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Dateline: 05/24/97
How to Improve Speeches and Presentations
"Public speaking is very easy."
--Vice President Dan Quayle
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We all know that the former Vice President had his share of speaking gaffs. Yet it didn't stop him from standing in front of audiences to talk about his work. In professional services firms, one of the most common tools of practice development, from young associates to seasoned partners, is making speeches or presentations.
In this day of talk show personalities and glib spokespersons, business presenters are being held to a higher standard than ever before. A dry, monotone presentation will do more harm than help to your firm, regardless of the technical nature of the content, and regardless of the audience. Today, audiences expect more.
In a business development speaking situation, speakers must be clear about their objective in speaking to the chosen group. Is it to make them acquainted with the firm? Is it to position the speaker as an important authority on a particular topic? Is it to do the sponsoring organization a favor? Is it to generate specific leads for new business to be followed up on after the presentation? Is it to test an audience's reaction to a new product or service? Whatever your purpose in being there, be clear about what you want to say and what you hope to achieve. This can help avoid disappointment.
For example, if you are speaking to the local Rotary Club about changes in the tax code, you wouldn't expect to do more than provide some visibility for yourself as a knowledgeable tax expert. If you are speaking to the national convention of the National Writers' Union about home office deductions and how to avoid an IRS audit, you might be disappointed if you expect to generate leads for corporate work, since these are largely self-employed people. If you want to present a new service line, you might not make that first presentation to your hottest group of prospects, so you can have a chance to polish your presentation in a less vital atmosphere.
Whatever the reason for your speech, all the experts say to know your audience and to practice! Without practice, even the best speakers and the best presentations can fall flat. Why take that risk when there are so many options available to make you good?
Here are a few resources to help yourself or your associates and partners become better speakers without feeling like puppets and trained monkeys. Send me your own favorites!
Next week's topic: Winning Proposals
Look here for more information
Learn 2 Write a Speech
Very useful site with cute graphics. Takes you by the hand through eight steps with a light touch.
Start a Toastmaster's Club
For $95 you can start a group of 20 practicing in your own office!
How to Measure Speech Success
If you aren't getting lots of invitations, maybe you aren't such a good speaker.
Free Help with Your Speech Draft
Got a really big opportunity coming up? David Slack offers a free review of your draft. Bonus: don't miss his Automatic Wedding Speech Writer. This one could save you some suffering!
Presenting Powerpoint 97 Tips
Use the tips here to prepare effective presentation materials. Lots of links to other relevant sites, too.
Good Quotations by Famous People
Uncommon quotations you don't hear used every day, hosted by Professor Gabriel Robins. My personal favorite, "I'll sleep when I'm dead," by Warren Zevon.
Quote Search
Includes Michael Moncur's unbeatable resource of quotes for any occasion.
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Copyright 1997 by Kaye Vivian (kvivian@cloud9.net). All rights reserved. Permission to reprint is granted provided this article is not altered and the copyright notice remains attached |
