Public Speaking Success

#6 Most Influential Public Speaking Blog

Paul Evans — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 13:55:00 +0000

Eric Feng has listed this blog as #6 in the most influential public speaking blogs.

http://blog.ericfeng.com/psbs-10-most-influential-bloggers-on-public-speaking/

Thanks Eric!!!!!

Public Speaking

Paul Evans — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:41:00 +0000

The following is from http://bencivengabullets.com/bullets.asp Gary teach marketing, but this example for public speaers is fantastic...

I'm sure you've heard about the surveys showing that more people are afraid of giving a speech than dying.

Perhaps most dreaded of all is dying while giving a speech! But that will never happen to you if you remember this Bullet.

In four easy steps, it will teach you how to craft a powerful speech on any topic, a talk your listeners will enjoy and respond to favorably. As an extra bonus, this method will also help you to write a winning headline whenever you need one.

This four-step formula was created by Richard C. Borden. Many years ago, Borden was the Administrative Chairman of the Department of Public Speaking at New York University. He was also one of the nation's most popular speakers and sales trainers, as well as an author of books on selling and public speaking.

To give a great speech, Borden recommends that you imagine your audience shouting out these four emotional outbursts as you give your talk (this will become clear in a minute)...

"Ho hum!"
"Why bring that up!"
"For instance?"
"So what?"

Let's see how this works in practice . . .

Let's imagine that you must give a speech or important presentation. You are dreading it, but there's no escape. So you enroll in a course that teaches the Borden method. At your weekly classes, you practice by standing before the group and giving talks on various subjects assigned to you.

Each time you do, as you take your place at the front of the room, on cue the entire class shouts at you, at the top of their lungs, "Ho hum!"

If you were nervous before standing up to speak, hearing this thundering "Ho hum!" hurled at you by forty to fifty bored people will instantly turn you into a quivering mass of jelly.

But the experience teaches two valuable lessons . . .

First, you learn—in your gut, as only actual experience can teach—this truism of life: Fear is a cowardly bully. Stand up to it, and it runs.

Second, this experience indelibly stamps in your awareness the most critical principle of giving an effective speech: Your opening must electrify your audience, shake them awake, or, as we Borden students like to put it, "crash the ho-hum barrier."

In his book, Public Speaking as Listeners Like It! Borden gives this example. Let's say you've been asked to speak on traffic safety.

Don't start out with . . .

"The subject which has been assigned me is the reduction of traffic accidents." Ho-hum indeed! How much more interesting to start your speech with . . .

"Four hundred and fifty shiny new coffins were delivered to the city last Thursday."

That's a grabber that will instantly interest your audience as they wonder, "Why?"

* * *

OK, so let's say you've got an interesting opening sentence that survives the "Ho hum!" challenge. You're just getting started in the Borden torture chamber!

Next, the entire class shouts at you, "Why bring that up?" which is your invitation to expand upon your attention-getting opener.

Next, the class shouts, "For instance?" demanding at least one specific, persuasive example of the point you're making.

Finally, the class screams, "So what?"—what do you recommend we do about this?

Let's see an excellent example provided by one of the greatest copywriters who ever lived, Bruce Barton, cofounder of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn (BBDO), a leading Madison Avenue ad agency where I used to work alongside John Caples. (That name, by the way—Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn—was once described by an advertising wag as sounding "like a man with a suitcase falling down a flight of stairs." I love that description!)

Here is an example from a talk by Bruce Barton that Borden cites in his book. Barton was a firm believer in self-improvement, and in this talk he was urging a group of young men to make more productive use of their spare time. (Though they were not part of Barton's talk, I'll overlay the four Borden questions at the right places to show, as Borden did in his book, how well Bruce Barton's talk illustrates the Borden method.)

1. Ho Hum!

Barton begins his talk with an intriguing observation about the potential value of spare time...

"Last month a man in Chicago refused a million dollars for an invention he had evolved in his spare time."

2.Why Bring That Up!

"You are interested in this because it confronts you with the possibilities of your spare time. Did you ever stop to think that most of the world's great men have achieved their true life work, not in the course of their needful occupations, but—in their spare time?

3. For Instance?

"A tired-out rail-splitter crouched over his tattered books by candlelight or by fire-glow, at the day's end; preparing for his future, instead of snoring or skylarking like his co-laborers.

Abraham Lincoln cut out his path to later immortality—in his spare time.

"An underpaid and overworked telegraph clerk stole hours from sleep or from play, at night, trying to crystallize into realities certain fantastic dreams in which he had faith. Today the whole world is benefiting by what Edison did—in his spare time.

"A down-at-heel instructor in an obscure college varied the drudgery he hated by spending his evenings and holidays in tinkering with a queer device of his, at which his fellow teachers laughed. But he invented the telephone —in his spare time.

4. So What?

"Gentlemen, you, too, have spare time. The man who says: 'I would do such and such a great thing, if only I had time!' would do nothing if he had all the time on the calendar. There is always time—spare time—at the disposal of every human who has the energy to use it. Use it!"

Public Speaking, Critics, and Fear

Paul Evans — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 15:30:00 +0000

Everyone will NOT like you as a speaker (or as a person for that matter).

That may be the #1 thing you need to know to get over the fear of public speaking, or to not let unwarranted negative feedback bother you.

Most public speakers allow the minority to cripple them with fear. They worry about the one who won't like the speech, or laugh at the joke, or won't like. You get the idea.

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First, remember the 2/2/96 rule.

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2% will think you are the best ever. 2% will hate you. Shoot for the 96%.

You do not NEED to be liked by everyone. Everyone does not like country music, or rap, or classical. But do artist shut down because some don't like them? Nope. Only when the majority doesn't like them is there a problem.

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Second, remember the jealousy factor.
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The people who make snide remarks or try to "help" you are usually jealous.

They want the spotlight and the only way they can feed their pride is by being negative to you.

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Third, concentrate on the positive comments.
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Forget about the one or two negative comments and focus on the words that build. We all have a natural inclination to remember the worst. Focus on the best!

On average 2% will approach you after a speech with some "constructive" criticism. From experience I can tell you that the typical speaker takes the criticism to heart. They replay it over and over. They allow it to defeat them.

You cannot worry about the 2%

Let me give you an example from the last email letter I sent to you. This may not be a live speech example, but the principle is the same.

I mentioned that my son was giving a speech and wanted to say something funny. Then I recommended a resource for others who want to become funnier.

http://tinyurl.com/yuahjr

Many bought Brad's humor package and have been extremely thankful. Out of thousands of emails sent I got one negative. I reprinted it here UNEDITED….

“Using your son to try to suck me into buying some other guys supposed humour, I don't thik that;s funny at all, maybe idiotic is a better word, you fool, now I', laughing”

I understand WHY it might have bothered this person, but I can't let that bother me. Why? Two reasons.

First, it's one person. I knew before sending the email that some would not like it. If you are going to let a handful of people control you, then get out of public speaking right now.

Second, look at the words used: "idiotic," "fool." "I' laughing." Here's a lesson for you. Assuming you didn't say or do anything wrong, remember this: The stronger the language the person uses the more you should ignore it.

==========================================================
Lesson 1: You cannot let what someone MIGHT think bother you.
==========================================================

Everyone will not like your speech. No big deal. Don't root your words in worry or fear. Instead, anchor them in the value you are going to deliver to the audience. Plan your presentation with the knowledge that you will be helping listeners.

Spending your time imagining the worse only drains you of the energy that should go into your presentation. Forget about dreaming up the worst, dream about the best. Think about the wonderful comments or congratulations you will receive.

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Lesson 2: You cannot let unsolicited negative feedback bother you.
============================================================

This is my favorite advice from Alan Weiss on unsolicited feedback.

Here's another "boundary" issue. When speaking for the Washington DC National Speakers Association Chapter last Saturday, a woman approached me at break to tell me that, while I was a terrific speaker, "all professional women in the audience found my remarks about my wife and daughter demeaning" (I had been kidding that they were awaiting me in New York spending money on my daughter's bridal shower). She hadn't taken a poll, of course, so she must have been channeling all those people otherwise on their feet and applauding.

She told me not to respond, but to reflect. I told her I wouldn't reflect but would respond, and that I had had it with the presumptuousness of people who kept their own box scores of whether I was positive or negative about women in their own, parochial and biased view. I told her to go join the pronoun police because I wasn't interested in anything she had to say.

I believe, maliciously, she was trying to throw me off balance in the middle of my presentation. Instead, she energized me because I was able to tell her immediately that I'd have none of it.

Unsolicited feedback is ALWAYS for the sender, and ranges from innocently vacuous to malignantly evil. Don't let the energy suckers prevail.

Most of us would not be so firm or direct. Most would take the verbal beating with grace. Alan proves you can be articulate while refusing to be a punching bag for another's agenda.

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Lesson 3: Remember the Goal.
==========================================

The goal is to communicate in a way to help others. We do not (or should not) speak for applause or accolades. The speaker who craves acceptance is the same one who is injured by the minority with the negative comments.

When your goal is to give the listeners the best you have for THEIR benefit, then feedback isn't important. How the audience takes and applies the message is what matters.

So do not be afraid of what other people might criticize you for. Concentrate on helping the audience reach their goals.

Have a GREAT day!

Paul Evans

www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com

Speak with Content: www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com/spk.htm

Speak with Confidence: www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com/confidence-system.htm

Speak for Cash: www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com/profit.htm

Public Speaking Training

Paul Evans — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 10:00:00 +0000

Public Speaking Success

==================

First, thanks for the GREAT feedback from the public speaking success article. You can read it here I you missed it…

http://tinyurl.com/u7lqw

Google Videos:
=============

I just uploaded a couple of videos to Google Video.

The first is a 50 minute session I gave at a seminar on unleashing your personality. It was recorded at a web video seminar as you’ll be able to tell from the way some of the ideas are framed.

This will give you a look at my conversational style and humor based in content. The video personnel missed the first 10 minutes.

http://tinyurl.com/y9yubx

The second is a 4 minute clip on Preparation H3. Three things to think about as you prepare your speech or presentation.

http://tinyurl.com/vze4h

Goal Reaching:
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Think you might have a tough time staying focused and reaching your goals in 2007? Check out the attitude of this young man!! We can all learn from him…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF8nRC6-YAU

If you are interested in a program to help you with personal achievement consider the following strategic planning resource from Goals Guy, Ryan Blair.

http://tinyurl.com/tgvfp

Audio Answer: How to Think Faster:
============================
Recently I got a question about processing quicker. Thinking fast on your feet. Here's the audio answer. It's about 20 minutes.

http://tinyurl.com/w94fo

That’s it for this multi-media issue!

Feel free to pass it along to anyone you feel might benefit.

Have a GREAT day!
Paul B. Evans
www.instantspeakingsuccess.com

Thinking Faster

Paul Evans — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 09:37:00 +0000

Recently I got a question about processing quicker. Thinking fast on your feet. Here's the audio answer. It's about 20 minutes.

MP3 File

Public Speaking H3

Paul Evans — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 21:13:00 +0000


Public speaking is a lot easier when speeches and presentations are anchored in these 3 keys.

Public Speaking : Success

Paul Evans — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 11:32:00 +0000

Making This Your Best Year of PublicsSpeaking and Presenting Ever!

By Paul Evans

What will you want to change? The amount of money you make? Your weight? Your style? Your relationships? Your ability to present with power? Standing in front of the audience with healthy energy instead of crippling anxiety?

ALL of that will be determined by what you DO. A year from now you will be going through the same process of deciding what you want to change.

I know all this sounds cliché. It sounds like motivational “rah, rah,” but it’s not. I wish it were. If it is just rah, rah then by the end of the year if you haven't met your goals and your dreams didn't come true, it could be someone else’s fault. But it won’t be someone else's fault, it will be your fault. How’s that for motivation? ;-)

Granted, there are some unforeseen and uncontrollable variables. What do we do with those? That’s always hard to explain, but I do know this...

One of the greatest unforeseen variables was called “The Depression,” which began in 1929. Millions suffered extreme poverty, hunger, heartache, and loss. And yet, some thrived. Some actually became wealthy (yes, ethically) in the middle of the worst economic period in U.S. history.

How is that possible? Well, there are a lot of answers, but the easiest to explain in this brief space is that those people had a goal. They had a desire. They could see the outcome, and they worked toward it with the right attitude. I can guarantee that it wasn’t accidental. And I can guarantee they didn’t spend time talking about the barriers to their success or whining about their circumstances.

The same is true for you and your presenting.

Spectacular presenting is not an accident. It’s not just going to happen any more than you can pick up a guitar and play it from first strum. Just like an instrument, our speaking and presenting can get out of tune if we do not continue to learn and apply.

I’ll have to admit that two things amaze me about speakers and presenters.

First, many speakers live with ongoing unnecessary fear. They “claim” they do not want to be afraid. They “say” they want to step before the crowd with confidence and assurance. However, I don’t think that is true, which brings us to…

Second, few speakers dedicate themselves to a lifetime of learning and practice of presenting. Just needing to get through one speech is fine. However, there are hundreds of thousands of people whose very incomes depend on their ability to communicate publicly.

Side note: You may THINK you’re just going to make one speech or presentation, but the principles you learn in public speaking serve you in every area of communication. When you learn how to build rapport with an audience, you also know how to do it with a customer. When you learn what makes people in a crowd laugh, your personal sense of humor increases. Public speaking and personal communication are not mutually exclusive.

So how can you best use 2006 as your breakthrough year of speaking and presenting so you can enter 2007 ready to rock with your words?

Here are 3 Steps for to create a breakthrough 2007…

Uh-oh, our now society does not want to wait. They want to be great now. They want to speak without fear now. Well, “now” comes in three steps…

I. Information

What if you knew your doctor took one medical class? What if your accountant decided he just needed a calculator, but studying the curriculum was optional? What if your mechanic told you he had never worked on cars but would give your car a shot?

We would run from any of those situations, but when it comes to using our words to INFLUENCE lives, we are haphazard and think training and education are optional.

What you say to people on an off the platform is the most important “work” you can do. Learning to communicate is the most important thing you can devote yourself to for branding and positioning.

Let’s go back to the mechanic we mentioned. Let’s say he was fantastic. He could fix any vehicle. You show up to pay the bill, and he says, “You know pal, your license ought to be revoked for letting your car get in that condition. You’re one sick mother.” And then he uses a string of curse words.

It wouldn’t matter how skilled he was with his tools, if he was unskilled with his words. Even in the world of repair, words are important. You might think, “If he did a good job, I wouldn’t care what he said.” Right. Would you recommend him to your grandmother?

You see, we do business with, hire, hang out with, do favors for, send referrals to, make introductions for, recommend, give references for, do more business with people we like. And we tend to like people based on what they say and how they say it.

If there is ONE course of study that should be life long its that of learning to communicate effectively in all areas of life.

And the only way to get better is to begin with learning. Without education you have no idea of what you do not know. You have no idea what creates a certain response.

If you learn to make your friend laugh, then you can make an audience laugh.

If you know how to make a person mad, then you can make an crowd mad.

If you discover how to motivate someone to higher achievement, then you can motivate an entire group to higher achievement.

If you find out how to sell one person with your words, then you can sell a room full of people with your words.

If you uncover the secret to keeping a single listener in rapt attention, then you can do it for a room full of people.

If you can talk without notes to an associate…

You can keep filling in the sentences. It can be endless. I’ve written all of this to say...

Your Words Are Your Most
Significant Instrument of Influence.

Your Words Are Your Greatest
Untapped Resource for Wealth.

And yet, the vast majority never spend one dime learning to communicate better verbally. Most run from public speaking. But, when you do it well, it is the quickest way to move ahead of the pack.

Since words are the key to influence and impact, it only makes since to invest in learning to speak and present.

Make it a priority to…

¨ Read one book a month on communication. Earl Nightingale said, “The man who will not read is no better off than the man who cannot read.”
¨ Attend one seminar on presenting. Take the time to learn from those who train people professionally.
¨ Listen to great speakers for half of your commute time. Notice their timing. Write down everything you like and feel you could incorporate.
¨ Join a speaker’s club or association. This will provide the opportunity to speak regularly in front of a group of peers and learn course work at the same time.

You must put some goals in place that will ensure that you grow in knowledge during the year.

II. Application

All the study in the world does no good without the application of that knowledge.

Who cares if you know how to fly if you fail to take the wheel when the pilot faints? What does it matter if you know how to change a person's life for the better if you never tell them how to do it?

Most speakers view speaking from the wrong perspective. They look at themselves and think…

What if I forget?

What if I say something embarrassing?

What if they see my knees shaking?

What if my mouth gets dry?

What if my voice quivers so badly I sound like I’m holding a jackhammer?

Everyone of those statements is about the speaker! Everyone of them. How egotistical is that?

Instead, a speaker or presenter should be thinking…

How can I help these listeners?

What can be shared that will change them for the better?

How can they be motivated?

What will enable them to reach their goals?

If they could hear one piece of information that would radically alter their lives, what would it be?

Those are statements made by speakers who want to plants seeds that can change lives for the positive.

The only way to get there is to apply the information you learn.

Through application you discover…

¨ What works and what doesn’t work for you.
¨ How to use your style of humor and fill the room with laughter.
¨ The best way to tell a story that touches the heart and head.
¨ How to shape your signature stories into “no fail” anecdotes the audiences wants to hear time and again.
¨ What makes a crowd cheer or cry.
¨ How to create a stampede of positive emotion.
¨ What “wows” an audience.

The only way to become a great speaker, an influential presenter, is to apply your knowledge in front of an audience. The only way to get rid of the fear is to speak on a regular basis.

Make it a priority to…

Speak or present at least once a month. When possible, record your messages. Take the time to listen to or watch the speech and pinpoint what you did right and what you can improve. You’ve got to do this to improve quickly.
Practice your speech in your mind. Go over different points of emphasis. Rearrange your points. Tell your stories.
Test your material on friends and associates. Share different points, concepts, and funny stories in the course of normal conversation.
Take one idea you learn from your study and try it out in a speech or presentation.

Those points are basic, almost elementary, but most will never do them.

Instead, they will…

Whine about being afraid to speak.
Swear they couldn't do a presentation if their life depended on it.
“Try to put something together.”
Wonder why they agreed to address the conference.
Prepare the best they can and suffer through it.

Having helped over 30,000 people become better public speakers there is one statement I hear over and over…

“I’m just doing one speech. I just want to get it over with and survive.”

There’s no problem with that attitude as long as you’re not really wanting to make a difference. But my question is…

Why Not Do Your Best, So The Audience Can Become Their Best?

Even for just one speech, do your best. Create a presentation that will have maximum impact.

You wouldn’t want someone painting your house just good enough to get by, would you? Then don’t do presentations that will get by. Put in the application time necessary to become great.

III. Transformation

I’m a much better speaker today then ten years ago. Yet, I prepare less and rarely get nervous. My average speech is 85% adlib. Audience response is far greater. Laughter is much louder. What happened? I moved from trying to speak to being a speaker. I learned and applied principles that have now become part of me. Plus I continue to learn and apply. The process never ends. I still have a lot to learn and work steadily to improve.

When you see a top speakers like Zig Ziglar, Les Brown, Jeffrey Gitomer, Joe Callaway and others, you notice how effortless speaking is for them. But it didn't start that way. Many a crowd drifted to sleep before these “greats” became great. It’s just part of the process.

Through time and effort the stories started to gel, the humor became natural, the points became powerful, and the audiences began applauding.

Why?

Because the great ones don’t just speak well. They help people believe in themselves. They show them how to get from where they are to where they want to be.

Is that the type of presenter you want to become? I’m not talking about famous, I’m talking about positive influence. It does not matter if you’re giving a sales presentation, a financial report, or speaking to a group of seventy-year-old Civitan members, you can share information in a way that makes the listeners better off for having spent their time with you.

How do you do get there? You use the points of this report as the foundation of your presenting.

You share information, so people can learn and discover.

You share practical points of application so they will know what to do with that information.

You help them see the transformation that will take place if the words are applied and lived.

The same is true for your life as well. While I hope you will apply this report specifically to your communication, it works for ALL areas of life. Use these same three points to improve any part your life you would like to make better.

Professional Speaking : Getting Started

Paul Evans — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 12:58:00 +0000

It’s natural to start thinking about getting paid to speak once you have a few successful engagements under your belt. But how do you get started? Here is a fast and easy way to move from free to fee in the arena of public speaking.

Set your fees. Start thinking about how much you would like to get paid right now. It doesn’t matter if it is $100 or $10,000. If you don’t have a figure in mind, you will not be prepared when the invitations come.

Business Mindset. Speaking may not seem like much to you, but it is a valuable skill. Most can’t or won’t speak. If you take a nonchalant approach, that is the same type of response you will get. View your speaking ability as a business, not just a talent. Put speaker or presenter on your business card and contact information. Build your brand.

Follow Up. If you’re good, every speaking event will provide more events. People will come up after you’re done and say, “We would love to have you speak for our group. Would you mind if I called and talked with you about it?”

Do not wait for the call. Get the person’s contact information and you call. Pursue the business.
Publish. Write articles for trade journals and magazines your audience reads. Get in front of them in print and you have a much better chance of getting in front of them from a podium.
Use your byline to “advertise” your services as a speaker. At minimum provide an email address for interested readers to contact you.

Plan. Believe it or not you can become a professional speaker just by accepting invitations and payment. But you won’t flourish that way. You need to set goals for your market, amount of availability, fee structure, and desired income. Then work it.

Paul Evans is the creator of the Instant Speaking Success Profit System. When he began speaking he went from $0-$1000 in just four engagements. His system details the process. http://www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com/profit.htm

Forget About it!

Paul Evans — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 00:08:00 +0000

Have you ever worried that you might freeze? concerned that you might forget what you're supposed say next?

Here's some GOOD news for you! There some aspects of your speech you SHOULD forget...

Public speakers are notorious for using dead words an valueless phrases. Even some of the pros use far too many. Eliminate the following...

"How's everyone doing today?"

Just get on with it. Most are doing fine. Some are doing great. And a few would love to tell you all about their problems for the next 3.2 days.

"Is this thing on?"

Don't tap the microphone. Don't blow into it. The average and below average speaker acts like the mic is a foreign object and treats it as such. Assume the mic is on. If you're wearing a lavaliere have someone check the settings before going on stage.

"Give yourselves a round of applause."

Have you been in an audience when you were ask to applaud yourself? Alan Weiss says, "I find that it's silly for the audience and represents a speaker who has simply run out of ideas and energy." True.

"I'm really not a speaker."

There's no reason to say this. People will find out if it's true or not soon enough on their own. Making the statement makes you AND the crowd more nervous.

"In conclusion..."

This makes the audience wrap up mentally. They begin to think about their next move. Instead, just conclude. Whatever close you have in place, put it into action without drawing attention to it.

Now then, all those ideas (and there's a lot more, by the way) may seem small and insignificant. Does it really make a difference? Will the speech be better? Will the impact be different?

Yes.

Valueless statements hurt flow. They draw attention away from the message you're presenting. It's the subtle differences that separate mediocrity from good, and good from great.

Have a GREAT day!

Paul Evans is the executive creator of Instant Speaking Success.His company has helped over 35,000 speakers avoid the fear andstrengthen their skills. If you just want to survive one speech goto http://wwwGreatPublicSpeaking.com If you're committed tobecoming a speaker audiences want to hear time and time again thenvisit www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com and join the speaker's successzone.

Become a Great Public Speaker
Get Paid to Speak

Public Speaking Confidence

Paul Evans — Tue, 23 May 2006 12:58:00 +0000

The Top 3 Reasons for a Lack of Confidence When Speaking

Today I was on a field trip with my son. One of the mothers brought a gift for the teacher to be given at the end of the day.

Four of the ladies grouped together to decide who would present the gift. One spoke up immediately, “I don’t say ANYTHING in front of groups so I’m out.” Each lady made a case for why she should NOT be the one to say something.

We’re talking about twenty words in front of fifteen fifth graders. That’s it. Yet not one of the moms had enough confidence to do it. Each competed with the others for the title of most inept.

Yet, that very same lack of confidence exists in most speakers.

If I could sum up the insecurity of speakers in three areas, here’s what they would be…

Number 1: Lack of Self-Confidence

It’s not that people are just insecure about speaking. Most people are insecure in all areas of life.

They are able to survive day to day because no spotlight shines on all their believed weaknesses. Because they live and breathe in the “shadows,” each day provides little difficulty or challenge.

Speaking is different. Everyone sees exactly how talented you are – or aren’t. The insecurity felt day to day becomes immediately visible for all.

Number Two: Lack of Experience.

With no performance records on hand a person doesn’t know how he or she will be accepted or perceived. Honestly, most people work their entire lives to carefully control perception. Experience teaches them how to react, what to say how to say it, etc.

However, with speaking there is often no track record. When someone has never spoken to a group, they have no way of measure how well they will do.

A person’s career requires training and/or education, yet the vast majority of speakers have zero communication instruction. This only exacerbates their insecurity.

Number Three: Lack of Positive Belief

In twenty-seven years of speaking I’ve never had a coaching client begin by telling me the reasons the speech or presentation will succeed. They ALL shared what could go wrong. They expected disaster.

Earl Nightingale said years ago, “You become what you think about.” That same idea has been shared by numerous teachers for thousands of years.

What do you think about when it comes to speaking? Do you think about what can go wrong or what WILL go right?

Did you notice something about the top three? They all begin with lack. Lack simply means something has not been filled… but it can be. You can choose to stay right where you are as a speaker, or you can DO something to fill in the areas of lack. It’s up to you.

Have a GREAT day!
Paul Evans
Professional Speaker
www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com

P.S. Through the years I’ve had tons of speakers and non-speakers ask about my confidence in life. My philosophy as it relates to life and public speaking can be found in this resource…
http://www.instantspeakingsuccess.com/confidence-system.htm

Public Speaking Fear? Why You SHOULD Be Afraid by Paul Evans

Paul Evans — Tue, 09 May 2006 19:30:00 +0000

If you have been on my email list for any period of time you know I tend to be upbeat and positive. Rarely do I mention anything that feeds the unwarranted fear of speakers. However, when the following “negative” article was published the positive feedback was phenomenal. It got the mediocre off the fence and taking action, so here it is for you as well. Perhaps it will create some needed action on your part…
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Public Speaking Fear? Why You SHOULD Be Afraid by Paul Evans

Like most pubic speaking consultants, I usually hammer all the reasons a person should not be afraid of presenting. However, the more coaching I do, the more I realize the fear is legit. People should be afraid of getting in front of a group.

While there is a lot to gain from speaking publicly, there is also a lot to lose. Here are seven reasons to be scared…

Number One: No skill.

Would you want someone repairing your car that knows nothing about mechanics? The average speaker receives no training, takes no classes, and doesn’t read one book on presenting. He or she expects to do an adequate job with no experience.

Number Two: Not Fearing Death

The OLD adage is that public speaking is the #1 fear. If you would RATHER die than speak, then you don’t need to be speaking. Period.

If you spillover Niagara Falls walking a tightrope, you’re going to die and it will all be over. When speaking you won’t die. You’ll live to face the embarrassment, the whispers, and the snickers. But you’ll still be alive. If you look forward to a Niagara, yet look away from speaking then put on your swim trunks and stay away from the podium.

Number Three: Failing to Organize.

One of my services is critiquing the outlines of speakers. On average the format and structure is elementary at best and confusing at worse. It’s as if the speaker’s brain spewed out on a sheet of paper and left it at that. Organizing does not take long, nor is it difficult, but only a handful do it successfully. Without a proper outline the fear is understandable.

Number Four: Confusing Writing and Speaking

Writing is formal. People rarely forgive errors in spelling and grammar. From this article I’ll get several people attempting to correct me. However, there is room for error when speaking. The ears are very forgiving and the brain is sharp enough to fill in the blanks.

Speakers get tripped up when they try to talk like they write. They become more academic and antiseptic and who wants to listen to someone like that. How many college professors did you find hypnotizing? Do you remind yourself of a monotone bore? Frightening, yes?

Number Five: Trying to Survive.

“I just want to get through the speech and get it over with.” If that is your attitude then be afraid. Chances are extremely high that you will not do well. “Survival” causes you to do and say things you wouldn’t without the duress.

Number Six: Lack of Commitment

This ties into the first point. The majority of speakers do a single presentation and that’s it. No problem. A book can help them. On the other hand, there are thousands of monthly, or even daily presenters who fail to make marked improvement. Why? No commitment.

You can’t take one class and do brain surgery. You can’t attend one seminar and suddenly become a tax expert. The same with speaking. One book, class, or course will not create excellence. To become the best you have to commit yourself to long term achievement.

Number Seven: The Freeze Factor

Chances are high that you will forget something and freeze during your speech. Unless you know how to play it off, or use the moment, you will look uncomfortable, or even stupid. People will talk about it afterwards. They will mention how they felt sorry for you.

It seems that folks are always looking for ways to be afraid. Well, you just got seven reasons. The question is: What are you going to do about it?

Paul Evans is the executive creator of Instant Speaking Success. His company has helped over 35,000 speakers avoid the fear and strengthen their skills. If you just want to survive one speech go to http://wwwGreatPublicSpeaking.com If you’re committed to becoming a speaker audiences want to hear time and time again then visit www.InstantSpeakingSuccess.com and join the speaker’s success zone.

7 Elements of Public Speaking Excellence - Part 3

Paul Evans — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 13:02:00 +0000

7 Elements of Excellence: Part 3

In public speaking your focus doesn't need to be "to survive." Instead, you need a statement that defines your approach.

Pete Rose's excellent focus
My philosophy
4 Steps for a personal philosophy

Download the PDF notes of this lesson by clicking here.

7 Elements of Public Speaking Excellence - Part 2

Paul Evans — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 13:53:00 +0000

Part 2 - Personal Inventory

Download the PDF notes of this lesson by clicking here.

7 Elements of Public Speaking Excellence

Paul Evans — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:35:00 +0000

Part 1: Why & Why Not

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Why & Why Not

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Speech Preparation

Paul Evans — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 16:03:00 +0000

Preparation H3

3 Ways to Impact Your Audience

Great Public Speaking by Paul Evans

Create power filled and value filled speeches and presentations
and deliver them without fear. Become a GREAT Public Speaker.

Fighting Stage Fright

Paul Evans — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 15:49:00 +0000

Simple Tips to keep you from getting overwhelmed by fear.

Speak with confidence and control...

http://www.instantspeakingsuccess.com/confidence-system.htm

3 Elements of Persuasive Speaking

Paul Evans — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:17:00 +0000

Increase the influence and impact of your presentations.

http://www.greatpublicspeaking.com

Public Speaking : Let Go My Ego

Paul Evans — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 23:59:00 +0000

What is the #1 cause of public speaking fear?

Perception.

People are afraid of how they THINK they will come across to the audience.

No one is scared of forgetting. They are scared of how forgetting makes them look.

A speaker is not afraid of freezing. He or she is worried about the THOUGHTS going through the minds of listeners at that moment.

If the room was empty a speaker could freeze, forget, stumble, bumble, break down and cry and would not care a bit. He wouldn't be scared or worried because no one would be there to judge or critique.

Like other fears in life, most of the imagined things that could go wrong NEVER come close to happening.

Our problem over all is that we care far too much what other people think (in every area of life). Why? Because because we think it reflects what we should think about ourselves. That's ridiculous.

When you step in front of a group you should be consumed with how your message is going to HELP them, not how you could be HURT if things don't go as planned. When you are worried about you that's just EGO.

Do you need the audience or does the audience need you?

If the answer is found in the first half of that question, then you have an ego problem. Let go of that ego.

Next week I'll give you a simple way to massage your ego and provide high value to the audience at the same time.

Warm Regards,

Paul Evans

Did you miss the second issue? http://www.presentationpowersecrets.com/newsletter.htm

Public Speaking Point and Anchor

Paul Evans — Sat, 17 Sep 2005 12:15:00 +0000

Here's a brief tip to make your speaking and presentations immediately more powerful. Use an anchor sentence right after your point.

An anchor sentence takes the point and solidifies the concept in the listener's mind.

I've got a speech coming up and one of the points is "Casual Boldness." Here's something that could be said...

"The second step is Casual Boldness. Webster defines causal as... Then I turned and looked up boldness. Webster says..."

Zzzzzzzzz.

"#2. Casual Boldness. (pause) Use intentional, authoritative phrases with a relaxed, matter-of-fact tone to increase peer rapport and confidence in you. (pause) This is how you use casual boldness to close the deal on the edge of being lost..."

An anchor sentence defines the point and creates a need for the point on the part of the listener.

Public Speaking & Tragedy

Paul Evans — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 12:12:00 +0000

Though the US is overwhelmed with relief efforts in the aftermath of Katrina, most events, seminars, and meetings continue in other parts of the country.

As a speaker you know you need to acknowledge the situation, but how?

1. Never use a tragedy like Katrina as a point of humor. That sounds like common sense, but 2% of speakers think they have a humorous angle or thought. Not true.

2. Reference some of the heroic stories of survival and aid. These images will be especially suited if you are presenting on teamwork and focus.

3. Don't be afraid to mention some of the darker moments. Don't preach or use it as a time to take a soap box stance. Instead, show the results of duress and stress and what can possibly be done to prevent that in our own lives.

4. Use emotion, but not drama. Show how you feel without breaking down and losing control.

5. Ask permission before plugging a relief effort. The group you're speaking for may or may not be doing something to foster help. Ask the organizer to see if you may mention a relief organization you favor. If they fail to give permission don't allow it to affect your speech.

Warm Regards,

Paul Evans

Presentation Skill Training Power Secrets

Can You Become an Author in 14 Days??

Become a Public Speaker Right Now?

Public Speaking Coach

Paul Evans — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 10:29:00 +0000

The Fastest Way to Improve

Get coaching. It's faster than joining a club, talking a class, or self critique. First, we'll look at professional coaching, then the cheap man's coach.

If you decide that you want to catapult your speaking or presentation skills, here is what you need to look for in a professional speaker coach...

1. Actively speaking. Ask for the calendar. If the person is no longer speaking and presenting use him/her as a resource, but not a coach. In today's high-tech, high-touch world you need someone active in the industry.

2. Able to attend a live presentation with you. While a coach can learn a lot from watching a video of you speaking, he can learn more by watching the audience while you're speaking. On video, you get to hear the laughter, but in person you get to see the physical reaction. Did he just laugh, or bend over holding his stomach?

3. Expensive. This is what most people don't want to hear, but there is a correlation between money and results. The more expensive coaches have more experience, work with higher quality clients, and cater to the client. Putting a coach on retainer would allow you to call him or her on relatively short notice and gain personalized attention.

Here's all you need for the cheap man's coach...

1. A friend who is always telling you about something he or she saw or heard. It means they are attentive to what is happening around them.

2. Someone who enjoys watching people and is able to tell you what people are going though just by their body language. I have a friend who took one look around our waiting area in the airport and said, "The lady in green is watching the man in red. She's about to get security." His prophecy came true 60 seconds later.

3. Ask this person to sit in on your speech or presentation. Tell him to write down everything you do best, everything you do worst, and what you said or did during the audience's most responsive times.

Warm Regards,

Paul Evans

The Instant Speaking Success Home Study Course. Create and deliver great speeches. Design your speeches and presentations with great content. Deliver with passion. Public Speaking Course

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Presentation Skills Training

Public Speaking Tips

Paul Evans — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 14:02:00 +0000

The Past, Present, Prediction Formula

When speaking to an audience on a subject you get to choose tell your audience a three-part story:

This is where I was.
This is where I am.
This is how I got here.

Patricia Fripp adds... Here's an example of how effective the outline can be. A successful Realtor was asked to deliver a 25-minute presentation for the local Board of Realtors. I coached her to open like this: "Twelve years ago, before I went into the real estate business, I had never sold anything but Girl Scout cookies, and I hadn't done that well. Last year, I sold $13 million in a slow market, selling homes that averaged $100,000 each. Today, I'll tell you how I built my business." Right away, the audience knew exactly what she was going to talk about, and they were eager to hear her story!

PAST: "Twelve years ago, before I went into the real estate business, I had never sold anything but Girl Scout cookies, and I hadn't done that well."

PRESENT: "Last year, I sold $13 million in a slow market, selling homes that averaged $100,000 each. Today, I'll tell you how I built my business."

The realtor went on to share the step by step process for reaching such success.

PREDICTION: So far you have a nice talk, but the real difference will be made when you show the audience how to make similar changes in their own lives. Predict the audiences' future.

"If you will apply the four principles we explored today to your personal and professional life you will achieve for more success than you ever imagined. Here's how..."

Warm Regards,

Paul Evans

The Instant Speaking Success Home Study Course. Create and deliver great speeches. Design your speeches and presentations with great content. Deliver with passion. http://www.instantspeakingsuccess.com/spk.htm

ALSO: Sign up to be notified when http://presentationpowersecrets.com/ goes live.

Public Speaking

Paul Evans — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:43:00 +0000

More Simple Public Speaking Rules

27. The audience has no idea what you're going to say. That puts you at an advantage. If you forget to make a point, or tell a story, or punch a statistic they'll never be the wiser - so don't get mad at yourself.

28. Let your gestures come naturally. When is the last time you planned your body movements before talking to a friend?

29. Equipment fails. Microphones die. PowerPoint loses power. Light go out. Get over it. It's not like like YOU made that stuff happen.

30. Control your introduction. At an event where I was asked to be firm and direct, I was introduced as one of the funniest speaker the MC had ever heard.

31. Money Speaks. If you're getting paid, then speak on what you're asked to speak on.

32. Be a human being. Be real. Be approachable. Be attentive.

33. We're not Olympic athletes. All the things you've read about what to drink or not drink, eat or not eat before your speech doesn't make enough difference for anyone to notice.

34. Three-hundred-Sixty-Five Days Later. Plan your speech with that in mind. Can you make it so strong and yet so simple that the average audience member could remember it a year later?

35. Just because you think something is funny is not real proof. If the audience doesn't laugh, what you think doesn't matter.

36. Check the room from all angles. Is the sound clear? Is the video visible from everywhere?

37. Let your confidence come from the content. You should be able to look at your notes and know if you have a great speech.

38. Smile and look pleasant. No one is drawn to a talking corpse.

Warm Regards,

Paul Evans

The Instant Speaking Success Home Study Course. Create and deliver great speeches. Design your speeches and presentations with great content. Deliver with passion. http://www.instantspeakingsuccess.com/spk.htm

Presentation Skill Training

Paul Evans — Sat, 18 Jun 2005 12:43:00 +0000

Soon to launch...

Presentation Power Secrets: The Closely Guarded Secrets of the World's Best Presenter's.

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Presentation Training

Public Speaking

Paul Evans — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:22:00 +0000

Feedback from the last issue was large, so I'm continuing the theme...

17. Fear is part of speaking. Even the best speakers feel some slight butterflies from excitement. Fear is not unusual; it's typical. Don't be surprised by its presence.

18. You cannot get better if you do not speak regularly. Join a club like Toastmasters to get experience and exposure. There's a crazy mindset that runs through the brains of some speakers. They think that they can get in front of an audience and be fabulous the first time. Not gonna happen. No one plays an instrument without practice. The same is true with speaking.

19. Impromptu and spontaneous speaking only work when you understand the communication rules and know how to break them. Many top speakers "ad lib" 80% or more of their messages. That's only possible because they KNOW the exact response their words will bring. Their material may be new, but it's not an experiment. They know how people will react to their words before they ever use them. Do you have audience response ESP? Do you know if the audience will laugh, cry, or clap BEFORE the words come out of your mouth?

20. If you can't summarize the intended result of your speech in one sentence, then you're not clear. There should be no doubt about the value and intention of your presentation.

21. Sometimes it's your job to offend. I have an upcoming speech that is going to slighly bother the attendees, but the CEO will love it. The audience will get what they need, not what they want. That's the way is has to go sometimes.

22. Don't sacrifice clarity for cuteness. If you're amazed at the cleverness of your speech, then chances are better than great that your audience won't be.

23. Outlining your speech should never take more than hour. If it does, then you're working too hard on something that almost everyone will forget. Jot down your points. Subtitle some illustrations. Then practice. Speaking is much easier than people make it out to be.

24. Self-effacing humor works miracles. Last Friday I walked into our church's baptismal pool by accident. Got soaked from the chest down. Good news: My cell phone was saved. Bad news: It went to meet its maker a few minutes later. I've gotten phone calls galore from friends teasing me. I've already jotted down the details along with several ways I can use this embarrassing tale as an illustration. If you're not willing to look dumb, then you're not too smart.

25. Don't take yourself too seriously. First, other people can recognize it, and it will turn them off. Second, your own body will recognize it and turn you off..

26. Words will never become ineffective. We live in a world of advanced technology. Multi-media abounds. But NOTHING will ever replace an individual with a bold message, the passion to share it, and an audience wanting to change.

The Instant Speaking Success Home Study Course. Create and deliver great speeches. Design your speeches and presentations with great content. Deliver with passion. Public Speaking Course