| |
| |
|
Goal Setting Information |
|
|
|
How To Become A Polished Public Speaker In Just One (1) Day
The fear of speaking in public ranks right up there with the fear of death. I had the same fear myself until I was chosen to be an electronics trainer for the Air Force. It was only then I realized just how afraid and lousy at speaking I really was. I went to my first day of the 8 week training course excited and looking forward to learning a skill that many have never mastered. I soon found out I was really terrible and needed a lot of practice. Practice? Yes, that and knowledge are all it takes to become a really great speaker in a very short time. I even have the first video they made of my very first speech. I still look at it sometimes when I need a good laugh. I was talking about investing in the stock market, and my hands did pretty much whatever they wanted. My hands decided, for some weird reason, to perform something known well among speakers as the "fig leaf". Remember Adam and Eve? They were supposed to have worn fig leaves. Because I did not know what to do with my hands during that first speech, my hands decided for themselves to cover my crotch, clasped together with white knuckles. Geez, how embarassing. I never did that again while speaking! I told you this story so you can laugh along with me. I also wanted it to help you understand some of the basics about becoming a great speaker. 1. Practice your speech over and over. There are several good reasons for this. The first reason is time. There's nothing worse than "going over" the time limit your client gave you. Another good reason is to find out if you really know the material you'll be talking about. Video taping yourself will show you mountains of improvement that must be done! 2. Write your speech out completely on paper first. While practicing (in front of a mirror always), slowly get away from "reading" your speech to just talking about it. Eventually, as you memorize what you're going to say, you won't need notes. 3. Always stand with your body (especially your mouth) facing the audience. This will feel strange at first, because your initial inclination will be to turn away from them. If you are using a presentation board or whiteboard, make sure that you write, then turn around and talk to them about it. Point to it with a pointer while facing them and speaking. So many speakers go to write on a board and end up talking to the board! 4. Your hands should exercise natural gestures while you're speaking. Don't flail your arms around or play "pocket pool" with the change in your pockets. Avoid nervous gestures like playing with your tie, or twisting your hair, waving a pointer around, or rubbing your nose. Speaking first in front of a mirror will help you avoid these later. While looking in the mirror, watch what stupid, nervous things you tend to do and be very aware of them always. 5. When you see your audience start to yawn or begin squirming, get your jokes ready. If you're a natural comedian, you will be able to come up with one on the fly. If you're not a natural comedian, have a couple of your favorite anecdotes ready to tell when they are needed. 6. Watch the audience closely. They are the most important element in your speech. If you have to, pick one person out and ask them questions to make the speech more interesting. 7. Speak with a voice that is neither too low, too high-pitched, or just plain monotone. Inject tone in your voice in every sentence. Practice this in front of a mirror so your speeches don't become something people forget. 8. Your enthusiasm will make you memorable. The subject, I hope, is something you are very enthusiastic about, and it should show. The twinkle in your eye, the tone of your voice, and your body movements should suggest excitement and interest. It will rub off on your audience. You'll see them sit up in their chairs and start really paying attention. 9. Look at everyone while you are speaking. Don't pick out just one part of the room to talk to. The rest of the room will wonder if you've got a buddy in that part of the audience! Speak to all of them. 10. Know your subject thoroughly. Those mornings when I felt I had not studied enough the night before made me feel very uncomfortable with the electronics subject I was teaching that day. I like to study at night, sleep on it, and then I would really be ready the next day. If I tried to study just before the speech, it was never quite as effective. No matter what, knowing your subject well puts you at ease. This also puts your audience at ease. 11. Make sure you end your speech with something that sounds like a summary or ending. I don't know how many times I have listened to speeches where the speaker just stops! There's a long pause while the audience tries to figure out if that was it or not. Then comes some sprinkled clapping, unsure at first. How humiliating! Your ending should sound like a real ending. If you are a writer, salesman, consultant, or any number of other business-related professionals, there will be times when you will be asked to speak in front of an audience. A lot of practice and preparation will make you great! About The Author Lynne Schlumpf - Author of "The Little Website That Could" Win a free copy of the book here: http://www.littlewebsitethatcould.net
MORE RESOURCES:
Goal-Setting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Put Wings On Your Dreams We Need DreamsDreams are important. Not the dreams you have when sleeping. Top 10 Ways to Ensure New Years Resolution Success Did you know that fewer than 10% of people who set New Year's Resolutions actually achieve them? How can you ensure YOUR success? Try using the Top 10 Tips below.1. What Words Will They Chisel Into Your Tombstone? One day you will inevitably die. A morbid statement, I know, but one that is true. Goal Setting - Forget About It Many motivational speakers and self-help books will tell you that you must have goals. I've even advocated goal setting myself in the past. Successful Goal Setting and Achievement The first step to success, of course, is to set a goal. You can't get anywhere if you're not heading in that direction. How to Keep Your Focus on Your Home Business Goals As you begin your new home business you will find there will be hundreds of distractions that will fight for your time and attention.If you are new to working from home you will have to deal with such issues as family interruptions, friends, neighbors, television, radio, visitors, email and phone calls. Hearing and Seeing Your Destiny As a child, I read an autobiography of Annie Sullivan. She was the woman who brought Helen Keller out of her dark and silent world and into a place of understanding few of us in the hearing and seeing world fully grasp. How Clear is Your Vision? Wouldn't it be nice to know that there is a way to get what you want? Whether it's in business or your personal life, this article will clearly show you the steps you need to take to achieve your goals.I heard it said once that vision without action is only a dream, but action without vision is a nightmare. Is Personal Goal Setting REALLY Necessary? What is your reason for setting a goal?This is the first, and important question you need to ask yourself. Why? If your reason for setting your goal is not sincere, your motivation and enthusiasm can wane drastically as you progress on your goal path. Reach Your Goals - Goal-Pooling Goal-pool with friends or acquaintances Get together with a group of friends or co-workers and host a logistical brainstorming party where all the invitees lay out the goals they'd like help with and make plans to meet them, with the help of the rest of the group. The result might look something like this: Every Monday the whole crew gets together for a half-hour after work to help Barbara make fund-raising calls for her charity (and in exchange, everyone gets invited to the hoity-toity, networking-heaven Christmas party held to thank the donors and volunteers). New Years Resolutions? Dont Be So Hard On Yourself Have you set resolutions for yourself to accomplish in 2005? Maybe you want to get more exercise, eat healthier, or spend more time with your family. If you're in business for yourself, maybe you are thinking about hiring a bookkeeper, working fewer hours, or beefing up your marketing plan. Make Goals Specific Saying that you want to be rich isn't enough. However, when you say: "I want $12,000 two years from now", you have a specific target that you can break down into manageable goals. Ask yourself, So what? Neil Armstrong made his first moon walk on July 20, 1969, two months before I entered college. I remember that many Americans were euphoric about this accomplishment. Cheerleaders This week's article assumes that you have chosen a goal, dream, or task for yourself. You may or may not have started implementing your step by step plans yet. How To STAY on TARGET with Your BUSINESS Plans Set your GOALS - write them down! Most of us have specific ideas and plans for achievements over time ~ and that is a GOOD thing for all.. Got Goals? Did You Reach Them? Most of us have goals.Big ones, small ones. How To Lose Weight, Make Money and Get Women When deciding to write this article, I decided that I wanted to show all the things that not just getting in shape, but accomplishing something extraordinary, can do for you. If you are overweight and lose weight and get in shape, many incredible things begin to happen. I Need to Accomplish Something Do you have trouble taking a day off? Boy, I do. When I take a day off I lie around all day, read novels, eat whatever I want, take a nap, and generally do whatever I want. Living The Real Life Beyond Goal Setting In many of his wonderful talks the motivational speaker Zig Ziglar states "you've got to have goals." Have you ever asked yourself why?You are instructed that you need different types of goals. Setting Goals and Obtaining Results GOALS SHOULD BE QUANTIFIABLE: It should be possible to analyze every goal in terms of specific quantifiable objectives. Naturally, for certain tasks, measurement of objectives will be more difficult to attain; the key is to make every effort to reduce each goal to its most quantifiable form.
|
| home | index |site map |
| © 2006 |