A secret of extemporaneous speaking

According to one survey, more Americans fear public speaking than dying. Probably a major aspect of this fear is extemporaneous speaking, when one is asked to "just say a few words" without preparation. Accomplished speakers know many techniques to help them. One such method is to develop a framework for what could be said in many such situation. For example, use a chronological framework. What happened first, second, etc until today? What do you envision happening next, and the impact this will have? Let's assume you are asked to speak about the opening of a building or program. In just a few sentences, explain the origin of the project, some highlights (maybe dramatic ones) of the intervening time, and describe briefly where you are today. Talk about your vision of the future of this project or event, and end by enthusiastically thanking the many contributors (by name, if possible). Again, remember to be concise. As an unknown sage phrased it, "Be brief, be brilliant - and be seated!" More such techniques are in a short e-book, Public Speaking: You Can Do It!

When a friend at work has bad news Recently someone asked me when he should do upon hearing a friend from work had some bad personal news. He and his friend were both in the USA. (Customs may be different in other cultures.) His dilemma was that he didn't want to disturb his friend, but did want his friend to know he was thinking of him and was available to help if needed. His friend had taken some time off to deal with the situation. I suggested he text, e-mail or call him friend and let him know he was concerned. He should ask what he could do to be of help, such as doing some driving for the friend, bringing over some food, running some errands or whatever else was needed. When the friend returns to work, he could take him out to lunch or just bring him up to date on events at work. What is usually done in this situation where you work? What is appropriate in other countries, too? Share your ideas!

A vital question

When doing employment interviewing (on either side of the table), a vital question often goes unasked. The question is "Is there anything else I should know?" The corollary to this from the interviewer to the candidate is "Is there anything else you want to ask?" Many times, the interviewer(s)have prepared a set of thoughtful questions - but there may be other issues on the candidate's mind. The candidate may be hesitant to ask them because he assumes the interview is over. If the interview is an exit interview, a question to be asked might be, "Is there anything else the company should know about the reasons you are leaving?" Candidates who are resigning may have other issues on their minds that could prevent others from leaving as well. Sales meetings should also ask this question. The purchaser may have had poor experiences with a competitor, but be hesitant to say something. Perhaps there was poor service, problems with billing, a product that did not meet the company's needs, or some other issue. Taking a moment to get the issue expressed can lead to additional discussion that can benefit both sides. A coaching or delegating situation can also benefit from this question. Asking it makes the other party aware that there may be additional factors to be considered. So, your question of the day is "Is there anything else I should know?" Digging a little deeper can yield better results! What are your favorite questions asked by leaders and others to make people think a little deeper? Business Speech Improvement provides training in executive presence and communication skills for leadership development! Individual coaching and small group seminars are offered in this and other topics!

Diction tips for reporters

Are you a reporter who wants to improve your pronunciation? Better speech can help your career growth, whether you are thinking of moving out of smaller markets into larger ones, or want to work on an especially important project in your current position. Your listeners today can be in some very noisy settings, whether in cars with their windows down, in shopping malls, sporting events, or noisy offices. Some may have hearing losses, too. Clear speech is critical for them to have the best chance of understanding you. Listen to yourself reporting on a taped story. What errors do you notice? Are the ends of sentences easy to understand, or are they mumbled? Are the ends of words, such as "ing", "s" and "ed" pronounced consistently? Set a goal of one change you want to make in your speech. When you practice reading your story, highlight the indicated words. This will remind you to say that sound extra clearly. You should also evaluate your rate of speech and your pauses. Are they appropriate for your story and your audience? Remember, speaking too quickly can mean people in noisy settings may miss words here and there. Sweeps Week is coming up! Business Speech Improvement offers small group coaching on an intensive basis for reporters who want to work on their speech skills! E-books and audio files are available on many other aspects of verbal communication. Check us out!

How well does your job "fit" you right now?

Do you ever feel like a square peg in a round hole, like you are not in the right job for your talents at this time? Do you worry that you are not making the difference you want to make in this world? Are you unable to keep up with (possibly unrealistic) job productivity measures? Maybe you are exhausted from balancing home and work, and work involves a complex travel schedule or other major overtime. What can you do if you are faced with a situation like one of these? First, make a list of your skills, even if they are not related to your current work. Second, describe your ideal job, or as many aspects as you can. For example, you prefer to work in a teams of 2, you want different hours, you like to work with food, or you want to make a difference in the world by _______. Consider your current job. Can it be modified in some way to use more of your talents? Can you ask for a transfer to another department that would be a better fit? Do you want to move to another part of the city or country? Look online at LinkedIn.com, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, your local newspaper, and many other such sites. Look in your professional journals and online at your professional association, if you belong to one. As the economy starts to improve, the job market should loosen up, and more positions become available. Remember you do have options!

Motivating Yourself: Facing a Difficult Challenge

Have you ever faced a challenge to improve something about yourself after years of tolerating the problem? Suddenly you have an opportunity to make the change - but now you are trying to decide if it is worth the effort that will be involved? What made you decide the effort was worth it, at least enough to take the first step? Please share how you motivated yourself to start, and to continue the process! How did you deal with any setbacks, and what was the challenge you were overcoming? I will pass on your responses to someone who is trying to make such a decision now, and who might welcome words of wisdom from people who have already successfully tackled their own challenges (or are in the process of doing so).

Have you ever been strongly urged to do (or not do) something? Did you feel you were being manipulated? The next time this happens, ask someone else for his or her view of the issue. For many issues, you can also Google the issue online - and sometimes get a large number of responses! The upcoming elections (national, state and local) plus many claims for products or other suggested actions will provide lots of opportunities to think for yourself. If someone is vehemently opposed to, or strongly in favor of, something, know that there is often another side. Be aware - and think for yourself! Business Speech Improvement provides intensive training in communication skills for leaders, accent modification, diction, presentation skills and more. Training is available through coaching and e-books.