tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40012290524751038862024-03-13T17:39:14.315-07:00Public Speaking WorkbenchProviding insight and guidance in the field of public speaking offering general advice on subjects such as voice, movement, writing techniques, using humour correctly etc.. I have worked as a public speaking coach since 2000 and offer a wide range of keynotes, workshops, personal coaching, writing and editing services which can be delivered in person or by correspondence.Christopher Molineuxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12398236610511470470noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-74516826332813284732013-04-18T08:26:00.000-07:002013-04-18T09:50:20.491-07:00Using Humour as a Teaching Tool"You're a comedian?......tell me a joke! That is a line I have consistently heard over the 26 years that I have worked as a comedian. Despite the crippling 1/2 hour days, it's a rewarding job because you get to bring laughter to people and are constantly creating new ideas, but ironically, rarely are there any "jokes". There are many other things that bring amusement and laughter: stories, concepts, wordplay, sarcasm, exaggeration, body language, facial expression, but for most comedians, it's seldom "jokes". This is interesting because it points out just how little we understand about the mechanics of humour. For decades I have been taking it apart like a watch and examining all its giggling bits and it has been a fascinating process.<br />
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It has also been a process that has been extremely valuable in the communication skills and public speaker training I do. One of the reasons that I was hired on to coach the Coca Cola Olympic Torch and Olympic Site teams in 2010 was the natural match between humour and their catch phrase "Open Happiness". Humour helps to grab people's attention, hold their attention, introduce novel concepts and leave them wanting more. It is a form of communication that lends itself beautifully to teaching and at the moment I am very interested in exploring that relationship. I want to hear stories from teachers, coaches and managers about how they have used humour effectively (or ineffectively) while giving instruction to their groups, teams or classes.<br />
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Humour is a uniquely human process, a universal aspect of our ability to communicate that predates the spoken word. The health and social benefits of laughter and smiling, the creation of a relaxed cooperative classroom environment, the decline in authoritarian teaching methods, the ability to increase student engagement and the positive framing of the educational experience effected by humour are all well documented but there are less considered points that are of great practical value:<br />
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1 - Humour began as a system that enabled human beings to become aware of breaks in patterns. At<br />
it's root it is a pattern recognition system that helps us to organize our world. Fuelled by the psychological, physiological and social rewards of laughter and smiling it solidified itself as a cornerstone in the the development of our processes of learning.<br />
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2 - While humour predates speech and the written word, it adapted to them and became a method of examination and criticism. Humour functions, deliberately or accidentally, as commentary. To look at something in a "funny" way, is to look at it from a different perspective. Humour reframes our outlook on a subject and, as a result, gives us a broader and more complete understanding.<br />
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3 - Humour does not reside entirely in "jokes" and does not have to be a distraction or diversion from the subject being taught. It should, instead, be combined with the subject and used as a tool of examination and understanding that has the added benefits of engaging students and making information more memorable.<br />
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<br />
4 - Humour has the potential to be instructive on the subject of emotional intelligence. To begin with, the teacher is put in a position where they have to learn to empathize with the students in order to utilize humour effectively. The assorted psychological motivators in aggressive, racist, sexist etc, humour are also more easily understood when humour's fundamental mechanisms are taught because the students are able to see the different reasons why people think of something as "funny".<br />
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The roots of humour have a fundamental relationship it has with communication, bonding, and the organization of knowledge. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the nature, functions, and methods of humour educators can create a more positive, productive and progressive learning environment.<br />
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So let me hear your stories!!! I would love to hear how you have used or seen humour used by others as a tool in instruction. Real life examples of the connection between HAHA! and AHA!. Comedy as revelation and revealer, as the ultimate trickster teacher. Please do pass this along to as many people as you can who you feel might be inclined to contribute.<br />
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A million tiny thanks.........Christopher <br />
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Christopher MolineuxHumour Expert / Coach / Comedian<a href="http://laughlearnlead.com/">LaughLearnLead.com</a> <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-6344950374178697512009-08-20T10:51:00.000-07:002009-08-21T18:46:22.483-07:00Do I make myself clear? - pt. 1 - pace<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnrcAYowdidNciEYjPWVeMPkCsjYx5X1gkcE6Pu1LcYYA_XspG_bDsWD9sOZTcm786toUap-I52TXOKBB0bXjqPjnuhoZC1vDk-Xo8_cUiKobFykFX8HqqtLIYtspwhZW7hDwrUchzfAH/s1600-h/speed.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnrcAYowdidNciEYjPWVeMPkCsjYx5X1gkcE6Pu1LcYYA_XspG_bDsWD9sOZTcm786toUap-I52TXOKBB0bXjqPjnuhoZC1vDk-Xo8_cUiKobFykFX8HqqtLIYtspwhZW7hDwrUchzfAH/s200/speed.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372120011544451794" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">It's nigh on impossible to deliver a successful speech if people don't understand what you are saying and are straining to hear/understand you (I invite you to picture their squinting, confused faces) In addition your crowd will certainly not be put into a mindset that is favourable to you if you put them in this position. All the effort put into mastering your subject and organizing your materials will be wasted. There are several factors that can contribute to your clarity in a presentation but I would like to focus on jut one at the moment: pace. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Speaking too quickly is a fault that is not limited to people who are feeling nervous and pressured. Even the most relaxed and confident speakers can fall into it's trap, in fact, sometimes it is their relaxed nature that gets them into trouble. The relaxed speaker can have the habit of speaking as they would in casual conversation and social speech and presentation speech are related but they are not identical twins by any means. When you are speaking to somebody one-on-one you are very aware of the exact level of attention that you are recieving and it is generally fairly high. As a result you can still be well understood even if you speak more quickly, and in a manner that is generally more slack in it's tones, shifts and emphasis (more on those in the next blog-post). If the same technique is employed with a large group of people the results will often be less than satisfactory because you are dealing with varying levels of attention and comprehension. Then, of course, there is the tense, speaker whose nervous energy inevitably manifests itself in a quicker pace, which in turn makes the speech that much more difficult to deliver.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Now, I can hear you saying (at a moderate pace) "well then, I guess it's a good idea to slow down a little", but unfortunately that does not sum up the solution, only the idea behind it. If you know that you have a speed problem you can simply tell yourself to slow down when delivering a speech, but this probably won't be much help. Typically what happens is that people in this situation begin at a good pace but then "forget to remember" to slow down, or lose track of where they are for a moment which increases their level of stress and speeds them up. When their pace starts picking up they notice the increase and that is, in itself, stressfull, which causes them to speed up and the ugly cycle continues it's merry spin. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">The problem lies in the fact that "slowing down" is just an idea and people need something more tangible and immediate to help them. If there was a screen in front of you that had your words per minute rate on it, that would be likely do the trick but I don't foresee the installation of such screens in conference rooms any time soon. Fortunately there is an internal method that you can use that is even more effective and far more portable. The trick is to enunciate just a little bit more than you do in casual speech - it's that easy. Now, this has to be done within limits. You don't want to sound like Captain Picard at every meeting. What makes enunciation different from simply telling yourself to slow down is the fact that enunciation is something that you can actually feel: it is physical. The way you shape and move your mouth is altered when you enunciate. Your mouth can set itself to work in a specific way and your mind knows exactly what this way is through physical memory. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;">Try it the next time you speak. Just give a pinch more enuciation as you go through your speech and you will see how it slows your pace. In fact try it right now......try at this very moment to say this sentence really quickly and with profound enunciation..... I think you will see (and hear) my point; your pace is naturally slowed. The obvious benefit that occurs along with the slackening of pace is the fact that you are actually saying each word more clearly when you enunciate, so ironically, if you want to speak more clearly you should speak more clearly. Have I made myself clear?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b>www.laughlearnlead.com</b></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-89773518254960079992009-07-29T11:41:00.000-07:002009-07-29T12:25:44.684-07:00Down with "success-speak"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcgYWjD8hvDJLg_9Jhw6ZdaDZkt58zUOxvnPM_qEY6VtKOm7-jyANrPRhdmqMEHPzoTy9wHmtdu9WLLaFWFn8KF6WpWZfVkPAyajz5b72rPDSDqlZKVWOs9JvR45jI_szxWHi0WcRcea3/s1600-h/pushy-salesman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIcgYWjD8hvDJLg_9Jhw6ZdaDZkt58zUOxvnPM_qEY6VtKOm7-jyANrPRhdmqMEHPzoTy9wHmtdu9WLLaFWFn8KF6WpWZfVkPAyajz5b72rPDSDqlZKVWOs9JvR45jI_szxWHi0WcRcea3/s200/pushy-salesman.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363965313491225474" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Much of the coaching I do involves helping people to learn skills and techniques to help them improve as public speakers but sometimes it happens that unlearning things shows itself to be more of a challenge than learning them. Let me explain. </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">There are a vast array of products and services available to people who wish to improve their public speaking ability and many of them are very good - I offer a heartfelt thanks to all those people who provide them. Much of what is available, however, is limited, misguided or flat-out bad. The main complaint I have to lodge is that these products and services create a style of presentation that while, efficient and practical, is ultimately empty and inhuman; a kind of "success-speak". This style of speaking lies somewhere between a radio dj and the stereotype of a used-car salesperson. These people know how to engage a crowd, how to put their points across and are frequently successful in business as a result. The question you might well ask is, "if it works, why do you have a problem with it?"</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Alright, let's cut right to the chase. I do not coach people to help them earn more money, I coach them to give them a better understanding of what factors define the way they put together ideas and express them and then help them to take control of those factors and become better communicators. If they choose to use this power of expression to earn more money, which they certainly can, that's fine, if not, that's fine too. There are many other avenues they could explore relating to their creative aspirations and personal life as well. In fact, it may just be that by becoming a better communicator you will finally have the ability to express the fact that you truly hate the life that you live with your high paying job. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;">Going back to my original point of "unlearning"; I find it is often far more difficult to get people to drop the robotic "success-speak" habits than to teach them new information. A good rule to remember for most situations is to make sure that your speaking style is not that different from the way you would speak privately to good friends, not in content, but in tone and sincerity. We have enough technology to master in our lives without turning ourselves into robots so down with "success-speak" and up with the expressive person you really are.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666600;">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#666666;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-10714450593492946342009-07-07T18:41:00.000-07:002009-07-07T18:46:36.578-07:00Too casual or not too casual?<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One of the greatest gifts that a speaker can possess is to be themselves; to speak in their own voice without being burdened by a constructed or artificial style. For some people this comes naturally, for others it takes time to define and learn to control the factors that define how the construct and deliver a speech. One interesting problem that I sometimes see is people who are comfortable and relaxed when they speak but so much so, it has actually created problems for them. What I’d like to do is briefly examine some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a casual style when public speaking.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">THE ADVANTAGES:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The advantages of a casual style of speaking are fairly well documented and many people spend a great deal of time trying to perfect this approach. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A casual style:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 - </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">shows that you are comfortable and relaxed and puts your audience at ease.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">allows you to communicate in a genuine manner</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">can help to diffuse tension and/or discontent in your audience</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">means that the crowd feels as though they are listening to a real person and not just a factoid pitchperson</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">THE DISADVANTAGES:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The disadvantages vary from person to person depending on how they demonstrate a “casual” style but here are just a few possible pitfalls. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A casual style:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">can often be delivered in a manner of speech that’s slightly faster and looser – and therefore content and emphasis can be lost.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">often ignores important devices that can be used to make your point – (eg: repetition, lists etc.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">can cause you to lose your sense of authority. While you seldom want to push a crowd around, you do want to put across that you are an authority on your subject.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4 -</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">can lead people to misinterpret your opinions or emotions. Sometimes people will see a casual attitude as one belonging to someone who does not really care about their topic.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the end it is important to remember that while your audience does want to see “the real you” </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">they also want to hear a well delivered speech so there is far more too it than just settling in and getting comfortable. Getting the full benefit from a more casual approach can only be achieved if you are meeting the broader objectives of your presentation so bear them in mind and try to maintain the best balance possible.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanks – let me know if you have any questions and …. stay loose,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Christopher</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">n.b. – my new speaker coaching website is now up at: </span></span><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><a href="http://www.laughlearnlead.com/"><span style="color:gray;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">http://www.laughlearnlead.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:";color:gray;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span style="font-family:";color:olive;"><a href="http://twitter.com/chrismolineux"><span style="color:olive;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">http://twitter.com/chrismolineux</span></span></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-34790956544411240802009-06-01T10:10:00.000-07:002009-06-01T10:59:51.973-07:00End your fear of public speaking - part 3 - memory<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Memorizing your material is one of those obstacles that simply cannot be avoided without actually reading it directly from the page or screen but there are ways of making the process a little easier. How easy or difficult a speech is to remember often has a great deal to do with the methods that have been used to put it together. As was mentioned in the previous blog "</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; "><a href="http://psworkbench.blogspot.com/2009/05/end-your-fear-of-public-speaking-part-2.html" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">End your fear of public speaking - Part 2 – “Tricks”"</span></span></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><a href="http://psworkbench.blogspot.com/2009/05/end-your-fear-of-public-speaking-part-2.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">http://psworkbench.blogspot.com/2009/05/end-your-fear-of-public-speaking-part-2.html</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">determining and using the connections to the material that you have and the style that fits you best will help you to recall things more easily. In particular the use of the experiential is a tool of memory - telling stories and relating characters. People who have greater difficulty with memory-work are well advised to lean on this style of speaking because it involves recollection rather than remembering. You are not learning something new, you are merely relating something that you aleady know and have simply put into a specific context to make the points you need to make. I have done quite a bit of work with people with different cognitive impairments including ADHD (ADD) who have struggled with memory work, especially in a logical framework, but can tell stories with great ease.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Aside from this stylistic angle there are some specific tactics that you can employ that can be very helpful:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">1 - Audio recordings </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> Recording yourself practicing a speech and then listening to the recording is also an effective aid to memory. The recording is remembered in a completely different way than the written words and this will also give a sense of which words and phrases are most effective, how your voice sounds, and if your points are being made clearly. Digital audio recorders are readily available, small, cheap and easy to use, take advantage of them. Once you have the recorder you can then use it to record the speeches that you make which is useful to continue to improve the speech and sharpen your skills in general.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">2: Conversation </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> You can also take parts of your speech out for a walk before you actually deliver the speech, meaning, try to weave some of it into some kind of conversation. I realize that this isn't always possible if you deal with highly technical subjects and such, but often it is possible and you should try it. It helps to get you more comfortable speaking on the subject, delivering specific lines/ideas and also gives you some insight into how they might be received. This will help to give your speech a more natural and less "written" style and there is also the additional benefit of hearing other peoples opinions of the topic - you may even get some new phrases or ideas from them.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">3: Reference card </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Having a full copy of your speech is a good idea for most people but trying to actually remember it word for word can be torture. It's a good idea to become really familiar with the speech as a whole and then get a cue card and write down a list of the main points in the correct order. If you can memorize that list then even if you lose your way and forget a sentence or two you will never actually be lost, and it's not that hard to remember a list of a dozen or so words. If you want you can write the "bow tie" that was discussed in the previous blog down on a second card. These two cards have all the most important information - you can carry them in your back pocket and refresh your memory at any time.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I hope you find these tips helpful - please let me know if you have any questions and, while we are on the subject of memory, please don't forget that I am always happy to shop up and do keynotes/workshops for your event and I can do coaching for anyone,anywhere by reviewing your video footage and script(s)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;font-family:arial;font-size:17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;font-family:arial;font-size:17px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 23px;font-family:arial;font-size:17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; font-family:arial;font-size:17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px; font-family:arial;font-size:17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> http://twitter.com/chrismolineux</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-24882074237913933692009-05-18T08:31:00.001-07:002009-06-01T11:00:10.714-07:00When does "competent" become an insult?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Thanks for the feedback on my series on the fear of public speaking, I have just completed the first volume an audio series "Ending your fear of public speaking" which will be for sale on my site and on itunes soon. This last weekend I did a keynote and two workshops for the Toastmasters district 21 conference in Whistler B.C. and I have been asked to train the Coca Cola team that will accompany the Olympic torch in 2010, so life is busy.I will continue with my series on eliminating the fear of public speaking shortly but would like to do something a little more interactive right now and hear some of your opinions.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Practicing a speech is often a good idea but it is difficult to enjoy a speech that sounds practiced. This is also true with different strategies and techniques that are used within a speech. I sometimes see people deliver speeches that are very tight and well packaged and follow a lot of the book advice that is out there but far from being impressed, I'm actually put off. I would rather see someone fumble through their content, but in a very genuine way. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">So at what point is it that compentence becomes a liability and all those skill sets and methods hold you down instead of building you up? I'd like to know your opinions and hear your stories on the subject. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Thanks! Chris</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span></div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-10466927559545964572009-05-10T20:05:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:00:25.104-07:00End your fear of public speaking - Part 2 – “Tricks”<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In the last blog I covered some of the things to consider before you even start writing your speech – things that will help you to determine how to write a speech that will really suit your own style and personality and…..be easy to remember. One thing that was covered was the fact that it is important to define the points that you need to make - I’d now like to move on to a few simple tricks that you can use when you are actually writing a speech that will help make those points clearer, stronger and yes…. easier to remember. The idea is to make a speech that you really connect with so you have greater confidence in it, can deliver it with conviction and can retain and relate it with ease.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">It is interesting to note that I use the term “easy to remember”. There is single word that can be used instead of a phrase: memorable, but memorable seems to have a different connotation that “easy to remember”. Memorable seems to refer to the point of view of the listener while easy to remember refers to the person delivering the speech. There is a value to be gained from the association between the two. While a speech that is easy to remember may not necessarily be memorable, a memorable speech is usually easy to remember and if you design your speech to be memorable you’ll have an easier time remembering it. It’s a win in two directions.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Trick #1 – Points and Themes</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">While this may sound like basic structure rather than a trick but the trick lies in not in the use but the emphasis - pay real attention to the points and themes in your speech and then push them when you are actually delivering the speech. At all times your audience is asking, consciously or sub-consciously “what’s your point?”</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">So make sure you always let them know what your point is. If you are giving out a long list of facts, or telling a long story, tell them why. A theme is basically a substructure that can contain one or many points. Some types of themes include:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">a)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Analogies –</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">great for providing clarity and a fresh perspective</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">b)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Stories – good for engaging crowds and giving context</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">c)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Referring to characters – not for everybody, but this can be very effective</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">d)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Catch-phrases </span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">- a perennial favourite for good reason</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">e)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Summarized ideas – e.g.: things run in cycles</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Trick #2 Repetition</span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">At first it might seem like repetition is something you should avoid in a speech. You don’t want to sound like you are just repeating yourself over and over, or appear as though you forgot that you just said the same thing a moment ago. Repetition, when it’s used deliberately can be very useful. Think of some of the most famous speeches in history, most of them relied heavily on repetition. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">“ We will fight them on the beaches, we will fight them with growing strength and growing confidence in the air, we will fight them in the fields and in the hills ……”</span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Identify some of the places in your speech that really deserve emphasis and then determine which word or phrase to repeat. Sometimes you can go one step further with this and use trick #3.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Trick #3</span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Catch-phrases and monikers</span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Aside from providing structure for themes catch phrases are great things to use in general. They stick in peoples minds, lend themselves to repetition and can also provide a pinch of humour every now and then. You don’t have to be any great wordsmith to come up with a catch phrase, don’t be afraid to use something that’s well known, (use it or lose it, let sleeping dogs lie etc.) the cliché is permissible when used as a catch phrase to put a point across and if you have followed the advice in the previous blog you will have a genuine connection with your material which is the most important thing. Having said that, if you can create something really original, even better… go for it. A moniker similar to a catch phrase but is a substitute name for something. You might not use the word moniker but you use monikers – “the head honcho” is a moniker. A good moniker can be memorable and also sum up the essence of something </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Trick #4 – The Bow-tie</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The bow-tie refers to the summary that occurs at the end of a speech that brings together all the main points that you want to leave your audience with. It should be more than just a summary though. Really pay attention and put some extra effort into crafting this section because it will serve not only as a reminder to your audience of all your main points but also as a reminder to </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">you.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> When you are practising your speech make specific reference to really remembering this section because if you have that solidly in your mind you can always refer to it and it will connect you with all the most important parts of your speech. A good bow-tie is also advisable because it gives some polish to a speech and can make you look like a real pro – at the crucial point, right at the end.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">These are just a few ideas to take note of. They may just sound like common sense but pay attention to them and they will pay real dividends providing you with a presentation that is both memorable and….. easy to remember.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">chrismolineux</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-72291676938350508642009-05-04T11:32:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:01:11.438-07:00End your fear of public speaking – part 1<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-style: italic;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">I had quite a bit of interest in my blogpost "The imaginary fear of public speaking" where I addressed the subject in a general way.I would now like to start a series that covers some practical solutions to this all too common concern.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">One of the greatest fears that people have regarding speaking in public is forgetting what they are going to say. To be standing up in front of a group of people and not having a clue what the next word, the next sentence, the next idea, is supposed to be. Just standing there silent and frozen …… nobody wants that. The standard method people have to deal with this is to write their script and then try desperately to remember it word for word. This process is often a real trial and made all the more difficult by not considering certain aspects of the way that the speech has been put together. There a few simple strategies that will help you produce a speech that is easier to remember and truer to your own personality and views.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">There are two sources of knowledge that you can draw on to ensure that you are never lost in the middle of a speech: knowledge of the material and knowledge of the script.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">While I can’t teach you how to improve the knowledge of your material I can point out that understanding the nature of your knowledge of the material will help you with the process of writing and delivery. The first step of this process is all about defining your connection with the material. Some people are fortunate enough to speak about subjects that feel truly passionate about, but not all of us are that lucky. Quite often we find ourselves speaking about dry subjects that we are sick of hearing about ourselves. To a certain degree it’s unavoidable, but you can make the best of a bad situation.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Start of by clearly defining the exact information that must be put across and the exact message(s) that this information is intended to convey. Strip it down to the essentials and if you are still information heavy, consider transferring some of the details to powerpoint or printed material that your audience has at their table. Once this is done you should then think about the connection(s) that you have with the material at hand.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">a)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Is there an underlying idea or concept behind the information that you can point out, sum up or even attach a catchphrase to? If so, write it down and then harness that potential in your speech. Repetition of main points and the use of monikers and catch-phrases make material more memorable to both you and your audience.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18.0pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">b)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Are there aspects of it that you feel more strongly about? Even the driest subjects usually involve some emotional content, even if it is just feeling passionate about an idea or technology involved. Some people communicate very well by drawing on their emotional attachments to a subject, if you feel you are one of those people then summarize your emotional attachment to the material and bear it in mind while you are writing your presentation.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:18.0pt"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list 36.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">c)</span></span></span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Have you had experiences that relate to the ideas and subjects at hand? If so, consider using them. People have a natural tendency to organize a speech with a purely logical framework: get the information/ideas – explain them logically to the audience. The problem with this is, that not all people communicate most effectively in a logical framework. Some people relate things well through experience which can involve telling stories, or referring to characters. When relating stories, make sure to be careful to stay very close to the point you are trying to make – is it relevant or is it gone – but consider the use of stories/experiences. Think about whether you like relate to things through stories when talking to friends, if you do, then consider how to use this in your presentations. Define your strengths and work with them.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">These is just a rough outline of a few beginning steps – I will be back with more on the blog soon, and I am always more than happy to work with individuals or groups in greater detail – stay in touch and …. thanks!</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:arial;font-size:18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span></p> <script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-30551612800050010462009-04-26T15:39:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:01:29.963-07:00How comedy can change your life ...... episode 3<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I ended the last blogpost by mentioning that I provide the participants in the workshop with a series of questions and get them to present the answers so I can find out more about them and observe how they assemble and communicate their ideas. I typically ask about 8 questions which are taken from a wide selection that I am always adding to. The questions are not of a skill testing nature; there are no wrong answers and there is little preparation required.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Some of the questions ask for direct information about the person:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“What nicknames have you had and what is the story behind them” </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Some of the questions are more abstracted:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“What inanimate object would you most like to be”</span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Some of the questions are designed to elicit attitudes and opinions:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“What’s the most frustrating thing about the modern world”</span></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The answers are to be presented rather than simply read out. While no-one is expected to turn the presentation into a full-blown comedy extravaganza there should be a little verve put into it, all depending, of course, on the personality of the person who is answering the questions. In some cases the raw information given with each answer is of value, and sometimes the method of construction and/or the style of delivery is more important. While there is too much involved this process to give a complete summary of it here, I will use the three cited questions to help give you some idea of what can be involved.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><u><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“What nicknames have you had and what is the story behind them” </span></span></span></u></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The answers given to this question sometimes relate only to simple rhyming words but more frequently they will give information about the person’s personality and/or interests, how other people perceive them, and their reactions to that perception. Nicknames can sometimes be indicative of another side of someone’s personality and background, and having a group share nicknames, not only brings them greater understanding and familiarity, but it often has an amusing side as well. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“What inanimate object would you most like to be”</span></span></span></u></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This is a much more psychologically driven question. Some of the most typical answer categories are:</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">1 - </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the kinaesthetic:</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> a bean-bag chair, a pillow</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">2 - </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the logical</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: a satellite, a television (“so people want to see me and I can be entertaining and different all the time”)</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">3 – </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the sexual</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">: a bra, Mel Gibsons saddle</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">4 – </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">the poetic:</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> a rock, a tree</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This is a very short list of possible types of responses and the answers to this question are unavoidably revealing of a person’s character and the nature of their value systems. This is directly relevant to the way they construct ideas and speech. Someone who is very logical will relate very differently to a subject than someone who is very poetic and/or kinaesthetic etc. etc.. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">“What’s the most frustrating thing about the modern world”</span></span></span></u></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">This is a question that revolves around emotion and it gives people a chance to show how they express emotion. Some people are frustrated about ideological things, others are frustrated by very specific things. Some people will relate to actual events, some will be very impassioned and others very logical and, ironically, almost devoid of what one would call “frustration”. Emotional content can be a defining and powerful aspect in communication skills and comedy in particular. Attitude and emotion can create comedy with very little script and knowing how people deliver emotional content gives a clearer picture of what type of comedy someone may be suited to writing and presenting.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">There are many other questions which intended to shine a light in many directions. After seeing the answers to a series of questions delivered I can determine what type of constructions and deliveries people are most inclined towards. Some should write construct things logically – idea based comedy full of observations and examples. Some should relate things through experiences and characters. Some should use emotion, some should use abstraction and often people will have a blend of many things.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Aside from what is gleaned from the content, there is also the more basic analysis of the way each person moves, uses facial expressions, how they use their voice, noticing if they relate to things through story and/or character, how they make and use eye contact and much more. The factors that make up each persons communication style and technique are numerous, but they can be isolated and identified which helps to show people the tools and traits they are working with. </span></span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Reading</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> and assessing these characteristics and potentials is, quite honestly, one of the great joys I have in my work. Students can be aware of some of the things that are pointed out but there are always things that are new and surprising to them and seeing people light up from recognizing and understanding these aspects of themselves is both fun and rewarding for myself and the other students.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Once this analysis is completed I can guide students as to how to write and present comedy in a way that will suit them and, thus, be more real and effective in front of a crowd. It is fairly self evident how the process I have been outlining translates into better communication/public speaking skills and in some ways the main question that may remain in the mind of the reader is “where’s the funny part?”. The reason that you haven’t been reading a lot of funny examples in this blogpost is because the funny is different for each personality and for each group. The focus is on comedy and it comes out consistently as all the other learning takes place but I can’t relate exactly what it is to you because it is different every time. Humour is the most human of activities and this workshop is intended to examine and enhance this human element which for the benefit the individuals as well as the group.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Any questions?</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">http://twitter.com/</span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left- font-weight: bold; color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p> <script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-75905083292211263112009-04-20T12:50:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:01:52.163-07:00How comedy can change your life (part 2)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">To those of you who read part 1, welcome back! To those who have not, please do take a look at that as well, but do feel free to read the second part first.<br /><br />The comedy workshops that I put on are designed to achieve three main objectives in an enjoyable and engaging way:<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">1 – To fundamentally improve each participants public speaking skills<br />2 – To strengthen the bonds and mutual understanding of the group<br />3 – To enable people to identify and enhance their creative potential<br /></span><br />I like to work with groups between 4 and 10 people, so I can really focus on everybody individually. I begin by discussing some basics of comic theory which provides some structure to start de-mystifying what comedy is and shows how humour can be used to illuminate or to obscure. Some of this material examines what stand-up comedy is not.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1 – It is not about trying to make people laugh </span>– comedy should be predicated on you, not the crowd. Define your own sense of humour and figure out how to make the most of it.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">2 – It is not about trying to find what is funny</span> – usually comedy material is written about things that interest you for whatever reason……and you learn to make them funny. Nothing stifles comedy creativity faster than “looking for stuff that’s funny”<br /><br />After this I discuss how to take control of the environments people speak in; covering printed materials, taking control of room layouts, stage setups and introductions<br /><br />(for more on this see my blogpost: “Before you’ve even said a word” http://psworkbench.blogspot.com/2009/03/before-youve-even-said-word.html )<br /><br />The issues of making the most of lighting and the advantages that can be gained through understanding sound systems are also given consideration.<br /><br />After this point the workshop takes on a far more interactive dynamic. The participants answer a series of questions that are given out in advance. The answers are given in a presented format rather than just reading them out. This gives me a chance to find out more about the people involved and see how they present themselves. In this section I am able to find out how people move, how they use expressions and body language and how they actually put their ideas together and express them. Each persons’ presentation is reviewed afterwards by myself and by the others in the group, so the insights that are gained are shared amongst all those involved. It’s also important to remember that this workshop revolves around comedy so the mood is always positive, observational and constructive without a harsh critical edge. Having worked as a comedian for so many years means that even the most involved of subjects is granted levity and this makes for a truly fruitful teaching environment.<br /><br />What are these questions and what types of things can be learned from the presented answers? Well… that my friend, will be part of what will come to be known as “part 3” – stay tuned and thanks ----- please do feel free to post any comments or questions. </span></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left- font-weight: bold; color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span><br /></span></span><br /></div> <script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-33007096822342611042009-04-12T10:33:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:02:18.053-07:00How comedy can change your life - (part 1)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Comedy is a mystified thing. When people find out that I teach stand-up, the standard question posed is: can you really do that? It has been said by some that attempting to disassemble and understand comedy is like doing the same with a frog: you cannot capture it's essence and it dies in the process of trying. If that sentiment was originated by a city dweller than it can safely be called an urban myth. While humour is subjective and each individuals' sense of humour unique, it can most certainly be understood and to a great extent defined. I have decided to write this blog-post in order to make clear some of the benefits of understanding how you create and express comedy and how my comedy workshops can be of great value to your company or group.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I began working as a stand-up comedian in 1986, and have had the good fortune to work with people such as Robin Williams, Jim Carrey and Ellen Degeneres and have performed across Canada, the U.S., the Carribbean and the UK. In 1998 I began teaching stand-up and I realized fairly quickly that I was, essentially, teaching people how to put together their ideas and express them in public so I made the transition to coaching people in public speaking, just purely, the art of public speaking. For years people had suggested that I speak on the subject of "humour in the workplace" but I felt no desire to tell people that if they gave their photocopier a name and wore a Hawaiian shirt every third Thursday they would enjoy their soul-draining job. Let it be said that what I do does not fall under the traditional category of "humour in the workplace". </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The finest joke that humour plays is that is disguises itself as something unimportant; as a joke. It is a most effective disguise, and aside from a handful of theorists and those in the world who simply revel in being positive about everything there are few who gain from the all the value that humour has to offer. Aside the the positive and much publicized effects of laughter and social bonding there is the reality that comedy is an examination, an investigation, a method of understanding the world. If I choose to write a joke about something I am examining the subject in a uniquely personal way and often that examination can yield interesting results. In Arthur Koestler 's outstanding book "The Act of Creation" he draws parallels between scientific discovery, poetic revelation and comic punchline - all three use an original perspective to come to a "eureka!" moment. This point of view flies in the face of comedy as a "joke" and it presents a wealth of opportunities for those willing to take them.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">What I am interested in is the idea of getting people to understand and harness this potential for something powerful and productive in life and/or business if indeed, business can be described as something distinct from life. By watching people live and on video I seperate the strands that make up who they are, comedically and in other ways as well, and help to give them a sense of what specifics can be controlled and used to maximum potential. In a group setting there are added benefits that come from camaraderie and mutual understanding. In the next blogpost I will go into the structure of the comedy workshops that I offer and how they can fit in with and benefit your own situation. In the meantime I welcome any and all questions on the subject ....... hmmmm?</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:arial;font-size:18px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:arial;font-size:18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;font-size:18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"> http://twitter.com/chrismolineux</span></span></div> <script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-10413470294923404722009-04-06T10:39:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:02:42.237-07:00The imaginary fear of public speaking<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">The word that is most synonymous with public speaking is fear - an odd word for an activity that so rarely causes death or bloodshed. Why is there so much terror involved? What is it that brings on the pounding heart, sweaty palms, bodily shaking, and the trademark trembling voice? Here are three of the most common reasons that people cite as contributing to their fear of speaking in public.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Eye Contact </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Eye contact is a powerful thing. If someone walks by you on the street and locks eyes until they completely pass you by that’s a hostile act …… unless it’s accompanied by a smile. The smile has the power to change the context. Similarly many speakers and entertainment turn the power of eye contact into a truly positive thing.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">So the message is that eye contact has impact, but it can be made positive rather than negative.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Shyness</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Some people have a shy side and speaking in public brings that side out. The truth of the matter is that it is not the act of speaking that brings out the shyness, it is the person who makes the decision to be shy. Shyness is a learned condition just as the word “ow” is a learned word. It can be held at a deep and unconscious level but it is learned and it can be unlearned as long as the person is willing to do some unlearning.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Saying the wrong thing</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">No-one wants to say the wrong thing and that driving desire to stay on track can cause many presenters to fumble, stumble and crumble. We take this to be normal and reasonable. What is interesting that when you are talking to someone at dinner or a social event you also want to avoid saying the wrong thing but people don’t usually disintegrate at dinner parties. Wanting to avoid saying the wrong thing is not a fundamental pressure that is a constant element of public speaking it is simply something that we choose to create in the situation. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">There are many other aspects connected to fear and public speaking that I cannot cover in the space of a blog but the over-riding question is: are any of these fears legitimate and/or insurmountable? The simple answer is that while fear is too complex a human emotion to be dealt any definitive pronouncements, the fear of speaking in public is no more legitimate than the fear of driving a car. As long as they are willing, people can be cured of the fear of public speaking, and it can often be done quickly and easily. How this is done depends on the individual and a wide variety of details, but in most circumstances demystifying the subject and applying simple techniques can take people past this curious fear and to a point where speaking in public is easily done and (shock!) enjoyable. </span></span></span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">http://twitter.com/</span></span></span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-bottom- color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-36036537421872461922009-04-01T13:51:00.000-07:002009-04-01T14:01:15.569-07:00Backyard Workshop<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Hello all,</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I will have more posts coming up shortly - many thanks for you support and comments. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For those of you in the Vancouver area:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> I have a workshop coming up at U.B.C. on Sunday, April 19th. I do these local workshops twice a year and refer to them as my "Backyard Workshops" and they are offered at a substantial discount. The total class size is limited to 10 so if you are interested please let me know as soon as possible. Details are below.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For those of you not from the Vancouver area:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Love to come to your area to do a workshop for your group or company - give me a call at 604-628-3466.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">All fine things</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Christopher</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; "><p><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> PUBLIC SPEAKING WORKSHOP </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH</span></span></span></span></span></b></p><p></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><span style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><b><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A full-day workshop that provides a complete examination of your own personal style of public speaking. Small class size (max. 10) provides one-on-one coaching that will show you the specific factors that define you as a speaker and explain how to take control of them and make the most of your skills.</span></span></span></span></i></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style=""></span></span></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><i><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></i></b></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">·</span></span></span><span><span style=""><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">How to overcome fear and/or shyness</span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">·</span></span></span><span><span style=""><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">How to write a speech that suits your character</span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">·</span></span></span><span><span style=""><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">How to find your “voice” and take control of it</span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; "><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">·</span></span></span><span><span style=""><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><b><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">How to use humour naturally and effectively</span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt; "><span style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">CHRIS MOLINEUX HAS BEEN WORKING AS A PROFESSIONAL COMEDIAN SINCE 1986 AND PERFORMED AT “JUST FOR LAUGHS”. </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">HE HAS WORKED AS A PUBLIC-SPEAKING COACH SINCE 2000 AND HIS CLIENTS INCLUDE:</span></span></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; "><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">LG * TOASTMASTERS * TD </span></span></span></span></b><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">CANADA</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> TRUST * SME * SKYWORKS * BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMENS NETWORK * AND MANY MORE</span></span></span></span></b></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">SUNDAY, APRIL 19</span></span></span><sup><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">TH</span></span></span></span></sup><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">- </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></b><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">11 A</span></span></span></span></b><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">.M. – 5 P.M.</span></span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span style=""></span></span></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">COST: $80</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">LOCATION: U.B.C.</span></span></span></span></b></p><p><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> FOR DETAILS AND REGISTRATION:TEL:</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">604-628-</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><wbr>3466</span></span></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center; "><b><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">E-MAIL: </span></span></span><a href="mailto:INFO@LAUGHLEARNLEAD.COM" target="_blank" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">INFO@LAUGHLEARNLEAD.COM</span></span></span></a></span></b></p></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-66820351822418304192009-03-26T14:35:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:03:35.178-07:00What are you talking about?<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:18px;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">So..... you have managed to get to the point where you can speak clearly and confidently in front of your crowds, engage, amuse and inform them and leave them wanting more. Yet somehow, in the rush of all this success, you have managed to fail: fail to see the point.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A great presentation is about more than the just the presentation itself, it is about its effect on the audience after the fact and it is possible as a speaker to be clear concise, elegant, efficient and ….. ineffective. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">The trick is to determine exactly what the purpose of your speech is. Is there one many point? Are there many points? And if there are many is there a good way to tie them all together and make them more memorable? When putting your presentation together define and isolate these points and ensure that they are going to come through as effectively as possible. It is often a good idea to write in the margins what your specific point is in that section of the speech. It is easy to get carried away with details on a subject and obscure the reason for bringing the subject up in the first place. Make sure that when you cover a subject you reach a conclusion with it and most importantly, define the appropriate response or strategy.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Subject</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> >></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Conclusion</span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> >></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Strategy</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">There are different ways of organize these three elements. People often like to leave the conclusion and/or strategy until the end of a presentation which can work well as it leaves that as the final thought for the audience. It is also possible to place conclusions and strategies throughout a presentation which can give them more opportunities to sink in and they then can be associated with specific points. Another option is to begin your speech or title it using a conclusion or strategy and then explain it as you go along. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Just remember that at all times, consciously or unconsciously, your audience is asking “what’s your point”, so give the people what they want.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">http://twitter.com/</span></span><span id="username_url" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-color: transparent; border-right-color: transparent; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-left- font-weight: bold; color:transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">chrismolineux</span></span></span></span><br /></span></p> <script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-19828060848575407282009-03-16T22:13:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:03:54.345-07:00Why you can’t find your voice as a public speaker<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: bold; font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">One of the greatest struggles faced by people in the field of public speaking is what many call “finding your voice”. Some people, after years of seeming success complain that they can get the job done but still haven’t found their voice. The reason this voice is so difficult to find is that it doesn’t exist, or rather, there is no one voice, there are many. To get to the level of comfort where you can speak effectively in a style that is distinctly your own, you don’t need to figure out a hook - you need to hear voices.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Fortunately this specific instance of hearing voices involves neither spiritual communion nor psychological fragmentation just a simple recognition of certain things that you already know. Each person is made up of many voices, many moods, and many methods of communication. We have one way we speak to our children when we tell them to go to bed, another voice when we are trying to talk our way out of a speeding ticket and yet another when we are trying to scare away a bear who has arrived at our campsite. These voices all are part of who you are. You don’t have to transform into another person to frighten a bear, you just to bring out one of your many voices.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">If we have such specific voices for all these situations, why is there not one for public speaking? The answer is that public speaking involves far more than just a single situation or mood. It involves many different audiences, in different settings, under differing circumstances and no one voice can effectively deal with all of them. There are many moods that have to be entered into, many situations to be considered. Sometimes, the best possible approach could be a forceful one and at another time a softer, more self-effacing manner will bring your audience onside. This need for multiplicity does not mean you should “just be yourself” or learn tricks to manipulate a crowd. What it means is that you should observe and identify your own characteristics, moods, and manners when speaking and then learn how to use and adapt them to achieve the most positive results in varying situations.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Learning to understand who you are as a character is an interesting and rewarding exercise that I will discuss in upcoming postings. I would also love to hear any insights you have regarding finding your voice:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">* how you achieved it</span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">* why you think you never will</span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">* anything you think people should or shouldn’t do to help the process</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">All fine things ……. Christopher</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Garamond;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">www.laughlearnlead.com</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><a href="http://digg.com/"><br /><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" alt="Digg!" /><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-85977983374106979262009-03-11T22:41:00.000-07:002009-06-01T11:04:20.480-07:00Before you’ve even said a word<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style=" ;font-family:Arial;font-size:16.0pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Taking control beforehand to make your presentation easier</span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">To some degree all forms of public presentation share a common ground with the stage hypnotist. Before you go to a hypnosis show you see posters to advertise it that evoke a certain mood and mindset, when you arrive at the venue it is more dimly lit than usual, the music is of a calming nature, all diversions are shut down/switched off, and the heat is turned up slightly. Even when the hypnotist speaks he does not charge directly into the hypnosis but, in a low, slow voice, gives a pre-amble speech that helps to further reinforce the state of mind and mood that has already been established in so many ways. By the time the hypnosis actually begins the hypnotist has already put you in a state that makes his job so much easier.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In public speaking you can often do the same. Here are a few things to consider that could help make things go more smoothly for you.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></o:p></span></b></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0cm" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: list 36.0ptcolor:#333333;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">If you making an important presentation try to make sure that your audience receives information in advance about you and/or your topic. Sometimes having printed material distributed immediately beforehand is useful as well. Things that can be read are things you might not have to say, and it gives them something to refer to before, during and after. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: list 36.0ptcolor:#333333;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">In a perfect world, every situation we speak in would be problem free but….. until that perfect world arrives it is best to be aware of all the little things.Take control of your aspects of the room you are presenting in where it is appropriate. Make sure your sound and lighting is the best it can be. Simple things like keeping the lights bright on you and dimming them on the audience can really focus your audience on you. Make sure you can be seen and heard.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: list 36.0ptcolor:#333333;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Ensure that the area you are presenting in is completely under control in terms of materials you need, podiums, water, etc. and double check </span></span><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">anything</span></span></u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> that’s plugged in. The last thing you need is to have to play Mcgyver in the middle of a keynote.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: list 36.0ptcolor:#333333;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Get a sense of who your crowd is beforehand and see that they are seated to maximum advantage. If you are in a big room that isn’t very full and people are all pressed to the back or scattered around try to get them to gather together near the front. Usually people are happy to co-operate and it can make a world of difference.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops: list 36.0ptcolor:#333333;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Consider exactly how you are introduced and try to make your introduction work to your benefit. It is also advisable to get the most important person possible to introduce you. At times, the job is pre-set and inflexible, but sometimes you can have a say, and if you can get the president of the company to introduce you it raises your level of importance. Your audience has their eyes on you and wants to know what you have to say….. before you’ve even said a word.</span></span></span></b></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></div> <a href="http://digg.com/"><br /><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" alt="Digg!" /><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4001229052475103886.post-68153912623865437322009-03-06T11:53:00.000-08:002009-06-01T11:04:53.990-07:005 reasons why you shouldn’t speak like Barack Obama<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">On </span></span></span></span><st1:date month="1" day="20" year="2009"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">January 20, 2009</span></span></span></span></st1:date><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">1.8 million people gathered on the US Capitol grounds, the National Mall, and the parade route in </span></span></span></span></span></span><st1:place><st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Washington</span></span></span></span></span></span></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><st1:state><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">D.C.</span></span></span></span></span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> for the inauguration of the 44</span></span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">th</span></span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> president of the </span></span></span></span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">United States</span></span></span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">, Barack Obama. Nearly 38 million Americans watched inauguration coverage on television, the most popular Inauguration Day on TV since Ronald Reagan took office in 1981 which drew 41.8 million viewers. In describing the event beforehand, the media likely used the word “historic” more times than at any other point in American history since the moon landing in 1969. The centerpiece of the proceedings was the inauguration speech, and this article is written in specific reference to this speech, rather than about the speaking style and technique used by President Obama in a more general sense.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In the days following the inauguration, there was much discussion about the event and about the speech in particular. One comment I saw that referenced the speech was on a social networking site and was responding to a small business owners question about how to improve his public speaking skills. The comment recommended that the person should watch and learn from President Obama’s speech because </span></span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">that</span></span></span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> was great public speaking. At first glance, this may sound like good advice, but on closer examination it is of little use to someone who has to address small business groups. President Obama’s speech was made by a specific man, for a specific crowd on a specific occasion and to use that particular speech as a model for all one’s own speeches would lead to both tragic and comic results.</span></span></span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">To make the point at a simple and ridiculous level I could say that just because President Obama wore an overcoat for his speech, doesn’t mean that you should wear one for yours. This (joking aside) would actually be a valid piece of advice. What can be learned from this approach, however, goes far beyond such a trite example and because this particular speech is so well known, it provides a framework to put forward some valuable points to a large number of people. When coaching people in public speaking, it is important to emphasize that, though modeling other people can be effective, one cannot rely on any one style or system. Instead, it is more important to have a thorough understanding of one’s own style and abilities, combined with knowledge of the material in question, the points that need to be made, the nature of the crowd, and the environment they are in. Technically, I suppose, these are illustrations rather than reasons, but the title “Five aspects of the inauguration speech that illustrate why most people shouldn’t speak in the majority of situations the way Barack Obama did in this one speech ” seemed a bit wordy. At this point I shall be examining the specific style and techniques employed by President Obama in his inauguration speech and by doing so I will, hopefully, shine some light on how to make the most of your own speeches.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">1 – Don’t stand behind a wall, a bullet-proof barrier and a lectern.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">A speech is about far more than just speaking; movement and body language can help to transmit a great deal of mood and information to your audience. While it is not very often that we have to deal with the first two items in question, the third is not uncommon. A lectern is not without its place; they can be most effective in providing a more serious air to a speech and are quite handy for a script or notes but the majority of presentation situations require a more comfortable and communicative face. It is preferable to be seen from head to toe and, of course, to learn how to express yourself effectively through gesture and movement. While there are some basic do’s and don’ts, each person has their own style of movement. Some people can move around and gesture a tremendous amount and look very comfortable, while others would look horribly nervous doing exactly the same thing. Find out what factors define your own style of movement and learn how to use them to their greatest advantage.</span></span></span></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">2 - Smile at least once every twenty minutes.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Unless you are at an event that demands an extremely subdued mood, there is no reason to turn your speech into the dour hour. In moderation, smiling helps to put people at ease and creates a more positive mood. How broadly and how often you should smile depends on a number of factors but certainly it is important to consider your subject and your crowd and take into account your own appearance. Some people have a naturally happy look and others possess a natural severity. If you have a face that seems to smile all the time, you don’t have to reinforce it by smiling a great deal and, conversely, making a real effort may be very helpful to someone with a more sour countenance.</span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">3 – Don’t write a speech with constant historical references.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">When you are making a business presentation your audience wants to know what has just happened, what is happening now, and what could happen in the near future. While some background can be useful to provide context, boost morale, or illustrate a point, talking too much about the civil war will just make you look as though you are ignoring what is important. In this regard, also be mindful of the make-up of your audience. As a general rule, the older the crowd, the more they will relate to the referencing of the past and a younger crowd tends to be more interested in hearing about the future.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">4 – Make eye contact with at least one person in the audience.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Eye contact is a powerful thing. While people tend not to like being stared at, they do appreciate, during a speech, an occasional look to give them the feeling that they are being included. To stare outward in the direction of the crowd, but not actually make contact with any one single person will only work against you. Eye contact can also be used in very specific ways during a presentation. If, for example, you have one table or group that is not paying attention, make solid eye contact with one member of the group; consciously or subconsciously this will help to focus all of them. Eye contact should seem natural and not in a pattern or on a schedule and with some people, it can be balanced with a “thoughtful” absence of eye contact which effectively brings people in.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">5 - Don’t try to stir emotions and then pause for applause too often.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><i><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">In small weekly boardroom meetings it’s probably best not to do it at all. Taking oneself too seriously is a quick route to looking foolish and structuring a speech that assumes too great an importance to its statements, especially in front of an audience that is either too small or too casual for it to be appropriate will rob you of all credibility. Humility can be a valuable tool, and genuine consideration of opposing viewpoints can help to give clarity to your point and silence the critics who may be present. To stand rigidly with your chin up and your face stern repeatedly making grand pronouncements is something that should be done only with the greatest of care. For some people, dignity and command are fundamental aspects of the character they always present, for the rest of us, much better to work well with the tools with which we have been provided.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I hope that you have found some valuable information in this little list and are able to put it to good use when making presentations in the future. Defining and refining your own style and technique in public speaking is an involved endeavour but with continued observations and efforts it can definitely be done … best of luck!</span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> www.laughlearnlead.com</span></span></p></div></span></span></p> <a href="http://digg.com/"><br /><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" alt="Digg!" /><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1