Is Public Speaking Anxiety Pushing You Around?

What are you thinking about before you give a presentation? Are you anticipating the worst and getting anxious about the mistakes you think you’re going to make? If so, you are letting negative thoughts push you in the wrong direction.

Don’t get pushed around by anxiety. Fight back with three performance-changing steps that will put you in the driver’s seat. To push your presentation in the right direction, shift your thoughts and your breathing.

Focus on Your Audience 
When you start obsessing about what your audience will think if you make a mistake, STOP. Most people will not notice small mistakes, and if they do, they are thinking more about themselves than you. When you start walking down the road of negativity, shift gears. Start thinking about how you can reach, connect and help your audience. When you change your focus from internal (it’s all about me) to external (it’s all about my audience) you take the pressure off yourself. Remember, a presentation is about the message, not the messenger!

Get in a “Gift Giving” Mindset 
After you stop focusing on how you feel (nerves, fear, anxiety) start focusing on what you have to give. A presentation is a gift of your time, knowledge and your experience. Ask yourself empowering questions like: What can I share that will help my audience? How can I solve a problem? Will my audience be better off because of my presentation? When you focus on what you’re giving—instead of how you’re feeling—you have a more empowering mindset. You feel more confident when you know you are making a difference.

Take a Deep Breath 
Just before you step up to speak, take a deep breath. Pause a beat to gather yourself and take control of your mindset. You can reduce your anxiety by controlling your breathing and calming your nerves. If you’re feeling anxious, take a few minutes to breathe deeply and visualize a scene that is calming. A flashback to the beach relaxes me. What scene can you think about to quickly calm your anxious mind?

For more tips on how to beat anxiety before your next presentation follow the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page. You’ll get videos and daily tips to take the stress and anxiety out of public speaking. Need more help? Fill out the Contact Us page at https://www.portercoachyou.com

Hurricane Dorian Left Three Reminders

Hurricane Dorian slipped past Florida, with little major damage. It was supposed to stall over Central Florida, like it did the Bahamas. I watched for days, bracing for a devastating blow from the storm. I worried. I waited. But all I got was a lesson on how to handle the stress of uncertainty.

For some, there’s nothing more stressful than standing in front of a group, giving a presentation. For me, there’s nothing more stressful than not knowing what’s coming next. Hurricane Dorian reminded me of the best way to face down a stressful, uncertain situation—get prepared, stay informed and be flexible. These three steps will also help you through the stress of speechwriting and delivering a presentation:

1. GET PREPARED: Prepare for the worst and anticipate the best. If you’re preparing a presentation, try to insulate yourself from mistakes. Create a checklist of steps you need to take to be successful. Set aside enough time for writing, creating slides, and practicing. Bring your checklist of reminders to your presentation.

2. STAY INFORMED: Know what you need to do to successfully deliver your presentation. Find out key facts, learn the best way to deliver your message and stay on top of last-minute events that may impact your presentation. Know your audience, your content and your equipment (computer, slides, etc.)

3. BE FLEXIBLE: Be ready to handle whatever is thrown your way. If your presentation time is cut, drop a story (keep the point it demonstrated). If you’re asked to talk longer, have some audience activities you can quickly add to enhance your message. Be able to change your presentation, when needed. Prepare some extras (stories, questions for your audience, etc.), just in case.

If business presentations are stressful for you, like the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page. You’ll get videos and daily tips to take the stress and anxiety out of public speaking. Need more help? Fill out the Contact Us page at https://www.portercoachyou.com

Is Your Audience "Feeling" Your Message?

He wasn’t trying to get a laugh. When comic Jon Stewart spoke at a Congressional hearing in June he was trying to get permanent financial aid for first responders, struggling with health issues related to the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York.

Why did his words have power? Why did his message move legislators to take action? He spoke with passion and emotion. After his testimony, Congress voted to make sure the 9/11 victims’ compensation fund never runs out of money. The Jon Stewart lesson for business presenters is simple: make your audience hear and FEEL your message.

Before you pull together your next presentation remarks and slides, ask yourself three questions:

1. How do I want my audience to think differently after I’m done?
2. What do I want my audience to do differently after my speech?
3. How do I want my audience to feel after my presentation?

To make your audience think differently, share a different point of view. To make them do something different, give them a call to action. To make them feel differently, add emotion to your words.

To really make your audience “feel” your message, tell a story that gets an emotional response—make them laugh, make them sad, make them angry. An emotion is just a strong feeling (happiness, sadness or anger). As a speaker, when you touch the emotions of your audience, your words are more memorable, powerful and impactful.

Have you heard the saying, “Be the Change You Wish to See…”? For presenters, if you want your audience to feel something, mirror the emotion you want to see. That means, you need to step out of your straight-laced business persona, and show emotion—if that’s what you want your audience to do.

Use your face, your voice and your gestures to express how you feel. It’s OK to smile, shout, dance or get angry—if it makes your message more moving, emotional and real.

Fighting back tears, with a trembling voice, a comedian got a stagnant Congress to move on legislation they had not acted on in years! And you can inspire your audience to action, if you let them hear and feel the emotion in your face, your voice and your gestures.

If you want to put more feeling your business presentations, fill out the Contact Us page at https://www.portercoachyou.com

Which Business Story is Right for You?

Have you been told to add stories to your business presentations? OK, what do you do next? You should take two steps in the right direction. Step #1: Choose the type of story you want to tell. Step #2: Hit all three H.A.H. goals.

STEP #1 - PICK STORY TYPE
If you’re a professional, executive or business owner, there are three types of stories you can tell to make a deeper connection with your audience. The type of story you choose to share, depends on what you want your audience to do when you’re finished. Let me explain:

• WHY: The “Why Story” tells your audience what motivates you to do what you do (start a business or lead a project). Tell this story if you want your audience to care about you, your business or your project. Share an example that illustrates why you care about your audience and their problems. Every business owner needs a “Why Story”.

• DESIRE: The “Desire Story” makes your audience want the results you talked about in your story. First, you describe a problem the audience has, then you fast-forward to the current situation (the problem was fixed) and finally you explain that the problem was resolved by your solution (a product/process/service). Tell this story if you want your audience to buy your solution. If you are in sales, you need a “Desire Story” to demonstrate the power of your product/service.

• LESSON: The “Teach a Lesson Story” makes a point that you want to drive home to your audience. This story makes your message more memorable and illustrates a key point you’re making. Tell this story when you want your audience to see and feel the point you’re talking about. Every presentation should have a “Teach a Lesson Story”.

STEP #2 - HIT “H.A.H.” GOALS 
After you select a story type, make sure it hits all three H.A.H. goals. Whatever story you tell, you must engage your audience’s head (mentally), inspire them to take action (support your project or buy your product/service), and touch their heart (create an emotional connection). For example:

• HEAD: Your story must have ideas and characters that capture the imagination of your audience, so they’ll remember your message.

• ACTION: Your story should inspire your audience to take the next step with you (join your project, sign up for your service or buy your product). Your story should move your listeners to take action.

• HEART: Your story should get an emotional response from your audience. Make your audience have strong feelings (such as laughter, compassion, excitement, anger) and care about the characters/message in your story.

If you need help deciding which story type works best for you, fill out the Contact Us page at https://www.portercoachyou.com

Erase Speaking Mistakes Like You're Tom Brady

Mistakes happen. Tom Brady, who has more Super Bowl rings than any quarterback in NFL history, has also thrown more than 170 interceptions. Do you think he let those mistakes hold him back? Nope. All elite athletes know what to do with their mistakes. They use a three-step system to recover. It works for speakers, presenters and athletes. Anyone can use it. You should too!

I haven’t talked to Tom, but I’ll bet he uses the “IFF Recovery System” to quickly rebound from throwing errors. Here’s how it works. When you screw up (forget a line, mispronounce a word, or your delivery sucks) as a speaker; take these steps after your presentation is over:

• IDENTIFY: Identify the cause of the mistake. Did you prepare poorly? Did you get too nervous? Find out why you made the mistake.

• FIX: Fix it. Take steps to make sure you don’t make the same mistake again. Put in more practice hours, get feedback on your performance, or learn a better way to handle the situation if it comes up again.

• FORGET: After you fix your problem, forget about it and focus on what you do right. Replaying mistakes in your mind will erode your confidence. You can’t move forward if you’re always dragging your past into your future. Erase your speaking mistakes like you’re Tom Brady. (FYI, Tom has thrown more than 500 career touchdowns vs. 171 interceptions!)

For more ways to recover from speaking mistakes, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

Can You Make a Serious Audience Laugh?

Have you ever gotten a laugh—on purpose—during a serious presentation? Well, keep that trend alive! Audiences (actually everybody) love to laugh. When your audience is laughing, then you know they’re listening (hopefully to you). But how can you pull this off and why should you bother?

• WHY: When you get your audience laughing, you’re making a connection with them. They’ll keep listening—just in case you make them laugh again. And your message is easier to remember, when you tie it to a little humor.

• WHEN: So you’ve decided to add humor to your presentation. Congratulations! Now, ask yourself two questions. #1. Is the funny story or comment relevant to my topic and my audience? (If the answer is “yes”, add it. If the answer is “no”, leave it out.) #2. Will it help my audience remember one of my points? Don’t add pointless humor, just to get laughs. The funny comment should make your message unforgettable.

• HOW: When you add humor to a serious presentation, try to be an A.S.S. Be animated, surprise your listeners and stop talking. ANIMATED – Use facial expressions, gestures and vocal variety to drive home your humor. SURPRISING – Don’t tell your audience something funny is coming. Slip in the humor, and catch them off guard. Never ask, “Do you want to hear something funny?” STOP – When you hear the laughs, stop talking. Stand there and enjoy the ride. Don’t be rude and talk over the laughter!

For more ways to get laughs during a serious business presentation, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

Rate Yourself on the 3 Jobs Speakers Have

Have you ever done public relations? Do you deliver packages for FedEx? Are you a construction engineer? Probably not. But you have three jobs when you’re giving a presentation. Ignore your job title. When you’re a speaker; you’re also in PR, you’re delivering packaged information and you’re building a bridge. Let me explain:

 • JOB #1 - PR: During the first two minutes of your presentation, you’re a public relations person. Your job is to get your audience to view you and your message favorably. You're trying to make a winning impression.

• JOB #2 - Package Carrier: Then you need to deliver your package—information that’s appealing and easy to understand. If you don’t deliver your information the right way, your audience won’t receive the package they were expecting.

• JOB #3 - Construction Engineer: You built your presentation. You have laid the foundation of trust with your audience. Now you have to build a bridge from your message to your audience, which makes a memorable connection.

How would you rate your PR skills, your package delivery skills and your bridge-building skills as a presenter? If you are not a “10”, go to the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills) for tools you can use to raise your score. You’ll find daily tips on how you can become a PR pro, a presentation delivery expert and an audience connection engineer—while multitasking as a speaker!

The 5-Step Recipe for Speaking Success

Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey top the list of the Most Admired Women in America. The Former First Lady and the billionaire media mogul, who ranked #1 and #2 in the 2018 Gallup poll, are powerful speakers. And these ladies share a speaking style that you can use to build your influence and stand out as a presenter.

The Obama-Oprah speaking recipe can take your presentations from good to great. If you master the five-step recipe, you’ll become a more influential, impressive and entertaining presenter. To follow their recipe for speaking success, you need to:

Step 1: Be Authentic – Bring your “off-stage” personality on stage. Your audience wants to see you at your best. If you like to smile and tell jokes with your friends, look for ways to get a smile and a few laughs from your audience. You’re most appealing when you’re being yourself.

Step 2: Connect – Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey connect with audiences because they talk about topics we can relate to. When you speak, point out how your message impacts or is relevant to your listeners.

Step 3: Be Conversational – Deliver your message like you’re having a conversation with one person. Ask questions, make lots of eye contact and check-in to see if you’re being understood.

Step 4: Tell Stories – Share personal and professional stories about you that reveal the lessons you’ve learned the hard way. Show your audience your flaws, failures, firsts and frustrations.

Step 5: Have Fun – Speak with energy and enthusiasm. All eyes are on you. If you’re not having fun, no one else will.

For more ways to win over an audience like a superstar, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

3 Ways to Pull in Your Listeners

You want them to like you, listen and hang on to your words. Don’t you? But you have to work for that kind of loyalty. What can you do to pull your audience into your presentation and keep them deeply involved in what you’re saying? Give them a chance to laugh, learn and be entertained.

When you’re working on your next presentation, make sure you mix up your delivery by:

1. Changing Your Voice – Change the speed and volume of your voice to keep your message interesting. Talk faster, to build excitement. Slow down to emphasize a key point. Use different voices to make characters in your stories distinctive. For example, you may use a deeper, louder voice for an old man and a higher, softer voice for a young girl.

2. Involving Everybody – Don’t do all the talking. Include your audience in your presentation by asking questions, telling stories and adding audience activities that keep your listeners physically and mentally involved.

3. Reliving Your Stories – Bring your stories alive with action. Don’t retell a story—using “he said” or “she said”—relive the story. Recreate a conversation between two or more characters and make each person distinctive. Use different facial expressions, voices, gestures and body language for each character. Give your audience ring-side seats to the action!

For more ways to pump energy, enthusiasm and engagement into your audience, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

Do You Carry Mental Baggage?

How much mental baggage do you drag into your sales or business presentations? Do you pull pounds of doubt or lack of confidence into your mindset? Think about these questions. If you are not sure of yourself, self-doubt will be reflected in your body language; and the power and passion of your words.

But there are three things you can do to kick negative mental baggage to the curb. Just take these steps to overhaul a power-less mindset and replace it with an empowering mindset:

1. Free Yourself – Free your mind of messages that don’t build your confidence. Stop saying these things: “People will judge me”; “I must be perfect”; “I hope I don’t blow this opportunity”!

2. Erase the Past – If you did not do a good job the last time you gave a presentation. Let that experience die. Don’t revive it. You can always learn from your mistakes. You don’t have to relive and repeat them.

3. Follow the “IPAR” Recipe – IDENTIFY one presentation skill you want to improve. PRACTICE that skill every time you speak. ASK for feedback from a coach, mentor or someone who excels in the area you want to strengthen. REFINE that skill, based on the feedback you received. Speaking is a skill that gets better with practice!

Speaking success begins in your mind. For more mental mastery tips, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

Are You a Lion, Turtle or a Rabbit Speaker?

What animal do you most resemble when you’re making a speech? Are you a lion, a turtle or a rabbit? If you’re confident, you’re like a lion. If you’re in control, you’re like a turtle. And if you get to the point quickly, you’re like a rabbit.

The best speakers have the confidence of a lion, the control of a turtle and the concise delivery of a rabbit. Here’s how you can add the three C’s of powerful presenters—confidence, control, and concise delivery—to your next presentation:

• Look Like a Lion – Your body language reflects your confidence level. To scream “confidence”, stand up straight with your weight evenly distributed on both feet. Look at your audience, smile, and speak with calm confidence!

• Control the Discussion – When you’re a presenter, there’s no time to hide in your turtle shell. You’re the front man/woman, the discussion leader. Ask for audience interaction, answer questions, but keep the group on your message. You get the first and last word on your topic!

• Get to the Point…Swiftly – Rabbits are quick, efficient and precise. No wasted energy. Always go for a simple word or shorter sentence. You’re speaking to be understood, not to impress everybody with your big vocabulary. Say “later,” instead of “at a later date”. Or use “occasionally,” instead of “from time to time”.

What animal do you most resemble when you’re making a speech? Borrow from all three if you want to raise your speaking skills to the next level!

For more ways to be concise, confident and in control while presenting, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

3 Ways to Get Your Audience to Take Action

After you finish your presentation, what do you want your audience to do? If you’ve done your job, they should have something new—a different perspective, new ideas or a valuable tool/solution.

How can you get your audience to take action? It starts before you stand up to talk. Before you prepare your presentation, ask yourself this question: “What do I want my audience to think, feel or do differently at the end of my talk?” The answer to this question drives your content, delivery and results. Craft your presentation so that you are constantly giving your audience incentives to act on your message. That means, you should:

1. Lay the groundwork for “yes”.
2. Focus on benefits, from beginning to end.
3. Give your audience a clear path, only one specific next step.

1. Lay the groundwork for “yes”: From beginning to end, look for ways to find common ground with your audience. When you get nods, smiles and agreement early, it’s easier to get your audience to buy into your point of view at the end.

2. Focus on benefits: Let your audience see how they can gain (what’s in it for them) from your message. All throughout your talk, point out the advantages and benefits they’ll reap from adopting your viewpoint, project, product or service.

3. Only one next step: Ask your audience to take one clearly-defined action to move them closer to a solution to their problems. Recommend a specific step they should take (call, email or text—not all three). Make it easy for your listeners to implement your call to action!

For more ways to make your next audience more likely to act on your message, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills) 

What Does Your Body Language Say?

When you give a business presentation, you are seen as a leader or an expert. Does your body language keep that image alive in the eyes of your audience?

Your face and hands play a big role in sending your audience the right message. Your body language speaks louder than your words. Your body language—your dress, posture and body movements—account for 55 percent of your credibility with your audience.

Don’t you start sizing up a new person before they open their mouth? So does your audience! They are looking at your face—your eyes and mouth—and your hands. To make sure you are coming across as a leader and an expert presenter, follow these four body language rules:

1. Memorize your opening and closing remarks so you can make eye contact with your audience. People don’t trust speakers who don’t look at them.

2. Start your presentation with a smile. It says “I want to connect with you” and “I’m friendly.”

3. Keep your hands at your sides until you want to make a gesture that helps explain what you’re saying. Then return your hands and arms to your sides.

4. But please DO NOT move your hands to these places:

• Behind your back (you’re saying, “I really don’t want to connect with you”),
• On your hips (you’re saying, “I’m more important than you”) or 
• In the fig leaf position (your hands are covering your private parts for protection, because you feel threatened). 

Use your hands and face to send the message that you have valuable information to share with your audience to help them solve a problem, make more money or grow their business. The next time you give a presentation, make sure your words, hands and face are connecting with your audience and sending the same message!

For more ways to make your body language boost your image, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills/

Don't Let Your Mind Mess You Up!

Your mindset determines your success or failure in life and in business presentations. If you think you’re nervous, afraid or going to forget a key point, you probably will. But you don’t have to let your mind mess up your presentation. Here are some things you can do to outsmart those limiting beliefs:

FEAR
• Gain vs. Pain – If the thought of giving a group presentation fills you with doubt and fear, change your focus. Think about what you’ll gain from this experience: prestige, respect, promotion, new clients.

• Audience vs. You – The only reason you’re giving a presentation is because you have valuable information. Focus on how you can help your audience, not on how you think they will respond to you. It’s not about you, it’s about the people looking to you for information, advice or a solution.

NERVOUSNESS
• Butterflies – If your stomach is overrun with butterflies before a presentation, give them a new name. Think of the butterflies as the adrenaline rush you need to wow your audience. Your body is getting you pumped up for a great performance.

• Enthusiasm – Don’t tell yourself you’re nervous. Tell yourself that you’re excited. Rename your nervous energy and call it ENTHUSIASM!

FORGETFULNESS 
• Pause – If you have a brain freeze during a presentation, pause, glance at your notes and remember, no one knows every word you wanted to say!

• Adjust – You’ve just forgotten a key point. Don’t apologize to the audience, make a quick recovery and move on. If you remember the point later, just insert it then. You can adjust like this, “There’s one more thing I want to add…” Forgetting is not a felony. It’s not even a crime!

For more ways to overcome fear, nerves or memory lapses, like my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills/)

How Can Chicken Seasoning Help You Connect?

If you’re like most people, you want to make a connection with the person you’re talking to. As a presenter, the way to get that connection is to build it into your presentation during your planning/writing stage. If you’re roasting a chicken and you want it to be well seasoned, you’d add spices before putting it in the oven.

Think of CONNECTION as the SEASONING you add to your presentation early in the preparation process. To create a presentation that keeps your audience focused on your message, from beginning to end, you need to build four ingredients into your presentation during the planning process:

 1. CONVERSATION. To have a conversation, information has to flow in two directions. That means you need to ask your audience questions. As you prepare your message, look for ways to turn statements into questions that will generate a response from your audience. You could say, “Goldfish have an attention span of nine seconds.” But a more interactive approach would be to ask your audience, “How long is the attention span of a goldfish?” Someone will yell out an answer.

2. EXPERIENCE. To create a memorable experience, tell a story, make an analogy or use visuals. Slides, stories, analogies, activities, pictures and props turn a speech into a memorable experience. They engage your audience in an unforgettable way.

3. THINK. Ask thought-provoking questions like, “Have you ever…?” or “Imagine you were…” to make your audience think about how they can use your message. This makes your audience think about using your message, instead of just listening to it.

4. APPLICATION. Give your audience a call to action. Ask them to take a specific action to implement your message. To apply my message, here’s your homework: “For your next presentation, look for ways to encourage conversation. Ask questions that get your audience engaged in a two-way dialog.”

If you do your homework and it works, post your results on the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page. For more ways to spice up your next presentation, go to my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills/)

Please, Laugh in My Face!

People love to laugh—behind your back. That’s normal. Sometimes, you want them to laugh in your face. That’s gold for a presenter. If your audience is laughing, they are listening and you’re making an emotional connection!

If you can’t get some laughs or smiles, you are in trouble. As a presenter, you want to sprinkle humor throughout your business presentation because it:

 • Makes your audience more receptive to your message. Your points seem fresh, new and novel if you can get a laugh or a smile from your audience.

• Gives you a leg up with your listeners. People with a sense of humor seem friendly, likeable and someone you want to do business with.

• Helps you talk about difficult or serious topics.

• Makes your message more memorable.

But please, don’t trot out any old, tired jokes. Just try one of these humor hooks to keep your audience entertained and engaged:

1. Make an analogy that puts a twist on a common thing/situation. An analogy shows how two different things are similar. For example, “Sunbathing at Daytona Beach in July is like being a rotisserie chicken for four hours”. A simple analogy can bring out a smile!

2. Use the comedy rule: 1-2-FUNNY. List three things. The first two are similar and the last one breaks the pattern because it’s unexpected. For example, “I never know what to expect when I look under my car in the morning. (I always park near Mrs. Bush’s oak tree). Yesterday I found, half a pint of oil, a flat tire and Mrs. Bush’s dentures!”

3. Share a personal story. “If something happened to you and you found the humor in it, there’s a good chance others will, too,” says Carmine Gallo in his book, “Talk Like TED”.

It wasn’t funny at the time, but my first big feature story as a newspaper reporter was on a well-known minister in Charlotte, NC. I was so proud when my full-page story ran on Saturday. By Monday morning, I was nervous, stumbling and embarrassed. I had to look my editor (and the minister) in the eyes and explain the only mistake in my story. I broke the news that the pastor was retiring. To my surprise, he wasn’t. I still don’t know how I got that retirement so WRONG!

Yes, stories are a great way to get a laugh. Use your facial expressions, exaggerated gestures/movements, and dialog between characters to surprise your listeners. And don’t forget to give your characters distinct and memorable voices.

Need help getting laughs in your business presentations? Sign up for a Better Speaking Skills free strategy session at https://portercoachyou.com/contact-us  

Do You Want to Make a Quick Connection?

As a presenter, the fastest way to connect with your audience is to show off your five F’s. When you reveal your failures, flaws, fears, frustrations or firsts with your listeners they can see that you have struggled, just like them. Authenticity is a fast track to connecting with people.

When you talk about how you dealt with your five F’s, you give the audience hope that they can also overcome their failures, flaws, fears, frustrations and firsts.

The first time I stood in front of my entire high school, to introduce the speaker at the 1973 Honor Society induction ceremony, the podium was almost taller than me and the microphone stood slightly above my gold granny glasses. I was so afraid that the butterflies in my stomach would fly out of my mouth; I rushed through my introduction and ran off the stage.

My first public speaking experience wasn’t any better for my audience. They could barely hear my soft voice, with the microphone so high above my mouth, and my monotone message was truly forgettable. I have no idea what I said that day!

But your five F’s do not have to make your audience feel sorry for you. Give them a glimpse at what it took to overcome your failures, get comfortable with your flaws, push past your fears, come to terms with your frustrations, and get better than your first attempt.

How did I go from 17-year-old butterfly girl to presentation coach? Well, I’ve invested time and money into improving my public speaking skills. After more than 10 years of training in Toastmasters International, I have taken classes, been certified as a World Class Speaking Coach and given speeches for the last 15 years.

With practice, training and coaching you can get comfortable enough on stage to connect with any audience. Let them know what it took to look like a winner—your five F’s!

For more presentation tips, like the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills/)

4 Ways to Avoid Boring Your Audience

Do you know what people are saying (in their mind) about you when you stand in front of them to give a presentation? They are thinking, “Please don’t let her be boring!”

Your job is simple. DO NOT BORE THEM! What can you do to keep your listeners interested? Use anchors to tie your audience to your presentation. Anchors add energy, increase audience involvement and reduce the risk of giving a dull, boring presentation.

For every main point you make, use an anchor to bring it alive for your audience. Four popular anchors are an anecdote, an analogy, an activity, and an acronym. Here’s how you can keep your audience engaged and make your message more memorable:

• Anecdote – Tell a story that drives home your point. When people remember your story, they’ll remember your point.

• Analogy – Compare your point to something the audience knows about. I like to compare the three parts of a presentation to a three-course meal. The opening is your appetizer, the main message is your entrée and your closing words are like a dessert. Comparisons make your message easier to digest.

• Activity – Have the audience practice what you preach. When your audience participates in an activity, they walk away with a deeper understanding of your message. Activities are a great way to add fun and energy.

• Acronym – Turn your message into an easy-to-remember acronym. For example, I like to make my audiences “T.A.L.L.” (Think, Act, Laugh and Learn).

For more presentation tips, like the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page (facebook.com/BetterSpeakingSkills)

3 Ways You Can Kill a Presentation

Are you guilty of using a “poison P”? Have you ever delivered a business presentation standing behind a lectern or desk, been so serious—you forgot to share your personality with your audience, or read word-for-word from slides or notes?

Don’t worry. I’m a recovering addict with just the right prescription to prevent the three poison P’s: physical roadblocks, too little personality and perfectionism. These poison pills can cut off your audience connection and kill your presentation.

#1 POISON PILL: There’s a physical barrier between you and your audience.
REMEDY: Get as close as possible to your audience. Clear all roadblocks that make it hard to have a conversation with them. I used to love to stand behind the lectern and glance at my notes when I gave speeches at my Toastmasters Club. But the best speakers in our club knew better. They never stood behind the lectern or table. They would walk close to the audience, speak from the heart and look us in the eye.

#2 POISON PILL: You don’t tap into your personality.
REMEDY: Weave your best personality assets into your presentation. Play to your strengths. Do you love dogs? Find a way to mention your passion in your speech. Do you make your friends laugh? Share a funny story with your listeners. Bring your best personality trait on stage with you. You’ll be more interesting, authentic, credible, appealing and fun. You have more energy as a presenter when you show off your personality. And your listeners want to hear something unique about you, your perspective or your subject.

#3 POISON PILL: You’re addicted to the perfection pill.
REMEDY: Forget about perfection. Don’t read your presentation word for word from an iPad, written notes or your slides. Use a conversational delivery style that includes lots of eye contact, interaction with the audience, and little visual contact with your notes/slides. Your audience wants you to explain your message to them, not regurgitate every word you wrote down in your memorized script!

For more presentation tips, like the Better Speaking Skills Facebook page.

Do Your Stories Boost Your Image?

Do you include stories in your business presentations? For years, I shied away from telling stories in my speeches. I didn’t think I could tell a great story. I was right. Then I discovered how to take my stories from good to great. What made the difference?

There are five things I added to breathe life into my stories. Have you ever had a tall, cold glass of Hi-C? That fruit-juice flavored drink leaves a great taste in your mouth! Well there are five C’s that will make your stories as memorable and refreshing as a cold glass of Hi-C!

Great stories, like Star Wars or Black Panther, have the power to capture your imagination. And you can capture the attention and imagination of your audience by using the five C’s of storytelling. They add so much power and passion to your stories, you’ll also get a lift. When you’re known as a great storyteller, you’ll boost your image as a leader, communicator and an expert.

To take your stories from good to great, add these five C’s:

1 – Curiosity – Before you start your story, ask a question that makes your audience curious so they can’t wait to hear what you have to say next. You want them thinking, “Oh please, tell me more”.

2 – Characters – Make your characters believable by describing their appearance, personality and mindset. You want your audience to see themselves and others in your characters.

3 – Conversation – Add conversation between one or more characters. Dialog is a great way to generate a laugh and drive home your point.

4 – Conflict – Make sure your story has a problem or conflict the audience can relate to. Your audience should see themselves in your character(s) struggle to fix their problem.

5 – Carryout message – Summarize the message your story delivers in an easy-to-repeat slogan that is short and catchy (10 words or less). You want your audience to walk away repeating your carryout message or catch phrase.

For more easy-to-use storytelling tips, go to www.portercoachyou.com and sign up for free Better Speaking Skills business presentation tools.