Telling Your Story: Tips and Techniques for Public Speaking May 11, 2010

1. Telling Your Story: Tips and Techniques for Public Speaking May 11, 2010

2. “According to most studies, people's number one fearis public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. “ ~Jerry Seinfeld

3. Effective Communication • Preparation • Practice • Presence

4. Effective Communication • Preparation • Research - research the subject • Format - speak on what you know - Notes - outline main points - Note cards vs. full sized paper “Most people are more deeply influenced by one clear, vivid, personal example than by an abundance of statistical data.” ~Eliot Aronson, Social Psychologist

5. Effective Communication • Practice - Practice makes perfect - Get timing right - Make revisions - Use visual aids and deliver your talk idea-for- idea, not word-for-word. “Practice is the best of all instruction.”

6. Effective Communication • Presence - Nervousness - fear is natural - Body language - voice/tone - gestures - eye contact - Positive attitude

7. Common Worries • “My heart races,” “I turn red,” or “I sweat a lot.” • “I speak too fast.” • “My mouth goes dry.” • “I’m afraid I’ll go blank.” • “I tend to ramble or go off on a tangent.” • “I’m afraid I’ll be boring” or “I can’t tell jokes.” • “My accent or dialect may be hard to understand.” • “I say um and ah too much.” • “I don’t know what to do with my hands.”

8. Handling Your Fear • It’s good to be nervous. • Don’t try to be perfect. • Visualize your success. • Breathe. • Practice, practice, practice! • Remember the audience wants you to succeed. • Involve your audience. • Focus on your message.

9. Three Tips to Build Your Confidence Know: • The room - become familiar with the place of the presentation • The people - greet or chat with the audience before hand. It’s easier to speak to friends than strangers • The material - increased nervousness is due poor preparation

10. Creating Your Presentation

11. Knowing and Adapting to Your Audience • Why is your audience interested in what you have to say? • What’s in it for them? Why should they care? • What’s the call to action? What can they do?

12. Elevator Speech-Speaking to One or Few • You know how… (state the problem) • Well what we do is …. (feature – description of what we do) • So that…. (benefit – feature translated – what happens because of what we do) • We’re kind of like … (metaphor – something funny or startling; make it memorable) • I would love it if you… (Call to action/engagement)

13. Creating Your Presentation Speaking to Many • Tell ‘em what you’re gonna tell ‘em.(Intro) • Tell ‘em.(The Body) • Tell ‘em what you’ve told ‘em.(The Conclusion)

14. Sample Speech Outline I. Introduction • Like a good conversation, the first thing that you do when greeting your audience is to establish rapport and find common areas of interest. • Smile • Have a good opener II. Body • Make your main points III. Conclusion • Review

15. What’s your Point? - Intro • What are the things you want your audience to learn? “My purpose today is to . . . • - Unravel the mystery behind . . .” • - Prove to you . . .” • - Show you the three advantages of . . .” • - Provide you the four key ingredients for . . .” • - Share with you what it’s like to . . .” • - Introduce you to . . .” • - Help you understand . . .”

16. Attention Getters • Eye contact • Stories • Intriguing questions • Startling facts/statistics • Props • Challenging statements • News items • Quotations

17. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

18. What’s Your Point - Body • Tip: Use the “PIE” formula • P = State the point you wish to make • I = Illustrate the point with a story • E = Emphasize the importance to the audience • What is AmeriCorps? • What is it like to serve in AmeriCorps? • Why should you become an AmeriCorps member? • What impact does my AmeriCorps program make in the community or in the lives of people?

19. Tip: Organize Your Main Points • Use sticky notes and arrange them into columns of related ideas. Try various arrangements until you find one you feel works best. • Write down the main idea for each column, with the related supporting ideas below. These columns of ideas form the body of your presentation. • Within each column, arrange the ideas in descending order of importance (your most important ideas on top).

20. Less is More Eliminate ideas that may: • Overwhelm listeners • Weaken the strength of other ideas • Be presented during the Q&A session, if necessary • Be included in a detailed handout, but not discussed • Be saved for a follow-up presentation • Make the presentation too long

21. What’s Your Point - Conclusion: • Review or summarize the main ideas. • End in a memorable way. • Provide a call for action or a parting thought

22. Handling Questions • Ask your own questions. – “One thing people often ask me about my AmeriCorps experience is…” • Anticipate potential questions including the tough ones • Repeat or summarize the question. Also, reinforce their questions with ‘that’s a good question.’ • Do not bluff or panic. • Saying ‘I don’t know’ is okay…gives you a chance to follow up with that person and illustrates your authenticity.

23. Common Questions • How did you hear about AmeriCorps? • Why did you decide to join? • What doubts did you have about joining? • Were your friends and family supportive? If not, how did you convince them that this is a good opportunity? • What is it like to be an AmeriCorps member? • What have you enjoyed most? • What challenges have you faced? • What have you learned about yourself? • What have you learned about your community?

24. Your Delivery • Gestures  • Enthusiasm  • Articulation  • Breathe  • Posture  • Tone  • Language  • Work the whole room • Smile 

25. Things to Avoid • Read directly from notes • Read directly from screen • Turn your back on audience • Slouch with hands in pockets • Fill pauses with um, ah, okay • Repetitive nervous gestures • Talk too fast or too quietly • Don’t apologize

27. Tips for Humor and Telling Stories • Consider using a touch of humor in your speech, but keep it short until you have experience. • Tell a short embarrassing moment in your life that you might have thought not funny at the time. • Avoid long stories or jokes. • Skip the joke books—look at your life. • Maintain a Humor/Story File. • If in doubt, leave it out. • Practice your delivery.

28. Visual Aids • Easy to see • Easy to understand • Look professional • Should demonstrate something • Should be explained clearly • Should not be distracting • Choose visual aids that have relevance to your audience • Should be appropriate. Question: What visual aids might you use to enhance your AmeriCorps presentation?

31. “Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things, which renew humanity." ~The Buddha

32. Telling Your Story: Tips and Techniques for Public Speaking