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Effective Speaking: 2 Tips from Arianna Huffington

June 22, 2011 By Gina DeLapa

When you speak for a living and coach others on public speaking, as I do, I guess it’s natural to take notes on delivery as well as content.

Here are two tips you can use right away, which I picked up last week during Arianna Huffington’s keynote at the Internet Retailers Conference & Exhibition in San Diego:

1. Speak from the heart. When you’re passionate about your topic, your excitement can’t not come through. Ms. Huffington’s style was understated compared to that of others — but her convictions, whether you agreed with them or not, were naturally engaging.

2. Use stories to make your points. For example, Ms. Huffington shared how a major newspaper published a scathing review of the Huffington Post, the day it launched. Her message: “Don’t listen to the naysayers.”

Which brings up a third point: Within reason, share your struggles. When you entrust your audience with a part of your life that most people aren’t aware of, you create a more intimate bond. And it makes your audience that much happier for you when they hear of your successes.

Filed Under: Leadership, Presentation Skills, Uncategorized

3 Reasons NOT to End Your Presentation with Q&A

June 17, 2011 By Gina DeLapa

Placing the question-and-answer session at the tail end of a presentation is so common, hardly anyone stops to question the formula. But here are three reasons every speaker should:

When you place the Q&A dead last …

1. You lose control of your message. Instead of your audience remembering your call to action, they remember the Q&A. More often than not, they remember that it went on too long.

2. You lose control of the room. During several sessions at this week’s Internet Retailers Conference & Exhibition, I watched hordes of audience members pack up to leave, as soon as the Q&A started. Why? In their minds, the presentation was over. But the noise and exodus sucked energy out of the room. I’m guessing the commotion unnerved the speaker.

3. Your audience may feel trapped (except for the ones who escape). If the speaker doesn’t put some parameters around it, the Q&A session can feel like a plane that just won’t land.

Better strategy: Signal to your audience that the end is in sight. Say something like, “Before we wrap up, let’s open the floor to a few questions.” Give a similar signal when wrapping up the Q&A. Something like, “One more question … ”

Placing your Q&A second to last keeps you in control of your message. It lets your audience know they’re in good hands, and they won’t be there forever.

One more tip: When you get a question that applies only to the person asking it, offer to answer it one on one, apart from the group’s time.

Filed Under: Leadership, Presentation Skills

7 Mistakes Even Smart Presenters Make

October 29, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

Mistake #1: Having no clear purpose.

Instead: Filter everything in your presentation through a well-defined goal. For example, if you’re giving a sales talk, your goal isn’t simply to cover a list of features and benefits—your goal is to make or advance the sale. 

Mistake #2: Skimping on prep time.

Instead: Practice and prepare much more than you think is necessary. Prep time refers not only to organizing and rehearsing, but also to preparing yourself and setting up the room (plan on about an hour for room setup). Most presenters underestimate the time required in all three areas. The result: missed opportunities, chaos, and lost credibility. Skillful preparation, on the other hand, can transform nervousness into action, and action into success.

Mistake #3: Being in the dark about your audience.

Instead: Find out ahead of time as much about your audience as possible. How much does your audience know about your subject? How do they feel about it? What are their perceptions or misperceptions? How do they feel about you? About each other? What motivates them? The more you learn about your audience, the more strongly you can connect with them, and the more you’ll gain their trust.

Mistake #4: Information overload.

Instead: Leave your audience wanting more—not less.
As the saying goes, “The mind can absorb only what the fanny can endure.” Allow your audience sufficient time to process your information. And remember that no presenter ever lost points for ending a few minutes early.

Mistake #5: Focusing too heavily on good content, and not enough on delivery.

Instead: Find ways to engage your audience. If your content is strong, this should be relatively easy. For example, ask a thought-provoking question. Share a shocking statistic, or draw a powerful analogy. The possibilities are endless. You don’t need to entertain your audience nonstop, but you do need to hold their interest. 

Mistake #6: Sharing too much information, none at all, or the wrong kind.

Instead: Use self-disclosure sparingly, and with purpose. When in doubt, make your audience the hero (and the focus) — not yourself.

Mistake #7: Putting the Q&A dead last.

Instead: Have a powerful conclusion, and put it after your Q&A. For example: “Before we end, I’d like to open up the floor to questions.” Then use your ending to summarize your main points, issue a call to action, or simply leave your audience with the thought you most want them to remember.

Interested in improving your public speaking skills? Our presentation skills training comes in a variety of formats, to help you become the confident, polished presenter you were meant to be. For more information, give us a call, at 858-678-8676. As always, we look forward to working with you!

Filed Under: Presentation Skills, Uncategorized

Presentation Skills Training Quote for the Day

September 1, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

“Audiences are so used to death-by-PowerPoint that they’ve seemingly learned to see it as normal, even if not ideal. However, if you are different—if you exceed expectations and show them that you’ve thought about them, done your homework and know your material, and demonstrated through your actions how much you appreciate being there and that you are there for them—chances are you’ll make an impact and a difference, even if it’s just in the smallest of ways.”

Garr Reynolds, Presentation Zen

Presentation Skills Training makes the difference …

… between merely getting applause and getting results. Let Maestro Consulting Group help you get more of both! Not able to see the above link? You’ll find what you’re looking for at http://maestroconsultinggroup.com/presentation-skills-training/.

Filed Under: Presentation Skills, Quote for the Day, Uncategorized

Presentation Skills Training Quote for the Day

July 22, 2010 By Gina DeLapa

“Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.”

Dorothy Sarnoff

Presentation Skills Training makes the difference …

… between merely getting applause and getting results. Let Maestro Consulting Group help you get both! Not able to see the above link? You’ll find what you’re looking for at http://maestroconsultinggroup.com/presentation-skills-training/.

Filed Under: Presentation Skills, Quote for the Day, Uncategorized
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