Braithwaite BlogLisa Braithwaite (88)   Lisa Braithwaite   http://www.coachlisab.com Public Speaking: Three Surprising Tips to Improve Your PresentationsPosted Saturday, June 14, 2008 (35 days 13 hours ago.) Viewed 27 times. Pointer 1: Take your medications As an allergy sufferer, I can tell you that I am not at my best when giving a talk through sniffles and itchy eyes. Even if I'm not having a particular allergic day, I will be sure to take my prescription medication before I speak, to ensure that I don't have a sudden unexpected reaction. If your nervousness goes to your gut, by all means take your upset stomach medication. If you get tension headaches, head them off at the pass with your favorite pain reliever. Do what it takes to avoid the physical distractions that will disrupt your performance and keep you from doing your best. One caveat to this advice: Avoid psychiatric anti-anxiety medications before speaking; you will not be as sharp as you could be. There are non-pharmaceutical ways of dealing with nervousness and anxiety that will not interfere with your ability to think on your feet and interact with your audience. Pointer 2: Start on time How many times have you arrived on time for a presentation, even early, and ended up sitting there for an extra fifteen minutes while stragglers made their way to the seats in the back of the room? Then, because the presentation started late, it ends late, but you've had to miss the end because you have other commitments on your schedule. Waiting for latecomers rewards latecomers, but it punishes those who were on time for your presentation. Latecomers may be a distraction when then enter the room after the presentation has started, but what's worse: a little disruption by laggards or being responsible for annoying the half of your audience who made the effort to be on time and now might miss the end if you go over? Take charge of the room, take charge of your time, and make the decision to reward the people who are committed and punctual. Pointer 3: Give the end of your sentences the same energy you give to the beginning of your sentences This is a simple tool but an effective one. Some people's voices trail off at the ends of sentences, making it hard to hear the last few words they've said. As a speaker, trailing off at the ends of sentences means that your audience might miss something important. Make sure you are emphasizing both ends of your sentences, and your audience will never miss a crucial point or valuable tip! Stick with the tried-and-true public speaking advice you've heard before, but in addition, try adding these three tricks to your bag the next time you have a speaking engagement. See if you don't feel more confident and pulled together onstage and more successful in connecting with the audience. 
Permalink Comments (0) Public Speaking: Who is Your True, Authentic Self?Posted Thursday, May 08, 2008 (72 days 17 hours ago.) Viewed 9 times. "Water which is too pure has no fish." ~ Ts'ai Ken T'An Speakers often focus on the "rules" of speaking more than on being a truly effective speaker. Unfortunately, following too many rules can paralyze a speaker and make them dreary and mechanical, submerging the soul and spirit of the person inside the speaker. Instead of focusing on refining the mechanics of your presentation, let's talk about what you bring to the table as an individual. What do your personality and style have to do with giving a successful presentation? You've probably seen some pretty slick speakers. You've probably seen some speakers who were so polished, you sat in awe with your mouth hanging open. But many times, those speakers are not connecting with the audience. They're technically proficient, but there's an emotional distance between them and the audience, a chasm that's wider than just the space between the podium and the front row. You will be most effective as a speaker if you let your personality -- with all your quirks and unique characteristics -- shine. All the tips and tricks in the world won't fool your audience if you're faking it. So what are some of your personality traits? Here's a list if you need some ideas. Make a list of ten personality traits that fit you. Be honest with yourself and don't be modest. Now that you've identified some of your traits, imagine how they might benefit you as a speaker: For example: if you listed "perceptive," then this is a good trait for helping you read your audience throughout your talk to determine what's working and what isn't. If you listed "spontaneous," you might enjoy throwing little surprises at your audience to keep them on their toes. If you listed "tactful," then you'll be great at taking charge of questions that sometimes veer off topic, and you're probably great at dealing with hecklers. "Organized?" Then you'll be good at making the presentation easy for your audience to follow. Look at your personality traits as neither good nor bad; they just "are." Try not to judge or think negatively about yourself, but think of how you can best incorporate your own personality into your presentations. Some people say, "But the real me is BORING." Well, that's just not true! Each of us has something unique and special to bring to our speaking engagements. It's how you connect with your audience and make your presentation about them that's most important. So you're not Jerry Seinfeld, you're not Dr. Phil, and you're not Oprah. Each of these people brings her or his own unique style to communication, and you can, too. Knowing who you are -- and who you aren't -- keeps you honest, authentic, and accessible to your audience. You're perfect just the way you are!
Permalink Comments (0) When There's no Time to Prepare: Tips for Speaking off the CuffPosted Monday, December 17, 2007 (215 days 10 hours ago.) Viewed 18 times. It's inevitable: You're at a luncheon to honor a colleague and someone asks you to "say a few words." Or your boss tosses an assignment into your lap that requires a presentation to your team with a turnaround time of one hour. These can be the most nerve-wracking of presentations; after all, we're taught that thorough preparation is the foundation of a successful presentation. When there's no time to prepare, a key building block of your talk is missing. No need to sweat; you can do it! Just follow the tips below for an off-the-cuff speech that makes you sound like the clever, articulate, unruffled genius you are. Pointer 1: Stall for time! If you're asked to speak at an event where there will be several speakers, see if you can put off your time slot for a few minutes. Even five minutes will give you the time you need to do some speedy homework. Pointer 2: Write out some quick notes. Take a moment to think about your audience, the purpose of the occasion, and what you want to convey. Make some quick bullet points (on a napkin, if necessary), but no more than three so you don't overwhelm yourself or the audience. Because no one is expecting a long dissertation, don't feel pressured to say more than is necessary. Take your notes with you when it's your turn to speak; because you only have a couple of bullet points, you won't be tempted to stare at the paper the whole time you're speaking, neglecting to make eye contact with your audience. Write out your first sentence and memorize it, so that you can start off your remarks with an air of confidence. And make an effort to fit in an eloquent closing. Remember, it's about the audience, not you. If you're saying a few words about a colleague, say something personal, but don't bring up negative or embarrassing stories. Share positive memories, but most importantly, speak sincerely and from the heart. Give the audience what they want, and you will find your anxiety melting away. Pointer 3: Get it together. If you can get away, go to the restroom or another room for some privacy. Breathe deeply and do some neck rolls and stretches to get the blood flowing. Clench and unclench your hands and feet a few times if you're sitting at a table and your hands and feet are hidden. This is where visualization and positive self-talk can be useful. You've been asked to speak because someone believes you have something important to say. Remember this as you're doing relaxation exercises and tell yourself that this is an opportunity, not a punishment. Pointer 4: Be yourself, whatever that means. If you are generally an informal speaker, don't try to be formal just because the occasion is formal. Likewise, if you are a more reserved and formal speaker, don't attempt a laid-back style. As a last-minute speaker, the last thing you should be doing is trying on a new persona in front of the audience. Do what you do best, and don't try to be someone you're not. Ideally, you will always anticipate being asked to speak in certain situations, and won't be caught off guard. Plan ahead if you think it's possible that you will be asked to speak; have a few remarks in mind, just in case. Last of all: Don't panic. With a few moments to pull yourself together and make some pertinent notes, your last-minute speech can be genuine, natural, succinct, and meaningful, as though you had plenty of time to prepare.
Permalink Comments (0) Your Media Moment: Give a Successful InterviewPosted Friday, September 07, 2007 (316 days 15 hours ago.) Viewed 13 times. The phone rings. It's a journalist who wants to ask you a few questions for a story she's writing. You, flattered, take the call and flub your way through the interview, because off the top of your head, you can't remember your elevator pitch or a single talking point about your business or product. Oops! Many of us will be called upon by the media for a quote or more, and knowing how to prepare will eliminate much of your anxiety as well as set the stage for an article you can be proud of. Pointer 1: You can't control what the reporter writes You hope that, if you prepare an answer to every possible question and give as much detail as possible in your responses, your interview will be published verbatim with brilliant and accurate quotes, and everything in the article will be exactly as you want it. Wrong. No matter what you say or how you say it, the reporter always gets the final word. Literally. Your quotes will be taken out of context. Your key points will be edited, condensed and paraphrased. The reporter will decide which points are most important to write about - especially if you have given so much information that the reporter can't tell which ones are your key points. This is not to say that the reporter is out to get you, or deliberately trying to undermine you. It's your responsibility to know exactly what your main points are and to stick to those points. If you only have three points, and you keep coming back to them, it's going to be hard for the reporter to write about anything else. Rather than anticipating every question you might be asked, focus your preparation on your most critical points, and practice answering any question by coming back to those points. You can only control your own words, so make sure your message is clear, concise, and easily delivered. Pointer 2: Take the call when you're ready It's tempting when a reporter calls to jump right into the interview. You don't want to keep her waiting, and you're afraid that if you don't take the call, you'll miss your "big chance." Resist the temptation and take a few minutes to get ready. Ask the reporter what the topic is and when her deadline is. Let the reporter know that you can't talk at the moment, but you will call back in a few minutes, or before the deadline. You can try asking the reporter to e-mail or fax you the interview questions, and sometimes the whole interview can be conducted by e-mail, but be prepared for the reporter to decline. Now that you've got some time to prepare, sit down at the computer or open your file drawer and pull up your marketing documents, your bio, your website, your blog, and anything else you can think of to have the information you need at your fingertips. Determine and clarify the main points you want to cover - no more than three. Look at your mission statement, go over your elevator pitch, and take a couple of deep breaths. Now, when you call the journalist back, you are ready to give an interview! Pointer 3: Don't take mistakes personally Even with excellent preparation, you may be misquoted or find a factual error in the article. In fact, it's very likely. When a journalist is taking notes over the phone, it's difficult to write everything down exactly as you said it. Even when interviewing in person and using a recorder, it's not easy to get everything right. And everyone has personal filters through which information is fed, meaning that the reporter's interpretation and perception of what was said may be different than yours. Again, the reporter is not out to get you. Her sole purpose is to write a good, accurate story that informs her readers. If the factual errors are minor (your business was founded in 1997, but the article says 1998) and readers will never know the difference, then let it go. If you're slightly misquoted but you don't sound like a murderer or a racist, then let it go. If the mistake is more damaging, like a misspelled web address or, say, the wrong person credited for an important invention, then by all means ask for a correction to be printed. The beauty of web-based media is that it can be corrected at any time, unlike print media. If you think you can head off errors by asking to see the article before it's published, don't bother. A journalist doesn't need your permission or approval to publish the piece - it's not an advertisement that you've paid for and can control. Journalists cannot be influenced by their sources to change their stories - their job is to remain objective and credible by telling a story based on their own research and interpretation of the facts. If you're lucky, the writer will send you your quotes or any complex data for fact-checking, and that is a wonderful courtesy. But asking to see the piece before it's published is generally considered poor etiquette and will not endear you to the reporter. Remember, you have total control over the words that come out of your mouth. This is the one opportunity you have in an interview to get your message out there in a way that is unambiguous to the reporter and to the readers. Take the time to prepare your key points in advance and never waver from your main message, and you will always be ready for your media moment.
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