Archive for Presentation
Mind Web – Spinning a Web of Ideas
Posted by: | CommentsAnyone who has had to give a presentation, write an article, create a training buy cheap Penis Extender Deluxe Gold online session or even give a quick talk to some children can probably quickly recall sitting in a dankly lit room, behind a desk covered with research material, a glazed look upon your face as you gaze at the stack of information you so desperately want to pull into a first rate piece. You hope for some spark of genius, yet all you get is frustration and probably a headache. You try harder and harder to pull together the words, thoughts and phrases to articulate your message, but your brain gives you nothing to work with.
Well, fear no longer for those days are over. Today you are going to learn a technique that will pull out those ideas into a form that allows you to ‘see’ your message in a natural flow. Once your see your message, writing that speech or presentation will come far easier than you ever expected.
I use this technique over and over again to create articles like the one you are currently reading. The only downfall to this brain web or inspiration web as I prefer to call it is that I often get too many ideas and have to cut many of them out of the article I am writing. But that is ok, for that leaves me with plenty of ideas for the next article, all ready and waiting for me to call upon them in a moments notice. This even works for those times when you have only minutes before you have to stand before your audience.
So, let’s spinning a web of ideas.
The tools you will need to create your web are a pen, paper, and a timing device. Larger paper is better, but standard 8 ½ x 11 paper will do as well. In the center of this sheet of paper, write the topic of your presentation and draw a circle around your words.
Now take a few deep breathes, and stand up, yes that’s right, stand up. Hold your head high and look up at the ceiling. Throw your shoulders back, and puff out your chest proudly. And smile a really huge smile. The kind of smile you would see on the face of a child before opening that wonderfully wrapped present on their birthday or on Christmas morning. Feel those feelings, the excitement and the thrill of finding what is within the brightly colored wrapping. Breathe fully and deeply while doing this. Open your mind – remember that for now there are no rules, no limitations. This is the time for no-holds-barred idea creation.
Now, with those wonderfully energizing feelings pumping you up – set the timer for five minutes. Sit down, grab your pen, and begin to write. Write down every idea that comes to mind. Write fast; do not let your pen stop moving. Abbreviate so that you can get as many ideas down on your sheet as fast as possible. What you will find is that you will be writing one idea and BANG the next one hits, then, before you even can finish writing that idea down, BANG another, then another BANG, and so on. Write every thought that comes to mind, filling up your paper. Don’t be concerned with spelling, grammar or neatness. Make no judgments as you write during this five-minute period. Only record the thoughts as they come to you. Your end goal right now is a vast number of ideas and thoughts.
While you are writing, circle each idea, and connect related ideas/thoughts with lines or even arrows. Keep writing until the timer goes off. Then relax, sit back and review your inspiration web. Is it full of ideas? It should be. Did you make all the connections? If not, make those obvious connections now. As before use lines, arrows or whatever you are comfortable with.
Take a break, ten to fifteen minutes is a good period of time. During this break get away from your idea sheet, and take your mind off of it completely. Then come back and look at the page. By now a few main idea threads will become obvious on your web of lines or arrows. Identify three to five ideas (five maximum for the best audience retention) that you want to cover. Highlight or color-code them so they stand out on the page. Now you have your topic and primary talking points. Your lines and arrows will guide you in your flow from one speaking point to another. I guarantee by this point your piece is taking direction in your head and you will be quite ready to begin putting it to paper.
Use this inspiration web technique anytime that you need to give birth to some creative ideas. This technique will work not only on coming up with speaking points for your main topic; it will work in problem solving, product enhancement and innovation as well.
Think Successfully and Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
Today’s Top Motivated Coach & Author of Success Atlas Programs
http://WriteYourSuccessStory.com
http://SuccessAtlas.com
Focus on Your Audience
Posted by: | CommentsMany readers of my blogs, articles and eBooks are business people either in corporations or in their own business, many are sales people and still others are in network marketing. All these have a common thread. At one time or another, often MANY times over – they are called upon to present information to an audience. Whether that audience is one or one thousand, one thing that your audience will appreciate from you is focus. It does not matter whether your audience is live in living color, reading your website, or like you right now, reading this blog post. Each an every one of them will appreciate you getting focus so they can get the most out of the time they invest in ‘listening’ to you. Give them the value they deserve by focusing on them. In order for you to focus in on them via your subject you will need the following three things:
- A Message
- An objective
- Knowledge of your audience
1 – Message – sit down and write a single sentence that states what you want your audience to remember. Make sure it is simple. Make sure it is clear. This will become your overriding message and theme of your presentation, article or blog post. Your message needs to be repeated throughout your presentation at least six times and most importantly driven home at the end of the speech. Weave it throughout your talk like a binding thread to insure your audience remembers this message.
2 – Objective – Going into your presentation you should know the buy cheap Penegra online answers to questions like; do you want to motivate your audience? Entertain them? Inform them? Gather input or sell a product? Sit down and answer this question – I want the audience to…
3 – Audience – In previous posts, audios and books I have stressed the benefits on knowing your audience. Why are they interested in this topic? After all, how you motivate a group of college students to save for their future will be far different then how you motivate a group of thirty-something business professionals that are parents. So be sure to relate your message to their needs and issues. Be sure to communicate to them how the action you want them to take will benefit them.
Gaining this focus early on in the creation of your presentation will guide you as you prepare the material. Then you are ready to prepare your material. By knowing these three essential pieces of information your information and its presentation will begin to take a life and flow in a way that makes sense. But if you attempt to write the speech without this information you WILL struggle harder for not only what you should share but the manner in which you should share it. You will risk spending time on talking points that are irrelevant and you will loose your audience. Give them what they want, give them what they need and stay focused.
Think Successfully & Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
Today’s Top Motivated Coach & Author of Success Atlas Programs
http://WriteYourSuccessStory.com
http://SuccessAtlas.com
Impromtu Speaking
Posted by: | CommentsAfter a recent seminar I conducted, one of the attendees came up to me and shared that he really had no problem getting up in front of a larger audience. He stated that presentations were preferred over the ‘hall meetings’ that happen some many times during our business day. His ability to prepare for these large presentations gave him a comfort level that he was not able to attain when approached spur-of-the-moment by a senior member of his company.
Being a newer member of the company his real concern was that he might not be leaving the impression that he desired, when approached in these impromptu meetings. His fear was that he was leaving his fellow associate pondering his broken and rambling communication style rather than his insights, answers and ideas.
My advice to him was to first realize that there is no such thing as private speaking (unless your are alone talking to yourself). Anyone that gives an arranged presentation is obviously more comfortable because they have the time to prepare, which is only natural. But you have to realize that these impromptu ‘meetings’ at your desk, in the hallway or on the elevator can have as much of an impact on your success track as your prepared speeches.
Luckily, you can ‘prepare for,’ become skilled at, and even master the spontaneous interactions that are sprinkled throughout the day by…
- Asking questions to start the conversation. Better yet, ask questions that allow the other person to talk about themselves. My best friend has one of those personalities where once you get to know him he opens up. However, until then he does not say a whole lot. Working for a major corporation he attends quite a few gatherings and was rather uncomfortable with the number of people that he did not know at these gatherings. I told him about this technique of asking questions and he gave it a try. He was quickly amazed at how little you really have to say to be considered ‘quite the conversationalist.’ He found out that buy cheap Panmycin online if you ask people key questions about their work, hobbies, etc., that they are more than willing to share.
- Focus on others. The previous point leads right into this next technique. Conversations flow easily when you and the other person are alike in some way or on some topic. However, conversations are just as easy when you display a sincere interest in what the other person is like or likes. Keep up with what is going on around you so you can give your fellow associates compliments and congratulations on projects accomplished, promotions earned, home purchases etc. This sincere interest will have a far more lasting impression than any verbal blunder you might make in the hallway.
- Give Praise to others. Spinning off of the previous point around focusing on others. Keep up with what is going on so you can give praise to those that deserve it. When receiving recognition for the efforts of your team, always remember to tout the efforts of the whole team. Give each persons name and examples of their contribution to result that you are being praised for.
- Keep up! In the last two points you read “keep up with what is going on”. Do this at a department, company, national and world level. Each will not be at the same level of detail of course, but surely be aware of the major happenings at all levels of your world. Keep up with the local and world news. Review your company’s annual report and other publications they circulate. From these sources of information, mentally prepare yourself with two or three things to say in your next impromptu hall meeting. When you first start this particular technique I would even suggest rehearsing this in front of a mirror or with a supportive friend. Here is a great place to combine techniques by asking a question in regards to something current or topical.
- Don’t be shy! Take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and speak! It sounds simple because it is. All the great rules of life are. If you find yourself in front of a senior member of your company (waiting for or on the elevator, arriving early to a meeting, or in the parking lot) take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and speak! Greet them with a pleasant “Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening!” depending on what time of the day it is.
Now use the other four techniques you just read about. By keeping up, you can give praise on a recent accomplishment that they, their department, or the company has attained. You could ask about their vacation, new child, or other personal info. By keeping up you could ask if they know would share specifics on a company buy-out, the million dollars saved, or other topic that you read about in the company periodicals. Even if they don’t stop to have a complete conversation with you now, you surely have made a positive impression and planted the seeds for a future conversation during you next planned or unplanned encounter
Speaking impromptu is not as hard as it appears. Much like larger planned presentations, there are steps you can take to be prepared for a spontaneous conversation with anyone. Remember to ask questions, focus on the person you are talking to, give praise, keep up with what is happening around you, and don’t be shy! Try this and you will quickly find yourself far more at ease with off-the-cuff conversations!
Think Successfully & Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
Today’s Top Motivated Coach & Author of Success Atlas Programs
http://WriteYourSuccessStory.com
http://SuccessAtlas.com
8 Steps to Easier Speech Writing
Posted by: | CommentsAll the great speechwriters over the course of history have noted that they spend twenty to forty hours writing routine business or political speeches. Winston Churchill claimed to have spent forty years studying the craft of speech writing ? and still would labor for hours over just the right phrase for his message. The process of writing an effective speech can certainly consume a lot of your time. But let me share with you some proven steps that can shave a large amount of time off your speech preparation. You can then turn around and use that time to practice your speech using the practice process I will share with you in and upcoming blog post. So whether you are about to a give presentation to an intimate group of friends, affiliates or associates or if you are about to stand on the stage infront of 100s here are some great tips to make your speech writing a bit easier… oh by the way – these tips work great for creating your onlie video scripts as well!
· SDRAWKCAB KROW
(Work backwards) Think of your speech as if it were a road trip. You wouldn’t start out on the road if you didn’t know where you were going. If you had to crunch your entire presentation down to one or two sentences what would they be? Once you know these one or two sentences you have your theme and the message you want your audience to walk away with. Now you can build a well-organized speech your audience can follow. Keep referring back to these one or two sentences and insure your not headed off on a verbal detour as you are writing your speech. Ask yourself, “Does this add to or take away from my message?” If it takes away from it, even a little bit, dump it from your content.
· FIND THE FACTS.
Every once in a while you will be asked to speak on a subject that is not a part of your core capabilities. Here it is very important that you spend the time doing the research to insure you get all the facts, and that you get them straight. Luckily for us the Internet has made this task far easier than it was in the past. However, there is another side to that coin. The Internet has made available a mass of information that can quickly intimidate even the veteran speaker. So zero in on your message and weed out the information that does not add to that message. In your research do not forget about the old faithful resources like newspapers, libraries etc.
· GRAB THEM FROM THE BEGINNING.
Take the time create an opening that hooks your audience from the very start. Some ways to accomplish this are moving stories, disquieting statements, humor, famous quotes, and though provoking questions. Whichever technique you use, use it powerfully and use it effectively. Your opening is just about the most important part of your speech. You want to take their mind away from whatever they are preoccupied with and focus their attention on your message. An effective opening does this for you. An effective opening will also build rapport and credibility with your audience so use it to your advantage.
· THEME IT AND SPICE IT UP.
The human mind does not learn in swells of information. It learns in small increments. So one of the greatest retention tools you can build into your speech or presentation is a repetitive theme. Your theme will serve as a great memory aid, helping you through your presentation from opening to close and giving a level of continuity to your audience. Be sure to theme your title as well! Use the title and the introduction of your presentation to get your audience interested in the topic before you have uttered a single word. Again, you will need to know exactly what your speech’s goal is then theme the title to accomplish that goal. For example, if your objective is to share with your audience ten ways to save on their taxes, then a possible title could be “Taxes ? from their pocket to yours, not the other way around.” Then use anecdotes to drive home the message of your speech and your theme. Collect stories and anecdotes and store them away for future use. You can get them from newspapers, magazines and on the web. I have two file folders full of material that I pull out when I need a story to help me drive home a point.
· SPEAK LIKE THE EXPERT.
Given the fact that you are the one in front on the audience, it is safe to assume that you know more than the majority of those listening to your speech. So go up there with the confidence that you are the expert. You’ve done your homework, you have researched and rehearsed your material and you have it down cold. Confidently make your way to the stage and give them what they are waiting for. I have yet to find an audience that wants a speaker to fail. In fact most audiences are very forgiving when you stumble (both physically and verbally), many even offer some assistance during these awkward times. Before you go on stage, breathe deeply a few times and practice saying these words: Red leather, yellow leather. This will not only take you mind off the butterflies in your stomach but it will help loosen up your lips and tongue.
· PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.
Read the material to yourself 5-10 times quietly. Read the material 5-10 times aloud. Make a voice recording of your practice. Review your tape and see where you want to change things. Practice your presentation in its entirety in front of a mirror. Here you’ll make changes in your facial expressions. Video tape yourself. Now you are working on your overall presentation and body language. Finally you can give a practice performance to a safe audience. Solicit their feedback and incorporate it into your presentation.
· NOTES?
This is a double-edged sword. It is better to have your material down so you can give your speech from the heart rather than from the card. But I know from experience that having those notes can be a lifesaver. 3×5 cards are well suited for carry around notes. They can be easily concealed on your body for quick and easy retrieval. Then cupped in the hand so they are not as distracting as having an 8.5 x 11-inch piece of paper. If you are going to be behind a podium then full size paper is quite effective. On your notes put down the key ideas for each area of your speech, rather than creating word for word notes. By creating key word or key idea notes you will avoid the temptation of reading your speech from your notes. This will enable buy cheap Obestat online you to easily connect to and build a better rapport with your audience.
· CLOSE WITH A BANG.
Here you will wrap up your entire speech and give your audience something to take away with them. That something could be new information to contemplate, or a call to action. Be sure to reinstate the importance of the speech to them. Remember all audiences listen to station WIIFM, What’s In It For Me? So share with them the value of your speech to them. If you took step one and worked backwards you’ve probably already created your closing. Often your closing will work hand in hand with your opening, taking them back to the beginning, but now with the new information and call to action that you have presented.
Writing an effective speech is easy to some but a task to most. However, it is always a rewarding experience once you have created it, rehearsed it and presented it. When your audience comes up to you one by one and thanks you for your new information, your inspiring ideas or your motivating talk, you will be filled with pride and glad that you took the time to do it right.
Think Successfully & Take Action!
Tracy Brinkmann
Today’s Top Motivated Success Coach
& Author of Success Atlas Goals Programs
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