Chris Bonney

A Much Needed Hillary Clinton Makeover

This is a great follow up to my post from yesterday regarding PPT presentations. This is an unsolicited makeover of a Hillary Clinton presentation done by Rick Altman.

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The Truth About Winging It

Are you the type that feels you're better off-the-cuff? Big best man speech coming up and you figure you'll just wing it and that way it will come across more authentic? Important sales meeting next week and you don't want to seem too stiff, so you'll just improv a few of your slides?

This is flawed thinking and, as a rule, leads to failure. If you're a winger, then you may pose the argument that the last time you "wung" it everything was fine and it went great. But the truth is most people don't stand up in the middle of a presentation and scream, "Wow! You're bombing right now!"

Don't fool yourself. The way to come across as genuine as possible is to plan and practice, practice, practice. Think of it like basketball. You practice dribbling, free throws, and your jump shot until you can do them in your sleep. That way on game day when you're in the flow of the game and are forced to read the other guy on the run, you're able to adjust and still hit your jumper with no problem.

Ultimately, what you're trying to do by taking a winging it approach is reduce stress. If I don't practice, then I don't have to think about it, which takes away some stress. If I just get up there and muscle through it, it will then be over and I can move on with my life.

If these are your excuses, then by all means simply pass on the opportunity to speak and give it to someone who understands the power of the well-spoken word.

Photo credit: organicimage

Top 11 List: The Deadliest Public Speaking Mistakes

Did you know most people fear only death above speaking in public?

I spoke to over 100 people at the ASAE Technology Conference in DC last week about association software. Some parts went really well and some very basic things I didn't see coming - and isn't that how it always is? It made me realize that regardless of your experience, you should never take the basics of public speaking for granted.

Whether you speak only at meetings at work or are a teacher or a professional speaker, here are 11 tips to help you avoid a public speaking nightmare.

1. Always arrive at the room you'll be speaking in early. Even if someone is speaking before you, get there early and feel the vibe of the room, imagine yourself at the front of the room presenting. Visualize.

2. Check and double check equipment. If you're not using your own gear, there is always a risk that something is not working right. Test, test, test. "Check 1-2, Check 1-2."

3. Have a copy of your presentation on a jump drive or CD or online somewhere just in case. What if your computer bombs out on you or you drop it on your way through TSA at the airport? You can always find another computer to use, but if you lose that only copy of your PPT, you're sunk.

4. Use a wireless PowerPoint clicker. Needing someone to advance your slides for you or doing it yourself is amateur at best.

5. Confirm what room you will be in and what time you'll be speaking before you get to the venue. Don't take anything for granted.

6. Here's a biggie. If possible, speak to attendees just before you give your speech (or ideally weeks before if the event will allow it) and ask them what they are expecting from your talk. You'll get a wide variety of responses which will give you a flavor for what topics you may need to spend more time on. Also, remember a couple names so that you can mention the people personally during your presentation: "I spoke with Mary from ABC Company earlier and she said..."

7. Do not try to memorize your speech. Understand key points you'd like to discuss and let the flow of the talk, your mood, and the audience dictate how it comes out. If you're concentrating too hard on what to say next you could easily get thrown off track by a question or even a mistimed sneeze by someone in the front row.

8. Nail your segues.  Don't just say, "Now on this slide..." Spend time mastering how you will segue from one slide to another. Nothing provides greater dynamic effect than a nice transition. Don't take this too lightly. This small step alone can make you seem more experienced and professional instantly.

9. Don't panic. If something goes wrong, roll with it. Be self-deprecating. If you fall on your face because you tripped over the mic cable, simply say, "I'm fine folks, no need to worry. The floor broke my fall." You get the idea.

10. Don't continue to look back at the PPT slides on the screen as you talk. Know your presentation well enough so that a simple peripheral glance will let you know you're where you are suppose to be. Don't read the bullets right off the screen. The audience can read them without your help, thank you very much.

11. Have fun. Don't lose sleep before a speech.  Savor the opportunity to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. Imagine yourself 3 hours after the talk when you're with friends and colleagues at a nice restaurant reminiscing about how awesome you did. Good or bad you will be past it, so don't miss the chance to enjoy a unique life experience.

Do you have any public speaking horror stories? Can you think of a #12 for this list?

Here is a great book on the business of public speaking that anyone serious about learning this craft should read.

Next week I'm going to share the one fatal mistake almost every speaker makes. Stay tuned.

Bald Is Bountiful - Part 2

Back in September, I posted on the fact that my hair rising almost an inch and a half from my head must surely disqualify me as a quality public speaker. Sure enough, here are two more guys to prove that a date with the shears is clearly my surest bet. Can you name these two cats?

If you can't name at least one, then you simply aren't trying people.

Bald is Bountiful

I'm reading a great book for anyone who wants to learn from a true veteran how to make it as a public speaker. What the book doesn't explain is that you need to look like Telly to get to the top. Sports Clips should charge extra. Can you name these guys?