PERSONAL GROWTH by Anne B. Freedman OMG! I have to make a presentation! Tips and techniques to help you now If you’ve been asked to make a presentation or speech, and part of you cringes or starts feeling uptight immediately, I’m here to offer you a few proven tactics that will help you come across as the confident, caring, and knowledgeable expert you really are. Remember, no one invites you to speak just because you’re gorgeous, wealthy or in great physical condition. You attract interest because there’s a perception – right or wrong – that you have some important and useful knowledge to share about your business, your special skills, or your story. The first ingredient I call the Science of Speaking, where you lay out your content in a four-part structure. This approach applies both to those carefully planned talks, and for those last-minute opportunities where you’re called upon without warning. The opening includes a greeting, such as “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” followed by what I call “a gracious throwaway line,” not to inform anyone but to give you a few more seconds to control your nerves and voice. “I’m so happy to be with all of you amazing leaders, today.” The other element is actually one of five ways to begin. ■ Tell a story. Keep it engaging, relevant and as short but pertinent as possible. ■ Start with the headline. State a startling fact of some kind that gets them to respond, “Oh my!” ■ Ask for a show of hands. You want to ask a question that nearly everyone can answer yes by raising their hand. You’re not fact-finding. ■ Promise to give them something. Be specific, and a maximum of three ideas or items. ■ Use a prop or object. One of my favorites is a small teddy bear, who I call Peter the Poser. I hold up Peter as I speak and explain that Poser stands for the five biggest mistakes people tend to make when speaking: 1. P – they don’t practice, prepare or plan enough. 2. O – they don’t organize their content, just dump out information. 3. S – they don’t slant their material to the different personality styles and interests in their audience. 4. E – they don’t use enthusiasm and energy when they speak. 5. R – they don’t request any action or agreement at the end, so nothing happens. Following the opening is the pre-body, where you give a benefit-filled summary of the main points you’ll be sharing, in order. It’s the hardest part usually to create, and you can’t do it until you have a clear picture of your talking points. Next is the body of your speech or presentation, where you talk about the three (maximum) main ideas you’re sharing. There are five different formats but here are three that help with most situations, both planned and impromptu: ■ CARR. State the Challenge you’re facing. Describe the activities you’ve engaged in to resolve the issue. Describe the results you’ve achieved. Follow by the recommendations you’ve developed to go forward. ■ Triple T. Tell me what you’re going to tell me, in a sexy, well-crafted summary overview. Then, tell me what you want me to know, in order, a maximum of three ideas in a speech over 10 minutes, and 1-2 ideas in less than 10 minutes. Follow with your summary, tell me what you told me, highlight the benefits and problems solved of what you were talking about, in order. ■ Past-present-future. Take me back to how things used to be done. Then, update how it’s happening now. Use your expertise PeopleImages / Shutterstock.com 70 enterprising Women
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