by Guila Muir info@guilamuir.com WOW, the pressure on public speakers is great. Speakers and audiences realize that PowerPoint won’t save anyone anymore. The focus now shines on YOU more than ever before. How can you be heard above the crowd? 1. Do your homework. What are your audience’s needs, wants, anxieties, biases, “personality?” What history …
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Articles Tagged ‘Presentation Skills’
Can You Hear Me Now? Three Tips to Rise Above the Crowd
The “Intensified You:” Key to Giving a Great Presentation
by Guila Muir “An ounce of energy is worth a pound of technique”. (Anonymous) When people describe the best speaker they’ve ever seen, the word “energy” always comes up. What are the secrets of exuding energy, vitality, the life force, as a speaker? Be Big Regardless of what size you are, take up more room. …
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How to Blow Your Credibility from the “Get-Go”
When you are speaking in front of a group, do you really want to blow your relationship with the audience immediately? These two common presentation behaviors will help to ensure that you do! Myth #1: You should start a presentation by thanking your audience or your hosts Picture it: You’ve prepared carefully and are about …
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How Do You Know They Know? Designing In-Class Assessment
How serious are you about your students actually learning? Most of us would say, “VERY serious!” Yet many trainers and instructional designers actually have no idea what, and even if, participants have learned by the end of a session. Because trainers operate in organizations and businesses, we typically don’t issue grades. Even in preparing participants …
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So You Want to Do a Seminar!
Are you an entrepreneur or small business owner? Have you been asked to present at a professional conference? Giving a great seminar can increase your business, your status, and your memorability. Yet most professionals don’t feel 100% comfortable with their ability to develop and deliver an effective seminar. Here are 3 tips to ensure your …
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“I Thought I Would Die!” How to Deal With Stage Fright
First, let’s surface what you probably already know: • Americans rank the fear of public speaking far above the fear of death (41% to 19%, respectably.) Way overused by speaking coaches, this statistic was first reported by the London Times in 1973 in a survey of 3,000 Americans. • No one has actually ever died …
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Four Lessons from the Open Water
by Guila Muir info@guilamuir.com How is Public Speaking Like Open Water Swimming?
The Power of the HOOK
by Guila Muir info@guilamuir.com Capturing Your Audience in the First 30 Seconds What’s wrong with these pictures? 1. Helen begins her presentation by introducing herself and telling the participants at some length how happy she is to be with them. She then launches into her content. 2. Bill kicks off his training session by explaining …
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All Presenting is Persuasive
Don’t Do a Data Dump! After stumbling a bit, most presenters are able to name the purpose of any presentation they might give. However, most really stumble when asked if their presentations are meant to persuade anyone of anything.The answer, 99% of the time, is YES. And yet most presenters don’t realize it. As a …
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Five Tips to Present Like a Pro
How to Rise Above the Crowd Over the last five years, I’ve noticed a dramatic change in the field of presentation skills. Increasingly, experts support the idea that being a “good enough” speaker is no longer “good enough.” Mere competency as a speaker is no longer enough to sell your ideas, bring communities together, or …
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So You’ve Been Selected
6 Tips for Conference Presenters “Someone’s got to do something, and it’s just incredibly pitiful that it has to be us.” — Jerry Garcia Some are chosen, some are forced…but in the end, most business professionals present at industry conferences, annual meetings, or other events during the course of their careers. Please allow me to …
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Speakers’ Top 3 Fears… and How to Prevent Them!
Avoid the worst-feared pitfalls of public speaking. Will you be giving a presentation or seminar soon? Many professionals choke up when they begin picturing all that “could go wrong!” To avoid the worst-feared pitfalls of public speaking, you must start with oxygen. Fritz Perls said, “Fear is excitement without the breath.” Breathe! Then, accept and …
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Tips for the “Intensified You”
Does this sound like you? “I’m a fine communicator one-on-one, but put me in front of a group and I just die!” Why is it easier for many of us to present in front of a few people than to a larger audience? Why do many of us believe that some people just “have what …
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