Be seen and heard before you hit the stage

By Kendall Martin

Whether you are a seasoned professional or are just starting out in the public speaking arena, you need to learn how to market yourself in order to book speaking engagements. The difference between a packed calendar and a dry spell comes down to your ability to sell yourself as a speaker.

Stay on top of your game with these key marketing practices:

• Film your speech. Recruit someone to record your speaking engagements so you have examples to present to potential clients. The decision between you and another speaker may come down to the client getting a sneak peek of one of your successful presentations.
   
• Create your own category. Avoid being lumped together with other speakers. Pinpoint what makes you unique and use it to your advantage. Identify what separates you from the rest and play that as your approach.
   
• Maintain a source for more information. A website or blog is an inexpensive and essential tool for marketing yourself. Create a user-friendly site where potential clients can go to learn more about your service. Writing a regular blog is a great way to demonstrate your personality, style and expertise.
   
• Be seen and heard. Write-ups in newspapers or magazines and visibility on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube get people talking about you. Have a strong online presence. Keep track of your reviews and write-ups, and quote them or link to them on your website.

What other marketing tips do you have for booking speaking engagements?

Master storytelling, even if it doesn’t come naturally

By Kendall Martin

The ability to influence, entertain and engage an audience is about telling a good story. But the story alone won’t keep the attention of your listeners. The way you tell the story dictates the affect you will have on them.

Most people aren’t born storytellers. Learning how to present a story, build a timeline or choose the right hook and sinker are skills best practiced to perfection. Use these tactics to improve your next story:

• Focus on the beginning and the end. As with any presentation, it is in the opening and closing that you have the ability to capture an audience and make an impact. Pay attention to the direction you present when starting your story, and be sure to end with a bang.  Your story should have either a conflict resolved, a hero emerged, a dose of good humor or a strong message.
   
• Keep it short. Eliminate any unnecessary details and stick to an outline. If it doesn’t serve a purpose in relaying the story, it is better left out.
   
• Know your audience. Just because you have an excellent story to tell doesn’t mean it will be relevant for your current audience or well-suited for the occasion.
   
• Research. You may have a great story but not be fully equipped to deliver it to your next audience. Watch great storytellers in action and take note of the tactics you can adapt for your own presentation.

What are your tips for telling a great story?

Stop beating yourself up

By Kendall Martin

Do you spend too much time fixated on your mistakes or weaknesses as a speaker? Take a break from that negative thinking to reflect on what you do well. Focusing on your strengths isn’t just a way to boost your confidence; it will also help you plan and improve your speeches.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What makes me feel energized? Ask people why their favorite speaker wowed them and one of the reasons you will hear is that the speaker focused on what they knew best. It makes sense. You want to believe the speaker. And in order for you to do that, the speaker has to believe in what he or she is saying.
    
   Identify the topics that inspire you. Start with the subjects that you are well-versed in, but then narrow them down to the parts of those topics that excite you. Your audience wants enthusiasm and energy.
    
2. What parts of my presentations get the strongest reactions? Replay previous speeches and identify the parts that generated a reaction from the audience. Did people laugh at your jokes? Were they engaged in your stories? Were your audience participation exercises a hit?
    
   Use that information to build a better speech. Leave out what didn’t work, and perfect what did.
    
3. What feedback have I received? When people give you compliments after a speech, what do they highlight? Use praise to identify what works and constructive criticism to recognize potential problem areas.

What other tips do you have for capitalizing on your strengths?

Can a speaker be too unflappable?

I recently attended an event to hear an author speak. He was an excellent presenter. He knew his subject backward and forward. His talk was well rehearsed. His passion was obvious. He projected and enunciated, and I had no problem following his fairly complex thesis. He was truly top-notch.

There was one point, however, when I wondered if maybe he was too good. At about 20 minutes into his speech, a third of the lights in the conference room where we sat went out unexpectedly. I saw the speaker’s eyes flicker to the ceiling, but other than that, he didn’t acknowledge the sudden semi-darkness. He just kept on going.

On one hand, I was really impressed; a less adept speaker might have been flustered by the glitch. But on the other hand, I wondered if, perhaps, he should have paused to acknowledge the issue—if only to redirect the audience’s attention back to him. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who stopped fully listening for a few minutes as I wondered about what had happened and watched a panel member frantically try to get to the lights back on.

The speaker didn’t miss a beat, but I sure did.

What would you have done as the speaker in that situation?

Well ‘uhm …’ it looks like ‘ah …’

By Kendall Martin

As someone with a fear of public speaking, I can easily relate to speakers who slip up and use filler words such as “ah” or “uhm” when searching for their next sentence. And unless you are an experienced public speaker or a graduate of Toastmasters, you have likely encountered that very situation.

Follow these tips to minimize your use of crutch words:

• Focus on your breath. When you reach a point in the presentation where you are unsure of your next sentence, take a deep breath. You will avoid using a crutch word and gain time to recall the next sentence.
   
• Use the silence. Natural pauses after a sentence will keep you from rushing through your presentation. Your audience will have time to digest the information you have given them while you regain time and avoid a stumble.
   
• Focus on key points. Resist the urge to cram too much information in your speech. Feeling pressed for time or rushed can lead to the use of “uhm” or “ah.”
   
• Practice, practice, practice. Nothing ensures a confident, well-spoken speech like practice. You will be acquainted with the natural pauses in your speech and be better prepared for the parts that could potentially trip you up.

What strategies have helped you avoid crutch words in your own presentations?

Revisions and rewrites are the secrets to a great speech

By Betty Hintch

Even a winning topic and a brilliant speaking style won’t overcome lackluster word choice and disorganized ideas. That’s why it’s critical to strive for a flawless script.

Famous orators of the past offer some excellent examples of the critical eye needed to revise and rewrite. Abraham Lincoln created five drafts of the Gettysburg Address before he settled on his legendary speech. According to a New Yorker article, Dwight Eisenhower wrote 29 revisions of his Farewell Speech before he gave his groundbreaking talk that predicted the technology age and an emphasis on military might.

Most of us won’t find one of our speeches in the history books, but there are a few things we can learn from these great orators:

• It takes a long time to write a strong speech. Eisenhower proposed the idea of his Farewell Speech in May of 1959. It was delivered in January 1961. It’s unlikely you’ll have the luxury of 18 months to craft your next presentation, but you can use whatever time you do have wisely.
   
• Public speakers must be tenacious and disciplined. Lincoln didn’t stop revising his speech until he was able to encompass the grief of a nation into a three-minute address.
   
• Advice from respected colleagues is invaluable. In addition to harnessing the expertise of speech writers and even drafting parts of his Farewell Address himself, Eisenhower called on his brother to overhaul the body of his speech.

So next time you sit down to write a speech, pretend you are Lincoln or Eisenhower, ruminating about the best way to address your audience. You may just make it into the history books!

What is the greatest number of drafts you’ve ever written for a presentation?

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Will you hire backup dancers for your next presentation?

This TED talk from John Bohannon was too good not to share:

In case you don’t have time to watch it right this second, the gist is this: Bohannon, in the style of Jonathan Swift, makes his own “modest proposal” to replace all PowerPoint presentations with dancers.

Sound completely impractical? Maybe it is, but it’s still an idea worth exploring. Bohannon is obviously being a little facetious when he says that “bad PowerPoint presentations are a serious threat to the global economy.” I doubt that he really believes we should throw out every single slide show or that dance is always the best way to convey big ideas. That would be silly.

But what’s not silly is the idea that speakers should stop relying on PowerPoint as the default presentation tool. Think outside the box—about your topic, about your audience, about your speaking persona—when determining the most effective way to deliver your message. Maybe it’s dance. Maybe it’s PowerPoint. Maybe it’s something totally different.

Learn how to use PowerPoint the right way with “I Need My Laser Pointer” and Other PowerPoint Myths Busted.

Take time to practice

By Betty Hintch, editor of American Speaker

Rushing has become an epidemic. We take shortcuts to accomplish more with the same or fewer resources at work, at home and in our communities. Perhaps that experience is fresh in your minds after having just experienced the “Holiday Rush.” It’s no small achievement to buy gifts, complete year-end deadlines and prepare holiday celebrations in time to gather with friends and family.

But speeches and presentations need time to ripen. You can squeeze in a few additional tasks by trimming a practice sessions. However, you probably won’t be happy with the result.

Imagine that your practice time is like a yoga session. A sense of calm and focus will net the best results. Ironically, by allowing yourself enough time to prepare, you’ll be ready more quickly and spend fewer sleepless nights worrying about your performance. Create a sense of calm around your practice sessions with these tips:

• Adapt to a slower pace. Accept that you won’t be able to rush your practice sessions the way you race through other tasks. Set aside time and allow yourself all of it to rehearse your speech.
   
• Commit to a timeframe. Develop a rehearsal schedule and stick to it. A clear idea of how much preparation time you need will make it easier to plan around other deadlines and tasks.
   
• Limit distractions. Use the out-of-office reply option on your email system. Turn off cell phones and post a sign on your office door that you are unavailable. You’ll get more done if your attention isn’t divided between multiple tasks.  

How do you make time to practice your presentations? Share your tips in the Comment section.

Make 2012 your Year of Speaking Fearlessly

Happy Holidays from The American Speaker Blog!

I unofficially dubbed 2011 my “Year of Living Fearlessly,” and today I propose that we all make 2012 our Year of Speaking Fearlessly. Here are some tips for making that a reality:

• Fake it ‘til you make it. You’ve probably heard that the act of smiling can actually make you feel happier. It’s also been shown that pretending to be an academic—even for just a few minutes—can make students score higher on standardized tests.
   
  Trick yourself into being a fearless speaker by acting fearless. Adopt the posture and air of a confident person. Make your mantra “I love speaking in front of a crowd!” Even if it’s not quite true yet, you’ll have yourself convinced before long.
   
• Identify and study your favorite speakers. Don’t go into your Year of Speaking Fearlessly with some vague idea about what it means to be a “good” or “perfect” speaker. More than likely you’ll come up with an unattainable—and completely unnecessary—list of traits. Instead, find videos of your favorite speakers and list the qualities that make them stand out to you.
   
  Everyone will have different lists of qualities and speakers. My favorite speakers include Sarah Kay, Sheryl Sandberg and Steve Jobs. I’ve watched the three linked speeches over and over not because the presenters are flawless, but because they know their subjects well, they’re authentic and they don’t take themselves too seriously. All of those qualities are attainable.
   
• Expect to bomb at least once. Let that ruminate for a minute. You will give a crummy presentation. It happens to the best speakers. Once you accept this fact, you can stop fearing it so much. If you never bomb you’re either A. not speaking enough or B. not taking any risks. Neither of those are acceptable sacrifices to protect your ego. Volunteer to speak or present whenever you can. Don’t stick to the same old style every time; get outside your comfort zone. If something works, add it to your repertoire. If it bombs—oh well!—table it or rework it.

The BMG blogs will be back to our normal posting schedule next week, but until then, be sure to check out these other blogs …

Bud to Boss | Words of advice for the New Year
Nitpickers’ Nook | Happy Holidays from Nitpickers’ Nook!
The Organized Executive’s Blog | One word to a better 2012

What’s your number?

The odds are probably a million to one that your audience will understand a large number that you throw out. Improve those odds with these techniques:

• Break it down. If a number is too large for the audience to grasp, divide it into chunks they can comprehend.
   
  For example, UNICEF notes that 7.6 million children die before their fifth birthday every year because of causes such as unclean drinking water and treatable diseases. But it also states the problem this way: Every day 21,000 children die from preventable causes. It uses that lower number in the logo for its Believe in Zero campaign: 21,000.
   
• Show it it. Describe the number in terms of something the audience already understands.
   
  Telling people that a can of soda has 40 grams of sugar doesn’t mean much. Show them the 10 teaspoons of sugar that equals and you will cement the image in their memory.
   
• Describe the impact. Define what that number means to everyday life.
   
  When my friend Dave said he had used a 1,200-bit modem, I knew that number meant it was slow. When he said that he could take a shower while it transmitted his newspaper column, I understood just how slow it was.

NPR’s Robert Smith recently came up with a great way to illustrate the widening income gap between wealthy and poor Americans over the radio. Just before Halloween he poured candy corn into dishes to make the point with sound. You can listen to his example here.

Share a good example for how to describe a number, in the comments section below.