Speaking in monotone is more than just a problem. It is boring. There is no other way to say it. The problem with a monotone delivery is that it puts your audience to sleep and it does so very quickly. If actors were to speak in monotone, television and movies would not be one of our greatest forms of entertainment. The other problem if you speak in a monotone is that it gives the wrong impression to your listeners. It says that you do not care because no emotion is being seen, heard, or felt.

I worked with a lovely woman by the name of Dawn. In person, Dawn displayed a lot of color when we talked. Not comfortable on the telephone, however, Dawn would speak in a monotone which left the impression that she was a cold, distant person. Nothing could have been further from the truth. While her heart may have been saying one thing, her reaction on the phone was saying something totally different. Dawn recognized the problem and made the change, both in her delivery and in her acceptance of the telephone.

Imagine watching a television program or a movie and everything the actors said was expressed with no emotion, no feeling, no life, no animation, no color. Chances are you would quickly change the station or turn the television off. Can you appreciate that were you to hold a presentation or give a speech with a voice that displayed no emotion or no feeling, your audience would not be very impressed?

In public speaking, we all have something to sell. It need not be a tangible product. It could be an idea or an opinion. Even delivering an informative presentation has something to sell and that is simply for your audience to want to listen to you. If a group of people have gone out of their way to give you 20 minutes, 40 minutes or an hour of their time, it is your responsibility to make your presentation entertaining.

Do you know why Zig Ziglar is so successful? Because he speaks with passion. Ziglar could sell anything to anybody, not because of his products or ideas but because of his passion. His passion is mesmerizing, inviting, and motivating. But, passion can only be felt or perceived with a colorful delivery. You may indeed be very passionate about your product or your idea, but if your vocal variety, your facial expression and your body language are flat, then your passion is in hiding.

Learning to speak with color is much easier than you may think if you will allow your emotions to be seen and heard. It will take some practice but a good exercise that I recommend would be to video-tape yourself saying the sentence below with no expression whatsoever. Then say it again allowing yourself to be expressive – by means of your voice, your facial expression and your body language. (Do this in private at first.)

I want to go to the game tonight even though I don’t have any tickets.

[If you need some help with this exercise, after you record it the 1st time with a flat, emotionless delivery, try saying it the 2nd time with a smile on your face, nodding your head in agreement at the same time. You may feel foolish doing this but trust me, you will sound much better in your 2nd attempt than your 1st.]

Now, play back the 2 takes. Was there a difference in expression between the two? Did you actually look or sound foolish in your 2nd read as you may have thought? If you gave this exercise a fair try, I would be willing to bet that your 2nd take was definitely more interesting than your 1st.

Don’t keep your passion hidden the next time you give a speech or presentation. Allow your emotion to be seen and heard and I guarantee the sales will follow.

The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit Voice Dynamic or watch Nancy in a brief video as she describes The Power of Your Speaking Voice.

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Whether you’re standing before an audience of businesspeople or your classmates, the effect is the same. All of your preparation flies out the window, your knees knock together and you must force yourself to take the stage. Public speaking is a terrifying experience for most people, but it need not be. Most people would rather have a root canal performed than speak in front of a group of people. However, performing well in this environment is not as difficult as it sounds. In fact, it can be an enjoyable experience once you get past your fear of public speaking.

To succeed in the corporate world and to some extent your own personal world, overcoming your fear of public speaking is essential. Which poses the questions: How do you get past this seemingly insurmountable obstacle? How do you bury that fear deep in your heart and not let it overwhelm your defenses? How do you survive such a ghastly ordeal?

1. It’s Not as Bad as It Seems
The very first thing you need to understand is that it is not as bad as it seems. You are focusing on the bad things, the things that might happen or could happen that would make you seem foolish or unprepared, that would make your audience laugh in derision, rather than in good humor. Such fears are natural, but baseless. The audience is not there to laugh at you; they have no desire to pick apart your performance looking for absurdities. They have come to hear you speak. They believe you have valuable information to impart and they want to know what you have to say. They obviously place a great deal of value on your opinion and expertise; else, they would have found somewhere else to go.

2. Everyone Experiences a Fear of Public Speaking
Everyone experiences a fear of public speaking, no matter how experienced a speaker they might be. This is important to understand – everyone feels the same fear, the same trepidation. Everyone gets the same butterflies in their stomach and experiences the same sweat-slicked palms; even those with years of experience under their belts still succumb to the fear of public speaking. So what does this tell you? It tells you two things: first, the fear you feel is natural and nothing of which to be ashamed. Second, it tells you that you are not alone and if you work through it, you can reap tremendous rewards.

3. You are the Expert – You were Chosen to Speak for a Reason
Perhaps you have the most in-depth understanding of a particular product’s features. Perhaps you are responsible for developing and implementing new techniques with wide-ranging ramifications. Maybe you are the only person who understands your company’s new product/service and must explain how it works to potential investors or even to company sales reps. Regardless of the reason, you are the expert – it was no mere accident you were chosen to speak at this event. You have important, vital, unique information to impart, which brings enormous value to your audience. This is your chance to share your information, so that alone should help you resolve your fear for public speaking.

4. Understand the Value You Bring to the Table
Once you understand the value you bring to the table, the rest of the process is very simple. While overcoming that fear of public speaking might seem impossible, you can use numerous techniques to help you move past it. For instance, meditation-style breathing techniques, used before you take the stage, will help slow your racing heart and stem the flood of adrenaline surging through your body.

Remember that the audience is likely not going to notice your sweating palms or your nervousness; in many ways, fear of public speaking is simply all in your mind. Having a positive mindset and the right outlook on the event will help you move past this fear. Remember, you are the expert here, take that to heart, and all else will fall into place and you can confidently deliver your engaging speech.

David Wilkins has put together a complementary 20 page report full of simple and effective ways to reduce your fear of public speaking, which will help you quickly deal with and solve any anxiety issues. To download it instantly visit: http://www.publicspeakingmentor.com/banishfearreport.html

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Ideally by the time you get to a presentation, you should be well prepared and ready to have some fun. But sometimes little problems can throw you off your game and result in a less than satisfactory talk. The best way to be ready to speak is to have a good routine that gives me peace of mind as well as prepares me for any challenges.

Get Some Exercise: This is a great way to get rid of any pre-speech jitters. Public speaking can produce a higher amount of adrenaline in your body. It’s a normal reaction to anticipating a presentation. Try getting some exercise early in the day, especially if you have a morning presentation. It gives you a chance to review my talk in my mind as well as silence any nervous thoughts.    If you’re speaking later in the day, you may want to take a short walk. You’ll release some tension from your muscles and get some fresh air. An athlete stretches before a game and you need to also make sure you’re as physically relaxed as possible before you reach the podium.

Arrive Early and Mingle: By arriving early, you eliminate any tension you might have felt about being late! It’s a great chance to get the feel for the room.  You should also use this as a chance to get to know the people who will be in your audience. A roomful of strangers can be intimidating so it’s nice to make a few friends beforehand.    Some small talk can go a long way. “Hi, I”m happy to be speaking to your group today,” is a very safe icebreaker. You can also ask how long someone has been with the company, where they live, or even if they prefer Coke or Pepsi. Your goal is to build some rapport so you become a person to the audience and not an unknown presenter. You’ll also have an easier time relating to the crowd.

Watch Your Food and Drink: Many Speakers don’t like to eat too much before they speak as the digestive process raises your body temperature. Next thing you know, you’re on stage and feel hot, which is a distraction. If a meal is served, try to eat it later. Of course you need to make sure it’s not taken away by an overeager server!    For the same reason, beware of drinking hot beverages before talking. Soft drinks bring with them carbonation, which could lead to an unexpected burp. It may be dull but I find water is the best way to wet your whistle.

Ken Okel is a communications expert who helps people and organizations move from survival to success. For his free newsletter and special report, 7 Communication Mistakes that are Costing You Money, go to his website at http://www.kenokel.com

You’ll also be able to see a video of Ken’s famous police dog attack story.

See Ken’s tips invade YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/KenOkel

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Reading people and their body language can give you great insights into their true feeling.

We use our head, arms, hands, shoulders and even legs and feet to make gestures, and emphasize what we are saying, but the majority of gestures are made with the hands and arms. Here are some things to look for, to help you interpret body language and gestures.

1. Nodding or tilting the head to the side shows interest, active listening, and concern.

2. A head held up indicates confidence, but if it is held too high, it can indicate aloofness or a patronizing attitude – looking down your nose at someone.

3. Shrugging the shoulders with a palms-up gesture indicates that the person doesn’t know or care, or is bored or uninterested.

4. People sometimes reveal their real feelings through body language that contradicts their words. For example, if someone says he agrees with you, but his head moves slightly from side to side, he is really signaling disagreement. He may be showing his real feelings, but not want to be bothered arguing with you.

5. Some people pick lint from their clothing. Whether this is conscious or unconscious, it can indicate that they disagree with you, but can’t be bothered to argue.

6. Nervousness often shows in your hands. People who are anxious may rub or wring their hands together, or clasp and unclasp them.

7. When we aren’t comfortable with our hands, we hide them in our pockets or behind our backs. Hands in the pocket convey a hidden agenda or secretiveness.

8. An open palm suggests honest and sincerity. A closed fist can be considered menacing.

9. Hands on the hips can be seen as defiant.

10. The fig leaf position, with your hands clasped together over your crotch, or folded tightly over your chest (the female fig leaf) can make you seem aloof or defensive.

Do you know the biggest business image mistakes? Find out with these free reports:

7 Business Casual Crimes and How to Solve Them, and 13 Foods that Can Sabotage a Business Meal, when you sign up for my Communication Capsules Ezine at: http://www.Impressforsuccess.com/signup.html

From Lynda Goldman, author of 30 books including How to Make a Million Dollar First Impression

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Companies today present ideas in many ways. Sometimes they do it well, sometimes not. One of the easiest ways to make sure ideas are well presented and well received is to organize goals and thoughts BEFORE attempting to create a presentation.

This outline will help you do that. It is designed to help organize and unify thinking about the ideas to be presented. The results of this process can also be given to an outside producer or writer to ensure that the desired message is communicated in the most efficient and effective manner. By devoting a little time early in the planning stages of a project to honestly answering these questions, the people who will prepare and present the idea will have a much better chance of achieving the presentation’s stated goals.

Many times, surveying the audience prior to answering these questions will provide better insight into where problems actually lie, and also provide a yardstick against which the success of the presentation can be measured — “If you didn’t measure it, you didn’t do it!”

PERSPECTIVE (The MOST CRITICAL Information)

1. What is the PRIMARY problem that we are addressing?

It could be as simple as a New Product Launch, Sales Program, etc… Or as complex as a poorly motivated audience where this attitude must be dealt with BEFORE anything else can take place. Addressing this question would lead to….

2. What specifically do you want the audience for your idea to do after learning about it?

Use action verbs like; DO, GO, SELL, INCREASE, HAVE, BELIEVE, THINK, ACT, etc. in a short concise sentence.

3. What, if any, are the secondary issues?

4. What is the dimension of the problem?

This is usually the dollar cost of what will be addressed. This will give you the yardstick against which success will be measured. This also provides background for….

5. What are we willing to spend to address the problem?

Again, a dollar figure that will drive the budget for the communications that will be produced to address the problem.

CONTENT

6. What is being introduced?

This includes hard goods like cameras, copiers, luggage, fruit cocktail, etc, or ideas and concepts like sales programs, incentives or marketing strategies. It even includes ideas like companies or activity groups, the services of which are being sold to a potential client or customer.

7. What pertinent information is available about the idea?

This includes brochures, press releases, preliminary information sheets, pictures, tour brochures, management directives, procedure outlines, marketing bulletins, sales guides, etc. This information is critical, and should be made available to the production group immediately.

8. If you only had two minutes to get an audience to understand the subject of this program, what would you stress in that brief time? What is the most important? Be as specific as possible.

9. What additional relevant information must be given about the subject?

10. Are there any specific demonstrations of reliability or quality that can, or should, be included?

11. What is the competitive environment for the subject of this program?

12. What are the strengths and weaknesses of these competitive products or ideas? What do they have that we don’t? What do we have that they don’t?

13. Why should customers buy OUR product or idea instead of our competitor’s?

14. Is there an historical perspective for the this product or idea? What in the company’s or the industry’s past was the logical predecessor to this event?

ENVIRONMENT

15. Where and how will the idea be presented? I what form?

16. What is the Due Date for this Presentation?

(This may be different from the presentation date because of preliminary approvals, if a live event, travel time, set-up and rehearsals, etc.)

17. What is the size of the group that will receive the information?

18. If it is a meeting, is it a closed meeting, incentive or award meeting, required meeting, individual presentation, etc.

19. What is the specific personality of the audience?

Comment on things like education, occupation, motivation, likes and dislikes, happy to be here or not, self motivated or externally motivated, etc.

20. As mentioned in Question 1, is there a need for Motivation BEYOND the scope of the presentation… i.e. is the audience already highly motivated, or is a lack of motivation part of the problem?

21. Will there be any tie-in giveaways, awards, prizes, premiums, or others?

22. Are there any additional uses for this presentation? i.e., is it a Video that can be distributed through other channels? Does the presentation have any PR value, for instance, could it be used at a Press Conference? Is this worth pursuing? If this is not a Trade Show Presentation, could it be so used? If it is a Trade Show Presentation, could it be used in any other way? Are there any other connections like this that can be made, and therefore help to amortize the cost of production over multiple uses?

23. Any additional comments or suggestions that will help this presentation do the best and most effective job possible.

You can see that answering these questions honestly and using the answers to guide the preparation and presentation of the communication will virtually guarantee success. You can also see that you have a yardstick against which to measure the success of the program — as I said up front, “If you didn’t measure it, you didn’t do it!”

Copyright 2007 Dan Davenport

Copyright 2008 Dan Davenport

Dan Davenport is an award-winning business communications producer: Multimedia, video, print.

Goal: Bring excitement to business communications.

Look to http://blog.smallofficecommunicator.net to blog with us about small office communication ideas and answers – share your own experience with others and get answers to your questions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Davenport [http://ezinearticles.com/?Think-First!---The-Right-Steps-to-Effective-Communications&id=870108 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Think-First!—The-Right-Steps-to-Effective-Communications&id=870108

There will come a time when a person has to effectively deliver a speech in front of a group of people, so books that teach public speaking tips have become hot sellers. The rules of public speaking are as simple as A, B, C. Captivate your listeners by knowing the background and expectation of your audience before the speaking event. That’s the most important public speaking tip you have to practice before doing anything else.

Here are other public speaking tips and strategies that will help anyone become an effective public speaker:

1) Making tiny mistakes is fine, as long as you learn from them and don’t repeat them. However, it is highly recommendable to prepare well before your speech to avoid any embarrassing instances.

You are only human and you can recover from the errors you’ve made. Anyway, bouncing back from your mistakes makes your personality as a public speaker more trustworthy.

2) Bring out your sense of humor. You may tell jokes if the topic allows you to; but if you’re not good at it, better leave the jokes from your agenda behind, for there is nothing more that can aggravate a speaking disaster than a bad punch line.

3) Master the art of telling stories. Own the stories you tell by using your real personal experience to bring life to the material you are delivering. These stories make you a real human, and animation can add color to them.

4) Use technology to sustain your momentum as a speaker but not vice versa. Your power point slides, if you are using one for your presentation, should contain visual graphics and not long sentences. Speak to your crowd and not your presentation.

5) Focus on bringing the positive thoughts to your words and not on how you are doing as a speaker. Enjoying your speech helps you deliver a compelling message.

You will enjoy speaking in front of a whole bunch of people if you always practice these effective public speaking tips.

Michael Lee is unbelievably giving away over $2355 worth of the best self-help ebooks FREE at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/goldaccess.htm for a limited time. Download as many as you want before you miss out!

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While having to speak in public, some people are experiencing anxiety and/or nervousness. Their hands are shaking. They can barely say anything.

Have you been undergoing the same situation?

No need to worry, you’re not alone. There are many out there who feel the same way about public speaking. However, it is best to try your best to get used to speaking in public. A successful person is sometimes asked to do it.

So, if you plan to be one, get rid of your anxiety and nervousness.

Try these tips below:

• Prepare yourself

This one is for those who are given the chance to get prepared. If you do, then use the best out of it. Check out what you are expected to talk about. Gather all the information you might need. This helps build your confidence.

• Get a drink

It is a calming action you can do before getting on the stage. If possible, and if you are about to talk for a long period of time, make sure you have at least a glass of water next to you. Yet, don’t drink too much for it might cause you to make water in the middle of the speech.

• Take a very deep breath

Breathing deeply can help you feel a little bit calmer. The oxygen can also help your brain work at its best. You can do it once or again and again, until you feel very calm.

• You are the star!

Keep that in mind. Remember that every star is confident and sure about themselves. So are you. Boost your confidence by acting like a star!

If someone asks you to speak in public, never say no. You need to practice. Practice makes perfect. If you keep rehearsing, soon, you will be the best public speaker ever.

David W Richards has a very big interest on writing and public speaking. A happy father of two, he also enjoys creating useful and interesting websites such as [http://purposeloan.info]Purpose Loan, [http://multifamilyloan.info]Multifamily Loan, and [http://mortgageprospect.info]Mortgage Prospect.

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By: Amanda Blue

A producer had arranged an informal audition for Judy Garland, to be held in the producer’s hotel suite. This was toward the end of the singer’s career. It was for an upcoming Broadway musical. Garland never showed up. Later, she was found huddled in the building’s freight elevator, where she had been for hours.

I wonder if she ever asked herself why she had such stage fright.

And what about you?

Do you imagine you would–

Trip and fall flat on your face on the way to the podium?

Stammer?

Stutter?

Be unable to swallow?

Be unable to breathe?

Lose your voice?

Lose your poise?

Lose your place?

Forget your speech?

Stand there gaping, wordless and paralyzed?

Turn crimson with shame?

Tremble or shake uncontrollably?

Go numb and feel detached from your body?

Seem ridiculous –

Unintelligent –

Uninspired –

Incompetent –

Hopeless?

Have to be helped off the podium and led away?

Cry?

Faint?

Have a heart attack?

Die?

Or, do you think the audience would –

Be bored to death?

Talk to one another during your speech?

Shout, “Get him/her off!”?

Stand up and leave?

Do you suppose your colleagues would –

Be happy you made a fool of yourself?

Lose respect for you?

Make fun of you?

Pity you?

Gossip about your stage fright?

Demote you?

Fire you?

Would you -

Never recover?

Go into hiding?

Feel like killing yourself?

Kill yourself?

Or would —

Your husband divorce you?

Your children reject you?

Your friends avoid you?

Your Cocker Spaniel no longer wiggle at you?

If you answered yes to more than five of these questions…we sympathize. Some fears are real, of course, but many of these fantasies are preposterous; and universally held. No wonder countless people have stage fright. Now, read the list again, and ask yourself how many of these wild imaginings might actually happen to you. None? Maybe one or two?

We hope this will enable you to become more objective about your fear of public speaking, since, hard as it may be to believe, it does not have to be torture; it can be fun and exhilarating. (If you think we have left something out, let us know. Our e-mail address is on the “Contact Us” page of the Public Speaking Training by Broadway Actors web site; just click below.)

FDR said it better than anyone, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Your fear of public speaking, your stage fright, is probably the main obstacle to your excelling as a public speaker, for being expressive is everyone’s birth right. So look your stage fright in the eye, then wave it goodbye. If this is easier said than done, consider partaking in some concentrated work with a trainer. But at least try to be more level-headed about your stage fright. Do not defeat yourself as Judy Garland did; allow yourself to be heard. Stand tall, open your wings and fly!

Copyright 2007 Amanda Blue

Amanda Blue is Administrative Director of Public Speaking Training by Broadway Actors, a New York City based company of leading actors who give private training and workshops in confident public speaking.

To visit the Public Speaking Training by Broadway Actors web site go to:

<A target=”_new” href=”http://broadwayactors.net”>Broadway Actors</a> http://www.broadwayactors.net

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Public speaking is an art-form. It may seem like something that some can do
naturally, and some can’t (let’s face it, we have all seen both good and bad
speakers) but there are things you can do to improve your public speaking. This
article contains seven great tips to help you improve your public speaking.

Talk more slowly- There are some professional speakers out
there who have made a name for themselves by speaking fast and excitedly.
However, for most speakers or people starting out, you should consciously slow
down your speech to a level slightly slower than a normal conversational pace.
Whilst it may seem weird in your head, I guarantee that it will come across
better to your audience and easier to understand.

Project your voice more- Most people will speak to softly
if you are nervous. Speak up, speak confidently- but do not YELL.

Enunciate more- Like above, whilst also getting more quiet
when they are nervous, people often start to ramble when they are nervous. Slow
down and concentrate on properly pronouncing every word. Exaggerate words,
especially if you are in a big room.

Use shorter sentences- Don’t ramble. Make sure you only
have one idea per sentence.

Use pauses effectively- If you get stuck for an idea, or
what you were going to say next, train yourself to silently pause. Whatever you
do, lose the ummmms and the aaahhhhs.

Organize your speech around separate themes- Have about 5
main points, and separate your speech around each point. You are not (I think) a
comedian who can get away rambling from joke to joke and going off on tangents.
Your audience won’t appreciate it.

Open and close with your best stuff- As much as you’d like
to think that your audience will remember the entirety of your speech, they are
most likely to remember your opening and your closing. As such, your
introduction and conclusion must include everything you really want to get
across in your speech.

(c) ToonChooi Tan

Check out his [http://www.publicspeakingsecret.com/]Free Public Speaking
Course

Sign up now here => http://www.PublicSpeakingSecret.com

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