I am of the belief that the majority of people can improve their presentations dramatically by focusing on eliminating bad habits and presentation skills more than seeking to add anything on. How often have you come out of a seminar and overheard someone say, "Wow, she was great! Did you see how effectively she used her hand gestures?"
That said, here are some ideas to help you become a better speaker.
1. Keep it simple
Speak naturally
Make eye contact
Don't do crazy things with your hands
Don't do much more than speak, i.e. managing props etc.
2. Be impassioned
3. Balance the format of your information
4. Build the relationships beforehand if possible
5. Get the audience to participate at varying levels if effective
6. Show, don't tell. That is, use stories, not facts and figures
7. Get rid of distracting idiosyncrasies
8. Don't misinterpret people's actions and get discouraged
9. Know your material
10. Never, ever, go overtime
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Most of us would agree that having humor in our... Read More
Imagine you are the most amazing figure skater who ever... Read More
No matter what your business is, you will enhance your... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
There are five key elements that can make... Read More
Communication is a complex and often difficult process for both... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
You're in a conference room. You're giving a PowerPoint presentation... Read More
As I travel around the world I always enjoy sampling... Read More
For communication to take place, a message must be transmitted... Read More
The most critical job of a manager, when you boil... Read More
Whether you need to address large groups or small, familiar... Read More
Conventional wisdom is that the more choices customers have, the... Read More
Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More
Tomorrow's the day and you're dreading it. You're scheduled to... Read More
"I have a love/hate relationship with PowerPoint. In the right... Read More
People take it for granted that leaders have achieved some... Read More
Where can you choose a company shirt vendor? There are... Read More
Long long ago, it was the time when time itself... Read More
You don't have to be on a stage to be... Read More
THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE... Read More
Does the thought of speaking in front of others send... Read More
In March 2002, the comic strip Beetle Bailey contained a... Read More
Regardless of what response technique may be convenient in a... Read More
How many times have you attended a meeting where the... Read More
"Let it be known, no person, thing, or situation... Read More
Most people love to hide behind the lectern.. It makes... Read More
This article will help you to assess and maximise the... Read More
Whether you use a mouse or a remote control to... Read More
When was the last time you thought about what you... Read More
Flash chart, flash map, flash graph may be mistaken for... Read More
Delivering humorous speeches involves a lot more than simply having... Read More
DEVELOPING LESSON PLANS: In developing lesson plan formats, two things... Read More
The query letter is simply a business letter that serves... Read More
According to the Lamalle Report on Top Executives of the... Read More
The CEO of a worldwide business asked me to help... Read More
I had been working on a logo idea for several... Read More
1. Play "find the meeting" by changing the location and... Read More
ALTERNATIVES TO THE LECTURE FORMAT: How often do you use... Read More
(Excerpted From the Jim Rohn Millennium Weekend Event)Persistence in your... Read More
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE FACILITATOR: As chairperson, focus on the... Read More
How many people will need to see the screen? A... Read More
Never rehearse at the last minute. This creates undue tension... Read More
A client recently called to say she was going to... Read More
Remember back when the ability to create a slide show... Read More
SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATIONS: All of us have seen demonstrations in one... Read More
Why is throwing a seminar good for business?If you want... Read More
Whether you use a mouse or a remote control to... Read More
The communication process can be much more difficult than a... Read More
How many times have you attended a meeting where the... Read More
Summer is here! It's time to bring out your summer... Read More
MANAGING MEETINGS--BEING PREPARED MAKES A DIFFERENCE: You can schedule all... Read More
There are five key elements that can make... Read More
First of all, what is a bio sheet and why... Read More
Presenters often tell me that they fear losing their train... Read More
Myth 1: Executives belong in meetings.Although the demands of business... Read More
At some point in your presentation you will be expected... Read More
THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE... Read More
Ever had that uncomfortable feeling of not knowing where to... Read More
Imagine you are the most amazing figure skater who ever... Read More
When was the last time you thought about what you... Read More
If the mere thought of standing up in front of... Read More
Do you ever get frustrated with your marketing? Are you... Read More
Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the... Read More
Since the events of September 11th and the economy slipping... Read More
If you're ready to kick your career or business up... Read More
Presentation |