure
- Sticking out
- Have to get approval
- Don't know where to apply it
- Have too many questions
- Too vested in current way
- Have to get others up to speed
- Too difficult
- Enjoys the current way
- Unsure of outcome
- Uncertain of application
- Not paid to
- Don't have to
- Apathy
- Someone else is coaching them to do it a different way.

Keeping my eye on this list helps me to frame the lessons better and approach any hesitation I sense in the sessions. The best lessons in the world are useless unless the student's hurdles to application are identified and discussed.

Preparation IQ: Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:32:00 +0000

Part three of the Preparation IQ Series will examine our upcoming Oklahoma FFA Stand and Deliver speech training conferences.

Details

3-hours, 50-150 high school FFA members, purpose is to train them on how to write, research, practice, deliver and answer questions for competitive FFA speech contests.

Prep Techniques

- This is our 11th year to run these conferences, so we have the basic content, flow and techniques well developed. We start by reviewing the detailed notes we have gathered over the past few years. However, we sharpen the material every year by adding in new lessons we've developed, including new activities and providing updated resources.

- An important preparation technique for this type of skill-development conference is providing and clearly explaining resources and exercises the students can use and do when they get back home.

- There are 12 separate areas of speaking tips covered at Stand and Deliver, but in only three hours. Each section needs to be examined, but they are not all equally important. This means we have to prioritize and spend less time on the lower items.

- This is a "dry information" heavy program. Therefore, we must include a good amount of humor, interaction, small moments of fun, etc. The 7-Minute Rule must also be followed.

7-Minute Rule - Have the audience change the way they input information every seven minutes or so. Options: listen to speaker, watch a video, listen to other people speak, write notes, talk to partner, do an activity, reflective thinking, listen to music, group discussion, etc.

Preparation IQ: Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:31:00 +0000

Part two in our Presentation IQ Series focuses on a banquet speech I delivered tonight.

Details

30 adults, kick-off banquet for community leadership program, second time I have presented for group, most audience members hadn't heard me before, purpose was to be light-hearted and provide leadership inspiration.

Prep Techniques

- The most important element for banquet talks is to provide a simple formula or outline for the audience to follow. Keep it light. Nobody wants to "work" thoughtfully at a meal event. Therefore, I chose my Impact Model as the outline: Influence, Spirit, Class, Legacy. The content also fit one of the purposes - to provide leadership inspiration.

- Emotional content just works at evening meal functions; people are more pliable and ready to be entertained and moved. So, I combed through my material and pulled out a few fun stories, humorous bits, engaging yet location-appropriate activities (everyone had pen and paper), etc.

- This is a good time to mention where I go to access my resources and material. I primarily use Evernote. It is a free note-taking software for the computer, web and any iOS device. It syncs across all devices, you can create categories, you can search by key word, and much more! I have over 1,300 notes, but when I prep for a program, I really only need to look through two - one that has a wholesale list of all the activities I regularly lead and one that lists out all of my stories/acronyms/lists/etc. I also use Dropbox for repeatable handouts/posters/activity sheets/etc.

Good luck!

Preparation IQ: Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:52:00 +0000

My goal for this blog for 2012 is to provide insight into how I prepare for my programs with a new series titled Preparation IQ. Over the past 20 years, I have delivered thousands of keynotes, workshops and coaching sessions. This experience has provided me a wealth of secrets, strategies and formulas for preparing for presentation success. This year on this blog the secrets will be revealed.

Each time I will briefly overview the program details (audience members, content expectations, length, etc.) and then provide a few preparation techniques. I won't blog on each presentation (I have seven this week alone), but I will post many of them. Beginning with Ada Leadership YOUniversity...

Details:

25 adults, 6 hours of presentation time, content is networking strategies, electronic networking and "get to know you" activities.

Prep Techniques:

- This is my third year to present at this program, so step one is to review my notes from previous years. I get hired back because they like what I do. No reason to re-invent the wheel. Plus, there is an entirely new group of people each year, so I can use the same material.

- This program is very basic in terms of deliverables - help the class get to know each other and teach some networking skills. Therefore, it is very activity-heavy and data-light. I list out all the activities and exercises I plan on doing and create a basic outline. Since I have led all of them multiple times, I have a very good handle on how much time they will take. For this program, I know the audience members don't know each other very well, so I am very careful to keep the sharing at a surface level.

- I make sure I have all the material, A/V and handouts necessary for my game plan.

- One of the most important prep items is your "30-second sales pitch". This is a statement at the beginning of your presentation designed to inform the audience on why it is important and valuable for them to fully engage. It must be stated from their point of view. For example, my statement for Ada is, "This multi-month experience can either be just something you did once or it can be a life-changing experience. The biggest difference is whether or not you forge friendships with your classmates. Our mission today is to jump-start that process. Join me."

There is much more that goes into the prep of each program, but after the series is complete, you will know almost every technique I use. I hope they help kick your Preparation IQ way beyond Thunderdome!

How Are You Fueling The Fire?

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 03:22:00 +0000

We had a traditional, old-school, masonry fireplace put in our new home and I love it. We have it lit all the time. My three primary fuel sources are great metaphors for the fuel sources we have at our disposal as presenters, teachers and trainers to set our audiences on fire: firewood, Duraflame logs and cardboard. If you want to have your group begging for more, make sure you have a good mix of all three.

Firewood - The long-lasting, primary fuel source that is the meat and potatoes of the fireplace fuel. A fire without firewood would be weak, quick or non-existent. This fuel source represents your "base content." The stuff you have studied, practiced, refined, rehearsed, massaged and delivered over and over again. This is the content you know makes a difference. It comes in many different styles (stories, activities, formulas, lists, concepts, etc.), but it is all meaningful, connective and the main reason why the audience is there in the first place. Keep stocking up on this energy-rich material.

Duraflame Logs - We are on propane and in our town you can't install a propane-fueled, open-air fireplace; primarily because, unlike natural gas, propane is not scented. It could be running and you'd never know it. So, Duraflame logs provide the chemical spark to get the fire going and the good ones provide energy to fire up those tree logs for up to four hours. This fuel source represents any material, bits, activities, etc. that serve the sole purpose of bringing energy and combustibility to the room. You can't rely solely on this fuel source (its not meaty enough), but it is necessary to get the fire burning hot in the audience and ready to receive and accept your big content. Where variety and quantity are the keys to the firewood content, you need only find two or three magic Duraflame log bits that hit a homerun every time to really take advantage of this fuel source.

Cardboard - Oh how it burns bright and hot and awesomely... but only for a few seconds. This is a totally case-by-case (no pun intended) fuel source. If we happen to have some extra boxes around, I will tear one up, use it as kindling and watch it burn! It does go hot, but quick. Cardboard represents your use of "in-the-moment" content. Examples are headlines, recent news, current audience information, something that happened earlier at the event, etc. These little tidbits have little long-term value, but can serve to peak the audience members' attention and help you kindle their desire to check in to your main message. So, watch for these, insert them where you can, but don't rely on them.

Best of luck setting fires in 2012!

The Packaging Makes a Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:25:00 +0000

Apple is known for its remarkable packaging. The shipping boxes are perfect (minimal, simple, etc.), but its product boxes are the best - stylish, eco-friendly, cool. I have kept many Apple product boxes and repurposed them because of their design and weight.

Yet, I don't buy Apple products because of the box. I buy them because they are awesome. However, when it comes to your work (speaking/training), the packaging does make a big difference. Case in point, I recently keynoted a massive student leadership conference. Thousands of students flooded into the convention arena. Before my keynote was a welcome and a greeting from state education officials. One of them stretched a 5-minute greeting into a 35-minute mini-keynote - leaving me 8-minutes for the actual keynote.

It wasn't a total train wreck. He did have a good message and a compelling story. Yet, this was the opening session and many students were already tweeting how boring the conference was. The rub was that he just stood behind the podium and talked. The problem was packaging. He stood and talked at them for 35-minutes. This package type does not encourage, inspire or enable audience engagement. It chases it away. Its a shame, too, because his content was important and powerful. But after 7-minutes all of it fell on deaf ears because of inappropriate packaging.

Packaging Options for Audience Engagement:

Audience interacting with each other
Audience interacting with speaker
Emotional stories, quotes, thoughts (humorous, inspirational, dramatic, sad)
Music
Properly-designed Power Points
Variety in pace, tone and volume
Speaker physically moving around the stage/room

Great speakers and trainers understand that simply saying something doesn't equate to someone else hearing it, understanding it or acting upon it. You must package the delivery with an Apple-like caring eye for detail and design. Best of luck.

New Delicious.com Tag: Speaking Tips!

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:03:00 +0000

Our Delicious links database continues to grow! We are up to 1,493 bookmarks.

These bookmarks cover ten different leadership areas (communication, relationships, goals, etc.), specific ideas for fellow speakers/trainers (activities, books, videos, etc.) and, as of today, a new tag titled Speaking Tips. This category already has over 100 bookmarks covering everything from building a speech, engaging an audience, storytelling and much more. Check it out!

http://www.delicious.com/pliblog/speaking_tips

Facilitation Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 05:13:00 +0000

A collection of the best facilitation techniques I teach and practice.

- Posted from the road using my iPhone.

Top 6 Tools to Engage Literally Any Audience

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:16:00 +0000

Your audience needs you to be skilled at earning, managing and maximizing their attention. Whether they pay attention to you and/or retain your message or not is primarily your responsibility. The following six tools are invaluable resources for highly effective trainers, speakers and teachers needing to engage any audience of any demographic - students or adults. Especially in today's noisy world, just asking your audience to sit and listen is not enough. If you want them to hear, process, retain and take action on your material, you must be skilled at getting them actively involved in the experience of the moment, not just the content of the message.

6 Audience Engagement Tools

1. Turn to a partner and...
(Social and physical engagement)

The audience members interact with someone next to them. This interaction could involve talking about a content piece or doing a two-person activity. Remember to allow groups of three if necessary, give clear instructions on what they are supposed to do and be extra clear on how they know when their interaction is supposed to end.

2. Have you ever...
(Emotional engagement)

High-level interaction doesn't always mean getting up and moving around or doing an experiential activity with a partner or a team. Engagement can also be emotional. When you tell stories they can directly and emotionally relate with, you are painting them into the picture of your message instead of simply asking them to watch you paint it.

3. When I start the music...
(Social and physical engagement)

Obviously an effective method for getting them engaged in your presentation is to lead an activity. Always have music available to set the mood of the activity and to intensify the experience. Two of our favorite resources you can access to find great activities to lead are: The Activator book - includes our top 50 activities with instructions, material needed, debrief options and more. Thesource4ym - this site includes a search query that lets you quickly filter through their hundreds of activities and games.

(To access the music we play at our programs, just search "YourNextSpeaker" in the search box in the iTunes Music Store.)

4. Take a second and write down...
(Emotional engagement.)

We don't learn at a high level by just hearing something or doing something - we learn by talking, reflecting, processing and/or writing. These are the elements that allow inputs to sink in and become part of who we are. If you can, have your audience members take notes or do reflective writing during your presentation. This also gives your message legs as they take their notes back home.

5. Raise your hand if...
(Physical and emotional engagement)

Similar to "Have you ever...", this technique involves the audience actually responding to you as you ask questions or run through a list. Getting the audience to physically demonstrate their connection to your message or a portion of it also serves to break down any barriers between you and the audience.

6. This is difficult to say, but...
(Emotional engagement)

When you are bold and transparent and share a personally moving story (tragedy, failure, etc.), you earn a load of attention points from the audience. Make certain it is the right time and place for it though. This is difficult to read, but there are certain venues or events where it isn't professional to share deeply. However, if you believe in your heart it is the best way to get your message across and it fits the venue, go for it. When you risk big, the audience can win big.

WARNING...

If you read this post thinking, "These techniques would never fly with my group because this is not how its always been done," it is probably because your group has historically been subjected to presenters who either simply talk at them or talk at them while also talking to a PowerPoint. These are safe, acceptable and, most of the time, horribly boring experiences. Be better than most, include some audience interaction, watch your presentations turn into turbo-charged learning machines and your way will become the new "this is how its always been done." Good luck!

Leadership Quote Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Rhett Laubach) — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:04:00 +0000

There are so many positive outputs from an engaging conservation about leadership and related topics. I have put together a new tool for you to lead your groups in this effort - The Leadership Quote Cards. Feel free to print these poster size and hang on the wall for big groups or print postcard size to use with small groups. They are a powerful tool to get discussions and thoughts started on multiple (there are 28 cards) topics.

Download the PDF here.

APPLICATION IDEAS

If you are using them with a big group, have everyone pair up, stand up, roam around the room and go up to each poster and share whatever comes to mind.
For a small group, pass out the cards, give each person a few minutes to write down their thoughts and then go around the room asking each person to share their thoughts.
For a small group, hold up a poster and have everyone share a thought or question related to it.
For a big or small group, go to reflection time. Post the posters on the walls and, with pen/paper in hand, have each person walk around and quietly journal an initial thought response to each quote.
Get the group into teams of 4-6. Give each team a card. Have them design and present a skit/commercial/speech/etc. based on the card's quote.