Before you ever take the stage or step behind the podium, someone, more than likely, will introduce you. If you are in a small business meeting, in can be a pretty informal introduction, such as "Steve, tell us what your group found out about the marketing plan." That kind of introduction works well in that setting. However, if you are speaking before a larger group in an auditorium or at a club gathering at which you are the featured guest, that kind of introduction won't work.
The formal introduction serves a number of purposes. First, obviously, it tells people who you are. It gives them a little background about you. Its most important function is to grant you authority and credibility.
Let's do this by example:
John is a firefighter who has a great organic garden at his house. John has been asked to talk at a local gardening club's meeting about his garden.
If his intro is along the lines of "And now I present you local firefighter John who is going to tell you about his organic gardening methods", John has no credibility with his audience. Sure, if he were talking about fire-proofing your house, he is your man, but gardening?
Now let's assume that John takes a few minutes before the meeting and talks to the person who is going to introduce him. John hands them a piece of paper with the following introduction on it:
"Joining us now is John Smith. John has a Masters degree in Botany from Texas A&M University. John has written several articles for Organic Gardening Magazine and is currently putting the finishing touches on his first book "Organic Gardening for Small Scale Farms." Tonight, John is going to tell us about the three most important things that an organic gardener can do in their garden. Please help me welcome John Smith!"
The difference between the two introductions is that the first one offers a hurdle that John must overcome in order to be thought of as someone of authority and expertise in the field. The second positions him an as expert that should be listened to. Same guy, better introduction.
Before your next speech, take the time to prepare a proper introduction. If nothing else, it will make you feel great hearing someone else say all of those nice things about you.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Arguement for Toastmasters
If you follow speaking blogs at all, you have probably seen that a good majority of them have at least a post or two mentioning Toastmasters. There is a good reason for this. Toastmasters is probably the most successful and proven way to improve your performance in public speaking and presenting. There are several reasons for this.
First, the environment at Toastmasters is supportive. For most people, speaking in front of others is a frightening, if not downright terrifying, experience. The people at Toastmasters are aware of this and do all that they can to make your speaking experience less traumatic. Everyone in the room remembers giving their Ice Breaker speech to a group of strangers, and they can all identify with you. In the Toastmasters meeting, your audience really does want you to succeed.
The second reason for the success of Toastmasters is the structured learning process that they have developed over the years. Toastmaster speeches are given in order, with each speech having a definite purpose, and with each lesson building on the last. Organizing the ideas in your speeches comes before choosing the right words, and that comes before body language and gestures.
The third, and for many perhaps the most important, reason for Toastmaster's success is the cost. While all over the Internet you can find people who will magically make your fears disappear and you a talented and polished speaker for a mere $2500 or so, Toastmasters expenses are manageable for almost anyone. Be prepared to shell out a whopping $27 every six month for Toastmasters membership. Some clubs have additional charges, but most are $20 or less every six months. The club charges are used for different reasons, depending on the club. They may be used to pay for awards given to speakers, or to provide drinks and snacks at meetings. At some point the $2500 seminar may be worthwhile to some people, but for most of us, it is overkill.
I hope that I have given you a couple of reasons to consider visiting a Toastmasters meeting. It is by far the best way to make yourself a better, more comforatable speaker.
Find a Toastmasters club near you at http://toastmasters.org
First, the environment at Toastmasters is supportive. For most people, speaking in front of others is a frightening, if not downright terrifying, experience. The people at Toastmasters are aware of this and do all that they can to make your speaking experience less traumatic. Everyone in the room remembers giving their Ice Breaker speech to a group of strangers, and they can all identify with you. In the Toastmasters meeting, your audience really does want you to succeed.
The second reason for the success of Toastmasters is the structured learning process that they have developed over the years. Toastmaster speeches are given in order, with each speech having a definite purpose, and with each lesson building on the last. Organizing the ideas in your speeches comes before choosing the right words, and that comes before body language and gestures.
The third, and for many perhaps the most important, reason for Toastmaster's success is the cost. While all over the Internet you can find people who will magically make your fears disappear and you a talented and polished speaker for a mere $2500 or so, Toastmasters expenses are manageable for almost anyone. Be prepared to shell out a whopping $27 every six month for Toastmasters membership. Some clubs have additional charges, but most are $20 or less every six months. The club charges are used for different reasons, depending on the club. They may be used to pay for awards given to speakers, or to provide drinks and snacks at meetings. At some point the $2500 seminar may be worthwhile to some people, but for most of us, it is overkill.
I hope that I have given you a couple of reasons to consider visiting a Toastmasters meeting. It is by far the best way to make yourself a better, more comforatable speaker.
Find a Toastmasters club near you at http://toastmasters.org
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
100 Speech Topics
The range of topics is endless. Most of these topics will be too broad to be covered in a short amount of time and will need to be narrowed down considerably. You will need to develop just one part of the topic to cover it well.
Technology
Internet
best search engines
top 10 searches
web 2.0
social bookmarking
blogs
Computer Viruses
Choosing a cell phone
Choosing a gaming system
Biographies
Abraham Lincoln
Sam Adams
George Washington
Martin L. King
Ulysses S. Grant
Robert E. Lee
Stonewall Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Mother Teresa
Gandhi
Malcolm X
Bono
Michael Jackson (also suitable for a humorous speech)
Warren Buffet
Bill Gates
Steve Jobs
A relative of yours (this one is great if you can find a grandparent who was alive before some of the great inventions like cars, phones, etc)
Book Reviews
War and Peace (kidding)
Uncommon uses for common items
paperclips
sponges
rubber bands
plastic sporks
Politics
Privacy rights
nuclear weapons
welfare
Medicare
abortion
death penalty
gun control
taxes
Fair Tax
Immigration
gay marriage
Democrats v Republicans
Libertarian Party
military issues (pay, gays in, women in, etc)
legal drinking age
decriminalization/legalization of drugs
terrorism
environmental issues
History
Civil rights
women's suffrage
Nazi Germany
Civil War
American Revolution
Roman Empire
Environment
hybrid vehicles
alternative fuels
recycling
greenhouse gases
conservation
global warming
wind energy
nuclear energy
Sports
Why the BCS system doesn't work
Argue for why your chosen sport is the best
Which sport has the best athletes?
Football v football (soccer)
Is baseball still America's game?
Hunting
Fishing
Financial
Mortgage crisis
Real estate market in your area
Credit card debt
Does Dave Ramsey's plan make sense?
Were the bailouts a good idea? Were they necessary?
Choosing investments wisely
Good investments for a volatile market
identity theft
Transportation
Is a hybrid vehicle worth the added money?
Choosing a family vehicle
Slow down to save fuel
Do red cars really get more tickets?
How to beat a speeding ticket
Basic vehicle maintenance
Minivan vs. SUV
Safety issues
proper tire inflation saves fuel
Detailing your vehicle
Detroit muscle cars vs. Tuners
How riding the bus could save you money
Around the House
Planting trees to keep your home cooler
Gardening
Fruit trees
herb gardens
Cleaning your Fireplace
Replacing broken floor tiles
Yard maintenance
10 uses for a pressure washer
Caring for your dog/cat/fish
Choosing a dog breed
Dog training
Monday, November 3, 2008
Success is Yours for the Taking
One of the first things I was told when I started speaking is that the audience wants you to succeed. They want you to be good, entertaining, and informative. Some professional speakers look at this as old advice, and I am sure it probably is, but for those of us who speak only occasionally, it is advice worth remembering.
As bad as you don't want to fail, your audience does not want to sit through a dull, lifeless presentation. The next few minutes, or few hours, of their lives are in your hands, and they want you to make them enjoyable.
Obviously, there are exceptions to this...your competition for the promotion may relish your failures, but the rest of the crowd really hopes that you wow them. Their reasons are that they don't want to be bored to tears, but their desire for your success is still there. They want you to be great.
Have you ever been watching a movie when one of the characters is failing miserably, and you start to feel their pain? The same thing happens to audiences when the speaker is struggling. They feel your pain, and most of them would not want to be the one on the spot in front of the room.
On the other hand, have you ever seen a movie where the character is inspiring and you start to feel inspired? The original Rocky film comes to mind. That is what your audience hopes that you deliver for them. Sure, that is a very tall order for the person who only presents on a limited basis, but shoot for greatness. Your audience is rooting for you!
As bad as you don't want to fail, your audience does not want to sit through a dull, lifeless presentation. The next few minutes, or few hours, of their lives are in your hands, and they want you to make them enjoyable.
Obviously, there are exceptions to this...your competition for the promotion may relish your failures, but the rest of the crowd really hopes that you wow them. Their reasons are that they don't want to be bored to tears, but their desire for your success is still there. They want you to be great.
Have you ever been watching a movie when one of the characters is failing miserably, and you start to feel their pain? The same thing happens to audiences when the speaker is struggling. They feel your pain, and most of them would not want to be the one on the spot in front of the room.
On the other hand, have you ever seen a movie where the character is inspiring and you start to feel inspired? The original Rocky film comes to mind. That is what your audience hopes that you deliver for them. Sure, that is a very tall order for the person who only presents on a limited basis, but shoot for greatness. Your audience is rooting for you!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Welcome to Speak Well
For most people, speaking is a pretty basic skill. We do it all of the time...on the phone, to small groups of friends, and to coworkers. Where the problem seems to arise is if we are asked to do a prepared speech or presentation standing in front of people.
For many, the fear begins days, or even weeks before the event, and it is for those people that this blog was created. I know the feeling well, as I used to be one of you. I cannot honestly say that I am completely at ease speaking for groups now, but I can say that I have made huge strides in my comfort level.
I got started in public speaking when I was asked to do some training for a local company. I know the subject matter very well, and if you and I were talking about it, I could bore you to tears with the details. However, if you put me in front of a group of twenty or so, my brain would freeze up, and I would be the guy who read the PowerPoint presentation to the class. I knew that this was not the image I wanted to portray, so I got started doing some research. I wanted to know how to write a good speech, and even more, how to present it without passing out.
This blog is for students looking for speech topics and ideas on how to develop them into speeches. It is for the occasional business presenter who needs help with dealing with nervousness or editing a speech to fit time limits. It is for the best man who has to make a wedding toast, and doesn't know where to begin.It is for anyone who is not comfortable speaking publicly, but finds themselves in a situation that they cannot avoid.
Welcome!
For many, the fear begins days, or even weeks before the event, and it is for those people that this blog was created. I know the feeling well, as I used to be one of you. I cannot honestly say that I am completely at ease speaking for groups now, but I can say that I have made huge strides in my comfort level.
I got started in public speaking when I was asked to do some training for a local company. I know the subject matter very well, and if you and I were talking about it, I could bore you to tears with the details. However, if you put me in front of a group of twenty or so, my brain would freeze up, and I would be the guy who read the PowerPoint presentation to the class. I knew that this was not the image I wanted to portray, so I got started doing some research. I wanted to know how to write a good speech, and even more, how to present it without passing out.
This blog is for students looking for speech topics and ideas on how to develop them into speeches. It is for the occasional business presenter who needs help with dealing with nervousness or editing a speech to fit time limits. It is for the best man who has to make a wedding toast, and doesn't know where to begin.It is for anyone who is not comfortable speaking publicly, but finds themselves in a situation that they cannot avoid.
Welcome!
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