A Quick Guide to Public Speaking .....Dayo Olomu

"I have a dream..." Who can forget those immortal words spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. Dr. King managed to influence millions of people and change a nation, not because he was rich, or in a position of power, but because he was an effective public speaker. Dr. King and other highly influential people before him, like Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln, just to name a few, mastered the art of public speaking and earned their place in history.

Mastering the art of public speaking may not make you world famous, but it will most certainly help you to succeed in anything you do.In just about every well-paid position, some form of public speaking is required whether it be presenting to the board of directors, giving a group sales presentation, speaking to a committee, or just a group of peers.

The large majority of people are either terrified or just very uncomfortable with public speaking. This means the high paying jobs and the advancements are left for people like us who know that we can become effective public speakers if we put our minds to it. Better yet, we can even learn to enjoy it. So let's jump right into my quick guide to public speaking.There are three general styles of speeches: impromptu, manuscript, and extemporaneous.

In an impromptu speech, you have little to no time to prepare. For example, your boss asks you, on the spot, to bring the rest of the team up to date on what you have been working on the last week. If possible, it is best to gracefully excuse yourself for a few minutes and jot down a few key points. Then, you can be sure to cover the important points without making it sound as if you have nothing to share.

The second type of speech is a manuscript speech, which is written like a manuscript and meant to be delivered word for word. This is fine for public figures where every word uttered is vital, but when it comes to building a connection with the listeners, an extemporaneous speech is the best way to go.

This kind of speech uses ideas to trigger thoughts rather than exact words. Knowing the material well will allow you to present a speech in a way that best keeps the listener's attention while allowing you to make changes based on the response of the listeners. Both the extemporaneous and manuscript styles have their own benefits so choose the style that best fits your content and your personality. Impromptu speeches should be left for impromptu situations only.If you remember just one thing about public speaking remember this: have a point. All too often speakers stand up in front of an audience and blabber out one long stream of consciousness.

Since we are masters at goal setting by now, consider your point the goal of your speech. Do you want to influence your audience? Do you want to sell them something? Do you just want to entertain them? Know your goal and build your speech around it. Here are some other suggestions that I have found to be key elements of any successful speech or presentation.

• Have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Follow the age-old advice, "Tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them." Most people find writing the body first is most helpful, then either the introduction or the conclusion.

• Prepare. You cannot "over prepare". The better you know the material the more confident you will be when presenting and the more flowing the speech will sound. Videotape or record yourself if possible, or at least rehearse by watching yourself in a mirror. When you are delivering your speech live, the same adrenaline that makes you nervous also helps you think better and find the right words to make your speech sound fluent.

• Vary the pace. Vary the pace at which you deliver the speech. Slow down, then speed up. This will keep the listener's attention. Be careful not to talk too slowly or too quickly.

• Have good eye contact. If you have been taught to look over the heads of those you are speaking to, forget it. Good eye contact means making a connection with your audience by looking them straight in the eyes. If the audience is small enough, try to make it a point to make eye contact with everyone.

• Use note cards not notepads. Notepads are bulky, noisy, and most of all, distracting. Use note cards or notes on card stock for extemporaneous speeches. Never be afraid to use notes—even the best speakers rely on notes to ensure they communicate the points efficiently and effectively.

• Anticipate questions. Take the time to think about any question a listener may ask and formulate a positive answer that supports your presentation. It is OK to say you do not know the answer and tell the person you will get back to them if needed. The "I don't know" or "I can't say" answers are most effective when followed by "but I'll tell you what I do know..."

• Try to keep your speech under 20 minutes. Several studies have shown that 20 minutes is about the maximum amount of time listeners can stay attentive, after that, the attention levels begin to drop. Speaking is more stimulating than listening so although you may be excited to talk for longer, the chances are your listeners are ready for a break.

• Establish credibility. Who are you to speak about the subject on which you are speaking? Why should your audience listen to you? Establish your credibility by sharing your credentials with the listeners in a tactful way. For example, "When I was President of XYZ Corporation...", not "I was once the President of XYZ Corporation."

• Have a strong introduction and a strong conclusion. The introduction should be used to gain the attention of the listeners and persuade them to listen to your entire presentation. You are essentially selling them on why they should listen. Be sure you address their needs and not yours. The conclusion should consist of a powerful statement, quotation, anecdote, or other attention grabber. Never end a speech with, "that's all".

• Have a second conclusion prepared. After a speech or a presentation usually comes a question and answer period. Once the questions stop coming, it is best to end on a strong note. This is a great time to get your "last word" in.

• Act on every opportunity you can to speak. Anxiety of speaking is best subsided by experience. Also, volunteering to be the one who gives the speech will get you noticed and you will stand out as the leader. Join your local Toastmasters club (toastmasters.org) for some really great practice.It has been said that most people fear public speaking more than death itself. While this does not mean people would rather be dead than speak in public, as some authors may suggest, it does illustrate why communication of ideas through public speaking is often avoided by professionals.

Those who make it a point to embrace public speaking will have a major advantage over their coworkers and/or competitors. Who knows, the next time an author writes about great public speakers, your name can be on that list!

I like this book!

I just read a book that got me thinking. The book came in handy when I needed it.
I got the book through a friend who sells books- different kinds of books bibe, business books, motivational books, you name it.

Though I've heard about this book long time ago, I didnt really fancy it or so I thought. Maybe because it looked small, its not massive and al that.

Anyway lets not talk about why I didnt want to read the book, lets deliberate on the now. I mean after reading and digesting the content of the bestseller that looks like a story book.
I got a new perspective about life, a new thinking that has propelled me to take a hold of the Boy's Scout's moto- Be prepared!

This book talks about me, you, your friends, my friends, Colleagues at work, siblings etc. It buttresses the life of anyone you can think about. Its a book that jump starts you as you read. You begin to fix yourself into a particular character and do same for people you know.

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? by Dr. Spencer Johnson
I just finished reading this book not too long ago and was blessed by it. The book came at a time when change was an issue in my office and I am glad I came across this precious book.
Who Moved My Cheese is a simple story of four creatures- Two Mice and Two little people. The Mice "Sniff and Scurry", "Hem and Ham" the littlepeople. They all ran through a maze in search of cheese to nourish their body and make them happy.

Sniff and Scurry behaved like the mice they were using their simple brains and instincts for their search while Ham and Hem did not disappoint the humans- complex brains with many beliefs and emotions.

Three Skills to Improve Conversation

One key to becoming a great conversationalist is to pause before replying. A short pause, of three to five seconds, is a very classy thing to do in a conversation. When you pause, you accomplish three goals simultaneously.

The Benefits of Pausing:
First, you avoid running the risk of interrupting if the other person is just catching his or her breath before continuing. Second, you show the other person that you are giving careful consideration to his or her words by not jumping in with your own comments at the earliest opportunity. The third benefit of pausing is that you will actually hear the other person better. His or her words will soak into a deeper level of your mind and you will understand what he or she is saying with greater clarity. By pausing, you mark yourself as a brilliant conversationalist.

Ask Questions:
Another way to become a great conversationalist is to question for clarification. Never assume that you understand what the person is saying or trying to say. Instead, ask, "How do you mean, exactly?"
This is the most powerful question I've ever learned for controlling a conversation. It is almost impossible not to answer. When you ask, "How do you mean?" the other person cannot stop himself or herself from answering more extensively. You can then follow up with other open-ended questions and keep the conversation rolling along.

Paraphrase the Speaker's Words:
The third way to become a great conversationalist is to paraphrase the speaker's words in your own words. After you've nodded and smiled, you can then say, "Let me see if I've got this right. What you're saying is . . ."

Demonstrate Attentiveness:
By paraphrasing the speaker's words, you demonstrate in no uncertain terms that you are genuinely paying attention and making every effort to understand his or her thoughts or feelings. And the wonderful thing is, when you practice effective listening, other people will begin to find you fascinating. They will want to be around you. They will feel relaxed and happy in your presence.

Listening Builds Trust:
The reason why listening is such a powerful tool in developing the art and skill of conversation is because listening builds trust. The more you listen to another person, the more he or she trusts you and believes in you. Listening also builds self-esteem. When you listen attentively to another person, his or her self-esteem will naturally increase.

Listening Develops Discipline:
Finally, listening builds self-discipline in the listener. Because your mind can process words at 500-600 words per minute, and we can only talk at about 150 words per minute, it takes a real effort to keep your attention focused on another person?s words. If you do not practice self-discipline in conversation, your mind will wander in a hundred different directions. The more you work at paying close attention to what the other person is saying, the more self-disciplined you will become. In other words, by learning to listen well, you actually develop your own character and your own personality.

Welcome on Board

Hello everyone!

This is to welcome you to my blog -Impact4life.
You may wonder why impact4life?
This is my own way of passing on the barton/ the tourch.
We learn everyday in different ways.
Most times people try to keep to themselves what they have learnt either through a book they read, through messages they listened to or through conversations.

I want to share all I've learnt from both young and old, from great minds, gurus in their fields and even those that are not yet or may not be celebrated.I want to pass on the inspirations I'v got from books written by great authors etc.

But you know what? I cant do it alone, you have ideas and thoughts that you can share with everyone out there.--- So your imput in making this dream a success is welcomed.
Lets impact our world and generation!

Ann.