Your Speaking Power

Funny thing about us humans, we keep forgetting that to a great extent we make our our world. We’re social creatures who need each other, need to connect, converse, interact. Though we engage in these activities daily, we often don’t like the results we get.

So we conduct study after study to find out what’s wrong. And study after study shows our number one problem–whether at home or at work–is poor communication.

“He doesn’t know how to give directions.” “She talks a blue streak.” “It’s not what he says, it’s the way he says it.!”

Yet most people never think about improving how they communicate. At least I’ve never heard anyone say “improving communications” is on their list of New Year’s resolutions, have you? Why do you suppose that is?

It’s so much easier to criticize someone else than to look at our own way of speaking and interacting. Secondly, we judge ourselves on our intentions, and judge others on their actions.

Even more important, we don’t hear or see ourselves. We are unaware of what our tone and posture are conveying. We have developed habits of thought that, over time, work on our facial features. For some those habits have produced a smiling, friendly face. For others, even when they believe they are looking pleasant, they aren’t.

How we speak to others–and to ourselves–is of the utmost importance. Speaking so people listen and like what they hear doesn’t come naturally. We learn by imitation, and continue what we learn by habit. Unless…unless we become aware of the way we communicate–then learn to be more effective.

The real problem then is unawareness. Becoming aware of how we come across, is the first step to becoming a more effective communicator.

You may never have looked at it this way before, but like it or not, your voice is your public relations agent.

Listeners decide on your state of mind, your health, your social and educational background, and even your attitude – mostly from the way you sound. If you doubt this, think of someone you know, can’t you tell how they are feeling from the way they say “Hello”?

Actors, lawyers, salespeople all depend on their voice to make a living. In business, your vocal image converts into dollars (or lack of them). Other things being equal, the better the speaker, the better the living.

What about you?

Are you aware of what your voice says about you? If you are not sure, here’s one way to find out: Put a tape recorder or recordable CD by your phone. Then record your side of a conversation. Try to record at least 10 minutes of it. Wait a day before you play it back. Then ask yourself the following question: “Is this someone I would enjoy listening to?”

If the answer is “No,” then it’s time to thinks about why that is so. You see, your voice is either an important asset or a distraction.

The voice is influenced by many things.

Just a few of the factors that contribute to the sound of your voice are your physical body, your health, your attitude, even your stress level. The good news is that any voice can be improved–but like anything else, it takes know-how and some work.

Learning to breathe correctly, having good posture and practicing vocal exercises will all contribute to more a pleasant sounding voice. Spending even a few minutes a day on improving your sound can improve your vocal quality.

An Exercise

One exercise you can do on a daily basis that will improve how you sound to hum. Humming is an excellent exercise for your voice–and your disposition. It has been known to release stress too.

We often take the most important aspects of lives for granted. Pay attention to your voice; after all, your voice is your public relations agent!

(I wanted to make an audio message for this post, but unfortunately, I can’t seem to upload the audio. I hope to eventually have both audio and video for you to enjoy.)

I love musicals so it’s not surprising that the first thought that comes to mind about effective presentation openings is , “Another opening, another show” from the musical, Kiss Me Kate. If you know the music, you know it’s bright, quick and it sets the scene–which is exactly what a good presentation opening does.

Openings–especially presentation openings–can be tricky. As the presenter, you have a lot to accomplish in the first few minutes of your speech. You need to signal that you are well-organized, you have important information for the audience, and that you won’t waste their time. You also need to get their attention immediately in order to show them that.

You see, it takes an audience about 30 seconds to decide whether or not you’re worth listening to, so it’s important to get their attention at the get-go. Even if the rest of your talk is outstanding, you’ll have a big hurdle to overcome without that strong opening.

So how do you decide what to open with? My suggestion is to decide that last. First plan the rest of your talk, and when you have that, then decide what opening will be most effective. Here again you need to consider the group because along with everything else you need to do in that first few minutes, you need to establish rapport.

Let’s say you’re talking to a service organization. The members are from different businesses. The main function of the group is to fund hospitals in third world countries. Your talk is on publicity. Your opening might be,

“When I first heard about your organization, and the outstanding work you do, I knew I wanted to give you as much help as I could with your mission. With that objective in mind, I like to discuss three key activities you can do to increase your fund-raising by 50%.”

With that opening, you show that you know who you’re talking to, you appreciate what they are doing, and now will give them some ideas about how they can be even more successful.

Other effective openings are stories that relate to your topic, surprising facts or statistics that make people sit up and pay attention. Asking a question is also effective way to begin. Sometimes what you have to say is so vital (as in an internal meeting) that you need to get right to the point as President Franklin Roosevelt when addressing Congress:

“Yesterday, December7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of Japan.”

From this example, you can see how that opening also set the tone for the remainder of the presentation.

Even though it takes only a few minutes, your opening is one of the most important parts of the presentation. When done well, it grabs the audience’s interest right away, sets the tone for your talk, and makes an excellent seque to the rest of your speech. To begin strong is vital.

Give your opening the time it deserves and you’re on your way to a great presentation.

In Part !, I explained the need to prepare, to know what you want to accomplish with this audience you’ll be speaking to, and how important it is to know them and involve them. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you might want to check it our now. (Just scroll down to the post below.)

Open strong! That does not mean start with “Good morning!” Especially don’t go into the song and dance some presenters do, wanting the audience to give them a rousing “good morning.” It’s hackneyed and annoying. The audience has gathered to listen to you, and they want you to capture their interest immediately. They want you to get right into it. Do that by giving them an important fact or figure, or by saying something that lets them know you know who they are.

Speak to them, converse with them, but don’t read your speech to them. They want to know you. They aren’t interested in how well you write; they want to know you by the way you present: your personality, your voice, your take on the topic.

When you’re making a presentation, remember a presentation is not a lecture. That means instead of telling everything, you want to show, to demonstrate, and give examples. The more concrete you can make your information, the better you can illustrate it in ways that relate to the audience, the more receptive your audience will be.

Involve your audience. The days of lecturing to a group are gone. You can ask them questions, tell them stories, have them do something. The ways to involve them are many. The more you involve them, the better they’ll remember what you present.

Get a coach. A good coach can show you how to construct your presentation so you remember your points without notes. A good coach will show you how to improve your delivery it so your listeners pay attention–and are with you all the way. A good coach will dramatically improve your speaking, for not only one presentation but for future speeches.

Finally, practice, practice, practice. I have acted on stage,and even when I knew my part cold, I rehearsed again before going on. When I make a speech, no matter how well prepared I am, I stillI practice. Tiger Woods though a golf star, still gets coaching and practices. Resting on your laurels is a sure way to flop.

If you want to become a dynamic presenter, one who is stimulating and who delights your audience with good information, well presented, be sure to keep reading this blog for an opportunity to do just that!

The number one way to improve your public speaking is…prepare. Though that may sound self-evident, believe me, it isn’t. As any good trial lawyer will tell you, preparation is the key to winning cases. Preparation is also the key to outstanding presentations—especially if you prepare the following way.

The Questions

First, research your audience. Who are they? Why have they come together? Why do they want you to speak? What common problems do they have? You see, when you know, and understand the answers to these questions, it makes putting your presentation together far easier.

Next, know your objective. This is sometimes difficult, but the clearer your objective, and the clearer you are about what you want the audience to get from your presentation, the better your speech will be. Ask yourself what you want from making this presentation. Then consider what you want the audience to learn and remember. These questions take work, but the clearer you answer them, the better your presentation.

Customizing

Now you’re ready to customize your talk. This is actually fairly straight forward, Construct your presentation with that audience in mind. If it’s a presentation you’ve given before and will give again, then customize it this way: say something in the introduction that relates especially to that audience. Another way to customize is to create examples using their profession. In other words, make your examples relate to them.

We are inundated with information today. We need less information and more ways to organize and understand that information. We need guidance. We need your expertise on the subject, your perspective as a knowledgeable person. Tell us where you stand on this topic. What’s your point of view? Tell us what you think and why.

Be sure to limit the scope of your topic–and limit your main points. Usuallly three is the maximum number of main points; the audience won’t remember more than three. You want to be able to be specific and go into some detail. If your topic is too broad that won’t be possible. If you have too many points, you won’t be able to elaborate. So decide on the three most important points you can make to this audience. Then support those points.

By preparing thoroughly, knowing who you’re talking to, and what you want them to understand and remember, you’re on your way to creating a top-notch presentation.

Next time, I’ll tell you several more ways you can improve your public speaking success.

“How do you see yourself? “may seem a strange question–especially when the topic is communication, but strange as it may see, communication begins with how you see you.

It’s important to understand how we see ourselves because it affects our actions and our speaking. If you’re a person who considers yourself dependable, then when you have a task with a deadline, you’ll get the job done on time even if you need to stay up all night to do it.

It matters whether you see yourself as a person who never gets breaks, or a person who is capable of getting what s/he wants. That difference is reflected in the way you carry yourself, the words you use, and the confidence you show. Make no mistake, other people pick up on the message behind your words.

Your mental picture of yourself also affects how you interpret what is said to you. If you don’t believe you are a person other people like, then every time you issue a request that is denied, you will take it as a personal rejection rather than look at the true reason for the refusal. That interpretation will then reinforce the belief you hold.

To be most effective when you speak, you need to become aware of what you believe–especially about yourself. If what you believe doesn’t serve you, change it to a belief that will.

The wise philosopher, William James, had this to say about beliefs, To perceive the world differently, we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.

As you celebrate the Fourth of July this year, you might want to think about Lincoln’s speech at Gettysburg– for two reasons: for the importance of his message; and for the format he used to construct that message.

The structure of Lincoln’s presentation is simple, yet highly effective.

First, he described the situation;
Second, he presented the problem;
Third, he suggested the solution.

Lincoln sets the situation:
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

The problem he said is that we can’t dedicate this ground because there is unfinished work to be done.

The solution:
We must resolve “… that these men shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from this earth.”

Lincoln’s message is as important today as when he made that address. To resolve that government by the people shall endure, it is important that we be willing to stand up and speak out.

Using your speaking power is what makes freedom ring!

Happy Fourth of July!