Presenters: Are you making these 2 critical mistakes in your presentations?

Are you a presenter who is making these two critical errors when you give a talk?

I recently attended a presentation with a team of two eager speakers. They had carefully prepared for their talk, but were unaware of two major points.

The first speaker came up to the podium, stood away from the mike, and asked,"Can everyone hear me?" Most people with hearing loss will not admit to it. One brave person, however, said "no". Ironically, the speaker did not hear him.  The speaker spoke clearly, but the volume was soft because of the large size of the room and his distance from the microphone, which dissipated his speech's sound waves. To make matters worse, the microphone was a uni-directional mike, which worked only when a person spoke directly into it. The speaker, however, constantly turned his head and body to look at the PowerPoint behind him. At those times, he was almost inaudible.

The second speaker spoke more loudly, but also turned frequently to look at the PowerPoint. The PowerPoint had 14 lines of type in a small font on it. The room was large, and the words were very hard to read in the back of the room.

What could the speakers have done to prepare better?

First, they could have printed out their Power-Point slides and looked at them instead of turning to look behind them at the slides on the screen. Then, whether the mike was uni-directional or omni-directional, they would have been heard by the audience.

Second, they could have easily moved the microphone closer to their mouths.

Third, they could have used a maximum of seven lines of font in a large size per slide.

Ten thousand baby boomers per day are turning 65. Hearing loss is occurring in 33% of those age 65 and 50% of those aged 75 and older.  It is also now occurring more frequently in those in their 20's, for the first time in history. 

Presenters cannot afford to ignore possible hearing and vision impairments in their audiences.  Make sure you use a microphone, face forward so people can hear or lip-read you, repeat any questions or comments from the audience before answering them, and use large size font. These things are necessary to reach your audience!

For more practical and easy strategies to giving a professional speech, click here.

Determination of customer/patient/employee needs before they enter your office

Many professionals today, especially doctors, lawyers, accountants, managers and consultants, need to keep careful track  of their time for billing purposes.  If a client, employee or patient has his concerns  organized in writing before walking into your office, the visit is likely to be much shorter.

One smart doctor developed a form, listing the basic categories for which people came into his office. In his case, it listed symptoms, follow-up issues, prescription refills and tests. Everyone entering his waiting room was handed a clip-board to which a pen was attached, and asked to complete this form.

They handed it to him when they entered his exam room. It saved him and his staff a lot of time, and kept his office remarkably on schedule!

What are the main reasons people come into your office? Would a form like that, or simply giving a space to list problems, solutions already tried  and suggested solutions be helpful to you?

Business Speech Improvement provides communication coaching. Our helpful e-book, Executive Communication Strategies, offers valuable tips in 18 areas of communication for leadership. Learn more about it here!

                                 

Persuasion and Your Voice

Do you want to become a more competent persuader? Your voice can help you do it.

Several techniques can help you. First, speak at a normal volume, but at the crucial point, speak slightly softer.
(This only helps if your listener has normal hearing or you are using a microphone!) It sounds to your listener like you are conveying a secret, and he will pay more attention.

Second, pause briefly right before the crucial point. This also helps focus the listener's attention.

Third, change your rate of speech at that point. Speak slower if the information is complicated for the listener to understand. Speak slightly faster if this is urgent, such as pleading with people to stay away from the area of an accident.

If your voice is normally mono-tonal, and lulls people to sleep, speak with more energy and enthusiasm. Be excited about what you are saying!

Business Speech Improvement provides coaching for better communication. Check out our e-books, open enrollment seminars and individual coaching options!

What we can learn from Washington's Inaugural Address

For an amazing exercise in how communication has changed over time, read George Washington's First Inaugural Address. It contains very long, complex sentences, that are hard to understand.

Today's politicians and attorneys speak in short sentences, with sound bites. What an improvement this style is for us modern listeners!

The difference in political speeches can be seen since the advent of television. As more people listened and watched, politicians had to be able to communicate with those who had less time, patience and education.

From this we can learn to use shorter sentences, with essential messages or sound bites. Your listeners will thank you!

For more practical tips, get the e-book Public Speaking:You can Do It! Public speaking is an art, and can be learned!

Business Speech Improvement
provides intensive training in verbal communication skills. Training is offered through books, e-books and coaching. Great speech makes business sense; visit us today!

Need to be more persuasive? Try this surprising technique.

Researchers at Yale University have found a link between holding a warm object
(such as a cup of a hot beverage) and increased friendliness, which could result in increased persuasiveness. If you are an attorney, salesperson, recruiter, manager, negotiator, or other person who needs to be persuasive, offer a hot beverage of choice.
(Keep a supply of both caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages on hand.)
Read more about these fascinating studies at http://www.romow.com/health-blog/new-research-says-warm-drinks-make-us-warmer-emotionally/ .

Business Speech Improvement (www.BusinessSpeechImprovement.com) provides intensive, targeted training in verbal communication skills through group seminars, individual coaching and concise e-books.
Training options include presentation skills (with specific options for litigators and for salespeople), accent modification, rate of speech and much more.